March has come to an end, as has my NaBloPoMo challenge. I managed to do pretty well, only missing one day overall. Not to shabby.
With that done, I do hope that it was the kick start I needed to be more consistent in blogging. While I certainly won't have the time to do it everyday anymore, my new goal is at least five posts per month - although I plan to push myself for more.
NaBloPoMo wasn't the only thing that came to an end in March for me.
This past Friday, I said goodbye to the last seven years of my life. I gathered with my friends and now former co-workers as I cried happy tears (and some sad) on what was my last day at my first ever adult job.
It was certainly a bitter sweet moment. Saying goodbye to people that were not only coworkers, but also people I considered great friends. It wasn't easy, we formed our own little family over time and now I'm walking into a new situation with new people - it's honestly really overwhelming!
I managed to hold it together pretty well as we enjoyed happy hour drinks. That was until I had to say goodbye to a man that was like a father figure to me... a father figure that told inappropriate jokes and talked about his relationship problems.. haha! But in all seriousness, saying goodbye to all of them was hard, but he was the most difficult goodbye of them all.
I genuinely hope that those goodbyes were not permanent. I hope that those seven year friendships can make it and we can all still keep in touch. Here's to positive thinking on that part.
So, now I move on the hopefully bigger and better things. I hope I've made the best decision I could for my career and my family, time will tell. For now I'm going to take it one day at a time and hope for the best.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Bad Things Come In 3's
I hope? Maybe?
I'm ready for bad things to stop anytime now.
You may (or may not, I don't know that anyone actually reads these posts) have noticed that I didn't post yesterday - therefore failing at my "blog every day" thing.
However, I totally had a legit excuse:
I got hit by a semi truck.
Yes, literally.
Yes, I'm ok.
No, Charlie was not with me. Thank God.
My car is not so ok, but I'm not sure on the total damage as of yet or if it's fixable.
So yeah. That happened.
The day before that my dentist diagnosed me with stress induced muscle spasms in my jaw. Those hurt like crazy by the way. He told me (I'll paraphrase a bit here) "to chill out and take a vacation".
Instead I get hit by a semi. I obviously listen well.
I'm hoping the accident counts for two because I don't think I can handle anything else.
Here's to hoping April is a far better month. Aside from the new job offer, March has been an evil wench.
I'm ready for bad things to stop anytime now.
You may (or may not, I don't know that anyone actually reads these posts) have noticed that I didn't post yesterday - therefore failing at my "blog every day" thing.
However, I totally had a legit excuse:
I got hit by a semi truck.
Yes, literally.
Yes, I'm ok.
No, Charlie was not with me. Thank God.
My car is not so ok, but I'm not sure on the total damage as of yet or if it's fixable.
So yeah. That happened.
The day before that my dentist diagnosed me with stress induced muscle spasms in my jaw. Those hurt like crazy by the way. He told me (I'll paraphrase a bit here) "to chill out and take a vacation".
![]() |
| {source} |
I'm hoping the accident counts for two because I don't think I can handle anything else.
Here's to hoping April is a far better month. Aside from the new job offer, March has been an evil wench.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wordless Wednesday
If this post were, in fact, wordless (which it obviously is not), you wouldn't get this perfect caption: "Please Mom, no more pictures!"
Labels:
Charlie,
Photography,
Toddler,
Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
What a Crock.
Crock Pot, that is.
I have some huge schedule changes happening very soon, so I've been looking into ways to make dinner time Monday thru Friday easier on everyone. All while trying not to screw up Charlies schedule and finding a way around my husbands picky eating habits.
Let me tell you, it's been a challenge.
Before now, I've only ever made about three things in a crock pot. And I've never made a freezer meal. I have Pin after Pin on Pinterest for both of these things, yet I've never tried most of them.
Well, things are about to change. I've been researching like crazy to come up with at least two weeks worth of meal plans. So far, I haven't come up with quite that many.. but I'm still working on it!
Here's some of the recipes that are on the slate to try out, hopefully they are keepers!
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken by Semi Homemade Mom
Crock Pot Pork Roast with Apples & Potatoes from Amy's Cooking Adventures
Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole by The Country Cook
Roasted Pork Loin from Peace, Love and French Fries
As far as frozen meals go, I'm thinking Lasagna, Meat Loaf, maybe some Enchiladas. I also plan on making a huge batch of Spaghetti Sauce to freeze in smaller bags.
Obviously this process is going to be trial and error for a while. My main reason for looking more into this is because my work schedule will be changing, along with a major career move. This means that I will be getting home at about the time Charlie is usually demanding dinner - not good! Hopefully we'll get into a new groove after a few weeks.
If you have any crock pot or frozen meal favorites, feel free to share!
I have some huge schedule changes happening very soon, so I've been looking into ways to make dinner time Monday thru Friday easier on everyone. All while trying not to screw up Charlies schedule and finding a way around my husbands picky eating habits.
Let me tell you, it's been a challenge.
Before now, I've only ever made about three things in a crock pot. And I've never made a freezer meal. I have Pin after Pin on Pinterest for both of these things, yet I've never tried most of them.
Well, things are about to change. I've been researching like crazy to come up with at least two weeks worth of meal plans. So far, I haven't come up with quite that many.. but I'm still working on it!
Here's some of the recipes that are on the slate to try out, hopefully they are keepers!
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken by Semi Homemade Mom
Crock Pot Pork Roast with Apples & Potatoes from Amy's Cooking Adventures
Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole by The Country Cook
Roasted Pork Loin from Peace, Love and French Fries
As far as frozen meals go, I'm thinking Lasagna, Meat Loaf, maybe some Enchiladas. I also plan on making a huge batch of Spaghetti Sauce to freeze in smaller bags.
Obviously this process is going to be trial and error for a while. My main reason for looking more into this is because my work schedule will be changing, along with a major career move. This means that I will be getting home at about the time Charlie is usually demanding dinner - not good! Hopefully we'll get into a new groove after a few weeks.
If you have any crock pot or frozen meal favorites, feel free to share!
Monday, March 25, 2013
15 Months
Ok, I realize how completely late I am on this.. only like two weeks...
Anyways, I'm going to do these updates to go along with his well-checks at the Doctor. For now, we'll see what happens after he turns two (TWO! Holy crud). I'm going to do them a little differently than his previous Monthly Check-Ins. Here go's...
Weight: At his last check on 3/22/13 he was 20lbs 12oz. He's been all over the map in terms of weight because the poor thing has been sick for the better part of a month. We're doing monthly weight checks for the time being to see if we can get him to gain a little more since he is on the small side.
Height: About 32"
Diaper Size: One-Size Cloth, Size 3 Disposables
Clothing/Shoe Size: A really random mix of 9, 12 & 18 month sizes. It depends on brand and what it is. He's currently in size 4 shoes.
Eating: Generally speaking, this kids eats like a horse. There has been a lot of days in the last few months where his appetite is MIA - whether from illness, teething or just plain pickiness. But to make up for those days, he has days where he eats... and eats... and eats! I often find myself wondering where he puts it all! It's some sort of miracle that he only weighs 20lbs!
Sleeping: There's good days and bad days. Unfortunately for us, more of the latter lately. Between all the aforementioned illnesses and teething and colds and other random stuff, his night time sleep has progressively gotten worse. We're talking about trying some sleep training once his health is back in order. Naps on the other hand, have gotten a lot better *knock on wood*. He generally takes just one nap a day now that lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. Huge improvement from before. Now we just need to get night time straightened out!
Teeth: We're at 12! A FAR ways away from the mere 2 he had three months ago.
Communication: This kid is always making some sort of noise. I generally speaks his own language and it's pretty funny to witness because he'll just go on and on in jibberish for an endless amount of time, complete with wild hand gestures.
He's picking up really well on sign language. Currently, he signs 'More' (his favorite!), 'All Done', 'Please' and (occasionally) 'Book'.
As far as verbal communication, he has a pretty wide selection of words that he uses correctly and regularly. Those include (and I'm probably going to forget some...)
I think that's about all we have on Mr. Charlie! I'm sure I could go on all day though :)
So I leave you with this:
Anyways, I'm going to do these updates to go along with his well-checks at the Doctor. For now, we'll see what happens after he turns two (TWO! Holy crud). I'm going to do them a little differently than his previous Monthly Check-Ins. Here go's...
![]() |
| Who took my baby and replaced him with this big boy? |
Height: About 32"
![]() |
| The butter container he stole from my Tupperware drawer. |
Clothing/Shoe Size: A really random mix of 9, 12 & 18 month sizes. It depends on brand and what it is. He's currently in size 4 shoes.
Eating: Generally speaking, this kids eats like a horse. There has been a lot of days in the last few months where his appetite is MIA - whether from illness, teething or just plain pickiness. But to make up for those days, he has days where he eats... and eats... and eats! I often find myself wondering where he puts it all! It's some sort of miracle that he only weighs 20lbs!
![]() |
| Enjoying some yogurt and animal crackers! |
Teeth: We're at 12! A FAR ways away from the mere 2 he had three months ago.
![]() |
| Cuteness! |
He's picking up really well on sign language. Currently, he signs 'More' (his favorite!), 'All Done', 'Please' and (occasionally) 'Book'.
As far as verbal communication, he has a pretty wide selection of words that he uses correctly and regularly. Those include (and I'm probably going to forget some...)
- Oscar
- More
- Please
- Hi
- Bye
- Turtle
- Uppy
- Hat
- Shoe
- Belly
- Bear
- Cracker
- Blue
- Ball
- Out
- Off
- On
- Dog
- Book
- Poop
- Baby
- No
- Yes
- Hug
I think that's about all we have on Mr. Charlie! I'm sure I could go on all day though :)
So I leave you with this:
![]() |
| awwwwwwwwwwwww! |
Labels:
Charlie,
Charlie Month-by-Month,
Photography,
Toddler
Sunday, March 24, 2013
A quick craft.
I had about an hour to work on a project I've been thinking about for a while now. It came together rather quickly!
I introduce my Magnetic Fabric Shapes! A great fridge toy, and better yet, both sides are magnetic.
Tutorial coming soon!
I introduce my Magnetic Fabric Shapes! A great fridge toy, and better yet, both sides are magnetic.
Tutorial coming soon!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Buy All The Things!!
If you've ever spent anytime at all on Etsy, you know there is A LOT of great stuff on there.
I could probably easily drop thousands on Etsy, but fortunately for my bank account I'm able to reign myself in!
Let's start with a few items that have been floating around on my favorites list for a while.
Peridot Diamond & Silver Twig Ring from EveryBearJewel
Key To Your Heart Necklace by bijouxbydesif
Chevron Print Camera Bag by Janine King Designs
Now for a few of my favorite shops!
I could probably easily drop thousands on Etsy, but fortunately for my bank account I'm able to reign myself in!
Let's start with a few items that have been floating around on my favorites list for a while.
Peridot Diamond & Silver Twig Ring from EveryBearJewel
![]() |
| Buy for $99.00 Here |
Key To Your Heart Necklace by bijouxbydesif
![]() |
| Buy Here |
![]() |
| Buy for $79.99 Here |
Now for a few of my favorite shops!
| Snugglens Camera Bags |
| Janine King Designs |
| Roots and Wings: A Life Americana |
| Hi Butterfly |
| Lupen Grainne |
| Jacqueline Ann Invitations |
Thursday, March 21, 2013
My Nerd is Showing.
Have you heard?
Canon has introduced it's newest line up of DSLR cameras.
And I am drooling. (Not on the cameras though, that would be bad. Unless it was in a waterproof case.)
They've rolled out the Rebel SL1 /EOS 100D and the Rebel T5i/EOS 700D.
They are both 18-megapixel SLR cameras. The main difference between the two is the size, the SL1 is significantly smaller and lighter. That leads me to believe that the body is likely mostly made of plastic. In my opinion, a mainly plastic body is not really a direction anyone should go in.
However, I can see the SL1 becoming pretty popular. A lot of users love the DSLR functionality, but loathe the bulky size (I'm actually guilty of that!). So because of that, I see this one jumping up in popularity.
Based on the reviews I've read so far, the T5i is very similar to the T4i.. and the T3i... and the T2i. Very little difference. You could purchase any of those models for far less than the T5i's $800 price tag and get similar functions and photo results. I guess it's a preference of how "up to date" you want your equipment to be.
I'm still rocking a T1i here. Old school. So basically I'm chomping to upgrade. I'm not holding my breath though, my current camera works just fine!
I will however, continue to dream.
Canon has introduced it's newest line up of DSLR cameras.
And I am drooling. (Not on the cameras though, that would be bad. Unless it was in a waterproof case.)
![]() |
| Source |
They are both 18-megapixel SLR cameras. The main difference between the two is the size, the SL1 is significantly smaller and lighter. That leads me to believe that the body is likely mostly made of plastic. In my opinion, a mainly plastic body is not really a direction anyone should go in.
However, I can see the SL1 becoming pretty popular. A lot of users love the DSLR functionality, but loathe the bulky size (I'm actually guilty of that!). So because of that, I see this one jumping up in popularity.
Based on the reviews I've read so far, the T5i is very similar to the T4i.. and the T3i... and the T2i. Very little difference. You could purchase any of those models for far less than the T5i's $800 price tag and get similar functions and photo results. I guess it's a preference of how "up to date" you want your equipment to be.
I'm still rocking a T1i here. Old school. So basically I'm chomping to upgrade. I'm not holding my breath though, my current camera works just fine!
I will however, continue to dream.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Kindle Fire: A Review
I'll be the first to admit that I was hesitant to jump into the world of the E-Reader. While they've been popular for a while, I just purchased mine around Thanksgiving 2012.
Better late than never I say!
So, which one did I get?
I went with the Kindle Fire. They were having a Cyber Monday Sale (and I'm a sucker for a good online deal!) with $30 off the list price. I also had a $25 Amazon gift card, as well as $39 in credit card points that I could use towards an Amazon purchase. All of that brought down the final cost of a Kindle Fire to only $65! A pretty good deal if you ask me!
Oh the joys of online deals.. sigh.
Anyways, on to my review.
As I mentioned earlier, I've been hesitant about E-Readers. I mean, there's nothing better than curling up with a traditional book, right? Turning the pages, the smell of the fresh paper and ink on a new book... why would I want to give that up?
Well, for $65, I figured I could take a chance. I'm glad I did.
No more books cluttering my already full bookshelf. The convenience of being able to just toss this little guy right in my ginormous purse. Buying books with the tap of a finger and having them there instantly (this is both good AND bad!). Also, the ease of use when a toddler refuses to nap anywhere but on you is pretty great!
What I Like:
What I Don't Like:
Overall, I think the Kindle Fire is a worthwhile purchase. If you have the money for it, I would even recommend upgrading to the Kindle Fire HD. I've heard great things about that as well.
So, what about Accessories?
There are three things that are a MUST in my opinion: A Charging Adapter, A Screen Protector and a Super Cute Case.
The Charger: Amazon Kindle PowerFast
This is NOT included with the Kindle Fire! It DOES come with a USB cable, but that only works to charge if you hook it up to a computer. This little gadget works anywhere you can find a standard outlet. Using the USB cable included with your Kindle, you plug that into the Powerfast and the other end into your Kindle. Super fast charging pretty much anywhere!
Note: Make sure you buy the correct Powerfast to use with whatever Kindle model you have. There are different types!
The Screen Protector: Moshi iVisor
A good quality screen protector is a must in my opinion! I chose this one based on the reviews and I'm really happy with it. It went on easily and truly "bubble free", you honestly can't even tell it's on there because it fits so seamlessly. There are a lot of other screen protectors to choose from, just choose what will work best for you.
Again, Note: Make sure to purchase the correct one to fit your Kindle model!
A Cute Case: Verso
Verso cases seem to be pretty popular. There are a TON of case options out there, you just need to choose the one that best fits your personality. The price range is also pretty large, this one is on the lower end - but even though it's less expensive, the quality is still pretty good in my opinion.
Again, make sure you purchase the correct size!
Whew! Long winded post. I hope this review might help those who are teetering on the e-reader edge like I was!
Better late than never I say!
So, which one did I get?
I went with the Kindle Fire. They were having a Cyber Monday Sale (and I'm a sucker for a good online deal!) with $30 off the list price. I also had a $25 Amazon gift card, as well as $39 in credit card points that I could use towards an Amazon purchase. All of that brought down the final cost of a Kindle Fire to only $65! A pretty good deal if you ask me!
Oh the joys of online deals.. sigh.
Anyways, on to my review.
As I mentioned earlier, I've been hesitant about E-Readers. I mean, there's nothing better than curling up with a traditional book, right? Turning the pages, the smell of the fresh paper and ink on a new book... why would I want to give that up?
Well, for $65, I figured I could take a chance. I'm glad I did.
No more books cluttering my already full bookshelf. The convenience of being able to just toss this little guy right in my ginormous purse. Buying books with the tap of a finger and having them there instantly (this is both good AND bad!). Also, the ease of use when a toddler refuses to nap anywhere but on you is pretty great!
What I Like:
- Lots of digital storage
- Free Cloud Storage
- Fast downloads
- Wi-Fi connectivity & ease of finding networks
- Ease of customization
- Fairly long battery life
- The ability to use it as a Tablet
- The Kindle Lending Library
- The Free Month of Amazon Prime
What I Don't Like:
- That I can't lend certain books (this is more publishers that Amazon)
- You can only borrow one free book a month with a Prime Membership
- The Facebook App SUCKS
- The web browser is finicky
- The keyboard is super touchy
- Auto-correct is even worse the the i-Phone
- You have to buy a separate charging adapter
Overall, I think the Kindle Fire is a worthwhile purchase. If you have the money for it, I would even recommend upgrading to the Kindle Fire HD. I've heard great things about that as well.
So, what about Accessories?
There are three things that are a MUST in my opinion: A Charging Adapter, A Screen Protector and a Super Cute Case.
The Charger: Amazon Kindle PowerFast
![]() |
| $19.99 on Amazon |
Note: Make sure you buy the correct Powerfast to use with whatever Kindle model you have. There are different types!
The Screen Protector: Moshi iVisor
![]() |
| $15.99 on Amazon |
Again, Note: Make sure to purchase the correct one to fit your Kindle model!
A Cute Case: Verso
![]() |
| $24.99 on Amazon |
Again, make sure you purchase the correct size!
Whew! Long winded post. I hope this review might help those who are teetering on the e-reader edge like I was!
Monday, March 18, 2013
New Things
You may notice a few new things hanging out on my blog today...
Follow me here to keep up with this blog and my oh so interesting life!
- My new Pinterest Button (over on the right)
- A Bloglovin' link (also on the right) and another on on top of the page
- A new "About Me" page up top
Follow me here to keep up with this blog and my oh so interesting life!
Book Review: "Requiem"
*First off, you may have heard that Google is discontinuing Google Reader (boooo Google!). Anyways, I'm hopping on the Bloglovin' train.
Follow me here to keep up with this blog and my oh so interesting life!
There will also be a permanent button in the side bar and included in new posts for the time being. Now, onto the book review!*
"Requiem" by Lauren Oliver
SUMMARY from Goodreads
They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.
MY RATING
MY THOUGHTS
I wanted, more than anything, to love this book. Really, I did.
Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but it feels like she forgot a few chapters at the end! Way too many loose ends for my liking. There were so many characters that were built up throughout the series and then never wrapped up. Too many questions left at the end.
Don't even get me started on Raven, I could talk all day about her. BUT...I won't because I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet. For those that have read it, you likely know what I mean - a very anticlimactic way to wrap up such a strong character. You also never get any solid ending for Julian (whose character was never fully developed in my opinion) or Hana and Fred. Even Lena and Alex are left somewhat hanging.
It was still a good book, and I'm glad I read it, but I feel like the author was rushed to an ending or failed at including an epilogue. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise great series. I have heard rumors of a potential epilogue or short story addition to it, and I truly hope that's the case - it may ease my disappointment.
Follow me here to keep up with this blog and my oh so interesting life!
There will also be a permanent button in the side bar and included in new posts for the time being. Now, onto the book review!*
"Requiem" by Lauren Oliver
SUMMARY from Goodreads
They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.
MY RATING
MY THOUGHTS
I wanted, more than anything, to love this book. Really, I did.
Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but it feels like she forgot a few chapters at the end! Way too many loose ends for my liking. There were so many characters that were built up throughout the series and then never wrapped up. Too many questions left at the end.
Don't even get me started on Raven, I could talk all day about her. BUT...I won't because I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet. For those that have read it, you likely know what I mean - a very anticlimactic way to wrap up such a strong character. You also never get any solid ending for Julian (whose character was never fully developed in my opinion) or Hana and Fred. Even Lena and Alex are left somewhat hanging.
It was still a good book, and I'm glad I read it, but I feel like the author was rushed to an ending or failed at including an epilogue. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise great series. I have heard rumors of a potential epilogue or short story addition to it, and I truly hope that's the case - it may ease my disappointment.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
We can't win around here.
Last weekend was a double ear infection, this weekend appears to be some sort of stomach bug!
My poor baby wants to eat but can't keep anything down :( We're trying to stick to a bland diet and offering lots of snuggles.
I think it was this same time last year that a stomach bug swept through our house. It was horrible. Charlie was spared last time but not this year, poor guy.
Spring and warm weather can't come soon enough. We need to open some windows and air out this germ factory!
I hope everyone is having a better weekend than we are :(
My poor baby wants to eat but can't keep anything down :( We're trying to stick to a bland diet and offering lots of snuggles.
I think it was this same time last year that a stomach bug swept through our house. It was horrible. Charlie was spared last time but not this year, poor guy.
Spring and warm weather can't come soon enough. We need to open some windows and air out this germ factory!
I hope everyone is having a better weekend than we are :(
Friday, March 15, 2013
Charlie Lately
I haven't really posted a true Charlie update since his twelve-month post and my sappy ONE post. I have an official 15 month post planned for Monday/Tuesday after his appointment.
But what has my little trouble maker been up to for the last three months?
He's been a busy guy, changing every day. He is great at keeping Mommy on her toes!
Let's see what he's been up to...
He started walking the week between Christmas and New Years! It really didn't take him long at all to work his way up to a full-blown run. In three and a half months this kid has gotten FAST. Like REALLY fast.
It was pretty crazy, he went from just cruising a little bit and then one day he was all "let's do this, I'm done with crawling!". It's amazing how quickly babies learn and pick up new skills.
He's been a really great eater lately. Now he eats pretty much whatever we're eating and fortunately he's not very picky so far. Veggies are a battle sometimes, but if he clears his plate of everything else and all that's left is veggies, he will usually cave.
Charlie is definitely a big boy now, choosing to eat most meals off a plate with a fork or spoon. I've noticed lately that he's starting to be a little less messy too, which is pretty nice! He seems to be gaining more control with his hand/eye/mouth coordination. That doesn't mean the bibs have been retired quite yet though :)
We have a little mime on our hands. We've been noticing more and more that he is beginning to mimic our actions and tries to say what we say (no more cuss words!).
If we're reading the paper, he "reads" (or rips apart, whatever) the paper. If we're washing our hands or putting on lotion, he's rubbing his hands together just like us. If we're thumping our chest gorilla style, so is he. You get the idea! It's pretty adorable.
In the last month or so, I've noticed his vocabulary is really growing. He will try to repeat nearly every word you say. In his 15 month update post, I'll go a little more into detail about his talking. Charlie is an animal sound pro and it would appear that his favorites are Turtles (hearing him say "turtle" is pretty much the most adorable thing EVER) and Lions... ROARRRR!!
Charlie built his first snowman about a month and a half ago. With a little help from Daddy, of course.
He was pretty unimpressed with that white stuff we call snow. The marshmallow suit combined with the cold, snowy weather had him looking pretty glum the whole short 15 minutes we were outside. Oh well, I'm sure he'll enjoy it a little more as he gets older... or he'll be like Mom and just choose to stay inside when it's snowing, which is fine by me!
I think the last three months have been my favorite months so far in this parenting adventure. He changes SO MUCH everyday. It really blows my mind. It's so cool that I get to witness all the awesomeness that he exudes on a daily basis. It's pretty great and I wouldn't give it up for anything!
But what has my little trouble maker been up to for the last three months?
He's been a busy guy, changing every day. He is great at keeping Mommy on her toes!
Let's see what he's been up to...
He started walking the week between Christmas and New Years! It really didn't take him long at all to work his way up to a full-blown run. In three and a half months this kid has gotten FAST. Like REALLY fast.
It was pretty crazy, he went from just cruising a little bit and then one day he was all "let's do this, I'm done with crawling!". It's amazing how quickly babies learn and pick up new skills.
He's been a really great eater lately. Now he eats pretty much whatever we're eating and fortunately he's not very picky so far. Veggies are a battle sometimes, but if he clears his plate of everything else and all that's left is veggies, he will usually cave.
Charlie is definitely a big boy now, choosing to eat most meals off a plate with a fork or spoon. I've noticed lately that he's starting to be a little less messy too, which is pretty nice! He seems to be gaining more control with his hand/eye/mouth coordination. That doesn't mean the bibs have been retired quite yet though :)
We have a little mime on our hands. We've been noticing more and more that he is beginning to mimic our actions and tries to say what we say (no more cuss words!).
If we're reading the paper, he "reads" (or rips apart, whatever) the paper. If we're washing our hands or putting on lotion, he's rubbing his hands together just like us. If we're thumping our chest gorilla style, so is he. You get the idea! It's pretty adorable.
In the last month or so, I've noticed his vocabulary is really growing. He will try to repeat nearly every word you say. In his 15 month update post, I'll go a little more into detail about his talking. Charlie is an animal sound pro and it would appear that his favorites are Turtles (hearing him say "turtle" is pretty much the most adorable thing EVER) and Lions... ROARRRR!!
Charlie built his first snowman about a month and a half ago. With a little help from Daddy, of course.
He was pretty unimpressed with that white stuff we call snow. The marshmallow suit combined with the cold, snowy weather had him looking pretty glum the whole short 15 minutes we were outside. Oh well, I'm sure he'll enjoy it a little more as he gets older... or he'll be like Mom and just choose to stay inside when it's snowing, which is fine by me!
I think the last three months have been my favorite months so far in this parenting adventure. He changes SO MUCH everyday. It really blows my mind. It's so cool that I get to witness all the awesomeness that he exudes on a daily basis. It's pretty great and I wouldn't give it up for anything!
Announcements : Etsy Showcase
Time for another Etsy showcase!
This time around I'll be sharing a few birth announcements.
All of my current listing are completely customizable. I do realize they are all a little on the boy-ish side, but they can most definitely be customized to fit the birth of a little girl. Custom colors can be requested by sending me a message for a custom item (link on the left-hand navigation of my shop), it's pretty simple!
As I mentioned, all announcements are customizable!
I also design birthday and party invitations! I have a few listed right now and more designs in the works. Watch for more on those soon!
Here's a favorite so far:
*****
Have you entered my Etsy Giveaway and checked out the coupon code?
CHECK IT OUT AND ENTER HERE!
It ends this Sunday!
This time around I'll be sharing a few birth announcements.
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| Fire Truck Announcement Available Here! |
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| Elephant Announcement Available Here! |
All Listings Include:
- Announcement design (4"x6" unless otherwise specified)
- High resolution digital file that can be adjusted to a specific size for your printer of choice
- Announcement design (4"x6" unless otherwise specified)
- High resolution digital file that can be adjusted to a specific size for your printer of choice
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| Giraffe Announcement Available Here! |
When placing your order please include the following information:
- Your child's name as you would like it displayed
- Your child's birth date
- Your child's birth stats (time, weight, height)
...plus any other information you may want to include!
- Your child's name as you would like it displayed
- Your child's birth date
- Your child's birth stats (time, weight, height)
...plus any other information you may want to include!
(More details in actual listings!)
Here's a favorite so far:
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| Curious George Invitation Available Here! |
Have you entered my Etsy Giveaway and checked out the coupon code?
CHECK IT OUT AND ENTER HERE!
It ends this Sunday!
Dream Big
*I know... epic fail at blogging everyday. Life happened and other things were more important! But you know what? Today you'll get THREE new posts...woooo! Hopefully I don't bore you too much ;) *
Have you ever thought about your dream job?
I think as a child, every one has that one "big dream".
I remember when I was about five, my big dream was to be a country singer (I was a huge Garth Brooks fan). Random, right? I mean, sure, I like to sing... in private. I'm not a very outgoing person, but I guess my five year old mind had other plans. Thank goodness for every ones ears that I gave up on that dream.
At some point in middle school, I thought it would be awesome to be an FBI Agent. Again, random. I even wrote multiple career papers on it for various classes. Let's be honest though, being an FBI Agent probably isn't anything like what you see on TV.
Throughout high school, like so many others, I went through the "what should I be when I grow up?" phase.
That's a tough phase, let me tell you. You know why? Because it's not JUST you asking that question. It's teachers, parents, relatives, friends... everyone and their long lost brother. It puts a lot of pressure on a kid. I did come to a decision at some point and grew up to be a Graphic Designer.
But if I didn't have to be concerned about money or expertise, what would be my ideal job? (This was the NaBloPoMo March 13th Prompt) I'm going to interpret "ideal" as "dream", just because I can. It is my blog after all.
I always thought it would be amazing to be a Zoologist or anything like that, just to work with cute squishy animals all day.
Now, I realize that being a Zoologist isn't just about cuddling animals and all that fun and rainbows stuff. There's obviously a lot of technical knowledge that goes into it all. A lot of Zoologists earn a PhD level education, that takes a lot of brains and dedication!
My main reason for always having this career in the back of my mind is because of a local Wildlife Sanctuary. I can't even count the number of times I've visited there. They do great work to rehabilitate and release injured and abandoned infant and adult animals back into the wild. All this while providing an educational environment to the general public.
If you ever find yourself in Wisconsin, I highly recommend visiting the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. It's a wonderful place for people young and old!
*****
I am participating in NaBloPoMo. In other words, I have committed to blogging every day during the month of March. I can’t guarantee I’ll succeed, but I’m going to try! If you’d like to join me (and a TON of others), you can click here to sign up (you only have until 3/5 to do so). There are blogging prompts available, but you are also free to do your own thing - prompts are great for writers block :)
Todays prompt was: If you didn't have to be concerned about money or expertise, what would be your ideal job?
Have you ever thought about your dream job?
I think as a child, every one has that one "big dream".
I remember when I was about five, my big dream was to be a country singer (I was a huge Garth Brooks fan). Random, right? I mean, sure, I like to sing... in private. I'm not a very outgoing person, but I guess my five year old mind had other plans. Thank goodness for every ones ears that I gave up on that dream.
![]() |
| He was cool, right? Sure. |
![]() |
| It's on TV. It has to be real. |
That's a tough phase, let me tell you. You know why? Because it's not JUST you asking that question. It's teachers, parents, relatives, friends... everyone and their long lost brother. It puts a lot of pressure on a kid. I did come to a decision at some point and grew up to be a Graphic Designer.
But if I didn't have to be concerned about money or expertise, what would be my ideal job? (This was the NaBloPoMo March 13th Prompt) I'm going to interpret "ideal" as "dream", just because I can. It is my blog after all.
I always thought it would be amazing to be a Zoologist or anything like that, just to work with cute squishy animals all day.
![]() |
| How freaking cute is this? |
My main reason for always having this career in the back of my mind is because of a local Wildlife Sanctuary. I can't even count the number of times I've visited there. They do great work to rehabilitate and release injured and abandoned infant and adult animals back into the wild. All this while providing an educational environment to the general public.
If you ever find yourself in Wisconsin, I highly recommend visiting the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. It's a wonderful place for people young and old!
*****
I am participating in NaBloPoMo. In other words, I have committed to blogging every day during the month of March. I can’t guarantee I’ll succeed, but I’m going to try! If you’d like to join me (and a TON of others), you can click here to sign up (you only have until 3/5 to do so). There are blogging prompts available, but you are also free to do your own thing - prompts are great for writers block :)
Todays prompt was: If you didn't have to be concerned about money or expertise, what would be your ideal job?
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Etsy Giveaway & Coupon Code!
My blogger friend Rachel, over at Rachel's Nest is hosting a giveaway for my Etsy shop!
Here's the details!
Here's the details!
- One winner will receive a printable, or an 8x10 photo print of their choice.
- Leave a comment on Rachel's Blog Post to enter. Giveaway is open to US residents only.
- One winner will be chosen via random.org on Sunday, March 17th at 9pm EST. The winner will be announced on Rachel's Nest on Monday morning.
There's also a 15% off coupon code hanging out on Rachel's Nest for all of her readers to use at my Etsy Shop!
Monday, March 11, 2013
T-Word Must Haves: The Fun Stuff
I did the Serious Stuff... now it's time for toys!
All of these have been Charlie Tested and Charlie Approved :) He is currently 15 months old, just to give you an idea of the age range and usage of some of these toys.
On with the list!
Fisher Price Star Stacker
Charlie got this as a birthday gift. He wasn't quite walking then, so this was great for him to push around. I love that it converts from walking toy to riding toy, that's one less toy we need to have cluttering up our living area!
The music on this thing is Charlie favorite. He will sit there and push the buttons over and over again while having his own little dance party. It's super adorable!
****
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzles
The price of these will vary depending on size and where you buy them. We got two of them at Toys R Us for a Buy One Get One 50% Off deal, I think they were $8.99 originally. There are a TON of different styles available. We have the one you see pictured and a shapes one.
I like these for little hands because the large knobs make the pieces really easy for him to pick up. They are also very well made and can hold up to general toddler toy abuse!
I'm just using this guy as a general idea. Charlie loves ANY stuffed animal, we have quite a few! He carries them around, covers them up to "nap" and tells you "shhhh", moves them from the floor to a chair over and over and over again. Lots of entertainment here!
****
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Board Books
We really love this box 'o books at our house. Charlie is a huge Mickey Mouse fan and really seems to enjoy these books. I like that they come with a box (that also has a handle) to store all of them in. For $9.00, you get 12 board books. I think that's a pretty good deal.
The only gripe I have about these books is that they are REALLY freaking small. I think each book is only about 3" x 3", maybe a little bigger. I wish they were larger, some of the images are really hard to see. Other than that, they are pretty great!
****
Other sure bets for toys:
Cars or Trucks of any kind
Books Books and more BOOKS!
Anything with a cow or a dog on it
That's all I've got for now!
P.S.: I had planned on posting Charlies 15 Month update today... however, since little man is super sick, we decided to reschedule his 15 month well visit for next Monday. Hopefully he will be MUCH better by then! So I'll be a little late on that, but it is coming!
All of these have been Charlie Tested and Charlie Approved :) He is currently 15 months old, just to give you an idea of the age range and usage of some of these toys.
On with the list!
Fisher Price Star Stacker
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| $14.99 on Amazon - although I'm sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere! |
This is a favorite. He likes to get the stars on there and then clap for himself.. haha. He's been playing with it and successfully stacking the stars since around Christmas time. I really like this toy because it's great for developing his hand eye-coordination. He really likes it for the bright colors and the noise!
****
Fisher Price Smart Phone
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| $12.20 on Amazon |
I don't know where he got this habit from, since we don't talk on the phone much at all, but every time he plays with this he will will push a button and hold it up to his ear like an actual phone! It's pretty cute.
He likes this toy a lot. I like it because it's REALLY quiet compared to most other toys. So quiet that it doesn't concern me at all when he mashes it against his ears. The buttons are also super easy for him to push. Another bonus is that it's really easy to wipe down after he drools all over it or smashes Goldfish on it!
****
International Playthings Earlyears Sweet Baby Blocks
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| $13.50 on Amazon |
Simple toy, but so much fun! At 15 months, he starting to be able to stack these on his own and gets so excited when he's successful. He's also a huge fan of knocking down what Mommy builds!
They are soft and somewhat squishy, so it doesn't hurt if he were to fall on them. They are also very easy to wipe down and clean.
****
Fisher Price Stride-to-Ride Puppy
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| $30.37 on Amazon |
The music on this thing is Charlie favorite. He will sit there and push the buttons over and over again while having his own little dance party. It's super adorable!
****
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzles
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| Price Varies depending where you shop! About $10. |
I like these for little hands because the large knobs make the pieces really easy for him to pick up. They are also very well made and can hold up to general toddler toy abuse!
****
Pillow Pet (or ANY Stuffed Animal!)
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| $15.99 on Amazon |
****
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Board Books
![]() |
| $8.98 on Amazon |
The only gripe I have about these books is that they are REALLY freaking small. I think each book is only about 3" x 3", maybe a little bigger. I wish they were larger, some of the images are really hard to see. Other than that, they are pretty great!
****
Other sure bets for toys:
Cars or Trucks of any kind
Books Books and more BOOKS!
Anything with a cow or a dog on it
That's all I've got for now!
P.S.: I had planned on posting Charlies 15 Month update today... however, since little man is super sick, we decided to reschedule his 15 month well visit for next Monday. Hopefully he will be MUCH better by then! So I'll be a little late on that, but it is coming!
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