Thursday Thoughts

Woo-hoo!  It's Thursday!  Which means it's almost Friday!  And, of course, also time for Thursday Thoughts, linking up with Jennifer at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom!  What's on my mind this week?  Read on...

-It's the third week of school here, and the boys are settling in very well.  I'm so happy with how quickly Knight is learning - he has his first spelling test tomorrow!  I've been helping him study this week, and we've been practicing taking a test.  Hopefully I still remember how a spelling test works!  Dragon is talking so much more now, and his teachers are loving his new communication skills!  I've gotten a few full sentences out of him lately, and he's even starting to count and learn some letters.  I'm a proud Mama!

-I'm on a beauty low-buy for the month of September.  Which means I'm not allowed to go shopping at Ulta, Sephora, or go wandering down the beauty aisles when I go grocery shopping!  I had very little makeup when I started my beauty subscriptions last November, and I am now DROWNING IN IT.  I blame the wonderful ladies at MakeupTalk for all of the amazing deals they post that I just can't pass up!  I've decided that I do get enough makeup from the subs I have, and until the holiday deals start coming out, I am not allowed to buy any more!  I know I'm getting makeup from Ipsy this month, Birchbox sends it occasionally, and Bondi (my new nail polish sub) is helping me fill out my (currently) small collection!

-Guess who's been chosen to host a Lash Bash?  ME!  Yay me!  Ipsy and Benefit are teaming up to send out party kits to 1,000 lucky ladies, who will host a party and hand out goodies to 9 guests!  So far, it's been confirmed that we're handing out deluxe sample sizes of Benetint, SugarBomb Lipgloss, and They're Real Mascara (MY MOST FAVORITE MASCARA EVAR!!!) to our guests.  I will also be happily rolling around in some hostess goodies (which will definitely help me with my low-buy!  Anytime I pick up makeup in a store, I STERNLY tell myself I'm getting free stuff soon, and then I can put the item back down!), including:  Hervana Blush, Peek-a-Bright Eyes Eyeshadow Set, Creaseless Cream Shadows in Bikini-tini and Bronze Have More Fun, Gimme Brow Volumizing Brow Gel, and a FULL-SIZE They're Real Mascara!  Several other MakeupTalk ladies are also hosting Lash Bashes, and if you'd like to check out our giddy excitement, feel free to read the conversation here!

Also, here's the shameless selfie I used to apply for the LashBash!
 I think they're sending out the brow gel JUST for me!

That's what's on my mind today!  Well, that and geeking out over the bag spoiler Ipsy just released!  I feel like it's my reward for the housework I've done/will do today.  I've already cleaned the kitchen, done a load of dishes AND one of laundry, and I'm about to start folding yet another basket of clothes!  Oh and SPOILER ALERT:  Here's a pic of the bag!

Pretty, right?  Pic is from Ipsy's FB page.
Looks like a blue bag with some kind of black print. Yay!

  What's on your mind today?  Hope it's sunshine and rainbows!

Thursday Thoughts

Gooood Morning!  Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, Vacation Edition!  As always, linking up with Jennifer from Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for all the awesomeness!  My thoughts are a bit fuzzy (hey, it's not even 10 AM as I'm typing this, and Dragon slept til 9 for just about the first time EVER.  Here's what's on my mind today:

- Fun!  Fun fun fun fun!!! Isn't it funny that you don't even realize how much you miss your extended family until you get the chance to see them again?  We have been going from house to house, activity to activity, and loving every moment of it.  I have been blessed with truly amazing in-laws, and they have never hesitated to welcome me with open arms and make me a part of the family.  We even got to see some cousins from Alaska that came out to see family when we did, so it's just been extra-special this time.

- Car trouble.  As always.  I was so proud of myself for getting the car paid off in February, that I completely forgot about the CURSE.  If you've never heard of this curse, the legend is that the second you pay off your car (or house, or other major purchase), it will completely fall apart.  Right now, this car is costing us more in repairs than it ever did in monthly payments.  (Not to mention the annoyance and trouble of the random noises and breakdowns.  Nothing like having your car fail to start in the middle of a national park, right!?)  This time it was the battery.  So, I have a statement for my car.  YOU ARE DONE.  You are done breaking down, you are done with noises, with not accelerating or steering right, with any issues whatsoever.  We have fixed your wheels, your alignment, your engine.  We just got you a brand-new battery.  Now quit it before we decide that we can't afford you anymore and go with a nice, sensible sedan.

THIS COULD BE YOU, CAR. Image Source

- Whew!  Ok.  Back to the fun.  We saw Monsters U with the boys yesterday, and it was AWESOME!  Good movie, great life lessons, and it was really cool seeing the friendship of Sully and Mike Wazowski develop.  I just had one little teeny issue.  (Um, I guess *spoiler alert*, but not really.  I don't think this will ruin the movie for you)  The previews?  That fun little scene where they turn Mike Wazowski into a disco ball?  Totally not in the movie.  And that is my own personal pet peeve.  I don't like it when things are in the previews, but not the movie.  Because I spend the WHOLE movie looking for them!  Gaaaah!  Still, awesome movie, definitely take your kids to see it!  (And if you don't have kids, totally go see it anyway.  It's that good.)

Image Source

- The rain.  Oh, the rain.  It has rained just about every day we've been here, and the forecast is calling for it to rain for the next week.  We want to do fun outdoorsy things!  We want to go swimming, go fishing, to the zoo, and to just run and play in the yard!  Thankfully we have been able to keep the kids entertained so far with movies, games, and grocery shopping. For some reason, as long as their Gogo (my hubby's aunt) is along, they will grocery shop all day! I'm hoping it clears up in time for the 4th of July.  We have fireworks, people!  (And we are in an extremely rural area, so we won't be bugging anyone with setting them off.)

Fireworks.  Ours probably won't look this cool.  Image Source

Ok, I'm gonna take off now.  Sesame Street is on!  I'm totally enjoying having regular TV to watch stuff that isn't on Netflix and Hulu, but these commercials are killin' me.  I definitely feel that I made the right choice to cut the cable cord.

I hope you all are having a wonderful week, and it just keeps going!

The Next Three Weeks

Well, we made it!

We had safe travels, including a 2-night stay in Tennessee with my mommy (she's an artist-in-residence at a summer camp in the Smokies every year) and we had so much fun hiking and playing in the mountains!  Dragon and Knight are now very proud of their daddy's prowess in finding small mountain critters. He caught a caterpillar, which immediately pooped on him.

Best quote from Knight EVER:  "Daddy!  That caterpillar thought you were a toilet!"

And my darling husband also managed to find two little crawdads in a stream.  We popped them into a cup we had with us and let the boys watch them swim around.  Of course, we then released them back into the water, with a story to tell their friends.  "No, Bob, I swear!  One of the kids just yelled THE WHOLE TIME!" (Dragon did a good job scaring off wildlife with his constant stream of noise)

Oh, and just FYI, if you have kids and take a nature-y vacation, pack WAY more clothing than usual.  The boys went through three outfits a day.  There was the morning/breakfast outfit that lasted til they played in a stream and immediately fell in.  There was the "here's some dry clothing" outfit that lasted through a hike and then a deliberate "go get wet!" playing in another mountain stream.  And then there was a "let's all take a shower and go into town for dinner" outfit that (thankfully) lasted til bedtime.

We're now in the Cincinnati area for vacation/visiting our family.  I'll be posting, just not very often, or with any regularity.  Also, any of my sub boxes are being held at our post office back home until we get back (can't WAIT to see the look on my mail carrier's face when she delivers 3 weeks worth of mail!  Ahahaha!)  However!  I will still have a few reviews.  I have the PopSugar June box coming here (Jennifer of Ramblings of a Suburban Mom was kind enough to send the box I won here to my aunt's house!  Thank you!)

I also ordered some samples of eyeshadow pigments from Glamour Doll Eyes.  I have heard nothing but amazing reviews on MakeupTalk and I'm so excited to try them!  I fully expect to go completely insane over the color Fiji Mermaid.  Aaaand, I *WILL*  be ordering the Solar Palette from Pacifica on July 1st.  According to their FB page, it will be 30% off for the first week of July!  I'll also be looking for other codes to stack (Pacifica lets you use multiple discount/free product codes in one order.  For this, they have my eternal love).  I'll be back to let you know how much I saved!

Solar Palette!  Image Source 

Ok, that's all for now.  Ready to see some family and get my relaxation on!  Have fun today, and be amazing!

Thursday Thoughts

Ok, so it's been a few weeks since I hooked up with Jennifer at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts.  But we've been traveling, and dealing with the end of the school year, and... yeah, I have the memory of a goldfish at the best of times, so things don't always get done.  However, I only claim to be magical, not perfect! With that being said... here's what's on my mind today:

- It. Is. HOT.  High of 97?  Yikes!  Thankfully there will be a storm later on today, which will cool things off to the high 80s next week (heh. "cool". not so much.).  However, this is the price we pay for not having bad winters!  And I am totally ok with that!  We've got water, fans, and A/C when it gets too bad.  Of course, talk to me in August when we've had several days straight at over 100 degrees, and it may be a different story.

- I am going to have to buy a bunch of stuff crafting stuff soon.  I'm trying to keep the boys away from the TV this summer, and I can only let them play outside in 90+ heat for so long before they turn into sweaty, beet-red monsters!  I'm loving Pinterest for ideas on how to keep Dragon and Knight entertained, and I may be busting out this one today:

Image Source.  Also, not my kid ;)

It's a tray of baking powder, and vinegar colored with food coloring.  The vinegar causes the baking powder to fizz up, so it's like art AND science!  I don't have an eyedropper, but I'll just let them use spoons or something.  Oh, and if any of you have any fun projects/activities for kids (5 & 3 year-old boys), let me know in the comments!

- I made Jello molds with my kids for the first time a few nights ago, and I cannot emphasize enough, READ THE DIRECTIONS FIRST!  I thought I had it all down... but apparently you're supposed to spray the molds with cooking spray first?  And then set the tray in warm water for a few seconds before tipping them out?  Yeah... sorry kiddos for the headless giraffe and half-a-monkey that were all that came out.  We'll get it next time.

- We live pretty far away from family, and I always forget how amazing my family (and in-laws!) are at taking my kids for a few minutes when we're home.  I swear, I didn't see Knight for more than 3 seconds at a time for the whole visit!  Poor Dragon decided to by shy, and cling to me the whole time (gaaaah!), but I'm hoping when we go home for a longer visit, he starts warming up to everyone and I can have a few minutes to myself every once in awhile (that's all I'm asking, kiddo!)

- And that's about it for my thoughts today!  Sorry, road trips take it out of me for about a week after we get home.  Am I getting old?  *sigh*

What's on your mind today?

Potty-a-Go-Go

It seems I've nicknamed my kids all too well.  This is what our living room looks like today:

St. George and the Dragon - by Paolo Uccello c. 1470

I'm the chick on the left, but instead of letting out cries of  "Save me, George!" it's more like "If you two do not stop wrestling I will turn the Wild Kratts OFF!"  But I digress.

It's been a few weeks and I thought I'd put out an update on the epic battle that I have dubbed "Potty Training a Dragon (Is Not For the Faint of Heart)."  In a previous post, I broke the process down into phases, and I'm happy to announce that we've moved up a phase!  Dragon is now attending pre-school in underoos! (and his elastic-waist pants collection is getting quite a bit of wear)  I ascribe it to the amazing efforts of his teachers.  It's one thing to chase my own kid around at home and ask him if he has to go potty every 20 minutes.  It's another thing entirely to keep a 3-year-old dry all day in a class of 15, several of whom are also in various phases of potty training.

We are now solidly in Phase III.  If you haven't read my previous posts, this means that Dragon is mainly in underoos, only switching to a diaper at night or for long (4+ hour) trips away from home.  It's seriously so cool!  I'm down to using 1-2 diapers a day, and WOW does that make a box last!  I can finally see a light at the end of the diaper-buying tunnel. *cue dramatic & inspiring music*

My main goal over the next few weeks is getting him to use a public toilet.  Doesn't have to be seriously public, just one that is not at our house or his school.  I remember that Knight went through something similar, but I don't remember doing anything specific to encourage public pottying.  He just "got over it" after a few weeks.  However, if any of you have hints on how you got your kid over this little potty phobia, please let me know in the comments! (Or drop me an email! Whichever works for you!)

My secondary goal is teaching Dragon to pee standing up.  I'm not sure how common this is, but I found it easier (with both boys) to teach them sitting down, and then later incorporate standing up.  Knight did well with using Cheerios to learn "aim", but Dragon gets mad that I'm using his precious cereal and will try to fish them out.  Seriously, you should have seen my *brilliant* idea to use goldfish crackers one day.  NUCLEAR MELTDOWN.  I quickly flushed it, got him a big bowl of them and a cup of milk, and we all took a time-out.

So that's our current status.  If you're another mom going through potty-training right now, or even if your little one isn't yet ready to start, remember that potty training is a PROCESS that can take days, weeks, or even (as in my case) months.  There will be setbacks and frustration as you figure out what works best for your little one.  If you're that ONE MOM whose kid just woke up one day perfectly potty-trained, congrats.  Pat yourself on the back and go get a congratulatory cup of coffee.  The rest of us will be cleaning up walls, floors, and toilet seats.  We'll be making those memories that will come in handy when making small talk with his first girlfriend.

Have any hints, creative ideas, or fun stories to share?  Leave them in the comments, or email me at amagicalmom@gmail.com!

Thursday Thoughts

That's right, I'm back for another Thursday Thoughts link-up with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom!  This one is special edition, though.  It's my "I just chaperoned a field trip for preschoolers along with my gimpy hubby" edition.  Lots of thoughts? Oh yes.  Let's get this party started.

- Why did I even agree to chaperone this trip?  Oh yes, because I have a preschooler, I am a stay-at-home-mom (can't use work as an excuse), and I really was kind of excited to see this place.  It was one of those play places for little ones (little as in anyone over 8 would probably be bored) with lots of sensory activities like water tables, pulleys, a "car mechanic" shop, a big fire truck to climb on, and toy train tracks.  And every area was pimped out (I'm sure there's a better way to phrase that, but I'm tiiiiired) beyond belief.  One water table?  Oh no, it was a multi-level area with pulleys, waterfalls, buckets, boats, and little aprons to keep the kids (partially) dry.  And I'm so proud, Dragon only tried to drink the water 5 times. *sigh*

- I loved having my hubby along, and we were both thrilled that he was able to go with us.  (His job is giving him some time off to heal and be with us, his loving family. heh.)  HOWEVER.  If you have a broken foot, and are presented with the opportunity to go on any sort of outing with preschoolers, just take it from me that it is NOT A GOOD IDEA.  You see, due to his speech/communication delays, Dragon is one of the more difficult children in his class.  His teachers have enough on their hands dealing with the kids outside of the classroom environment, without also having to constantly redirect Dragon when he gets frustrated.  That's why I go along.  So it just made things harder to keep Dragon focused and moving while also trying to make sure the hubster had his crutches, was ready to move on when we went to the next area, and was not in danger of being bowled over by a roving mob of exuberant toddlers.

- School bag lunches are crap these days.  I'm sorry, but when I was in elementary school and we went on field trips, the lunches that the school provided were AWESOME.  Chips, cookies, real peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, soda, etc.  Oh, I know it wasn't the healthiest, but there was never even a scrap of leftover food!  Guess what these kids got?  Well, there was a sandwich.  But no real bread, they use those round, flat little things.  And then they covered it in huge mounds of soy butter.  It tasted fine to me, but trust me, not one kid touched it.  Carrot sticks and pineapple bits finished the meal, with standard paper cartons of milk to drink.  I'll let you tell me how much of that stuff Dragon will actually eat.  Did I hear a "zero"?  Yeah, exactly.  I love my baby, but he hates fruits and veggies.   And while I am continually trying to have him try them, it was definitely not happening today.  Thankfully, I had packed some extras for him in my lunch (goldfish crackers, cheese, and turkey slices), so he had a good meal.  And I took home the carrot sticks and pineapple for snacks for Knight later.  The sandwich, amazingly enough, found a home in my hubby's belly.  Guess I might be buying some soy butter soon!

- I think the parents were more exhausted than the kids by the end of the day.  And of course, the little rugrats got to pass out on the bus on the way home (and thankfully, they let us just sign Dragon out and drive him home in our car).  I, however, had to drive.  Booooo.  Which is why, at 10:00 PM, I am heading to bed!  Big day tomorrow!  I get to drive my hubby to work!  Thankfully, I'm just dropping him off, one of his friends has offered to bring him home. Yay!  So I get to come home and tackle the giant mounds of laundry that have been breeding overnight in the baskets (Well, where do you think those extra socks come from?).  I know, aren't you just jealous of my cosmopolitan lifestyle?

-  Sometimes I think I come across as whiny and annoyed/dismissive of my life.  I hope you understand that it's mostly just my writing style (dry, sarcastic, and let's not forget the impeccable grammar).  I love my life, I understand that I'm both lucky and blessed, and I'm well aware that most of the things I complain about are first-world problems.  That's why I love this blog for letting me get stuff like this off my chest.  And I like to think that at least a few of you are like "hey great, here's a mom that doesn't pretend that a field trip with her kid is all sunshine and rainbows!"  That's right.  Because it's all fun and games til your kid tries to drink from the water table.

How was your Thursday?

Thursday Thoughts

Yup, rollin' up late to the party this week!  Hopefully Ramblings of a Suburban Mom will forgive me.  So far, it's been much easier for me to post these "here's what's on my mind" posts than actual reviews, so please bear with me until I can get some time to write some reviews!  Here's what's on my mind today.

- I'm so incredibly happy that my hubby is home!  It has made life much easier... and much more difficult, as strange as that sounds.  I totally got used to doing everything my way, having a set schedule, and having TOTAL CONTROL of the remote!  Needless to say, I have forgotten the fine art of compromise.  I'm working on it, though.  

- My hubby dressed the kids for school this morning.  It was awesome, because it meant we actually got to leave on time this morning!  However, Knight ended up in Dragon's jeans (honest mistake, they have the same size waist, but the 4T's end up a bit short on Knight.  He wears 5T's with the adjustable waist pulled alllll the way in!).  Also, he somehow stuffed Dragon into a 2T longsleeve tshirt!  It almost took a shoehorn to get him out of it tonight.  Then he layered a striped polo shirt over it and added camo pants.  Ladies, I'm thinking of making a "Daddy Dressed Me Today!" button that we can throw on them as they go out the door for the days you want to make sure their teacher's aren't like "Did so-and-so's mom go colorblind overnight?"  I'll make millions! (And I started to say something, then I stopped, smiled, and thanked him for getting the kids dressed.  Compromise.)

- Had a total nerd moment today.  I was making tea, and after I poured the hot water into the teapot, I accidentally set the kettle down on a paper towel.  I mentally flipped out for a second - thinking I was going to set the house on fire - then I remembered:  Water boils at 212 degrees F, but paper doesn't ignite until Fahrenheit 451!  Thank you, Ray Bradbury.  So I didn't set the house on fire, and I know why!  Because SCIENCE.  Yay me!

- I've gotten the Belvita Biscuits twice in sub boxes this month (Influenster VoxBox and March Goodies).  They're yummy, but they are SO DRY.  Seriously, these are only an acceptable breakfast item if you remember to grab a gallon of water with 'em on your way out the door.  

- There is something wrong with our car.  AGAIN.  Thankfully, the house is still standing, and nothing's broken there (knock on wood) but if I can have just one month without some sort of repair bill, I'll be so happy.  I've been having something fixed at least once a month since November.  

- It's raining, so I plan on having an excellent night's sleep!  Somehow, rain is the best thing for getting me to sleep and not waking up 5x a night.  

Those are my Thursday Thoughts!  How are things in your neck of the woods?

I'm baaaaaaack!!!

Well hello lovely people!

I know, it's been awhile.  But I have spent my time away wisely, I swear.  And I have some exciting news!  My hubby is back!  Or as he prefers it... THE KING... HAS RETURNED.  He's adorable.

His job takes him away from us for months at a time, so it's always both exciting and chaotic when he returns.  Also, since the kids are getting older, they're finally realizing what it means to have Daddy come home!  Knight was especially excited - he has a special bond with his daddy and will not leave his side now that he's home.  Dragon's excited to have daddy home too, but he's a mama's boy at heart, so he's been a little jealous of all the attention I'm getting.  Needless to say, this house has gone from "well-oiled machine" to "three-ring circus" very quickly!

But I promised you reviews!  And reviews you shall have.  I'm catching up on photographing boxes and watermarking the pictures (because no one shall steal my crappy iPhone pics and claim them as their own!).  I also need to start writing my reviews on the individual items in my Influenster VoxBox.  So yeah, I'm behind.  And I'm sorry.  But you gotta admit, I have just about the best darn excuse ever!  I hope you are all having a lovely week, and I look forward to returning to our regularly scheduled entertainment.

The king is home... Long live the king!

Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition Presented by Pureology

As moms, we're always looking for ways to keep our kids safe.  One of those ways is using eco-friendly products whenever possible.  Another way is ensuring that the environments in which they live and learn are also eco-friendly.  I entered this contest for my kids' school because I believe that eco-improvements could help - not just for my kids, but for all future students.  I already love my boys' elementary school, but adding improvements like a school garden or solar panels could help them lower costs and be even more amazing!

-Did you know that school test scores improve when children can learn in an eco-friendly environment?  Natural light, low-VOC paints, and non-toxic building materials are all ways schools can improve classrooms.

-When schools improve their energy efficiency by switching to low-energy bulbs and low-flow toilets, they can save a ton of money on energy and water costs.  They can use this money to get better books, materials, and technology for their students!  Amazing what a big difference little changes can make, right?

-Lastly, schools can make the world a better place for future students by having a smaller carbon footprint!

Unfortunately, many schools lack the funds to make this initial investment into becoming more eco-friendly.  That's why I'm encouraging you to enter the Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition, Presented by Pureology!  Just click this link:

http://bit.ly/VzWAQh

Have fun entering your school!  If you already know what kind of improvements your school needs, you're good to go!  Just so you know, they ask for 3-5 pictures of the school showing the improvements that need to be made.  Other than that, just go for it!

Disclaimer:  I found out about this contest through Influenster, and I'm spreading the word!  I did not receive any monetary compensation for entering this contest or blogging about it.

Potty Training Blues

In my last "Thursday Thoughts", I shared that I'm currently trying to potty-train Dragon.  He's in preschool (through our public school system), and is loving it, but I really want him to be trained.  I know he's capable, but he's a wee bit stubborn.  So, while the kids are on Spring Break this week, I'm holding a Potty Training Bootcamp.  The weather is cold and windy, so I may as well take advantage of being cooped up in the house with a captive audience!  If you don't have kids, or think that I'm sharing TMI, feel free to not read this post.  But you know what they say about "writing what you know", and right now... I know Potty Training!

First of all, unless you are one of those blessed individuals with self-training children,  potty training is HELL.  It's not magical. In fact, I don't think you can get any more earthy and mundane than asking your kid every 15 seconds if they have to pee.  Yes, changing diapers is a pain, and the end result (having a potty-trained child!) is totally worth it, but the actual process is just not fun!  Also, Dragon is so much harder to train than Knight was.  For one thing, Knight could talk.  Trust me, it makes a huge difference.  Also, Knight is the type of child that wants to make his parents happy.  Dragon... marches to the beat of his own drummer.  He will be potty trained when he wants to be, and Mommy will just have to deal with it.

We're currently at Phase Two.  Yes, in an effort to make this whole thing less awful, I've broken down the process into several slightly-more-tolerable phases.

Phase I:  Letting Dragon run around the house naked.  This works really well.  We've actually tried it before (Yeah...training has been on and off for about 6 months now), and it works.  He knows where his little froggy potty is, he knows when he has to use it, and the constant breeze on his booty reminds him that he's not wearing a diaper.  He had no accidents yesterday, so I felt comfortable moving on to...

Phase II:  Running around in just underoos.  With dinosaurs on them, natch.  We've made it to this phase twice before - he did OK, but there were a few accidents.  So far so good today, but I am just waiting!

Phase III:  Fully clothed, but in easy-to-remove clothing.  Thank goodness it's warming up here!  Next week we're going to have temperatures in the 70s (Sorry to my snowbird friends.  But I love me some warm weather!)  Elastic-waist shorts are going to be my new best friends.  This will be the first phase where we can actually leave the house!  Short errands at first, then maybe a little grocery shopping, with a big bag of spare pants and underoos at my side.

Phase IV:  Jeans.  If I've managed to play my cards right with training him just as the warm weather hits, I may not have to deal with jeans for months!  Maybe even not til he turns 4!  And at the point where he can wear jeans without any accidents, I will consider him potty-trained.

Now I want to know about your experience in potty training!  Come and share your tales of woe!  If you happen to be one of the blessed and consider commenting "My little darling just woke up one day and was fully potty-trained!", do us all a favor and keep it to yourself.  But if you have any stories/hints/tips on how to potty train a stubborn three-year-old with a speech delay, by all means, share!

And now if you'll excuse me... I have to go commit some chemical warfare on a recently formed biological hazard, if you get my drift.  I sincerely hope that your day is going better than mine!  Have a happy Tuesday!

Thursday Thoughts

You know what time it is!  Time for Thursday Thoughts, linking up with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom!  Thankfully, it's been a good week.  I needed one!  

- I'm finally getting somewhere with potty-training Dragon!  It's been a rough road.  Knight was potty trained by now, but then again, Knight could talk.  And he was/is, in general, a much more cooperative child.  Knight loved sticker charts.  Loved getting Hot Wheels for every 10 stickers.  LOVED going to Chuck E. Cheese for his 100 sticker reward!  (We're a big believer in rewards around here.  In fact, I reward myself with Dark Chocolate M&M's every night just for making it through the day!)  Dragon, on the other hand... doesn't care about potty training.  Would happily wear diapers to his high school graduation.  So any progress is huge for me!

- We got a video camera!  We've taken little videos for years on our phones, but Knight has his first school play/musical tonight - "The Three Piggy Opera".  And because my poor hubby can't make it due to a work conflict, I wanted to get the whole thing on tape for him!  (Well, on memory card.)  I just don't think my iPhone would last through a 20 minute performance.  Of course, it will be quite a production as I attempt to simultaneously tape the performance and keep Dragon quiet.  I'm going to pack LOTS of snacks.

- Our trip home has been postponed.  Due to circumstances well beyond my control, we're going to be staying home for Spring Break.   It will suck to not see our family, but gonna have to say I'm not unhappy about missing out on the solo w/kids road trip.  Speaking of...

- One more day of school before Spring Break!  I have to admit, I've been missing the little rascals lately.  And, I'm totally looking forward to not waking up before dawn every day.  Elementary school starts at 7:30 AM here!  So next week will consist of lots of sleeping in, playing outside, and of course, Easter!  And maybe a trip to the zoo!

- I have GOT to start using up some of these samples!  I seriously have an entire drawer in my bathroom full of masks, cleansers, moisturizers, and makeup!  It's a beautiful sight... but yeah, I may need to cut down on some subs.  I just don't know how to choose from all my precious babies!

- NOTHING HAS BROKEN DOWN THIS WEEK.  Best week ever.  (Please, karma, I'm not bragging. Do not feel tempted to throw a repair bill my way.)

- So many boxes are coming in next week!  I have Starlooks, a Cravebox, a Fancy Box, my Goodies Box, and possibly a Happy Trunk for the kids all coming!  Oh, and a trade with a MakeupTalk lady!  I finally found someone who had the Mad Madame Juliette Has a Gun perfume!  Everyone who got it in their Birchbox has been raving about it and I really wanted to try it before I just broke down and bought a bottle. Hooray!

- And lastly, I'm so happy to have my Dancing With the Stars back!  I miss it so much when it's not on.  This is the second season I'm watching on Hulu Plus instead of cable.  So I can't vote, unless I just pick a favorite and cast all my votes without seeing the show, which is kind of cheating.  But I am loving Kellie Pickler, Ingo Rademacher, and Zendaya Coleman.  And can I just say how happy I am that Val Chmerkovskiy is not trying to melt the TV screen with his smoldering sexuality this season?  Yes, dear, we get that you're quite the hottie, and your chemistry with Kelly Monaco was amazing, but I'm seriously happy you have to dial it back now that your partner is total jailbait.  

Those are my Thursday Thoughts!  What's on your mind this week?

Mondays are for Moms

Yup, that's me.  Mondays aren't the bane of my existence anymore, but I do still have a lot to get done today!  I had a really great weekend - it's warming up here (yay Spring!), so there was lots of playing outside and yardwork on Saturday, and I had lunch with a friend on Sunday.  We had alllll our kids with us, so that poor Olive Garden will never be the same, but I think I remember a few sentences of adult conversation!

But now that it's Monday, back into the fray!  I  have declared today an official Laundry Day, and the second load is in the dryer now.  I'm also folding all of the loads I did last week, but dumped unceremoniously into the guest room because I was busy with other stuff.  (You do that, right?  Where do you put your laundry til you fold it?)

We're going to be heading home this weekend, and staying til Easter.  Thank goodness for Spring Break, I know Dragon and Knight are ready for a week off from school, and they are definitely excited for the parade of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins!  The Easter Bunny has decided to wait until we're back home to get all the stuff for baskets (kind of kills the magic when you have to try hiding two baskets' worth of stuff on a long road trip) but this is pretty much the first year that I'm totally OK about filling the baskets with candy.  Before this year, I tried to do mainly toys/games, but I'm going for a 50/50 split nowadays.  They can handle the sugar.  I'll just pack extra toothpaste!

I hope you're having a spectacular Monday, and whether you're working, working at home, or staying at home with your laundry like me, do something special for yourself today.  You deserve it.

Thursday Thoughts

I'm doing my first link-up - Yayz!  Before I launched my blog, I started reading a bunch of them to try and figure out how to do this thing right.  Ramblings of a Suburban Mom is one of my favorites.  She's a stay-at-home-mom (like me!), she has two little boys (like me!), and she's addicted to subscription boxes (like me!  Twinsies!).  She is, however, way advanced from where I am.  So if you want to see what a dedicated, successful blogger looks like, go check her out!  Because as you all know, I am an amateur.  A beautiful amateur with impeccable spelling and grammar, but still.  That only gets you so far.

Thursday Thoughts is a random compilation of my musings for the day.  And I have plenty.

- We FINALLY have a diagnosis for what's wrong with my car (the sensible, family, car-seat-equipped car).  For quite awhile it's been making a wub-wub-wub noise while I drive, which seemed to emanate from right under my feet.  And when I accelerate, it increases to a WUBBITY-WUBBITY-WUBBITY that makes it impossible to hear either 1) the radio or 2) the kids.  The verdict?  It's a wheel bearing.  And apparently, I have done the exact wrong thing in waiting to get it fixed.  Sorry, Mr. Mechanic, but I kinda had to wait until our tax refund arrived to fund major car repairs.  Thankfully, it's not as major as it could be. But I am under strict instructions to not drive the car any more than absolutely necessary.  And the part won't be in until Monday, so guess who has two thumbs and no weekend plans now?  THIS GIRL (picture me pointing at my chest with both thumbs).

- I love that the boys' school is still very involved with extracurricular activities like art and music.  In fact, for the next few weeks until Spring Break, the art and music teachers have been given the run of the school and have come up with an amazing array of activities.  One day, the kids have been asked to dress like rock stars.  Another day, parents are invited to come join their kids for either Art or Music class.  My personal favorite is the day they're encouraged to wear different patterns and dress as wildly as possible.  I'm already planning the outfits!  Oh, and they're doing a fundraiser that seems to be getting popular recently - a Soup Kitchen.  However, instead of feeding the homeless, they're inviting families to school one night, and serving us all soup in handmade bowls from local potteries for $10 a person.  We get to keep the bowls as a reminder to serve others, and the proceeds go to a local food pantry.  I LOVE THIS.  And yes, we'll be attending.

-  Dragon needs an attitude adjustment.  When he and Knight watch TV, I have them take turns picking what to watch.  Netflix is actually really awesome for this, because our "Recently Watched" column is just one big blob of kids' shows.  Even Dragon can point to the show he wants, even if he can't pronounce it.  And if it's his turn, he's fine.  But if he doesn't approve of Knight's selection, he throws a royal fit.  He just figured out where the Power button is on the TV and will try to turn it off rather than watch Mythbusters or Dora the Explorer.  Needless to say, he's been spending a lot of time in the corner.

- Of course, if I talk about Dragon, you know I'm going to talk about Knight.  And I am SO PROUD of him lately!  The poor kid seems to have inherited my ADD.  He has trouble paying attention in class, staying focused on tasks, and knowing when to be quiet and listen.  He recently had a pretty bad week, and as much as I hate having to be the Evil Queen, he lost all privileges for TV, games, and the iPad all weekend, and spent much of it in his room.  It seems to have worked, because for the past two weeks, he has come home with smiley faces in his agenda every day! (FYI, a smiley face is good.  A note is BAD)  So, good job, baby!  Thank you for making Mommy NOT dread the next parent-teacher conference!

This is Thursday, and these are my Thoughts.  What's on your mind?

Love, Leigh

Citrus Lane February 2013

My last Citrus Lane box... ah, so bittersweet.  It was one of my first subs, and I got a great deal on Groupon for three months.  That covered November, December, and January.  Then, I was able to locate a half-off code for this month.  Yup. I'm the cheap mom.

For $12.50? Sure.  For $25? Hmmm... nah.

Random Thoughts From Today (Feb 5th)

- I love watching Knight learn how to read.  He's not taking to it naturally, and has to sound out every last letter, but hearing him say "puh-ahhhh-tuh.... pat!" is nothing short of amazing.  I'm sure it'll click soon, and he'll be reading up a storm.  And I can't wait for that day.  I hope he enjoys reading as much as I do.

- Dragon has been super-cranky in preschool for the past few days.  I think it's because they switched from learning about dinosaurs to learning about teeth (dental hygiene, healthy snacks, all that fun stuff) and he is just not happy about this new lesson plan.

- The boys' school had a celebration for the 100th day of school today.  It was so cute!  They each had to bring in a baggie with 100 of "something" in it (thank goodness for the bag of mini marshmallows I found late last night) and Knight came home with a construction paper crown and a "100 different things" snack mix. So cute!

- I really don't like the days when I don't get mail.  I love mail, even when I get bills.  I know, it's weird, but I just love walking to the mailbox, opening it up, and seeing something... anything in there.  And on the days I don't get mail, I look like a crazy person, because I assume our mail carrier just hasn't been by yet and I walk out to the mailbox at least 5 times.

- Speaking of mail, I actually managed to go to the post office today with the boys, and they behaved!  Normally, I try to go there when the boys are in school.  For some reason, the post office drives them crazy - I think it's the confined space combined with nothing entertaining to look at.  I'm pretty pleased with both them and myself (Because obviously, it's my great parenting skills finally kicking in!).

- I can't watch anything intense or scary right before bed. If I do, I dream about it all. Night. LONG. I'm running from murderers (Bones/NCIS), running an election (West Wing), or just plain running (I have no idea which show brought that on, but not cool, Sandman.  Not cool.).  I have to watch something humorous and/or light-hearted if I want a good night's sleep.  Lately, it's been either Mythbusters or Dirty Jobs.  Thank goodness for back episodes on Netflix!

- I'm beyond excited for my first giveaway.  I'm up to 34 likes on Facebook, only 16 to go before I start up RaffleCopter! Check out the Contest Post for details!

Sorry it's nothing coherent today, it's just been... one of those days.  I should be back tomorrow with something better.  Especially if I get something exciting in the mail!

Love, Leigh

Attack of the Zombie Cake Pops!

I love being a crafty mom.  But every once in a while, a project comes along that is completely over my head.  It's always something that seems easy, but just blows up right in my face.  And one of those things is cake pops.  They look SO easy, and I've seen a million tutorials on Pinterest.  And of course, all of the tutorials have perfectly crafted cake pops that are now STARING INTO MY SOUL.  And they're mocking me.

It seemed so easy!  I had a kit with instructions and everything! They're Gingerbread Cake Pops that my hubby's aunt got for us.  Knight has been bugging me for days to make them.  Dragon, of course, just wanted the end result.  We had some free time today, so I decided to have some mommy/son time and make them with Knight.  Here's the box:

Simple, right?

Citrus Lane Review January 2013

I am so glad this box is here!  I always check the tracking website obsessively once I get my shipping email, and yesterday it said that my Citrus Lane box had been delivered.  I checked my front porch top to bottom, but no dice.  So I was very happy when I opened my front door this morning to find my box sitting there, all yellow and brown and pretty!  Ok, so technically it's not MY box, it's Dragon's.  But I get to open it first - Otherwise, there would be no pretty pictures for you all to see!

Like this! First glimpse inside!

Dragon Manners

I took the kids out to eat today.  For some reason, I always think it's going to be a fun outing.  Just a mom and her two boys, out for a meal! What could go wrong?  I have one polite, well-mannered child who selects a meal with minimal prompting, says "please" and "thank you" to the waitress, and plays quietly with a toy until the food comes.  Eating out with Knight is a pleasure, and has been since he was born.  My other child?  Well, let's just say that his manners could use a little... polishing.

I do everything I can to keep Dragon entertained.  We only go to family-friendly restaurants.  Sports bars are also a good bet, as the background level of noise is loud enough to drown out most of Dragon's roaring!   Both my purse and the diaper bag have a never-ending supply of dinosaurs, his favorite toy. I pack pre-meal snacks, as they work wonders in staving off a tantrum between ordering and being served.  And when all else fails, my iPhone is good for a few minutes of entertainment.

Today, I had to use every single one of my tricks to get us through lunch.  Family friendly restaurant? Check! (To protect the innocent, let's just say we went to the Multinational Home of Hotcakes).  I let him unwrap all 15 billion straws that the waitress brought.

And this was the monstrous result. My poor sweet tea. 

After that, I had the entire Cretaceous Period parade across the table.  And when that failed, a T-Rex app on my phone bought me a little time, but ultimately, nothing was working.  And on those days, you just eat your food and get out, as quickly and painlessly as possible.  He did settle down once the food appeared (I think that kid will do anything for bacon!) and I had a few minutes to eat my waffle in peace.  It was not the calm and peaceful lunch I imagined, but it got us fed.

Taking kids out to eat is hard.  In some long-forgotten part of your brain, you remember when going out to eat was fun.  Relaxing, even.  You remember the scintillating conversation, the leisurely pace of eating, the enjoyment of the evening.  And when you got home, no dishes!  Now, it's a different story.   There's always some drama, and when you get home, always some dishes.  But don't worry!  Just enjoy the time you have with your little ones, and before you know it, you'll be able to trust them enough to take them to a nice restaurant.  I have a goal set for a tantrum-free dinner at Olive Garden by Dragon's fifth birthday!  And in the meantime, drown your sorrows with a little extra maple syrup on your waffle.  I know I did.

Chivalry Is(n't) Dead

I was so excited when Knight was finally potty-trained.  Little did I know that it was only the start of a new challenge.  We are now engaged in the Epic Battle of the Toilet Seat.  Like many easily distracted 5-year-olds, Knight does his business and then runs right back out again, ready to play.  I always tell him to go back and wash his hands.  He does, but leaves me no indication of the surprise that lies in store for me.

You see, I'm trying to raise my sons right.  Someday in the far, far future, I want their wives to tell me about how Knight did the laundry without being asked, or how Dragon fixed dinner.  And while my husband and I generally split chores along traditional gender lines (I do the cooking, he mows the lawn), we also cross those lines quite a bit.  He loves doing bathtime and bedtime for the boys, and I now have an honorary advanced degree in assembling Ikea furniture.  My sons have a particularly strong female role model when my darling king has to leave for his job.  Because then, I take it all on.  Yesterday, I crawled underneath the house to check on the water heater.  I now know how to switch fuses and use a volt monitor to check for live wires.  I am woman, hear me roar.  And all that jazz.

So why does it bother me so much when Knight doesn't put the toilet seat down?  I know to look first, so I've never gotten that unexpectedly nasty shock. To me, it's a matter of respect.  Not just for women, but for others in general.  I'm teaching him to be compassionate.  To be respectful, to be kind.  And to me, the toilet seat is a glaring example of not thinking about others first.  So I'll remind him, again and again, as many times as it takes.

In fact, Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again, while expecting different results.  Well, there's no denying that Mr. Einstein was a genius, but by his definition, insanity and parenting are the same thing.  We tell our children the same things, over and over again, hoping that this time will be the one they listen!  And it works.  Knight says "please" and "thank you" all by himself now.  He can dress himself.  He can ride a bike. All because I (and the king) take the time to tell him as many times as it takes.  We show him, we teach him, and every time we do, we expect a different result.  

And someday, he will put the toilet seat down all by himself.  And I will be proud.  A little insane, maybe.  But mostly, proud.