Softbums Giveaway

http://loveclothdiapers.blogspot.com/2010/03/softbums-spring-giveaway.html

I love my husband but....

My husband is home with our son for the next few days. Normally, when I was home with the kids, I would clean, do dishes, vaccum, finish laundry, run errands and of course entertain the kids all day. While I appreciate that he ran to the grocery store, that's pretty much all that got done. Our daughter's 4th birthday party is on Saturday so the house needs to be cleaned, food needs to be prepared etc and that appears to be falling all on my shoulders once again.
I don't know if this is more of an issue with my husband or the fact that I'm still bitter about going back to work. It's a necessity but I feel so overwhelmed with maintaining the household as before AND working full-time. I hate asking for help since I always assume I can do it best but I'm always feeling overloaded. When I feel that overwhelmed, I just give up because I don't know where to start. And being 5 months pregnant doesn't help either.
Oh well. That's my rant for the day.

Real Nappies Review and Giveaway!

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/real-nappies-review-and-giveaway.html

Fun Fact Friday

My feet are two different temperatures. My right foot is always warm and my left food is always cold.

Prima Princess Review and Giveaway

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/prima-princessa-review-and-giveaway.html

In the pocket babyseat giveaway!

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-pocket-baby-baby-seat-review-and.html

Healthy Hands Giveaway

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/healthy-hands-musical-timer-review-and.html

Wondawedge Giveaway!

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/wondawedge-review-and-giveaway.html

It's Tuesday!

The hubby and I have a date for tonight. As any parent knows, getting time away from the kids is detrimental to the survival of a marriage so we are always very thankful when we can have a night out to ourselves. We are headed to dinner and I'm looking forward to some nice conversation. We have a lot going on with the baby coming, starting the renovations in the basement and switching our daycare center. And I heard the food at this place was excellent so that will be nice too!

Health Care Bill Passes

I'm not political. I don't know much about politics. I'm pretty reliant on the news and internet to get my political information.


But last night the health care reform bill passed. This means that 32 million people will have access to health care that wouldn't be accepted now. The reasons for them not having coverage could be that they can't afford it, they aren't offered it at work (and subsequently can't afford it), they don't meet requirements or they have a pre-existing condition.


So, here we are again....taxing the millions of working families to pay for a program for people who couldn't otherwise afford it. Just like Medicare, Medicaid, WIC etc. ANOTHER program that allows people to sit on their asses and do nothing to better their situation. I'm not talking about the people who use these programs as they're intended---as short-term solutions to a situation they can't otherwise control (such as unemployment, hours at work being cut, being ill or getting injured).

I'm referring to the people who just don't care. They don't care that they live off the government because they just don't "feel" like getting a job. They just don't "feel" like driving to work or "feel" like putting their kids in daycare. I've read every excuse "I can't find a job that pays enough to cover daycare" "We don't have any jobs around here" "I can't find work" "We don't have two cars"… blah blah blah. Our family works very hard to afford these types of things. We've worked two sometimes three jobs when necessary. And how do we get rewarded for that hard work? We get to pay more taxes to cover those programs that benefits people who do nothing.


I was unemployed for 12 months. 12 months we learned to budget around 40% less income. 40%!! Not to mention, I lost my job 2 weeks after having a baby, with all the new expenses surrounding that, we were still able to make ends meet. The problem is, even during this short-term period, we didn't qualify for ANY of the programs that we are both forced to pay taxes into. NONE OF THEM!! My husband still made "too much money" to get any assistance. So yes, I'm bitter when it comes to asking me, yet again, to pay more taxes on programs that I will never, ever most likely be able to use.


We live in a free country. A country that allows me to even be posting this and I'm very grateful for that. I think we live in the best country in the world. We are able to fight for our beliefs and elect officials who will hopefully represent those on a grander scale. However, when something as impactful as this is passed without any regard to the trickle down effect of these new taxes, I'm somewhat ashamed that this is what our country has come to. I do hope it works out. I hope the government finds a way to keep this program fair, legal, punish those who abuse it and keep it from going bankrupt (like they've done to the US Postal Service).

Monster Fluff Blanket Giveaway!

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/monster-fluff-review.html

Hey Rabbit Giveaway!

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/hey-rabbit-book-and-easter-gift-basket.html

Organically Hatched Humidifier Giveaway

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/organically-hatched-site-review-and.html

Bravado Nursing Bra Giveaway

http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/bravado-essential-nursing-bra-tank.html

Little Lasso Giveaway

Check out the Familylicious blog to enter!!
http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/little-lasso-review-and-giveaway.html

Fun Find Friday!

I've decided to post "Fun Finds" on Fridays. This could be anything fun I happen to find on the internet throughout the week. No topic, product or issue is off limits.
This week, I found a blog that give instructions on making your own version of Triple Paste. I got a sample of Triple Paste from a friend and didn't really understand the hype until my son got a serious case of diaper rash two weeks ago. One night in Triple Paste and it was gone! I was amazed! I was disapointed, however, when I went to the store and realized how expensive it is!! $8.99 for a 2 oz (or something) tube. Holy cow! I bought it anyway and when I got home, I googled Triple Paste coupon and happened to come across this blog.
So, thanks to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves for the recipe. I'm going to have to try it!
This is not safe for cloth diapers

One product I tried that worked the best was Triple Paste. The price however was not working very well for me. The cheapest I could find it was $18.99 a tub at Target. So I set out to make my own. With a little research I have found a combination that works better than the Triple Paste. Here is the recipe:

Mix: 1/2 C Vaseline (store brand is cheapest unless you have a coupon)
1/2 tube of Desitin or other creamy diaper cream
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp Mylanta liquid (again unless you have a coupon the store brand is cheapest)

Stir together until creamy. If it seems a little too liquidy I add a little more Desitin.
Apply at every diaper change until rash is completely gone.
Store in an airtight container for later use.
Hope this works as good for you as it does for my little girl!

You may also wonder the cost comparison. Here it is:
Large tub of store brand Vaseline $2.99
Target brand desitin $1.79
Mylanta on clearance $1.59
Cornstarch small container .99
This is all assuming you have no coupons it would cost $7.36

After you made one batch you would still have all of your ingredients left to make another. After the second batch you would need more desitin but would still have the other ingredients.

So I would say it costs well below $3.00 a batch compared to $18.99 for Triple Paste.

Wordless Wednesday

Shamrock Shakes and Thin Mints

It's just that kind of day today. It's 60 degrees out (that warm in March in Wisconsin is unheard of) so I stopped during lunch for a shamrock shake. I also had packed thin mints in my lunch. I'm enjoying my burst of mint this afternoon and apparently baby P is too as he's just kicking away. Probably all that sugar......

23 Weeks

How far along? 23 weeks exactly

Total weight gain/loss: as of my last doctors appointment: 6 pounds- I was feeling very sick for those first months and lost weight so we're up 6 from the starting point but probably up 12 with the 6 lost in those first months.

Maternity clothes? Um, YES! Been wearing maternity pants since 12 weeks and shirts since 15 weeks

Stretch marks? Not really. I'm lucky that way!


Best moment this week: Beginning to feel the movements on the outside of my belly. Daddy just needs to get his timing right to feel these kicks too!


Movement: Tons! And it's very regular throughout the day- 5:30, 10:00, 12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:30, 11:00


Food cravings: McDonald's breakfast, sub sandwiches, fountain soda and sweets


Gender: Boy- we are still trying to think of a name
Labor Signs: None- thank goodness!!!!


Belly Button in or out? In and still pierced. Everyone thinks it's so weird that my piercing stays in until delivery. I'm tall waisted so the baby has plenty of space other than "out" so it keeps my belly button relatively the same.


What I miss: Now that the weather is getting warmer (and will hopefully stay this way), I really miss beer. One of my favorite activities is sitting out on the patio, grilling out, kids on the swingset and enjoying a nice cold Bud Light Lime. Yum!


What I am looking forward to: Getting all the baby stuff organized and rummage saleing this summer. We need clothes since I got rid of everything from 0-12 months!


Weekly Wisdom: If someone reaches out to touch your belly (and it's not welcome) say something. I hate when strangers think my belly is an open invitation to touching. Usually, I'll touch their belly back and then they think I'm really weird : )
Milestones: Baby P is about 1.5 lbs and is starting to fill out with baby fat---more baby face, less alien!

Learning about blogs....

I only follow a few blogs so I'm just learning some cute weekly things that people do. My friend posts a weekly pregnancy poll, another friend posts a "Wordless Wednesday" picture and others post their meal plans on Thursdays for the following week. I hope to add some of these fun activites to my blog soon!

Finally, we got some springlike weather!

Mr Kellen is his little car

Olivia on her bicycle

Thank you Amanda!

Big thanks to my friend Amanda for helping me get this formatted the way I like it. I don't know much about HTML language and my internet searches confused me even more. She's the blogging goddess!

Everyone else is doing it.....

So many of my mom friends have blogs and it seems to be a great way to vent about life and keep people easily involved in what's going on with our family! So, the blogging journey begins!