Just One More Makes 4

Crazy Haired Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:16:00 +0000

My boys have crazy haircuts, because they want them! I absolutely LOVE the individuality!

Unique and Joyful Mother's Day Gifts for Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:02:00 +0000

Mother's Day will not be complete without Mothers Day gifts. This means that we need to find a unique gift that we haven't given to our mom before. It can be hard to come up with a different gift from all the gifts we gave in the past years. In giving gifts to your mom, you should always remember to personalize it. This means that you can give a similar gift from the one you gave in the past, but the personalization can make it extra special.

Sweets and Cakes
Giving sweets and cakes is always a great choice. These gifts are right even to those who are on a diet as long as you choose the ones that are sugar free, fat free, or low calorie. Again, remember to personalize, so choose the cake that you know is their favorite flavor or type. In order to make the cake extra special, you can add a photo on the cake. There are many bakers today that will allow you to supply a photo, which they will convert into an edible art. You can get your mom's favorite picture or a picture with the entire family.

Wine and Chocolate
Wine and chocolate can be a perfect gift to those who love the finer things in life. When giving wine and chocolate, you might want to make your own gift basket for this. Creating a gift basket on your own will allow you to personalize the wine and chocolate according to your mom's taste. You can place the bottle of fine wine at the center of the basket and surround it with her favorite chocolates. You can also personalize the chocolates. Don't forget to include a Mother's Day card with your personal message of thankfulness and love for her.

Stuffed Animals
Who said that stuffed animals are only for kids? Age doesn't matter when giving stuffed animals. There are stuffed animals that always remind us of those touching times in our lives. You can always give a teddy bear to your mom, but it doesn't have to be a generic gift. There are unique teddy bears that can represent your mom. Find a big bear with two little teddies, and you have a mother and children. You can also place a note on the baby bear's hand for mom. You can get other stuffed animals depending on your mom's preference. If she likes dogs, then get some stuffed dogs.

Mothers Day gifts are doesn't really have to be difficult to find or expensive. You just need to personalize your gifts in order to express how you truly feel for your mom.

Another Amazing Playground Day

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:59:00 +0000

I am loving this weather! Not too hot but not too cool either. The breeze is simply perfect too. We spend a lot of time at this playground:

Fun at the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:56:00 +0000

I love when the kids play together and use their imaginations. This always seems to happen when we are out of our 'element' - like when we go to the park:

Hold Onto Good Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:43:00 +0000

Guest written by our friend Trent Horton

I think I actually have the website, www.DirectStarTV.com, book marked on my computer at home. I did it a few months ago when I was first considering getting a different TV service set up at our house. I think I came across it and realized how nice it would be to have installed. It had a lot of local channels available and at a really good price compared to what we were getting using our other provider.

I am loyal to companies and providers when they are worth being loyal to. I am definitely loyal to this company now. Any time I have needed help, it has been so easy to talk to a person about the problem I was having. The bill is not high at all and I definitely think I am getting more than what I am paying for. I love that feeling. It is a sign that you have a real deal and it is definitely rare to find that nowadays it seems.

Once you find a good deal, you have to stay loyal to it as long as it works and so far, this one is working. Thank goodness for that!

We're Back

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:15:00 +0000

This month went super fast!!! It's been about 3 weeks since we got back from our DisneyMoon and even though my focus is back to baby things (been checking out all sorts of adorable personalized baby gifts lately) I still can't help but feel homesick for Disney.

We go again in October, but until then, I'll have to get m fix watching Disney videos, like this one - Wishes Fireworks Show. Look for Tinkerbell at the 1:30 mark!

Time Alone

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:08:00 +0000

CJ and I are leaving the kids with my mom and grandma for a week. This is the first time since having all 3 children that we will be going away with out them.

I know I will miss them tremendously but we are going on our honeymoon - or "DisneyMoon" rather :) CJ and I leave for Disney on Monday, sans the kids - for our "DisneyMoon". Jealous? Feel free to come to Disney with us and take a break from reality! We are staying at the Beach Club Villas:

Get a FREE Crinkle Bear

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

When you place an order with Baby Stuff Gifts you will get a free crinkle bear too!

An adorable pastel pancake™ bear crinkle by north american bear co. makes a wonderful addition to any personalized baby gifts you give!

This offer is good through March 2012

Teenage Thieves

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:14:00 +0000

Guest post from: Constance Rodgers

Last week, we had a break in and theft at the country club where I work. The perpetrators entered through a side door in the golf shop. The first thing they did was attempt to open the cash register, but could not. It did not have money in it anyway. They did take some golf clubs and shoes and golf shirts.

What they probably did not realize while grabbing and stuffing the items into their heavy duty garbage bags, is that every item they stole has our club logo on it! That is the funny part of the incident, if you had to find one! It will be difficult for them to sell those items without being questioned. The sad part is that they were teenage boys - boys who obviously had not been taught right from wrong at home.

Thank goodness we have ADT Security Cameras. Our management and police, with cooperation from the security company, were able to see them in the act and know who they are searching to arrest. For the boys’ sake, I hope they are apprehended and sent to juvenile detention for education and rehabilitation.

Racetrack Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:10:00 +0000

The boys (almost) completely destroyed the racetrack my dad got them for Yule. It sat in pieces in the basement for a while. Finally yesterday Dante put what he could back together. He did such an awesome job for being only 6 years old!

Love These Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:27:00 +0000

I love seeing notes like this, makes me feel like I am doing my job as a mom and doing it right. My daughter wrote this:

Sister's Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Content by Mauricio Benson

When my sister had her baby I had to get the best of the clear internet plans for myself because with me being on the road all the time I needed to be able to answer her emails and get her pictures at the drop of a hat. I love my sister and this is the first time I’ve become an aunt so I want to be part of it once and for all and not miss a thing just because I wasn’t at my desk.

I love my sister so much and I know that it’s only a matter of time before she has a second one so I talked her into setting up a blog which has made my life SO much easier. She just posts pictures online when she can and I get to see what little Jayden is up to – it’s the simplest little strategy but you know, at the end of the day it works for my family and our crazy hectic lifestyle and that’s all that matters!

Fun at Chuck E Cheese's

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:33:00 +0000

CJ and I are not a fan of Chuck E. Cheese's - the food is sub-par and way over priced. However, the kids love it there and my dad enjoys taking them there on occasion. Last night was one of those occasions.

Olivia on some contraption while my dad watches:

Finding a Suitable Bunk Bed

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:25:00 +0000

We are still at three kids, but we are tinkering around with the idea again of having another baby. The big issue right now is money – of course! In addition, this house only has three bedrooms so the boys already share a room. If we had the money right now, we could turn the attic into a bedroom.

Even with an additional bedroom, two kids will still have to share a room and I really think it should be the boys. They are only 14 months apart and have always shared a room. Finding the perfect bunk bed for them is very important.

I looked online, after searching the stores around here and being extremely disappointed, mostly with the prices. When I came across this Kinder Bunk Bed I instantly thought it was perfect for them!

It is a day bed that features a pull out trundle guest bed, ideal for when we have company, without the need for another bed taking up room in the meantime. I also think they will love playing here; it kind of reminds me of a secret fort.

So of course I also saw a bed I think would be great for Olivia. It is this Ohio futon bunk bed.

It is a single top bunk with a double ‘fold-away’ futon beneath and can be easily turned into a single bed with separate sofa. This type of bunk bed is perfect for when a friend sleeps over!
Having lots of children but living in an average home requires thinking outside the box.

Getting a bunk bed that fits my kids’ personalities is my goal I found these beds online at Dreams.co.uk and just seeing what they have available has given me some interesting bunk bed ideas!

Husband Hates the Atlanta

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays

My husband hates Atlanta. He grew up in a small city and has always loved the feel of a small city better than a big one. He was use to feeling safe everywhere you went and his family didn’t even lock their doors.

It is hard for me to imagine feeling that safe anywhere. I love the city, but I can’t imagine leaving my doors unlocked or being without an Altanta home SECURITY system. My husband feels safer with the alarm, but I can tell he still hasn’t gotten used to living here. It is hard to see him so worried and unhappy.

When we first moved here, I thought he would get used to it and everything would be fine. After years of living here, I am starting to wonder if we should move. I love my husband more than anyone in this world and his happiness is important to me. I am sure I will miss the city and all of my friends, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices. This will probably be my biggest one.

Gift Baskets for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:34:00 +0000

If you are looking for a something special for baby's first Christmas and just can't decide what to get, consider baby gift baskets as they are always an excellent choice.

There are all sorts of useful items in personalized baby gift baskets and of course, they come all wrapped up in a nice little package. I found this one at Baby Stuff Gifts:

If you "LIKE" Baby Stuff Gifts on Facebook you will receive a coupon code for 10% off!

Not Looking Forward to Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:48:00 +0000

Here comes Winter and I am so not ready for it. Heck, it Already snowed once, over Halloween weekend! Yes, it snowed in Pennsylvania in OCTOBER. I am not only not ready for Winter, I am not prepared either. We seriously do not even have a decent snow shovel.

I really want to get a dependable snowblower for this season. My husband wants to start taking care of my mom's sidewalks and driveway since she has trouble doing it. He has a back condition called degenerative disc disease so shoveling is not a good idea, using a snowblower is much better.

So many people I know are already prepared for Winter because of the snow storm we had in October; they have already gone out and bought salt for the sidewalks, shovels and snowblowers. Not us, we are the best family when it comes to procrastination, lol. I do not even have boots for the kids OR myself. Heck, I do not even have a winter coat yet for myself!

Thankfully, I work from home so I should not have to head out in the bad weather too often this Winter. One thing I hate to do is drive in the snow!

Get 10% Off Personalized Baby Gift Baskets!

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:41:00 +0000

"LIKE" Baby Stuff Gifts on Facebook and receive a coupon code for 10% off personalized baby gift baskets and more!

Baby Stuff Gifts actually has a lot of precious baby gifts to choose from and all can be personalized!

Mom-to-Be

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:54:00 +0000

Guest written by our friend Gladys Fuentes

I am about to become a mother. I am so excited about this new step in life, but I am also terrified. I have never been the most responsible person and this will be the biggest responsibility of my life. I have been trying to prepare myself and my home for all the changes.

First, I decided to cancel all plans I had for after the baby arrives. I need to get my priorities straight and know the baby comes first. Second, I called All Home Security to have a system installed in the house. I want to make sure my baby is always safe. And last, I called my mom. My mom has been the biggest influence on my life and I need to make sure she is going to be here to help me raise my baby. I think she did a pretty good job raising me and while I know she has taught me enough to do this on my own, I need her.

My life is about to completely change, but I can’t wait for it to happen.

My Own Office Space is Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:06:00 +0000

I have been thinking about expanding my business area to include rented office space--to give me an 'official' work space. I love my children dearly, but there are days I cannot get anything done because it is constant noise in my house and there are constant interruptions all day long.

Of course, after figuring in cost to rent the space and the cost for utilities, my brain went right to design. I definitely want a sign with my brand/logo on it so I have been looking for places that specialize in office signs you can customize for businesses. I personally would prefer to have brass lettering when customizing the sign. I think branding is so important when it comes to a business. The more your brand gets noticed, the more it is recognized by the public and that is what brings in clients - if you have a good reputation.

We are in Walt Disney World right now and I am noticing the brands and signs all over here, especially at the resorts. It is definitely interesting to see how unique each is.

Baby Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:12:00 +0000

CJ and I are actually considering tying the knot...we've been living together since Olivia was 19 months old. We have both been married before so neither one of us really wanted to do it again, but...we might!

In March we are going to Disney sans the kids. We just might make that little getaway a honeymoon :D

We are staying at the Polynesian Resort because that is our absolute favorite Disney resort! Even though Bay Lake Tower is our home DVC resort, the Poly just feels like home :D

(photo credit)

For Another Baby Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:43:00 +0000

I of course LOVE these personalized baby gift baskets simply because of the celestial theme! This site never lets me down!

There is one for a boy:

There is one for a girl:

Another baby shower is on the horizon and I already know I am going to be getting one of these!Or both of these :D

A Happy Day Indeed

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Cj’s grandparents live out of state and recently he has been thinking about sending them to live in a senior care facility. His grandparents have lived in the same home since before CJ was born so this has been a hard decision for him. Unfortunately, he has to travel back and forth a lot to help take care of them and the frequency of the trips has increased over the last year.

Today, I found a New Jersey elder care company that offers in-home assistance to elderly people. The company sends qualified employees to the home to help with just about any medical or living need an elderly person might have. These scheduled visits would drastically reduce the amount of traveling CJ must do to help take care of his grandparents.

It isn’t that he doesn’t want to help but we do not live very close and it’s a hardship on our family financially. We have decided to try providing this in-home assistance as a trial to see if it helps. I know CJ wants to do everything he can to avoid sending his grandparents to a senior living facility. I’ll post any updates on costs, insurance assistance and if it actually helps.

Getting Tired of Video Games

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:12:00 +0000

During the Holidays last year, CJ and I decided to purchase an XBox 360 for the kids. We liked the Kinnect option because it would keep the kids active when it was either too hot out or too cold out for the them to play. Well, CJ and I both regret this decision. They sit and play Plants Vs. Zombies. It's not a motion game so they are just sitting on their butts.

I've decided to restrict all access to video games for the time being as I've recently invested in a bunch of educational toys for kids. We are huge Disney buffs so I invested in a lot of toys that teach about animals, such as the Animal Kingdom playset. We have also invested in a lot of toys that challenge the memory. I think it is important that children have fun but I also think it is important that my children also remain challenged and looking at a bunch of pixels on a television just does not seem challenging to me.

In fact, I'd like to take the television and throw it out of the window! We try to limit television watching but unfortunately, just like most parents, Spongebob usually wins out!

I'm Not a Fan of Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Blogging Queen) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:08:00 +0000

Never mind the freezing cold, ridiculous ice and crazy snow patterns on the East coast during the winter months. The real dangers are three children that won't go outside when it is below 60-degrees. It gets really nasty here and we are always left wondering what to do with the children on the days where we can go out.

Playing outside just doesn’t happen and our finished basement…you know, the one designed just for the children ends up becoming “boring” after a while. Eventually, the children look to us for their entertainment.

CJ told me about a place that has indoor activities for kids which sounds perfect for those cold winter days approaching. We like arcade places and things of the such, but they offer little in the way of learning. Finding a place where the kids can learn and have fun means, we can feel our dollars are well spent.

As much as I hate getting into a car on icy roads, when January rolls around, I’ll do anything to get my children out of the house and stimulated even if it is just for a few hours. After all, it’s my sanity and Cj’ that’s at stake here.