The McMommy Diaries

Mother's Day Giveaway :: Win a Hallmark Postage-Paid Greeting Card Pack!

2011-05-02T13:49:00.004-04:00

As we get ready to recognize moms this Mother’s Day, Hallmark has partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to offer Postage-Paid Greetings – a line of cards that already include postage. Now, when you want to share a card, all you have to do is sign, seal and send! The postage is treated like a Forever stamp, and its value will always be equal to the price of a standard First-Class stamp, regardless of when it’s mailed.

In addition to Mother’s Day Postage-Paid Greetings, Hallmark offers more than 200 every day and seasonal designs too! Check out their other categories here: Postage-Paid Greetings.

Hallmark is graciously reserving a free card pack of these lovley Mother's Day greetings for one of my lucky readers as a giveaway!! Not only are they beautiful, but the postage is included and never expires! This is something you can use for years to come.

A Hallmark representative will ship this giveaway product directly to the winner.
Here's how you can enter this giveaway:
1. Follow my blog with GFC if you haven't already.
2. Think about a special person in your life you would nominate as mother of the year. Then, leave a comment in this post, as your entry, explaining why you feel she lives up to that title.

Additional giveaway entry opportunity:
1. You may place a second entry into this giveaway by Tweeting about this giveaway with the link to this post and hashtag's #giveaway & #mothersday. Be sure to include the link to your tweet in the comment entry or I cannot count it as an additional entry.

Make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you happen to be the lucky winner!
Good Luck!

The winner will be chosen and notified Thursday {5/5/11} morning.

Water For Elephants Recommendation

2011-04-23T09:17:00.000-04:00

The buzz this weekend is all about the opening of Water For Elephants, the movie based around author Sarah Greun's popular book. My sister recently read the book and turned me on to it. I started it a couple weeks ago, but with being so busy and part procrastinator, I wasn't making much headway on it. (not that it wasn't interesting, because the book is really amazing)

Anyway, my sister wanted to go to the opening last night, so I read and read and read my butt off so that I could finish the book before we went to see the movie together. I literally read 3/4ths of the book in the last two days. That's an accomplishment for me, especially since I have a 3 year old.

The book was GREAT, and the movie was BEAUTIFUL! The cast was simply perfect, what with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon as the leads. Be prepared, if you've already read the book, the movie has been greatly altered (dialogue's, certain scenes cut or inserted, character interactions, etc.) but it definitely, in no way, changed the magic of this great story.

So, Water For Elephants is my weekend recommendation. What an amazing and romantic story this is!

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-04-20T21:58:00.001-04:00

image: tumblr

Monday Blog Hop & Featured Hosts

2011-04-18T00:28:00.000-04:00

It's that time again... Monday Blog McHoppin'! There are NO RULES, but I'd love it if you followed the blogs in slots 1 (me) & 2/3 (the featured co-hosts). Most importantly, HAVE FUN HOPPIN! And come back again for your chance to be the featured blog co-host!

Today's hop is co-hosted by:

Mama Wanna Save
-and-
Marcy @ Life's Gristle!

Go ahead and check out their fab sites here!

Make sure to add your blog link for the chance to be next weeks co-host and have your button featured in the sponsors section of my sidebar all week! Featured blogs are chosen randomly @ Random.org

You can add the blog hop to your blog too with this code!

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-04-13T20:12:00.001-04:00

image: observando

Mom Coupons :: Whole Foods - Diapers, Kid Meals

2011-04-11T11:50:00.000-04:00

Diapers, Training Pants & Frozen Kid Meals - Expire 5/31/11

Here are some pretty neat coupons for all you moms out there. The
WHOLE FOODS MARKET, a natural and organic store, is one of my favorite places to shop for the little one. I am an avid organic believer, and although it is expensive, I try to at least provide as much organic food/products for my son as possible. This is why I love these coupon finds so much.

$2.00 off
any ONE (1) package 365 Everyday Value Diapers
or Training Pants

Two dollars off diapers is pretty good! And you can use it for your choice of size/type of diaper as long as it is a 365 Everyday brand! I've recently switched my son to a Chlorine Free, healthier material diaper. They look a lot different, but I find comfort in the fact that Josh is not being exposed to so many harsh chemicals.

$1.00 off
any TWO (2) Earth's Best Frozen Products

Earth's Best is also another great brand I've used. If Josh is going to eat a frozen meal, this is the brand I want him eating. We've tried these in the past and I very much approve. Some are organic, some aren't. You just have to read the markings on the box. But even if not, the mere fact they are sold in the Whole Foods market tells you they are more natural and less harmful to your child than other competing brands.

Take advantage of these neat coupons and
Print Your Coupons Here
***The opinions expressed in this post are my own, and mine alone. I recieved no compensation and do not represent this company in any way.

Monday Blog Hop :: Featured Co-Hosts!

2011-04-10T19:30:00.001-04:00

It's that time again... Monday Blog McHoppin'! There are NO RULES, but I'd love it if you followed the blogs in slots 1 (me) & 2/3 (the featured co-hosts). Most importantly, HAVE FUN HOPPIN! And come back again for your chance to be the featured blog co-host!

Today's hop is co-hosted by:

Natalie @ Blonde at Heart
-and-
Mary @ Sweeping Me!

Go ahead and check out their fab sites here!

Make sure to add your blog link for the chance to be next weeks co-host and have your button featured in the sponsors section of my sidebar all week! Featured blogs are chosen randomly @ Random.org

You can add the blog hop to your blog too with this code!

Funny Texts :: Kids DO the darndest things!

2011-04-10T10:02:00.000-04:00

Let me just start with a cute picture of my little terrorizer. He truly is a sweet boy, but he makes for some headaches and hard laughs too. I wanted to share a series of pretty funny text messages I sent out the other day {to my mom and 3 sisters}. This is our humor, funny or not, mature or not, it is what it is, ha ha! So here they are:

Text One
Watched two episodes of Buffy the Vampire slayer today on NetFlix with Joshua. [note: he's been sick with a fever and we've just been relaxing in bed] Ever since, he's been telling me he needs the "bite, bite, bite," which translates to mean he wants to watch Buffy, lol!

Text Two
Hilarious that we are laying down, getting ready for bed, and his [Joshua's] night time request is Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Ha!

Text Three
Is this a turd or a banana? One will never know lol. Josh just pulled this out of the pocket of his Crayola crayon table. Gross!

[picture phone image, sorry for poor quality]

Text Four
Nick [my husband] just cleaned out Harry Potter's bowl [Joshua's beta fish he named HP] because the water was much more cloudy than usual. He found macaroni noodles at the bottom mixed in with the rocks. So apparently Josh fed him mac and cheese! Go Josh!

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-04-06T08:16:00.000-04:00

image: lovequotesrus

Monday Blog Hop & Featured Hosts

2011-04-03T19:47:00.001-04:00

It's that time again... Monday Blog McHoppin'! There are NO RULES, but I'd love it if you followed the blogs in slots 1 (me) & 2/3 (the featured co-hosts). Most importantly, HAVE FUN HOPPIN! And come back again for your chance to be the featured blog co-host!

Today's hop is co-hosted by:

Rebecca @ From Mommy to Calm Insanity
-and-
Katy @ KdBuggie Boutique!

Go ahead and check out their fab sites here!

Make sure to add your blog link for the chance to be next weeks co-host and have your button featured in the sponsors section of my sidebar all week! Featured blogs are chosen randomly @ Random.org

You can add the blog hop to your blog too with this code!

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-03-30T07:30:00.007-04:00

image: the world of suh

Blog Hop :: Awards :: I'm Featured

2011-03-29T11:12:00.004-04:00

Lots to talk about today... First, I want to sincerely apologize to anyone looking for the McHoppin' Monday blog hop yesterday. I've been out of commission for about a week now and didn't get to post it.

Good news though... I'll be choosing TWO featured blogs next week {both to be featured on the April 4th link-up}!! So, be sure to check back for that. Link up and maybe you'll be chosen!

Next, I've been chosen, not once, but twice, for the Stylish Blogger Award!! I just wanted to say how much I love all my bloggy friends! You guys are awesome and have made me feel so welcome in this blogging community.

So, a HUGE thank you goes to Thrify Mom Spot and One Blonde's Ramblings for passing me this fab award! And congrat's on the award to you guys too!

Last, but not least... I've been featured on Sweeping Me!! I was the featured co-host of the Monday Madness blog hop. So bummed I missed it on the actual day, but no less thankful to Mary for having me on her blog! Check out her blog hop every Monday too. Let's link-up!

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-03-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

image: tattoo design gallery

McHoppin' Tuesday Giveaway Link-Up!

2011-03-21T20:00:00.000-04:00

As part of my mission to move The McMommy Diaries in the giveaway direction, I really wanted to start a giveaway link-up. I hope you'll join me in spreading the word {and the button, hehe} so we can all benefit from finding some great new giveaways! This should be fun!

So go ahead, link-up! Or simply hop through the giveaway links and attempt to win some awesome goods!!

You can add the giveaway link-up to your blog too with this code!

McHoppin' Monday Blog Hop :: Featured Blog Co-Host!

2011-03-20T20:00:00.048-04:00

Today's hop is co-hosted by Heather @ Lovin My Little Ladies!
Check out her fab site here. And she's also on Twitter!

Make sure to add your blog link for the chance to be next weeks co-host and have your button featured in the sponsors section of my sidebar all week! Featured blogs are chosen randomly @ Random.org

You can add the blog hop to your blog too with this code!

You can find me Hoppin' here today too!

St Patty's Day :: Baby Photo Shoot Flashback

2011-03-17T18:51:00.001-04:00

These were taken for Joshua's 1st Saint Patrick's Day after being discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care after his 5 long month battle. As you can see we went a little overboard having fun with him {dressing him up for every occasion}! But after what we'd just been through, we deserved it, right? LOL ;)

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-03-16T06:30:00.005-04:00

image: angiemarie96

My chest cold remedies :: and the Chest Cold King!

2011-03-15T14:20:00.005-04:00

The Chest Cold King is none other than my little trooper, Joshua! The former 1 lb micro preemie with lingering Chronic Lung Disease. Yes, he's sick again! Even with those odds against him, let me tell you how strong this kid is!!

Poor kiddo!

For the first 3 years of Joshua's life we sheltered him from colds, flu's, everything sickness related. That let his lungs have the time to start healing and growing new, healthy lung tissue. And we did a good job living indoors for all that time {only minor hair pulling involved, haha}. But now Josh started the special needs ESE Pre-K program at the local elementary school and he gets every cold, turned respiratory illness, out there. Way to make moms heart skip a beat, lol. Only because the NICU repeatedly told us how respiratory sickness, especially RSV, could potentially put Josh back on a ventilator, eek!

But Josh repeatedly shows them who's boss and fights off every single thing he gets like a champ! Including this years month long bout of pneumonia!! So, how do we handle the repeated chest colds you ask?

This is how we roll in the McFadden home.

1. Gotta have liquid fever meds to add to thickened water {b/c Josh has an aspirating issue - all liquids must be nectar thick}.

2. But wanted to try the chewables to see if they would work {just worry his spitty pain med saliva will be aspirated}.

3. Notice those are the CVS brands. I started getting the generics during the big Tylenol recall days and just never stopped since.

4. Off brand vapor rub and the lifesaving Vicks waterless vaporizer/pad machine. This thing is soooo cool, and awesome! The whole room will smell like vapor rub and it really works, with no mess!

5. Immuno Plus, which is a must. I got this from my hollistic Chiropractor and it is amazing! It's natural herbs to support the immune system and my husband took it and proved to me it works. He used to be a heavy smoker {totally gross, lol} so he is prone to really bad bronchitis. This stuff nipped his last chest cold in the bud so fast our jaws both dropped.

6. Eucalyptus shower reliever. {the name brand is much better for this one, I just have a hard time finding it} This is a total must have too. Throw one tablet in a hot running shower, close yourself and your sick kiddo inside and wait for the bathroom to steam up. You'll be breathing in humid, remedied steam in no time! This beats the heck out of the humidifier, which scares the heck out of me b/c of the bacteria risk. For a bad chest cold I do a steam bath {what Joshua started calling it} at least 3 or more times a day.

7. Last, but not least, I am a firm believer in the rectal temp. I know it's the least fun thing anyone wants to have to do {mom or sick kiddo} but for some reason, no other method of getting a temp has ever been accurate with Josh. I've had a nurse tell me he has a 98.6 temp when I clearly knew he was burning up. When I asked her to do it rectally, it was 102.9! And he's even had a temp so high he was hallucinating and the thermometer said it was only 101 before {rectally showed 104.8}. Hence my attatchment to this horribly uncomfortable way of doing it :(

***This post should not be taken as medical advice. This is simply my own opinion.***

McHoppin' Monday Blog Hop :: Featured Blog Co-Host!

2011-03-13T20:00:00.035-04:00

It's that time again... Monday Blog McHoppin'! There are NO RULES, but I'd love it if you followed the blogs in slots 1 (me) & 2 (the featured co-host). Most importantly, HAVE FUN HOPPIN! And come back for your chance to be the featured blog co-host!

Today's hop is co-hosted by Tawna @ Random Thoughts!
Check out here site here. And she has some pretty cool other blogs too!

Make sure to add your blog link for the chance to be next weeks co-host and have your button featured in the sponsors section of my sidebar all week! Featured blogs are chosen randomly @ Random.org

You can add the blog hop to your blog too with this code!

Friday Finds :: Sweet Lily Design!

2011-03-11T11:11:00.001-05:00

This week I'm sharing a super fab Etsy store with you: Sweet Lily Design.
I found it last week and I keep it bookmarked for that perfect occasion.

At Sweet Lily you can find the prettiest custom made vintage picture frames. One of my favorite things about these frames is that you can customize them for a more personalized look with monograms and the mixing and matching of ribbons and embellishments! All you have to do is Etsy conversation her for details.

Frames & monograms are real wood and come in 6 different finishes!

Something I think is really neat is Sweet Lily Design creations are made by a mom just like us. After working as a kitchen and bath designer for 4 years, she needed to find a way to stay-at-home with her new baby girl, Lily, while still channeling her creativity. Thus, Sweet Lily Design was born!

One more quick thing I love about this Etsy store is among the picture frames {that are super perfect for gifts of all sorts, christenings, birthdays, baby showers, etc.} she also makes some other really neat personalized things. My fave is the personalized growth charts!

Totally cute! And so perfect for gifts on a variety of occasions. I love it. Check it out and see what else she makes :)

You know you're a blogging amateur when...

2011-03-10T13:29:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I was SUPER enthused, MEGA excited, and BORDERLINE cheerleader over the fact that the Mom Blog Network highlighted my post on the Leprechaun In A Mirror Craft I did. {in reality, it was probably a random draw that put me on their front page, lol} I learned this through a tweet that I saw mentioning me:

momblognetwork Mom Blog Network
Hot Post: @MelanieMcMommy teaches you how to make a leprechaun in a mirror. http://ow.ly/4aszA

My jaw nearly dropped when I saw the words, "Hot Post" and my Twitter user name together, lol. Needless to say, I scurried over to their main page and not only was my post scrolling through the post of the day feeder, it was also listed under the "Hottest Posts" tab.

So, I'll complete the punch line now. You know you're a blogging amateur when... a small, simple, and probably random {humble} thing like that puts a smile on your face and makes your week! Yes, I said week, not day :)

Much thanks and appreciation to the Mom Blog Network! {in true blogging amateur fashion, hehe}

Wednesday Wisdoms

2011-03-09T06:30:00.001-05:00

image: thoughts of mine

Leprechaun in The Mirror :: Saint Patrick's Day Craft for Kids

2011-03-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

This is a really fun and festive craft for kids to do this Saint Patrick's Day. I saw a picture of this in a magazine, studied how it appeared to be created, and then went to town making it myself. {Of course I changed it a bit to be what I thought was "cuter" lol} I wanted to share it with you because Joshua had so much fun with it.

Leprechaun in The Mirror
Saint Patrick's Day Craft for Kids

{all images enlarge}

Supplies:
*Foam Sheets {your choice of colors}
*Craft/Foam Glue
*Plastic Mirror {I used a small locker mirror}
*and Scissors

I chose yellow (2 sheets for background), sparkly green (1 sheet for hat & clover), brown (1 sheet for hair & beard), and black (1 sheet for strip on hat).
*** Tricky Tip: Choose 2 foam sheets with adhesive backing as your background. It's so much easier to just peel the back off of one sheet and stick it to the other.

Step by Step:
1. Take one of your yellow sheets {adhesive sheet, adhesive side down} and glue or tape the mirror onto it.

2. Then, take your 2nd yellow {adhesive} sheet and cut a circle no bigger than the size of the mirror into it. Note: You want to cut the hole towards the bottom of the sheet so your beard will hang off.

3. Now, peel the plastic off the adhesive backing of your 2nd sheet, line the two sheets up {with the circle in your top sheet exposing the mirror underneath} and stick the 2nd onto the 1st.

4. Trim, with your scissors, any excess from the top and bottom of both sheets to make even with each other.

5. Next, cut out your hat from your green foam sheet. Cut a black strip from your black foam sheet and a square from your left over yellow sheet. Attach as shown above.

6. Last, cut your hair and beard out and glue all pieces together similar to the completed image below. Let dry approx 15 minutes and your child can now see him or herself as a Lucky Leprechaun in The Mirror.

*** I used my leftover green sparkly foam to cut out a 3 leaf clover for decoration. Cut 3 hearts and a stem. Arrange accordingly and viola!

There you have it! A simple and fairly cheap Saint Patrick's Day craft for kids that they will love this Saint Patty's Day! I hope you and your little ones enjoy!

McHoppin' Monday Blog Hop :: Facebook & Twitter Too :: and Featured Blog Co-Host!

2011-03-06T18:17:00.006-05:00

I'm trying something different this week. Now you can link up your blog, your Facebook and your Twitter pages! Be sure to enter your url's in the correct linky. I only ask that you please follow the blogs in slots 1 (me) & 2 (the featured co-host) and most importantly, HAVE FUN HOPPIN!

Today's hop is co-hosted by Jess @ Pigtails and Bowties!
Check out here site here. She is pretty cool!

Make sure to add your blog link for the chance to be next weeks co-host and have your button featured in the sponsors section of my sidebar all week! Featured blogs are chosen randomly @ Random.org

Share this blog hop on your blog:
get the InLinkz code

Share this facebook hop on your blog:
get the InLinkz code

Share this twitter hop on your blog:
get the InLinkz code

Passing the torch :: The Versatile Blogger Award!

2011-03-05T22:03:00.002-05:00

Leslie @ Simple Sweetness deserves a BIG thank you for passing this award on to me! Thank you Leslie! That was so nice!! Of course there are rules, so here are 7 more things about me. And the awesome bloggers I chose to pass the torch too!

Rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers, or less, up to you.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

7 more things about me:
1. I was a cheerleader in high school.

2. A close friend of mine passed away 3 months after high school graduation in a horrible car accident.

3. The most recent CD I purchased was Adele's 21, out last week. And I can't wait to get Lykke Li's new one too!

4. I went to see Beastly with my 3 sister's {sister's night out} last night and I actually liked Vanessa Hudgens in it. That surprised me, lol.

5. For the 11 days I was in the hospital {before and after Joshua's birth} in the high risk maternity unit and the ICU, my husband didn't leave my side once. Never once left the hospital doors. And he slept on the most uncomfortably hard reclining chair every night. That's when I really knew I had been right about him all along and that he is a keeper!

6. I love Unsolved Mysteries and Forensic Files, but I am way too scared to watch them, 1) at night, and 2) by myself! LOL

7. I got my first gray hair at age 24 when Joshua was in the NICU! And, unfortunately for me, one turned into two and two turned into three and so on and so on... arggg!

And I'm passing this cool award on to:
1. A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife
2. Fash Boulevard
3. Her Good Intentions
4. Mamma Town
5. From Mommy to Calm Insanity

Make sure you check out these awesome bloggers too!

The McMommy Diaries

Mother's Day Giveaway :: Win a Hallmark Postage-Pa​id Greeting Card Pack!

Water For Elephants Recommendation

Wednesday Wisdoms

Monday Blog Hop & Featured Hosts

Wednesday Wisdoms

Mom Coupons :: Whole Foods - Diapers, Kid Meals

Monday Blog Hop :: Featured Co-Hosts!

Funny Texts :: Kids DO the darndest things!

Wednesday Wisdoms

Monday Blog Hop & Featured Hosts

Wednesday Wisdoms

Blog Hop :: Awards :: I'm Featured

Wednesday Wisdoms

McHoppin' Tuesday Giveaway Link-Up!

McHoppin' Monday Blog Hop :: Featured Blog Co-Host!

St Patty's Day :: Baby Photo Shoot Flashback

Wednesday Wisdoms

My chest cold remedies :: and the Chest Cold King!

McHoppin' Monday Blog Hop :: Featured Blog Co-Host!

Friday Finds :: Sweet Lily Design!

You know you're a blogging amateur when...

Wednesday Wisdoms

Leprechaun in The Mirror :: Saint Patrick's Day Craft for Kids

McHoppin' Monday Blog Hop :: Facebook & Twitter Too :: and Featured Blog Co-Host!

Passing the torch :: The Versatile Blogger Award!

Mother's Day Giveaway :: Win a Hallmark Postage-Paid Greeting Card Pack!