Time/Sanity Saving Tips for Mamas

Xavier was experiencing some seriously bad diaper rash this weekend.  So bad that it was bleeding yesterday from him scratching it so much.  The good news is it doesn't seem to bother him, other than the constant scratching.  Xavier has very sensitive skin, so we have tried all the tricks for getting diaper rashes to go away.  We just found another great trick recommended by our daycare.  We mix up equal parts of Maalox and Aquaphor and apply it after completely airing out his tooshy (sometimes using a blowdryer on cool).  He went to bed with a bright red rash and this morning it was a light pink!  We have a new favorite remedy!

Steve and I are not the type of parents who get so consumed in our child's lives that we forget to have some fun of our own.  We regularly go out on dates, take Xavier to places we like to go (like wine tastings at the grocery store), and try to stay up on the latest TV shows.  But, that means we have to continually juggle making a fun life for him and household chores with the fun of our own.  It gets better all the time because we find new ways to cut corners.  Here are some time (and sanity) saving tips I've learned along the way!

1.  Buy as much as you can from Amazon and Target.com - And for that matter, buy as much as possible online!  Get amazon prime and items arrive fast to your door.  Get the Target RedCard and save 5% and get free shipping on all Target purchases.  You will leave the house for erranding way less frequently.  We buy diapers, wipes, formula, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. in bulk with these services.  For clothes or makeup, Nordstrom.com and zappos.com are great because they both offer free shipping & free returns.  I don't know how moms back in the day survived without products constantly arriving on the doorstep.

2.  Switch to paper plates and cook on aluminum foil - We are running (and unloading...Grrrrrr!) our dishwasher a lot more since Xavier started eating table food, I'm talking like every other night.  But, since we switched to paper plates (including me and Steve), we are going about 4 days between washings.  We stick as much as possible in it; pots, pans, bottles, nipples, all of X's mealtime utensils.  I have this little contraption to hold nipples and other small parts so they don't get lost or turn upside down in the washer.  We also line pans with aluminum foil to keep from having to wash them so frequently, or we just put a layer of foil directly on the oven racks.  Works great for pizza, chicken nuggets, and for reheating leftovers.  Note:  I've heard that cooking on aluminum foil causes Alzheimers, dementia, cancer, etc., but what doesn't?

3.  Maximize the use of baggies and freezer storage bags - We save any and all leftovers because even the smallest leftover from our dinner can be turned in to a meal for Xavier when combined with veggies and fruit.  Saving the food in tupperware takes up too much room in the fridge, so we started using sandwich baggies and it works great.  We even save pancakes in sandwich baggies and reheat them for Xavier in the toaster.  Or I'll dump a can of mixed veggies or chopped fruit in a baggie and serve from it the whole week.  We have a shelf in the fridge designated for all of Xavier's sippys and stacks of baggied leftovers.  The gallon-sized bags are great for freezing meatballs (double/triple those recipes you freeze!), pasta, and food from the grill.  It's easy to make these foods in bulk so we make extra and freeze it.

4.  Embrace the un-tidy home - It's tempting to want to clean up messes after your little one dumps a bin of organized toys on the floor, but if you don't let it go, you will find you spent your whole weekend cleaning up messes!  Pick a time of day to go around and pick things up.  For me, I try to do it once after lunch time and again after Xavier goes to bed.  This also includes cleaning the kitchen!  With more sporadic meals/snacks to feed, the kitchen can get quite dirty.  It's okay to leave the mess until your kiddo goes to bed!  Embrace the mess and try to remember it's only a few years that you GET to have kids' toys and baby feeding products in your house!

5.  Do laundry and cleaning during the week - This helps tremendously for enjoying the weekend, especially for working moms.  I know it's hard, but force yourself to do just one load of laundry during the week.  Then up it to two.  Friday night is a good night to do laundry.  You can go in to the weekend feeling accomplished and not feel behind when you waste an entire Saturday at the pool!

Summer Starts Here

Happy Summer Solstice, aka First Weekend of Summer!

Xavier is starting to give out kisses left and right.  He must be catching on to all those kisses Daddy gives Mama. :)  Anyway, he kisses the babies at daycare on the forehead and constantly crawls over to us to give us some love.  When I'm soliciting kisses, I point to my cheek and ask him to give me a kiss. When he realizes what I'm asking for, he gets a huge smile on his face and leans in for a big smooch.  They are the sweetest, open-mouthed, slobberiest kisses I've ever received.  They're perfect.

I seriously didn't even know this Summer Solstice holiday was something to be celebrated until reading through our Williams & Sonoma entertaining book last month.  Apparently, people really get in to this and throw big parties.  I'll take any excuse to party.  This weekend we celebrated by going to the pool.  It was Xavier's first time in the big people pool and he loved it.  His favorite thing to do is kick his feet and slap his hands in the water to make big splashes.  I can only imagine he thinks he's in a giant bathtub.

Hope you have a good week!

Friday Favorites

Ahhh, we made it through another week!  Happy Friday!  I had a slight mishap at the grocery store the other day.  When it's nice out, I try to run errands on my lunch break to make more time in the evenings for playing with X.  So I went to the grocery store (we haven't been in weeks because of all the freezer meals, but just finished the last one) and picked up about $150 worth of groceries, including the fixings for a perfect lunch before heading back to work.  And some chocolate peanut-butter cookies.  Well, as I reached to grab my credit card, I realized I left my wallet at work.  Panic!  Have you ever done this?  I freaked out!  

I told the checkout lady I'm in there all the time and asked what to do.  She said she'd ring up all the items, keep the receipt so I could pay it later, bag the groceries and put them all in the cart, and someone would put my cart in the cooler until I came back to pay.  Ah-ha!  I wasn't the first to do this :)  But, I didn't get to take my groceries home.  Didn't get to eat my nicely planned lunch.  And, those cookies..... :(  When I went back, the service desk lady had my receipt right on top of her clipboard and called someone to bring out my cart.  I paid off the receipt that was printed out earlier, and was off!  Easy-peasy!  So next time you have a slight panic that you forgot your wallet while in the checkout line, don't worry.  It's nbd.

On to this week's favorites.

1.  Apparently, there is such a thing as grilled angel food cake?  Hello, and welcome to my life as I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot more of you.

2.  I have been on the search for a while to find lemonade that tastes as good as Chick-fil-A's lemonade.  All of the recipes I found call for a juicer and look what I just found!  I love the pretty handle.  It is the prettiest kitchen utensil of all time and will be sitting out on my kitchen counter all summer long!  There is a whole line of products with the same pattern that I adore.  And I love this flatware set to go with it.  It would match the outdoor dinner set we already have perfectly.  But, I need to find a cheaper look-a-like on Ebay or Amazon, because I'm not spending $300 on 8 sets of flatware!

3,  I've been binge watching Orange is the New Black this week.  Season 2 just came out earlier this month.  If you haven't seen it yet, it's about a woman from the suburbs who finds herself in a woman's prison because of a crime she committed 10 years ago.  It's hilarious, raunchy, and engaging.  Do yourself a favor this weekend and rent seasons 1 & 2 on Netflix.  Sit on the couch, pop some popcorn, and waste your entire weekend glued to your TV.  You will thank me later :)  And, if you don't pay the high monthly fee for superfast Internet for HD streaming (like me), check out Chromecast.  I love this little gadget.  Shows come in crystal clear, sometimes it seems even better than HD.  It allows us to shoot whatever is on our computer directly to the TV.  Also comes in handy when you want a big screen for showing pictures, YouTube clips, or just browsing the Internet.

4.  This delicacy, watermelon on a stick.  Before your mind gets blown on how in the world we concoct such a complicated food, it is in fact as stupid easy as it looks.  I don't know why the crowds go wild for something on a stick, but trust me.  It's kinda like how excited I get kids get when they are at the fair and see those giant corn dogs on the stick.  Your kiddos will eat ten more of these than if they were OFF the stick.  Ya, it makes no sense to me either.  Just go with it.

To do - with a sharp knife, cut a slice in the green part of the melon, about the width of a popsicle stick.  Insert stick.  Hand to child.  Phew, hope you can handle that!

5.  Frozen fruit in my rose or white wine acts just like an ice cube!  I used frozen grapes because they don't add flavor to the wine.  But, for fun, you could match your frozen fruit to the flavors in your wines.

Happy weekend!  Enjoy the longest days of the year!    

Make-Up and Skin Care Favorites

These days, my beauty routine is really just Carmex, shades, and a ponytail.  But, on occasion, I do have to leave the house.  So here is my small stash of beauty product favorites.  

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup // Maybelline Great Lash Mascara BIG // Smashbox Primer // Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner // Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow in Melon // MAC Studio Finish Concealer // Almay Intense i-Color Shimmer for Brown Eyes

Some notes on my makeup:

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup - I apply it with the Clinique foundation brush as thick/thin a layer I need.  I have been using it for years, all-year-round, and love, love, love it!
Clinique Loose Translucent Powder - Very light and has a touch of shimmer.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara BIG - I have tried TONS of mascaras claiming they will do all sorts of things, but I just don't see the results I'm supposed to see.  I like a mascara that is creamy and not clumpy or sticky.  Been using this for years and always go back to it when I try something new.
Trish McEvoy Lip Gloss (color:  Irresistible) - This gloss isn't sticky and your hair won't get stuck in it on a windy day.

MAC Paint - Oh. My. Gosh.  This is the best eye shadow primer ever.  One tube will last you several years because you use very little each time.  At the end of the day, my eye shadow looks just like it did when I applied it.  No creases, ever.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer - I apply this concealer with a brush and it works for covering any spots or blemishes.  It's a little thicker, so don't use it under your eyes.  Under my eyes, I just use my foundation and apply it with a brush or my ring finger, usually applying 2 layers.

Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner - This stuff doesn't smudge all day.  It is waterproof, so it's harder to get off your lower lash line, so I try to just use it on the top.

My skin type is combination and these skincare products work great for me...

Twice a day, I use Exuvience purifying cleansing gel.  Although this cleanser is good for sensitive skin, it was recommended to me by my dermatologist to treat my acne when I was in high school and I have been using it ever since.  She also recommended Clinique and Neutragena products, which I'll occasionally use, but I always find other face washes either dry me out or leave me needing to exfoliate.  Even though I now have combination skin, I'm still using this cleanser and it doesn't dry me out at all.  And it leaves my skin sooo soft.  It's one of the few that after I wash, I don't run for the moisturizer.  It's very gentle and contains AHA's and PHA's to lightly exfoliate and help fight wrinkles.  Keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way.  But make sure you don't use this if you're pregnant or breast-feeding because the AHA/PHA's aren't good for your baby.  During pregnancy, I had serious acne problems the first few months.  I switched to using the ProActive skin care line, which is safe during pregnancy.  They have a cleanser and toner that worked wonders on controlling the excess oil on my face.  As for the acne, there was no real cure for that - just had to wait it out.

For daytime moisture, I use a lightweight cream with SPF, Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer SPF 30. It helped clear up the redness on my cheeks after a few weeks of use.  I love this moisturizer and have been using it for years.  It's great on my combination skin and I use it all year round.

Once or twice a year, I splurge on a spa facial.  In between visits, I use Origins Charcoal Mask at home.  It's great for bringing impurities to the surface and it leaves my skin super smooth.  After using this mask, my skin feels so clean!

At night, I use whatever eye cream I have on hand (usually it's some random trial size sample that came with my last Nordstrom order) and I put Retin-A cream on my T-zone.  Again, don't use these AHA products if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.  I've been doing this nightly routine for a very long time and I think it's help keep my skin firm.  That, and the fact that I've been wearing SPF 30 every day since I was 13!

  There you have it!  My secrets are out!  I welcome any product recommendations you may have!  I'm always looking to try new things and would love to hear from you :)

Xavier constantly gets complimented from strangers on how cute he is.  I leave you with his secret...

Happy Father's Day

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the great dads today!

To my dad, who is hands down the best out there.

And to Steve.

The most loving, selfless guy in the world.

The guy whose favorite time of day is picking up Xavier from daycare, who rocks with him in the middle of the night for hours because his tummy or ears hurt, and who sits in the backseat on car rides to keep Xavier company.

There isn't one thing he wouldn't do for us and he is sure to let us know it every day.

You are the best dad that any little guy could ask for.

A special Father's Day gift to you from your little guy...

We wouldn't trade you or your hot sauce addiction for anything in the world.

We are the luckiest Mama and Little Buddy around!

Happy Father's Day, Babe!

And you really are one HOT dad!

Sweet Things

This week, for the first time ever, Xavier gave me a kiss on my cheek.  And then, he kissed me again.  I have been thinking about it non-stop.  It was the most adorable thing.  The best part was that Steve caught it all on video!  Take a peek for some serious cuteness!

If you're not already addicted to Angie's popcorn, you should try some!  I'm a big fan of the kettle corn and just recently tried the Boom Chicka Pop because I like the bag :)  It's tasty, low in calories, and you can find it at Costco (you can get extra large bags here), Target, or Whole Foods.

We got Xavier a keyboard so he could pretend to be playing on his computer while we were.  Here we are watching some Noggin on YouTube, with help from X.  (Don't mind how I look. I was sick, tired, and cold yesterday)

I recently came across this recipe for Nutella Cakes and had to try it.  Ah-ha, another use for my Nutella that doesn't involve pretzel rod dipping!  I froze some angel food cake, cut it into itty-bitty squares, and layered some Nutella in between.  I frosted (generously) with Cool Whip, topped with sprinkles, and chilled it for a bit.  It tastes wonderful right out of the freezer.  It's the perfect, light, summery dessert! (not as perfect as the recipe pic, but frosting with cool whip is hard!!)

It's finally Friday!  It's been a rough week.  I'm on my 4,657th cold this year while having a tough deadline at work to meet.  My cold will NOT go away, and it infuriates me to no end.  I've been downing the Sudafed, Benadryl, and caffeine water this entire week.  So ready to relax and celebrate some Dad's day with the fam!  :)  I can't wait to show off what Buddy made for Daddy!

10 months (and more on finger food)

We survived another month!  Although juggling both of us working full-time, the baby, cooking a decent dinner, and all the grass cutting is getting a lot easier.  Probably because I now understand I will never have an hour of free time to myself again for a very long time.  Regardless, I love this baby age!  X is interactive with us, he gets excited when we walk in the room, and is starting to form his own opinions (this is fun to watch).  X isn't walking yet, but crawling just enough to get what he wants w/o needing me to bring him his toys.  Here are some favorites from months 9 and 10.  Although this list should probably also include cords, purse straps, our iPhones, and my DSLR camera.

Cheerios - We switched from Puffs to Cheerios this month.  It's one of the foods he consistently gets into his mouth.

Huggies Little Swimmers Diapers - Great for swimming and trapping the waste.  'Nuff said :)

iGuy - Helps Xavier to hold the iPad and it's cute!

Books! - The Pigeon books are my favorite.  They are absolutely hilarious!  But, basically all kinds of books have attracted his interest lately.  He's finally enjoying us reading to him (he looks up at me when I read aloud) instead of eating, chewing, or ripping the pages.

Baeba utensils - Perfect for when your kid starts eating the foods you eat.  Those shallow baby spoons just don't cut it anymore.  These are great for serving cut up spaghetti, casseroles, etc.

Dr. Brown Stackable Container - We used to prefill these with some dry oatmeal to mix in baby food with but now we put Cheerios, applesauce, or other fruits in them.  Great for on-the-go snacks and easy to find in the diaper bag!

Fisher Price Walker - Xavier loves this walker.  He sits up and spins the ball, flips the tabs, all while smiling and laughing at it.

You can check out all our Monthly Favorites by clicking the link at the top of the page!

Food Schedule:  We have entered an entirely new world of mess making.  Like 2-hour-old-avocado-smashed-in-the-hair mess making.  We tried Puffs and Yogurt Melts around 8 months, but it just frustrated him that he couldn't consistently get them in his mouth.  But, we tried it again at 9 months, and what an improvement!  He uses his pinchers and consistently gets the Puffs in his mouth!  I admit, the first few times he tried Puffs, I was worried sick!  I tore each Puff up into 5 little pieces, watched intently until he swallowed...  I now know that kids have this innate trait about them and they somehow know to chew and swallow.  He HATES yogurt melts, and usually cries when they start to dissolve in his mouth.  As he mastered Puffs, we switched to the less expensive substitute, Cheerios.  Have you ever looked at the ingredients in Cheerios?  They actually have a lot of nutrients in them.  He could eat Cheerios all day.

Not only is it cute to see the diaper hanging out, but if you look closely, you'll see the Cheerio stuck to it.  Haha!

We also introduced table food, slowly at first, like the tiniest pieces ever of watermelon, chicken, avocado, etc.  Even though he has no teeth, he can mash the food with is gums.  For a while the only thing he successfully picked up was the Puffs.  With practice, he can now eat a full baby-sized meal, usually whatever we are eating.  As scary as it sounds, the bigger the piece, the easier it is for him to pick up and eat.  He struggles a little picking up the slimier things, like bananas and mixed veggies.  Early on, I freaked out any time we introduce a new table food to him for fear he'd choke or be allergic.  But now, he's so used to eating our foods it doesn't worry me.

Eating his lunch like a big boy!

His pediatrician still wants his main source of nutrition to come from bottles, but wants him practicing table foods so he has the skill mastered by the time we wean him off bottles at 12 months.  I will be so happy to not have to wash bottles every. single. friggin'. day.

Here's his food schedule:

7am - has a 6 oz. bottle
9:00 - has pureed fruit mixed with 1/4 cup of multi-grain oats
9:30 - tries whatever daycare fixes for breakfast
11:00 - has a 6 oz. bottle
12:00 - tries whatever daycare fixes for lunch
2:00 - has pureed veggies mixed with 1/4 cup of multi-grain oats
3:00 - has a 6 oz. bottle
3:30 - tries the day care snack
6:00 - tries whatever we make for dinner
7:00 - has his last 6 oz. bottle

Sleep Schedule:  Usually, X wakes up at 7am, takes two 40-minute naps at 10am and 2pm, and goes to bed at 7pm.  He's a great sleeper.  Sleeps the whole night, even when he's battling ear infections in both ears (knocking on all the wood around me)!  Since his separation anxiety has kicked in, he has a session of crying it out that usually lasts 15-25 minutes each night.  Other than that, he sleeps great!

Signature Moves/Favorite Activities:

Pulling on my lips, nose, hair

Army crawling by mostly kicking off with his right leg

Sitting, to tummy, back to sitting, back to tummy, etc.

Pulling himself up over any wall-like structure to see what's on the other side

Halfway blowing kisses, getting his hair blow-dried after his bath
The Fisher Price Giggle Gang, Music Sparkle, and Read Me Stories apps, Noggin' on YouTube

Playing fort!

Things He Dislikes:

Going through the automatic car wash

When I leave the room.  Separation anxiety is at an all-time high these past few weeks.

Things regularly said at home that would be funny to say to X when he's a teenager:

"Uh-oh, there's the poo face!" *while he's sitting on the living room floor*

"Way to balance that purple ring on your finger!"

"Reeeer, reeeee-eeeeeer, reeeer" *while airplane feeding X his food*

"Open wide.  Say aaaaahhhhhh.  Aaaaahhhhhhh." *when giving X his medicine*

Table Food Likes:

Lasagna, Broccoli, Applesauce
Corn Dogs - atta boy!!! (take off the skin, too hard to chew)

Lemon muffin with avocado

Grilled turkey burgers, meatballs, baked tilapia

Table Food Dislikes:

Watermelon, Grapes, Corn, Rice, Cheese - All are difficult to pick up.

X's Favorite Books:

The Going To Bed Book

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Go Dog, Go

Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Leonardo the Terrible Monster

Mom & Dad's Favorite Books:

The Pigeon Finds A Hot Dog - This book is hilarious!  Plus, I love hot dogs!

I Love You For You - Daddy's favorite

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss - SERIOUS tongue twister!!

Tips & Tricks:

-As I mentioned before, to solve the problem of bedtime leaks out the diaper, just use your regular diapers and go up a size or two.  Works great!

-To get your wiggly-worm baby to sit still for great photos, give him your iPhone, your TV remote or anything else he's not usually allowed to have that you use a lot.

-We are entering a new stage of fussiness with both ears still infected, separation anxiety, and X forming his own opinions about things he doesn't like.  If it gets to be too much and Tylenol isn't working, give him a bath.  It works like a reset button and will give you at least 10 minutes of happy baby.

Annnnnnnnnnnd...Some exciting news!  At 9 and a half months, we had our first glimpse of a tooth!!!  Don't ask.  There's no way in heeeellllll I'm getting a good picture of that.

Hands and Feet

In our neighborhood, it's customary for people to put unwanted items on their curb the weekend before trash is picked up in hopes someone will take it and save them from the $3 trash sticker that must be placed on items for the garbage people to pick up.  A very popular item is kids toys.  Last weekend, while driving around, I saw a house that had, I'm not kidding, 20 boys toddler toys neatly arranged on their curb.  All for free, just asking for someone to come take them off their hands.  Yes, yes, double yes!  I got a Little Tykes climber/gym/slide thing, a scooter, a buggy for the kid with a handle for us to push, and a foam play mat that puts together like puzzle pieces.  All too big for X right now, but perfect for the upcoming year.  I saved us like $300 in kids toys!

This post is a special tribute post to my favorite baby parts - handsies and footsies.  Oh how I love it when they are soooo tiny and chubby on the babies!  Here are some good ones.  Enjoy!

Looks professional, huh?

And P.S. - We used to struggle with night time leaks out the diapers.  Tried Pampers Nighttime diapers which were an expensive joke.  Just use your regular diapers and go up a size, people.  Works like a charm.

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!  And, most importantly, Happy National Donut Day!  With pool-weather finally here, I wanted to share my list of summer related must-haves and all-around favorites.

 1.  This waterproof cell phone case is a must-have if you tend to find your phone covered up in dried up baby drool plan on doing anything near a pool or beach this summer.  And, this canvas tote would make the perfect pool/beach bag.

2.  Do you constantly find you have a phone needing recharged while you are out and about enjoying the sunshine?  This rechargeable battery pack charges your phone without needing an outlet.

3.  Keeping up with the pom-pom trend, I'm digging this swimsuit cover-up.  I want to redo our guest room in this pom-pom quilt bedding set.  I'm also getting some pom-pom garland for Xavier's 1st birthday table or a pom-pom cake topper from Etsy.  And, here's a tutorial on how to make your own pom-pom trimmed blanket!

4.  Ever get completely distracted at Target and find your basket loaded with things not on your shopping list?  This is a common occurrence for me, but it did allow me to find this awesome, EOS berry scented lotion for my purse.  It's in a somewhat large, bright colored tube, making it easier to find in my mammoth-sized purse.  I'm already a fan of the EOS chapstick, and am glad I gave their lotion a try!

5.  The color gold.  I am a recent fan of gold OPI nail polish, these gold Tori Burch sandals, this gold glitter belt, and this gold rimmed drink set from West Elm.

And, if you stopped by for the pictures, here are a few recent favorites.

Distracted by the sound of our neighbor's lawnmower (he can't see it, which makes this pic even funnier)

With my love on Mother's Day.

Because eating Puffs out of a muffin tin is waaaay more fun!

No clue.  We don't even own a dog.

Cheers to the weekend!

blankets & books

After dinner last night, we took Xavier to the library to pick up some new books.  I have totally gotten away from popular children's books over the years and am trying to catch up on what I've missed.  We received a tooooooooonnnnnnn of popular books at the baby shower (instead of cards, the invitation requested guests bring books and write messages in them instead) and have read almost all of them, but I'm ready to expand our repertoire.  The list of books I want to get for Xavier is huge, but I started with these popular favorites:

Colors by Orla Kiely
If You Give A Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Williams
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Olivia by Ian Falconer
What Does the Fox Say? by Ylvis
Flo & Wendell by William Wegman
Gaspard on Vacation by Anne Gutman

Xavier had fun on his first trip to the library.  Here's proof.

Oooh, the better for me chew on....

Family pic in front of the silly mirror!

We seriously have so much fun wherever we go with this kid.  And today, we hung out in the front yard and read our books.