The Mommy Vine

Win a Loop-2-Loop Belt!

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Over the holiday we were in Miami, and I took the opportunity to try out Loop-2-Loop™ belts on my little boy Mo, as he would be wearing lots of shorts, with belt loops. The pair pictured is a pair that when previously worn would fall down to his hips exposing his underwear elastic, and although I’m fond of his GAP undies, I didn’t think the world needed to know that. The Loop-2-Loop™ belt worked stunningly! The product was easy to use and it is adjustable ensuring that my little guy will get not just a season or two of wear from this belt, but be able to wear it much longer. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him wearing his Loop-2-Loop™ belt on his first day of Kindergarten, and still be wearing it when he begins first grade in 2010! Mo really liked his belt. His comment when I first put it on was “Wow, what a AWESOME belt!” He liked that it didn’t look like his other belts, and I liked that he could still unbuckle his shorts when he had to use the restroom.

Loop-2-Loop™ belts come in various colors and are available in two sizes. Mo who is four years old and wears a size 5T wore size B which fits waists 16" 21".

Wondering what exactly is a Loop-2-Loop™ belt? Here’s the description from their website:

A Loop-2-Loop™ is a buckle-free, adjustable belt that doesn’t cross the tummy area of the child. It is fed thru the belt loops around the back of the pants and attached to the front loops, leaving the zipper and front button area clear. The pants can be unfastened and fastened without having to undo and redo the belt. And the pants stay up! They are great for toddlers, pre-schoolers, kindergarteners and children with disabilities. Loop-2-Loop™ belts solve several problems:
Belt buckles that poke into the tummy area
Belts that are too hard to ‘undo’ quickly enough when potty-training calls
Belts that can’t quickly be undone when a diaper really needs changing!
Belts that have the excess length to fuss with after they are tightened
Once the Loop-2-Loop™ is attached to your child’s favorite pants you will have a comfortable and convenient solution to all these problems. The belt can even remain on the pants when you send them through the wash! They are colorfast and UV fade resistant.

Necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes, and it rang true for the mom inventor of the Loop-2-Loop™ belts when she was faced with the dilemma of having a son who hated wearing a belt with a buckle, but also couldn’t keep his pants from falling down around his waist without one. The solution a buckle-less buckle, and voila Loop-2-Loop™ was born! It’s been eight years since her first creation, and after some trial and error and a few modifications she decided to market her product. I wish her all the success with her growing business, and highly recommend the Loop-2-Loop™ belt for any mother facing the same dilemma!

Loop-2-Loop™ has generously offered up 2 belts to two lucky winners!

How to enter:

1.)Write a blog about this contest, and place my button or a link to my blog on your blog/website. (If you do so, let me know, and I'll return the favor.) Come back here and leave a comment linking to your blog. If you added a button send me an email with your code, if you added a link, I'll add your link in myself.

2.) Check out the Loop-2-Loop™ website, and tell me what city and state they are located in.

3.)Link to Loop-2-Loop™ or post their banner on your blog or webpage. (The code for their banner will be at the end of this post.)

4.)Twitter about this contest, and comeback leaving me the link to your twitter. For each time you Twitter come back, and you’ll gain a new entry.

5.)Subscribe to my blog either via email or feeder, leave a comment telling me you have. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me so.

If you don't have a blog but want to enter anyway - choose option's 2 & 4 - be sure to include your email in your comment.

Contest ends January 18, 2009 at 11:59 P.M. Winners will be chosen using http://random.org/

Link to Loop-2-Loop

Went in for ice cream came out with...

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:46:00 +0000

So my husband, our kids, and I went into our neighborhood Wal-Mart today to get some ice cream. Just ice cream. Nothing else. Then once in the store the spell that Wal-Mart seems to cast upon us every time we visit quickly took hold. I suddenly remembered that I had to bake cookies for a playgroup tomorrow and wouldn't it be great if they were in cute Christmasy shapes - and NO, I didn't already have Christmas cookie cutters because I'd given them to Mo to use with his play-doh. I offered to wash them but Prince Charming was completely grossed out by using play-doh cookie cutters (even as I reminded him that play-doh was completely non-toxic.)

Then of course I would need Christmasy plates, cups, and napkins to compliment the beautiful cookie creations I would make.

Next came freshener, because... well I didn't have a really good reason, except that I absolutely love those AirWick plugin oil things. While I was at it, I added in a few Glade Christmasy scented candles.

Then of course Prince Charming being the practical one asked if I needed milk, butter, etc. I replied, "Actually, I do! Boy what would I do with out you?"

To which he replied, "Come home with a bunch of ~~crap~~ stuff we can't eat."

Long story short, we went in for a half gallon of Bryers, came out with $92.00 worth of nothing much.

Anyone know the counter spell?

Frankly I think its the nice greeters who are responsible.

BTW - those beautiful cookie creations aren't so beautiful - but they are yummy!

Win from ULooked!

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:12:00 +0000

I love giving gifts (and of course receiving them) but for me the best kinds of gifts are ones that are personal. What better way to show someone that much thought was put into their gift then to give them a personalized item?

If you feel as I do, or love the idea of having something personalized for yourself or your children, then ULooked Personalized Gifts is the company for you. ULooked is a mother owned and operated company based out of Miami, Florida that provides a number of personalized gifts and services. As the owner of ULooked, Lulie has always loved personalized items from simple towels to an engraved piece of jewelry. One day while shopping online for just such an item the idea occurred to her, that she should start her own business offering the types of items she both loves to give, own, and receive as gifts, and so ULooked was born. She spent months researching vendors and trying out products creating her catalog of wonderful personalized items. ULooked has an extensive line of over 1000 products which ensures that you will be able to find something for every personality and in every price point. ULooked is also a company that specializes in great customer service and attention to detail. Don’t fret if you don’t reside in Sunny Florida because ULooked will ship their products anywhere. Their product line includes keepsakes like jewelry boxes, fun items like personalized aprons or bibs, and beautiful jewelry products like baby bracelets, charm bracelets, and necklaces, they even offer personalized lunch boxes!
My favorite pieces were the charms and key rings. They are both cute and elegant, not to mention made from high quality sterling silver.

I am pleased to announce that ULooked has generously provided two items from their catalog to offer up as prizes to two of my readers!

The first prize is a sterling silver made in the U.S.A. heart shaped charm. This beautiful charm can be personalized with up to two children’s names, and a cute little boy or girl, both or one of each. For the animal lover a dog or cat can be added with your pet’s name. The charm you win will include one boy or girl and one name (you have the option of adding another boy or girl, and name at your cost.)

The second prize is a sterling silver heart shaped keychain which can be personalized with up to four alphabet block beads and includes one dangle.

Contest is open to U.S. residents only.

If you just can't wait and want to place an order do so and enter PROMO15 at checkout to receive 15% of your purchase!

How to enter:

You have five chances to win. Each chance requires a new comment.

1.)Write a blog about this contest, and place my button or a link to my blog on your blog/website. (If you do so, let me know, and I'll return the favor.) Come back here and leave a comment linking to your blog. If you added a button send me an email with your code, if you added a link, I'll add your link in myself.

2.)Go to ULooked and tell me what is your favorite product. Leave a comment letting me know which item you would choose to buy for yourself or give as a gift.

3.)Link to ULooked or post their banner on your blog or webpage. (The code for their banner will be at the end of this post.)

4.)Twitter about this contest, and comeback leaving me the link to your twitter.

5.)Subscribe to my blog either via email or feeder, leave a comment telling me you have. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me so.

If you don't have a blog but want to enter anyway - choose option's 2 & 4 - be sure to include your email in your comment.

Contest runs from December 12, 2008 through December 24, 2008.

The winners will be chosen using http://www.random.com/ once notified they will have 72 hours to respond to me.

Good Luck!

Link to ULooked Personalized Gifts!

Link to Us

Tuesday Tunes- What's on My Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:48:00 +0000

I'm starting a new meme today. Tuesday Tunes. Basically you just list what your listening on your playlist today.

Here's a sampling of my iPod playlist "Writers' UnBlock" It's not the entire playlist as there is nearly two-hundred songs for this particular playlist, these are the ones I've been listening to today.

Broken Record - Twilight Sleep

Don't Fire Your Guns - Twilight Sleep

When the Stars Go Blue - The Corrs & Bono {I ♥ this song - I have three different versions, but I came to this one first so here it is.}

Fall for You - Secondhand Serenade

Be Be Your Love - Rachel Yamagata

Never Think - Rob Pattinson/Bobby Dupea [Yes he's the actor from Twilight, no that's not the reason he's on my playlist. I adore his singing voice - its speaks to one's soul, I can't wait to hear more!]

Breathe Me - Sia

Satelite - Collective Soul

Free - The Martinis

Congratulations - Blue October

You Make Me Smile - Blue October

Curse of Curves - Cute is What We Aim For

Boys Don't Cry - Plumb

In My Arms - Plumb

No Ordinary Love - Sade

Today - Smashing Pumpkins

No Need to Argue - The Cranberries

Twenty-One - The Cranberries

A Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins

Northern Star - Hole

Bamboleo - The Gypsy Kings

Early Winter - Gwen Stefani

I Don't Sleep, I Dream - R.E.M.

Killing Me Softly - The Fugees

I'm Still Breathing - Katy Perry

Dream to Makebelive - Armor for Sleep

Leave Out All the Rest - Linkin Park

You Got Me - The Roots & Erykah Badu

Assassin - Muse

Ching Tree - My Violent Ego

Now, to participate in this meme, your playlist can be as long or as short as you like. If you don't have a blog, leave me a comment with some of the songs on your playlist. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, to find new artists I've never heard before, or tune into something different. So don't be afraid to post something most people would consider "way out there". I can appreciate most types of music.

As I'm sure you've noted, I posted links to all of the artists I listed. It was really cool to visit some of their homepages, as I'm not one to do that. I usually just troll iTunes, MTV, or ask for new music suggestions.

Oh, and before I forget, here's Mr. Linky.

Play-Doh is Yummy!

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:36:00 +0000

Note to self:
During your next playgroup do not put out play-doh for the kids. They just eat it, and I wind up imagining the rainbow poop their poor mothers are going to have to deal with.
Honestly I knew better. It’s just that when it’s been 3+ years since you’ve had a one year old you kind of forget just how yummy play-doh can be. Sigh.
At least they had a fun sensory experience. I wonder how their mothers feel about that?

P.S. I obviously neglected to read the container which clearly states "Ages 2+"

Cuban Frijoles Colorados (Red Beans) & Pollo Empanizado (Breaded Chicken)

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:50:00 +0000

I thought I would begin putting together a recipe book for my little sister of my Cuban recipes, each time I make a meal I'd snap a few pictures, and then compile them into a book for her. While I was putting it together I thought that this would make a nice "tasty Thursday" blog. Please keep in mind that I don't really measure anything, I'm one of those people who do everything by eye, so there are no measurements.

I don't cook like this on a regular basis, to be perfectly honest, I don't particullarly like cooking all that much, however when the mood strikes I kick arse in the kitchen, and today I was longing for some comfort food. Buen Provecho!

Cuban Red Beans (Frijoles Colorados)
Ingredients:

1 pkg dry red kidney beans
1 can tomato sauce
Pork [ the bone from one ham, two inch cube salt pork, 5 strips bacon all work well for this recipe]
1 medium onion
5 cloves garlic
¼ green pepper
Oregano
Cumin
Adobo seasoning
1 package sazon completo
Olive oil

There are two ways to handle the beans the first is an overnight soak the second is to skip the soaking overnight and to cook this recipe using a pressure cooker. I’ve made them both ways and either way the come out great. For this recipe I soaked the beans overnight.

Instructions:
Wash the beans then soak completely covered overnight (24 hours).
Peel and chop the onion in half
Peel and smash the cloves of garlic
Chop the green pepper (I didn’t use it this time around)
Place into a food processor and puree (for this recipe I cooked the in halves and the garlic whole pureeing them after cooking – either way works fine – however if you do it before hand it saves you the time of having to dig for them once the beans were cooked)

When ready to begin cooking in a large pot place the pork, olive oil (2 tablespoons) onion, garlic, and sauté until the onions are clear and soft.
Add the tomato sauce and continue to cook for another minute or two (this is called a sofrito – when I began preparing this recipe I didn’t realize that I had no tomato sauce on hand – which never happens, so after freaking for a minute I noticed a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup I substituted that for the tomato sauce and it worked beautifully!)
Next add the beans in the same water that they soaked in overnight.
Add water if necessary to make the beans completely covered in about one inch of the liquid mixture.
Cook until the beans are tender 1-2 hours

If you’re using a pressure cooker make sure to check on the beans about every half hour and add more water.

Pollo Empanizado (Baked Breaded Chicken)

Ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Vegetable oil
Cuban Crackers (Saltine crackers works great too)
Adobo seasoning
Cumin
Parsley
Mojo Criollo
2 eggs
Splash of milk (optional)
Lime

Instructions
For this recipe boneless skinless chicken breast works best but I had chicken breast tenderloins on hand so that’s what I used. Please note that traditionally the skin is left on the chicken.
Wash the chicken breasts
Marinate for about an hour in the mojo criollo (I used the store bought kind however if you would like to make some at home I have the recipe, just send me a message)
By hand or using a mortar and pestle crush the crackers into both fine and large chunks, Sprinkle adobo, cumin and parsley into the mixture, Poor into a large bowl or plate.
In a separate bowl whisk eggs and splash of milk.
Take the chicken out of the marinade and place on to plastic wrap then beat with a mallet until the meat is thin.
In a frying pan poor about ½ inch of the oil into the pan and heat.
One at a time place the chicken into the egg mixture, shake excess egg off, then place into the bread crumb mixture. Place the chicken into the hot oil and cook, flipping occasionally until golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
Sprinkle with lime and enjoy

Here is the end result!

Hooping - isn't just for kids! Hooping: Great Hobby & Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:16:00 +0000

As a 29 year old single mother, now residing in Virginia; which is a HUGE culture shock for this born and bread Californian native (even after more than five years). I found other than my daughter there wasn’t much I found interesting in the small town I now live in. (Yes, I’m very blunt.)

I have a few friends each a class of their own, Nicky (the Miami princess )
Natalia(the southern Belle), Shawna(the peppy cheerleader who was meant by all means to be born and raised in California but for some reason I can’t understand God deemed it better here.) Dorian (the strong amazing friend who's a Mormon ,but I think a closet wild child, wink, wink! Casey (the sweetest hippy you'll ever meet, who as she ever so softly puts it “wants to save the world") Jason (who as he recovers from a drug addiction hasn’t lost my vote for the funniest human alive!) and a few others.

Another pal (whom as I write that isn’t exactly considered a friend anymore) Cole and I, were at a music fest, where I first spotted what would become my newest hobby. To my left were as Cole put it "Hoopers" - to me it just looked like girls dancing with hula hoops, which at first I thought was completely ridiculous because I last hula hooped as a child, but as the night went on these girls went from ridiculous to something my eyes were permanently glued to. I was completely fascinated. As they danced they preformed tricks with their hula hoops that left me mouth open and amazed. I asked about it and came to the conclusion that around "there" it was typical, nothing out of the ordinary kind of like a ballet dancer or a gymnast; to me these girls are both!

I began to obsess, thinking about those performers allot, imagining myself a “hooper”, and how much fun it would be, while reluctant to give it a try because at almost thirty I worried about what people would think.

A few months went by, until one day while out for a walk with my daughter I spied a woman "hooping" in her front yard. The hoops are easily distinguished from the kind you buy at your local Toys R Us because they are much larger and made from pipe that has water inside. Before I knew what I was doing I was screaming excitedly at this perfect stranger “NO WAY YOU HOOP!" Surprisingly she didn’t run for the hills, but instead talked to me which resulted in a new acquaintance and my new hobby!

I picked it up and for whatever reason felt so empowered, letting out all this negative energy, as the hoop spun around my waste, leaving me feeling happy, healthy, and satisfied. Eventually I became a member of a hooping group called "The Boomtown Hoop Troupe" we've actually been on television many times and are in the process choreographing a performance for our local Christmas parade, and I might add when you learn the tricks I do not care what age you are you feel like a complete bad ass! Needless to say I have a new hobby, which not only lets me meet new people, but wow does it melt off the pounds, the second week I lost 8 pounds with no diet change, you just move non stop and it's fun! Ladies there's only one other thing I can think of like that(**).
So here I am, still a single mama in Virginia, armed with a HOO, and I love it! I encourage anyone and everyone to look it up, it’s a blast!

Noelle

Homemade Baby Legwarmers

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:19:00 +0000

Last week I met a super cool blogging Mama who after I complimented her little girl’s tights (as a Mom to boys all the pretty, feminine nuances of little girls always catch my eye) she told me that she’d made them, and they actually weren’t tights but leg warmers.

I immediately perked up because I absolutely adore the Baby Legs brand, having forked over $12 a pair for Copper I remember thinking to myself the first time I put them on his little legs how simple these were, and subsequently had a “Why didn’t I think of that” moment. I also thought that they were probably very easy to make, but never looked into it.

The super cool blogging Mama sent me over to her blog where she provides step by step instructions on how to make your own pair of baby legwarmers.

Last night I made 5 pair, from socks I purchased on clearance at Target. I couldn’t figure how to sew step 7 (I think you use the same technique you would when sewing a circle, but since I don’t know how to do that – I am going to look it up in a minute) I simply folded over the foot part minus the heel and toe and sewed from there because that was wide enough to fit around my sewing machine. The end result was pretty great, and my minor alteration actually fits perfectly around Coppers chubby thighs not cutting off his circulation as his Baby Legs brand can do.

I didn’t take pictures but if you’d like to see great instructions check them out at Crunchy Monkey’s DIY Babylegs Blog.

Honestly these are great in the winter. Copper has a pair on today underneath his pants, they help keep his ankles and calves warm when being carried. Mo also liked them on his arms pretending to have “super power” arms.

If you wanted to be really green about making them you could recycle a pair of your own socks, or if you’re like me and have a basket for mismatched socks (I think my dryer likes to have them for lunch) then you can make mismatched ones and be really unique and funky.

They make diaper changes a breeze, protect tender knees of little crawlers, and are so easy for potty trainers because they don’t have to worry about pulling down tights as well.

If you’re great with a sewing machine or even if you’re not (like me, who also probably needs a new machine) these are an easy and simple sewing project. After I got over a technical problem with my bobbin (the thread kept breaking), it took me about five minutes a pair.

Here's Copper happy and cute as a button in his new legwarmers.

Veterans Day - Tuesday Toot

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:07:00 +0000

My Tuesday Toot.... I thought since today is Veterans Day I'd toot blow my own horn for being the super duper, fabulous Air Force wife who has sometimes cursed always supported the Air Force. Through last minute changes in deployment that had him go off to War on December 23rd, thus causing him to miss his first born's first Christmas, First Birthday, and a million other tiny milestones. For putting up with long hours that usually hardly ever go past 12 hours for which he never gets paid overtime. For hours spent creating a power point presentation for a co-service member who was retiring after 20 plus years of service. For which I was amply applauded, or so I hear since I wasn't there to be thanked in person, instead I was home, very pregnant, stuck in my house because we lost our second car (yes, the one SuperAirman took to work) when someone carelessly ran a stop sign and hit my SuperAirman, when he was going back to work after a pre-natal appointment. For which I was not so happy to see him do because who cares if we live over 50 miles from his duty station, the price of gas is of no concern to us because we earn the big bucks!

For always supporting my main squeeze and the uniform he wears, because really, we're grateful that we can serve our shining nation, even if to do so causes some minor and albeit a few major sacrifices. Eight years down, 12 more to go till, maybe, perhaps, I'll get to make him a PowerPoint presentation of our life spent in the Air Force. So far it has been mostly great.

Happy Veterans Day

Please remember to thank a service member today. They're the ones who really make the tough sacrifices.

If you don't know of one personally here's a few ways to show your gratitude. Chances are he or she will squirm a little bit, look down at the floor, or turn a shade that resembles a lobster, but they'll appreciate it, and you'll make their day!

America Supports You
Lets Say Thanks
Thank a Soldier

If you're still in the thankful mood, feel free to thank this military wife. I love comments! wink!

You can thank

for being the inspiration for this blog post!

Conversation with Copper

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:44:00 +0000

My four month old and I just had a conversation.

Here's how it went...

Copper: grunt, gurrgle, grunt.

Mommy: grunt, gurrgle, grunt.

Copper: coo, coo, grunt, really long grunt.

Mommy: coo, coo, grunt, really long grunt.

It was the best conversation I had all day.

Growing Up Sometimes Works Best If Done In Baby Steps

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:24:00 +0000

Last night my son grew up just a little bit more. After I red him his story, we said our prayers, and talked about the days events I asked him if he wanted me to cuddle him.
He promptly responded, “No Mommy, I can go to sleep all by myself.” So I kissed him good night, turned off the light and went into my own room across the hall. Thinking to myself that my little boy at four years old had just given me a glimpse into what an older version of himself will one day become.

Awhile later, my “big kid” called me, saying that he didn’t like the dark.

I offered up my cuddling services and this time they were accepted. I came to the conclusion that growing up is hard, and sometimes works best if done in small, miniscule steps.

As he fell asleep snuggled up to me, the big kid in him defeated for the moment, by the little boy he still is.

Nicólle

Friends, French, & Fetal Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Have you ever seen the FRIENDS episode where Phoebe is attempting to teach Joey French? Phoebe, with her great, authentic French accent, is taking it slow with her pal but he just isn’t getting it. Does Joey know it? Absolutely not! He thinks he is picking up the language fast and is proud of himself. The hilarious bit in the show is listening to how he is absolutely butchering the beautiful pronunciations.

Skip ahead, oh say, 4 years (the episode aired in 2004)….and voila! I am Phoebe, and Sister Bear (my daughter) is Joey. Only, we are not speaking French…it’s English. Sister Bear is almost 15 months old and tries with all her might to imitate every word that comes out of my mouth. She gets a real serious face and repeats, repeats, repeats…only it’s definitely some other language!
Maybe all those FRIENDS reruns I watched while pregnant with her made an impression. After all, they say a fetus can hear the outside world while in the womb, right?

-Christine

Flying Time

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:53:00 +0000

Here's a snippet of a conversation I had with my four year old earlier.

"Mom, can we go out and play with my skateboard?"

"Not right now, it's six in the morning, the sun is still sleeping."

"When the sun wakes up?"

"Not exactly, but we'll go sometime today."

"OK."

A few minutes pass, as I lie in bed trying to be comatose.

"Mom, I've been waiting three hours."

Not.

Apparently time flies when your Mom pretends to sleep.

Nicólle

You Know You're a Mommy When...

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:51:00 +0000

You know you're a Mommy to a newborn when, a 30 minute nap on your couch leaves you ~~wanting a longer nap~~ completely refreshed. A 30 minute nap which should have been a longer one because your newborn took a three hour nap, while which you were:

doing laundry
cleaning your kitchen
playing with your eldest child
blogging
surfing the web
dusting sporadically (those fall decorations can't go up on a dusty mantle or entertainment center)
hanging out on MySpace and Facebook
catching up on your soap opera Days of Our Lives

when you should have been trying to get more than a thirty minute "cat" nap.

Multitasking should be considered an art form.

Mommy Tip of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:14:00 +0000

As a new Mom (I’ve actually had the whole Mommy gig for 4 ½ years now) I really enjoy tips from other Mom’s that have helped simplify their lives. So I’ve decided to start a weekly Mommy Tip here at The Mommy Vine.
Today’s tip concerns a great way to warm baby’s bottle.

As a new Mom again, I recently went from breastfeeding to formula feeding and hated the thought of my little guy getting room temperature formula all the time. I wanted a fast and convenient way to warm up the water for his formula without having to go out and purchase a bottle warmer (especially for those middle of the night feedings). With my first baby I had a bottle warmer that I received off of my registry and it worked great eventually however because the water was “hard” it became corroded. This time around I didn’t want to repeat history and was thinking of a way to keep his water warm when my husband came up with this ingenious solution. A thermos. Yep. So each night I fill my Thermos that I got at Target with warm water and I have perfectly temperate water for my little one’s formula. Bonus, the thermos keeps the water warm for well over twelve hours!
Score!!

Nicólle

Cricut Contest

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0000

The Secret is in the Sauce is giving away a Cricut! YES YOU READ RIGHT!!!

Here are the details straight from their site!!!

September is SAUCY- Cricut Expressions!
Hello Lover.
So you want a one? Who doesn't?
It's a Cricut Expressions.
This thing does it all.
Scrapbooking
Vinyl Lettering
School Projects
The list goes on and on!
The Cricut Expressions is the craft fanatics must-have!
And, here is YOUR chance to win one. Yep.

Click here!!

Strange Happenings

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:47:00 +0000

This evening was out of the ordinary. It was weird, and that's kind of nice.

At about a quarter till 9:00 p.m. the power went out in my neighborhood (I'm still not sure about the surrounding area). The lights flickered on and off twice, and then everything went dark. Well, almost everything, my living room was nicely illuminated by both my laptops which happened to be turned on. I was in the middle of working on my new website http://www.mommy-vine.com/ and I switched over to the newer laptop because besides being shiny and pretty it has a bigger and better screen. Anyway, I digress.

My sons and I sat in our living room for about ten minutes once I realized that the lights weren't going to come back on immediately I started the process of lighting every candle I owned, so my living room was nicely lit and "cozy" as my neighbor put it.

So while my son played with his flashlight and I fed the baby we sat in our softly lit living room snuggled under a blanket, I was trying desperately to get my older boy to fall asleep - it didn't work, as illuminating different objects in the room and calling them by their name out loud was much more fun.

"Look Mommy, I found my Wii!"

"Look, Mommy, Mommy LOOOOOK, I found my train set."

Then my son said the funniest thing. "Mommy, Daddy be here soon. He needs to fix the lights."

As I began to explain to him that although Daddy is great at fixing most anything, I didn't think he'd be able to fix this. I told him that the Electric Company would need to do that. At which point he very matter-of-factly and in no uncertain terms told me that his "Daddy can fix anything!!!" Well! When you put it that way...

The rest of our time was spent pretty much the same way as we waited for the Daddy who could fix anything to get home.

You know what? Within five minutes of his arrival, our power magically came back on.

Perhaps my son knows something I don't.

Nicólle

Library Card Month!

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:48:00 +0000

This is a bit tardy however September is National Library Card month. If you don't have one (gasp!) you should sign up and get one at your local library. What else costs absolutely nothing and yet enables you to travel the world, learn new languages, and immerse yourself in total fantasy? Plus, if you have a student who doesn't have one sign them up! Reading and the love of reading is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your child!

Nicole

What is up with those shoes?

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Apparently the new fashion trend in infant footwear for your little girl is high heels.

No joke! I’m totally serious.

According to msnbc.com and the Today Show, the manufacturer of these shoes, Heelarious says they are “Fashionable. Adorable. Hilarious. Ingenious. Yes, we're talking about the latest rage in shoes to hit the market since Sex and the City made Choo and Louboutin household names." Is anyone else disturbed by the fact that this company is comparing your daughters to characters who were (and I’m a big fan of the show) in their mid thirties and forties? I’m not even going to go anywhere near their sexual exploits!

I don’t have a daughter, but as a self confessed “Girls' Girl”, I can’t see how dressing an infant in heels (even if they are pink and so soft they feel like UGGS) is good for them. In my opinion your sending the message, “The quicker you learn to rely on your looks and charm the better you’ll be, because you’ll never be able to make it on your brains alone sugar!" I can totally see how some would think these cute, and sassy, accoutrements for their little princess or diva; however I’d much rather spend the $35 retail on UGG booties for my baby than some Hoochie Mamma Heels!

Nicole

A Queen Bee, a few Wanna Bees, and Somewhere In Bee-tween

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:51:00 +0000

My daughter started Kindergarten less than three short weeks ago; naively I thought the extent of my problems would be whether or not she ate all her lunch and how quickly she’d grow out of her new school wardrobe. I had no idea how wrong I would be.

As of yesterday, my daughter had to participate in what her school calls “A Friendship Group" because she had been bullied by three girls in her class. They are five years old! Here's how my conversation with her school counselor went.

Counselor: “Your daughter is a ‘free spirit’, not a ‘Queen Bee', and definitely not a 'Wanna Bee'. She’s somewhere in between.

Me: “Huh?”

Counselor: “To get an idea of what I mean you should watch the 1994 hit movie starring Lindsey Lohan Mean Girls.

Lindsey Lohan? Not exactly the role model I want for my daughter. If you haven' t seen the movie, Mean Girls it's about a high school clique where three girls ruled the school and everyone in it, including the teachers. My daughter just started elementary school for Pete’s sake! Two days ago my biggest concern regarding her time in school (which is only half day by the way) was what shape I should cut her P&J sandwich into. Now I’m faced with the worry of how she will master the art of delicately maneuvering herself through school when faced with challenges brought on by the “mean girls”, so that she can have a good experience while maintaining her sense of self and not commit “social suicide” in the process or give in and join the crowd, just to fit it. I feel like an Army General thinking up war strategies instead of a Class Mom.

Now my peanut butter and jelly worries seem so minute when compared to the fear of which “Barbie” she’ll become, and whether or not these early school experiences will affect her for the rest of her God given life!

-Noelle

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:15:00 +0000

Welcome to The Mommy Vine. I'm currently looking for mothers who would like to contribute to this blog. Please email me if you're interested!

Breastfeeding - Nature at it's most difficult!

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:10:00 +0000

Why is it that when a mother chooses not to breast feed her child she will often feel the need to explain herself? I ask this question because it’s something I’ve done it myself.

When my first son was born I had this image in my mind of me sitting in a cozy rocker while cradling my son while he nursed peacefully at my breast. The reality was that I couldn’t do it. Physically all the parts worked just fine, it was my son who refused to latch on. I learned last year that he probably couldn't latch successfully because of a lingual frenum. If he'd he’d been examined while in the hospital it could have been corrected and the weeks of torturous guilt I felt could have been avoided. Not to mention the need for a hospital grade electric breast pump which left me feeling more like a dairy cow than a new mother. Because my milk was not induced naturally my supply quickly dwindled and I had to formula feed. I was left feeling like a failure, not exactly healthy feelings for a first time mother who did not have a network of o supportive mothers to offer encouragement and lend support.

With my second pregnancy I was absolutely positive that I would be able to breastfeed exclusively for at least six months, possibly a year as recommended by doctors. I read up on everything breast feeding related I could. I had a great group of women who had successfully breastfed their babies to lean on for encouragement and support. I essentially knew everything there was to know about breastfeeding and I figured with my knowledge base there would be no way I would have any problems; especially since I’d already done the whole newborn thing. After all I was a pro at being a mother. What I wasn’t expecting were more challenges. I figured since I had such a hard time the first time, I would be so relaxed for my second go that nature would just take its course. (You wouldn’t believe how something which is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world could be so unbelievably difficult.) The first 6 weeks were a blur. With the need to nurse every two hours I felt that my son was literally attached to me all the time. Add in the skin irritation I had to deal with because although he would latch on with out a problem he wouldn’t latch properly. Needless to say I spent many weeks pumping and attempting to be successful again, and literally exhausted because I had two children who needed me. At about 7 weeks my son began to refuse to nurse, I tried consistently to work through this by putting him to breast first, then pumping, and then bottle feeding. Eventually my milk supply dwindled and I gave up.

I’m surprised I didn’t give up sooner, stubborn I am, a masochist I am not, and when I realized that it wasn’t going to work out I refused to think myself a failure. The difference this time around is that I’m not beating myself up over the fact that not only did I not nurse exclusively for the first two months; I’m not going to reach that 6 month goal either. I made a valiant effort, and I’m happy about my overall breastfeeding experience. I am a little sad to know that part is done, and a part of me wishes that I could be one of those mom’s who could nurse with out a problem. Who knows maybe next time! Although my body is no longer producing what is nourishing his body, I won’t neglect the fact that I did carry him in my womb for nine months and tried really hard for two months to breastfeed him. However, I am looking forward to getting my body back to myself again.

To those mothers who can breastfeed and do it successfully I applaud you, it’s hard work, and unless you’ve done it yourself, you will NEVER understand.

To those mothers who choose to bottle feed their babies, I applaud you, be proud of your decision, and stop making excuses. What is important is that your baby is loved and snuggled, and cared for while feeding. He’s still going to look up into your eyes adoringly whether he’s breastfed or bottle fed.

To all the mothers who read this don’t judge a mother for her decisions. Instead of judging support one another because the choice to breast feed or bottle feed is inherently personal and with all the challenges that motherhood brings us we don’t need to add guilt to the list.

Nicole

Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:51:00 +0000

The Mommy Vine - Contributors

noreply@blogger.com (nicóle) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:43:00 +0000

Nicole is the Mom behind Mommy Vine. It is her hope that this blog will grow to reach the Mommy Masses and provide a sense of community and humor for all mothers. If you're interested in being a contributor to The Mommy Vine please contact Nicole.

As a SAH Mommy to two boys, "Mo & Copper" she spends much of her time engaged in boyish pursuits, like playing cars and knocking over blocks. When she's not spending time with her family, she enjoys reading and scrap booking. She runs a small home based business scrap booking and creating diaper cakes. She's an aspiring author, and is available for freelance work. You can read her personal blog at "The Pink Chandelier".

Noelle is a single mother to a little girl. Together they enjoy running around in their back yard kicking a soccer ball around, or watching cartoons on a lazy day. She enjoys writing poetry, and isn't afraid to try something new like hooping to keep fit.

Christine is a teacher by trade whose taken a break from the classroom to be a SAHM.