Manna Organics Giveaway CLOSED

Yum! Yum!

Review & Giveaway done by Colleen at MyVeganGlutenFreeLife    

  Bread had been the staple of my life. Since diagnosed this winter with gluten intolerance, I have been trying all kinds of gluten free breads. Manna Organics, home of the best vegan organic Gluten Free breads, vegan organic yeast-free sprouted breads, raw organic trail mixes, artisan sourdough breads and organic ingredients, sent me a couple of their gluten free breads to sample, review & offer in a giveaway. They are a family owned and operated bakery. One lucky winner will get 2 loaves of bread of their choice, FedEx'd to their front door! I received Gluten Free Ciao Chia and Ancient Grains Bread to sample. I know Gluten Free breads are made differently than most breads and this is true with Manna Organics also. Only the Chia seeds are sprouted in the Ciao Chia Bread and the Ancient Grains has sprouted Sunflower seeds & sprouted Organic Amaranth. So the texture of these breads is different than their "sprouted" breads. Gluten Free Ciao Chia: This bread reminded me of Challah bread. It has a very nice "mildly sweet" flavor and held together very well and had good mouth feel. I really liked this bread! I am going to make bread pudding with the leftover. This would make wonderful sandwiches and is great toast. It is made of Filtered Water, Organic Brown Rice flour, Organic Sorghum flour, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice Crystals, Sea Salt, Sprouted Organic Chia Seeds, Xanthan Gum (non-GMO), Yeast Gluten Free Ancient Grains: This was a very flavorful heavier bread. It flaked more easily than I had hoped. But it was very good for a toasted bread. I liked the complexity of flavors. It is made of Filtered Water, Organic Brown Rice flour, Organic Sorghum flour, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Sunflower Oil, Sprouted Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Millet, Sprouted Organic Amaranth, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice Crystals, Organic Flaxseed, Sea Salt, Sprouted Organic Quinoa, Xanthan Gum (non-GMO), Yeast, Sprouted Organic Chia Seeds

This Giveaway is open to the Continental US only and begins August 30 12:01 AM EST and ends September 10 12:01 AM EST

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Personal Productivity Secrets Book Giveaway CLOSED

Check out what Dominque's Desk is Reviewing this week! Click on rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to enter and WIN! Giveaway and Review done by Dominique of Dominique's Desk Personal Productivity Secrets: Do what you never thought possible with your time and attention... and regain control of your life by Maura Nevel Thomas was a real eye opener to read. In the 16 chapters of the book the Maura relays the following message. To be able to control your attention would mean that you are able to be in control of your life. Being able to focus your attention you will be able to be on control of your own behaviour, information and technology. You would also be supporting your productivity and attention instead of sabotaging it. It is not about time management but more of attention management. In order to be the most productive one needs to be aware of best use of their time at any one time. In this way you can take immediate and more appropriate action to maximize the time you have at hand. You need to decide for yourself what is important for you and what you should focus on at the moment. Prioritize what you need to handle at the moment, what can be done later and what could be outsourced. One should simplify your processing—if an item doesn’t require action, it’s either reference or trash! One shouldn't take too long to consider about how to tackle a task. You need the most two minutes to think about it then you should move on. It is important to minimize digital and physical clutter in you life so that you can focus on what is truly important to you.   My thoughts I found Personal Productivity Secrets and extremely handy book for me. I strongly agree with the thoughts and opinions reflected by the author. Many a time I am so caught up by the mental and physical clutter around that I become sluggish. My productivity level nosedives and sometimes I really feel that I should be better organized and should be fully maximizing my time instead. I shouldn't be more prudent in my my promotions via the social media platform and no waste time constantly checking my updates when then enter my inbox or get a notification. Many a times we are caught up by the need to be connected that we forget how important it is for us to be disconnect too in order to take a break and come back refreshed. You can purchase a copy of Personal Productivity Secrets from Wiley for US $29.95. However for readers of this blog we have something special for you.

Win yourself a copy of the book

Wiley has kindly agreed to sponsor a copy for one lucky reader . Giveaway is opened worldwide so put in your entries today. The giveaway will run from 31st August till 7th Sept. What are you waiting for?  CLICK HERE -----> a Rafflecopter giveaway     a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: Dominique's Desk received a copy of Personal Productivity Secrets: Do what you never thought possible with your time and attention... and regain control of your life for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Is Mommy ready for Kindergarten?

We often discuss, "Is your child ready for kindergarten?"  or find lists that discuss Kindergarten readiness.  I have yet to find the check off list to see if Mom is ready for Kindergarten?  My five year old is off to kindergarten this year and although she is ready and prepared according to all the popular checklists and assessments, I'm NOT.  I am fortunate enough to be able to volunteer at the girls' school, but it's still not enough.  What am I supposed to do all day long?  Now, I won't be home alone long, we are expecting in October and I will be definitely be occupied once she arrives.  Until then, how do I fill my schedule, who do I talk to, what about when the house is already clean, bills are already paid, errands have already been completed.  What do I do when everyone else is at school or work?

Maybe, I'll have long lunches with friends.  Go grocery shopping during the day when it's not busy and no one's throwing extra items in the cart. Have a cup of tea on the porch.  Take a nap.  Breathe

This may not be as bad as I thought...

SAHM in Cleveland

Being a mommy has always been my dream.  Yet if you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) I would have laughed and put my head back in the books.  After high school, I headed straight to college and seven years later left with four degrees.  I even had a job lined up before graduation.  My husband and I moved back to my hometown in WV and I began my professional career in education.  Four years later my husband was able to land a position inside the Cleveland housing market and we packed it all up.  When we arrived in Cleveland, I had a slight stint at pursuing a new career. It became my first experience as a SAHM. I stayed at home with our three year old and we did Mommy and me activities all day.  Last year, she headed to preschool and I decided I'd head back to work also.   With both girls in school, I went back to teaching.  Although I love to teach, when we found out we were pregnant with number three, we decided that I'd officially receive my dream position again.  There may not be an actual salary obtained with a career as a SAHM, but according to Salary.com if paid, SAHM's should earn $112,962 for a 94.7 hour work week. 

If Daddy ever decided to fire me he would have to hire a nanny, a chief economic officer, a daycare teacher, a van driver, a cook, a janitor, a psychologist, a laundry-machine operator, a computer operator I, facilities manager, and the list continues.  I'm confident in my new career that I'm not about to be fired.  I am absolutely in love with being a Mommy and taking care of my family, and yet I am constantly asked or hear the comments...

How can you afford to stay at home?

Don't you feel your degrees are a waste?

I would love to stay at home, but we can't afford it (and together make more than my husband?!)

I have no regrets of being a SAHM mom.  I don't know how long I'll be able to pursue this dream career, but I consider myself blessed everyday I am allowed to wake up and WORK for my family.

 

Lucky's Cafe

 

Looking for somewhere to have Brunch in Cleveland.  We went to an amazing cafe in Tremont.  Lucky's Cafe is located at 777 Starkweather Ave. CLE, OH.   I could rave for hours on this place.  Let me share some highlights with you on why this will become a regular spot for our family. For starters my husband and daughter are in love with Diner's, Drive ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and he stopped by here.  That's a small subnote to the fact that we live on the westside of Cleveland, so dining in Tremont is very familiar to our family.  We knew that Lucky's Cafe was in Tremont on Starkweather, but weren't exactly sure where.  As we were driving down Starkweather Avenue my husband said, "I think it's up on the right."  The line out the door and down the street was definitely an obvious sign of Lucky's popularity.  We parked and walked up to the entrance where we were welcomed by the hostess and put on the waiting list.  She told us it would be about 25 minutes and we could sit on the bench inside, bench outside, or hang out at the picnic tables.  There were menus and ice water with cucumbers available while we waited.  The menu is double sided with a small single sided sheet for specials.  The menu was very easy to review with enough choices for everyone.  We waited about 17 minutes and were called to be seated.   Our waiter, Patrick, was excellent.  He welcomed us to Lucky's and gave us a quick synopsis of where the food on the menu originates.  Now I'm not talking about dish number 4 is Italian and dish number 11 is Polish.  He said,"can you see out that back window, that's one of our cooks picking produce for the meals.  If it doesn't come from the onsite garden it comes from within a 100 mile radius of the restaurant, to be as fresh to plate as possible." When he was done he took our drink and brunch order and about 12 minutes later we had:

Biscuits: Cheddar scallion biscuits topped with soft scrambled eggs and sausage gravy. Served with hash brown potatoes and grapes. (Food Network's Guy Fieri ate this)

Shipwreck: A blissful blend of hash browns, eggs, seasonal veggies, bacon, and cheddar cheese, served with house-baked como toast & fresh fruit.

 

Baked Mac-N-Cheese: Cheddar, brie, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, baked with pasta and cream topped with brioche bread crumbs and served with house-made apple sauce. (Food Network's Guy Fieri ate this)

We also added a plate of the Pecan Bacon. 

We passed plates around the table to get a chance to sample eveything and we were not disappointed.  The food was delicious.  The staff and food were so impressive, I believe we may be joining them next Sunday.  Everyone looked to love being at work and everyone on staff spoke to us and checked our table for refills, and to clear plates, not only our waiter, Patrick. We are happy to support a local business that buys from local farmers and creates local jobs helping our local economy.  Thank you, Lucky's Cafe.  We will be back!

Lucky's Cafe • 777 Starkweather Cleveland, OH 44113 • 216-622-7773 • lucky at luckyscafe.com • Twitter: luckyscafe

Breakfast • Lunch • Brunch • Pastry • Fair Trade Coffee • Open Daily • Brunch Saturday & Sunday, 9 to 3

Mission Statement • Join Us (Jobs and Careers) • Location (Map Here!) • Join our Mailing List • News

(photos and restaurant information obtained from (http://www.luckyscafe.com)

Sex during Pregnancy

Is sex during pregnancy safe?  Should we continue or avoid sex until after we deliver.  Many first time pregnant mothers and fathers have these concerns.  Many have been misinformed of accurate scientific research findings. 

My husbands business partner told him last week that couples shouldn't have sex while pregnant.  Now, this isn't our first pregnancy, so my husband laughed it off.  We are on pregnancy number three and there has never been a pregnancy that we abstained the entire nine months in order to "protect" the baby.  The baby is completely protected inside the mother's womb with amniotic fluid. Your cervix has a mucus plug specifically for the purpose of blocking bacteria and semen from entering the uterus during sexual intercourse.  Also, your vagina stretches during sex.  It naturally creates a gap of several centimeters between the penis and the cervix.  So, there is no danger from making love as the baby grows inside its mother.  All allowing for high levels of intimacy during pregnancy.  Actually, it increases the bond between mother and father establishing an excellent environment the newborn will soon be a part of.    With that said, out sex life always changes during pregnancy as favorite positions begin to become uncomfortable or even painful.  This is especially true with sex during the third trimester.  Experiment and be creative!

According to kidshealth.org, Sex and Pregnancy are completely safe UNLESS the following circumstances arise:

a history or threat of miscarriage

a history of preterm labor (you've previously delivered a baby before 37 weeks) or signs indicating the risk of pre-term labor (such as premature uterine contractions)

unexplained vaginal bleeding, discharge, or cramping

leakage of amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby)

placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta (the blood-rich structure that nourishes the baby) is down so low that it covers the cervix (the opening of the uterus)

incompetent cervix, a condition in which the cervix is weakened and dilates (opens) prematurely, raising the risk for miscarriage or premature delivery

Most importantly, you should not have sex with a partner whose sexual history is unknown to you or who may have a sexually transmitted disease such as herpes, genital warts, chlamydia or HIV. . If you become infected, the disease may be transmitted to your baby, with potentially dangerous consequences. 

Let me be sure we are clear on this topic. 
In a normal pregnancy with no circumstances being contingent from the list above-
Your baby WILL NOT be deformed if you have sex during pregnancy
Your husbands penis WILL NOT poke the fetus. 
You WILL NOT crush the fetus. 
You WILL NOT affect the child's developmental growth by hearing mom and dad climax into orgasms during pregnancy.
You WILL NOT cause a miscarriage if you have sex during pregnancy

So although nausea may affect a few nights during the first trimester, weight gain may affect a few nights during the second trimester, and preparing for baby's arrival may have you busy during the third trimester.  IT IS COMPLETELY SAFE TO HAVE SEX DURING PREGNANCY!

(pic obtained from http://allwomenstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/7-common-myths-about-birth-control/taking-the-pill-while-pregnant-will-cause-an-abortion_7-common-myths-about-birth-control.jpg)

Preparing your child for vaccinations

Someone sticking a needle in my arm has never been one of my favorite pasttimes and I dread watching my children go through this experience.  There are some things that I've found make the whole trip to the doctor for vaccinations easier. 

First of all, remain calm and confident.   Never tell them it's not going to hurt.  Children will become more anxious and nervous if thier parents are displaying those behaviors.  I always let them know ahead of time when the vaccination is part of the appointment.  I explain the procedure and what each particular shot is preventing.

Second, I give them tylenol about 30 minutes before we arrive to the office.  When they were infants we would always breastfeed as the nurse was giving the shot.  I've also heard, but never tried to give them a lollipop if thier older to suck on during the shot.

Third, I always take them out for ice cream afterwards.  Not that ice cream will heal the pain, but it's yummy and allows them a reward for being so strong. 

Hope these small tips help make your vaccination appointments easier for you and your child. 

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Let me begin by warning all my pregnant friends, DON'T go see this until after you have the baby.  Whether I am emotional because of the pregnancy or it was just that touching of a story, I wasn't the only Mommy in the theatre crying. 

For all those that aren't pregnant.  I would definitely recommend this as a movie to share with you children.  It is a heartwarming story that covers all ages.  The Odd Life of Timothy Green is rated PG and was released on August 15th, 2012.  Both my girls, ages 5 and 6 were entranced by the story line and events that were conveyed as a couple learned they were unable to conceive.  The night the doctor shared the news with the couple they sat down and made one last list of every characteristic they thought their child would display.  They then put all the sheets of paper into a wooden box and buried it.  That night, despite a long seasonal drought, it stormed and rained all evening.  In the middle of the storm, the downstairs door began to bang and the husband went down to shut it, only to come back to bed and find...not his wife, who had got up to use the bathroom, but Timothy!

The messages of hope and determination to succeed were demonstrated on multiple occasions throughout the movie.  Timothy is truely an inspirational character who displays characteristics that we all wish to see in our own kids. 

Some of the topics hit in the movie include; bullying, love, competition, adoption, death, new parents, family and community opinions. 

One of my favorite scenes is when Timothy's "mom"  says to the administrator of the adoption agency, “we’re not perfect; we made a lot of mistakes.” When the administrator asks what they would do differently if they had the chance, both parents respond, “we’d make different mistakes; better mistakes.” I know that anyone that has kids knows this is true to you too! 

Did you and your spouse have a similar discussion prior to conception?  What characteristics do you hope your child conveys to the world? 

Our First Giveaway

As a thank you to all that read my blog and follow our story, we've decided it's our turn to give back!  I am so excited to present friends of WeThinkPink365 with this awesome giveaway.  We posted our first blog on July 24th and are already close to 100 followers.  I am so excited to share with each of you the joys, trials, and triumphs of raising three beautiful, intelligent, well-mannered GIRLS!  As a former educator and now stay at home expecting mother,  I will share with you experiences in breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and learning strategies for elementary students. 

 

How to Enter This Giveaway?

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Good luck everyone and Thanks for participating

Have any questions? Don't hesitate to ask me on facebook, twitter or leave comment below

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Making Crayons

Crayon Art

Ever wonder what to do with all those broken crayons?

Materials needed: crayons, baking mold, oven

We had a ton of crayons laying around the house, so we decided to turn our old broken crayons into new fun shapes.  To do this we took a heart shaped baking pan. We removed the paper from the crayons and put them into the baking mold.  

We turned the oven to 350 degrees and put them in.  After about 7 minutes they were completly melted, so I pulled them out to cool.  I didn't put them in the fridge or freezer, simply left them out on the counter

It took about 20 minutes for them to cool and I popped them out of the baking mold.  The girls played with their NEW crayons for a good hour!

Crayon Art

Crayon Art

Ever wonder what to do with all those broken crayons?  Turn your old crayons into art. 

 

Materials needed- crayons, wax paper, scissors, iron, sheet or pillowcase

Lay out a pillowcase.  On top of the pillowcase lay the first sheet of wax paper about 12x12".  Take off the paper from the crayons and grab the scissors.  Shave the crayon at an angle until you have a pile of shavings. Once you have a small pile of crayon shavings lay a second 12x12" sheet of wax paper on top.  

Once you place the second sheet of wax paper on top of the crayon shavings, gently glide the iron over the paper.  The crayon wax will melt and colors will combine.  (Excellent color mixing activity)

We then cut ours into heart shapes and hung them in the windows!

Note:  Some of the wax will melt through the wax paper, be sure to lay something underneath. 

Tooth Fairy Traditions

A double visit from The Tooth Fairy?  That is what happened this week in our house.  Our five year old lost her first tooth and our six year old lost tooth number seven. 

The first tooth was lost this week when we pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store.  Oliviana had just ate a Bacon Burger from Burger King and said, "uh MOM!"  That is usually never a good line out of her.  She then opened her mouth and wiggled her tooth with her finger.  The tooth was so loose that it laid flat down.  I said, "Oliviana pull that tooth out."  She gave me her giant scared eye look and with a little pull, out it plopped. 

Jazzalyn tried all day to wiggle her tooth free so The Tooth Fairy would visit her too, but with no luck.  Only one visit on this night.  Two days later however as we are eating breakfast, I hear the same line again, "uh MOM."  I turned to Jazzalyn as she says, "my tooth is in my waffle." This girl lets her tooth become so loose, I swear one day she's going to swallow it. 

When one of our daughters looses a tooth it has become tradition that The Tooth Fairy leaves the dollar amount of the number tooth lost.  Oliviana lost tooth number 1 and The Tooth Fairy left a dollar under her pillow.  Jazzalyn lost tooth number seven and The Tooth Fairy left seven dollars.  Along with the money, The Tooth Fairy also leaves a personal note with congratulations and reminders to brush morning and night!   

What does The Tooth Fairy do when she visits your house?

Paranorman Movie Review

Release Date: Aug. 17, 2012
Summary:
A town relies on a young boy, who is misunderstood by peers and adults, to rescue them from a colonial curse.  Norman has the super natural power of communicating with ghosts, including his Grandma which makes him a little "odd" to not only his peers but even his dad has a hard time understanding him.  When his uncle mysteriously dies, the job of saving the town from the witches' curse is turned over to Norman 

Mom's opinion:
I was a little hesitant deciding whether to allow my daughters to see the movie after watching the trailer and recent news articles on zombies eating faces. The trailer showed some scary images, but we went and over all is was entertaining.  There were five particular parts that did concern me because of the rude humor and language.  I'm sure these influenced the PG rating. Luckily, I do believe it was over the heads of my daughters that they didn't comment or ask questions in regards to the scenes, but I was quite shocked by the amount of adult humor and suggestive sexual references. 
First, there is a scene where Norman walks into the kitchen and his parents ask what he is watching on TV and he mumbles, "sex and violence."  Although it wasn't what he was watching, his mother replies, "oh that's nice."
Second, Norman and his friend Neil were walking through the town when someone behind the a statue made a "pssst" noise towards the boys. Neil exclaims, "that statue just pissed at us.
Third, Norman is highly misunderstood by his family, particularly his father, so after an "incident" at school, Norman and his father get into an argument and dad tells Norman there is no more talking to ghosts, including Grandma.  When the father jumps out of the car and slams the door the mother tries to explain to Norman that, "sometimes people say things because their afraid."  Norman responds, "but he's my dad he shouldn't be afraid of me." Mom says, "not afraid of you but for you."  The parenting scenes left a lot for discussion on the ride home of how the father communicates with his son. 
Forth, Norman tells Grandma that Dad said he is no longer allowed to talk to her.  Grandma called dad a "jackass" for telling Norman to stop talking to her.
Fifth, there were multiple scenes where one of Norman's peers is trying to feel his sister's butt or his friend froze his mother's workout video to see the instructor's butt. 

Daughters opinion: 5 and 6 years old- I liked it because it was funny.  Even the "scary stuff" like zombies, ghosts and graveyards wasn't scary.   

Overall- it was a good movie, but I caution you to consider the age of your child when considering this movie.  I suggest more of a tween compared to 5-6 years old. 

Have you seen it?  What did you think?

Handling racial discrimination in the 21st century

I always knew that raising biracial daughters would require many discussions on topics of culture and race and the day would come that they would have questions. Those days have arrived on multiple instances and we have discussed in as much depth necessary until they are satisfied and understand the concept. We have always read books and discussed cultural differences when ever questions arise or I find myself in a "teachable" moment to share with them. I provide them with information before hand, not to taint their innocence, but in order that when the instance arises they are ready to handle the situation. 

When I began dating my college sweetheart and now husband, I quickly became aware of many instances of racism and discrimination. Some instances were explicit, some implicit.  Growing up in rural WV, I wasn't naive in believing that racism ended with the Civil Rights movement, but was strongly aware that racism still existed in the 21st century. Still, I have never completely understood how many adults still allow for so much hate to consume their lives.  Moving our family to an urban, northern city has minimized these experiences, but not eliminated them.

Now remember, The U.S. Supreme Court overturned racial segregation in schools fifty years ago. Congress outlawed racial discrimination in public places forty years ago. Still today, many white Americans believe racial discrimination towards minorities is a distant memory. A reminder of how wrong that perception is recently occurred with me and I feel compelled to share. 

I was reminded that I'm thankful that at five and six my daughters' innocence still allows them to not be aware of implicit discrimination.  I'm thankful that while waiting in line to go bowling they didn't realize that we were completely ignored when it was our turn at the cashier and the owner looked right past us to the customers behind us.  I'm grateful the other customers acknowledged our presence.  I'm thankful that they didn't realize while we stood in line to pay for the second round of bowling the owner said, "I guess I'm going to have to move that family, since your staying."  I'm grateful this wasn't too much of an inconvenience to him that his 12 lane bowling alley only had one other family and there was plenty of room.  I'm thankful my children didn't realize the owner was so rude and implicitly racist that we had to ask or comment two to three times, waiting at times 5-10 minutes to be acknowledged of concerns when every other family was approached multiple times without requesting his presence to make sure they were enjoying themselves and how he could possibly accommodate their visit.  I'm grateful of the innocence of children when arrogant small business owners dare to say, "GOD bless you" as we left.  I don't know about his GOD but my GOD teaches love and respect of ALL, not just those that look like you!

I prepared myself to explain to my children why racism still exists.  I prepared myself to explain discrimination.  But the problem is, I still don't understand why it still exists. 

Newborn Baby Gear Must Haves

I must say that even though this pregnancy was planned and we strongly desire to have another princess in the house, I completely forgot about cost of all the baby gear required to keep her and us comfortable.  Even though we already have two girls, I gave away all but one tote of clothing and my breast pump.  As I began to make a list, I wanted to be sure to share because if it is one thing we learned with our first child ~ You don't need one of everything.  Here is the list of must have baby gear that our family could not go without. 

1.  Pack and Play-  We always purchase the one with the changing table, mobile, music player, all attached.  We found out with our first daughter that with breastfeeding, it was much easier to keep her in the room.  Plus she never wanted to be far.  Every time she was alone in her room or in her crib she would cry until we brought her back with us.   This is great to travel with to Nana's and allows her to have something of her own in an unfamiliar place. 
2.  Travel system- stroller/car seat- Obviously you need a car seat, but I always found it easiest to buy the combo with the matching stroller for neighborhood walks, shopping, and any events we decided to attend. 
3.  Swing-  This is our all time must have lifesaver with both girls so far. Both our girls would nap here and hang out while I did cleaning or cooking dinner. 
4.  Monitors-  While I definitely agree a set of monitors is necessary, especially if you have more than one floor to your home.  Don't spend more than $40 on your set.  The video surveillance system won't need installed until the teenage years.
5.  Breast pump- Working outside the house with the first two girls required an amazing pump.  We used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced.  I loved it so much its the only piece of baby gear I did keep over the years.  There was never a large break time during teaching, so I needed something that could pump quick and I trained myself to use it hands free so that I could eat at the same time.  I must have also did some of my planning while pumping, because when I pulled it out to make sure all the parts were there I found math center activities!  LOL  multi-tasking at its best. 
6.  Sling- We discovered the amazing benefits of the sling by chance.  I was aware of the benefits and bonding opportunities of wearing your infant but we purchased the Baby Bjorn carrier and hated it.  I could never adjust it to the correct fit and always felt as though she would fall out.   We now have a Moby wrap and also ordered a Seven Slings that I can't wait to try out. 

I didn't include the obvious clothing, diapers, wipes, but be sure to grab those too!

What we didn't need that we thought we did as first time parents. 
1.  wet wipe warmer- While it was nice on the baby to have a warm wipe to have her bottom cleaned, it works just as well if not faster to rub the wipe between your hands a few times. 
2.  crib and bassinet- We had both of these with the first in addition to the pack and neither were used more than two times. 
3.  bouncer/vibrating chair-  Both our daughters did like this piece of gear, but now they make a swing that has all the elements included.  Big money saver to buy a piece of equipment that has multifunctions. 
4.  diaper pail-  (unless cloth diapering)- You will soon realize that the smell of this piece of gear is not worth the convience.  Keep some plastic grocery bags close to the changing station and get the diaper out of the house ASAP.  With that said, with this child we plan on cloth diapering and I do have a diaper pail and wetbag to keep in the bathroom next to the sprayer.  Once she arrives and we get started I'll update you on if the diaper pail becomes a required piece of gear when cloth diapering.
5. boppy pillow- I could never get either girl to nurse while using this.  We ending up using the pillow for her to lay inside while I was working on lesson plans or writing and she needed a break from the swing.  This item was not on the gear list for Baby 3.

Remember that you don't need one of everything in the newborn stages of development.  Do not overspend during this first stage in life, the money saved will come in handy later as she wants to take ballet and gymnastics and violin and piano and, and, and...you get it.  

What is the one piece of baby gear you couldn't live without and what is one piece you could have done without?  Let us know.

Back to School-Where to shop

I never have the patience to cut out coupons, but I do love a good deal.  This week as I was flipping through sales ads, here are some deals you must know about. 

The best for supplies was Staples.  Here are some of the sales they have going on-
500 pkg. of printer paper- $1.00
4 pk. Bic Dry Erase Markers- $1.00
5 pk. Black Sharpie Markers- $1.00
10 pk. Crayola Markers- $0.75
120 sheet pkg. lined notebook paper- $0.01

 

WalMart had a few good deals
Composition Books $0.50
2 pk Elmers Glue Sticks or Liquid Glue- $0.50

The best for uniforms was Old Navy (through 8/15)
All polo shirts $5.00
All Khaki's $10.00

Sears carries Docker's products and are comparible prices to Old Navy. 
All items appear to be 50% off or more, Sweaters, Jumpers, Pleated Skirts- All under $14.99

 The Children's Place has 25% off Uniforms

WalMart has 3 and 4 packs of shirts that come to a few cents cheaper than Old Navy, but Old Navy has a better deal on Khaki's

Also keep in mind other moms and consignment shops when searching for uniforms. 

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Back to School- Shopping

Exciting in some households, dreaded like the plague in others...No matter your families opinion, it is time to start shopping for back to school.  According to The National Retail Federation, the average cost of back to school spending for kindergarten through 12th grade is $688,  up from $603.63 last year.

In order to help save sanity and finances this season, set a back-to-school budget and plan to stick to it.  Many families do so in a number of different ways. Is your family known to be: 

"bargain-hunters,” clipping coupons and searching for sales
“one-stop shoppers,” visiting one or two retailers to buy everything they need to save time
“early birds,” shopping as soon as the sales start to get the best selection

No matter how your family describes themselves, most families say they still go over budget every year.  It's not crayons and notebooks, but clothing that accounts for the biggest back-to-school expense.  Here are a few tips to ensure that you don't go over budget this year!

Gather Supplies You Already Have
Check and see what supplies you have left over from last year. Chances are you will find pencils, paper, and pens that have never been used.

Stick To The List
Only buy supplies that are required by your child's school. You can check the school's website for the list. Stores often have them on the end of aisles as well. Consumer reports also suggests buying folders that are on sale, and not putting out the extra money for ones with characters on them.

Learn Regular Retail Prices
Once you've narrowed down what you need to buy, make a list of regular retail prices so you can confirm when something's really on sale.

Nab the deals
Check Sunday's paper for sales ads or online weekly store ads.  Between mid-July and the start of school, many retailers promote notebooks 10 for a dollar, a bag of pencils for a dime, and so forth. 

Watch For Special Events
Many stores will offer one-day deals

Shop at Unexpected Places
Consignment shops often have their best merchandise this time of year.

Work The Web
Turn to the internet for special deals and discount codes. You'll also find an endless variety of items your child really needs.

Check out this Back to School budget worksheet to help keep track of regular retail prices and stick to the list. 

Back to school- Bedtime Routines

The type of bag your little one carries around is about to change from beach bag to back pack. Back to school time is just around the corner, have you and your child transitioned out of their school year bedtime to a summer bedtime? How do you plan to transition them back? While children think about back-to-school shopping, new teachers, and homework, as parents we should be thinking about encouraging healthy habits to help our kids start back to school.

Beginning the gradual transitioning now allows your child to get adequate sleep at the beginning of the school year and will reduce some bedtime battles. Children need to get a good night’s sleep. Researchers suggest between 8 and 11 hours depending on age. Elementary students require 10-11 hours, while teenagers require 8-9 hours of sleep nightly. The chances are that during the summer your child’s sleep schedule became less regular. As summer begins to fade away, we must start to establish a back to school routine to prepare our children to be successful in school. Researchers state that children who have regular sleep patterns, those obtaining 8-11 hours of sleep, are more likely to earn higher grades than their peers who get less sleep. Students who have irregular sleep patterns can appear unalert and have low energy levels. These two areas are critical to school performance. Inadequate sleep may also lead to irritability, impaired focus, and can heighten symptoms of ADD/ADHD, if that is a concern for your family.

In order to help ease children into a back-to-school sleep routine, we need to begin several weeks before the start of school. So how do we do this?

1.Set a bedtime and wake up time. Then gradually move these times earlier (about 15 minutes every other day) as the school year starts to approach.

2. Be consistent and use this schedule

3. Encourage outdoor activity throughout the day, go outside for walks, play with friends, or go swimming, rather than sitting inside or in front of the TV.

4. Avoid caffeinated of high-sugar drinks near bedtime.

5. Create a good sleep environment that is comfortable, with dim lighting.

Begin the transition by setting up a 30-minute routine of pre-bedtime activities. Use a checklist to help your child take ownership of her routine. A good pre-bedtime routine helps the child slow down and prepare for sleep. Plus it helps set the stage for a smooth start in the morning. Here are some ideas for pre-bedtime activities:

1. Review the next day’s agenda together

2. Set out clothes and other items necessary for the next day

3. Bath

4. Pajamas

5. A quiet activity that does not include the computer, video games or TV.

 

As you begin to pack up your summer gear and purchase school supplies, be sure you establish a bedtime routine and start gradually transitioning early. Being prepared for the start of the school year will ensure success for the entire family, most importantly your child's education. Have a great school year!

How do you and your family make the transition from summer schdules to school year schedules?

Deciding where to deliver?

Long gone are the days when heading to the hospital to deliver is the norm. There are so many options when deciding where to deliver. Will you choose a hospital, a birthing center, or at home? We did a lot of research on all three options and decided to go with a birthing center because it allows us the best of both worlds. 

 

5 Reasons we chose a birthing center. 
1.  It is located inside a hospital, so any technology or equipment that we need for normal delivery or the possibilty of something going wrong is at the doctors finger tips. Basically, you'll find all the comforts of home, along with the benefits of a leading medical facility.
2. It allows for the feeling of home with all the equipment hidden.  I know I am going to deliver a baby, but I need to be comfortable.  This stuff is painful!
3. The private birthing suites offer a homelike surrounding where moms and babies stay together from the time they arrive to the time they go home.  This was a key factor.  One of the centers we visited had you labor in one room and recover in another.  Once I get there, I don't want to move my things anywhere until I leave.
4. They support Kangaroo Care, which is a method of holding a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. Kangaroo care is also found to be linked with easier transition to breastfeeding. 
5. They also offer a water-birth tub for mothers who choose this delivery option. I like having this option available, the only turnoff is deciding whether I can deliver with out drugs.  So far it's been two strikes.  The drugs were chosen over the water for my first two girls.  This will definitely be a last minute decision, all though it has always intrigued me.  If you receive an epidural you are required to stay in bed from that point forward.

25 Questions to ask when seaching for a Birthing Center
1. Does the birth center offer classes in childbirth education? Newborn care? Breastfeeding? Postpartum adjustment?
2. Does the birth center refer to community resources for childbirth education, breastfeeding support, and other concerns of mothers?
3. How much do services of the birth center cost? Are there possible extra costs that I should know about?
4. Does the birth center participate in [my insurance plan]? Note: you should check with your insurer to confirm coverage.
5. Does the birth center accept alternate payment arrangements, such as sliding scale or time payments?
6. What percentage of women who transfer have cesarean sections?
7. Will my midwife be able to remain active in my care?  (We didn't have one, but you may want to ask if you do)
8.  Could you give me some examples of emergencies that might arise during labor and birth and how you would handle them?
9.  Under what circumstances would my baby need to be transferred out of my room? Where would it be? How would I arrange to see the facilities and meet the staff?
10. Do you have any policies that limit the number of people who could be with me during labor and birth? (The center we chose not to go with only allowed three people, although those three could rotate) Can the baby's siblings be present? Is there an age restriction?
11. Do you have allow trained labor support (doulas) during labor and birth? Do you encourage use of doula care?
12. Would you monitor my baby with a doppler or fetoscope?  (These are both safe, effective options that may give you greater freedom of movement and reduce chances of having a cesarean birth, compared to using electronic fetal monitoring)
13.  What are you policies/practices in regards to:
        IVs (intravenous lines) in labor? (research supports avoiding lying still and supports mother's choice to move around)
       Eating and drinking during labor? (the hospital we chose only allows clear liquids, that includes popsicles, ice chips, water, ginger ale, jello)
       Birthing positions? (research supports avoiding back lying positions and supports mother's choice to move around)
14.  What is the usual care if labor is progressing slowly? (there should be a list of things before cesearen is decided)
15. What percent of the time do women giving birth here get an episiotomy ( a cut to enlarge the opening of the vagina just before birth)?  (research finds no benefit and various risks to routine use of episiotomy)
16. How do you recommend that I prepare for managing pain during labor and birth?
17.  What drug-free and drug measures are practiced for pain relief at this center?
18.  What happens if I decide to receive an epidural.  (The center we will be using requires everyone but the doctor to exit the room, the procedure takes approximately ten minutes, and then the team is allowed to return to your room. You are also then required to stay in bed and not allowed to move about the room)
19. What newborn care is routinely provided if baby is healthy?
20.  What are the reasons that the baby may need to be seperated from me immediately or shortly after birth?  (If healthy the only reason our facility provided would be for circumsicion, and with girl number three, we won't be needing this, once again)
21. What breastfeeding resources will be available?  (Our location has certified nurses, lactation consultants and also does home visits)
22.  Could my partner stay with me throughout the day and what accomodations will be provided?
23.  How long is the maximum stay after delivery? (With no complications and depending on delivery time, this should be around 24 hours)
24. What follow up care is provided once I leave the center?
25. Is there an option for home visit for breastfeeding support?

(Many questions derived from:

childbirthconnection.org)

Building Babies First Library

We all know the importance of reading to your infant, even when they are still in the womb.  But, are you aware of how to start your babies first library or what titles to choose.  As an educator and on our third pregnancy, we have quite an extensive home library.  My sister on the other hand is just starting to build her library and I wanted to help her and other first time mothers get started on Babies First Library.  Here is a sample of the classics we have chosen for our home library. Each book has been read so many times, I'm sure I could recite them all word for word!  In no particular order:

Corduroy
By Don Freeman
A funny, timeless story of how a little girl named Lisa and a teddy bear become best friends.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
A newborn caterpillar takes you on a journey to transform into a butterfly. Who doesn't dream of eating one piece of chocolate cake, one ice-cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon in one day?

Is Your Mama a Llama?

By Deborah Guarino

Lloyd the Llama's quizzes his friends about their mamas. When his buddies (including a bat, a seal, a duckling, and a calf) give Lloyd clues about their moms, he has to guess what kind of animal they are.

Goodnight Moon

By Margaret Wise Brown

A little rabbit prepares for bed as he says goodnight to everything in his room, and the world outside his window.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

By Eileen Christelow

Kids will enjoy the repetition and rhyming, and parents will totally relate to the exhausted mama monkey.

Guess How Much I Love You

By Sam McBratney

A young bunny and his dad go back and forth about how much they love each other, each one trying to express more love than the previous. 

Good Night, Gorilla

By Peggy Rathmann

A mischievous gorilla snatches a zookeeper's keys and releases all of his animal friends to secretly spend the night at the zookeeper's house.

Are You My Mother?

By P.D. Eastman

A baby bird is on a quest to find his mother after falling from his nest. He asks a kitten, a hen, a dog, a cow, an airplane, and a snort (actually a steam shovel) if they are his mother, before eventually being reunited with her, back in the nest.

Love You Forever

By Robert Munsch

The relationship between a boy and his mother from his infancy into his adulthood, as their roles shift and responsibility for the other shifts from mother to son, who by the end, has become a father to a little girl of his own. 

The Snowy Day

By Ezra Jack Keats

A little boys day of events when snow has covered everything in sight. 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

By Bill Martin, Jr.

With the rhymes and repetition, the question-and-answer format young listeners will be sure to participate .

Runaway Bunny

By Margaret Wise Brown

A mother's unconditional love for her child. As her baby bunny tells her of his plans to run away, the pair engage in a make-believe game of chase, where she changes to find him, no matter how far away he travels.



Where the Wild Things Are

By Maurice Sendak

A child called Max plays around his home making "mischief" in a wolf costume one evening. As punishment, his mother sends him to bed without supper. The book then takes you through his journey to Where the Wild Things Are.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

By Laura Numeroff

If a hungry mouse comes to your house, you might want to give him a cookie. If you give him a cookie, what will come next??

Chick Chicka Boom Boom

By Bill Martin, Jr

The letters of the alphabet race each other to the top of the coconut tree. When X, Y and Z finally scramble up the trunk, however, the weight is too much, and down they all tumble in a colorful chaotic heap: "Chicka Chicka . . . BOOM! BOOM!"

Where the Sidewalk Ends

By Shel Silverstein

A collection of children's poetry that addresses many common childhood concerns and also presents purely fanciful stories.

Whether you decide to purchase or check out these books from the local library.  This is definitely a list of must reads and bedtime favorites. 

What are/were must reads with your children?