CoverGirl Challenge: Part I

So as I mentioned in a previous post I have decided to take on a makeover challenge. Because I am not too savvy on the art of makeup and techniques I found some tutorials and seeking the tips articles from magazines for advice. I am fair skinned with dark eyes and black hair so I have to do my makeup carefully to avoid looking gothic or depressing (i.e. avoid dark colors)

I mentioned that I don't wear makeup on a daily basis, however I do regularly (as in once or twice a week) wear eyeliner and lipstick or shaded lip balm because my lips are usually pale in color and I have big round eyes so I try to tone them down a little with eyeliner. I almost never wear mascara because I already have dark, full eyelashes so I don't really feel the need for it. Most of the options I looked at mention they volumize, which I don't need so I'll get back to that if I do find one I think I'll like.

One factor that kind of deters me from bothering with makeup is the confusion between concealer, foundation, and face powder. Then they have primers and bronzers. Huh? Not sure what that's all about. I understand the concept of using concealer because I do use for the occasional blemish. Then face powder is another issue - I never know what shade to choose because I don't want to make my face look any whiter or something too dark that looks unnatural with my complexion. I had one that I loved and it broke so I threw it away and I'm the type of person when I find something I like I typically don't shy away from it to try new things. The last powder I bought was very chalky - it streaked when applied and didn't rub in too well.

Alas, though I found a product that is perfect for someone like me. There's a 3-in-1 product made by CoverGirl that basically combines foundation, primer, and concealer in one so you don't need a ton of different products.

Why I love it: well the obvious reason which I just stated, it eliminates the need for different face products by combining them into one and there's no confusion as to what I should apply first. Plus I don't like to cake stuff on my face so this product is perfect. I have light freckles and though they're not extremely obvious they are slightly noticeable and I feel like it gives the appearance of blemishes or blackheads because they are barely there but you can see them. Anyway, this product lightly covers them for a flawless look. It goes on so lightly that it doesn't feel like this heavy, oily junk on your face. I took the 'what's your shade quiz' to determine which shade would compliment my complexion best and went with natural beige. By the way- I didn't upload a picture because the quality wasn't great enough to even notice the difference before and after.

Do You Like Writing?

If you are reading this blog there is a good chance that you yourself have a blog as well. If so then perhaps you enjoy writing. English and creative writing were always my favorite subjects. My grammar is pretty good, although I wouldn't say it's exceptional. Writing is a really good way to earn a little extra cash.

When I had my first baby I chose to stay home with her for at least the first year, but like most people these days getting by on one income didn't seem feasible. That was when I started writing and making it earn money for me. Eventually I ventured back to the medical field where I worked in medical records and as a medical assistant for 2 years before having my second baby.

You have seen me mention in several previous posts that I am currently working from home with a company I've partnered with. It's great and I love it, but I still do enjoy writing. I found a website where you can write articles and various content and earn money doing it. Likewise, if you own a blog or website where you need fresh material you can post a request for writers to write blog postings or articles for you  for as little as $1.25 You could probably earn enough to replace an income if you commit your time to writing with them. I just recently wrote a 300 word press release for $17.00! I just take on writing projects in my spare time to earn a little extra cash. If this is something you think would suit you, check them out http://www.iwriter.com/affiliate/87922

'Tis the Season for Giving

Hey guys! Well I haven't done one of these in a while and in the spirit of the season I was in a giving mood so here it is.

I am running another giveaway for a really great product with the company I work from home with! This month is a great opportunity for newcomers who are looking to start up their own business from home. The regular annual membership fee is only half off! You can message me for more details on this offer. I am giving one of my lucky readers a chance to try one of their products that I personally really like. (honestly I have yet to find a product I didn't like, but this is really great for the cold, dry weather that is upon us)

Does the winter weather dry out your skin? My hands are always in water with washing dishes, cleaning, and washing my hands. Top that with the cold weather and you've got a rough winter ahead of you. Unless ofcourse you have the aid of a really great moisturizing hand soap. I am giving away a bottle of their Moisturizing Hand Soap in grapefruit splash!

Welcome every season with the fresh and tantalizing fragrance of Grapefruit Splash Moisturizing Liquid Soap. Hundreds of moisturizing beads burst with an exclusive ButterSilk™ blend as you wash your hands, leaving your skin soft and hydrated. And as with many of our products, Grapefruit Splash Moisturizing Liquid Soap is concentrated so you get more for less. With hands this soft at about a penny per use, it’s a value you can’t deny.

I will also include a couple of samples of the moisturizing hand lotion as well as moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to truly give you the experience of having well moisturized skin and scalp. These are just a couple of the hundreds of products available through this company.  If you are interested in learning more and would like to try these amazing products now is a really good time. This month, in additiona to half price memberships they are offering an amazing deal on an entire Skin Care Pack full of moisturizing skin care products to keep you from suffering with dry skin all winter long.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment with your email address. Be sure to follow my blog. Giveaway will end on 12/15/2012 at 10pm CST . The winner will be chosen and notified on Saturday (12/16/2012)  and will have 48 hours to respond. The winner should receive it in plenty of time before Christmas so if there's a last minute gift you need to give someone this is perfect (or keep it for yourself!)

For additional entries you can do any of the following and be sure to leave a comment for each one:

• Tweet out the giveaway "I entered to win #moisturehandsoap giveaway on Mastering Motherhood" Be sure to leave the link with your tweet in your comment.
• Post the giveaway to Facebook
• (For 2 extra entries) post about my giveaway on your blog

Good Luck!

Tips for Taking Vitamins

I know I haven't been keeping up with Tipsy Tuesday but I haven't really had many good tips to share lately and while today is not exactly Tuesday, I had a really good idea. Since it's been awhile since my last tip post, I figured it wouldn't make much difference posting on a Friday.

I often have a hard time remembering to get my vitamins and supplements before running out. As I've mentioned before, I partnered with this wellness company that I absolutely love. I get my vitamins and supplements from them and the difference between those and the ones I was taking before over the counter are incredible. I will never go back to OTC vitamins again. However, I usually forget to reorder them ahead of time until I get down to the last one.

This is a great idea for anyone who takes medicine, vitamins, etc on a regular basis to stay ahead so you don't run out. I have one of those 7 Day pill boxes for when we travel. When I get my new bottle I take out a week's worth and put them in the pill box. So when I go to take my vitamins and I'm down to the last one in the bottle, I'll know it's time to reorder. Then I still have a week left from the pill box until my new ones come in.

You can also set a reminder on your smartphone when it's time to reorder. I haven't had much luck with reminders though. When the reminder would pop up I was usually in the middle of something else so I would see it with the intention of getting around to it when I had time but often forgot. I do try to stay organized but when I have a lot going on at once it becomes difficult. My son is so different than my daughter was when she was a baby. He requires much attention which requires constant multi-tasking.

I should try to find more tips for organizing. When I do and I find something that works with our busy life-style I will share them for all the other busy moms out there.

BreastFeeding Support

I know I have posted about this before but I am a big advocate for breastfeeding. So when I have trouble getting assistance with breastfeeding, it really annoys me. I am thankful for the internet and being a part of stay at home mom groups and support groups for parenting advice and BFing support because there is nothing in my area to offer any encouragement for new moms.

When I was pregnant with my first child I had purchased a breast pump because I intended to breastfeed. Then my daughter was born 6 weeks early so while I was still able to give her breastmilk in the hospital I was unable to nurse her. When we brought her home I was able to BF her for 3 months then started having problems with clogged ducts, reduced milk supply, etc. so I was unable to continue. So from personal experience I know and understand not all women can BF and have to give formula. Not that's there's anything wrong with that. When I had my second child I was determined to make it work. He is so completely different. He likes to eat a lot so I have no problem whatsoever with keeping up a good milk supply or clogged ducts. He is now 4 months old and BFing has been going great. However, my pump which was purchased over 3 years ago is starting to go out. I like to pump so my husband can feed him when he gets home (and so I can shower and have time to do a couple of things, go run errands, etc) Problem is I can't afford a new pump right now so I've been looking into renting one.

I contacted the local health unit to see if they offered rental pumps and to my surprise they do not! Then I checked with the hospital and shockingly they don't offer rental pumps either. It occurred to me that there is no support (or encouragement efforts for that matter) in my area for mothers to breastfeed! It's amazing how our government system works. They'll supply hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars worth of formula to low-income families every month but cannot offer a breastpump to mothers who choose to BF!? Do they not realize how much money they could be saving by encouraging new moms to BF their babies and offer a personal pump that's worth approximately $150?  It's no secret that breast is best for babies. So why would an establishment that helps promote healthy babies not support the healthiest choice when it comes to their nutrition?

I am aware that BFeeding is more welcomed in other areas and has been widely accepted in many states and countries. For instance, my sister lives in a city where it's not uncommon to see women nursing their babies in public. Around here you just don't hardly see that. I think it's because there is not enough encouragement for new mothers to BF. I mean, if the hospital doesn't even offer a breast pump then what does that say about their efforts? Nothing. Yet they will give you a bunch of samples of free formula. I have heard that some places are trying to do away with this because it promotes new moms to formula feed rather than BF. Apparently that hasn't reached the state of La. It just really annoys me and I want to make a difference.

Tipsy Tuesday

It's time for a Tipsy Tuesday post and I know it is long overdue. I recently took up an exercise routine to get back into a healthy shape. Since having my second child I have kept a little extra weight around my midsection. We're going on a mini vacation in a couple of weeks for our anniversary so I've been doing some toning exercises to get my beach body back.

I thought I could share a few healthy tips for those of you who may be struggling with weight loss or just getting into a regular exercise routine.

• Manage an exercise routine - we often think 'oh I'll exercise in the evening when I get home from work' but we all know things come up that can be distracting; you're tired, you have to get supper together, feed and bathe the kids, etc. Create a schedule based on your normal routine - the time you get home, what time you get supper going, what time do you get the kids ready for bed, etc. Use this to set a time that you can set aside specifically for exercise. It may be right when you first get home or even getting up 30 minutes earlier to give you time to do your workouts.
• Swing your arms wider when walking - If you are walking outdoors try to focus on swinging your arms wider to burn more calories. If on a treadmill, try not to hold on to the bars, using your arms for balance. However, if you are unstable on a moving surface and rely on the bars then do so for your safety. Also - you will burn more calories walking if you are on an incline so set your treadmill on an incline or choose an uneven path to take around your neighborhood.
• Exercise during commercials - If you have a hard time making time to exercise you can do it during your favorite tv shows. A one hour show typically has approximately 17 minutes of commercials. Rather than using your dvr to fast forward through those commercials, utilize that time to exercise then break when your show comes back on. Doing this, even just a couple days a week can burn hundreds of calories (and is better than sitting on the sofa the entire time) jog in place for the duration of one commercial, do jumping jacks during the next one, crunches during the next.
• Remember to drink, drink, drink - It's easy to lose count of how much water you're drinking throughout the day, especially if using different sized cups. There are 8 cups in 2 quarts or 64 oz. When you're home you can fill a 2 qt pitcher with water and drink from it all day. When you're at work you can take a 32oz sports bottle to use for drinking water. Drinking  2 jugs a day will meet your daily consumption. Or if you're on the road - 4 bottles of water (a typical bottle is 16oz.)
• Get your potassium - When you exercise, especially outdoors on a hot day, be sure to have some potassium before you start. This will help to prevent cramps and it supports a healthy heart rate. Of course, bananas are a great source for potassium but it can be found in other fruits and foods including oranges, apples, and even potatoes! Remember, its always ideal to eat the peeling (the ones that are edible) because that's where most of your nutrients come from.

Staying Above the Doubters

I didn't post for Tipsy Tuesday because rather than posting on tips I thought I would leave some advice for those who may need it.

I am an advocate for breastfeeding. After having two babies prematurely, I strongly stand behind my decision to breastfeed. Unfortunately with my first baby, after 3 months I just couldn't do it anymore. I had tried pumping and just giving it to her in a bottle but this became very exhausting. I knew I had to do what was best for me in order to raise my child, but I still felt guilty because to me it was like I had given up. She ended up having tubes twice for frequent ear infections and had pneumonia at 11 months and again at age 2. It may not have anything to do with the fact that she was formula fed, but breastfed babies have lower chances of developing ear infections and the antibodies in breastmilk has been found to improve immune systems. So when I was pregnant with my 2nd I made a promise to myself that I would not give up this time around.

I must say it's not easy with a toddler and a newborn on board, but I'm getting alot of help from my mom and my in laws with taking my daughter for awhile or one night a week to give me a little bit of a break. However, my baby has been going through a fussy phase where at least one time during the day - usually in the evening- he gets fussy and wants to nurse constantly. Sometimes I end up nursing him off/on every 30 mins for 2 hours straight until he's satisfied. It has become quite taxing on both my husband and myself because when he gets like that, I let my husband give him expressed breastmilk in a bottle to help out. My husband thinks he's better off on formula because he believes the breast milk isn't holding him off enough.

My mom who was my main support is now telling me the same thing, saying I should add formula or cereal to the breastmilk in his bottle. I refuse to do this. I know I'm doing what's best for my baby and at just 4 weeks old I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. I know it won't be like this forever and he will outgrow this phase. I just need to stay strong enough for both of us to get through it.

My advice if you are a breastfeeding mom, do what you feel is right for you. I do understand that not every woman can and it's ok. At least you tried. But here are some advice to help you through it if you're trying to make it work. If you feel you're not producing enough or your breastmilk supply isn't satisfying them, try an herbal tea for lactating women. I've been using Mother's Milk tea and my milk supply is definitely in abundance. I'm able to pump in between feedings to have expressed milk for my husband to give him a bottle at night which helps me to sleep a little longer and to have some stored in the freezer. I've been building up a good little supply for the deep freezer this way if I do end up having to quit breastfeeding.

Also - try nursing on one side longer to enable them to get the hind milk. This is the creamier milk that has more nutrients than the foremilk (the milk that is first produced at the beginning of breastfeeding) If you're nursing for just a few minutes then stopping to burp the baby and switch sides, the baby may not be getting enough of the hind milk to sustain him.

Hope this helps for any other moms that may be going through the same thing. Try to find support from another source if not from your family. There are lactation consultants available either from your local health unit, the hospital where you delivered or if you had a midwife they can most likely refer you to one. Fortunately I've been keeping in touch with my lactation consultant and she's helped alot by advising what types of bottles to use when he does get bottle-fed to prevent nipple confusion and the tips I mentioned above.

Tipsy Tuesday

It's Tipsy Tuesday and you know what that means! Time to share some of my tips for your guys to help make life a little simpler. I don't have any specific topic to mention tips on so I'll just share some random tips for around the house.

Junk Mail - we all get it. Here's how you can reduce some of that junk mail while benefiting the postal service. When you receive junk mail, often times there's a self addressed pre-postaged envelope included. The company doesn't have to pay the postage if you just throw it away. Mail the junk back to them using that prepaid envelope. They'll have to pay for the postage just to receive what they already paid to send out to you and are less likely to send you anything else. I did this recently with some junk mail by writing on the papers "No thanks i'm not interested but thanks for keeping the post office in business" I haven't received anything from them since.

Roll clothes and towels to save space- I don't have enough space in my dresser for my winter and summer clothes so I exchange them out based on the season. Winter clothes are much thicker and take up more space so in order to save space I roll them and store them in my linen cabinet.

Organize coupons - If you're like me and just keep all your coupons together in one stack or an envelope, it easy to forget which ones expire soonest and you end having to throw them away. You can make a simple coupon organzier using a  1" binder and plastic pages used for baseball cards to hold the coupons. Organize your coupons with the ones that expire the soonest first. Fold long coupons so that you can see the expiration date. This way when you are planning your grocery shopping, you can easily see which coupons you need to use first without having to go through all of them.

Pizza cutter uses - a pizza cutter doesn't have to be limited to just pizza. My daughter loves peanut butter sandwiches but she likes it cut into triangles because it makes it easier for her to hold and eat. Using a regular knife can sometimes break up the bread because of the thickness and stickiness of the peanut butter so I use a pizza cutter for perfect triangles.

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed!

Our new arrival has arrived

Hey Guys,

You may have noticed I haven't updated my blog in a couple of weeks. That is because we have welcomed the newest addition to our family. He wasn't due until June 20th but he decided to come a little early. He was 3 weeks early and had to stay in the NICU for a little while, but he's home now and we're both doing well.

I will get back to my regular posts in a week or so once we get on a more consistent schedule. Between nursing every couple of hours and trying to see to my toddler's needs at the same time it makes it difficult to get anything else done. Thanks for understanding!

Tipsy Tuesday

As you know if you're a regular visitor on my blog, I like to share tips on parenting and making life a little simpler based on my experiences and not just something you read in a book. 

So the past few weeks, (well a couple of months really) we've been fighting with meal time with our toddler. She used to eat anything we'd put in front of her. Now, she has become so picky that meal time is a chore. So here's some tips on feeding time with a picky eater.

• If your child is picky about certain types of foods, take vegetables for instance, try preparing meals with those foods hidden or disguised. I like casseroles- it's a great way to get in most of your nutrition in one tasty meal. Most kids like pasta so this a great way to get in some extra vegetables. Cauliflower is a great vegetable to disguise - just grind it up really fine and add to your dish. Get creative with your dishes. 
• Only give milk or juice with meals. This is a big one I learned. I used to give her a cup of juice between breakfast and lunch, but then found that maybe the reason she didn't want to eat is because she was filling up on juice and didn't have much of an appetite come lunch time. Give your child water between meals and snacks. 
• Set a good example. Most times when my daughter wouldn't eat what I fixed her for supper and I had something different, she wanted whatever I was eating instead. In my pregnancy I've been giving in to my cravings and eating what I was hungry for which was often not what I had served for dinner. So I found that by making an effort to eat better in front of her and encouraging her to eat what mommy had, she was more likely to clean her plate.
• Don't become a short-order cook! I did this for the first week that my daughter wouldn't eat what I had fixed, but realized that this would turn into a habit if I didn't nip it in the bud. If your child won't eat what's prepared, don't try to force them or struggle because then it can create anxiety and frustration with mealtime. Instead encourage them to sit at the table throughout dinnertime even if they won't eat then try to get them to eat a little later when they're likely to be hungrier. 

Farm Rich Giveaway

The nice folks over at Farm Rich sent me free coupons to try their products to review and they're giving away 2 coupons for free products to one of my lucky readers!
Here's a great opportunity to try their snacks and appetizers!


Farm Rich is always there for moms with wholesome, easy-to-prepare snacks sure to please the entire family.


We tried the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks and Jalapeño  Peppers.

 

 I like that their snacks are a good source of calcium and these two products have 0 grams of trans fat! I especially liked that I could bake them for a healthier snack to serve to my daughter instead of getting them deep fried. And they're convenient having them right in my freezer for a quick snack rather than going to a fast food venue to satisfy those munchies (and between my growing toddler and my huge pregnancy appetite our pantry and refrigerator have taken quite a hit)  They were crispy and delicious. We loved them! 


Whether you're entertaining guests or just looking for a quick snack for the kids, Farm Rich has products to suit your appetite. You can view their full list of products at www.farmrich.com/products To find a store near you that carries their products visit http://www.farmrich.com/product-finder.htm


To enter, simply leave a comment with your email address. Be sure to follow my blog. Giveaway will end on 5/27/2012 at 10:00 pm CST. The winner will be chosen on Monday and notified by email.


For additional entries you can do any of the following and leave a comment for each:

• Tweet "I entered to win Farm Rich products from Mastering Motherhood." You can earn an additional giveaway daily. Be sure to leave the link in your comment to your tweet.
• Follow Farm Rich on Twitter
• Post the giveaway on Facebook
• Like Farm Rich's Facebook page. 

Good Luck! 

Tipsy Tuesday

So for today's Tipsy Tuesday post I'm writing about something I've personally dealt with for the past week and a half: Getting better sleep during pregnancy.

Anyone who has experienced pregnancy knows it can come with many challenges, sleep being one of them. So this is for all my expecting mommas out there desperate to get a better night's rest.

• Pillows! You can never have too many of them. Now they have different types of fancy shaped body pillows specifically for pregnancy. However if you're not wanting to spend the extra money on something you'll only get use out of for a few months, try some throw pillows. I sleep with one between my knees (although I've been sleeping that way for years due to my lower back pain) and one to cuddle with. It's best to sleep on your side, preferably the left side as it allows for better blood flow and circulation to the baby so you might find it helpful to sleep with a good firm pillow behind your back to keep you from rolling onto your back in your sleep.
• Limit fluids after a certain time in the evening to avoid having to get up so frequently to go to the bathroom. Did you know when you lie down your blood vessels widen which causes more circulation to your kidneys and can also make your bathroom visits more frequent at night? I've always had to get you at least once or twice in the night to go the bathroom. Add pregnancy to that and you're in for double trouble. It's important to stay well hydrated during the day, but just a few hours before bedtime keep fluids to a minimum.
• Exercise and relaxation are both really good for pregnancy. Just be sure, with exercises, that you're following prenatal exercises and that it's ok by your doctor. I find yoga to be a great method of meditation to help you unwind. You obviously don't want to do any kind of vigorous exercise before bed so yoga is especially beneficial to helping one relax. And if you're like me where going to sleep isn't so much the issue, it's that you wake up in the middle of the night then can't go back to sleep - keep a good book by the bed to read. It will keep your mind free from the stresses and thoughts that can creep up when you're having a hard time sleeping.
• Keep a comfortable temperature. I never had any problems with staying cool at night. I'm more cold-natured so I typically end up with all the blankets on my side. Now it's a different story. I'm comfortable enough with the AC cranked down just a tad and the ceiling fan on to go to sleep, but then in the middle of the night I get hot and start throwing off all the blankets. My tip - if you have a floor fan, keep one on your side of the bed to help keep you comfortable without freezing out your partner and wear something comfortable to sleep in. I used to always wear pajama pants to bed, but because I'd end up taking them off in the middle of the night I've reduced to wearing cotton boxer shorts and a comfy sports bra instead of an oversized t-shirt.

Hope this helps in bringing you more shut eye and pleasant dreams! Well, pregnancy can cause you to have strange dreams, but as long as you're dreaming you're getting a restful sleep.

Nesting

Well, I guess my nesting instinct has kicked in because I've been wanting to get the house prepared for the baby but putting it off up until this past weekend.

Since things have been going pretty good this pregnancy I figured I had plenty of time to get things ready for the baby (i.e. rearranging and organizing things to make room for the baby, actually get new things for the baby since we're expecting a boy and everything baby we currently have is pink) That was up until my last OB appointment. I wasn't quite measuring out to where I should be for my gestational stage -33 weeks- so I had an ultrasound done. This made me nervous since I had the same problem for my 28 week check up with my first pregnancy and ended up delivering Madison 6 weeks early by c-section because I had no amniotic fluid and she was breech. Well, come to find out my fluid is low but it's ok for now as long as it doesn't drop. And the baby is already head-down and very low. So we realized that he may come sooner than my due date and need to be prepared. One of the things needed to be done was a major spring cleaning of the house, which again I've been putting off. After my appointment last week we had said we would do it this coming weekend since I had the March of Dimes March for Babies walk last Saturday. However, come Friday I was ready to get it done so we did everything this past weekend instead. After the March I went shopping to pick up a few things we'd need when we first bring baby home. Then Sunday I sent DH to rent a carpet cleaner because 80% of our home has carpeting. I knew I wanted to use the eco-friendly cleaning products I currently have to clean with because I don't want any toxic chemicals in my home especially since we're bringing in a new baby. I found a cleaner combination that I could use in the carpet cleaner with the stain remover and all-purpose cleaner. Can I just say WOW! We had the carpets cleaned when we first moved in using the cleaners that came with the machine, but this made such a huge difference. Before, the carpet just had this kind of sticky feel to it. I would always wear socks or slippers and made sure my daughter had something on her feet because I just didn't like walking on it. I thought it was just the carpet being it's old and been in this house for so long. But now it feels so soft and fluffier! I've said it before how much I really like the products from this company I've partnered up with but seriously this stuff is awesome.

I took the same cleaning solution combination to clean the nearly 3 year old stained play yard that's been in storage. It even took out the old stains that wouldn't come out when I cleaned it the numerous times before while I was using it and now the thing looks brand new! I'm so in love with these products it's ridiculous. I just wish I had known about this company before with my first daughter.

So now our home is spic and span from top to bottom and baby's room is pretty much ready to go. All we need now is the baby!

Tipsy Tuesday

Hey guys! It's time for Tipsy Tuesday!

So I know I've been slacking a little on staying updated on my Tipsy Tuesday posts but I have some pretty good ones today to help you out in the kitchen!

I've been doing a great deal of cooking lately (while I can before the baby comes, because then it will be up to my husband to do the cooking for a little while)

Here are a few substitutes you can use if there are certain ingredients you're missing for your dishes:

• Tomato Sauce - Don't have some in your pantry but you have tomato paste? Mix 1/2 cup of tomato paste with 1/2 cup water.
• Buttermilk - For 1 cup mix 1 cup of regular milk with 1 Tbsp of vinegar. This came in handy when I was making cornbread with a recipe that called for buttermilk, which is something I don't keep around.
• Garlic toast - Cut slices of bread in half. In a bowl, melt butter and add garlic powder then stir together. Brush 'garlic butter' on slices and place in toaster oven for about 3 minutes. My mom used to make this all the time.
• Bread Crumbs - I love to use bread crumbs when baking chicken, making burgers, and other meals. If you don't have any you can substitute crackers or unsweetened cornflakes. You can use a potato masher to crush them really fine then add a little seasoning and spices to it for added flavor. 

Some other handy kitchen tips:

• When you don't have a brillo pad for scrubbing those stubborn messes on pots and pans, take a piece of  foil and ball it up. 
• Sifting flour - Many recipes that call for flour often require sifting it. If you don't have you can use a wire whisk. Add the amount of flour you need in a mixing bowl and whisk for a minute or two. 
• Cutting onions- If you can't stand cutting up onions because of the tearing-up effect they have, try lighting a candle and putting it close to you while cutting. The gas that onions give off that cause you to tear-up is absorbed by the flame of the candle.

Giveaways

Seeing how my last two giveaways I ran on my blog attracted little to no entries I will no longer be doing them.

I work from home with a team of Motivated Moms for a wellness company. I so love the products that I wanted to share them with other moms/bloggers so I thought by doing a giveaway every week or so with some of the products I really liked, my readers would see why I liked them so much. However these giveaways were  not promotions from the company I bought them from nor sponsored. These were products I was buying in pantry packs (a savings pack that usually came with 2 or 3 of an item at a reduced cost versus buying them individually) so I could save a little and have an extra item to giveaway. So it was at my own cost for the product and shipping that I was putting on the giveaways. My last giveaway only had one entry and the one before had none, so it's not worth it to continue getting extra products if no one seems interested enough to enter for a chance to win something that's free.

Therefore I will stop hosting giveaways for now unless I receive requests from enough people who are interested in them.

Diaper Wreaths

I had wanted a diaper cake for my daughter with my first pregnancy. I mentioned it to a couple of people in hopes I would get one for my baby shower. I just think they are the cutest idea to give as a gift to an expectant mother that is both decorative for a nursery and functional.

Well I didn't get one, but my mom did make a really nice wreath for me to hang on the door of the room at the hospital (and used on the door of her nursery too) Then I started seeing diaper wreaths come out. I thought this was even neater because it takes up less space since you can hang it rather than having to have a place to display it. So I really wanted a diaper wreath this time to bring to the hospital for my room door and bring home. I know I won't be getting a baby shower because this is not my first pregnancy, but I am expecting a boy this time around. I decided to get creative and make my own!

So I made this one for the hospital (with Gavin's name on it) and I had so much fun making it and had extra diapers and other items left over I decided to do one for a girl.

 Then I got really carried away. For those that know me or have kept up with my blog, you know that I am a cloth diapering momma. 

So the first wreath I made was mainly just for show to bring to the hospital and use on the door of the nursery (especially since I used a few items that were Madison's when she was a baby like the rattles). But for one I would actually use I thought, hey why not a cloth diaper wreath. I looked online to get some ideas and really didn't find too many out there. So I made one using some (decent - unstained) cloth diapers and cloth wipes I had, then added an unopened  travel pack of Natural Baby Organics skin care products I also had for the baby. So this one is obviously for me since I just used stuff I already had, but if I were making one of these to sell it would have 10 prefold cloth diapers since that's typically how many come in a pack and 5 cloth wipes, then whatever items the customer would like added on to it. 

I would like to try one with pocket diapers like I used but because of the cost for those I don't know that it would be worth trying seeing that I would have to charge considerably more and the question is, would people want to pay for them?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated! You can see these along with other things I've made on my facebook page Courtney's Creations. I will also be adding more wreaths as people request them. I can also do them in different themes such as Winnie the Pooh, Baby Looney Tunes/Tweety Bird, Sesame Street, and Safari/animals. 

Training Tooth Gel Giveaway

Ok, so among the many different products I love with this company here's another one I like.

This week I'm giving away a tube of training tooth gel. Like all of the products that I've come to love and trust with this company, it is all-natural.

It's vegetable derived and contains no fluoride for young beginners under the age of 2 who are learning to brush their teeth. It gently cleans teeth using baking soda, safe if swallowed, and has a sugar-free apple taste that kids love.

The giveaway will end Sunday 4/29/12 @ 10pm CST. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment with your email address.

You can earn additional entries by doing any of the following:

Follow me on Twitter @LivinGreenMama - leave a comment with your twitter username

Tweet out the giveaway and leave a comment with the link (you can earn an additional entry each day for tweeting)

Like my page on Facebook 

Post about the giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to leave a comment with the link to your post.

I love these products and want to share them with others which is the purpose of the giveaways. Because I work from home with this company and these are my own personal giveaways (not a promotion by the company to get more customers) I cannot advertise the name of the company or the product name online. If you would like to know more about the products they have to offer you can contact me for more information.

Good Days and Bad Days

Well, I had planned on doing a special giveaway next week for a mother's day theme with shower gel that I received from this company I work with, but thanks to my daughter that is no longer an option.

In the pack I ordered I had an extra shower gel I was planning on giving away so I kept it in the box that it was shipped in. I thought this was a safe place to keep it so I wouldn't lose track of it and never thought it would be something my daughter would get into. Lesson learned - never underestimate the curiosity of a two year old. I had gone to take a shower thinking my husband was watching her. Apparently he hadn't heard me because at some point he went outside to go do some things in the yard. From the bathroom while getting dressed I heard the sound of the door and my husband coming in saying "OMG Madison!" At this point I already know and thinking to myself  'great, what did she get into!?' I stepped into a very sweet smelling living room. She had found the tube of shower gel and opened it. Her hands were dripping with it, it was in her hair, and pretty much every surface in the living room she had touched. All day long I discovered spots in the carpet where there was a glob of it that I'd step in. As you can imagine with anything soapy, it wasn't easy to clean out of carpet. At least it was a good scent to have my living room filled with and thank goodness it's non-toxic because no telling if she got it in her mouth or nose. That's one of the reasons I love this company. I still keep all the cleaning stuff out of reach but if she would happen to get into something, at least I know it's not harmful to her.

On a brighter note, I'm really looking forward to this weekend. We are going on a much-needed family camping trip. There's a state park about 40 minutes away from our home that we've been wanting to plan a trip to with Maddy. So we got together with my sister-in-law and planned to go this weekend. It will be really nice to spend a weekend with another couple and the kids will have plenty of fun. No computer, no tv, no electronics, just the peace of the great outdoors and family time. It will probably be our last weekend outing (mini vacation) together before the baby comes. I can't wait.

Tipsy Tuesday

Hey guys, it's Tipsy Tuesday!

Well, normally I take Maddy outside in the afternoons for her to get some outdoor play and exercise and also to keep from going completely stir-crazy in the house. She gets into so much stuff! But it's been raining the last two days so we've had to stay indoors. So for this week's tips I thought I'd share some indoor activity ideas to keep kids entertained on those rainy days.

Rainy Day Toy Stash - my daughter gets so many toys for her birthday, christmas, etc. So when she gets new toys I see what she plays with the most and only keep those out for her to play with. The older toys she's outgrown I store away, but the ones she can still play with I put in a tote in our spare room and take them out for those rainy days. Legos, for example, are great for taking out only on rainy days because if left out all the time they can easily get lost. Puzzles are good too.

For older kids, cards are a great idea. With so many electronic gadgets these days, it easy to forget about the simple methods of entertainment we relied on growing up. But it's not healthy for kids to sit in front of the tv or play video games all day. Interactive games are a great way to keep kids entertained and use basic thinking skills. Card games are really great for keeping the mind busy, such as Concentration (or matching as some people may call it) and Go Fish. And when you're done playing games or you're busy and your child doesn't have a partner to play with, they can make card castles!

Baking - Kids love to help out in the kitchen, especially when it comes to baking. And I love to bake. The other day we made something simple - oatmeal cookies. If your kids are younger, you can pre-measure the ingredients into small cups to let them mix them in. If your kids are older you can bake plain sugar cookies and use cookie cutters to make different shapes to let them decorate them. For easy clean up - place old newspaper or magazine pages on your table (flour can make a BIG mess) And if you don't have icing bags handy, use plastic sandwich bags for decorating. Just put a few spoonfuls of different colored icing in bags and snip off a small piece of the corner.  Then just toss them when they're done.

Scrapbooking or Beading - These are two hobbies my niece always enjoys doing. You can use tupperware containers for keeping scrap-booking crafts organized and take them out on rainy days. I also lookout for when stickers go on sale at the dollar stores. After Valentine's Day and Easter, I was able to score some stickers for 10 cents a pack when they went on clearance! I've been using them for potty training and because my little girl loves stickers, but this is also great for those who scrap book because you can buy them really cheap and put them with your scrap booking supplies for later. Also, save birthday and holiday cards. My grandmother also does this for her scrap booking. You can cut out the images especially cards that have 3D pictures on them. (I saved all my cards from my baby shower to use them when I made her baby book)

Most beading sets come in kits that keeps everything in place, but you can save baby food jars to store beads, buttons, and more. They're great because they are the perfect size for beads and you can see what's in them (just take the labels off when you wash the jars) I saved all of my daughters baby food jars because there are countless uses for them later. Again, these are great hobbies for older kids on those rainy days when you're looking for activities to keep them entertained without having to resort to TV or video games.

Tipsy Tuesday

It's Tipsy Tuesday! Today's blog post is on tips that you can use to help make your life a little simpler.

My daughter's birthday is coming up and I'm planning ahead early. This is because her birthday is June (the same month that I am due)! So it's possible that I may be having the baby close to her birthday and I want to make sure everything is planned so she doesn't feel left out or outstaged by the soon arrival of her new baby brother. I decided to share a few party planning/decorating tips.

- You can use an ice bucket to keep cut-up veggies cool and crisp.

- When making kids' party favors, save cardboard toilet paper rolls so you have one for each guest you plan to invite. Cover the rolls with bright colored tissue-paper or scrap pieces of wrapping paper. Fill each tube with candy and small toys then tie the ends of the paper with ribbon!

- Refer to my Easy Bakes tab for fun and cute ideas for birthday treats! My favorite is the cupcake cones.

-If your child is having a birthday party shortly after a holiday, save some of the extra candy to give out for the party or fill a pinata. Easter just passed and of course, that means a lot of candy that was collected from family members. I don't allow my daughter too much candy, especially when we still have sweet desserts (i.e. cupcakes, cherry cobbler, and pie!) So I plan to pick out some the candy that isn't specific to Easter (like the chocolate eggs) and bag it up to save for her party. That way she doesn't see it and it's less I have to buy at the time of her party.

- After the party, you can reuse themed napkins to pack in your kids' lunch boxes and cups and plates when friends come over for sleepovers.