tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44327329652214717022024-02-20T20:29:12.823-08:00Two Tiny TyrantsOne stay-at-home Mom's quest to keep the fridge full, the house clean and the kids alive...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595266324902157926noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-27922128407804623102012-03-05T05:41:00.000-08:002012-03-05T05:41:27.190-08:00OOTD: Scene Queen Chic!! Plus Beauty Haul!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Since posting this picture the other day I got quite a few questions regarding the outfit and where i got it so I decided to do an OOTD on it. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I absolutely LOVE this outfit because it is super cute, bright and a little funky. The best part? Every single piece of it was a steal of a deal!! Here's the breakdown..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>OOTD: Scene Queen Chic!</b></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUndYmWoUIboPAh2sH7eKg00FIePAPIVViLLlwP5gYSQjB7YYofzQx-ycqs08vq1MyxkHIU1qmWp5Y1u_d5-8_9wqkhbvcKOr2ShKW1YPJdPs4hnDSPNb7JB_uZ6CXEjUA5-N9M8A2/s1600/fullbody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUndYmWoUIboPAh2sH7eKg00FIePAPIVViLLlwP5gYSQjB7YYofzQx-ycqs08vq1MyxkHIU1qmWp5Y1u_d5-8_9wqkhbvcKOr2ShKW1YPJdPs4hnDSPNb7JB_uZ6CXEjUA5-N9M8A2/s640/fullbody.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Hello Kitty Sweater: <a href="http://www.gianttiger.com/" target="_blank">Giant Tiger</a> (Little Girl's Section!) for 12$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Distressed Black Skinnies: <a href="http://www.urban-planet.com/store.cfm?&ckey=CA&lang=eng" target="_blank">Urban Planet</a> for 34.99$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Halter (Underneath Sweater): Urban Planet for 12$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Neon Leopard Ankle Socks (LOVE them!): 3pk for 12$ Got them from my sis-in-law, not sure where she got them though. Will check and update...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hot Pink Pumps (3' heel) Size 8- <a href="http://www.suzyshier.com/eng/categories/footwear" target="_blank">Suzy Shier</a> for 25$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses (knockoffs!)- Bought for 15$ off <a href="http://www.kijiji.ca/" target="_blank">Kijiji </a>(They have a leopard print on the arm..I <3 Them!! Can you tell I LOVE animal prints!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Bow Barrette (In my hair...Kind of hard to see...) <a href="http://www.dollarama.com/" target="_blank">Dollarama</a> for 1$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black and Silver Necklace: Urban Planet for 6.99$</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Silver Beaded Bracelet: Urban Planet for 5$ for pack of five</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>DID YOU KNOW???</b></u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can now shop online at Urban Planet and Suzy Shier, along with many other stores including Bluenotes, Aldo and La Senza, with your debit/<a href="http://www.interac.ca/" target="_blank"><b>Interac</b></a> card!! This is awesome because I don't have a credit card, nor do I want one, yet I love shopping online. All you need is money in the bank and an online banking account for your bank (If you don't already have online banking simply ask your bank how to set it up, it usually only takes a few minutes and is so much more convenient). I have already purchased a few things this way and they arrived very quickly and the best part is each of the sites have a "Sale/Clearance" page:) For a full list of online retailers who accept <b>Interac</b> <b><a href="http://www.interac.ca/consumers/productsandservices_ol_search.php" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!</a> </b>And don't worry, there are no fees to shop online with your Interac, unless they are fees by your bank, but I know I didn't pay any.<br />
<br />
So, I recently went on a little shopping spree for some new makeup and ended up picking up quite a few things. My camera is among the missing right now so I apologise for not being able to take pics, but I am going to use pictures from the good 'ol Internet so you can still see what I got. I will include prices and stores purchased at when I can.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Beauty Haul:</b></span></u><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHeWsk_bYu2C-hglYQdbR4HALhKWLwq-8O6ApYT8VvDWkdUi84G6gPMUHuYwbyJGl2NkUx1u5M5na_iyjZvulG5O-2iFSs53HMuU3sTllNMFvbaR9c1AWAQM_Jcxe2Wq8QRNjs157/s1600/revlon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHeWsk_bYu2C-hglYQdbR4HALhKWLwq-8O6ApYT8VvDWkdUi84G6gPMUHuYwbyJGl2NkUx1u5M5na_iyjZvulG5O-2iFSs53HMuU3sTllNMFvbaR9c1AWAQM_Jcxe2Wq8QRNjs157/s200/revlon.jpg" width="103" /></a></div>
<i><b>Revlon PhotoReady Foundation with SPF 20 in shade 005 Natural Beige, 30ml:</b></i> Shoppers Drug Mart for 13.99$ I am hooked on this foundation! <b>It truly does give you an airbrushed look and covers blemishes very well. I like that you can apply more or less layers to customise the amount of coverage you need.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoKIJY_NSQc5ryzN9mm-SNTh-zGU8HA23po-nV5xT-ivtm57EScgaWlFxZMeQwJMpXPMv_9mvb9LdEuWyu0Meq-F6ex6leEt3UytRyGKMYqHnbYn5p33lBfU7H-QBLW5oFsPFK_Ea/s1600/35_POUDRE_PRESSEE_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoKIJY_NSQc5ryzN9mm-SNTh-zGU8HA23po-nV5xT-ivtm57EScgaWlFxZMeQwJMpXPMv_9mvb9LdEuWyu0Meq-F6ex6leEt3UytRyGKMYqHnbYn5p33lBfU7H-QBLW5oFsPFK_Ea/s200/35_POUDRE_PRESSEE_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
<i><b>Lise Watier Mineral Compact Powder in shade Naturel</b></i>- Shoppers Drug Mart for 34.99$ (Lucky for me I didn't actually pay that, I bought it off someone for 5$ brand new:) <b>This is my new fave powder hands down. It also comes with oil blotting papers right in the compact in a little flip open tab...It sets my foundation perfectly, doesn't cake and is Canadian made!! It is a bit pricey but it is totally worth it!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKLYdKySjsnm4y9Bqfh5vNNDW2reX2-fFXouiRQ9JSepE-2DyNTExzNqFehVZY_1YDW9pOu4BYgiiYiKdqDSbqTBv3NitGDVBYNTD5VGtbDZjjJdz3TIfCKXWef8YcdGayu3k6534/s1600/lor21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKLYdKySjsnm4y9Bqfh5vNNDW2reX2-fFXouiRQ9JSepE-2DyNTExzNqFehVZY_1YDW9pOu4BYgiiYiKdqDSbqTBv3NitGDVBYNTD5VGtbDZjjJdz3TIfCKXWef8YcdGayu3k6534/s200/lor21.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><b>L'oreal Paris True Match Roller in shade C3 Creamy Natural</b></i>- Lawtons for 14.99$ (I got it on clearance for 3.99$..STEAL!) <b>I really like this roll on foundation, it offers great coverage but doesn't go on super thick like you would think it would. I feel kind of funny basically rolling foundation on my face like I am painting a wall but the end result is fabulous coverage! (You should have seen hubby's face when he saw me putting it on for the first time, just rolling away haha...)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVYgoq6bjOkiW8jnKr3Wdm-JUG0l9ffpMoS4TJZOZ0YUmfxr_q5hhtPcrIRfx7ndDcTW6EdvwQhw9TEDv8XLjzu362H407xoctjo3Jk85gbm7WF-hLJ43iZT4qSMe377aYjH5tNxF/s1600/gosh-maskara-podkrecajaca-wodoodporna-perfect-lift-n-shape-waterproof-black_0_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVYgoq6bjOkiW8jnKr3Wdm-JUG0l9ffpMoS4TJZOZ0YUmfxr_q5hhtPcrIRfx7ndDcTW6EdvwQhw9TEDv8XLjzu362H407xoctjo3Jk85gbm7WF-hLJ43iZT4qSMe377aYjH5tNxF/s200/gosh-maskara-podkrecajaca-wodoodporna-perfect-lift-n-shape-waterproof-black_0_b.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><b>GOSH Perfect Lift N Shape Mascara in shade Black- 12.99$</b></i> Bought of someone also brand new, not sure where it was from.You can buy it off the <a href="http://www.goshcosmetics.com/" target="_blank">GOSH</a> site though, but I don't think they sell it in the USA.<br />
<b>Overall its a pretty good mascara, goes on sleek and clump-free. I never use just one mascara though, I always layer on two different kinds. When it comes to lashes I believe in Go BIG or go home:)</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCB1LpzBm1r3k3pzh71xi4o9IH5Ew01Q6Y2D2uPOEpZSaq9YvLNiuvy4gK8id5s-YBPDIi0M62qoQ1uX4Q5zSEKaP_G6DohYD4_bI7bcrIqZxYEsNaGHchX1pzcI0-3FLBe2AatD-/s1600/rimmel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCB1LpzBm1r3k3pzh71xi4o9IH5Ew01Q6Y2D2uPOEpZSaq9YvLNiuvy4gK8id5s-YBPDIi0M62qoQ1uX4Q5zSEKaP_G6DohYD4_bI7bcrIqZxYEsNaGHchX1pzcI0-3FLBe2AatD-/s200/rimmel.jpg" width="156" /></a><i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>Rimmel London Extra Super Lash Mascara in shade Black</b></i>- Shopper's Drug Mart for 9.99$ (Got it on sale for 5.99$) <b>Loving this mascara. It goes on super dark and doesn't clump, plus is allows you to build as many coats as you want for thick and flirt lashes without clumping or sticking together. I have been using it as my everyday mascara (layered with GOSH Lift N Shape) since I bought it.</b><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBr4Ut5Lw5_1Kd7TlVrMZ_sZN_yjPa1eWHXzUvW2IsXANAEX7J8OkOpWeNIIhMomZRncgJ16RVfIzDG7N-QT2eth2vufzLjuzZd_o0mPXz7TEkYHE5_a2Sw5sCV7FpjzeB070IvuXN/s1600/077802417107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBr4Ut5Lw5_1Kd7TlVrMZ_sZN_yjPa1eWHXzUvW2IsXANAEX7J8OkOpWeNIIhMomZRncgJ16RVfIzDG7N-QT2eth2vufzLjuzZd_o0mPXz7TEkYHE5_a2Sw5sCV7FpjzeB070IvuXN/s200/077802417107.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<i><b>Wet 'N' Wild Silk Finish Blush in shade 171 Threesome-</b></i> Dollarama for 2$ (!!!)<br />
<b>I am so psyched that my local dollar store carries Wet N Wild Cosmetics right now for...get this...2$ each!! I went and stocked right up:) They are actually very good quality considering they are so cheap. I have been using them every single day. This blush gives a perfect rosy glow and it is my new everyday blush.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoph0mEsnyS42YnB_6bUHlx8a5Sfo80Qw97rNEuLf8cc-QQx4YQ98eBHNfmTOC4oh85o_KlganrmQM__g8cfgTnYQAOhedNrTvx1fp-b63XWgWMLgqDjYvZaB1EsZeNXglas7vCGfs/s1600/wet-n-wild-bronzzer-ultimate-bronzing-powder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoph0mEsnyS42YnB_6bUHlx8a5Sfo80Qw97rNEuLf8cc-QQx4YQ98eBHNfmTOC4oh85o_KlganrmQM__g8cfgTnYQAOhedNrTvx1fp-b63XWgWMLgqDjYvZaB1EsZeNXglas7vCGfs/s200/wet-n-wild-bronzzer-ultimate-bronzing-powder.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><b>Wet 'N' Wild Bronzzer Powder Compact in Shade 741 Bali Bronze</b></i>- Dollarama for 2$<br />
Again, you can't go wrong for 2$ bronzer.<b> It works pretty good and doesn't have a lot of shimmer as most bronzers do, which I like because it looks much more natural. I think this shad may be a bit dark for me during the winter months but during the summer will probably be perfect. Luckily, at just 2$ I got one of each shade!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPTkjvB17dSnYiTGveq1WQgRGVjLNTeumLd6L7sLU2xMqrBtXhEBFrH92ePy_3UBz3BpjqnzouIb-v6mW1_5UZVJIinNumPfMd0bs7wzH-xOyek25_S6PCLSa9-0tFigJJzNR0T4x/s1600/light_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPTkjvB17dSnYiTGveq1WQgRGVjLNTeumLd6L7sLU2xMqrBtXhEBFrH92ePy_3UBz3BpjqnzouIb-v6mW1_5UZVJIinNumPfMd0bs7wzH-xOyek25_S6PCLSa9-0tFigJJzNR0T4x/s200/light_4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><b>Wet 'N' Wild Ultimate Minerals Loose Powder in shade 270 Fair-</b></i> Dollarama for 2$<br />
<b>I was pleasantly surprised by how well this powder works. It goes on very smooth, provides great coverage and sets my foundation very well. I grabbed it when i ran out of my old powder (before i got my new one) and actually really like it. I still can't believe I got it at the dollar store!!</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMixrbIkerlV_yFOqB4X2_pZRoNuLemZzeLusgmmK7jnp8Wko-AHS9trcCJZusNYbkI1YCUECzFmuz3wylpWl-a0Hl8T7vnWLPLr0uILbR3byvHgy6-WeeD3aXQaWzxsGJ7V2ppn56/s1600/$%28KGrHqJ,%21qEE63Z2fW0YBO5nr2i11g%7E%7E60_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMixrbIkerlV_yFOqB4X2_pZRoNuLemZzeLusgmmK7jnp8Wko-AHS9trcCJZusNYbkI1YCUECzFmuz3wylpWl-a0Hl8T7vnWLPLr0uILbR3byvHgy6-WeeD3aXQaWzxsGJ7V2ppn56/s320/$%28KGrHqJ,%21qEE63Z2fW0YBO5nr2i11g%7E%7E60_3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Neon Orange" above left and "Sunshine Disco" arrow on right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i><b>Cherimoya Vernis Classique Nail Polish in shades 'Neon Orange' and 'Sunshine Disco' </b></i>Lawtons for 6.99$ each<i> </i><b>I am hooked on these polishes. For one they are neon (They yellow polishes is the exact shade of a yellow highlighter) and I LOVE neon anything. They go on very smooth and the color is very intense and pigmented. I absolutely love the look, they are almost jelly looking when dry and have a high shine, plus they one require one or two coats for full, even coverage. They are featured in my Neon Leopard Tutorial above...</b><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
If you are into beauty then you should definitely check out TAAZ. It is a beauty website with an amazing makeover tool that allows you to try on hundreds of different makeup looks and hairstyles. Unlike some makeover tools this one is actually super realistic looking. It is definitely addictive. The site also features your own profile page and allows you to give and get beauty and fashion advice, share deals, post how-to's, share images and videos, earn badges for your participation and Follow people whose style you like! It is one of the best beauty communities I have tried thus far and I love it. Be sure to check it out. You will have hours of fun (Or at least I did!) trying on hundreds of crazy hairstyles! Great tool if you are thinking of trying a new look but not sure how it will look. You can even try on celebrity looks like Rihanna's infamous red hair or Katy Perry's blue locks she sported while in Paris recently. Check out one of my makeovers below!<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2gkVS_Aw5HAQPgbpMuXgv-pCxKdGVS67rax89ptxrZO6qAS-N_NUjDMjc4j90snBJ1rNZc7iVepNEIwsGcogi1N3mVXH2iXQ34oJWpvx2Gj0NYhm8WhL34-rIDeJGgjoJfCAI6wC/s1600/TAAZ-makeover.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2gkVS_Aw5HAQPgbpMuXgv-pCxKdGVS67rax89ptxrZO6qAS-N_NUjDMjc4j90snBJ1rNZc7iVepNEIwsGcogi1N3mVXH2iXQ34oJWpvx2Gj0NYhm8WhL34-rIDeJGgjoJfCAI6wC/s400/TAAZ-makeover.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<b>That's all folks!!Parting question: Which hairstyle or look have you have always wanted to try but don't have the balls to go through with?? I have always loved Rihanna's short hairstyle but don't have the jam to cut my hair that short...Although I used to have super short hair in middle school (Seriously, like less than two inches) but that was my mothers genius idea. To be fair it didn't look that bad but I don't think I would ever do it again...</b><i><b><br /></b></i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-36170214442178807992012-03-02T14:11:00.002-08:002012-03-02T14:17:35.062-08:00Simple Neon Leopard Nail Art + My New Look...REVEALED!!<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">So, before we begin I would like to take a second to apologize for all but neglecting my poor little blog.</span></b><br />
<br />
Things have been hella busy and i just have not had a second to breathe, let alone crank out a blog post. I am, however, going to make a conscious effort to blog regularly again. There...that's outta the way. Now lets get this show on the road!</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
If you have even the remotest interest in fashion or read fashion and beauty magazines then it probably comes as no surprise to you that neon's are HUGE right now. I personally have always loved neon colors, even way back in middle school when i used to color my nails with highlighters. So, I decided that I wanted to do something cute on m nails using neon's, something a bit more sophisticated then coloring them with markers. I was browsing nail art tutorials on YouTube because I am on a nail art kick right now when I happened upon an adorable neon leopard nail design. I had recently purchased some neon polishes so I HAD to give it a shot. We'll it actually turned out great and I wanted to share the how-to with you guys. So, without further adieu...</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Neon Leopard Manicure Tutorial</span></b></u></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_wIA-52UnDGr97CJEg-uDPeMG3yVjWN-Dh_2TQ8LHpHeOebldHd6i91LrZgg2MReENLbUCAXxo6YN-8TVPcaHfJYBQWP8x5j1-lQd5zCmqjkAaqBqHzPM83NZNCk3M6U2EEa7D6c/s1600/favorite+pictures+22170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_wIA-52UnDGr97CJEg-uDPeMG3yVjWN-Dh_2TQ8LHpHeOebldHd6i91LrZgg2MReENLbUCAXxo6YN-8TVPcaHfJYBQWP8x5j1-lQd5zCmqjkAaqBqHzPM83NZNCk3M6U2EEa7D6c/s320/favorite+pictures+22170.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I apologize for the blurriness...Had to use my five yr olds camera...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Polish used for this tutorial:</u></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b><a href="http://www.makeupcherimoya.com/" target="_blank">Cherimoya</a> Vernis Classique in '<i>Sunshine Disco</i>'</b> (This is basically a highlighter yellow)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b>Cherimoya Vernis Classique in '<i>Neon Orange</i>'</b> (Pictured above, although MUCH brighter in person)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b><a href="http://www.nicolebyopi.com/" target="_blank">Nicole By O.P.I</a> in '<i>Respect The World</i>'</b> (A bright turquoise color but with more blue in it)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b><a href="http://www.sallyhansen.com/products/nails" target="_blank">Sally Hansen</a> Sheerly Opal in "<i>Natural White'</i></b> (This is part of the French
Manicure Kit. I had to use a different brush though because the one with
it is tiny as it is for french tips)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b><a href="http://www.lacolors.com/" target="_blank">L.A Colors</a> Color Craze Polish in "<i>Lightning</i>"</b> (A super-bright neon Pink)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b>L.A Colors Color Craze Polish in "<i>Voltage</i>"</b> (A clear polish I use as a topcoat)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b>L.A
Colors Art Deco Nail Art Lacquer in "<i>Black Sparkle</i>"</b> (I used this for the
actual leopard spots, but you could also use any black polish with a
small brush or bobby-pin, etc)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <u>Directions:</u></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Step 1: <i>Apply a base coat.</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
First off, apply a clear base coat to protect your nails and to allow the polish to go on more smoothly. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Step 2: <i>Paint all of your nails white.</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Paint all of your nails white. Be sure to apply at least 2 or 3 coats, allowing them to dry in between, to ensure even coverage and a nice solid base.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo77wTumFaKY3fv2dH_1djGxha1OPCWN_Yr3TLXKYYnChHwLJ3TgXtE2jY9M_KzWkRVJhGtkfZiF8cdUXE71vzPQnnjh8BStxX7X7b_iAjOVJOm0K8ZHMTPRoaufJvzP-93OFZ_kzl/s1600/100_3418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo77wTumFaKY3fv2dH_1djGxha1OPCWN_Yr3TLXKYYnChHwLJ3TgXtE2jY9M_KzWkRVJhGtkfZiF8cdUXE71vzPQnnjh8BStxX7X7b_iAjOVJOm0K8ZHMTPRoaufJvzP-93OFZ_kzl/s320/100_3418.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paint all nails with two or three coats of white polish.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
<b>Step 3:<i> Draw on your leopard spots.</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span class="step_body long_text">This can be done using either a nail
art pen or dumping a tiny bit of polish onto a piece of paper and
dipping a small brush or even a q-tip or bobby pin in it. You can even
use a black Sharpie marker! Draw a leopard-like design on all off your
nails, on top of the white polish you applied. To create a leopard print
simply draw a bunch of small uneven circles and "C" shapes, leaving the
center of them uncolored. Add a few black dots to fill in any spots
where you cannot fit a bigger "spot". Do not worry about them looking
perfect because they are supposed to be uneven and jagged looking. Make
sure to leave the centers of your leopard spots empty because we will be
filling them in on the next step. Allow your spots to dry completely to
prevent smudges during the next step.<br /><br /><b>**NOTE**</b> If you want to
you can switch steps 2 & 3 and it will still come out the same. Some
people prefer to do the colored dots then draw the leopard print around
them instead of drawing the spots then filling them in after. It is
your call and they will still look the same in the end.</span></div>
<h3 class="step-title" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Step 3: <i>Fill in your leopard spots with your neon colors.</i></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFI5lMn6VVMPTCYYVS_7UEgfYdGAO_yNgVhYlxUBZYTfySYKhR__dvlDev4GcfcEoNGXmEuYPkU35VLbpYNpDjxV4zM4nMcPONJZWjLXpOfK5C4thAUua3OHkcljSISkrRXSavITEJ/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFI5lMn6VVMPTCYYVS_7UEgfYdGAO_yNgVhYlxUBZYTfySYKhR__dvlDev4GcfcEoNGXmEuYPkU35VLbpYNpDjxV4zM4nMcPONJZWjLXpOfK5C4thAUua3OHkcljSISkrRXSavITEJ/s320/snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Draw leopards spots like the ones pictured, leaving the center empty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="step-title" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i><span class="step_body long_text">Fill in the centers of your
leopard spots with you neon colors. Do this by putting only a tiny
amount of polish on your brushes and placing a dot in the center of each
of your black circles and "C" shapes. Alternate between each of the
colors you are using on each nail until your have a rainbow effect your
are happy with. You can do this with either the polish brush included
with each bottle or by using a dotting tool. If you do use dotting tool
then be sure to wipe it off completely before switching colors. I found
the easiest way to add the colors is to do all the dots of one color on
all your nails, then do your dots of the next color on all your nails
and so on until you have used all your colors and each dot is filled.
This prevents having to keep opening the same color over and over for
each nail. Allow them to dry thoroughly before progressing to the final
step. Feel free to use whatever colors you wish and as many as you want.
You can also leave some of the pots empty as shown is the image for
this step.</span></span></h3>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Step 4: <i>Apply a clear top coat.</i></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span class="step_body long_text">Once your design is completely
dry apply a clear top coat. This will add shine and protect your hard
work from chips. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Step 5: <i>Enjoy your fabulous new mani!</i></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_97gN8imNJ72KiYaOhkJXrBAqiP22VxKApohTFpIwEDLredyVAZpEKWsc1rMHgnvbl6P__lAQ41FjaNHOCHIgtPYceqrDKF8k-RiCeY9xqv47CjdpasXM0xGmL3_D1njIQqX3PwU/s1600/leoparddd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_97gN8imNJ72KiYaOhkJXrBAqiP22VxKApohTFpIwEDLredyVAZpEKWsc1rMHgnvbl6P__lAQ41FjaNHOCHIgtPYceqrDKF8k-RiCeY9xqv47CjdpasXM0xGmL3_D1njIQqX3PwU/s320/leoparddd.jpeg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this pic online of the same mani so you can see better.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="step_body long_text"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now go on, skedaddle outta here and go show off your new sexy tips. </span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><i><b><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /></b></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>**TIP**</b></i> Reapply the clear top coat daily to prolong the life of your nail art and ward off chips and flaking.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, there is one more thing I have been dying to share before I sign off. </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="step_body long_text"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>So, for any of you who have seen pics of me you will know my hair was super long (too my bum!) and I ALWAYS wore it just thrown up in a messy bun so I didn't have to deal with it. This infuriated my hubby because he always loved my long hair but never EVER saw it down. Well, I got sick and tired of sporting the exact same style <i>every single day</i> so I decided it was time for a bit of a makeover. I really wanted a <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?q=scene+hair&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=t8u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ejFRT7S-Noba0QHBqsDoDQ&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=578" target="_blank">"Scene"</a> haircut, (Click on it if you aren't familiar with the term) which consists of short, choppy layer up top, longer bottom layer and side swept bangs. </span><br />
<span class="step_body long_text"> So, I went to <a href="http://www.firstchoice.com/" target="_blank">First Choice Haircutters</a> (Mainly because it was cheapest) where an old friend of mine works and got my hair cut by her. I was forced to drag the munchkins with me while i got my hair cut because Daddy was working every day. Luckily, the ladies there were super nice and they let the kiddos sit on the hairdressing seats (You know the ones that spin and move up and down) which kept them pretty entertained. Well, that and Mommy's IPod Touch! Anyways, she did an absolutely amazing job and I freakin' love my new 'do . I hadn't dyed my hair since before Nelly was born so I decided to go full out and color it too. I bought a box of <a href="http://www.garnier.ca/_en/_ca/haircolour/index.aspx" target="_blank">Garnier Nutrisse</a> Cream Permanent Dye in #30, <i>Intense Dark Brown</i> and a box of <a href="http://www.splathaircolor.com/" target="_blank">Splat </a>Semi-Permanent Dye + Bleach Kit in <i>Luscious Raspberries. </i> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C_n3ga7Y1pMXh80AHAxXXRx7GO332F3tBrQ41mA8sh3rCM7voAWxi4EaGgoCdZ_8tKfaows-qTqTf3ABf22E0YPpQYB-w3aBeVglqfwyCoA-ByMeKkYvGjjfe0imq1g8TiTM7_vH/s1600/NC30_l.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C_n3ga7Y1pMXh80AHAxXXRx7GO332F3tBrQ41mA8sh3rCM7voAWxi4EaGgoCdZ_8tKfaows-qTqTf3ABf22E0YPpQYB-w3aBeVglqfwyCoA-ByMeKkYvGjjfe0imq1g8TiTM7_vH/s200/NC30_l.png" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garnier Nutrisse Cream in #30, Intense Dark Brown, 7.99$</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WPH47K5pXohiHxkSWmhSwgo2wphXMc74KhkLzKVDF2F5DEBJwd39thlpvnJAhde4K5E8R7so0am7NySFxiDQOphEQlMKXZjBbTbGAg6HLtRhSaImxHdw0lAOWub89TMWyAaf09t3/s1600/300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WPH47K5pXohiHxkSWmhSwgo2wphXMc74KhkLzKVDF2F5DEBJwd39thlpvnJAhde4K5E8R7so0am7NySFxiDQOphEQlMKXZjBbTbGAg6HLtRhSaImxHdw0lAOWub89TMWyAaf09t3/s200/300.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splat Complete Dye & Bleach Kit in Luscious Raspberries, 14.99$</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="step_body long_text"> The plan was to dye my hair dark brown with red streaks throughout (Not like a redhead red, actual fire engine red) However, after dying my hair dark brown I was a bit iffy about applying bleach, which is necessary on dark hair so that the red shows up. I had heard too many horror stories of peoples hair falling out or turning green. So, I did a strand test to see how the bleach would turn out on my dark brown colored hair (You can do a strand test by snipping a strand from the bottom of your head, mixing equal parts, about a teaspoon, of bleach powder and developer and dying the strand as directed). This not only lets you know how long to leave the bleach on but also lets you see the color it will turn out as and whether or not there will be any adverse affects from the chemicals. After 40 minutes the strand lightened to a strawberry blond color...It seemed to work fine so I decided to give it a go on my real hair. I still chickened out with the full head of highlights though and instead opted for a red chunk in my bangs. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="step_body long_text">It turned out amazing though and it is the perfect shade of bright red. I absolutely loved the end results of my cut and color and I saved a ton of money by dying it myself as opposed to paying a salon instead. The actual hair cut cost me a little under 15$, the dye was 25$ for the two boxes, and then I spent another 20-25 bucks on some new hair products and accessories. So, the total was around 65$ and it was worth every penny. I feel like a whole new woman!! Here are some of my "After" pics, let me know what you think...</span><br />
<span class="step_body long_text"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="step_body long_text"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>New & Improved!!</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOdTWP-m0Xunn2yjJJ-gNyhBr5cavTYwZyI6iBZlKc8Mzx8C7DXIFWEBNdDmbkWgbFQha6fVPdkrrEVjNMKY1-XDdejQuvS5uAT0E558x4f_RJZ9vldRpW9hqFO38zgvKAooZnqZU/s1600/scenepicjenn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOdTWP-m0Xunn2yjJJ-gNyhBr5cavTYwZyI6iBZlKc8Mzx8C7DXIFWEBNdDmbkWgbFQha6fVPdkrrEVjNMKY1-XDdejQuvS5uAT0E558x4f_RJZ9vldRpW9hqFO38zgvKAooZnqZU/s400/scenepicjenn1.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span class="step_body long_text"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk57h8m_aWjBHnRscdpQbBwMkcxNfsweSoH9u66fYrabc8ZrDXtRpa3_uvxZNRYLN5hziPNd1WnuanSxX1evZBSNXmpmAUqXlXU_3MWtviTsalHABqUcJdRReC748TpwmTL_BAH4WJ/s1600/fullbody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk57h8m_aWjBHnRscdpQbBwMkcxNfsweSoH9u66fYrabc8ZrDXtRpa3_uvxZNRYLN5hziPNd1WnuanSxX1evZBSNXmpmAUqXlXU_3MWtviTsalHABqUcJdRReC748TpwmTL_BAH4WJ/s640/fullbody.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And what, bitchezz?? haha:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="step_body long_text">This is how it looks in a pony...</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbrEZaBEuRJMCJAxkV3RTTiyT8t8_OGSKdZLbkbLBi90FcMU2EG4wsQxgk9DP0PhAHL_Njjr5aYft5oZUN5-JoOeeEfq5RCHblUAyBRYMvJxabVXavkc6YhPOzzAejIlIR7TSTcFW/s1600/scenepony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbrEZaBEuRJMCJAxkV3RTTiyT8t8_OGSKdZLbkbLBi90FcMU2EG4wsQxgk9DP0PhAHL_Njjr5aYft5oZUN5-JoOeeEfq5RCHblUAyBRYMvJxabVXavkc6YhPOzzAejIlIR7TSTcFW/s320/scenepony.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="step_body long_text"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="step_body long_text"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="step_body long_text">I challenge all you ladies to go out and splurge a bit on something just for you!! Whether it be a full cut and color or just a new lipstick, just <i>something </i>to boost your spirits a bit. In order to be the very best Mom's that we can be it is essential to make an effort to take care of ourselves as well as our children. It is CRAZY how much more confident and happy I feel from something as simple as a new cut and color. And what better time then the present to get purdied up for the Summer! If any of you decide to treat yourselves please share the before and after pictures with me:) We all deserve some "ME" time now and then!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1High St, Moncton, NB E1C, Canada46.095155 -64.793316746.084143499999996 -64.8130577 46.1061665 -64.773575700000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-16736455566525716822012-02-15T10:36:00.000-08:002012-02-15T10:36:31.927-08:00I've been robbed!! And other news...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hello again...Long time no talk my fellow bloggy pals. I am willing to take full responsibility for my lack of new content.</b></span><br />
<br />
Life has been pretty crazy and my poor blog ended up taking the back burner for a while. I had (and still have) lots of ideas and great posts in the works but every time I sat down and tried to pound one out I was interrupted by a whining child or a phone call or some other situation that required my immediate and full attention. I give major props to Mommy bloggers who post new content daily because it is NOT easy!<br />
<br />
First of all, my house got broken into. Yeah, you heard me right, someone came into my house and stole my shit. Not just my shit but my son's stuff too. How freakin' low can you go! The person left all my DVD'S, electronics, guns, everything that a normal, reasonable bandit would nab and took...wait for it...My sons god damn model cars. Now this may not sound like that big of a deal but it truly is. You see, my son is five years old and throughout the past few years we have been buying him a new model car for each holiday, etc. These models were all still in the boxes and he had about eight of them. Do you know how hard it is to get a five year old not to open the boxes and actually play with the cars!! They were collectables and they meant a lot to my son. So, this really ticked me off and I was ready to kill to put it mildly. They also took some other things including random tools and a hand saw from our shed. But it is the cars that got me. I mean stealing from me or the hubby is one thing, but stealing from a child, are you fuckin kidding me?!? So we checked the local pawn shops starting with the one at the top of our street. We know the owner pretty well so we went in and asked if someone had brought in model cars and what do we see sitting on the shelf? The saw! Well, the owner gave us some BS story and a fake name until we mentioned that they had stolen from our son. As soon as we said that the owner's girlfriend was like "They stole from your five year old son?!" and I told her about the cars.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhHFoQa4W4V1Ux9ei4t33377XoHNvglKkGvbi50IrdQj0nPl_nBkjPH-qLuYUXkyMzDoBcGAV0BUl1Wi5acsvq8eRqwnVcxkaZS9yOuSiOz56QumgML9mf6Ew0Nj9b4b5jJOWWqGM/s1600/thief.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhHFoQa4W4V1Ux9ei4t33377XoHNvglKkGvbi50IrdQj0nPl_nBkjPH-qLuYUXkyMzDoBcGAV0BUl1Wi5acsvq8eRqwnVcxkaZS9yOuSiOz56QumgML9mf6Ew0Nj9b4b5jJOWWqGM/s320/thief.gif" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently, nobody can be trusted... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, she spilled the beans and told us that they had, in fact, bought the models off of someone and told us exactly who it was. Turns out the person(s) who broke in were people we knew VERY well and had actually considered friends. They knew my son, knew the models were his and how much they meant to him and still took them. It is all pretty pathetic on their part, really. After several failed attempts to get the people who did it to get the stuff back it looks like we are going to have to buy it back. Now you may be wondering why we didn't call the police, so let me tell you why. Speaking from past experience, the cops are pretty useless when it comes to your shit being stolen, especially if you do not have receipts to prove you purchased the merchandise in the first place. And I do not have the receipts for the cars so there is basically sweet-f**k-all that can be done on that front. So yeah, looks like getting our stuff back is going to cost us.<br />
<br />
In other news, my washing machine is a piece of shit. So when I moved in to my house the washer and dryer was included already. It isn't a brand new, top of the line machine, it is a Maytag top loader, but it gets the job done. So on Sunday I threw a load in and then when I went back in to check if it was done the clothes were sitting in a machine full of water. Huh, I figured I had simply forgotten to turn it on or something so I turned it on and left. Went back to check and the machine was off again. What the eff? I asked my hubs if he shut off the machine and he said no. I knew he wouldn't have anyways because he stays as far away from the washer and dryer as possible. So I turned it back on and stayed there to see what was going on. Well, it worked for like 30 seconds then shut off. WTF!? I turned it on again...same thing. I did eventually get the load done but it took FOREVER because it kept stopping. Then once it got to the spin cycle it seemed to e working fine again so I left it at that.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEKQxRAbDDYi-MnNJfWr9ZGTI2Rlm508gPJnjAl8Btf9ih3eGhjaMnbQNwv3V8BPrMWhvjgR5uMERtZB1mtZ4ALk0d_cOQc1JLC397TRFKxgwzurWUVaC5TBxxAo7XJQQf8_cY6jA/s1600/28349294-260x260-0-0_Maytag+Maytag+Ensignia+3+3+cu+ft+Super+Capacity+To.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEKQxRAbDDYi-MnNJfWr9ZGTI2Rlm508gPJnjAl8Btf9ih3eGhjaMnbQNwv3V8BPrMWhvjgR5uMERtZB1mtZ4ALk0d_cOQc1JLC397TRFKxgwzurWUVaC5TBxxAo7XJQQf8_cY6jA/s400/28349294-260x260-0-0_Maytag+Maytag+Ensignia+3+3+cu+ft+Super+Capacity+To.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Maytag machine I have...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fast forward to the next day. I throw a load in and go about my business. I go back to check and the washer is full of water but will not agitate, spin or drain. So I tried everything i could think of including changing the settings, redistributing the clothes, taking some out, checking the door latch, I even tripped the breaker in case that was the issue but no dice. So now the washer is full of water ad clothes and I can't even drain the damn thing. I am going to have to take the clothes out and ring them out by hand I guess, although the are still dirty so I don't know what I am going to do about that. And of course the load was all of our best clothes because that is just how my life goes. I called and emailed my landlord that day and still haven't heard back so I am more than a little miffed. Not to mention my laundry pile is growing larger by the hour. I am going to have to bring a few loads up to the MIL's house so I can have some clean clothes for my son for school, hubby for work and the baby. I am NOT impressed and it had better be fixed soon.<br />
<br />
Speaking of broken things, my toilet is also screwed. I went to flush it the other day and heard a snap and the handle went jiggling and wouldn't flush. I lifted up the lid and saw that the chain had snapped. Not only that but it had been jimmy-rigged with a hair elastic before it broke so I am assuming it has broke before and this was the previous tenants solution. So now i have to take the lid off and stick my hand in the nasty water to flush the toilet because the chain is too short to fix it. On top of all that, my house is STILL infested with mice and it is getting out of control. They are multiplying faster then we can catch them and I hear them EVERYWHERE, all night long scratching and chewing. I am putting my foot down and my landlord is going to have to send in an exterminator because it is growing increasingly obvious that a few traps here and there just ain't gonna cut it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnBzIRQOy5__0Mj2EBtfMOdvGUKhYOUYr58RIp2CLA4FGpKHhCOk2sGSPPjS7UNtmAzcv9LfUyy0PEB2QC-iGp1mtLOZT_f7kvTZffAxODdnFw5AgIKaisw_lvsISrzRaXB8_rBhC/s1600/slumlord.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnBzIRQOy5__0Mj2EBtfMOdvGUKhYOUYr58RIp2CLA4FGpKHhCOk2sGSPPjS7UNtmAzcv9LfUyy0PEB2QC-iGp1mtLOZT_f7kvTZffAxODdnFw5AgIKaisw_lvsISrzRaXB8_rBhC/s400/slumlord.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, maybe he isn't a "slumlord" but there is definitely room for improvement.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am at my wits end with this place, seriously. I DO like the actual house but lately it has been one thing after another as far as problems. And truthfully, my landlord isn't really on top of the repairs. He is always trying to send the dude upstairs down to fix it or do it himself (Neither of which, by the way, are actual "repair men"). I am guessing this is because he is too stingy to pay to have it done right. Whatever, I am putting my foot down and shit is gonna have to start being done right or I am going to have to move, as much as I don't want to. A few minor things here and there is one thing but a mice infestation and major appliances dying left and right is quite another.<br />
<br />
Okay, I am done my rant now. I feel much better after getting that off of my chest. Maybe I should just forward this post to my landlord. On a lighter note...I have a super cool post coming up next. I am actually going to be posting it later on today, I just didn't want to add it on to this post because it is too good to mix with this rant. So, I am always surfing YouTube checking out new music videos and artists, looking for some new tunes to listen to. I love hip hop and frequently come across young artists who are trying to make a name for themselves in the industry. You know, you have all seen the comments on YouTube that are like "I am an aspiring rapper/singer/actor and I am trying to make a name for myself and reach my dreams. Please thumbs up this comment so more people can see it and help make my dreams come true..." or something along those lines. Most people ignore them, and I usually do to, but I came across a comment along those lines a while back and clicked on it out of curiosity. What I found was a talented young rapper who is trying to get noticed and gain a following on Youtube. I checked out a few of his tracks and was pleasantly surprised. So, to mix things up a bit I am going to do a bit of a feature on this rapper. It will be an interview and if you like hip hop I encourage you to check it out and give the kid a chance. Check back later for the full interview and more. Lates!<br />
<br />
Oh and please bear with me as far as pictures go. My camera is among the missing so I haven't been able to take any new pictures of anything for posts. I am hoping to find it but in the meantime I have to resort to using pictures that are already on my computer. Sorry!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-67319059351887897832012-02-02T21:44:00.000-08:002012-02-02T22:48:54.835-08:00Poetry Picnic: New Poetry Book "Mixed Up Musings Of A Broken Soul"<b><span style="font-size: large;">If you enjoy dark poetry based on real life experiences then I have the perfect thing for you:)</span></b><br />
<br />
First, I want to say sorry that I haven't been posting as much as I usually do. I do have a few juicy posts in the works though. In the meantime I wanted drop by to tell you guys that I would LOVE it if you could take a minute out of your super busy Mommy lives to check out my book of poetry that I am working on. It is a work in progress so there are still many more poems that need to be added, however, there are presently about thirteen poems in it. It is a darker style of poetry based on topics such as life, addiction, personal struggles, despair and love. If you dig dark and haunting poetry as well as poetry based on real life experiences then I can guarantee you will enjoy reading it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUObSRMHF0FcIv3hEfBtcW0ilkDwp0v_sVoQ2YzyJpm-ivOlIQQAH2KTjjrqzfvdboiFvTE1pnFbC3K8ZgvRTZGaNSQt7hudwdeAWj7Zz79vt1uLmFE1adQB0BOP6LYtBzZ230629/s1600/brokengirlaa" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUObSRMHF0FcIv3hEfBtcW0ilkDwp0v_sVoQ2YzyJpm-ivOlIQQAH2KTjjrqzfvdboiFvTE1pnFbC3K8ZgvRTZGaNSQt7hudwdeAWj7Zz79vt1uLmFE1adQB0BOP6LYtBzZ230629/s200/brokengirlaa" width="160" /></a></div>
<br />
If you do stop by to check it out please leave me a comment letting me know what you think. Whether you liked it or not, if you could relate to it, what your first impression was, etc. I love hearing how people are affected by my poetry and it makes the writing process so much more worthwhile when you know you are reaching people on a personal and emotional level. I will still continue to post poems randomly on my blog but I thought it would be cool to have all my works together for those who enjoy reading poetry.<br />
<br />
Well that's all for now. I will getting back to regular posting within the next week so bear with me. We have a few great posts coming up including a super cute and cheap Lollipop Flower Valentine tutorial, a few more OOTD'S and one I am especially excited for, a feature and interview with and up and coming rap artist.<br />
In the meantime <a href="http://www.worthyofpublishing.com/book.asp?book_ID=24795"><b>GO CHECK OUT MY POETRY BOOK HERE.</b></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I am forever is what she said...Lost in a dream that she never had." </i>-Jennifer Rawlines</span></b></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-11856748180089919842012-01-29T09:09:00.000-08:002012-01-29T09:12:33.641-08:00Poetry Picnic: The Wanderer<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Okay, so as I said a few posts ago, I am going to start posting some of my poetry I have written over the years.</b></span><br />
<br />
Poetry has always been a hobby of mine and a way to cope with different emotions and situations. The majority of my best work is from my high school days, probably as a result of all that teen angst, so that is when most of it was written. I will include the dates of when it was written on as many as I can. I am going to make it somewhat of a regular feature so you know I had to pick a catchy name for the title. So, without further adieu I present to you the first edition of my Poetry Picnic. This poem was written in 2004 when I was the tender age of 16. Enjoy:)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48rz17q9XzT2vumBuP83F3eVIpn8ghyqTrTwFgWpLlI4oJpbSkAls9SvYji_7jYyK33WrSkV9vE_w2TEw_i7yPhSIXAiaFcerDCZdRfB_FhZdBLhs__sW3mH_Zd0oRT68cckKUvW-/s1600/brokengirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48rz17q9XzT2vumBuP83F3eVIpn8ghyqTrTwFgWpLlI4oJpbSkAls9SvYji_7jYyK33WrSkV9vE_w2TEw_i7yPhSIXAiaFcerDCZdRfB_FhZdBLhs__sW3mH_Zd0oRT68cckKUvW-/s320/brokengirl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture from<a href="http://www.favim.com/"> favim.com</a> describes this poem perfectly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<u style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Wanderer</b></u><br />
<br />
Fear, Love, Pain, Denial,<br />
Staring out the window through the eyes of a child.<br />
<br />
Eyes full of fire, spirit gone wild<br />
Wanting to run, the finish the mile.<br />
<br />
Fought it, wanted it, lost it, gone.<br />
End of flowers, End of song.<br />
<br />
Stumbling, Falling, Moping Along.<br />
A picture of pain so delicately drawn.<br />
<br />
Won some, lost some, from high to low.<br />
Seeds of ambition that we'll never sow.<br />
<br />
To return I first must go,<br />
You'll probably never even know.<br />
<br />
Sinking, drowning, flailing, crying.<br />
Through I'm living, somethings dying.<br />
<br />
Gave up wanting, even trying.<br />
Reached the stars, No, I'm lying.<br />
<br />
Fought it, wanted it, lost it, gone.<br />
A picture of pain so delicately drawn.<br />
<br />
Been better yet best forgotten.<br />
The fruits of life are bruised and rotten.<br />
<br />
Waited outside to be brought in.<br />
Left behind is all I've gotten.<br />
<br />
Shouldn't, could have, didn't, don't.<br />
Wished and wanted, now I don't<br />
<br />
Always petted yet never stroked.<br />
Screamed and yelled but never spoke.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-3618309461514280032012-01-28T18:22:00.000-08:002012-01-28T18:22:19.358-08:00The Latest Randomness Plus An OOTD...<span style="font-size: large;">I have been uber busy in the last few days and have been unable to blog daily as a result.</span> <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have a lot of little projects going on at once, including an upcoming feature for my blog that I am pretty psyched about. I am also trying to balance finishing up some other posts that are floating around my head, taking care of the kiddos including Nelly who is suffering from a bout of nasty diarrhea. She literally blew up on my couch this morning and no matter how hard i scrub there is still a faint odour of shit. Then there's getting Coder to and from school each day in the damn snow with no car. I still have yet to finish making the lollipop Valentine's for his kindergarten class, which I will also be posting a tutorial of. <div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGl8lBzxa9LUj2yjF2FSI0MK-KSsNaZ_RLThG0t1xMY5TwPgE2QrulI_FORcKwa1ouTQIUtuBe4EXF1ug3IA1BZIONqMLZWVQIR7Ay5H2getUNS5AFv4BVaiRZQFYjAE8t91oEbv/s1600/Pic+676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGl8lBzxa9LUj2yjF2FSI0MK-KSsNaZ_RLThG0t1xMY5TwPgE2QrulI_FORcKwa1ouTQIUtuBe4EXF1ug3IA1BZIONqMLZWVQIR7Ay5H2getUNS5AFv4BVaiRZQFYjAE8t91oEbv/s400/Pic+676.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kiddos have been a bit sick....Poor Nelly has the runs..oops TMI?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
We just got another snow storm down yesterday and school was let out early on Friday. We have actually had a pretty mild winter so far but I have still had my fill of cold and snow. Spring can not come fast enough. I just find that I get so down and unmotivated in the winter months. The short days and lack of sunshine throw my system all out of whack. I feel like I am constantly trying to find new ways to keep my kids entertained as choruses of "I'm bored," ring out. I try to bring them out to play as much as possible but getting them all bundled up is such as hassle and usually results in the youngest whining that she is cold after twenty minutes. Or one of them needs to use the bathroom and I am forced to strip it all back off. I probably sound so negative right now and I am sure all those Mom's who spend hours doing outdoor activities with their families are probably tsk tsk-ing but it is the truth. We did make a few snowmen and manage to bring Coder skating on the pond at Centennial lately so the kids have had some outdoor fun this year so far. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYJYSgW24ObXyFhVdOGPMtp0SsXII_dOW6f58JRnIhnITwSpcvz0fYyuq5KWR7_34y5RHTi1VRoAdr5Nop0KjoN9NdFIa5Mx9wbXVDwrC134HP1jrlHTXuaBFF5PIg0b5pZ-eU6Yx/s1600/Pic+656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYJYSgW24ObXyFhVdOGPMtp0SsXII_dOW6f58JRnIhnITwSpcvz0fYyuq5KWR7_34y5RHTi1VRoAdr5Nop0KjoN9NdFIa5Mx9wbXVDwrC134HP1jrlHTXuaBFF5PIg0b5pZ-eU6Yx/s320/Pic+656.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All bundled up for a car ride to visit Nana and Pappy:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAAeO9-VKc3dbHJxB-WhBnNuR6T4X05M3N98U_ogawcCnbf8uNma-EY1xlixDZCRGMcmggL_vZhMnwGiKNyDmjLaXlOSlP_Y_ho4ygoVd1-rkRpLCN_ky47pTB3-NgZ8hgfMyWkpM/s1600/Pic+655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAAeO9-VKc3dbHJxB-WhBnNuR6T4X05M3N98U_ogawcCnbf8uNma-EY1xlixDZCRGMcmggL_vZhMnwGiKNyDmjLaXlOSlP_Y_ho4ygoVd1-rkRpLCN_ky47pTB3-NgZ8hgfMyWkpM/s320/Pic+655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another thing that has been keeping my occupied is that I have been looking into getting my GED or adult diploma lately. Pretty much everyone has heard of the G.E.D but another option many haven't heard of is the adult diploma. It is the equivalent of a regular high school diploma but it is for people who are 21 years old and up (to old for regular high school) and it only requires nine credits to graduate, as opposed to the usually twenty-something. You are only required to earn one credit in each basic subject including Science, Social Studies, Math, English, French, one Computer course and a few others I can't recall at the moment. My sister graduated high school via the adult diploma and is now working at a high paying law firm so it is definitely accepted as you high school equivalent at many places. The reason I want to do this is because i never graduated from high school and that is one of my biggest regrets ever. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I was several months pregnant when i stopped going and swore i would go back after the baby was born, but then i ended up spending all my time raising my son so I kept putting it off longer, then i got into drugs and what later blossomed into a full blown addiction and school was the last thing on my mind. However, now that i am clean and drug free, my son is in school and my daughter is older I feel it is the perfect time to go back to school. I sit home with the kids all day anyway as I am not working now so what do I have to lose? I know that Nanny Trites will watch Nelly while brother is in school if I can attend morning classes. I want to eventually go to college and pursue a real career once my children are older so some type of high school diploma is essential. Plus, the hubby raduated and I want to set a good example for my children as well because their education is very important to me. Anywho, I am finished yapping now so I will leave you with my latest outfit of the day. Enjoy:)<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">OOTD: Plaid is RAD</span></b></u></div>
</div>
<div>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0buduyzTcA0G3iJ-yBs_pRd4I7SalBfjJOhWLRsqD9cGUoSIElWpIeJJVcpdFWhETKEftpPm4wt2pNeWGePlINeUCWp2RbJq9yNhLiZRxPDUAmZ4gzCCiHI0HrvYxHquZCu9EXAp/s1600/Pic+667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0buduyzTcA0G3iJ-yBs_pRd4I7SalBfjJOhWLRsqD9cGUoSIElWpIeJJVcpdFWhETKEftpPm4wt2pNeWGePlINeUCWp2RbJq9yNhLiZRxPDUAmZ4gzCCiHI0HrvYxHquZCu9EXAp/s640/Pic+667.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Plaid Shirt- Urban Planet for 4$ (Regular 24.99$)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Black Low Cut Halter Top underneath- Urban Planet for 14.99$</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Distressed Jeans- Urban Planet for 29.99$</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ugg-Style Boots- Giant Tiger for 12.99$</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wide Black Belt- Urban Planet for 5$</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Black and Silver Necklace- Given to me by my sister</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Brown Sunglasses- Dollarama for 2$</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Messy ass house in the background- PRICELESS</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a closer looks at my belt and necklace (and boobs...oopsie)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabT56xTybn6C9iqAHyNiaE4abdpMyyhHHe55u68nGwGp_E3BmwVpVYZv0u6jzOMrZfhsGZxegfcbj-NB-LlQx0l6kyeKP5SJvny3jCdiIxsmfM0dkthtOjMe6VFsEuEgcxHPkYnlI/s1600/Pic+663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabT56xTybn6C9iqAHyNiaE4abdpMyyhHHe55u68nGwGp_E3BmwVpVYZv0u6jzOMrZfhsGZxegfcbj-NB-LlQx0l6kyeKP5SJvny3jCdiIxsmfM0dkthtOjMe6VFsEuEgcxHPkYnlI/s640/Pic+663.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u></div>
<div>
Drop by tomorrow for the debut of my first poetry post. As I said before I plan on poster a series of poems written by me throughout my angsty teen years through to now. They have been collecting dust in a box until now so I decided to dust them off and share them with the world (Well, at least with the blog world). Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think after you read them (Keep in mind that many of them were written when I was at the tender age of sixteen so be easy on me.) The first will go live (I love the sound of that..."It goes live at six..." I feel like a real reporter or something when I say it that way...It sounds much more exciting, AmIRight?) Later Peeps:)</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-12808688661729768262012-01-24T12:40:00.000-08:002012-01-24T12:40:57.028-08:00Jumping on The Wiggles Drama Bandwagon!<span style="font-size: large;"><b>With parents everywhere in an uproar over Sam Moran's dismissal from the children entertainment super group The Wiggles, I decided I may as well throw my opinion out there as well.</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XKRDOfVWao07J5j4MjBmbgujuny7moHyqVWppHbsrcGTmKk6UA7bQ7mOtaCeqci7YTwOd0w7_uM0Jd5tiqn1dhcVlNt9A2HPN_wsUs1Y8SSsmm6xZVp9bulBzWLtpIF4zg7xl1yy/s1600/Wiggles_Logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XKRDOfVWao07J5j4MjBmbgujuny7moHyqVWppHbsrcGTmKk6UA7bQ7mOtaCeqci7YTwOd0w7_uM0Jd5tiqn1dhcVlNt9A2HPN_wsUs1Y8SSsmm6xZVp9bulBzWLtpIF4zg7xl1yy/s320/Wiggles_Logo.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Normally, I could care less about something like this and would certainly not bother posting about it, however, I have been reading about it on every webpage I visit so I feel inclined to join the masses. I have actually brought my son to see The Wiggles in concert live in our hometown in New Brunswick, Canada a few years ago. Now, I would never pay fifty bucks for tickets to a children's show and I certainly didn't make an exception for The Wiggles. It happened like this: I was doing some shopping with my children at Giant Tiger on the same day that our local radio station happened to be doing a live, in-store show about the that weeks sales or whatever. I saw the radio guy at his booth doing his thing and pointed him out to my son because it was kind of neat seeing him talking into a mic and then hearing him on the radio over the loudspeaker at the same time.<br />
<br />
As we were walking away, the dude called after me and asked if my children liked The Wiggles. Truthfully, they didn't even really like them much at the time but, sensing he was about to give us something, I said yes anyways. Sure enough, he gave me four tickets to the Wiggles show that was happening the following week. As I was thanking him a passing mother overheard and quickly pounced him asking if he had anymore. He said that he didn't and that he had only brought four of them. Sensing that things were about to get ugly I began to hightail it out of there before I got rolled by some crazed mom for my Wiggles tickets. Sure enough, as I took one last look over my shoulder on the way out the door, this poor radio DJ was now surrounded by a hoard of Wiggles crazed mothers and crying snot-nosed kids demanding that they too should get free tickets. I am only lucky that I managed to escape unscathed. So, that my friends, is how we ended up with four tickets to the Wiggles.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFmaA3E-s6pWJ74GrZjJW1WuSynw_1kSxX3CTe2VgYJL9cZVRMr6EGRK1wU4dLQhBDJFvNkcHtQznyMZmf2tevTnnr99fCXfi5k13sCILzf2dhgJDB2eEYGA7hffyfmfRMus3hP51/s1600/wiggles+live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFmaA3E-s6pWJ74GrZjJW1WuSynw_1kSxX3CTe2VgYJL9cZVRMr6EGRK1wU4dLQhBDJFvNkcHtQznyMZmf2tevTnnr99fCXfi5k13sCILzf2dhgJDB2eEYGA7hffyfmfRMus3hP51/s400/wiggles+live.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Wiggles live show...It was chaos!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My daughter was too young at the time to attend the show and hubby looked less-than-thrilled when I asked him to come with us, so instead I invited the Hubby's sister and her son (who was the same age as Coder) to join us instead. Needless to say, the kids loved it, but my god it was the longest show of my life. Seriously, by the 25th song I wanted to veer off a cliff at high speeds. I will give them props though, The Wiggles sure know how to work a crowd. My son, like every other child in the place, was absolutely memorized. I, on the other hand, couldn't help but find the concept of grown men in skin tight bodysuits, singing for children, a tad creepy. But if it kept them entertained (and quiet) for a while, then who was I to judge? At the time I didn't know their names or that the yellow one wasn't one of the original members. I actually recall Googling them when I got home from the show later that evening to find out the back story on these four dude dancing in their colorful skivvies.<br />
<br />
<br />
Coder still watches the Wiggles from time to time, usually when there is nothing else on TV that interests him, but he never really got hooked on them like many other kids have. And thank God for that because I probably would have lost my shit after one week of listening to "Fruit Salad"...Anyways, when The Wiggles faces and names kept popping up all over the net yesterday I finally gave in and Googled it to see what the eff the big deal was. Now, from what I gather, everyone is in a huff because Sam Moran, the Yellow Wiggle (Thank you, Google) has been dropped from the gig because one of the original founding members (and the original Yellow Wiggle) who had been unable to perform for several years due to health issues, now wants to return to the limelight. From what I have gathered, Sam was Greg's understudy for some time and when Greg fell ill and was unable to perform Sam was hired to stand in for him for an undetermined amount of time. I also read that many people aren't angry simply because he was let go but because they feel he was treated unfairly in the process. So, let us look at the facts before I give you my final conclusion.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LOP0a9f-8xLCvCR6MSHswiRUs39EK9ocwxIc4J9iRrnTsiKNXexatG6MPAcHrvOoESUXHht6uSLqb_3es6bMoha7ppmdAR9Ck8KHzO7e-R_fC-PWhzBPZA6i6RL9JtWCsapd_6BN/s1600/wiggles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LOP0a9f-8xLCvCR6MSHswiRUs39EK9ocwxIc4J9iRrnTsiKNXexatG6MPAcHrvOoESUXHht6uSLqb_3es6bMoha7ppmdAR9Ck8KHzO7e-R_fC-PWhzBPZA6i6RL9JtWCsapd_6BN/s400/wiggles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Wiggles FAQ:</u></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Wiggles were formed when <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Greg Page met while studying Early Childhood Education at Sydney's Macquarie University. They began writing children's songs as a music project. They enlisted the assistance of Jeff Fatt, who played with Anthony in the popular 1980's band The Cockroaches, and The Wiggles were born. The Wiggles took the finished tape to ABC Music, who released a self-titled album in 1991. <a href="http://www.thewiggles.com.au/help/faq/6">MORE INFO...</a></span></li>
<li>Sam Moran, the understudy of the original yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, was hired to fill in for him. He has worked for The Wiggles for almost ten years, fulfilling his role as Greg's replacement in the public eye for five of those years.</li>
<li>Sam was payed an annual salary of around 200 000$ during his time performing as the Yellow dude. </li>
<li>Sam was let go with no prior warning because Greg, the original, has decided he is ready to return to the limelight.</li>
<li>Sam was payed a reported $60 000 bonus upon leaving. He will also recieve approxamately 60 000- 100 000$ per year in royalties.</li>
<li>During an interview on National TV regarding Sam's departure, Anthony Field, the blue Wiggle, dismissed Sam as being nothing more than a "hired hand"</li>
<li>While The Wiggles brought in approximately 28.2 million in 2011 alone, Sam was forced to accept less than 1% of that upon being dismissed.</li>
<li>He received no notice in advance of Greg's return or his dismissal.</li>
<li>Sam Moran has only wrote three songs out of all the Wiggles songs.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Now, I sort of have mixed feelings on this situation...</b><br />
<br />
In regards to them letting Sam go in favor of Greg's return I feel as though Sam knew going in what the role of an understudy entailed. He understood that he would only perform as a replacement in the event that Greg was unable to for one reason or another. It doesn't matter if it was for one week, one year or five years, an understudy is still an understudy. He obviously would have signed a contract upon entering into the position and was obviously aware the fact that he was only being hired on the basis that Greg had fallen ill. Yes, it was an awesome opportunity, but it was based solely on the fact that the ORIGINAL member was unable to perform for one reason or another. He got a chance that none of the other understudy's got and should be grateful for that.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuLn6reiw6duogWratnQfgrhHUmCkEYAouceF2UPDwjsE1WjsQbn4UsDIV7QSUeFmpRsOYbEv9CgQ9n7XVJUED1yh4MBccBgDQfNOk2rbXqOh6Z2YA7yJNo7XO9O8DB-nhnzOorlI/s1600/the-wiggles-sam-moran-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuLn6reiw6duogWratnQfgrhHUmCkEYAouceF2UPDwjsE1WjsQbn4UsDIV7QSUeFmpRsOYbEv9CgQ9n7XVJUED1yh4MBccBgDQfNOk2rbXqOh6Z2YA7yJNo7XO9O8DB-nhnzOorlI/s320/the-wiggles-sam-moran-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wiggle Sam Moran has been Greg's replacement for five years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
However, as with any job, the bottom line is that business is business. Greg was one of the founding members of The Wiggles; Sam was not. Sam did not create the Wiggles in any way, shape or form. He was simply an employer. Yes, he did a fantastic job and was brilliant on stage, but he did not help to create the franchise and was not there since the beginning. Being great at your job does not put you on the same level as the business owner. I think that 200 000$ is a great annual income considering that he went into the position as an understudy knowing that he may not get a chance to perform at all. He should be thankful that he was given the opportunity in the first place and I am sure that he is. Many people would love to have an opportunity like that including the other three understudy's, yet they didn't. As far as the 60 000$ goes, that was simply a bonus and a fair one in my opinion. Most people don't get the equivalent of four months pay upon being let go. It is unrealistic to expect him to receive a lions share of the profits when he was not the creator or owner of the business. I do not think that he can take the sole credit for their success. I think he did a great job and was loved by many children, but that never stopped it from being a business agreement. Also, do not forget that he will also be entitled to royalties of anywhere between 60 000$ to 100 000$ per year. During his run as the yellow Wiggle he has grossed at least a cool million dollars. That is more than generous for a position he probably never would have gotten had the original member not fallen ill. It is business, he entered into a contract and I do not believe that anything illegal has been done. I think that they are right to welcome the original member back with open arms. He was part of the original vision and without his contribution the Wiggles may not have came to be.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Now, with that out of the way I will say I do agree that they could have handled the publicity end of the whole situation a bit better. They didn't come off very well in the interviews and it most definitely didn't help their cause. Anthony Fields came off as ill-prepared for the question and looked like a deer in headlights, basically dismissing Sam as simply an employee who has come to the end of his contract. He claims that he has not spoke to Sam since and doesn't know how he is taking the news, and that they were going to leave it at that. It all came off as rather cold to me and I can definitely understand how people may have taken it the wrong way. To view the full interview CLICK HERE. With all of their millions you would think that their PR person would have sat them down and briefed them on how to answer questions regarding Sam's dismissal in a classier manner. I can see why their responses would have rubbed a few parents the wrong way.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApm5u7dgvPmfG8A86n0kgADiQR88Czj9q9ZujAIVK1F3b0oOKlcv60NNVzXhVaWGc7cTDjCJyJzJqdzY-43gKeNgZWe38H9MgX5707PaEIcm_ZXBRArM77a3DHawKpUlSHGHAVYZj/s1600/wiggles3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApm5u7dgvPmfG8A86n0kgADiQR88Czj9q9ZujAIVK1F3b0oOKlcv60NNVzXhVaWGc7cTDjCJyJzJqdzY-43gKeNgZWe38H9MgX5707PaEIcm_ZXBRArM77a3DHawKpUlSHGHAVYZj/s400/wiggles3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam taking a stroll just a few days after being let go...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I also agree with others who have stated that a couple members are getting up their age wise (pushing sixty!) and that they should be giving to some thought to the future of the Wiggles. As they years pass it will be harder and harder for them to jump around on stage and have the energy necessary for the gig. They should be starting to plan ahead and line up some replacement Wiggles for the next few years. Sam was a bit younger and did seem to have a lot of energy so hopefully they will keep him in mind for the future of the Wiggles. Other people have suggested adding Sam as a fifth member, but I can see why they would be hesitant to do that. They Wiggles rose to success as a foursome and all of their skits and shows are based on that foursome. Throw in a fifth member and it throws it all off. Why mess with a good thing?<br />
<br />
In regards to the claim that the children will all be devastated by the change...Yeah, I don't think that is going to be much of an issue. Kids adapt very well to change and truthfully I don't think my son would even notice that it is a different man playing the Yellow Wiggle. Most children are just down for the singing and dancing, they don't really give much thought to the "man behind the mask," so to say. As for parents claiming that they are boycotting The Wiggles and refusing to let their children watch it anymore: You are being RIDICULOUS!. Your kids don't give two shits about all of the politics!! They don't care about what goes on behind the scenes. They just want to watch four colorful dudes sing, dance and drive around in the Big Red Car!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4X6hfIS-pjTLWOXtuX2O9P7GOCAjQPsSZ1650L5q1PhiEdln_gif8wvBRhuWbNECYc0JoNdgkCUzg1umWBDOcUdq7pBpvBqa6yzisjQLy4kmi8KA8BtQXgiQ-ZKwDx2M1X9nD_9n/s1600/wiggles5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4X6hfIS-pjTLWOXtuX2O9P7GOCAjQPsSZ1650L5q1PhiEdln_gif8wvBRhuWbNECYc0JoNdgkCUzg1umWBDOcUdq7pBpvBqa6yzisjQLy4kmi8KA8BtQXgiQ-ZKwDx2M1X9nD_9n/s400/wiggles5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All in all, I think that Sam should just be thankful for the time he was given with The Wiggles, the opportunity to travel around the world and bring joy to children. He brought in over a million dollars during his stint as the Yellow wiggles and I am sure that this will open many doors for him in the future. He seems to be handling it very well and I am sure he will enjoy the chance to spend time with his wife and child after touring around the world for several years. The public is taking this much harder then he appears to be and it is quite silly. Business is business, that's the way the cookies crumbles, C'est La Vie and all that jazz. As for Greg, I am sure it feels great to be back and I think that he will also do a fine job!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VPYUUSfyPjD5514SlsH_I31blkG_pCbG3MlEQcTuD27tr_AjGIlcjamVksLd-u5zN-x2XO0xLJT3kCCqsiVNT0fNiNT3uRCL2LwlU0PSTqwyxXoSkJiGjdhwmOZOo33cDZ9oOOyI/s1600/wiggles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VPYUUSfyPjD5514SlsH_I31blkG_pCbG3MlEQcTuD27tr_AjGIlcjamVksLd-u5zN-x2XO0xLJT3kCCqsiVNT0fNiNT3uRCL2LwlU0PSTqwyxXoSkJiGjdhwmOZOo33cDZ9oOOyI/s400/wiggles2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg Page, the original Yellow Wiggle, is probably thrilled to be back...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, what are your guy's opinions on The Wiggles situation? Do you think they could have handled it better or do you think they were fair? Should Greg be able to come back after all that time away or should he just accept that he is getting older and that Sam has been doing a great job in his absence? Please share...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-91266418201267149412012-01-24T10:42:00.000-08:002012-01-24T10:42:57.964-08:00Couldn't Resist Sharing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am pretty sure that this image I cam across made my week! Snoop Dogg just posted it to Google+ and I think it is freakin' HI-LAR-IOUS!! Man, I love Snoop!! ~Tha Dogg-Father~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmxwlUC5pbeTTfr9fuiww2PEJeY7zNbm012VFQvnhIexjSMTKEntcMaMyJCcS0nBNeP_I3sPJ2sHgL93H-p0FfzjjWUD9AiNPWpO48HG02axnybUyxxFa81Z6gFMV7RlP4sb5clVs/s1600/402590_10150510290219807_11455644806_8903909_1327171120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmxwlUC5pbeTTfr9fuiww2PEJeY7zNbm012VFQvnhIexjSMTKEntcMaMyJCcS0nBNeP_I3sPJ2sHgL93H-p0FfzjjWUD9AiNPWpO48HG02axnybUyxxFa81Z6gFMV7RlP4sb5clVs/s400/402590_10150510290219807_11455644806_8903909_1327171120_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-53801790275510569132012-01-23T05:58:00.000-08:002012-01-23T11:42:10.601-08:00YAY! I won the "Versatile Blogger Award"!!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Two Tiny Tyrants been awarded the "Versatile Blogger Award" by Mel and Kat, over at <a href="http://twomomsalittletimeandakeyboard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Two Moms, a Little Time, and a Keyboard</a>! I encourage everyone to take a minute to go check out their fabulous blog. Thank you very much for the award ladies!</b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR7TnXcxFLUX0ebcjuwZZyKi71bydg9OyuzKvMguahyphenhyphenyKuLNZF5jpW0mmLmflXH2CCsjIiX9d9t9YrsVy5y7GaiKQZOK4Bfp9GqiWfLlF9K_oYwLjDturdk60RDnyIPQ0C3tvEXju/s1600/blog-award-150x150.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR7TnXcxFLUX0ebcjuwZZyKi71bydg9OyuzKvMguahyphenhyphenyKuLNZF5jpW0mmLmflXH2CCsjIiX9d9t9YrsVy5y7GaiKQZOK4Bfp9GqiWfLlF9K_oYwLjDturdk60RDnyIPQ0C3tvEXju/s1600/blog-award-150x150.png" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Recipients of this award are asked to:</b></span></span><br />
<ul style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank the person that nominated their blog for the award with a backlink to them.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">List 7 things about themselves.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Award 15 newly discovered blogs with the award and notify them of the award.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Here is my list of seven interesting facts about myself:</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) Deep down I am the biggest nerd ever! I am always reading something whether it be a book, a magazine or the back of every product box I purchase. I cannot sit at the table and eat without reading a book at the same time. I am also obsessed with conspiracy theories, documentaries and the paranormal.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) I cannot sleep without a fan blowing directly on me, even during the winter. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">3) </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">In high school I was a total punk rocker. I had red hair, ripped clothes with patches all over them and chains. I stopped washing my hair for like a month in grade ten trying to give </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">myself dreadlocks. I listened to punk (The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Black Flag), old rock (Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath) and jam bands (Phish, grateful dead, etc). I was all about hip hop prior to high school and I have since reverted back to the rap scene simply for its upbeat tempo and fast pace, although I still appreciate all musical genres from time to time.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">4) </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">My biological father and my step-father who raised me both passed away. My biological father died of Cancer when I was younger and my step-father, whom I still call Dad and raised me since I was six, passed away in 2010 from an accident resulting in severe head trauma. I love and miss them both dearly<3</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">5) I struggled with an addiction to opiates and cocaine for about four years. I went on <a href="http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs6/6096/index.htm" target="_blank">Methadone</a> to help combat the opiate withdrawals and I am happy to tell you that I have been clean for two and a half years now and couldn't be happier. I am finally loving life again and wake up each morning looking forward to the day ahead. I am finally the person and mother that I always knew I could be! I am finally healthy and happy again:)</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">6) </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I do my hair and makeup (and get dressed) every single morning even if I am not going anywhere. It helps to give me the confidence to face the day! Plus, you never know when an opportunity may present itself or who you may run into!</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">7) I am a poet! I have written poetry for many years now. I prefer writing darker poetry as opposed to the cheerful stuff. I have books full of my poetry from as far back as elementary school to now. I have had my poetry used at an addiction rehab facility for addicts. I frequently write poems for other people for many different occasions. I have written poems for others that they have requested for a lost loved one (to be read at the funeral service), for people in prison, for significant others, etc. I read a poem I wrote at my step-dad's funeral and then folded it up and left it beside his urn. It was the only copy of that poem I had and I wanted him to have it. So, if anyone needs a poem, email me!</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Here are 15 the fantastic blogs that I am awarding the "Versatile Blogger Award" to:</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">1) <a href="http://makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Making It Feel Like Home</a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">2) <a href="http://www.plumberrypie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Plumberry Pie</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">3) <a href="http://www.inlovebythebeach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">In Love by the Beach</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">4) <a href="http://www.momsmaintaininginsanity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Maintaining Insanity</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">5) <a href="http://www.mommieagain.com/">Mommie...Again</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">6) <a href="http://www.minasarah.blogspot.com/">Creating Chaos</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">7) <a href="http://www.abcand123learning.com/">ABC and 123</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">8) <a href="http://www.farmerswifey.com/">Farmer's Wifey</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">9) <a href="http://www.mothermopher.blogspot.com/">Mother Mopher</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">10) <a href="http://www.toocuteformomjeans.blogspot.com/">Too Cute for Mom Jeans</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">11) <a href="http://www.cantelmofamily.blogspot.com/">Keeping up with the Cantelmos</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">12) <a href="http://www.sayitrahshay.com/">Say it Rah-shay</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">13) <a href="http://www.mylife-wannatrade.blogspot.com/">Yep, This is my Life...Wanna Trade?</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">14) <a href="http://thisismeinspired.blogspot.com/">Girl...Inspired</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">15) <a href="http://www.carrigansjoy.blogspot.com/">Carrigan's Joy</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Be sure to take some time to check out all of these awesome blogs!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">PS- If anyone knows how to change my text background color back to the original please tell me!! I cannot find my original color on the colors tab...UGH!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-42162782756148924672012-01-17T12:11:00.000-08:002012-01-17T12:38:11.721-08:00Top 8 Websites That I Use Daily<b><span style="font-size: large;">While I still prefer to keep track off many things with good old fashion pen and paper, there is no arguing that the Internet has made scheduling and task management much easier.</span></b><br />
<br />
I have compiled this list of my favorite programs for each section of my life and why I like them. Some of them I have been using for a few years now and some of them I have only been using for a month or so. If you know of any websites or programs in any of these categories that you think I will like better then what I am currently using then please don't hesitate to share in the comments.<br />
<br />
<b>Email: <span style="font-size: large;">Gmail</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62u5AWsLBvJ5LoEM_lifM7oHGiDmGUN66bWlkOFMmFdBj5kqjdxzLvNTUgUjXh8hSy1MAGWU3LTHCrOea4VEVcRgCPXK2l0eTv28ptuPrzNhUjSCxfzkNOaupEHkv5wGODW3QTMfM/s1600/gmails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62u5AWsLBvJ5LoEM_lifM7oHGiDmGUN66bWlkOFMmFdBj5kqjdxzLvNTUgUjXh8hSy1MAGWU3LTHCrOea4VEVcRgCPXK2l0eTv28ptuPrzNhUjSCxfzkNOaupEHkv5wGODW3QTMfM/s1600/gmails.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
For my everyday email I use Gmail. I have two separate Gmail accounts, one for personal and one for blogging and everything related to my blog. I love Gmail because it is simple to use and I really love organizing my emails with their "labeling" system. You can file emails under their preexisting labels or create you own labels. bI have it broken into categories like Personal, Receipts, and Household. I then have it broken down further with sub-categories like Bills, Subscriptions, School, etc. I also love that I can choose to have certain emails bypass my inbox altogether and go straight to the folder of my choice. For example I have all emails from NB Power and Roger's go straight to my Bills folder. It saves me having to read through a bunch of unnecessary mail and keeps my inbox free of clutter. Another thing I LOVE, is that you can use Remember The Milk as an Add-On with Gmail and view your To-Do List/Tasks right on the same page as your inbox.Which brings me to the next website...<br />
<br />
<b>To-Do List/ Scheduling- <span style="font-size: large;">Remember The Milk</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EJYaVrRJzk9jr5FYA8vZlLbWoIN-qtOD96o6t_bh-NpH1fMoyXpOq7eQXuq2kOq8NNKggzOv9pEYYpxW56Nij_xZkMgrwLBqkUV8zYJCgrd8lKjDr5H3mj-sOR0xbP9ch6disSrL/s1600/RTM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EJYaVrRJzk9jr5FYA8vZlLbWoIN-qtOD96o6t_bh-NpH1fMoyXpOq7eQXuq2kOq8NNKggzOv9pEYYpxW56Nij_xZkMgrwLBqkUV8zYJCgrd8lKjDr5H3mj-sOR0xbP9ch6disSrL/s1600/RTM.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I am currently using Remember The Milk for my to-do lists, scheduling activities, appointments and managing my families day-to-day life. I have only been using RTM for about a month now so I have yet to unlock its full potential. So far I like that I can organise tasks by family member and level of priority. I like being able to "Tag" tasks and then I can search for multiple tasks under the same tag. As I mentioned earlier it can be used as an ad-on with Gmail and my To-do list appears right next to my inbox when I sign on Gmail, saving me from having to check the RTM website every day. One thing that drives me nutso about RTM, however, is that there is an icon of a calender when scheduling dates, but when you click it nothing happens. There is no pop-up calender to chose a date from!! Yes, you can type in "next Friday" and it will automatically detect the date, but I need to actually see a calender in front of me when scheduling a date in order to see the actual day. As a result, I have to open another program to check a calender, which kind of defeats the purpose of saving time. A pop-up calender when selecting a date is standard on any scheduling program so I don't really understand how Remember The Milk didn't think of this. This is the one thing preventing my RTM experience from being the most efficient. If anyone can suggest a better program for task management and to do list please let me know as I am definitely open to trying a new one.<br />
<br />
<b>Pictures- <span style="font-size: large;">Picasa</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDOSuvdssD149PIsRIapM7FqO_Yykko28Y6ekldsdsjmqf8wCambXk_gnOnZg7b7_Ey-QaT_CxBGeoJOiXTViDIhaUHuTarfVAEpj9kPz8-jRTPh5XAXb0XjXCNQyBSQvvWXGPKa-/s1600/picas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDOSuvdssD149PIsRIapM7FqO_Yykko28Y6ekldsdsjmqf8wCambXk_gnOnZg7b7_Ey-QaT_CxBGeoJOiXTViDIhaUHuTarfVAEpj9kPz8-jRTPh5XAXb0XjXCNQyBSQvvWXGPKa-/s320/picas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have been using Picasa to manage my photos for over a year now and I love it. I upload tons of photos on a monthly basis and Picasa allows me to upload straight from my camera to Picasa. It is easy to organise pictures and you can edit them with Picnik from Picasa. It also has online albums and the option to email folders or single photos which makes sharing with family and friends extremely easy. Adding captions to photos is another option I really like because it is kind of like when you write on the back of a real photograph, you can add details, the loaction or just a cute comment and it can be seen on the online albums. When I am looking for a picture from my blog it allows me to browse through Picasa, instead of tiny thumbnails, and simply copy the path and post to Blogger. It is much easier for me that way because I can find a picture, crop and edit it and then add it to my blog all from Picasa.<br />
<br />
<b>Music and Burning CD'S- <span style="font-size: large;">Blubster</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdFQGHOhjkN8gXJf9yWqOLOv_UEo01TXj6xgYA8An_bcwvH0N7Tu3RCD1betFQO5Yp69YR8dRXMmvsNnW7qoJw1YtT5o63au4HbZCtZsOVX_V-2GuR5bwmBlRhuSDMCY7fhoEAbLE/s1600/blubster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdFQGHOhjkN8gXJf9yWqOLOv_UEo01TXj6xgYA8An_bcwvH0N7Tu3RCD1betFQO5Yp69YR8dRXMmvsNnW7qoJw1YtT5o63au4HbZCtZsOVX_V-2GuR5bwmBlRhuSDMCY7fhoEAbLE/s320/blubster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have been through so many music programs, including Bearshare, Kazaa, Limewire, and many of them caused issues on my computer or just didn't work for me for one reason or another. I have been using Blubster for about a year and a half now and it has been the best so far. Mainly because it hasn't slowed down my computer or gave me a virus...yet. I use it to download songs, organise my music and burn Cd's. Well actually, I don't actually use Blubster to burn them, I use Windows Media Player to burn them, but I download them on Blubster then simply drag the songs from Blubster to my Media Player burn list and push burn. It is super simple! One downside to Blubster is that while they have millions of songs, songs that are less popular and not as well known can be difficult to impossible to find. It is frustrating when you have a song you really like but you cannot find it. However, I have yet to find something better (Feel free to recommend one:) so in the meantime, Blubster it is!<br />
<br />
<b>Music and Videos- <span style="font-size: large;">YouTube</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByhxpt4s-v3XCbn9PcVsQXBEzgySEOKTda-_XAMt3ld_6n5KrIY2xyDhMtDmaFV-Cx_qtFSnEp0b7pyqWx3YCLrm9jqhB1kEzRTk5Wjrvj_XuI7NBZ6aZcZtJAfSCeY2IkuMdukzg/s1600/youtube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByhxpt4s-v3XCbn9PcVsQXBEzgySEOKTda-_XAMt3ld_6n5KrIY2xyDhMtDmaFV-Cx_qtFSnEp0b7pyqWx3YCLrm9jqhB1kEzRTk5Wjrvj_XuI7NBZ6aZcZtJAfSCeY2IkuMdukzg/s1600/youtube.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Okay, I know that Youtube isn't really a website I "need" but I honestly can't go without it. I use Youtube every single day. If I am looking for new music to listen to or I want to just listen to music without downloading it, Youtube is what I use. I also use it all the time to find tutorials on things such as crafts, makeup, etc. While I love written tutorials, I am the kind of person who has to see something being done as opposed to just reading about it. The downside to so much Youtube is that with Roger's High Speed Internet you have a monthly cap on how much GB you can use (I think it is usually 60GB, but you can pay for a higher cap) and once you reach 100% of your usage then you are charged by the Gigabyte. It is stupid and I learnt the hard way that Youtube sucks up usage like there's no tomorrow. Trust me when you are streaming videos it doesn't take long to reach your limit. But until I can find a better ISP I am gonna keep on YouTube-ing.<br />
<br />
<b>Organizing/Bookmarking Projects/Recipes/ETC-<span style="font-size: large;">Pinterest</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5BXi1MsIe4YSUfJ6VPdX5jqzjtQsbtRkP3hC8mRG6KEs1LLtQFpECcdmqFiCKAG17h0gOIlilHQF-xvYwVfMuHtda7E1UGmuvxquA69X8ejV2LAvTFv5nYKGPvdbKBZXDXo4yLPf/s1600/pinterest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5BXi1MsIe4YSUfJ6VPdX5jqzjtQsbtRkP3hC8mRG6KEs1LLtQFpECcdmqFiCKAG17h0gOIlilHQF-xvYwVfMuHtda7E1UGmuvxquA69X8ejV2LAvTFv5nYKGPvdbKBZXDXo4yLPf/s320/pinterest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Until about a week ago I had yet to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon. Not because I didn't want to but because I could not get them to send me a damn invite! Finally, after begging another blogger on their comments to send me an invite, I finally got to see what I was missing. And boy, was I missing out!! I absolutely LOVE Pinterest now for quickly bookmarking things such as projects, activities for the kids, cleaning tips, you name it! I love how you can make several different bloards for whatever you wish. Right now I have a pinboard for Valentine's Activities, one for Organisation and Cleaning Tips, Projects/crafts to Try, etc. Plus, the "PIN IT" button on my toolbar makes it a cinch. So to the creators of Pinterest: THANK YOU!<br />
<br />
<b>Financial- <span style="font-size: large;">Scotiabank Online</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHTPgt3T6EClu02q69bQci6zrFGpdNIHRC0dr8aPOMT1Cx1OWIGtkb4POYCT5Rkg9nVEU1EeQuF1-GjTMMGNP5zPzCpNcwtXr7PZwHJtjfPGnVbTA4a20FN1MXWuc3NcNilzCFpxC/s1600/scotiabanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHTPgt3T6EClu02q69bQci6zrFGpdNIHRC0dr8aPOMT1Cx1OWIGtkb4POYCT5Rkg9nVEU1EeQuF1-GjTMMGNP5zPzCpNcwtXr7PZwHJtjfPGnVbTA4a20FN1MXWuc3NcNilzCFpxC/s320/scotiabanks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For financial stuff I simply use my regular banks online banking service. I do almost all of my day-to-day banking online because it is just easier then calling them or dragging the kids all the way to the bank. Pretty much anything I can do over the phone or in person I can do online (except cashing cheques and withdrawing cash obviously). I can pay bills, transfer funds, check my balances, review my statements, order cheques, etc. It saves time and is environmentally friendly (no more paper statements!) However, I do NOT get any emails from my bank containing any personal or banking information. This is because I don't feel that email is secure enough, and I was right!! My Gmail account just got hacked last week!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Organisation/Meal Planning/Calender- <span style="font-size: large;">Cozi</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuwmzuUA1kwSeoIEmkNrryEoMt11xpGzrl0TnKFfe-cDuc5fYsWuCXLe3k4vgLgF1F-Emb0W4LTD7Af0ZEycVObyWx6gOOX1ucGq3op_g1F2-_d8I1QuKEJk1-OKdojan-N0BjU78/s1600/cozi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuwmzuUA1kwSeoIEmkNrryEoMt11xpGzrl0TnKFfe-cDuc5fYsWuCXLe3k4vgLgF1F-Emb0W4LTD7Af0ZEycVObyWx6gOOX1ucGq3op_g1F2-_d8I1QuKEJk1-OKdojan-N0BjU78/s1600/cozi.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
While I use Remember The Milk for my To-Do lists, I use Cozi for all my other family planning and organisation. I use the calender to schedule appointments, activities, school stuff, birthdays, etc. There is also a meal planning feature, a journal, shopping lists and more. I am currently using the Flylady version because I LOVE Flylady. There are also some neat extras and ad-ons available for download such as the Cozi desktop widget (To display your tasks on your desktop) or the Cozi screensaver (which not only posts reminders but also a slide show of all your photos on your screensaver). Just make sure they are compatible with your version of Windows before you download them. I downloaded both and turns out I don't have the right version of Windows for them to work properly: Overall, the Cozi webpage is fairly easy to use and navigate and I will continue to use it until I find something better.<br />
<br />
So, there you have it! It is so hard for me to remember what life was like before all these great programs! Or imagine having to go without them! So, what types of websites can you just not live without? Feel free to suggest any programs that you think I will like better!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-57724601425216443222012-01-12T21:35:00.000-08:002012-01-13T09:02:14.087-08:00Thursday Tidbits: Back 2 School, Gmail Hacker and more!<span style="font-size: large;"><b>After a long and eventful Christmas break it's back to the same old hum-drum of normal day-to-day life. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>Coder returned to school yesterday after two weeks off and I think that he is glad to be back in school. While he enjoyed staying up a bit later and not getting up so early, he seemed to be getting a bit antsy and was asking when he got to go back to school. I think all kids are like that. They don't want to go to school, yet when they are on a long break they start to realise how boring it can be and long to return. They start to miss their friends and having something to do each day.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjfwV81RaJv8GLmRR_WopiSukeKG1LTvL0C3oh7JKaJP-DyP9sURDlN7_34xb7SFAz2IlXTdWnJpMS432MN8TYXYMs4lhjOjtdBdv8NsBnmGXS3pUrCgsngkAq9ax0_Qh1OoPC5Of/s1600/codyschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjfwV81RaJv8GLmRR_WopiSukeKG1LTvL0C3oh7JKaJP-DyP9sURDlN7_34xb7SFAz2IlXTdWnJpMS432MN8TYXYMs4lhjOjtdBdv8NsBnmGXS3pUrCgsngkAq9ax0_Qh1OoPC5Of/s320/codyschool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was begging to go back to school!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I was a kid I LOVED school. I was a total goody-goody, teacher's pet in every sense of the word. I got the Principal's Choice Award each year from Kindergarten through to Grade 8. I take my children's education very seriously and I try my hardest to be involved with Coder's schooling. I never got to graduate from high school because I got pregnant with my son and dropped out in grade 11, one year away from graduating. Then between raising a child and having my daughter, my education took the back burner. However, I am only missing a few credits so I have been really looking into getting my <a href="http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/post-secondary_education_training_and_labour/post-secondary_education/content/apprenticeship_andcertification/adult_high_schooldiploma.html" target="_blank">adult-diploma</a>, which is the equivalent of a high school diploma except it is for people over 21 and only requires nine credits, one in each subject. My hubby graduated in 2006 and one of my biggest regrets ever is not finishing high school.<br />
<br />
So yeah, I try to stay involved in any way I can. I attend all parent teacher meetings, I try to volunteer to help in any way possible. For example, before Christmas I donated a big bag of Christmas craft supplies that I had purchased at the dollar store (Plus, a few I already had kicking around). It only cost me ten dollars but it was hugely appreciated. The entire kindergarten population (Two classes) all got to make a Christmas craft from the supplies I donated. It makes me feel good when I can help out like that. I also make sure to send treats for his class for each class party and holiday. Speaking of which, I have decided what I am going to make for his class for Valentine's so you can expect a tutorial on that in the next few weeks. In my opinion, handmade is so much more special and memorable than some expensive character-themed, store bought Valentine. I try to include something edible with each little holiday treat for his class. However, because allergies (especially peanut) are so rampant in schools these days, I try to stick to pre-packaged treats such as lollipops, candy canes, etc. As much as I would love to hand out hand baked goodies I have this horrible fear of some kid dying from a peanut allergy because of my cookie. I will have to save the baked goods for the next bake sale, though to tell you the truth I am not much of a baker anyways. My cookies always seem to come out burnt or too soft.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_ynVtVzIMCb0ui5xkQDHyBrvk8Etk2eACT-4eeTL4BIWAhUSCeo967GWzKKK4jDvIY55Dpe_QPHskX4ogkVNfKK1KQO3Z6ZEWAtc4bUJL4fBWygS0pDItBnCnmtU81DpsWPrH9Mo/s320/craft.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donate your craft odds and ends to your child's class.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_ynVtVzIMCb0ui5xkQDHyBrvk8Etk2eACT-4eeTL4BIWAhUSCeo967GWzKKK4jDvIY55Dpe_QPHskX4ogkVNfKK1KQO3Z6ZEWAtc4bUJL4fBWygS0pDItBnCnmtU81DpsWPrH9Mo/s1600/craft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
I haven't been able to crank out a very inspirational post in last day or two because I have had a lot going on here at home. Nelly woke up in the middle of the night last night burning right up with a fever, but I gave her some children's Advil and she fell back asleep. She was better the next day, but still a bit warm. Coder is off to school right now. I had to get Hubby's sister to come pick him up and bring him to school because it is FREEZING outside and Hubby just went back to work. That is good because it is extra money but bad because now he cannot drive Coder to school or pick him up and it has been like minus thirty degrees every single day. Coder is gone to Nanny's right now, where is having a sleepover with his cousins. There probably won't be any school tomorrow because we are supposed to get a big snowstorm. If there does end up being school then Pappy will most likely drive him there in the morning. Hub's couldn't go pick him up because he is in the process of changing our tires on the car right now. I really need to get my drivers licence so I don't have to rely on other people to drive me places. Don't get me wrong, I love walking, just not in the cold, and especially not when I have to drag Nelly out into it as well. <br />
<br />
Speaking of Coder, I have to bring him back to the dentist this month to get some cavities filled. He has three cavities but one of them is pretty big and he has been complaining about it lately. Even though I have dental coverage, we still have to pay 70$ for the initial consultation (we will get it reimbursed later though). They are going to decide if they should put him to sleep for the procedure or not. I am voting yes on that one because he freaked at his last dentist appointment and I had to basically pin him down and hold his mouth open. I think part of it was that the dentist wasn't used to seeing kids and she showed him the sharp tool they were going to use which freaked him right out. I couldn't believe it when she showed it too him and then pressed it against his fingernail to show him what she was going to do on his tooth with it. I understand that she meant well and was trying to show him it doesn't hurt, but you do NOT show a five year old (four at the time) a sharp tool and tell them you are going to stick it in their mouth and poke their teeth with it!! Bad idea...So, I am guessing he will have to be put asleep. The largest cavity is on his front tooth and truthfully, I wish it would just fall out already. But it is important to treat cavities even if they are baby teeth because they can affect the adult teeth and prevent them from coming in right. I am trying to be hyper vigilant about Nelly's dental care also as to prevent cavities with her. We tried to brush Coder's teeth at least twice daily but he still got cavities. I honestly think dental health is somewhat genetic because I know people who are anal about teeth brushing and stuff who get cavities, then I know people who never brush and have none. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ96vtnQPBP8gJ3OQaub9YdVO_I7L6Kf5uK_CcQXeUAwKE9BqjscFiQwnb6MOPtr4c7vMNOniqrRPjhe3MrUxFoMcZScbHotx23M2stSeujjjg39xWUox5MnLtGsXOP2WLytdl6uA/s1600/teeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ96vtnQPBP8gJ3OQaub9YdVO_I7L6Kf5uK_CcQXeUAwKE9BqjscFiQwnb6MOPtr4c7vMNOniqrRPjhe3MrUxFoMcZScbHotx23M2stSeujjjg39xWUox5MnLtGsXOP2WLytdl6uA/s320/teeth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start brushing young. You'll be the one paying if you don't...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another issue I have been having has to do with my electricity and heating of my home. I got my bill yesterday and almost had a friggin stroke. It was 350$ for ONE MONTH! I don't know how much power costs in the US of A, but in Canada, well New Brunswick at least, that is crazy for a basement apartment. I am running my own washer and dryer so I know that is contributing a chunk of it, but still. I rarely have my heat on during the day, I only turn it up a bit at night. Plus, I am able to control the heat in each individual room and only about three of the six rooms ever have heat actually on in them. But I am having trouble with the heater in my hallways, as in it won't turn off. Although, I can control the heat in every room in my house, but the hall one is broken and is running constantly. However, it is not a large heater and nt enough to account for the insane bill. I already know that this place isn't properly insulated and there is cold air coming in from every window and door. I have heard that you can request to have an air test done to determine if there is outside air coming in. I am going to go to the Dollar store in the meantime and buy some weather stripping to fill the cracks in the doors and windows. I hope to resolve this issue soon, though, because it is costing me money. When I first hooked up my services, NB Power required a 400$ security deposit, the equivalent of an average two months payments. My bill just from last month cost almost the same as what they consider an average amount for two months! Something is up when your bill suddenly increases by almost 150$. When i find out what the issue is I will let you know. Any tips or advice on how to lower your power consumption would be greatly appreciated.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir3FudsbjYqdHsrwZZuFlxB_es7WW3PWhF_kJI8n0PbrlIyQMfg0UIRFiVrX5vUyWGwHLyrRNPvFAygH75eB4m0eUHNhKpq8YOS9gjXuFI0RNK3TTvaeUipJPLnhLwp527-bzi-46/s1600/nb+power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir3FudsbjYqdHsrwZZuFlxB_es7WW3PWhF_kJI8n0PbrlIyQMfg0UIRFiVrX5vUyWGwHLyrRNPvFAygH75eB4m0eUHNhKpq8YOS9gjXuFI0RNK3TTvaeUipJPLnhLwp527-bzi-46/s320/nb+power.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NB Power, why do you hate me?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, another thing I wanted to mention! So, I was checking my Gmail the other night and when I signed in a pop-up appeared saying that someone had accessed my account from somewhere in Bosnia. WTF? Sure enough there was a sign-in by some unknown IP address that originated in Bosnia. The first thing I thought was what did they read?? I checked through all my emails to see if there was any personal info that they could have gotten their hands on but (luckily) although I do my banking online, I do NOT receive my statements or any banking info by email. It is scary to think that if I had that some random person with less-than-honest intentions could have access to my funds. It was a very good eye opener to me that the Internet and even password protected accounts are not as secure as we think. I read a really neat article I wanted to share on the subject, titled<span style="font-size: small;"> "5 Things We All Do That Make Hackers' Lives Incredibly Easy."</span> While it is written as somewhat in a humorous manner, it really does offer some great info on how to better protect ourselves online. So obviously, after my Gmail hack, I had to change my password to something new. Now my old password, I had thought was pretty secure, but the truth is that any password that consists of everyday words can be hacked fairly easily. There are programs that will scan every possible word until it finds a match and when it detects a match, BAM!! The hackers are in! It is really that simple. As quoted from the article "The average new computer can guess 10 million passwords a second. For reference, the unabridged Oxford English Dictionary lists about 600,000 words, and the average adult knows a fraction of that". And as far as adding numbers to the word, well
all the does is increase the time it takes to detect the password by
about a half second.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfZZ7fyh-G5q7gdJZlKoQMF5drnZo-0kItMpOLjgJG5uM0iLOhGKCJEq_XGk3CwD3HzhxReKFukdvnFNSCdQokOTytMAe-yyg7YItjAitQ_e0dXQYVP2pGY6aXHxnIDQigqTZaAGh/s1600/hacked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfZZ7fyh-G5q7gdJZlKoQMF5drnZo-0kItMpOLjgJG5uM0iLOhGKCJEq_XGk3CwD3HzhxReKFukdvnFNSCdQokOTytMAe-yyg7YItjAitQ_e0dXQYVP2pGY6aXHxnIDQigqTZaAGh/s320/hacked.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, I wanted to change my password to something that wasn't a word, but I knew it had to be something I could still remember. Enter the article I just mentioned. They had a great trick to make a secure yet easy to remember password. All you do is take a sentence (or part of a song, a favourite quote, or whatever...Anything that you know you will be able to remember with relative ease). For example, lets take the phrase: "I Kissed A Girl And I liked It"(I really didn't, I swear). All you do is take the first letter from each word, throw in a few uppercase and some lowercase and voila! You have a new secure password of: IkAgAiLi. Then, for even more security add a few numbers, preferably something easy to recall yet not obvious like your birth date. Lets say, the last three digits of your social security. So your new password would be: IkAgAiLi586. Much more difficult to hack then, say, Katyperryrocks87. There are also many more great tips throughout the article, such as why the answers to secret password recovery questions make it easier for hackers to access our accounts. But if you want to know why that is then you will have to go read it yourself!!<br />
<br />
So, I was trying to think of some ideas for new weekly post topics and I remembered the pile of poems that I have stashed away that I had written over the years. I have always been a writer and have always loved the English language and the written word. As a teen I filled pages upon pages of angsty, who-am-I-really, depressed poetry. However, within all that depressed, teeny-bopper poetry, I did crank out a few real gems. Some of them I really love and i am very proud of. So, I decided that instead of those pages collecting dust in my drawer, I would dust them off and share them with you guys. So, once or twice a week, I am going to share one of my poems with you. Please let me know what you think, okay? If you like them, then I will make them a regular feature:) The first poem will debut tomorrow so be sure to come check it out. But be prepared, I have always been into the darker side of poetry I just can't do unicorns and rainbows. So don't expect some cheery poem about flowers and bunnies, expect something darker. Much darker (MUHAHAHA).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP9ydgJPSvrXPtBCGGNyOj8hY69CQOSZJdcMc-LgELnFyVnhWKhv5cBEMPPJbMthnXQ6tZfkOslYwN_Fw0fxV-HSo5YDPhET-oElHDw3Gmwy-p-D-_LXO-iogQZ8xLN6vTq0QSxEh/s1600/darkeye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP9ydgJPSvrXPtBCGGNyOj8hY69CQOSZJdcMc-LgELnFyVnhWKhv5cBEMPPJbMthnXQ6tZfkOslYwN_Fw0fxV-HSo5YDPhET-oElHDw3Gmwy-p-D-_LXO-iogQZ8xLN6vTq0QSxEh/s320/darkeye.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This adequately describes my poetic stylings...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I frequently (even to this day) write poetry for other people. I write poems for people for various occasions such as: for a lost loved one, for a significant other, etc. So if anyone wants a poem written please feel free to email me and i will see what I can do! I simply get the person to provide me with some facts and a bit of background on the topic they wish to have a poem about, whether it be a person or whatever, and then I take it from there and write a great poem:) I have had my poetry read at funerals, in rehab centres for addiction, etc. I would love to write a poem for you so shoot me an email!! Alright, I will shut up now. Class dismissed!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-54075855238536653252012-01-09T14:30:00.000-08:002012-01-24T12:46:01.206-08:00Interview With A Kindergartener<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>As I was sitting in front of my computer trying to muster up some inspiration for today's blog post, I remembered something I had read a while back in which a Mom asked her child a series of questions and posted the interview on her blog.</b></span><br />
<br />
I can't remember what the blog name was and I tried to find it again but came up empty-handed. Anyways, I thought it was a super cute idea and I decided to give it a shot. Kids come up with the craziest things so I thought it would be fun to interview Coder for today's post. The questions and responses that are in bold are me asking questions and commenting on his answers. The responses in normal text are his answers word for word, I did not change them at all. I think it is totally cute and I am thinking of interviewing him again each year with the same questions. I think it would be neat to see how his answers change as he gets older. Here is what Coder, who is five years old, had to say:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1) What is your happiest memory? </b><br />
Going at the fair.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FL-OkTKKhQkYbcNf-CES1NFrsvRK4Vth5Wo6UHQYVXAs-4fAkwDHrpJWmi5S3J_xLGXI87ZxiQgoFVDiwdPNCIwd48oGs-F-eGWfRTGQ7Yk6pHg1BDB1-D3csDYHC3JZgWlCrV1I/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FL-OkTKKhQkYbcNf-CES1NFrsvRK4Vth5Wo6UHQYVXAs-4fAkwDHrpJWmi5S3J_xLGXI87ZxiQgoFVDiwdPNCIwd48oGs-F-eGWfRTGQ7Yk6pHg1BDB1-D3csDYHC3JZgWlCrV1I/s320/IMG_2367.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Roller Coaster with Daddy!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>(He means Crystal Palace, which we just went to yesterday. I guess his memory doesn't reach too far in the past).</b><br />
<b><br />2) What do you like most about being a kid?</b><br />
Cuz I get to have fun with my mom and dad and I get to play and stuff like that.<br />
<br />
<b>3) One word to describe you would be _______. </b><br />
Silly!<br />
<br />
<b>4) If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? </b><br />
A moose because I like them.<br />
<b>(LOL, Alrighty then, a moose it is!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>5) Whats your least favourite animal?</b><br />
Frog <b> </b><br />
<b>(What did a frog ever do to you?)</b><br />
<br />
<b>6) What do you like to do for fun? </b><br />
Jump on the trampoline and swing.<br />
<b>(He hasn't jumped on the trampoline since the summer because we put it away for the winter but I guess he liked it more than I thought!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>7) Tell me something funny.</b><br />
Imagine everything was made out of biscuits.<b> </b><br />
<b>(Haha, what the hell?!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>8) What is your favourite thing to do? Why? </b><br />
Ride my bike because I like to do tricks and stunts.<b> </b><br />
<b>(This is definitely true, he LOVES riding his bike. He has been riding with no training wheels since he was three. He is quite the daredevil and loves trying to do stunts. We even put trick pegs on his bike for him. You can see him in action by clicking <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx26_JOXeUM" target="_blank">HERE</a>.)</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmNNA35twLREXhl02-t7cpRGXbf80yjZkucFzJgp_ZGcUZ8jDu8ZdfvFuufU3Ge3NEsYnDtqRzhN1Dzbyj3cs_JaARDoGJ-bSygIOmzw_AV-TqyFNpR2GEMCkR1ZisPHCLxC-Ovy8/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmNNA35twLREXhl02-t7cpRGXbf80yjZkucFzJgp_ZGcUZ8jDu8ZdfvFuufU3Ge3NEsYnDtqRzhN1Dzbyj3cs_JaARDoGJ-bSygIOmzw_AV-TqyFNpR2GEMCkR1ZisPHCLxC-Ovy8/s320/IMG_1398.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little stunt man:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>9) What is your favourite thing to do at school?</b><br />
Do art class.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>10) What is your least favourite thing about school?</b><br />
When I have to be quiet and read books.<br />
<b>(*Sigh* Kindergarten ain't easy...)</b><br />
<br />
<b>11) What do you love most about your sister? </b><br />
That she does funny things and that I get to play with her and chase her.<br />
<br />
<b>12) What do you want to be when you grow up?</b><br />
Dirt bike rider.<br />
<b>(This is his answer every single time he is asked this question. At least the kid has goals.)</b><br />
<br />
<b>13) What is your favourite thing to do in the summer? </b><br />
Go to the beach.<br />
<b>(Me too!)</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QfaKMVDrc8gQTnwUY-jGiz7vfPhwzHvtRZW2ZB1xmH4ziSRKbH6hB6OQwVeluDI4-UbiHpEpIjjX1EdBEcuzG8qQrPnVJiFeARyvUBoSeoMcQdUfxKWeqLFVrYI5u3zpZYGgQw77/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QfaKMVDrc8gQTnwUY-jGiz7vfPhwzHvtRZW2ZB1xmH4ziSRKbH6hB6OQwVeluDI4-UbiHpEpIjjX1EdBEcuzG8qQrPnVJiFeARyvUBoSeoMcQdUfxKWeqLFVrYI5u3zpZYGgQw77/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach is my favorite too!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>14) What is the grossest thing you can think of?</b><br />
A dead earwig. <br />
<b>(LOL, What the actual f*ck!?!? From the mind of a child)</b><br />
<br />
<b>15) How old is your Mom? </b><br />
21<br />
<b>(Pretty darn close!! I am actually 24. At least he guessed under and not older!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>16) What is your favourite colour? </b><br />
Orange<br />
<b>(Also his answer every time he is asked his favourite colour or anytime you tell him to pick a colour/flavor)</b><br />
<br />
<b>17) What is your favourite food?</b><br />
Grapes and strawberries. And tacos.<br />
<b>(He does love strawberries...Grapes..not so much but he does like them. Who doesn't love tacos?!)</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bbY1KqJOBExhAuvKq86QwYZv4RRZON4krh9b19J6pAgKySscTy88WKoxXm3Rck22utp1EcdQ7F4U82A8LIOr6QhmGUNZy7RA4BzVrfwAwD2kKR0sAr2HZ-gNvOwmnU8O7uSG4b2A/s1600/New06_Toopy_Binoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bbY1KqJOBExhAuvKq86QwYZv4RRZON4krh9b19J6pAgKySscTy88WKoxXm3Rck22utp1EcdQ7F4U82A8LIOr6QhmGUNZy7RA4BzVrfwAwD2kKR0sAr2HZ-gNvOwmnU8O7uSG4b2A/s320/New06_Toopy_Binoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you not like these guys?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>18) What is your favourite TV show?</b><br />
Toopy and Binou<br />
<b>(Toopy is pretty funny...Not even gonna lie.)</b><br />
<br />
<b>19) What do you like most about mommy?</b><br />
Because you cook my favourite food.<br />
<b>(Yes. Yes, I do.)</b><br />
<br />
<b>20) What is your favourite thing about daddy?</b><br />
Because I get to play with him and work with him and he teaches me grown up things that he does.<br />
<b>(Awww. Such a Dad's boy)</b><br />
<br />
<b>21) What super power do you wish you had?</b><br />
Be super strong and see through walls.<br />
<br />
<b>22) Whats your favourite song?</b><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_wso8Zo7-A" target="_blank">Little guy </a><br />
<b>(*Heart melts* It is a song by Gord Bamford, about his son,that him and Daddy listen too together)</b><br />
<br />
<b>23) Whats your favourite toy?</b><br />
My little Lego's and my dump truck.<br />
<b>(If I step on one more Lego in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom...They freakin kill)</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mlyFqH5-7eVlaoCXBBu2gkXCliuFq9gIjbFmVCJ3GFJj34I7EGjVafxIuRwiGQAIFSiVX6VnJB2N_X2ewdOG5xpTxNSeiLtL6EPEiB-xuJqGX3SCk3nQuD56bOndqfUTUtNzUrF3/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mlyFqH5-7eVlaoCXBBu2gkXCliuFq9gIjbFmVCJ3GFJj34I7EGjVafxIuRwiGQAIFSiVX6VnJB2N_X2ewdOG5xpTxNSeiLtL6EPEiB-xuJqGX3SCk3nQuD56bOndqfUTUtNzUrF3/s320/IMG_2291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He does have a crap load of Lego...As you can see here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>24) Where is your favourite place to go?</b><br />
The dollar store to get a toy. I am going there later.<br />
<b>(Oh, are you now? And who is paying?)</b><br />
<br />
<b>25) What are you scared off?</b><br />
When icicles hang from my window I am scared because I think they are scary teeth. And lions and tigers. <b> </b><br />
<b>(I am pretty sure he threw lions and tigers in there when he noticed I was looking at him like he was nuts...Which he is! But aren't we all..)</b><br />
<br />
<b>26) How does your mom make you laugh?</b><br />
When you tickle me.<br />
<br />
<b>27) What do you think your mom does when you’re not around?</b><br />
Clean<br />
<b>(Smart kid!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>28) What is your mom really good at?</b><br />
Drawing and painting things that are hard.<br />
<b>(At least he thinks I'm good at something..)</b><br />
<br />
<b>29) What is your mom not very good at?</b><br />
Driving a car.<br />
<b>(Again...Smart kid!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>30) What is your dad really good at?</b><br />
Taking care of me.<br />
<b>(I'm pretty sure Mommy does most of that but I'll let you get away with that answer because it's cute.)</b><br />
<br />
<b>31) What is your mom not very good at?</b><br />
Lifting super heavy things<br />
<b>(LOL, Don't tell Daddy that, you will deflate his ego)</b><br />
<br />
<b>32) What colour are your eyes?</b><br />
*Runs to the bathroom mirror* Green<br />
<b>(Actually, they're blue. Apparently my child is colour blind...)</b><br />
<br />
<b>33) How do you know your mom loves you?</b><br />
Cuz you kiss me and hug me.<br />
<b>(<3)</b><br />
<br />
<b>34) What do you and your mom do together?</b><br />
Do crafts<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qG54hu3A2UVVVXoQ4-mQvVwaf6RgBuv2J982ZaBSMsobFmCdJ5LmoAHSqrHK5uYWqhs4IzzhF9qxQbl3tY9tVYYYobwfyHZBp_d3jB8lVE-tutM7RiVIRj-bG5OwZIQlMwc9cprl/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qG54hu3A2UVVVXoQ4-mQvVwaf6RgBuv2J982ZaBSMsobFmCdJ5LmoAHSqrHK5uYWqhs4IzzhF9qxQbl3tY9tVYYYobwfyHZBp_d3jB8lVE-tutM7RiVIRj-bG5OwZIQlMwc9cprl/s320/IMG_2273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves crafting with Mommy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>35) When is the last time you got in trouble?</b><br />
When I pushed my sister today.<br />
<b>(Little shit...)</b><br />
<br />
<b>36) What do you like to do with sissy?</b><br />
I like to pick her up<br />
<b>(This usually ends in him dropping her and tears...From her hitting the floor. And me screaming)</b><br />
<br />
<b>37) What do you like to do with daddy?</b><br />
Go for drives far away<br />
<br />
<b>38) What is your favourite game to play?</b><br />
Mario, with Tyson.<br />
<b>(He means Mario Cart on Nintendo DSI)</b><br />
<br />
<b>39) Who is your best friend?</b><br />
Tyson<br />
<b>(His older cousin. The Hubby's sister's son, who is 10...I think)</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinat7Ois27g5PkjN2uQeZOSos9kGravpZC4DF_jlg_msguvgAIkKdbJQppyMnyJKLVIb7mkTRPHveYrOMOzn3AyGSTUi-FP-7wBw-PiNRlrWLy_I6Nmw2WbnV05S6U8DOMEoXvDyU3/s1600/IMG_2058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinat7Ois27g5PkjN2uQeZOSos9kGravpZC4DF_jlg_msguvgAIkKdbJQppyMnyJKLVIb7mkTRPHveYrOMOzn3AyGSTUi-FP-7wBw-PiNRlrWLy_I6Nmw2WbnV05S6U8DOMEoXvDyU3/s320/IMG_2058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coder and Tyson, his BFF & partner in crime!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>40) What is your teachers name?</b><br />
Mrs.Gallant<br />
<br />
<b>41) What grade are you in?</b><br />
Grade four<br />
<b>(Errr..No. You are in Kindergarten, but good guess) </b><br />
<br />
<b>42) Whats is your favourite number?</b><br />
One hundred and two thousand, together.<br />
<b>(For some reason this is his go-to number when asked anything involving numbers. The time, his age, how many toes does he have? One hundred and two thousand it is!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>43) Tell me a joke.</b><br />
<br />
Your a nana <b>(banana)</b> face.<br />
<br />
Knock Knock<br />
Who's there? <br />
Banana Peel<br />
Banana Peel, Who?<br />
Banana Peel, Apple Peel *Bursts out laughing*<br />
<b>(AHAHAH. Now that's a knee slapper. Comedic gold!) </b><br />
<br />
<b>44) Tell me something you learnt at school?</b><br />
How to stand in a line.<br />
<b>(At least they're learning something!)</b><br />
<br />
<b>45) What's your favourite holiday?</b><br />
Christmas<br />
<b>(I wonder why? Could it have something to do with the shitload of presents?)</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOGNl0PNc6MJGBBqDVzfIwhjRcJKi3ItZ4Um4IQMkZh3Fmy7ocLfEwXwJeINVXk11cUPDHBAq8zPFOuM4YPeTfl5PobjlB1yrYCzwG5EtJxowu7FmRaAiu5yI3IWgr_9ZEV27F3Hv/s1600/IMG_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOGNl0PNc6MJGBBqDVzfIwhjRcJKi3ItZ4Um4IQMkZh3Fmy7ocLfEwXwJeINVXk11cUPDHBAq8zPFOuM4YPeTfl5PobjlB1yrYCzwG5EtJxowu7FmRaAiu5yI3IWgr_9ZEV27F3Hv/s320/IMG_2185.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could this be why Christmas is his fave holiday?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
After I finished the Q & A, Coder decided that he wanted to interview Mommy. I limited him to five questions to narrow the chances of a potentially awkward question. This is what he came up with:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Coder Interviews Mommy:</u></b></span> (Coder in <b>BOLD</b>, Mommy in plain text)<br />
<br />
<b>1) Why did you leave up the Christmas tree for a long time?</b><br />
Because it looks pretty and I always leave it up until New Year's Day.<br />
<br />
<b>2) Can you lift up super heavy things?</b><br />
No<br />
<br />
<b>3) Can you drive a car?</b><br />
<b> </b>Yes, but not very well. Plus, I have no drivers license. (I know, I know...I'm working on it...) <br />
<br />
<b>4) Why are you on the computer so much?</b><br />
Because I like it. I like to work on my blog and find fun ideas. (Shit! Don't show Daddy this, he already bitches that I am on it too much...But I am really NOT. Well, not THAT much. Plus, I do all the hard work so I deserve a few <strike>hours</strike> minutes on the computer a day.)<br />
<b><br />What is your favourite food?</b><br />
Cap'n crunch cereal and Smarties McFlurry's from McDonald's (That counts as "food", right?).<br />
<br />
<br />
So there you have it! Straight from the mind of a five year old. It was a really fun little project and I would love to see some other Mommy/Child interviews. They are just so darn fun! I came across a cute idea to incorporate these interview ideas into a keepsake craft but I can't for the life of me find the link or remember which blog I saw it on. Basically, you type of ten questions (or however many you can fit ) and get your child to write the answers in, or do it yourself if they are too small, then you frame it beside a picture of them with their name at the top. It is kinda hard to explain, I will try my best to find the link, but the one she made was adorable and would be a great gift for a parent or grandparent. If anyone knows the project I am referring to please share the link in the comments!!<br />
<br />
<br />
*** Thanks to Kara for letting me know that the framed version of this project I was referring to can be found on the craft blog <a href="http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/">Oopsey Daisy</a>! You can check it out <span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2012/01/my-interview-with-little-man.html">HERE!</a> Thanks again!***</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-14947693974018685982012-01-08T15:37:00.000-08:002012-01-08T15:45:46.697-08:00Sunday Snapshot: Family fun at Crystal Palace!<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The kids each received a <a href="http://www.crystalpalace.ca/rates.cfm" target="_blank">Crystal Palace Day Pass</a> for Christmas from Nanny and Pappy this year and had been begging to go ever since</b></span>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQOxk2AVU94cYpmLXj168ybV77OPK2tFmywNLTADdawJc5fIhboUW4neGkrv0MPPbiANbr0Fe3CDxOvphvZDe319BANwaZwqdlNgwZuqX6QxcNQ7aaCZbauSZpa4GiK1qytvIKWnV/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQOxk2AVU94cYpmLXj168ybV77OPK2tFmywNLTADdawJc5fIhboUW4neGkrv0MPPbiANbr0Fe3CDxOvphvZDe319BANwaZwqdlNgwZuqX6QxcNQ7aaCZbauSZpa4GiK1qytvIKWnV/s400/IMG_2408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.crystalpalace.ca/" target="_blank">Crystal Palace</a> is an indoor amusement park with rides and games for those who don't know. We had been putting off going since they got the cards but with Coder going back to school this Tuesday, we couldn't really put if off any longer. After a ten minute struggled to get the car started (It can be tempermental) we were finally on our way. We left around lunch time so we could get there kind of early. The kids wanted a PB & J sammy before we left, a request to which I happily obliged, hoping to save a few bucks not having to feed them lunch at Crystal Palace (who's prices on food are practically criminal! 3$ for one corn dog!! I could run to the <a href="http://www.sobeys.com/Choose-Store.aspx?returnURL=%2fen%2fHome.aspx" target="_blank">Sobey's</a> across the street and grab a box of them for the same price!).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnw7GNKV3KCGsDyo83L2nv5q12d1MSS1AQCAKvROQ-RDpQCejKydspBZVhRSJfMCMBf_S5bY3JnLS98GGwShyHZ17gqBt3TpFh6sEE9e5EpxlaC1H4R_9FuWIRjmNw6dFS9Vvd5dc4/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnw7GNKV3KCGsDyo83L2nv5q12d1MSS1AQCAKvROQ-RDpQCejKydspBZVhRSJfMCMBf_S5bY3JnLS98GGwShyHZ17gqBt3TpFh6sEE9e5EpxlaC1H4R_9FuWIRjmNw6dFS9Vvd5dc4/s400/IMG_2392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOl9pmsCc32jcDAbQkNkc6WOQow0uIsbCoN0ZW1Ju61eYQGKkhTO0FTiwTRv_WEtJG20IBy1BhcNc1F9owcw2amzV_4tDyQcJQk2dm0Nivf-V48K1UyCOIK50sXzJcGfxLipWEj1L/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOl9pmsCc32jcDAbQkNkc6WOQow0uIsbCoN0ZW1Ju61eYQGKkhTO0FTiwTRv_WEtJG20IBy1BhcNc1F9owcw2amzV_4tDyQcJQk2dm0Nivf-V48K1UyCOIK50sXzJcGfxLipWEj1L/s400/IMG_2376.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Nelly had been talking about going on the "Horsey's" (AKA the merry-go-round) for, like, three days so that was the first ride she wanted to go on. "Horsey bite me? Is horsey real?" was the first thing she asked upon seeing the horses on the merry-go-round. After I assured her they we indeed fake horsey's and would not bite her, she was ready to go on it. She absolutely LOVED sitting on the horses while they went up and down. She randomly shouted "Kiddy-Up!" throughout the duration of the ride.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDBTn5G_eIGG0tDiQ7P7MxrmNbsPv5u-qrYW0I0Vnlkr-K0EzfSi2bQjxDxtFaN52IlzfNd2pMfHiHx7tMhfEaOwOsXFYPxBfhpsX-hElhL6L93Rc_9XgzLCyZRDjxJ_uXP0GWI73/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDBTn5G_eIGG0tDiQ7P7MxrmNbsPv5u-qrYW0I0Vnlkr-K0EzfSi2bQjxDxtFaN52IlzfNd2pMfHiHx7tMhfEaOwOsXFYPxBfhpsX-hElhL6L93Rc_9XgzLCyZRDjxJ_uXP0GWI73/s400/IMG_2405.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelly flying on the airplane!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa0yDzzRzvDx7jWprrkGwtSFYZiOjCHgHbDSIwjMuM4jHAQjk_bji2d9XhvmL0P1-Ymuu6lnChyphenhyphen2Mruot32V6GNJNj6B0nrF4iS04gACRal223SB4N01ani7Cr5FVg0YcU1zfaXGf/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa0yDzzRzvDx7jWprrkGwtSFYZiOjCHgHbDSIwjMuM4jHAQjk_bji2d9XhvmL0P1-Ymuu6lnChyphenhyphen2Mruot32V6GNJNj6B0nrF4iS04gACRal223SB4N01ani7Cr5FVg0YcU1zfaXGf/s400/IMG_2386.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelly with Coder, the pilot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next up were the air planes, which you sit in while they go up and down and spin around. Coder and Nelly went together on one airplane the first time, then Nelly rode solo later on in the day. Nelly also loved this and yelled "Look Daddy! Hi Daddy!" every time she went around. Coder, on the other hand, looked a little bored with that ride. Being a big boy now, he was ready for the big kid rides this time around. He insisted that he wanted to go on the roller coaster. After debating back and forth for a minute, Daddy and I decided to let him go, but Daddy had to go on with him. He tried the Roller Coaster last year with me and almost gave me a stroke by freaking out and basically trying to climb out of a moving ride. I was a bit nervous because this Coaster doesn't have over the shoulder harness just a lap bar. Last year he kept trying to pull his knees out of under the bar and I was sure he was going to fly out and fall to his death. Anyways, he went on with Daddy and did okay the first time around. The only part that scared him a bit was when it goes through a pitch black tunnel, but Daddy told him to close his eyes and he was fine. He loved it though and went on it about five more times with both Mommy and Daddy taking turns. At the end of it he was having a blast and holding his hands up in the air for the whole ride.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4FP11VKVIWs1rSXEXH8SBMWD2TKUCkt0eHG3aYu2MxhL6wow5mESGMEfwJaBaRr81qcjRxBsTJDsu1VSugz1Wj5zd6q-suHHLim9YTAzIKgIWP8nmEcXMl1qQ34JCvv3ZjGK4YiT/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4FP11VKVIWs1rSXEXH8SBMWD2TKUCkt0eHG3aYu2MxhL6wow5mESGMEfwJaBaRr81qcjRxBsTJDsu1VSugz1Wj5zd6q-suHHLim9YTAzIKgIWP8nmEcXMl1qQ34JCvv3ZjGK4YiT/s400/IMG_2367.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On "The Bullet" Coaster with Daddy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzFiv68M42AvkiuUKkQ5MbZjW52YEDdmRnJOMAwn7y7yu8UywgsY-fy1wfI8St7heLem-Jl7HZZsHlwIfaJn5aA4hdZQKRpnuu-qZ0a1rDXm3dL6vJ0_lyjHl27Q_Fa26lYmdKcu1/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzFiv68M42AvkiuUKkQ5MbZjW52YEDdmRnJOMAwn7y7yu8UywgsY-fy1wfI8St7heLem-Jl7HZZsHlwIfaJn5aA4hdZQKRpnuu-qZ0a1rDXm3dL6vJ0_lyjHl27Q_Fa26lYmdKcu1/s400/IMG_2397.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nelly and brother went on the Choo-Choo Train together where they sat in the front car and got to toot the horn and ring the bell, which they did to no end.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8b5qUvzKV9vwykjmPuEpNdq1Gcg9YpujFtK8VNSoNcFFWv3y597inaOgTOxvZoZagT9YrXNgTmXyNfKu-f-HMP-RMuClqem5K2Yk3-h72zfq3TAnmQwzljqghJmfoYlB9l6JCOnV/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8b5qUvzKV9vwykjmPuEpNdq1Gcg9YpujFtK8VNSoNcFFWv3y597inaOgTOxvZoZagT9YrXNgTmXyNfKu-f-HMP-RMuClqem5K2Yk3-h72zfq3TAnmQwzljqghJmfoYlB9l6JCOnV/s400/IMG_2366.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choo-Choo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Coder liked going on the big monster truck ride, where you sit in a monster truck and go around the track. Next they went on the shooting star, which you sit down in a seat and it shoots you straight up about fifteen feet in the air then drops you down bit by bit. Nelly went on too and laughed her butt off on the way up. The drop down freaked her out a bit the very first time but she was shrieking with joy by the end of it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeVOiNmjGkKdufSZrvsd1UtaxNbEPDVY8wX9Kd-bJLeSX4JG33328TaQl0h5OLV55-3ndlOy1eAIppi9SGsXY3p-0TLheLLQEoxeI0Jea0t8WFkhv9Fj0jBcUJjEI0Kdwn1PXXluJ/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeVOiNmjGkKdufSZrvsd1UtaxNbEPDVY8wX9Kd-bJLeSX4JG33328TaQl0h5OLV55-3ndlOy1eAIppi9SGsXY3p-0TLheLLQEoxeI0Jea0t8WFkhv9Fj0jBcUJjEI0Kdwn1PXXluJ/s400/IMG_2389.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ejwbuCqkyObXrrI1L-wIu39dGQAPiY-ER2zEIpFOybh1vzbSXFfKZY17f_Hf8oHAI4eN7dw16r7j43tihXj-znET-VX8RhsRjYeNcwwwbV2qfZs4Dz_PL4JBoIjml9l7qxTXhFhf/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ejwbuCqkyObXrrI1L-wIu39dGQAPiY-ER2zEIpFOybh1vzbSXFfKZY17f_Hf8oHAI4eN7dw16r7j43tihXj-znET-VX8RhsRjYeNcwwwbV2qfZs4Dz_PL4JBoIjml9l7qxTXhFhf/s400/IMG_2406.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Shooting Star" was a hit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We all went on the Crazy Submarine (or whatever it's called) as a family, which is like a bus thing you sit in and go in big circles up in the air forward and backwards. Nelly loved looking out the window and laughed every time we went up because you had a view of the whole place. It was actually pretty fun and one of my favourite rides.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5z1DiuNRVKWBxyi4DaNixhF7ypCZ7rN8oHNHXWlKpRKTyJA6AqHpHT8WpXIkzSvBbeHYHN5BjE-jNMRA05CEyWNcuKcIaamBCFHzsxRSQbPV2lXsTpFi09Sk1FyVH7tTnxLcFVw1/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5z1DiuNRVKWBxyi4DaNixhF7ypCZ7rN8oHNHXWlKpRKTyJA6AqHpHT8WpXIkzSvBbeHYHN5BjE-jNMRA05CEyWNcuKcIaamBCFHzsxRSQbPV2lXsTpFi09Sk1FyVH7tTnxLcFVw1/s400/IMG_2382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnh529-B3OzzxQGrdgNjhrcIo_YdYlVudB2fIyWyrycTzR9KwwR5DtowMh5Orc2FhvflrSipjaK3BAj3ktZzrPwk7xhI1ArXgZy6hJZLm7F9y0joHD4IvjvvSsYzNyGqfadWnIIzBu/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnh529-B3OzzxQGrdgNjhrcIo_YdYlVudB2fIyWyrycTzR9KwwR5DtowMh5Orc2FhvflrSipjaK3BAj3ktZzrPwk7xhI1ArXgZy6hJZLm7F9y0joHD4IvjvvSsYzNyGqfadWnIIzBu/s400/IMG_2384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5z1DiuNRVKWBxyi4DaNixhF7ypCZ7rN8oHNHXWlKpRKTyJA6AqHpHT8WpXIkzSvBbeHYHN5BjE-jNMRA05CEyWNcuKcIaamBCFHzsxRSQbPV2lXsTpFi09Sk1FyVH7tTnxLcFVw1/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5z1DiuNRVKWBxyi4DaNixhF7ypCZ7rN8oHNHXWlKpRKTyJA6AqHpHT8WpXIkzSvBbeHYHN5BjE-jNMRA05CEyWNcuKcIaamBCFHzsxRSQbPV2lXsTpFi09Sk1FyVH7tTnxLcFVw1/s400/IMG_2382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUa1NSK8yDx5roH7UroTUqAA3CllfkP4w400LhfsnCAoWdEqVUF9z4apz7Wsgp_mpgJWeE8gN-u3gmyyXibQE0D5HQUU2U7xQJtQ59d8EInENJu4rWnazk-SrHoH8UVGarv52YdMP/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUa1NSK8yDx5roH7UroTUqAA3CllfkP4w400LhfsnCAoWdEqVUF9z4apz7Wsgp_mpgJWeE8gN-u3gmyyXibQE0D5HQUU2U7xQJtQ59d8EInENJu4rWnazk-SrHoH8UVGarv52YdMP/s400/IMG_2378.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We took a break for a bite to eat, the kids didn't really want anything so Mommy and Daddy got something and gave them a few bites. Daddy got a poutine and I got a Nacho with cheese and salsa. It came to almost 12$ just for those two things but they were a decent size and I couldn't even finish my whole nacho. Daddy polished off his poutine and some of my nachos. After we were done eating we went back for another couple rounds on the rides.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNZUb2_PBe11aH7kV7lVQFN1_jYySWm3NoeTkMWwa9d0ry3B_tMDoMx9oy8CWzA-kuecLRnGhvHJLiJep4ZpYtb_Mmg5iSKJPH1XJ0217pCkE4L8QLk_ML3RdizF3pIIIYny9UI2a/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNZUb2_PBe11aH7kV7lVQFN1_jYySWm3NoeTkMWwa9d0ry3B_tMDoMx9oy8CWzA-kuecLRnGhvHJLiJep4ZpYtb_Mmg5iSKJPH1XJ0217pCkE4L8QLk_ML3RdizF3pIIIYny9UI2a/s400/IMG_2369.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfXUMlfRmkwuHIkScWnmyl1g9NefTUAPIzRhxKOBYt7DE-Lw9p7gZXqY0zsCmU-MSE3nQfx7sl5zIjijj4q4hpVaMR98DL0H3IpSHgO16LR_eLKpe_VeNhgDNvHkkxameUIUGMFnr/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfXUMlfRmkwuHIkScWnmyl1g9NefTUAPIzRhxKOBYt7DE-Lw9p7gZXqY0zsCmU-MSE3nQfx7sl5zIjijj4q4hpVaMR98DL0H3IpSHgO16LR_eLKpe_VeNhgDNvHkkxameUIUGMFnr/s400/IMG_2370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There is a big play park built like a tree house that they wanted to go on, but poor Nelly was too small to go in it, so Coder played on that for a bit while Daddy brought Nelly on some more rides. We stopped at the arcade for a few minutes while they kids ran around "playing" the games (They weren't really playing because we didn't have any change on us, plus it is a MAJOR rip-off)." Honestly, it didn't even matter that they weren't actually playing because they still had a blast.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbbfF6Bo198p5wfOu0xmqEk2vnxwNBLCbUEzkmj4idVs1MXkfHuZhT9lsmA8J1zBL5Rb4rbWS2R-3cpttnqzOgOwIhbfKtATvd87kXwtIsaoQVzOipiZRwPARM_iMCtk9AkWOX9nr/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbbfF6Bo198p5wfOu0xmqEk2vnxwNBLCbUEzkmj4idVs1MXkfHuZhT9lsmA8J1zBL5Rb4rbWS2R-3cpttnqzOgOwIhbfKtATvd87kXwtIsaoQVzOipiZRwPARM_iMCtk9AkWOX9nr/s400/IMG_2398.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking turns "playing" the soccer game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Daddy brought Coder to play Laser Tag while I brought Nelly to get some candy out of the quarter machine and we walked around for a bit. I kept asking her if she wanted to go back on the horsey but she would simply answer "No" and keep munching on her candy fruit (You know, the mini bananas, oranges, limes, etc). We never got around to playing mini golf this time and there were a few rides that they were both too short to go on, but other than that I would say that the day was a huge success.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GfN2cVbvhA_4bV5GxpTGrq13mPqaKr74Z_U1DzLJrZszm70bdRO9dxD8-kEsGcW-r64WdXhcXyAII1d-rxlPLHDx1o_pW4yrvgnEvtYIEF-jZI9Ax7b6sV4R33rN6v3cVKU18-_a/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GfN2cVbvhA_4bV5GxpTGrq13mPqaKr74Z_U1DzLJrZszm70bdRO9dxD8-kEsGcW-r64WdXhcXyAII1d-rxlPLHDx1o_pW4yrvgnEvtYIEF-jZI9Ax7b6sV4R33rN6v3cVKU18-_a/s400/IMG_2387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the big rigs...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We left around 5pm after Daddy brought Coder for one more round on the roller coaster. At this point Nelly was starting to get a little drowsy so I knew we better head home before a melt-down happened. I thought it was going to be a major tantrum when I said it was time to go but I think that they were so tuckered out that they couldn't be bothered. They left without a fight and both of them passed right out in the car on the drive home. Overall, we had a great day as a family and I can't wait to do it again soon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq4rqZxf3d-TkV9h_11kz5ZSSyiDyHq6YmbPp4kJ9MkcO3DQGVOpYdFn1WK4YE0RlrW9NKVZHqyvsj0MDxILXQjN_opCfoQ7UJSGYdginThSo7y4fVxvBr7l19ZJSs9Rh8IY2azI6/s1600/IMG_2409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq4rqZxf3d-TkV9h_11kz5ZSSyiDyHq6YmbPp4kJ9MkcO3DQGVOpYdFn1WK4YE0RlrW9NKVZHqyvsj0MDxILXQjN_opCfoQ7UJSGYdginThSo7y4fVxvBr7l19ZJSs9Rh8IY2azI6/s400/IMG_2409.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelly ready to go home.,,</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What was the last activity the you did as a family? What is your fondest family outing memory?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-60416989607263337062012-01-07T13:34:00.000-08:002012-01-07T13:34:17.277-08:00OOTD: Mommy and Toddler Edition<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>OOTD: Mommy and Toddler Edition:</b></span></u><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Bad(ass) in Plaid! </u></b><b><br /></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUlNaghr3DcpphMoaREfyzxEjpu12PLHm7TDgmNiaE2GsAYWBqXzhncyxbSorx0178hA5sMY2in4ws3U0dNwDZKByf-7VswPL1n2saQdcfKO9EDqH0vIOKb6zwAEBR4cXoRqdjWh1/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUlNaghr3DcpphMoaREfyzxEjpu12PLHm7TDgmNiaE2GsAYWBqXzhncyxbSorx0178hA5sMY2in4ws3U0dNwDZKByf-7VswPL1n2saQdcfKO9EDqH0vIOKb6zwAEBR4cXoRqdjWh1/s640/IMG_2356.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Plaid Shirt- 19.99$ from <a href="http://www.urban-planet.com/LanguageSelection.cfm" target="_blank">Urban Planet</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Blue T-shirt Underneith- 12.99$ from <a href="http://www.stitchesonline.com/LanguageSelection.cfm" target="_blank">Stitches</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Faded Skinny Jeans- 29.99$ from Urban Planet</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Blue Bandana on my head- 1$ from <a href="http://www.dollarama.com/" target="_blank">Dollarama</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Black Belt- 10$ from Urban Planet</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fake Brown <a href="http://www.uggaustralia.ca/" target="_blank">Uggs</a>- 12.99$ from Urban Plat</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
'<a href="http://www.guess.ca/" target="_blank">Guess</a>' 3-Heart Necklace- Gift from my Nanny</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Outfit Total: <b>76.96$</b> Before Taxes</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIdJELs4cZLnUHht_kdAVnLwyy7Ur1h-E1KlYYU3UM4lARsrjXgSawGOow1souhTIC-EgHuw4M0qowT9w82v5MvAiT2tZGKyJrTC_SbyWrZdpaAeMJhXCvAJEQMgI2SOb344yCsSA/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIdJELs4cZLnUHht_kdAVnLwyy7Ur1h-E1KlYYU3UM4lARsrjXgSawGOow1souhTIC-EgHuw4M0qowT9w82v5MvAiT2tZGKyJrTC_SbyWrZdpaAeMJhXCvAJEQMgI2SOb344yCsSA/s640/IMG_2360.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I absolutely LOVE bandanas. You can get them from the dollar store in<br />
almost any color. The blue, red and pink are my faves!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cute & Casual: </span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGWBQK9ECzzKo_A182JxVYXOhKZ1nlCOB8hA2E4CpG-k-XDvB6x8Wn-Ho9HKyyJKo2rxnAhRp_1ZugyfcFRstnBbDsXjrZrjuCJuWEOUUtCaM721ul6CjldSrusJzObntwV0-QZZQ/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGWBQK9ECzzKo_A182JxVYXOhKZ1nlCOB8hA2E4CpG-k-XDvB6x8Wn-Ho9HKyyJKo2rxnAhRp_1ZugyfcFRstnBbDsXjrZrjuCJuWEOUUtCaM721ul6CjldSrusJzObntwV0-QZZQ/s640/IMG_2363.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Hoodie- 24.99$ from <a href="http://www.oldnavy.com/" target="_blank">Old Navy</a><br />
Sweatpants-19.99$ from Old Navy (Sold Seperately)<br />
Purple Tank Underneath- 3$ from <a href="http://www.superstore.ca/LCLOnline/store_selector.jsp?_requestid=1377757" target="_blank">Superstore</a><br />
Brown Ugg-style Boots- 19.99$ from Old Navy<br />
Pink hair elastics- 1$ for pk of 100 from <a href="http://www.dollarama.com/" target="_blank">Dollarama</a><br />
<br />
Outfit Total:<b> 68.97$</b> Before Taxes<br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> **Tune in next time for OOTD: Kindergarten Edition Featuring my son, </b><br />
<b> Coder. Age: Five years old!!**</b><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-77661358434525223692012-01-06T09:58:00.000-08:002012-01-11T05:48:06.254-08:0030 Fabulously Fun and Free Winter Activities...Plus: Get Featured on TTT!<span style="font-size: large;"><b>With the shorter days and sub-zero temperatures its easy to understand why your kids may have a case of the winter blues. Shake things up and prevent cabin fever from setting in with these super fun winter activities. All of them are either very cheap or FREE! They are guaranteed to beat the boredom and create lasting memories! </b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youshouldown.com/2010/01/best-sledding-spots-in-northeast-ohio.asp" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U3eNNSAUIUiZeHo4VgbSO0MIA912f9vLjubNeiJapl9jkBroSEf9is7ixXYzn2LeH1n1M_c3DXW3m1YUoWc8Wk4V3RGqm4D1C5xs35hZZgCSkI2db7c8M-ifsr7H1VrapQRYMl5L/s320/sled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
**Instructions on how to enter to be Featured on this blog are posted at the bottom of this list! You get a post featured, your blog name with a link back to it, your blog button featured on my homepage and an "I Was Featured..." button for your own blog:)**<br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>30 Fabulously Fun & Free Winter Activities </b></span></u><br />
<br />
1) Have a camp out in your living room. Spread out your sleeping bags, make <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2042636_make-smores-microwave.html" target="_blank">s'mores in the microwave</a> (Adult supervision required). Tell spooky stories, play camp games or sing camp fire songs. <br />
<br />
2) Make <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/creamy-hot-cocoa/" target="_blank">Creamy Hot Cocoa</a> with marshmallows. (Try this <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/333081/hot-chocolate-with-marshmallow-hearts" target="_blank">Valentine's Day Marshmallow</a> trick by Martha)<br />
<br />
3) Build a snow fort and "paint" it with Kool-Aid powder mixed with a bit of water in a spray bottle.<br />
<br />
4) Make a <a href="http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/winter/snow-measuring-stick.asp" target="_blank">Snow Measuring Stick</a> to track the amount of snowfall. Graph the amounts on a chart. <br />
<br />
5) Have a talent show. Give each family member a turn to show their talents and then vote for a winner. <br />
<br />
6) Go sledding! Grab your toboggans and have sled races on a nearby hill. Just don't slide near traffic.<br />
<br />
7) Visit your local public library and cuddle up for story time. Many library's also have special activity days for different age groups. Call to find out!<br />
<br />
8) Snuggle up for family movie night marathon! Pick winter themed flicks such as Jack Frost, Ice Age or Happy Feet!<br />
<br />
9) Bake some cookies together! Designate each child a job such as dumping ingredients, mixing,<br />
spooning onto cookie sheets. Try this great recipe <a href="http://www.momswhothink.com/cookie-recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. When they are done dip them in milk and enjoy!<br />
<br />
10) Take your kids to try a class such as tumbling. Call around, many places such as <a href="http://www.my-gym.com/" target="_blank">My Gym</a> offer a free trial class with no conditions.<br />
<br />
11) Have a treasure hunt!! Place clues around these house with each one leading to the next. Clues can range from a simple picture to a riddle they must figure out. Have a small prize at the end such as a treat or new coloring book, it can be anything really...The real fun is in the chase! Smaller children may need a bit of assistance to stay on track.<br />
<br />
12) Make a bird feeder from a pine cone. Directions <a href="http://crafts.kaboose.com/pine-cone-bird-feeder.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Hang it up in your yard and bird watch. See how many different species of birds you can spot.<br />
<br />
13) Go skating!! Play a game of hockey..Designate kids too small to skate as the "cheerleaders" or score keepers.<br />
<br />
14) Make your own snow cones with REAL snow! Here is a great recipe for <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/snow-cone-syrup-36604" target="_blank">Snowcone Syrup</a>. Keep it in the fridge in a squirt bottle and poor it over fresh snow or shaved ice whenever you want a treat.<br />
<br />
15) Build a snowman together. Or even a whole snow family!!<br />
<br />
16) Have an indoor snowball fight with wadded up paper! You could even make paper snowflakes to make it "snow"!<br />
<br />
17) Go viral! Make a funny home video. Have the kids put on a skit and then post it on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/" target="_blank">Youtube</a>!<br />
<br />
18) Have a family game night! Play classic family board games like monopoly or snakes and ladder. For some real laughs try Twister!<br />
<br />
19) Play an interactive video game such as Rock Band or Dance dance Revolution. Have a friendly competition and crown the winner as the "Video Game Champion."<br />
<br />
20) Give each other silly makeovers then have a fashion show at the end to show off your new looks. Take "Before" and "After" pictures.<br />
<br />
21) Have an indoor picnic. Spread a blanket on the floor and have your lunch there! Don't forget dessert, too!<br />
<br />
22) Make homemade valentines with your kids to give out to their classmates. Get some inspiration <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
23) Go swimming!! Let the kids put on their bathing suits and go swimming in the bathtub! Washing is optional!<br />
<br />
24) Make <a href="http://www.easy-child-crafts.com/edible-play-dough.html" target="_blank">Edible Play-doh</a> and have fun making (and eating) sculptures.<br />
<br />
25) Make a countdown to Spring paper chain and remove one link per day! Have a spring activity planned for when you reach the last link.<br />
<br />
26) Get a huge empty box such as one from a refrigerator and transform it into a rocket ship (or whatever you want). Use your imaginations to act out different scenarios like pretending that you have just landed on the moon. (Ask around at local furniture stores to see if they have a box they were going to throw out that you can have...Most will be happy to give you one!)<br />
<br />
27) Bundle up and go on a nature walk in a local park. Look for animal tracks, acorns, fallen leaves and whatever other treasures you can find. Bring them home and make a nature collage or scrapbook of your findings!<br />
<br />
28) Get active and play some energy burning games indoors (or outdoors if you don't have enough room) such as <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_13520_play-hide-seek.html" target="_blank">Hide & Seek</a>, <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2058069_play-freeze-tag.html" target="_blank">Freeze Tag</a> or <a href="http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/sensing_games/rl_gl.htm" target="_blank">Red Light, Green Light</a>.<br />
<br />
29) Go outdoors and blow bubbles in the cold. If the temperature is below zero or colder, the bubbles with harden in the air and then shatter when they hit the ground! Make your own <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Make--Bubble-Solution" target="_blank">Bubble Solution</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9fUT_l8LQ5STiA3ih4OsZJ93hFX7s_kDhNgwV3P-J8usVEbhjvDcPAbHwotama0ytrkxQHt53jP-ilIhMrhRQIP5H_3LYzvHPiuEqf6iM2S3U3DUvWBhe1DWkRpmcQu6TCLR5xKS/s1600/bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9fUT_l8LQ5STiA3ih4OsZJ93hFX7s_kDhNgwV3P-J8usVEbhjvDcPAbHwotama0ytrkxQHt53jP-ilIhMrhRQIP5H_3LYzvHPiuEqf6iM2S3U3DUvWBhe1DWkRpmcQu6TCLR5xKS/s1600/bubbles.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frozen bubbles are SO cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
30) <b>Try to make a list of 30 MORE fun winter activities!! Post it in the comments her e or email it to me at <a href="mailto:babygurljrl23@gmail.com"><u>babygurljrl23@gmail.com</u></a>. I will publish my favorite list with the most creative ideas as part two of this blog post! Don't worry you will get the credit for it, a link back to your blog and have your blog button posted on my homepage:) You will also get an "I Was Featured..." button to post on your own blog!So start brainstorming!!</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-55712429264763493472012-01-04T12:26:00.000-08:002012-01-06T07:21:25.491-08:00Blog Content Theft and Copyrights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>As I was checking my stats the other day I noticed that one of the search keywords that directs traffic to my site was 2 Tiny Tyrants.</b></span><br />
<br />
I decided to Google it and up pops a blog with the exact same name as mine, with only a slight change. I checked to see when the blog was started and it was started about two weeks after mine. Now I am not trying to say that said name was stolen from me. I am aware of the millions of blogs in blogland, and how it is possible to think of an idea only to find it has already been claimed. And I thought I had found a name that was my own. I tried to take all necessary precautions. I Googled my blog title to make sure it was not taken, which it wasn't. I spent almost two weeks trying to think of the perfect, catchy but not to complicated blog title before finally deciding on this one. But even all those precautions and all that effort cannot guarantee that someone won't wind up with the same title as you. And I am not gonna lie, it does irk me <strike>a lot</strike> a tiny bit. I am really trying to make a name for myself in the big bad world of blogging and as you can see by my lame 10 Followers, it is NOT easy. And now I have to compete with another blog having the same name. It is definitely fury-inducing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl88kcMFI2oIAlswLVawUIRNcFCbld4OTCscaEcD8UBTNKj0Di19NwNbiv0_5aVQ1MS9hXcit8FwOUEnqVWry8c8het7xpFG7vdeHiM9j2z9eDEzw-C0-NQgB4JkqbO4bV8vffPHs/s1600/theft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl88kcMFI2oIAlswLVawUIRNcFCbld4OTCscaEcD8UBTNKj0Di19NwNbiv0_5aVQ1MS9hXcit8FwOUEnqVWry8c8het7xpFG7vdeHiM9j2z9eDEzw-C0-NQgB4JkqbO4bV8vffPHs/s1600/theft.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Anyways, there is a point to this rant. All this BS got me thinking about copyrights and trademarks and what steps can be taken to protect my blog content. I am not talking about the title, but the posts, pictures and everything in between. Most bloggers, like me, put a lot of time and effort into their work. Every blog post I write means time spent away from my kids.Plus, I take pride in my work. Everyone has heard the horror stories of people having their blog concept and posts stolen and posted on another website, copied word for word. I can only imagine how frustrating THAT would be. Now I am not going to ramble on in all these technical terms about copyright laws and all that jazz. I am just going to give you a few tips that can help to protect your work. Now, keep in mind, these tips can not guarantee that your work won't be plagiarised or used without your permission, but they can be a very good deterrent and may be able to help in the unfortunate event that your work is stolen.<br />
<br />
The first thing we will discuss is copyrights. What is a copyright?<br />
<br />
A copyright is a form of protection, often a document, that is offered to authors of personal work, such as a blogger, that proves that said author is the real owner of that work and grants exclusive selling and reproduction rights to that person. Basically, it gives you exclusive rights to you work and how it is used. To effectively protect your work you should copyright each of your blog posts. However, copyrighting costs money and many beginner bloggers do not have said money. Lucky for you, I found a way to copyright your work for free. I found a great website that copyrights your work, including every additional blog post you publish, for absolutely FREE. They even give you a unique copyright number to use for future reference. It is free and simple and it is what I am now using to protect my work. Simply go to <a href="http://www.myfreecopyright.com/">www.myfreecopyright.com</a> to start protecting your work for free.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lWDZ3NLbo9aSDqiyMUpFihQU5aOsY04zsA0IFdlTWHq4k2LvKP-V2jwH455yDOpfJMT8n85dF_vZcvJrq6ps4oEJ7Eu8-qGPRqZrG7GNhhDahfpA7H8rt330ICzYWxJqwQKsN-l7/s1600/copyrights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lWDZ3NLbo9aSDqiyMUpFihQU5aOsY04zsA0IFdlTWHq4k2LvKP-V2jwH455yDOpfJMT8n85dF_vZcvJrq6ps4oEJ7Eu8-qGPRqZrG7GNhhDahfpA7H8rt330ICzYWxJqwQKsN-l7/s1600/copyrights.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you see this DON'T copy it without permission.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What is another way to copyright your work for free?<br />
<br />
Well, if you are lucky enough to live in a country that signed the Berne Copyright Convention, then you are already protected for free!! Basically, it is a treaty that states that as soon as you publish an article on your blog it is automatically copyrighted and you own the copyright. And you don't have to provide any fancy scmancy codes on your site or documents either. Although those do come in handy should you wind up in court. It is not necessary to provide any documentation of this copyright law, it can't hurt to state that the content is protected somewhere on your website. This can be something as simple as this: © Two Tiny Tyrants- 2012. The Berne Convention provides copyright protection to text for up to 50 years after your death and 25 years for photos, although at that point it probably won't really matter that much unless it is worth something substantial. I had a difficult time finding a complete list of all countries that signed the Berne Copyright Convention, the best I could find was the map on the Wiki page highlighting all the countries that are included, which you can view by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_and_Artistic_Works">HERE</a>. However, I do know that the United States and Canada are included under this treaty so if you reside in either you are automatically protected by your own government. This copyright is often used in conjunction with a Creative Common License, which I will explain later. However, if you do not want to include a CC license on top of the copyright protection you can simply add an "All Rights Reserved" and it will look something like this:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="st"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>© Two Tiny Tyrants-2012 "All Rights Reserved"</b></span></span><br />
<br />
If you do come to find out that someone is stealing your work and the blog they are publishing the plagiarised work on is hosted by Blogger or any Google product you can file a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) complaint. Please visit this link to file a report: <a href="http://www.google.com/dmca.html" target="blank">http://www.google.com/dmca.html</a><br />
<br />
If you don't mind people using your work as long as they give you credit (like in the form of a link back to you) then you should consider using a Creative Commons license on your website. A Creative Commons license allows you to grant permissions for others to copy, distribute or somehow make use of your work while still allowing you to retain your copyright.It also ensures that you get credit for your creative work..You can customise this license to fit your personal needs and wishes by answering a few questions regarding your work and what permissions you wish to grant. Then, based on your answers, it will generate a CC license for you. It will even create a widget for you to add to your website stating your chosen permissions (You can view the widget on the top right hand corner of my homepage). This service is also free of charge and you can get one by visiting: <a href="http://www.creativecommons.org/">www.creativecommons.org.</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zW2wGj8JG0Q_IAzCRSPFUoOOWNqTQ8v1G9z1RpkdtWeFk1_Ij5oXC2tqXyjKemeiW9hGdaCy1jIiAm66IsHX0-m8RRHeXXlsmPrucsLRIuxcS4-zzjrE52gbiHCEnShrW_DARN4J/s1600/wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zW2wGj8JG0Q_IAzCRSPFUoOOWNqTQ8v1G9z1RpkdtWeFk1_Ij5oXC2tqXyjKemeiW9hGdaCy1jIiAm66IsHX0-m8RRHeXXlsmPrucsLRIuxcS4-zzjrE52gbiHCEnShrW_DARN4J/s1600/wiki.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image on Wiki is an example of the widget.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not only do you want to protect your written work, but you may also want to prevent people from using pictures of yours without permission. This happens often and I admit that I have been guilty of using an image without permission. Pictures get passed around the Internet so much that it is often difficult to find the original owner. Most people assume the any pictures on the Internet are free for the taking. But there are ways you can prevent unauthorised use of you images.<br />
<br />
One of the simplest ways to mark your images as your own is with what is called a "watermark." A digital watermark is a visible embedded overlay added to an image that is used to identify the original owner and prevent someone from claiming it as their own. A watermark is often in the form of a logo, text or copyright notice. While it cant stop someone from using the photo without your permission, it can make it difficult from them to claim it as their own. Technically, a watermark can be removed, but it requires a lot of time and effort. The idea is that many people who use other peoples images are probably to lazy to go through all that work to alter a pic. If they did have such time and resources then they would most likely simply get a picture that was their own.<br />
<br />
You can add a basic watermark to your own images free of charge very easily. I tried it myself and let me assure you that a child could do it. It can be done with just about any photo editing software, such as Photoshop or Paint.net. However, if you don't have access to a photo editing program you can also do it in a few simple steps by using <a href="http://www.picnik.com/">Picnik</a>, which is a FREE photo editing program. You don't even have to register to use Picnik, anyone can use it free of charge and it allows you to upload, edit and save your photos right from the website without downloading or signing up for anything. Awesome, huh? I wasn't exactly sure how to watermark an image so I Googled it to try to find a basic way to do it on Picnik. The best tutorial I could find was on the blog <a href="http://www.bloggingwithamy.com/">www.bloggingwithamy.com</a>. You can find the step by step video of how to watermark an image (as well as some other basic editing tips) on Picnik by clicking <a href="http://bloggingwithamy.com/how-to-watermark-a-photo-and-edit-images-in-picnik/"><u><b>HERE</b></u></a>. I tried it out and this is what the end result looks like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkBDP25sTro6WOGZ3w1puz4iCqJ8rydAznPhttTfPf_LtV39_XNotspcZUQqfcaOnlYqATl13sUyCCS1-sIoHEn6OdZpOQp4ppA8HLQQMF34N-_-haL7NDaZkjgsy1yyN8CWjvU5Y/s1600/chanellyjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkBDP25sTro6WOGZ3w1puz4iCqJ8rydAznPhttTfPf_LtV39_XNotspcZUQqfcaOnlYqATl13sUyCCS1-sIoHEn6OdZpOQp4ppA8HLQQMF34N-_-haL7NDaZkjgsy1yyN8CWjvU5Y/s320/chanellyjpg.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
So there we have it!! Those are a few simple and FREE steps that you can take to better protect your online work. Now if you have a business website or a very large website that you have invested a lot of time or money into then I recommend that you take things a step further and actually register for a copyright at an actual copyright office. While all of these are great ways to deter content theft, many of them will not be enough to hold up in court, god forbid it should come to that. Also, I am not a lawyer and non of this should be interpreted as legal advice. This is simply for informational purposes and is intended to encourage other bloggers to take the necessary steps to protect their original work. For more information on copyright laws and protection please visit the following websites:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_and_Artistic_Works">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_and_Artistic_Works</a><br />
<br />
USA: <a href="http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl100.html">http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl100.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Copyright_law_by_country"> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Copyright_law_by_country</a><br />
<br />
How to apply for a Copyright in the USA: <a href="http://usgovinfo.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_Apply_For_Copyright0962932962.htm">http://usgovinfo.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_Apply_For_Copyright0962932962.htm</a><br />
<br />
In Canada: <a href="http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00003.html?OpenDocument">http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00003.html?OpenDocument</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_718465057"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/general-advice/copyright-basic-facts.html">http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/general-advice/copyright-basic-facts.html</a><br />
<br />
<b>***NOTE: Some people seem to think that I am implying that the other blog cannot use that name. That is not the case. As I said in my post, I am aware that it is very possible to come up with a title not knowing that it has already been used. I am not claiming that there has been a copyright infringement and I am not claiming to own the rights to said title. All I am saying is that this situation got me THINKING about copyrights and what I can do to protect my other content on my website. The other blog is totally within their rights to use said name, and while it is a bit annoying when you are trying to make a name for yourself, I would not expect them to change their title either. I hope this clears up the purpose of this post. Thanks***</b><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-37757382281373321022012-01-03T22:58:00.000-08:002012-01-04T10:02:42.039-08:00Best Evening Snack Ever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This easy treat is just so darn delicious it would be selfish of me not to share it with you. </b></span><br />
<br />
Although I am TRYING to lose that last ten pounds, I still like to indulge <strike>all the time</strike> every once in a while. I already know that I should be eating healthy, low fat, high protein snacks that will keep me full longer and prevent unnessecary binging later on...And I try <strike>sometimes </strike>most of the time to do just that. But...sometimes you just gotta say screw it and just go all out. If you are trying to lose weight, however, then it may be a good idea to save this for a every once and a while treat because the fat content in the cream is pretty high. Not to mention all the sugar were gonna pile on top of it. I just don't want anyone mad at me if they weigh four pounds more after eating this. I will neither confirm or deny that that is a possibility. And trust me on this one, you will want to eat it every day after you try it but you must resist:) You must stay strong. If you can't be strong for me then do it for your midsection. Alright...Let's get this party started!!I present to you my amazing evening snack! And its so simple to prepare a child could do it.<br />
<br />
<u>Ingredients:</u><br />
<br />
- Strawberry's (As much as you think you can handle in one sitting)<br />
-Whipping cream (NOT whipped cream, whippING cream, the kind that you get in a small milk carton in the milk section of your grocery store.)<br />
-Granulated sugar <br />
<br />
Prep Time: 5 minutes<br />
<br />
STEP 1: Wash and then cut whole strawberries into slices, everything except the leaf. Put them in a bowl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQbEvzw3xGXk7Unj7DTJYAKXkOjas_Kk7n1GcmjRmkcIMJxF8Wv8AuiCowpBE_I0RIe2Ln6wmZ7o6N38AbjLvyNIqp2JFvLm8ocoU2BT9mQmsRZau74GJqZNcdFi-d3pl2phJ4O2l/s1600/IMG_2311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQbEvzw3xGXk7Unj7DTJYAKXkOjas_Kk7n1GcmjRmkcIMJxF8Wv8AuiCowpBE_I0RIe2Ln6wmZ7o6N38AbjLvyNIqp2JFvLm8ocoU2BT9mQmsRZau74GJqZNcdFi-d3pl2phJ4O2l/s320/IMG_2311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
STEP 2: Pour whipping cream into the bowl on top of the strawberries so that they are about 3/4 of the way covered.<br />
<br />
STEP 3: <strike>Dump</strike> Sprinkle sugar on top of the strawberries and cream.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtWT_cKhjL-SX-BAlCm8oCaEmok1DIC32pz7_tkSXnZJUzAMaOjlL_JgOaAF8GMTHaL9ZbTn975KzcLI5iRE8mE_3b5m_V2Rw3OIDwm-oU6Cd4Xtm4yPZsdOfSOb3CJYroafyIo0Y/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtWT_cKhjL-SX-BAlCm8oCaEmok1DIC32pz7_tkSXnZJUzAMaOjlL_JgOaAF8GMTHaL9ZbTn975KzcLI5iRE8mE_3b5m_V2Rw3OIDwm-oU6Cd4Xtm4yPZsdOfSOb3CJYroafyIo0Y/s320/IMG_2312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is what it should look like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtROQwrMkEbqnuqerkrxK3dKKaW93v9-9AqFxox8-ea7kk-N8JXnpgT44iILWO_7TUwXEWTWgQFkxfa6SSQpA_7K8S8Mg4cgw_OzVOzrrkCf5HpZwRP_H-9bf-oxRoxvB-SE_Nn56I/s1600/IMG_2313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtROQwrMkEbqnuqerkrxK3dKKaW93v9-9AqFxox8-ea7kk-N8JXnpgT44iILWO_7TUwXEWTWgQFkxfa6SSQpA_7K8S8Mg4cgw_OzVOzrrkCf5HpZwRP_H-9bf-oxRoxvB-SE_Nn56I/s320/IMG_2313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now ENJOY!! Oh man, I gotta go make a bowl right now just looking at these pictures. I know that those of you who may be on a diet or who prefer to eat healthy are probably horrified at the obscene amount of sugar and fat in this bowl, but the strawberries are good for you so that makes it okay. Trust me. Now run along and try it! No need to thank me.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-29597317066922709872012-01-02T22:53:00.000-08:002012-01-04T11:43:30.941-08:00Children's Eye Troubles<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ever since my daughter was about a year old people close to her started noticing that she seemed to have some sort of "lazy eye" going on.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>I didn't really worry about it too much because her eye would only cross every once in a while and I had remembered my son having the same thing as a baby and he had grown out of it (Or so I thought... But more on that later). I chalked it up to her eye muscles not being strong enough yet. I figured that she would probably grow out of it as her eye muscles strengthened and became more developed. Well, she is now two years old and it has not gotten any better. I hesitate to say that it is worse, because I don't really think it has, just more or less the same. The right eye will kind of point inwards from time to time giving her a bit of a cross eyed/ lazy eye look. It does not stay like that and only does it for a spilt second, but it happens often enough for other family members to notice it and to cause me some worry.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu4yFqUKfDhbz_2Jo9y2MVRCXe14O2CKOJPRFP9fXGKPDoLKa1bGYQeNIl_Wc3-I-RxuyJU1dE5ehzar58bwYBy8StFh3xghBi97bc7pGn0wsLUjVmm7TAbD70ejo0HQfmQ8Y15MS/s1600/chanellyjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu4yFqUKfDhbz_2Jo9y2MVRCXe14O2CKOJPRFP9fXGKPDoLKa1bGYQeNIl_Wc3-I-RxuyJU1dE5ehzar58bwYBy8StFh3xghBi97bc7pGn0wsLUjVmm7TAbD70ejo0HQfmQ8Y15MS/s320/chanellyjpg.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this pic you would never know she has a turned eye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My son, Coder, started kindergarten this year and he teacher also asked me if he seemed to have trouble seeing. She asked this because, apparently, during class he would put his nose two inches from the paper when reading sometimes. I wasn't really sure what to make of this news because I draw and practice writing his ABC's with him all the time and have never seen him struggled to see the page. I thought maybe he was just horsing around or something because he does do random things like that sometimes (What kid doesn't?). However, he had been struggling in Kindergarten with his ABC's and reading so I figured it was time to get his eyes checked just to rule that out.<br />
<br />
Well, I booked an appointment for him at my optometrist and brought him in for a checkup. After about an hour of pointing out shapes and animals and doing eye tests the optometrist told me that one of his eyes was, in fact, turned in slightly in as well. The good news is that his vision was really good considering having a turned eye. She said it is only slightly turned, not enough to notice just by looking at him. It was only visible when she checked it with her high-tech, eye tester thingy. So, apparently, he hadn't grown out of it as I had thought he did. She scheduled a follow-up appointment with him in a months time during which they are going to put drops in that can help correct it (I am not sure what the drops are exactly but I have to pay 30$ for them...I will find out more info when we go back). If the drops are unsuccessful then he may have to wear glasses for about a year or so. I asked if it would be just for school or reading but she told me that they would most likely have to be worn all the time. I am not really upset about this possibility because for one it is better to try to fix these type of things while children are still young. Plus, I wore glasses in elementary school and I honestly liked them. I loved going to the eye doctor to pick out my glasses and a cool matching glasses case. If he does end up needing them I will be doing the same thing my mother did, which is including him in the entire process of picking out his glasses (after I narrow it down to a few affordable pairs first) and a matching case, show him how to clean them and take care of them and all that jazz.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mW2j6L9TeLAS3bH7Qa7KjGHOvUKvjDLAuvr-POzlcYGPvMtvzG5V0FB4ZgWjy848uuxMQWD0s007cWtZ3zS_5CMgwWJztIEFB3I5IQW1XDVICj0mBy2Od2oa3RZfZa3ca7yXZRlq/s1600/kidexam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mW2j6L9TeLAS3bH7Qa7KjGHOvUKvjDLAuvr-POzlcYGPvMtvzG5V0FB4ZgWjy848uuxMQWD0s007cWtZ3zS_5CMgwWJztIEFB3I5IQW1XDVICj0mBy2Od2oa3RZfZa3ca7yXZRlq/s320/kidexam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The machine that confirmed Coders turned eye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I will admit that I am a bit worried for his appointment though because the drops that they are putting in will make his eyesight extremely blurry for about an hour. I feel that not being able to see anything will scare him and he may think that it is going to stay like that forever regardless of what we tell him, thus causing him to freak out. It can't stay blurry forever, can it? It makes me a tad anxious too... I guess the only thing I can do is be there for him, explain the process and what to expect as well as I can, reassure him that it won't stay that way and just be there for him. Oh, and hope for the best.<br />
<br />
As for my daughter, she is supposed to go back the same day as Coder (although I think I may change their appointments for separate days because I don't wanna get stuck with a toddler AND a five year old having meltdowns at the same time.) I already know that she has the same problem with one eye being turned. I am worried because I know hers is much worse, and is way more noticeable day to day, even by other people like family members and close friends. I am preparing myself for the fact that she will more then likely need glasses or some type of intervention to try to correct it. I only hope that nothing else is wrong with her eyes or that it isn't the result of something more serious.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS8DGTN6UEFqfcJvy1rNZsEaF4dQjYi-_yO2qFOR4DUUI9L5qbFbcsnwoGqgapw1PFsvmfrTfBpN6w3ytz91UoRoH2zqzW-MQy0Nz0PY6f6zfGFA97EPNeznuxDlj-NnyBXhij1V4/s1600/baby-glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS8DGTN6UEFqfcJvy1rNZsEaF4dQjYi-_yO2qFOR4DUUI9L5qbFbcsnwoGqgapw1PFsvmfrTfBpN6w3ytz91UoRoH2zqzW-MQy0Nz0PY6f6zfGFA97EPNeznuxDlj-NnyBXhij1V4/s1600/baby-glasses.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glasses are specially made for toddlers/babies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I try to tell myself that stuff like this is common and happens to all kinds of children, but it is still hard as a mother to see anything wrong with your children. I can't help thinking it may have been something I had done that caused it. I mean BOTH of my kids have the same thing wrong with their eyes. Bad eyesight does run in my Hubby's family, however, and I am not quite sure if that could be a factor. I am worried about my daughter needing glasses because she can be so defiant that I just cannot see her keeping them on. I am worried she will have a freak out if we try to make her wear them. But I have to try to not get ahead of myself and always envision the worse. I will just have to deal with it, if and when the time comes. Good eyesight is very important because it affects so many aspects of your life. I am just glad that we were able to catch this while they are still young, because these types of things can be more difficult to correct as they get older. Plus, if left untreated these types of conditions often become worse or untreatable.<br />
<br />
**QUICK TIP** You can check if your child has a lazy or turned eye at home by sitting them directly in front of you have having them look straight ahead while you shine a pen light straight into their eyes. If the dot of light reflects in the same spot in the center of each pupil then their eyes are straight. However, it if reflects straight in one eye and then slightly to the left or right in the other eye, then that eye is turned and you should bring them to see the eye doctor to have them assessed. This is is a trick that you can use to confirm whether or not your child has a cross eye or lazy eye, but it is NOT meant to replace an actual diagnosis by an optometrist. If you suspect an issue with your child's eye sight you should get them checked by a licensed optometrist as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
So that is that latest news with the kiddos. Do any of you mommy's have children or babies that wear eye glasses? Is it difficult to get a toddler to wear them? Has you child ever had an issue such as cross eyes or lazy eyes? Was it corrected? Any info on this subject or personal stories would be greatly appreciated. I just hope that it can be treated while they are young and that it doesn't have a negative impact on their eye sight as they grow older...I will keep you all updated on the situation once I bring them to their next appointment.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-58920711657351308672012-01-02T19:50:00.000-08:002012-01-02T19:50:06.578-08:00OOTD: Mommy and Toddler Edition<b><span style="font-size: large;">As I told you before, being the creeper that I am, I LOVE seeing what other moms and their children wear day to day.</span> </b><br />
<br />
Soooo...I
am going to make my Mommy and Toddler OOTD's a regular feature here on
Two Tiny Tyrants. It will be my daughter that is featured for the child
outfits, however, from time to time I may feature my sons outfits as
well, since many people do not have daughters. It is just so much more
fun to dress a little girl, AmIRight? So I will be posting a new OOTD at
least once weekly, though probably more if I have nothing worth
blogging about. As usual I will include where I purchased each item and
prices whenever I can, as well as links to the store websites. Alright?
Alright. Here we go with our second OOTD: Mommy and Toddler Edition:)<br />
<br />
<b><u>OOTD: Casual Prep Mommy</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3-9K5xTmUBLiFPskEVxrqqjNY_eHfc5SUeecmGID4vvLRjtLWyrlyUT4xdHLaDpBoKMfkfPYtYzKaKpJXxADKtZ8cXunmGAtCqDkP1hvjfhAPpPLvJ6-VChWGTxIrXxcxXQs85mC/s1600/IMG_2282.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3-9K5xTmUBLiFPskEVxrqqjNY_eHfc5SUeecmGID4vvLRjtLWyrlyUT4xdHLaDpBoKMfkfPYtYzKaKpJXxADKtZ8cXunmGAtCqDkP1hvjfhAPpPLvJ6-VChWGTxIrXxcxXQs85mC/s400/IMG_2282.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Argyle Sweater from <a href="http://usa.tommy.com/tommy/" target="_blank">Tommy Hilfiger</a> store (64.00$)<br />
Brown Tank (under sweater) from <a href="http://oldnavy.ca/browse/home.do?tid=ongobdj8t&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=fpeyv9MA&adid=byq+anil]&creative=9311149227" target="_blank">Old Navy</a> (12.50$)<br />
Faded Skinny Jeans from <a href="http://www.urban-planet.com/LanguageSelection.cfm" target="_blank">Urban Planet</a> (24.99$)<br />
Winter Boots by <a href="http://www.roxy.com/family/index.jsp?cp=2884997&categoryId=3300250&f=Taxonomy%2FROXY%2F3300250&fbc=1&fbn=Taxonomy%7CNew+Arrivals" target="_blank">ROXY</a> from <a href="http://www.winners.ca/en/index.asp" target="_blank">Winners</a> (59.99$)<br />
<br />
<br />
*I
am sorry for the shitty photo quality and hopefully it is not too hard
to see the clothing, I had to use my shitty camera because I forgot my
good one at the MIL's and the hall light behind me kind of throws off
the colours. Oh and I know I look chunkier then usual in this pick. Blame
it on being horribly bloated. Continue on...<br />
<br />
<b><u>OOTD Toddler: Sporty Chic-</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroR9jo_vyTY0lCbRy1lb7AvpY2Yplt-5hybhTPDv3reL-PUk7QUq7xHG20El_C6D8hz5ataBRj0hy21XNVYiRq4e6-yWh0wahDc4RaHv695dJosTC-L9i75wyWsusAcfYQK_tfpnB/s1600/IMG_2303.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroR9jo_vyTY0lCbRy1lb7AvpY2Yplt-5hybhTPDv3reL-PUk7QUq7xHG20El_C6D8hz5ataBRj0hy21XNVYiRq4e6-yWh0wahDc4RaHv695dJosTC-L9i75wyWsusAcfYQK_tfpnB/s640/IMG_2303.JPG" width="355" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cLKLpsgoTAiHI-QlI9j2tlulELsxRYcbazOCSdYi-QRKAOJ9UGUjOKKcG1lEPyZRyQNtVNpbbax6uyqjrk6X0qXPoiVw2UXaT-Sa8zyqbjinflIfzqsnc6RMkolwrdEGFej_bE4N/s1600/IMG_2302.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cLKLpsgoTAiHI-QlI9j2tlulELsxRYcbazOCSdYi-QRKAOJ9UGUjOKKcG1lEPyZRyQNtVNpbbax6uyqjrk6X0qXPoiVw2UXaT-Sa8zyqbjinflIfzqsnc6RMkolwrdEGFej_bE4N/s320/IMG_2302.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bambi shirt from <a href="http://www.disneystore.com/" target="_blank">Disney Store</a> (12.50$)<br />
Grey sweats with "I <3 YOU" graphic from <a href="http://www.gianttiger.com/en/index.php" target="_blank">Giant Tiger</a> (14.99$)<br />
Pink with star pattern Basketball shoes from <a href="http://www.hm.com/entrance.ahtml?orguri=/" target="_blank">H & M</a> (12.95$)<br />
Pink Butterfly Hair clips from <a href="http://www.dollarama.com/" target="_blank">Dollarama</a> (1$ for pack of 9)<br />
Small Blue Striped hair clip (in bangs) from <a href="http://www.dollarama.com/" target="_blank">Dollarama</a> (1$ for pack of 12)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-63350137555083206162011-12-31T22:56:00.000-08:002011-12-31T22:57:42.489-08:00Favorite Beauty Products of December 2011<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If any of you are familiar with any beauty gurus on YouTube then you know that many of them will post a video of their favorite beauty products for each month.</b></span><br />
<br />
Well, since I am a total girly girly when it comes to makeup and stuff, I decided it would be fun to share MY faves from December. I, being the creep that I am, love reading about what products others use, especially other moms. One thing I always do every single day (well ALMOST every day), no matter how tired I am or how much I have to get done, is take a shower and do my hair and makeup. When I feel I look my best I have more confidence and I am more productive then if I were to stay in my jammies all day. I feel ready to face the day and handle whatever challenges are thrown my way. Plus, you never know you may run into or what oppertunity will arise. Many people ask me why I bother to get all gussied up if I am going to be in the house with the kids all day. The answer is simple: I don't do it for other people (Well, I don't do it ONLY for other people) I do it for myself. Taking a half hour each morning for myself makes me happier, thus making me a better mommy. Now when I say I get done up, I don't mean that I deck myself out in my best dress with a full face of makeup every day. Some days it is just a dusting of powder on my T-zone, a swipe of mascara and a dab of lip gloss. But it is always something. And my look is never complete without a spritz of my favorite perfume (which varies month to month). So, today I am going to share with you my favorite products of December, the ones that I cannot live without and use pretty much everyday. I will try to include the product prices when I can. Here we go!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>DECEMBER FAVES:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Foundation</b>-<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40xF977AaProV92YHx1sfe7Xnc5jhY9ktxmtmL06Lthcb0tqSUvMs7IMLNjZUVDW5NfG_6DfWrZ7bdbTueAo9hzx1aXAbJrsz62l_2BLCdZa_TXAex3gSH5JM2N-5Ezb8R2SwIhPE/s1600/mousse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40xF977AaProV92YHx1sfe7Xnc5jhY9ktxmtmL06Lthcb0tqSUvMs7IMLNjZUVDW5NfG_6DfWrZ7bdbTueAo9hzx1aXAbJrsz62l_2BLCdZa_TXAex3gSH5JM2N-5Ezb8R2SwIhPE/s200/mousse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My current fave foundation is Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse in #4 Light-Nude.
When it says on the bottle "Airbrush Finish" they really mean it!! It
goes on so incredibly soft and smooth and covers EVERYTHING. Plus, it
gives a nice matte base, not shiny or oily looking like some other foundations. Retail: 12.99$ at all major drug and department stores.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Favorite Powder-</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xjx7yJ4lc_MevgTuF75P6nPloZjK27Ybw_EHerXJZMTWGWu89GQQLoIfC-eTukzKxp3ajvFwq_sRsfKHb_T_K6TRMeKkIL6Kwl2O3T-of0s6sFvxYF-FYqrUDstqToU09wpQE-2K/s1600/IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xjx7yJ4lc_MevgTuF75P6nPloZjK27Ybw_EHerXJZMTWGWu89GQQLoIfC-eTukzKxp3ajvFwq_sRsfKHb_T_K6TRMeKkIL6Kwl2O3T-of0s6sFvxYF-FYqrUDstqToU09wpQE-2K/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My fave powder is NYC (New York Colors) Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in Translucent. I have always preferred loose powder to pressed powder because I find it gives a more natural look, while pressed powder can look cakey. This powder is great for setting your foundation or used alone to control shine. It doesn't add any color to your face so it doesn't throw off the color of your foundation. Plus, it is SUPER cheap!! Retail: 3.99$ at most major drug and dep't stores.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Favorite Blush-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK2xmYYj3LiHCkZJOWyun4rTgzqqHTncawqChVEC3dlL_s8l6LdY6nqfH4KaJKRvij4hYhmI0c3fwi6W0HUxXM36f_-Dc2upVj59RJWdbSX8CBe917DLVWg3G-_DU7jJnOdMWMmEG/s1600/IMG_2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEApCYzpEK1-o4MQpeiAK6gZSf2gKE_zN2xY8MHMtdp00AQ8dvkYUU9yJ7LIwq1aqxWZDHoiyDf-_WqtcNaUc90QPP6ofD58Vr9MGinG8knM4CmUO3FH3qtM29kqVlGOdZkTlZRXQ/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEApCYzpEK1-o4MQpeiAK6gZSf2gKE_zN2xY8MHMtdp00AQ8dvkYUU9yJ7LIwq1aqxWZDHoiyDf-_WqtcNaUc90QPP6ofD58Vr9MGinG8knM4CmUO3FH3qtM29kqVlGOdZkTlZRXQ/s200/IMG_2319.JPG" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK2xmYYj3LiHCkZJOWyun4rTgzqqHTncawqChVEC3dlL_s8l6LdY6nqfH4KaJKRvij4hYhmI0c3fwi6W0HUxXM36f_-Dc2upVj59RJWdbSX8CBe917DLVWg3G-_DU7jJnOdMWMmEG/s200/IMG_2318.JPG" width="200" /></div>
<br />
<br />
I have two favorite blushes at the moment. The first is Covergirl Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush in 240-Sophisticated Sable, Retail: 6.99$. I love this trio and frequently use the lightest shade as a highlighter for my cheekbones, brow bones and tear ducts. My second fave, and most often used, blush is Clinique Soft Pressed Powder Blusher in New Clover, Retail: 27.99$. This blush is pretty pricey but it comes in the most adorable pink and white floral compact, along with a mirror and brush. This is my go to blush for day to day. I love it because it shows up as a nice dusty rose color and has no shimmer, which I prefer for daytime.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Favorite Mascara-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UfF6WgRw65mkQWfX40LyguqoMU3j1INMJXtPD0aDcEL2ICMAFEAOnf-M5pgFz3f4Kb-CgBXIQN00aEpEWjFIxuOGlQBCJdtL5POQkmh_VpylYfAT_pEiAzXaaYGeihfE8qb-rjTx/s1600/IMG_2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UfF6WgRw65mkQWfX40LyguqoMU3j1INMJXtPD0aDcEL2ICMAFEAOnf-M5pgFz3f4Kb-CgBXIQN00aEpEWjFIxuOGlQBCJdtL5POQkmh_VpylYfAT_pEiAzXaaYGeihfE8qb-rjTx/s320/IMG_2324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I ALWAYS use two mascaras together. Ideally one should be lengthening and the other volumizing, but I just use my two current faves. The result looks like you are wearing falsies, and if you know me you know my lash motto is Go BIG or Go home!! The first is Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express Mascara in Black Drama, Retail: 7.99$. The second is Covergirl Volume Exact Waterproof mascara in 125-Very Black, Retail: 6.99$. I always put the Maybelline first then follow with the waterproof CG one to seal it in and prevent streaks.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Eyeshadow-</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqchmpehpMfi7teprQbbQaEVJeDAJDYlj4UaqzPf1o_-dmwzkXdLvre3apj7fyrDtOWRSlp4eW1wba-CWB1wvDbvZu2MyJw_1PeU0tm6kjQ7kUnE3HpPLYv_mcCyQGo6aPdre-FlS/s1600/beauty+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqchmpehpMfi7teprQbbQaEVJeDAJDYlj4UaqzPf1o_-dmwzkXdLvre3apj7fyrDtOWRSlp4eW1wba-CWB1wvDbvZu2MyJw_1PeU0tm6kjQ7kUnE3HpPLYv_mcCyQGo6aPdre-FlS/s320/beauty+book.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This doesn't really count as an eyeshadow since it is really a pallatte of 12 shades (as well as a mirror, eye liner/brow pencil and brush), but I absolutely could NOT live without it. It is the only eyeshadow(s) I need. It is the E.L.F Beauty Eye Manual Natural Eye Edition in The Natural Look, Retail: 5.99$. It is the perfect nude palette and it makes it easy to go from daytime to an evening look by adding darker shades on top of your daytime look. My most used shades are the third, fourth, eighth and number twelve. It also includes a daytime and smokey eye tutorial on the inside flap. What a great deal!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SOtwSrsxXksK4spe5hY6Ne-3Ok68AMjW1gFI-euh0A9kY0TmtPgXUvMa3Ip0LoDLVUhE3NUNliJ_hj_wXwf9Ma140zslPfmzL9Y8lGT34vT0ws1NsxGwB9_PtqoRLbvHv5l8807E/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SOtwSrsxXksK4spe5hY6Ne-3Ok68AMjW1gFI-euh0A9kY0TmtPgXUvMa3Ip0LoDLVUhE3NUNliJ_hj_wXwf9Ma140zslPfmzL9Y8lGT34vT0ws1NsxGwB9_PtqoRLbvHv5l8807E/s200/IMG_2323.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My other fave eyeshadow is Maybelline EyeStudio in Carbon Frost. It is a duo of sparkly black and then this crazy shimmery blue/purple/pink swirl of colors on the other side. Sounds crazy but looks awesome! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Favorite Lip Color-</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQTvO0OW9QVjQ8qSlFc4ydE3fhCoHDzixll4Sfw3I6w1tRNQA4d6Z7syno94XwftDrUGhWF1jG8vAdowM1nz2463oMH6ooN0QX-YhsxvFO52iKD52VqTYDYwSx9frQX0V65c26k7_/s1600/IMG_2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQTvO0OW9QVjQ8qSlFc4ydE3fhCoHDzixll4Sfw3I6w1tRNQA4d6Z7syno94XwftDrUGhWF1jG8vAdowM1nz2463oMH6ooN0QX-YhsxvFO52iKD52VqTYDYwSx9frQX0V65c26k7_/s320/IMG_2328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My favorite lip colors du jour are Covergirl Outlast Double LipShine in shades 285 Coral Shimmer and 215 Rose Quartz, Retail: 12.99$ each. All I'm gonna say about these is they really do last ALL. Freakin. Day. You will need a makeup remover to get them off. I am also loving Covergirl Outlast LipStain in Bit of Blossom, Retail 8.99$. I love how it goes on matte and soaks right into your lips. I don't wear lip color that much but when I do I reach for one of these.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Favorite Lip Gloss-</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am a lip gloss junkie and wear it all day, every day. I just love how it makes my lips look so plump and luscious. Right now the lip gloss I am OBSESSED with is Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Apricot, Retail: 13.99$. It is THE prefect nudish-pink lip gloss and I can't live without it. It goes on so smooth and isn't sticky or gooey. It makes my lips feel sooo kissable!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Favorite Eye Pencil/ Liner(s)- </b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLWVSR7Ok8aevYkxUysBH2yS71zMJC7wSN6gJgAYMcAmcgKgodbr01r12_odbEoIQIdXGhG4s84nBXWcatinfPZ5dFxixVyPMbHJTPmJ1W3NHbpl8inbo6pgBCkaoRxE8TbpngOyx/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLWVSR7Ok8aevYkxUysBH2yS71zMJC7wSN6gJgAYMcAmcgKgodbr01r12_odbEoIQIdXGhG4s84nBXWcatinfPZ5dFxixVyPMbHJTPmJ1W3NHbpl8inbo6pgBCkaoRxE8TbpngOyx/s320/IMG_2327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have three lip liners in rotation at the moment. The ones that I use most are my L.A Colors Auto Eyeliners in Black, AE661and Navy, AE664. They are the perfect eyeliners, they go on super smooth and dark, you don't have to sharpen them and they are CRAZY cheap. They retail for a measly 1.99$. The other liner I like is CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Eye Pencil in Starlighting, Retail: 5.99$. Very pretty shimmery silver, love to use on lash lines, includes smudge tool, no sharpening required.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Nail Polish(s)-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNVlhyL6Y_C20ZeY88M55HVA5HNc3VYbYEVuvfZsZabkdgr-aAKZlCDQrLzYcvLPdOoWnmIQwPR2QTf3nR42hPYbQqtmkvu1vgpZP3vXfjvGuKhDwrI6n4aI3kencGckkqNa1zv1w/s1600/IMG_2335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNVlhyL6Y_C20ZeY88M55HVA5HNc3VYbYEVuvfZsZabkdgr-aAKZlCDQrLzYcvLPdOoWnmIQwPR2QTf3nR42hPYbQqtmkvu1vgpZP3vXfjvGuKhDwrI6n4aI3kencGckkqNa1zv1w/s320/IMG_2335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My favorite nail polish shades right now are Nicole BY O.P.I in Respect The World, Retail: 7.99$, which is this awesome turquoise/jade green color that I am wearing in the picture (although it looks more blue on camera). It looks wicked if you put a black<a href="http://www.mbeautylounge.com/nailpolish/crackle-nail-polish/3203-black-crackle-shatter-nail-polish.html" target="_blank"> Crackle</a> polish over it. (I ran out of mine *tear*) and it dries super fast. My other fave is L.A Colors Color Craze Nail Polish in Live, NP409, which is a cool silver color and retails for just 1.99$.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Perfume-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww1Z93tPSl8lqPR590phwZXXPj0PxHzcv_30_iLNAHVJYGhbiFZXdle7Iuf_QKyPMg-fFgb3A8WVcVthIDLhnIYRZzlBLn0-PbexoTONTrk8ohnY3bLFMD33I4Uz_mOmeVWTOszyV/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww1Z93tPSl8lqPR590phwZXXPj0PxHzcv_30_iLNAHVJYGhbiFZXdle7Iuf_QKyPMg-fFgb3A8WVcVthIDLhnIYRZzlBLn0-PbexoTONTrk8ohnY3bLFMD33I4Uz_mOmeVWTOszyV/s320/IMG_2316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My favorite perfume right now is one I got from my sister for Christmas ,called Love Wishes. It is an Eau De Parfum and I have no clue were it was bought or how much it is. I tried Google but came up empty handed. It is such a romantic, girly scent and I LOVE it. I really wish you could smell it because you would fall in love too!! I am pretty sure it is a cheaper brand of perfume but it still smells heavenly.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Favorite Hair Products-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S1_YlyFgIvPuKl1KPGfLXKxq5xWxK1_ypFZwixvy3nU-M2rmzTP4n1Te0jDiN2JF7Dss9zYhP4fosEjGsm4Q6okDrGA828TFFLdbThsDB3xfHQk56PziSPqKcqePuTjFbTKj9zIC/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S1_YlyFgIvPuKl1KPGfLXKxq5xWxK1_ypFZwixvy3nU-M2rmzTP4n1Te0jDiN2JF7Dss9zYhP4fosEjGsm4Q6okDrGA828TFFLdbThsDB3xfHQk56PziSPqKcqePuTjFbTKj9zIC/s320/IMG_2317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTY0UPq5uxFQboQWuWmEu5thMzZigN9DGuWMdJsMuGYkSKKhqbMo43FO6do819Z82IxhSmS7iscUJfmnI4mAyNAv-Urb7SaGnxMdrEEQVbj1KYA1l1N0-TpVn1CrlDkygIyUe6RpU/s1600/IMG_2337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTY0UPq5uxFQboQWuWmEu5thMzZigN9DGuWMdJsMuGYkSKKhqbMo43FO6do819Z82IxhSmS7iscUJfmnI4mAyNAv-Urb7SaGnxMdrEEQVbj1KYA1l1N0-TpVn1CrlDkygIyUe6RpU/s320/IMG_2337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I have super long (to my a$$) and curly hair, so putting some type of product in it is a must. However, my go-to hairstyle is a simple messy bun because it is just too annoying to have it down with kids yanking it and such. Usually I just scrunch it with some gel and a tiny dab of smoothing serum then pile it all on the top of my head, pinning the front back into a little pouf. My fave hair gel right now is Dippity Doo Sport Pro Styling Gel Concentrate. I use a LOT of hair gel in the run of a month so I do NOT want to be spending an arm and leg on it. This gel works great and is just 2$ for a 175ml (5.7 fl oz) tube. I also always use a touch of shine serum to tame all the frizzys that pop up, especially along my hairline. My fave serum right now is Got2B Smooth Operator Smoothing Satin Drops, Retail: 6.99$. It gets rid of flyaways and smells ah-may-zing!!Plus, the bottle has these cute little charms dangling from it:)<br />
<br />
<b>Fave Body Wash-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIPgeXWwlYiUnriGcmqzX5zA7q04A6Q8JfpsDv3sbRCmcQrWetn1e-YaHlXB1KZrhm3kWfyT24jC8zVIQKeNVIbj0D861V7u8SbA-xbf6FIOgyNFJQh0Rvp3oEJPmGpadYiL2tdUc/s1600/IMG_2341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIPgeXWwlYiUnriGcmqzX5zA7q04A6Q8JfpsDv3sbRCmcQrWetn1e-YaHlXB1KZrhm3kWfyT24jC8zVIQKeNVIbj0D861V7u8SbA-xbf6FIOgyNFJQh0Rvp3oEJPmGpadYiL2tdUc/s320/IMG_2341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Right now I am LOVING these adorable little body washes I got for Christmas from my Mama. They are by Beauty Insider and have the cutest names such as Berry Flirtini, Blue Lagoon and Lime Margarita. It comes in a box of four different scents, 100ml's each. I absolutely HAVE to find some big bottles of them because they smell delish! I'm not quite sure of the retail price but I am guessing around 10$ for all four.<br />
<br />
<b>Fave Feminine Care Product-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40DTtfYeYdLM3CsDr_hKbPXnNxeyIlbXZwqjCZv-FPfxwAWuZloKsH_eoytK6-XYGB67E4tBa42nllKkUEDXQWule5apsLLR3Mjx0QdXuy7MLTigTVKvzxFZgak6ab7KfU_Mnpr3p/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40DTtfYeYdLM3CsDr_hKbPXnNxeyIlbXZwqjCZv-FPfxwAWuZloKsH_eoytK6-XYGB67E4tBa42nllKkUEDXQWule5apsLLR3Mjx0QdXuy7MLTigTVKvzxFZgak6ab7KfU_Mnpr3p/s320/IMG_2331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I hesitated before including this category because it isn't a beauty product, BUT I just had to show someone because it is just so dang cute. For around 5$ you get a pack with two little boxes like the one pictured. You get one small box of Regular absorbancy and one box of Super absorbancy, each containing ten OB tampons. Now, normally I use tampons with an applicator but this box was so cute and the perfect size to throw in my purse for emergencies. My periods are so effin' random I never know when it's coming until BAM! Okay,TMI...Sorry. <br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Favorite Makeup Bag-</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOU3fqpO_DXRwE63GatcaCxZV1ZUvR71dNZ2qpvo13qK9Kd37zMSZUmZq14FKs-4MVHvVPdL15JcDte_mqHOvilDEN_NwoXxp_faKdDFvC36eWijZXV91u_vDTyVE7kRrXrSLnry8/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOU3fqpO_DXRwE63GatcaCxZV1ZUvR71dNZ2qpvo13qK9Kd37zMSZUmZq14FKs-4MVHvVPdL15JcDte_mqHOvilDEN_NwoXxp_faKdDFvC36eWijZXV91u_vDTyVE7kRrXrSLnry8/s320/IMG_2336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I made this category because I absolutely HAVE to show off the adorable makeup bag I got from my Nanny for Christmas. It is by Clinique and is just so cheerful looking with its bright pink, orange and purple blossoms. It is large enough to fit all the makeup I just showed you plus a bit more, but still small enough to throw into my purse. I think it may have actually been a free gift my nanny got with a purchase. Either way I LOVE it!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Since this is a Mom Blog I figured I should include SOMETHING baby/child related, so I am going to share a few of my favorite baby/children's products really quickly. </b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Baby Wash:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOm6zEvw3pRiV2OQDCwEtE1htWCmxwOISCYlgYqh2YYu5Ox1q3KaZrBR4vCKUbFfPH6lyxrORsoUxK2crkghi6mhjMD-N5yiciA6nHXxrQJlY4x1V3Lj4Bsn-DQ48zsFWV3mRnFDQ/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOm6zEvw3pRiV2OQDCwEtE1htWCmxwOISCYlgYqh2YYu5Ox1q3KaZrBR4vCKUbFfPH6lyxrORsoUxK2crkghi6mhjMD-N5yiciA6nHXxrQJlY4x1V3Lj4Bsn-DQ48zsFWV3mRnFDQ/s320/IMG_2339.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b>I absolutely LOVE Johnson & Johnsons Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Wash, Retail: 6.99$. I use it on both of my kids every bath and it leaves their skin so soft and smells incredible. Seriously, I can't stop sniffing them afterwards, It makes me wanna snuggle them all night. Confession: Sometimes I use it too!!<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Baby Shampoo:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_0wBfpDq10Xki8PWOoOuQhsfFvJYo3gt1cO9QvdKoDTYFGpuNpacwUkkEOkH4AV-wu3dOH1qKHcQkajzPmSnDXGFLpCQWkyOyAsFc7k8uBusuhYt48RoSkSbNeMO5Oc7w_eRA-eg/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_0wBfpDq10Xki8PWOoOuQhsfFvJYo3gt1cO9QvdKoDTYFGpuNpacwUkkEOkH4AV-wu3dOH1qKHcQkajzPmSnDXGFLpCQWkyOyAsFc7k8uBusuhYt48RoSkSbNeMO5Oc7w_eRA-eg/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Johnson's Extra Conditioning 2 in 1 Shampoo, Retail: 4.99$ is the ONLY shampoo I use on my kids hair. Both of them have curly hair like me and this makes it smooth and great smelling while being super gentle on their eyes. No More Tears!!<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Diaper Rash Cream:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABG32pgEV1Pu2uUXt04MjD-pe98cxhnfseuPF8LhVy7vuhGUpqNBBRowXx_7WXFmPulDhMEwVokhBibUcci07AZ4hQ1c5owYPOgb712kF78qGbGLkAYcBgqmITajdLHUH71eWIqr7/s1600/rash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABG32pgEV1Pu2uUXt04MjD-pe98cxhnfseuPF8LhVy7vuhGUpqNBBRowXx_7WXFmPulDhMEwVokhBibUcci07AZ4hQ1c5owYPOgb712kF78qGbGLkAYcBgqmITajdLHUH71eWIqr7/s1600/rash.jpg" /></a></div>
Desitin Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Cream<b>, </b>Retail: 14.99$ for 454 g tub. This is by far the best and most effective diaper rash cream I have used. I got a huge tub for free with a coupon I had on the recommendation of the pharmacist when my daughter had a gnarly rash and it worked like a charm. It is 40% Zinc Oxide (double the amount of most regular strength creams) and is super thick. It does NOT come off on the diaper, you gotta scrub this shit off.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Detangler:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00uRnBjJ42BZJokhyOX66SYYSBld49DMFwODWB0TouyNvvZSYaMDgCuw_RflYkPIP429pLz4QWQOmi-NS6lNfVDEM7vGKQbM_yS1wzTaQFKhaNdHEgyNNoiBwci8oGVnAKmbsLMWO/s1600/HCa1_13_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00uRnBjJ42BZJokhyOX66SYYSBld49DMFwODWB0TouyNvvZSYaMDgCuw_RflYkPIP429pLz4QWQOmi-NS6lNfVDEM7vGKQbM_yS1wzTaQFKhaNdHEgyNNoiBwci8oGVnAKmbsLMWO/s320/HCa1_13_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Until just a few weeks ago my son had long, super curly hair (It was a big curly, shaggy afro but we cut it short) that I could not get a comb through without using conditioner and a few tears. I grabbed this L'oreal Kids Tangle Tamer Spray in Burst of Sweet Pear scent, Retail 3.99$ and tried it and it works great. I still use it on my daughters hair and sometimes even my own. It smells awesome and you can use it on wet or dry hair.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Well there you have it!! You now know my favorite, can't-live-without items of the past month. So tell me, what products can you not live without? Do you do your hair and makeup every day? What are some of your fave baby products?</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-3803979971302458722011-12-31T14:29:00.000-08:002012-01-03T06:13:13.227-08:00Paper Bag Rudolph Puppet<b><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I know I am a little bit late on this one but it was so adorable I couldn't pass it up.</span></b><br />
<br />
Plus, I had promised my kids we would do a Christmas craft and they bugged me every single day so I couldn't say no. I don't really consider the holidays done until after New Years Eve anyways. That is when the tree comes down, officially marking the end of the holidays, so we are still allowed to do holiday projects until then.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3TUXaPXi3zLfmThjKBK8fVutXw6KsyzoBSsgaRjx_ONKrFoneqZkJvdaSQNceRNqEqyzAdw5XuRnVK8Qa2jgICXZwx-M4QYXBDZm16CmFbapoHBbUtMWeiiKUCbpdgVEpDpqT51Z/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3TUXaPXi3zLfmThjKBK8fVutXw6KsyzoBSsgaRjx_ONKrFoneqZkJvdaSQNceRNqEqyzAdw5XuRnVK8Qa2jgICXZwx-M4QYXBDZm16CmFbapoHBbUtMWeiiKUCbpdgVEpDpqT51Z/s320/IMG_2270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mvYIHRM5ZUYmP35hhjx8os3fTqZeUnzgaZCQ27Hd3mrScvUGr44Cd_2CrLURt4_u0PCymVt861C_owK7xQGndhJMrTz61VV8pzjugAEslVi0saE0qV0s-0mO1OD_5rZzKVGPpuKd/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mvYIHRM5ZUYmP35hhjx8os3fTqZeUnzgaZCQ27Hd3mrScvUGr44Cd_2CrLURt4_u0PCymVt861C_owK7xQGndhJMrTz61VV8pzjugAEslVi0saE0qV0s-0mO1OD_5rZzKVGPpuKd/s320/IMG_2269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't worry, I confiscated those scissors he is swinging.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
While perusing the web for Holiday crafts that were easy enough for my kids to do and also did not require a lot of costly supplies, I stumbled upon this adorable little project. It is super easy for even very young children to do. My two year old had a blast making it although I did have to assist her with the cutting parts. My five year old did the whole thing no problem without assistance. If you have younger kids I would pre-cut everything beforehand so that they can do the whole project themselves.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Supplies: </b></u><br />
<br />
-Brown paper bags (the kind used for lunches)<br />
-Construction paper of various colors. (We used yellow for antlers and white for the eyes).<br />
-Pompoms (Red if you are making Rudolph, black or brown for other reindeers)<br />
-Scissors<br />
-Glue sticks<br />
-Markers (Pencil crayons or crayons would also work)<br />
Optional:<br />
-Small bells<br />
-Ribbon<br />
-Any other embellishments you wish to decorate them with.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mvYIHRM5ZUYmP35hhjx8os3fTqZeUnzgaZCQ27Hd3mrScvUGr44Cd_2CrLURt4_u0PCymVt861C_owK7xQGndhJMrTz61VV8pzjugAEslVi0saE0qV0s-0mO1OD_5rZzKVGPpuKd/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mvYIHRM5ZUYmP35hhjx8os3fTqZeUnzgaZCQ27Hd3mrScvUGr44Cd_2CrLURt4_u0PCymVt861C_owK7xQGndhJMrTz61VV8pzjugAEslVi0saE0qV0s-0mO1OD_5rZzKVGPpuKd/s320/IMG_2269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3TUXaPXi3zLfmThjKBK8fVutXw6KsyzoBSsgaRjx_ONKrFoneqZkJvdaSQNceRNqEqyzAdw5XuRnVK8Qa2jgICXZwx-M4QYXBDZm16CmFbapoHBbUtMWeiiKUCbpdgVEpDpqT51Z/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3TUXaPXi3zLfmThjKBK8fVutXw6KsyzoBSsgaRjx_ONKrFoneqZkJvdaSQNceRNqEqyzAdw5XuRnVK8Qa2jgICXZwx-M4QYXBDZm16CmFbapoHBbUtMWeiiKUCbpdgVEpDpqT51Z/s320/IMG_2270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
HOW TO MAKE:<br />
<br />
Step 1: Trace you child's hands onto construction paper (whatever color you wish the antlers to be)and cut them out.<br />
<br />
Step 2: Glue the cut out hands on each side of the backside of the paper bag, to look like antlers.<br />
<br />
Step 3: Cut out two circles from white construction paper and glue onto the front of the paper bag (On the piece that would be the bottom of the bag if it were opened) for eyes. Then create irises by either cutting out smaller circles from black construction paper and gluing them on the middle of the white circles. You could also just draw them on with a black marker.<br />
<br />
Step 4: Glue a red pompom onto the paper bag underneith the eyes for Rudolph's nose.<br />
<br />
Step 5: Now you can add further embellishments if you wish such as a ribbon color with bells on it. For the younger children simply allow them to decorate their Rudolph puppet with markers or crayon. The possibilities are endless!! <br />
<br />
Step 6: Now for the fun part!! Open up your Rudolph bag puppet and put your hand inside.The kids will have a blast making their Rudolph puppets "talk" and putting on a puppet show. If you are feeling particularly inspired you can create a puppet for all of Santa's reindeer!! Maybe even a Santa puppet!!<br />
<br />
Coder was super proud of his Rudolph!! I made one to and it was actually pretty fun. The kids love arts and crafts so this was a hit with them. Here is what the finished product looked like.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT8Uo6aZ7-im1ToRzsyMyB2Cr_sJwXMiFbvBVcrIT7O4dtACN1bOB5MAPXwyv95cCUNTYox0FI1xNCIZI2EFGJl0xZqRT7vCsyKzzLNW1SPA14KpSEZvnSvEx5FaOsnlST3nHnU8W/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT8Uo6aZ7-im1ToRzsyMyB2Cr_sJwXMiFbvBVcrIT7O4dtACN1bOB5MAPXwyv95cCUNTYox0FI1xNCIZI2EFGJl0xZqRT7vCsyKzzLNW1SPA14KpSEZvnSvEx5FaOsnlST3nHnU8W/s320/IMG_2275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCOzOJ_u7licUWdruDst3i_MTjSKWRERyRu75aInL0fxlaL4sz_SgihjeBckgBVP8MAcbQQdqz2xn0sk6Gqgtl2rzC_lBo3y7jnVRkhPdKYjO3yK9vOw27zztRCbaR3kJRsPUqkvY/s1600/IMG_2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCOzOJ_u7licUWdruDst3i_MTjSKWRERyRu75aInL0fxlaL4sz_SgihjeBckgBVP8MAcbQQdqz2xn0sk6Gqgtl2rzC_lBo3y7jnVRkhPdKYjO3yK9vOw27zztRCbaR3kJRsPUqkvY/s320/IMG_2278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelly's (left), Mommy (middle), & Coder (right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Do your children enjoy doing crafts? What types of crafts do they enjoy the most?<br />
<br />
This post is linked up at the <a href="http://todayscreativeblog.net/tuesday-link-party/">Today's Creative Blog Tuesday Crafty Linky Party</a>. I encourage you to link up your projects as well:)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-24375670849124583452011-12-30T14:13:00.000-08:002011-12-30T19:49:57.996-08:00Holy, Mouse Infestation!!<b><span style="font-size: large;">So you know how I moved into a new place a few months ago? Yeah...</span></b><br />
<br />
Well, I found a place that was not only (seemingly) perfect for my family but also available immediately at a really great price, so of course I snatched it up. Well, for those reasons and because I was staying with hubby's sister and her FOUR children...All boys...while I house shopped and one week into living there I was seriously considering throwing myself out of the third story window. Seriously, I have had my own place since I was 18 and I cannot...I repeat CANNOT..stay with other people. I am weird like that. I don't even like sleeping over at my own mothers house. So anyways, for those reasons I took the place immediately. Of course I went to look at the place first and it seemed perfectly suited for my family and our needs. Let us review the pros and cons.<br />
<br />
<u><b>PROS:</b></u><br />
-Three large bedrooms so the kids can each have their own rooms (at our old apartment the baby slept in our room).<br />
-My OWN washer and dryer (It was coin operated at out old place, 2.25$ per load..and trust me with two kids it adds up FAST).<br />
-Large fenced in backyard (The yard at our old place was non-existent).<br />
-Large baby barn for storage<br />
-Very reasonable rent and security deposit<br />
<br />
<u><b>CONS: </b></u><br />
-No garbage bin so raccoons keep ripping the garbage open and throwing it all over my deck. Not fun.<br />
-Infested with mice. Yeah. You heard me.<br />
<br />
Apparently the landlord either didn't notice (and I find that hard to believe since the place was empty for a while and I am SURE there would have been droppings when he went in to get it ready for me to move in) or he simply omitted that little piece of information, but as I quickly discovered we were not alone. The very first time I had an encounter with a rodent was while I was home alone with the kiddos, while daddy was at work, about a week or two after moving in. I was sweeping the floor while the kids sat on the couch watching cartoons when I saw something out of the corner of my eye beside the shoe mat. I tiptoed over to inspect further and there. It. Was. A freakin' mouse, just chillin' inside my shoe. In my shoe! Needless, to say I screamed my head off and jumped up onto the couch, scaring the ever-loving shit out of my kids and causing them to both burst into tears. I realised I had to either catch the mouse or it would be roaming my house freely. "Stay on the couch until my Mommy's says, okay?" I ordered the kids. They both nodded their heads, eyes wide with fear. I grabbed a pair of hubby's old work boots and put them on. (When I told hubby about this later he laughed until he cried. "What were you gonna do step on it?" He asked. Uh, no, I just didn't want it to bite my toes, duh. *eye roll*). I looked around for something to trap it with and settled on my sons Lego box since it had a lid I could put on it. This all seemed totally reasonable at the time. Fear makes you do illogical things. Let me paint a picture for you: Me wearing a housecoat and size 11 work boots, trying to tiptoe (not an easy task in steel toes) around the house, with a Lego bin in my hands. The kids must have though I had really gone off the deep end this time. Well, I spent a good hour or two rooting through every closet, piece of clothing, under every bed, inside every cupboard. That little fucker was gone. I don't blame him, I screamed loud enough to wake the dead. After I calmed down a bit and my breathing was regular again I reasoned with myself that it was an old house, it had been empty for a while and it was totally understandable that a mouse would find his way inside out of the cold. I mean it was just one tiny mouse right? WRONG!<br />
<br />
After that incident I was on hyper alert for mice. Suddenly the clues were everywhere. How did I not see the signs?! While watching a movie, hubby and I would hear them squeaking and rustling around from what sounded like behind the cupboards. After a few nights of this I was at my limit and made hubby investigate. After listening intently we decided that it definitely sounded like it was coming from behind the fridge. I got hubby to pull the fridge out and sure enough, this is what we found:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Gj4ghvAmMWE80dO2ZfgYLzjqjGI94M-7vUpxPbxf-4ID8gSqXIUNiHFP2iO2V1J-7lgRIL6LlN9UyPkHUslJ_tzSk3pE3MoC34s_6br4KlN-b_JoF-ZaYENd6pYZ2-hWUvrEXx5/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Gj4ghvAmMWE80dO2ZfgYLzjqjGI94M-7vUpxPbxf-4ID8gSqXIUNiHFP2iO2V1J-7lgRIL6LlN9UyPkHUslJ_tzSk3pE3MoC34s_6br4KlN-b_JoF-ZaYENd6pYZ2-hWUvrEXx5/s320/IMG_2297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a1Z5muZbxJ_C8sGyUhIrNnDyXg7v-cKhma7cDvN0Rz48HpN3cpdv0VI4FLwvgXUZYPq7k4y90W-m0rqld2wO83HEPr2CH80HlI1fGjaQ8lK_LVGKjy0HtayBHGBwMaebaXn6xpXI/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a1Z5muZbxJ_C8sGyUhIrNnDyXg7v-cKhma7cDvN0Rz48HpN3cpdv0VI4FLwvgXUZYPq7k4y90W-m0rqld2wO83HEPr2CH80HlI1fGjaQ8lK_LVGKjy0HtayBHGBwMaebaXn6xpXI/s320/IMG_2298.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a mouse hole..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Those are mouse holes in case you were wondering. Like fuckin five of them! I almost died right there. Hubby, being a man, immediately ran for his pellet gun rifle. Like he was actually going to shoot a mouse. He camped out behind the fridge for a good hour with the gun aimed at the holes, trying to coax the little hellions out.Yeah, they never came out.<br />
<br />
I emailed the landlord the next day and explained my findings and assumed he would take care of the situation. Well what does he do? Drops of one measly mouse trap. Just one. Ummm, I am no expert exterminator but one would assume that when there are, like, ten mouse holes in the very first place you look, you probably have more then one mouse. Well, we set the trap and snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie later that evening. We weren't even past the previews when SNAP! The friggin trap went off. Well, that was quick! Of course I sent hubby to investigate and sure enough we had bagged our self a huge mouse. It was still alive when we looked and I honestly felt really bad because it was caught right by its little pink nose. Hubby wanted to just leave it to die but I just couldn't bear to watch this little guy suffer so I ordered him to let it go in the field outside. He refused and said that it would just come back inside. Well, I was almost in tears at this point so hubby finally caved and just let it go outside. I am now sure that it ran right back in by whatever little hole it got in by in the first place, laughing all the way.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpinvWf-KJbwsXkVZDwKutftFkHwysnGNpPvJwo1KlQ-UMLPDLPoFuVSlQ0F6hP1gOUpEhhjpf0-pYknGtLUbxO5kEJmnAQDxFkf4T5QpBte6_UMawIWfQB7qxDcMMdQDd9HCJvttL/s1600/IMG_2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpinvWf-KJbwsXkVZDwKutftFkHwysnGNpPvJwo1KlQ-UMLPDLPoFuVSlQ0F6hP1gOUpEhhjpf0-pYknGtLUbxO5kEJmnAQDxFkf4T5QpBte6_UMawIWfQB7qxDcMMdQDd9HCJvttL/s400/IMG_2296.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotcha, Sucka!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Later that night, your never going to believe this, when I went to bed I put my brand new 60$ purse beside the bed, as usual. Well, when I woke up in the middle of the night to grab my puffer out of my purse and reached down to pick it up I was left holding only the straps, no purse. The little bastards chewed the straps right off my freakin' purse!! Un-fuckin-believable! This kind of bullshit went on for another week or so. Well, fast forward to about seven mice later that we have caught. Lets just say I am not so soft hearted anymore. Now I sit there and giggle, watching the little fuckers suffer. "Just DIE you little bastard, DIEEEEEEEEE." I called my landlord back to let him know that I didn't think one mouse trap was gonna cut it since I already caught seven with just one trap in like a matter of one week. What does he do next? Call an exterminator? Nope...That makes too much sense (actually I just think he is too cheap). No...He shows up at my door with a bottle of Rat Poisoning. Ummm, yeah, I have small children so I don't exactly feel comfortable scattering poison around my house. Plus, I read online that if you use rat poison they just die in the walls and shit. Not exactly the desired outcome. I was so pissed I called him back and told him to just bring me more traps. Honestly, if you want something done right you really do have to do it yourself.<br />
<br />
So that was almost a week ago since the rat poison incident and we have still been averaging at about one mouse per night. We've been catching those fuckers left and right. Just last night while watching TV we saw one run out from behind the entertainment stand. Once again hubby grabs the pellet gun. WTF? Friggin' men. The thing kept poking his little nose out from the drawers of my entertainment stand over and over. I thought hubby was just waiting for a good shot, but when I gestured towards where it was peeking from he was just like "What? *Blank stare*. He didn't even see the fuckin' thing! Once again if you want something done...I snatched the gun from him and got into sniper position. I was NOT fuckin around anymore. Unless these little fuckers were gonna pay rent they gotta beat the feet. I already have enough mouths to feed. Well, I never did catch the mouse we saw that night so I know there is at LEAST one more mouse roaming around. Though there are probably wayyy more. I don't think I have to emphasize exactly how PISSED I am over this shit. I read online that mouse shit releases toxins that can affect your breathing. Well, since we moved in here my asthma's been acting up hella bad and both my kids, who have never really had breathing problems, are prescribed puffers. I initially thought this was because of winter being here and all the flu bugs and such floating around but now I am not so sure.<br />
<br />
Anyways, I plan on emailing my landlord back and telling him either he calls an exterminator or I am going to be calling the Board of Health. I pay money to live here, I have small children, I am not a fuckin exterminator. It isn't my job to catch these nasty little creatures. If something doesn't get done I am going to have to move. Seriously, I am on a year lease and I am not putting up with this shit for a whole year. It is, for one, disgusting. Number two, it is a safety hazard. These fuckers obviously chew everything, judging by the wall behind my fridge. Well, if they are living in the walls what stops them from chewing on structural beams or wires? Nothing. How do I know my house isn't going to collapse as a result or burst into flames? I don't. Number three, I have kids and everyone knows that mice are filthy little, disease ridden animals. God forbid one bites my child and catch a disease or something. I would be out for blood . Anyways, I am going to give him until the end of the month to resolve this issue or I'm bringing out the big guns. In the meantime, I will definitely keep you all updated on this shitfest of a situation. So tell me...Have you ever had a problem with mice? How did you get rid of them? Any advice or tips?<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-10431886765153018232011-12-28T18:56:00.000-08:002011-12-29T17:23:22.282-08:00OOTD: Mommy and Baby versionSo I have noticed that pretty much all my favorite mommy bloggers have started doing the Outfit of the Day feature. I personally love seeing what other mommies where and where they buy it, how much it cost, etc. I also love seeing how other mommies dress their children and I got the idea to do an OOTD for my daughter from Mandy over at <a href="http://theomgmom.com/" target="_blank">The OMG Mom</a>, who did an outfit post of her daughter on her blog, which you can view <a href="http://theomgmom.com/?p=1446" target="_blank">HERE</a>. So, since there are some days when I have absolutely nothing even remotely interesting to blog about I decided to jump on the OOTD bandwagon. I will try my best to include prices and where I got each item but some things I have had forever and I have a hard time remembering what I ate for breakfast, let alone where i bought something three years ago. Alright, enough of me rambling on, lets do the damn thing.<br />
<br />
<b><u>OOTD: Mommy Casual</u></b><br />
<br />
This was worn to basically bum around the house and for a quick grocery run.<b><u> </u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv8lFX0DGAgOLCkJmVfOiN75wn7P9G4ALYyUPnFg5Ntx4sn17i8bh7Y1df1dsUzZZcV2Q8GgFH50Tq5stCnsunAlXRGD6qkkGbZuUinPlIyrIl-WElhObdM5iY237FqnM5A4ZsT-f/s1600/IMG_2241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv8lFX0DGAgOLCkJmVfOiN75wn7P9G4ALYyUPnFg5Ntx4sn17i8bh7Y1df1dsUzZZcV2Q8GgFH50Tq5stCnsunAlXRGD6qkkGbZuUinPlIyrIl-WElhObdM5iY237FqnM5A4ZsT-f/s640/IMG_2241.JPG" width="340" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sweatpants (12.99$) and Hoodie (18.99$) from <a href="http://www.gianttiger.com/en/index.php" target="_blank">Giant Tiger</a><br />
White tank under sweatshirt (10$) from <a href="http://www.urban-planet.com/LanguageSelection.cfm" target="_blank">Urban Planet</a><br />
'<a href="http://www.guess.ca/" target="_blank">Guess</a>' necklace was gift but similar styles are online for between 40-60$ (See closer pic below)<br />
Cupcake Slippers (12.99$) from <a href="http://www.walmart.com/" target="_blank">Wal-Mart</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyFUNQLiWEYNzZk2t1Y7QvO5p9Olu1J2Jcg7bWRoBDkz-4rh6YDZ7bI7FszMCofiJ-8sHFs-0zQFBPFEoCod1un_2HL-Ex2WMEYaLlymBq4m4QdCPsfU5hNAAjqJmaw_l3k3ooEq5/s1600/IMG_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"> </a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u> OOTD: Toddler Edition- </u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I decided to do this outfit because I LOVE it on her. It is two pics because I wanted to show it her outfit without her coat and then with it. These were both taken at the same time though.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9Pyvl4bWH7JJ6t30-UXYqaPPtPmcb2pw1qhLZzcnzzOqMBPT-LWYdDuzPjtWwXl10DGl9823Wl48y7Dx73eQ0wrDQQxw3Zjv7SaH47x60mantmKHXCoBaeuLH5d_B220wNWseMrr/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9Pyvl4bWH7JJ6t30-UXYqaPPtPmcb2pw1qhLZzcnzzOqMBPT-LWYdDuzPjtWwXl10DGl9823Wl48y7Dx73eQ0wrDQQxw3Zjv7SaH47x60mantmKHXCoBaeuLH5d_B220wNWseMrr/s320/IMG_2263.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzAZL9sDrVTrRHWBsNswVNP9SKjCI8MFA6VGbEUwxE1aUnNaB-yqOIzXBb-H-05c-lOG3qDz_KecTZw8rKHe81SrjlkaZQq-BPb8G_ImzZ_I9FriP3V9-7yPfvaE4FAhNKdZahyphenhyphenr1/s1600/IMG_2268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzAZL9sDrVTrRHWBsNswVNP9SKjCI8MFA6VGbEUwxE1aUnNaB-yqOIzXBb-H-05c-lOG3qDz_KecTZw8rKHe81SrjlkaZQq-BPb8G_ImzZ_I9FriP3V9-7yPfvaE4FAhNKdZahyphenhyphenr1/s320/IMG_2268.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shirt (19.99$) from <a href="http://www.hm.com/ca/" target="_blank">H & M</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Black Leggings (12.99$) from <a href="http://www.hm.com/ca/" target="_blank">H & M</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Brown Riding Boots (24.99$) from H & M (Closer pic below)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Coat (Reg. 54.99$ on Sale for 34.99$) from <a href="http://www.oldnavy.com/" target="_blank">Old Navy</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hat and Mittons (9.99$ each...Sold seperately) from <a href="http://www.gap.com/products/baby-clothes.jsp" target="_blank">Baby Gap</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jC43cJi2WzuHrWBxrxPu-PvalzyAtXNfRttBJzQdioAC_s25_gT7YGndtTc3yJNNsmzdlv5DGid9Btm7CSsI_POgPsJ0curDsbnPHeqtIVFF06ldP4kbv7_7log3uyBOXgXc-m-R/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jC43cJi2WzuHrWBxrxPu-PvalzyAtXNfRttBJzQdioAC_s25_gT7YGndtTc3yJNNsmzdlv5DGid9Btm7CSsI_POgPsJ0curDsbnPHeqtIVFF06ldP4kbv7_7log3uyBOXgXc-m-R/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest. Boots. EVER</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-8881728819066072902011-12-28T16:13:00.001-08:002011-12-29T03:37:56.229-08:00Thursday Tidbits: Gingerbread Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">With so much going on during the holidays we hadn't got to decorate our gingerbread house until Christmas Day.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWGpJS8FJ6p44sFaz6EVBf8cOZyD4YNOwsZxQqor7MGX0EaZgdMYapkjVDe7pwkvFA3DQVbeAWompn-jpIdSIeyOKtKSmq3Utb0MrtKibmnn28Mpz6RzblpRz9i35zsieXTbZ0ss_/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWGpJS8FJ6p44sFaz6EVBf8cOZyD4YNOwsZxQqor7MGX0EaZgdMYapkjVDe7pwkvFA3DQVbeAWompn-jpIdSIeyOKtKSmq3Utb0MrtKibmnn28Mpz6RzblpRz9i35zsieXTbZ0ss_/s320/IMG_2210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I hadn't planned on even buying a gingerbread house kit because last years attempt went horribly awry. The walls and roof kept collapsing, there was much frustration and a few choice words on my part and we ended up throwing in the towel and just eating the pieces as they were. However, while shopping at Giant Tiger a few weeks ago with the munchkins I saw that they had gingerbread houses marked down from ten bucks to two dollars in the clearance bin. The best part? They were "PRE-ASSEMBELLED" houses, with all the fixings to decorate it included. (Second best part? A free pair of New Year's margarita-shaped, glittery eyeglasses with purchase!) It came with a bag of gum drops, a bag of colored candy beads, two bags of white frosting, and some candy canes. The house itself was already put together so all we had to do was decorate it. I figured it would be a fun little activity for the kids to do together. I kept putting off actually doing it because I was either to exhausted to bother or I just didn't want to deal with frosting everywhere and the sugar-induced craziness that followed.<br />
<br />
Finally, on the afternoon of Christmas Day the kids asked me if they could decorate it. Since the holidays were almost over and the house was already a mess from that mornings festivities, I didn't really have any excuse for saying no. I sat them down at the coffee table with aprons on to protect their new clothes that they insisted on wearing. Chanel had not only her new clothes on but also her new coat from Old Navy that she absolutely refused to take off. I figured icing couldn't be too hard to wash off and was for the most part right, although I learned the hard way that once icing has hardened it is not so easy to get it off of a microfibre sofa. I armed them each with a small bag of icing and some candies and let them go to town. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakbhG9YePIQ7SXYZYc8Pd8AyAtnLnQYLP67TXe5nTEccZ-qULq8S1soT4P3I5tMrXVM_r445319Dar2l6r8VqMbslslpqiP7JQCsuX48wbmXTfCyW0K9x1uZrR6dkXgGTtzs9NN0d/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakbhG9YePIQ7SXYZYc8Pd8AyAtnLnQYLP67TXe5nTEccZ-qULq8S1soT4P3I5tMrXVM_r445319Dar2l6r8VqMbslslpqiP7JQCsuX48wbmXTfCyW0K9x1uZrR6dkXgGTtzs9NN0d/s320/IMG_2212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xey5Hn_UP0kp21RAz_WE-B_n-XvtYokP-ZlvN0yR0yBKhpeaLPrLbbHAg6Y37TnQCmd7HJjRE1ase1_8HDJOKHONIAOGUgKdg1LnIyQTFsNTAZXG7NhzhMO7rLy0BALcbiQIwWbj/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xey5Hn_UP0kp21RAz_WE-B_n-XvtYokP-ZlvN0yR0yBKhpeaLPrLbbHAg6Y37TnQCmd7HJjRE1ase1_8HDJOKHONIAOGUgKdg1LnIyQTFsNTAZXG7NhzhMO7rLy0BALcbiQIwWbj/s320/IMG_2216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi97pMX0uXv2XZB-a_O5y0R_XaKRmzHY_TtB9HMRfccgTmTnNgPDpkygMYNoGNd56ieJRJSzxnvV8nudtaWkugqlxtwgxMS2TsxIutZO79Gvo4Wuq1mTkS6FXvf91DXY0nKIBARWl/s1600/IMG_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi97pMX0uXv2XZB-a_O5y0R_XaKRmzHY_TtB9HMRfccgTmTnNgPDpkygMYNoGNd56ieJRJSzxnvV8nudtaWkugqlxtwgxMS2TsxIutZO79Gvo4Wuq1mTkS6FXvf91DXY0nKIBARWl/s320/IMG_2222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxdZhAHQT-e97stgNjWu2kchOyh1TmCoeli84QJz6CBOjpKthvvoZVdwiY6msBkvRy-8DHxrKGizrdrsg4okwi4fhx0lsHYaxZBpnP5PPGwtOVo54jDZRvv04MOjUh_Dyq1vG89LM/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxdZhAHQT-e97stgNjWu2kchOyh1TmCoeli84QJz6CBOjpKthvvoZVdwiY6msBkvRy-8DHxrKGizrdrsg4okwi4fhx0lsHYaxZBpnP5PPGwtOVo54jDZRvv04MOjUh_Dyq1vG89LM/s320/IMG_2223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMeL1YybGk7-iOZyaOIresJ-sFaGfJniEwSsOJQ_gikTtyehT5pRuu0vuCc2zlQIDiV0Mp5ZXj-bv6AvigO5fAf5NpIICwqVT7NHe_iTH1mk9iDLsKgjR9zATpHDMP560hbxHz-qP/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMeL1YybGk7-iOZyaOIresJ-sFaGfJniEwSsOJQ_gikTtyehT5pRuu0vuCc2zlQIDiV0Mp5ZXj-bv6AvigO5fAf5NpIICwqVT7NHe_iTH1mk9iDLsKgjR9zATpHDMP560hbxHz-qP/s320/IMG_2213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-D_BIhW168QBFcNvaCQJWvxUEZ1X7ePzC1l-KEna5B0ihNEG7cAc1chgQzd_1UyyAk6OF9e613XvMNBlPuDvWPUV7wE8Cfnzjo7ym3itxBoSjgmfP4EwVmKpAsHXeBDPGyYLk_ZKv/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-D_BIhW168QBFcNvaCQJWvxUEZ1X7ePzC1l-KEna5B0ihNEG7cAc1chgQzd_1UyyAk6OF9e613XvMNBlPuDvWPUV7wE8Cfnzjo7ym3itxBoSjgmfP4EwVmKpAsHXeBDPGyYLk_ZKv/s320/IMG_2211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aQzqQvTm4jGfT5rmp4-tpw8lBTO8pSaqPSicBPCjnb7MS6hhZPv2ysfWosb0NB-jOClLQXMsgUlw6v6T9Z5zBrkHjPLpnf9V9Hb2AhxnW7x0sLAZUbvZzelXsQ8Ug1dlZZ2Oe-rZ/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aQzqQvTm4jGfT5rmp4-tpw8lBTO8pSaqPSicBPCjnb7MS6hhZPv2ysfWosb0NB-jOClLQXMsgUlw6v6T9Z5zBrkHjPLpnf9V9Hb2AhxnW7x0sLAZUbvZzelXsQ8Ug1dlZZ2Oe-rZ/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjXh9MGvAoTELxxWLAR3L2agbaGezDx893aiEDz9Evl8wgFddhO7Tlu_MTHNQCJu6XG2NX_fhD5vQa0VLJacqgkJFZez08tHsx1rLb5pOKUn_zRrR7VVMkjjlUfZNm7E93JjngZ02/s1600/IMG_2220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjXh9MGvAoTELxxWLAR3L2agbaGezDx893aiEDz9Evl8wgFddhO7Tlu_MTHNQCJu6XG2NX_fhD5vQa0VLJacqgkJFZez08tHsx1rLb5pOKUn_zRrR7VVMkjjlUfZNm7E93JjngZ02/s320/IMG_2220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNn6hTzhi-al9mQgs-LU5I4YqRfEY90pRVwf4_NHmwD9WmyJyFXyTt4Favp8er01OwHp-I_IJIZQ95JZQQZpAT3WrtujPCjzL4Z-fyEfh2XlFCbe33I4QmKsd0HIpqbZ_yPBiTMya/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNn6hTzhi-al9mQgs-LU5I4YqRfEY90pRVwf4_NHmwD9WmyJyFXyTt4Favp8er01OwHp-I_IJIZQ95JZQQZpAT3WrtujPCjzL4Z-fyEfh2XlFCbe33I4QmKsd0HIpqbZ_yPBiTMya/s320/IMG_2219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AqxW2O0rxjraLbqkeK7frNlWe9AJ67gw_Q_6rCJiEhP-3YZ9IJotC9dIaghuaQjEfoRiB0NMRKP-gIER0xsHvHzF0m_wMz9R9si40NgQWpCz-opC227t0GcU19NJI-mN4zoR0MnC/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AqxW2O0rxjraLbqkeK7frNlWe9AJ67gw_Q_6rCJiEhP-3YZ9IJotC9dIaghuaQjEfoRiB0NMRKP-gIER0xsHvHzF0m_wMz9R9si40NgQWpCz-opC227t0GcU19NJI-mN4zoR0MnC/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDlAkqZLK7sq0-d4sTpw-gvIoQfUNneORTbaqRh-IBpfBvY5qjIHyQ7_lbw7SKByrg6qgvVxFP_03JZ9bFq3WBPQOmKfYZ9P0p4NylHClj-G2beZCP9T02dn5UR1LXYwA7fEDzQHn/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDlAkqZLK7sq0-d4sTpw-gvIoQfUNneORTbaqRh-IBpfBvY5qjIHyQ7_lbw7SKByrg6qgvVxFP_03JZ9bFq3WBPQOmKfYZ9P0p4NylHClj-G2beZCP9T02dn5UR1LXYwA7fEDzQHn/s320/IMG_2226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS8Y2EsU4h10iNr0yt9nr4WzkB2_uNaCn9Mi8BmeBfsVP42cliJizp3RyLcZ8oGUWFLV1nZFekfl1syRTWqobVCuZiO1XJEztxsY1e9kiau9HI2RbJ99B7vWalgG2Q3t43S2HDsTA/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS8Y2EsU4h10iNr0yt9nr4WzkB2_uNaCn9Mi8BmeBfsVP42cliJizp3RyLcZ8oGUWFLV1nZFekfl1syRTWqobVCuZiO1XJEztxsY1e9kiau9HI2RbJ99B7vWalgG2Q3t43S2HDsTA/s320/IMG_2253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An untimely demise...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Coder had a blast decorating it and had the most adorable look of concentration on his face the entire time. He had his tongue sticking out of the corner of his oh-so-serious little face, trying to line the candies up just so. Nelly, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less. She was concentrating purely on ingesting the decor. All in all, I would say that the gingerbread house was a success. There were no tears and barely any fighting (except when Nelly would eat a candy that Coder had just painstakingly applied) and the end result was totally cute. We displayed it proudly on the kitchen counter for all of one day until Nelly decided she wanted to relocate it and dropped it trying to pull it off of the counter. There were tears for a minute or so until they realized the could eat the candy now. It was a fun activity that kept them for the most part entertained for half hour or so and it was sweet to be able to display their handiwork, but I think I will skip the gingerbread house next year. It is a little to annoying for my liking, what with the candies repeatedly falling off and trying to get them to decorate with them not eat them. I think next year we'll do gingerbread men instead. Less room for error that way. So what kinds of activities did you do with your children this holiday season?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432732965221471702.post-53873092719791917702011-12-26T23:25:00.000-08:002011-12-28T05:29:35.037-08:00A Very Merry Christmas 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Phew! Another Christmas has come and gone.</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
I feel like the past year has just flew by so quickly. This Christmas was a great one and I am sure my kids will agree! I won't lie, I am a little sad that it is over. There is just something so magical about the holidays. Everyone just seems a bit more cheerful. With all the Christmas lights and the choruses of "Merry Christmas" from passerbys and neighbors, it is such a joyful time of year. Now that it is over I am a bit bummed, although we still get to relax and spend time together as a family for another couple weeks. Coder doesn't go back to school until the tenth of January and I must say I am thrilled. Because hubby leaves for work at 7am and I do not have my drivers liscence (I wrote my test once...and failed by one measly point...but thats another post) that means that I have the ever-so-fun task of bundling up Nelly and walking Coder to and from school each day. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE walking, just not in minus 30 degrees celcius (that is -22 F in case you were wondering). I feel bad waking up the baby and dragging her out into the cold every morning..but it is my only option at the moment. We are too close for Coder to be a bus student yet just far enough to be freezing by the time we get there. So yes, I am beyond phsyched to have a two week hiatus from freezin my ass off twice daily.<br />
<br />
Anywho, back to Christmas...We spent a lot of time with our families, drove around oohing and ahing over Christmas light displays, built a snowman, feasted on turkey dinner, decorated a gingerbread house, and of course opened a TON of gifts. On Christmas Eve day we spent the afternoon at hubby's grandmothers house with all of his family (his two sisters and their hubbys and children...six kids in total not counting mine)...The kids had a blast playing with their cousins while the adults sat around listening to Christmas music, talking and laughing at the kids antics.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl1dQUeocXoTVuQVB2q5_BuCNSB4bcP_26lC1VWM77-dV-9Llku6RuGWcKbgUUsS-xy71OC3XvisEeDk2WQwDTUUUExTq9yWFKQDdkvqucYtrZ1lWApHvEW1dTn8RZimVJ3g6QheM/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl1dQUeocXoTVuQVB2q5_BuCNSB4bcP_26lC1VWM77-dV-9Llku6RuGWcKbgUUsS-xy71OC3XvisEeDk2WQwDTUUUExTq9yWFKQDdkvqucYtrZ1lWApHvEW1dTn8RZimVJ3g6QheM/s320/IMG_2176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel enjoying some appetisers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcgWz563tuNRmMa3_k2beZm3jEmLCbZW2HFuCgzKnLjsHDhyphenhyphenUNdA7JdCs18QzVZ1DdheArSbxaDSFgdkHHqAnPsSXr_U0ao0FCA0Az7xS8B5AeRfQ015hitkXFaZHzu5qYCyfyfcv/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcgWz563tuNRmMa3_k2beZm3jEmLCbZW2HFuCgzKnLjsHDhyphenhyphenUNdA7JdCs18QzVZ1DdheArSbxaDSFgdkHHqAnPsSXr_U0ao0FCA0Az7xS8B5AeRfQ015hitkXFaZHzu5qYCyfyfcv/s320/IMG_2178.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids playing downstairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After supper most of the party moved to hubby's mother's house where the festivities continued until almost 8pm.When we finally got home on Christmas Eve the kids were thrilled to find a note from Mrs.Clause on the bed along with a new pair of jammies for each of them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGuVc-arjW5CVTIeIWe99ccp4ZaweM2pFHHg21WdGpnGlfhDzKCsHq6YGx5UvmRMik0Wq1PBqtibEMd73NUt7GwcFZ-QKyLUJdsO0k1YB01kQaO_lmF6uC3PwxppvCOezEFJU35bJ/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGuVc-arjW5CVTIeIWe99ccp4ZaweM2pFHHg21WdGpnGlfhDzKCsHq6YGx5UvmRMik0Wq1PBqtibEMd73NUt7GwcFZ-QKyLUJdsO0k1YB01kQaO_lmF6uC3PwxppvCOezEFJU35bJ/s320/IMG_2182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I forgot to take a pic of the note but it basically said that Santa had left for his journey so they should put on their new jammies and get to bed...And not to forget to leave out milk and cookies. That was the most excited they have ever been to go to sleep. Well not so much Nelly, she didn't totally get it yet, but she was thrilled to put on her new jammies. Before bedtime we allowed them each to open one small gift. Chanel was thrilled with hers...Coder, on the other hand, was not. He opened a small one which happened to be a dollarstore toy four-wheeler and lets just say he was less then impressed. "I don't want this one" he whined as tears ensued. It was from Nana, who had also given them bigger gifts and tickets to Crystal Palace, but he didn't know that yet) I was so ticked off at his rude behavior that could have throttled him. After a breif lecture on why it isn't nice to say you don't like a gift and how some kids get nothing for Christmas and how it hurts peoples feeling, etc it was off to bed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jbgfTMq29PLR0qcyecWVEdWSaAyQB1H7LfIIwmh2poUUvzZz6Dy__MVxDJtbmdmi15Wrayf8-x8vVpRyDorIXO-luggtfS43i9ld85tCNi4t-R3FZ6dU1EqgvzPhdvM04IUdUy11/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jbgfTMq29PLR0qcyecWVEdWSaAyQB1H7LfIIwmh2poUUvzZz6Dy__MVxDJtbmdmi15Wrayf8-x8vVpRyDorIXO-luggtfS43i9ld85tCNi4t-R3FZ6dU1EqgvzPhdvM04IUdUy11/s320/IMG_2183.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids in their new jammies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At five in the morning Coder woke up bugging to open his gifts...I told him it was still nighttime and he had to go back to sleep for a little longer...Needless to say this elicited whines and cries on his part, thus waking up Nelly briefly. Thankfully, they both fell back asleep until almost 9pm (Thank god because mommy was pooped). I'm pretty sure that Christmas morning was just as much fun for me as it was the kids. I was so excited to see their little faces light up. Hubby and I woke up to choruses of "Mommy! Daddy! Wake up!!! Santa came!! He ate the cookies!!" I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled down the hall to see. Sure enough the milk and cookies were gone, as was the carrot left for Rudolph. There was also a rather charming letter from Santa.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt5eAMcniSrR4mKB9et4O7gqxMJ_bcoVCJoa3IbMQpme-QnaIfO_kKVynDM_llcpKZNrBl_lBSLxUSZg7voj6Z_w_SXzTwOtnsnu0p7I6cH7yDoOISWjSrmKImjKSCoQrgrEXFTN-/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt5eAMcniSrR4mKB9et4O7gqxMJ_bcoVCJoa3IbMQpme-QnaIfO_kKVynDM_llcpKZNrBl_lBSLxUSZg7voj6Z_w_SXzTwOtnsnu0p7I6cH7yDoOISWjSrmKImjKSCoQrgrEXFTN-/s320/IMG_2188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Needless to say, the kids were awestruck. There was a crapload of gifts and they wasted no time tearing into them. I had to help Nelly because after she opened each gift she wanted to play with it, so it took a while to open all of hers..This did not fair well with Coder seeing as he tore through his in record time and then proceeded to try opening everyone elses. They both got tons of stuff, and the the hubs and I got some nice stuff as well, including a new pot and pan set, a knife block and knife set, an awesome red slowcooker that matches my other red pots and pans and much more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnDR69u92teIF2ZubS563de6Eqs_hYA0LXgpwxpvc7xy9M-dAmjL1QJfVBqsze1_Gi4NBolzx9vhMumlTYIj_ToHD0tua96DSW67U1Y5kvpTikD3ef6BedIUk8B5XECxuA0KZNUc5/s1600/IMG_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnDR69u92teIF2ZubS563de6Eqs_hYA0LXgpwxpvc7xy9M-dAmjL1QJfVBqsze1_Gi4NBolzx9vhMumlTYIj_ToHD0tua96DSW67U1Y5kvpTikD3ef6BedIUk8B5XECxuA0KZNUc5/s320/IMG_2185.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the chaos ensued...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCmC9BfOKiPZ6Oi_69nyAvCRu4xAeis8A4qxA5ZHywZrUzIrzUkXOQ4ItzISnoeh0O8r86lm7MZMVyShSxAuWkhysVSalj95lYkJ2QzD-gNdniGXeYPh08MZtGt2X8Rkj79EN7_l8/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCmC9BfOKiPZ6Oi_69nyAvCRu4xAeis8A4qxA5ZHywZrUzIrzUkXOQ4ItzISnoeh0O8r86lm7MZMVyShSxAuWkhysVSalj95lYkJ2QzD-gNdniGXeYPh08MZtGt2X8Rkj79EN7_l8/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yI9TQ5MXbiUrlz8fK1cZdh-HjsiGiNGpplhqSg3Nm7GGZmtXYtYgkdrgcgmV1dZhydX0lJ4Z7S35b7psE3dbrJ2C3JW99rOftuNPFuxQD1dPV8AFopLlt76RXjMP3TaHsmAU_J4y/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yI9TQ5MXbiUrlz8fK1cZdh-HjsiGiNGpplhqSg3Nm7GGZmtXYtYgkdrgcgmV1dZhydX0lJ4Z7S35b7psE3dbrJ2C3JW99rOftuNPFuxQD1dPV8AFopLlt76RXjMP3TaHsmAU_J4y/s320/IMG_2194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwCf-cwyB2nthomYdqX9Wa8_V7f6LTFKUtlhxkn5Kr8_NScGiqcRrwLasqeF8WrkG3EBfZTkp8RuRjd34sXpXLwN13HJj7d40893XQpmOJ-u26Ln09zMsOVHVL6Oz92ti_zzB_dRM/s1600/IMG_2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwCf-cwyB2nthomYdqX9Wa8_V7f6LTFKUtlhxkn5Kr8_NScGiqcRrwLasqeF8WrkG3EBfZTkp8RuRjd34sXpXLwN13HJj7d40893XQpmOJ-u26Ln09zMsOVHVL6Oz92ti_zzB_dRM/s320/IMG_2201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqpkU2TlRmO4JJ33tzX53igeR-HPshZaTk3mqK05KsLIMX-cKK6C8JpyPhvJrWjfNfM2oT3DFuDuAYmj5ucGDuvIcwGmUaZDAspQL04VRy21j-gFvaKD1mx_lOCGTiF3B-PrCEks6/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqpkU2TlRmO4JJ33tzX53igeR-HPshZaTk3mqK05KsLIMX-cKK6C8JpyPhvJrWjfNfM2oT3DFuDuAYmj5ucGDuvIcwGmUaZDAspQL04VRy21j-gFvaKD1mx_lOCGTiF3B-PrCEks6/s320/IMG_2204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After all the gifts are open</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was running around like a crazy person trying to clean up wrapping paper and boxes, thinking about where the hell I was going to put all this new stuff. Then I recieved a call from my mom and her fiancee saying to come over for turkey dinner and that they had a bunch MORE presents for us and the kids. 'Oh dear god, now I'm going to have ten times as much toys to clean up. After all the gifts were opened and each was played with we all curled up for a nap until around lunchtime. Then we got up and played some more until it was time to go to "'Nother Nanny's." (The kids call hubbys mom and step-dad 'Nanny and Papi' and my mom and step-dad 'Nother Nanny and Gampy'...as in the other nanny and grampie.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDJn6jFqNpUB5aMvEWjHDl4tXPQPRbYg6N6G4rQH-R8xHTwmZj8mKCEdZUW3vdgRz979WPDLXJwQUz34aflHiP05xRW65JTdG20-bMUZWMALfLr9duwGL6u7F8kaTp3Fl90OcJWAN/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDJn6jFqNpUB5aMvEWjHDl4tXPQPRbYg6N6G4rQH-R8xHTwmZj8mKCEdZUW3vdgRz979WPDLXJwQUz34aflHiP05xRW65JTdG20-bMUZWMALfLr9duwGL6u7F8kaTp3Fl90OcJWAN/s320/IMG_2209.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go in her new clothes...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
When we got to nother nanny and gampys there were a bunch more gifts for all of use from them, my sister and my grandmother. The kids got a bunch more toys including about a million Lego's...the REALLY small ones...I am not kidding like a HUGE storage bin FULL...I swear my mom did that on purpose to torture me. I got some really cute stuff to including some new perfume and an adorable hat and mitton set from Aeropostale (from my sister), a Tommy Hilfiger hoodie, a super cute Clinique makeup bag and makeup (from my grandmother), a 50$ Giant Tiger gift card (from my mom) and hubby got an MMA track jacket from my mom and an H & M hoodie from my sister. We got other stuff too but I am too lazy to list it all.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gpWZ_QTx8-ZCyJurQ9fRJITuZG8P0DMKF3vX0HV9wf0IgNTyJeCq_u53E2Upa-c1hu1YjDCpU-L8D42bjTpjYMZIGrB3Gvt6OrzYmRXVpKwy5d9V3npuAJrGSmJV5Mg_WZIZyTmE/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gpWZ_QTx8-ZCyJurQ9fRJITuZG8P0DMKF3vX0HV9wf0IgNTyJeCq_u53E2Upa-c1hu1YjDCpU-L8D42bjTpjYMZIGrB3Gvt6OrzYmRXVpKwy5d9V3npuAJrGSmJV5Mg_WZIZyTmE/s320/IMG_2229.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More gifts at "nother Nanny and Gampy's" house...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMhTgz93V4cUur9CrXOd4mZKfsdlzcKp_eadXqRXwrX8qjrpFe11vs0AC52Skhat0SVJaojl1P52DnWeIX14Y9FIRXvUK8nhzYL6nWp5rMvjMUTrLRLgZpTneH9qEIhLxQwLEy6x3/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMhTgz93V4cUur9CrXOd4mZKfsdlzcKp_eadXqRXwrX8qjrpFe11vs0AC52Skhat0SVJaojl1P52DnWeIX14Y9FIRXvUK8nhzYL6nWp5rMvjMUTrLRLgZpTneH9qEIhLxQwLEy6x3/s320/IMG_2232.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Nelly's faves...Vtech Zebra 3in1 scooter/ride-on toy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the second round of present opening we sat down for a delicious turkey dinner with mashed potatos, homemade stuffing and gravy. It was honestly one of the best meals I have ever tasted courtesy of "Gampy." He's one of the best cooks I know. We talked and laughed while the guys had a beer (Hubby was limited to one because he was driving us home later). A few hours later turkey burnout had set in and all I wanted to do was crawl under my covers. We drove the long drive home, carried two sleeping kids into the house, brought all the gifts inside and climbed into bed. Lucky for me I got to sleep in a bit because the kids were so preoocupied with all their new toys the next morning that they left me alone for a while. Unlucky for me I awoke to what looked like a tornado had crashed through my home.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yyrHu-AP5vav2QbAQD23C5yvjZOP1Q0IqvDzXbR1mXcOI-RES-EcKv67eZk5XIAOlB1v7LKNmslWbW-wDO35HvqfOz8sY0YoHA0z7Qa6R0nvroaW97xUeqMGe1Fw71Xq-K6s0PQ4/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yyrHu-AP5vav2QbAQD23C5yvjZOP1Q0IqvDzXbR1mXcOI-RES-EcKv67eZk5XIAOlB1v7LKNmslWbW-wDO35HvqfOz8sY0YoHA0z7Qa6R0nvroaW97xUeqMGe1Fw71Xq-K6s0PQ4/s320/IMG_2237.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boxing Day morning...they only LOOK innocent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The last few days were full of fun and laughs and memories that I will always cherish, and while I am sad to see 2011 come to a close, I am also excited for the future. Who knows what 2012 will bring..I am sure there will be struggles and challenges but I also know there will be triumphs and milestones and overcoming obstacles. I am looking forward to a clean slate and the chance to start fresh in the New Year. A chance to both grow as a person and also watch my kids grow even more. What did you do for the holidays? What do you look forward to in 2012?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05700522423353171151noreply@blogger.com0