The Bubblelush

Foster Care Sucks

2015-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted an entry about the more heartwarming side of Foster Care, but today I just don't have it in me.

It's 11:15pm and I've just spent the past two hours trying - in vain - to calm my foster son *Jason down. He went to bed at 8pm exhausted after a long day which I'll get into later, and soon after woke up screaming. I got him back to sleep, but every time he dozed off he'd jolt back awake in terror.

Now, it's my opinion that *Jason has some sort of undiagnosed sensory processing disorder. His doctors have hinted at it, and his special education teacher is working with him on his sensory seeking behavior. But without a diagnosis to Google (let's just be honest about Dr Google okay? We all do it.) and in the absence of anyone taking the time to figure out what Jason's challenges are, I'm basically parenting by instinct.

Which sucks.

Added to this is the fact that my caseworker is perhaps the worst communicator on the face of the planet. No really, she is.

I send one weekly email update for *Jason, and it serves three purposes:

(1) A written record of behaviors and patterns.

(2) To show that *Jason is getting the services the State has provided and is attending medical appointments as needed. (This is also known as the "I'm doing my job" purpose.)

(3) To remind the caseworker that he exists.

This sounds harsh, I know, but I have sent SIX weekly updates complete with important questions about his care and have never gotten a reply or answer to a single question.

At the one month mark I called up my certifier to discuss this. I made it clear that I hadn't gone to the caseworker's supervisor yet because I didn't want to get her in trouble, but that I was frustrated with the lack of communication. The next day I got a voicemail from caseworker saying that she would be better at responding to my questions.

That was the last time I heard from her and she still hasn't answered any questions.

So today was a long day because he had his weekly 3 hour visit with mom.

And just like every other week he left for the visit a happy boy and returned angry and upset. He threw his dinner across the room, had multiple tantrums, and no amount of calming him down or hugs or a warm bath or anything made him feel better. He's speech delayed so he can't tell me what he's feeling or express himself. And now I'm up trying to console him and prevent him from waking everyone up with his screams.

And this happens every week after visits.

And in a few days he's back to being happy *Jason.

... Just in time for the next visit.

I don't want to be that person that takes the stance that these visits aren't in his best interest. I'd much rather assume that it's returning to MY home and not staying with his biological mom that is setting him off. But given what I know about the case history and what I know about how *Jason responds to things, I just don't think that's true. I think he's reminded every week of the neglect and abuse.

It's heartbreaking, and frustrating, and exhausting to sit up with him like this.

It's moments like this where Foster Care sucks.

I'm angry at this whole system -

That more isn't being done to help *Jason thrive and that I don't have the tools I need.

That my caseworker is either so overworked or so apathetic that she's never available.

That every week I send him off to visits knowing that he's going to come back even more traumatized than when he left.

That I can't have a conversation with him about how he feels because he can't speak the words, and yet he's only receiving the bare minimum of speech therapy despite my complaints.

I always try to see the bright side of things and today I just can't.

There isn't a bright spot here.

And don't be fooled - I'm not the bright spot.

Him being here, in our home, isn't the bright spot.

That 'I care enough to sit up with him' isn't a bright spot.

That's the least I can do to comfort a three year old child stuck in a system that isn't serving him.

Having someone hold him through his nightmares is a mere bandaid on a broken situation.

It barely even registers as a flicker.

Foster Care sucks.

Christmas Stockings in September

2015-09-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Foster Parenting changes your life in obvious ways. Rearranging car seats to include the newest child and lengthening the time it takes to finish the bedtime routine because there's another bath to take and set of teeth to brush.

These day to day things are expected.

But at 2am when I'm nursing my baby by iPad light and perusing Christmas pajamas, I realize just how unknown the future is when fostering.

We are currently caring for two toddler boys that came to us from separate families in crisis. They are polar opposites all the way from their complexion to their personalities and temperaments, down to the way they respond to discipline and rewards. They couldn't be more different but I love them both very much.

I braved Costco on Saturday with all five kiddos (Hannah, William, Logan, *Jason, *Sawyer *not their real names) while Chris was at work. Chaotic, yes, but once everyone was in the shopping cart and we were walking the aisles it was great. They found these toy Tonka trucks that lit up and had sounds, and the three toddlers (aka Musketeers) couldn't decide which ones they liked more.

I immediately noted that they'd be great Christmas presents, and could envision three trucks with big bows just sitting at the bottom of the tree as the boys ran in on Christmas morning. The excitement and noise would kick the day off with a burst of joy.

But my excitement was quickly tempered.

The thing about fostering is that I have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

Just as I don't know when to expect a call about a child that needs a safe home, I don't know when my current kiddos will leave. It often happens when you least expect it.

So when I'm flipping ahead in my calendar and making notes, there's always a tentativeness to my plans.

Will they spend Halloween with my family or theirs? Thanksgiving? Should I buy them matching pajamas to open on Christmas Eve, or a stocking with their name on it to hang on the mantle?
Or will they have those with their bio family?

It's such a frivolous concern when there are such huge questions looming over these children and their futures. The caseworkers and lawyers and parents are all making big decisions for these little boys. I just want what's best for them - be that mom or dad or adoption, I'll let the courts take everything into account and decide.

So while I don't have much say in what happens in the future, I do have the opportunity to make sure they know Love every day they're here.

When I order Logan's Christmas stocking I'll order their's too.
When I decide on a set of family jammies to open after church and before hot cocoa, I'll order their size too - And if they leave before they have a chance to use them, well then I'll lovingly tuck them into their suitcase alongside the note for their mom about how much I loved their son and what a blessing he was in my life.

and I'll cry, just like I've done in the past.
and I'll stay up nights worrying and praying for them.
and I'll answer the phone the next time a child needs a home
and I'll do it all over again.

Because that's the thing about being a foster mom: These children are amazing. They deserve to have someone up late at night planning ways to make them smile and feel loved - and I hope, I hope from the very bottom of my heart, that is exactly what their mom is doing while she works to get them back. However, I learned a long time ago that the only person I can control is myself.
So regardless of what everyone else in *Jason and *Sawyer's life is doing, I'm up at 2am in September picking out their Christmas stockings, because if they're here on that magical morning, then I won't have them feeling like anything less than a loved member of our family.

Chicco NaturalFit Bottle Review - ENTER TO WIN!

2015-09-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

I'm a big breastfeeding advocate. I nursed Hannah for 14 months, William for 22 months, and if I continue this pattern then Logan won't wean until he's two and a half! That said, I also appreciate the freedom that a bottle gives me every once in a while. From running to the store all by myself, or attending a meeting sans baby, there are times when bottle feeding is easier for my family.

When I was asked last Spring to be a Sunday School teacher this Fall I knew it would take some juggling. Not only were we due in July with baby #3, but we're foster parents so we usually have a couple extra littles in tow. I planned to pump for Church and began searching for a great bottle when, in a stroke of awesome timing, it found me.

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Chicco. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Babies R Us Display

I tested out the Chicco NaturalFit Stage 1 bottle with Logan and instantly liked it. The nipple is made of a soft silicone and is shaped similar to a breast, so it's easier for a breastfed baby to transition to.

But I loved the angled nipple the most! Because of the angle the nipple stays full of milk so the baby ingests less air. My husband appreciated the the bottle was easy to assemble. Just three pieces plus the lid. The twin anti-colic valves are built into the nipple, so there wasn't any extra pieces.

Here's a close up of the nipple. Isn't that a great shape? Bonus - Chicco has a 100% guarantee on all their NaturalFit bottles. If you're not satisfied they'll refund the cost of the bottle PLUS shipping!

The NaturalFit bottle line grows with your baby. The Stage 2 nipple is straight with an adjustable flow, and the Stage 3 nipple allows for tighter lip support and is elongated to better fit an older baby's suckle and swallow pattern. The bottle size increases as the baby gets older, and I found the bottle shape easy to hold and clean.

Chris has his hands full on Sundays, but I snapped this picture of Logan during Hannah's gymnastic's class while William and our foster son ran around the playground. Isn't he cute? He turned 2 months old yesterday. Time is flying!
#ChiccoNaturalFit

ENTER TO WIN!
Influence Central is hosting a contest through which your readers can enter to win one of 18 tiered Chicco Prize Packs:
o Three Tier 1 Prize Packs valued at $439.98
o Five Tier 2 prize packs valued at $189.98
o Ten Tier 3 prize packs valued at $59.99
Contest closes September 30, 2015 so enter quickly:
*I-C will randomly select 18 winners from all tiered program entries and will handle fulfillment of the winning prizes.

Family Beach Day!

2015-07-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

It wasn't until my husband and I had been dating for 5 years that I realized a simple truth -

We are not beach compatible.

My husband is a cliche. He loves long walks on the beach.
and I... don't.

I like digging in the sand, or flying a kite, or just sitting in my chair and watching the tide roll in.
I'll admit it was a tiny issue - until we had kids.

Now everyone is happy when we go to the beach. The kid that wants to go on a walk goes with daddy, and the kid that wants to build a sand castle stays we me. Then everyone splashes in the (freezing) Pacific Ocean, we take the required (damp and windblown) family selfie, and then go eat clam chowder. It's a beautiful thing.

So when I opened William's May Citrus Lane box, I was very excited. Not only did it have the Hape Master Bricklayer Set (retail $8) which is perfect for building sand castles,

but it also had an adorable t-shirt from Tea Collection (retail $22.50) and an 8 piece bento box from Goodbyn (retail $15)! Combined with a few snacks from Plum Organics, the box was valued at over $45, which is a great value considering the boxes are only $24.95 each when you buy a 6 month subscription!

I set the sand toys aside for our first Coast trip of the Summer, and they were a huge hit!

William added some sandy 'mortar' to the first layer of bricks.

And then helped me level off the first two layers.

At this point he was ready to run off some energy and the kiddos went on a walk with dad while I kept building.

Back in Portland it was 96 degrees, but it was a fabulous 68 degrees at the Coast.

My little surfer dude was right at home in the water.

By the time the kids came back I had finished our Mayan pyramid (complete with a ramp down to a wading pool). I LOVED the Hape tools. They were sturdy and perfect for creating with. They easily fit William's toddler hand, but were a great size for adults as well.

Click to buy the Brickmaster Set from Amazon HERE.

Hape has a complete line of sand toys, including sandcastle molds of famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and Great Wall of China - plus many more!

How neat is that!?

A quick pregnant belly shot. 36 weeks 4 days! BabyLUSH #3 is almost here!!

Before we left I let the kids thoroughly destroy the pyramid which, let's be honest, is half the fun of building a sand castle.

---

I've been getting Citrus Lane boxes since Hannah was an infant, and they are the GO TO subscription box for 0-5 year olds. The brands and value can't be beat.

Get 40% off your first box by using my LINK

The Newest Ballerina | Week In Pictures

2015-07-05T21:47:00.003-07:00

I love this picture of Hannah eagerly awaiting the start of her first ballet class. She's been looking forward to this day for months! We signed Hannah up for Gymnastics and Ballet this summer through the Park and Rec department. She started Gymnastics last week (and rocked the balance beam) but she was really excited about her new ballet shoes and leotard.

The class was filled with happy and excited little girls and the instructor was great. We left the class on a great note... Until a we got about a mile down the road and I noticed my check engine light was on.

Now I didn't talk much about this online, but a month ago the same light came on as I was dropping the kiddos off at the babysitter. I was going to spend the whole day by myself and was only a few miles from her house. I figured I'd make it.

Then the car died and smoke started pouring out of the engine. Turns out I effectively killed my minivan and the repair bill would almost completely deplete our emergency fund.

I cussed a lot that week.

So when I saw that (effing) light come back on I pulled over immediately.

I called the mechanic and told them to expect us (yay for 30 day warrenties!!) and called AAA to get towed. Then we waited in the (hot.) car for Chris to rescue us and for the tow truck to arrive. Hannah and I snapped this picture while we waited. William took advantage of the early nap time and quickly passed out. It turns out we have another large repair bill coming our way. JOY!

30 minutes later Chris showed up with cold drinks and cheeseburgers and made the kids VERY happy while we transferred car seats and gave directions to the tow man.

William has been going to Gymboree for a year now, and he really enjoys it. He's selective about which activities he participates in - he won't sit quietly while the teacher introduces the theme of the week, but loves parachute time and always drags me underneath it with him. I love that he wants to share that moment with me each week. His giggle is infectious and it's always the highlight of my day.

William takes a solid 2-3 hour nap each afternoon, but Hannah rarely naps nowadays. Instead she loves to make art in the afternoon. This is an example of one of her collages. (I'm really proud of her for coming up with this idea on her own. She's done it with lots of different characters and it's always really cute and creative.)

She picks out a picture from a coloring book - in this case the castle - colors it and cuts it out with scissors, then she glues it to a blank piece of art paper and creates her own background. Cute, right?

She's also really into Legos. We put together this Lego Friend's set earlier this week. (Andrea's Mountain Hut #41031 - retired) Sadly, Hannah is completely against creatively building with her pieces and insists on following the directions (which requires mom's help). Hopefully soon she'll give free form legos a try. Don't tell Hannah, but the baby got her a Lego's Junior set as part of her hospital big sister gift. I'm hoping it'll help the transition and give her something new to do during quiet time when I'm busy with a newborn.

I also (FINALLY) started getting caught up with YouTube vlogs. I posted Hannah's Reaction when we told her about the baby, and on Thursday I posted the gender reveal. Links below if you haven't watched these yet:

Father's Day | Week In Pictures

2015-06-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Although school has been out for a few weeks, this week felt like the first week of Summer. We kicked off our Summer activities with a week of Vacation Bible School for Hannah.

Each morning I dropped Hannah off at 8:45 and picked her up at noon smiling and happy.

Each day she'd meet me with a bag full of arts and crafts, and singing beautiful new songs she'd learned.

Each evening we read the day's bible verse and talked about the lesson she'd learned that day at VBS. It was awesome to hear her asking these thought provoking questions about the story of Elijah.

The last day of VBS was Crazy Hair day, and although I did exactly what Hannah asked, she declared it 'Too Cute to be Crazy' and considered it a failure - but cute.

While Hannah was busy with VBS each day, William and I had a lot of time together. One day he spent some time with his buddy, Chase, at the playground. William is a year younger than this little boy, but they are finally at the age where they can play as peers.

William's current favorite show is Little Einstein's, followed closely by Super Why. For months he was obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so this is a nice change of pace with more educational shows. He's become very interested in Letters lately so he particularly likes that about Super Why.

I still don't think William understands that there is an actual baby in my tummy (34 weeks this week), but he finally relented and attempted to feel and listen for the baby. I'm pretty sure he's convinced I just ate too much ice cream and am making the whole 'baby' thing up. His world is going to be rocked in July...

I'm a huge fan of Instagram now. I find it to be an efficient way to follow brands and people that I love. One brand I follow is Milk Makers, and recently they had a huge sale on their pregnancy cookies (which I saw during snack time) so I bought the 3 box bundle. I can't recommend these cookies enough if you're pregnant. They're so tasty, huge, and perfect to keep in your purse when you're hit with a craving. My sweet tooth has been intense this week, so these were a lifesaver!

My birthday was earlier this month and I'm signed up for just about every birthday club that exists. I'm cool with free burgers and ice cream. I snapped this picture of Hannah and William while waiting for my Teriyaki Chicken Burger and Freckled Lemonade at Red Robin. I order that every time I go and it's so, so, good.

On Saturday Kohl's sponsored a car seat check. This was my first time having my car seats officially checked and it was a great learning experience. I was able to pick the technician's brain about different layouts to accommodate foster children, and I was told that my car seats were the best installed they saw all day!! We had to remove a headrest, and we switched Hannah to a seat belt install since she had just hit the weight limit for LATCH. (I knew that she was getting close but waited to switch it until we had the seat professionally installed.) She also helped me install the infant car seat base, so we're all ready for baby!

Well, the minivan is ready for baby. I still have some newborn laundry to do.

I can't get over how old William looks in this picture.

My little boy is getting so big! (He turned 27 months this week.)

The week ended with Father's Day. I snapped this picture at our Go To restaurant choice - Sweet Tomatoes. Seriously, I love this place. They have an extensive salad bar that the kids go crazy for, and everything is already bite sized, so when we get to our table I don't have to cut everything up for them. Moms know - this is huge. They also have these tiny little ice cream cones which the kids beg for. Tiny dessert that appeases toddlers? Winner. I've signed up for their Club Veg and regularly get a coupon for 2 adult dinners with beverage for $19.99. Hannah is a couple dollars and William is free. Family dinner at a restaurant for under $25!

I love this face.

Mother's Day and Father's Day are very laid back at our house. There's no footprint art or ugly neckties given as gifts. Instead we usually start the day with a great breakfast and go to church. All day you are not the PIC - Parent in Charge. No diaper duty, no mediating bickering kids, no bedtime duty. You just get to enjoy your family and then when they throw a tantrum your partner takes over. It's awesome. Plus dinner is your choice.

Overall this was a great week. We were busy in the mornings, but spent a lot of quality time together in the evenings.

Note - This Summer is going to get crazy once the baby arrives in late July. If you haven't already added me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter make sure you do! I update each of those platforms on a near daily basis.

Preschool Graduation & the Kindergarten Decision

2015-06-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hannah is officially a Preschool graduate! We had a big decision to make in regards to PreK or Kindergarten this fall, and have gone back and forth for months. We finally came to an agreement and I think everyone is happy.

Although Hannah was due on September 1st (which happens to be the admission cutoff for Kindergarten), she wasn't born until the 19th. Upon first calculating her due date I remember realizing that if I went even ONE day overdue that she would miss the cut off. Apparently I didn't knock on wood and instead she went 18 days over. But I digress...

Shortly before Hannah turned three she began a 3 year old preschool program, and just completed the 4 year old program this Spring. With two years of 'school' under her belt she knows how to conduct herself in a classroom, and continues to improve her social skills.

Her teacher (pictured above) did a wonderful job of teaching the children phonics, and Hannah has begun reading Bob Books and easily sounds out basic words.

After months of Hannah begging to go to Kindergarten at the 'Big Kid's School', in March we contacted our district's elementary school and spoke with the Principle about early entry. Chris was the oldest in his class and I was one of the youngest in mine, so we had many discussions about the pros and cons of both. Ultimately we realized that if Hannah was excited about it and the testing would show if she was ready for it, then we should at least let her try.

In May Hannah sat down for an academic test with the school's Kindergarten teacher, and last week Hannah sat in on a Kindergarten class while the school counselor observed her.

This morning we spoke with the Principle and found out that Hannah did very well on both evaluations. We ultimately decided to let Hannah begin Kindergarten in September, and if after two months we felt that she wasn't ready, then we'd have the option of switching her to a PreK program instead. I think this is a great compromise and Hannah agrees. She's also VERY excited.

Part of me expected to have another year before having a Kindergarten student, but a bigger part of me knows that Hannah is independent and determined and will thrive in school.

Hannah was so proud of her graduation ceremony, but I think she was most excited to wear her new rainbow heart dress and cutout hooded sandals from Fabkids. "I look like a Kindergartner in this outfit!" Yes, Yes she does...

In case you aren’t familiar, they are a subscription service that offers you a complete outfit for $29.95 a month. Every outfit includes 2 pieces — so you can get a fabulous dress, paired with leggings OR a top and a bottom, etc. They make girls and boys clothing with a wide range of sizes. Hannah is wearing a Medium (6/7) in these pictures and it's nice and roomy. (The Small (4/5) just became a little too tight.) They carry XXS (2T - which William has just started wearing!) up to XL (12).

Thanks to FabKids for providing Hannah's outfit for review.

We've been working with FabKids for over a year and I'm very

impressed with the quality (and cuteness!) of their clothing.

I highly recommend them. See disclosure for details.

Hannah's New Church Dress

2015-05-03T18:16:00.001-07:00

Hannah is officially 4.5 years old and although she says she wants to live at home with her mom and dad forever, I'm pretty sure her current career aspiration is to be a fashion designer.

Every day she wants to pick out her own outfit - complete with accessories, shoes, and purse - and then upon coming back home she asks to play dress up and change into something completely different.

This is why her favorite package that the postman delivers is the bright pink bag from Fabkids.

In case you aren’t familiar, they are a subscription service that offers you a complete outfit for $29.95 a month. Every outfit includes 2 pieces — so you can get a fabulous dress, paired with leggings OR a top and a bottom, etc. They make girls and boys clothing with a wide range of sizes. Hannah is wearing a Small (4/5) in this video, but I'll be moving her up to a Medium (6/7) soon. They carry XXS (2T - which William has just started wearing!) up to XL (12).

Here is her unboxing video for April's outfit. I love her reaction!

Thanks to FabKids for providing Hannah's outfit for review.

We've been working with FabKids for over a year and I'm very

impressed with the quality (and cuteness!) of their clothing.

I highly recommend them. See disclosure for details.

Cut Yourself Some Slack

2014-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Six years ago Chris and I were on our Honeymoon and dreaming about the life and family that was to come. We were sitting poolside in Mexico drinking from coconuts, zip lining through the rainforest, parasailing over the ocean.

That's me parasailing!

It was idyllic. We had no idea that we would soon be facing infertility, that it would take seven cycles of fertility treatments to conceive, or that we would be told that IVF was our only option for a second baby.

Newlyweds

It was a tough journey to get here, but we've also been so blessed along the way. We got our very first positive pregnancy test on Christmas Eve - hands down the best present ever - and our second child was miraculously conceived naturally while on a break from treatments - much to the shock of all our doctors. Both of our children are happy and healthy and amazing. I recognize the struggles, but I choose to focus on the positive.

If it wasn't for my infertility diagnosis I wouldn't have started vlogging 5+ years ago, and I wouldn't have found an amazing group of supportive women that would walk this journey with me.

I love my little corner of the internet.
I love that I can share my struggles and my successes with people that understand.

Have you ever heard the quote "Comparison is the thief of Joy"?
I think it fits really well with my experience in the YouTube and online Mom communities.
Whenever I see someone that makes a fabulous video, or comes up with a really great idea for a vlog topic, I find that I berate myself a bit. "Why aren't you doing more with your channel? It's been a week since you vlogged!" I get so down on myself.

And then William spills a cup of water all over himself because he's still learning how to tilt the cup without falling victim to physics and gravity.
Or Hannah brings me three different colored legos and asks me "What color does orange and red and white make?" so I bust out the paints and we discover that it makes a pretty pinky peach color.
Or I get a phone call at 8am just as I've sat down to edit that day's vlog and it's our caseworker asking if I can bring my foster son to the office for a visit with a family member - in an hour. So I drop everything and pack a diaper bag.

And then I remind that inner voice to cut me some slack.

Being a mom is a big job. period.

There are so many things I want to do and can never seem to find time for.
I'm in awe of some women that seem to do it all - raise cute kids, edit videos every day, write witty blogs, volunteer at the soup kitchen, refinish Goodwill furniture and still have time to sip a Starbucks coffee with perfect nails and hair - but I've come to terms with the fact that I'm never going to live up if that is the ideal.

So I've made my own ideal for a life well lived. Well, I'm *making* my own ideal. It's evolving.
It's also full of a lot of cliches, the first of which is: Comparison is the thief of Joy.

How often have we achieved a goal only to realize someone else has surpassed it, and immediately the victory has turned into a failure?

We can choose to be jealous and turn that negativity on ourselves or others, or we can start training that voice to be positive. To congratulate them on their success and to learn a thing or two from them, because the thing to remember is - their success doesn't equal your failure.

Their child speaking in French at 20 months doesn't mean you're a failure as a mother.
Their channel reaching 534k subscribers doesn't mean your channel sucks.
Their house being suspiciously devoid of any stray toys while they vlog doesn't mean you're a failure as a SAHM.

It means they are rockin' it.
High five them and move on.
Cut yourself some slack and just do your best.
I promise - it's enough.

Lessons From The Playground

2014-09-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that Chris and I have recently become foster parents. I've been discussing this new journey over on my YouTube channel, so if this comes as news you can catch up here (Foster Care Playlist) and hear about our first placement here (1st Placement). Recently we provided 5 days of Respite Care for a 4 year old boy.

Respite Care: Respite care refers to one foster family caring for another family's foster children for a short amount of time. This allows for the children's original foster family to have a break. This type of foster care is especially helpful when foster children have behaviors such as seen in many therapeutic foster homes.

Before I get too deep into this story I want to tell you about something that happened a few weeks ago. I took both kids grocery shopping and it was a great outing - they listened, we laughed, they were helpful - I walked out of that store loving my kids and feeling like I had this Mom thing figured out. I put the groceries in the car while Hannah buckled herself into her car seat, and then I went to put William into his driver's side car seat.

As I lifted him out of the shopping cart I noticed a mom and her teenage son walking towards me. The boy had the start of facial hair and looked sullen with his head down. I thought nothing of it, in fact he looks pretty much like the typical teenage boy stuck grocery shopping with his mom on a Saturday. She slowed to open the trunk - turns out they were parked next to me - and put the groceries in her car, but he kept walking. She called after him and asked him to wait (I was trying to buckle William in at this point and help Hannah adjust her chest clip) but he kept walking and proceeded to open the car door forcefully into my back and got into the passenger seat.

Normally I would have been annoyed. If I was having a rough day I might have even had a dirty look or a few choice words for the son (and perhaps even the mother if I was really looking for a fight), but I was in a great mood and it didn't phase me. The mom rushed over apologizing profusely. "He has autism. He doesn't even know you're there."

I could see it in her eyes, she was trying to beat me to the punch by explaining, but was braced for judgement. I smiled. "No worries. He's fine. No harm done." I tried to convey everything I felt with that smile - not pity, just understanding from one mom to another.

On the drive home I thought about that mom, and since that day I've continued to think about her. I wonder how many times she's had to apologize like that, how many times she's been met with judgement instead of kindness. I've never been so thankful to have been in a good mood. She unknowingly reminded me that we're all just doing the best we can and a smile and some understanding goes a long way.

Fast forward to our respite care placement with Travis* (name changed to protect privacy). He was fairly new to the foster care system. He'd been with this family for 6 weeks after he was found wandering the streets in a diaper. Yes, he's four years old and not potty trained. He also didn't speak more than a few words. From what I understand he's on a waitlist for a pediatrician that might give him a diagnosis other than neglect. I suspect (strongly) that it might be Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Regardless, he was a perfectly sweet little boy. When you sat with him you could see his deficits: His voice and hands had tremors which made talking and eating difficult. He could build anything with legos, but couldn't understand interlocking puzzle pieces. He was friendly and kind, but he also didn't understand personal space and would often get in Hannah's face and wouldn't stop when she asked nicely - or when she yelled not so nicely - for him to back away.

But on the playground he looked like any other 4 year old.
He had limitless energy and loved going down the slide. He made friends because he was so outgoing and nice. He ran and played for an hour without the smile leaving his face once.

I took Hannah, William and Travis* to the park and everyone had a great time. William tired first and so I sat on the bench next to the other moms and he sat on my lap as we watched the big kids play. Then it happened.

Travis went down the slide and his shirt flipped up in the back. As he ran around to the ladder his diaper was visible above the waistband of his jeans.

"Is that boy wearing a diaper?!" exclaimed one mom.
"He's not potty trained yet? That's just lazy." muttered another.
"I wonder what's wrong with him. Maybe he's slow." posed the third.

I was frozen in my seat. Stunned silent. Flabbergasted.
I wanted to call them out for their judgments and point out that he's a little boy that's been through hell.
I wanted to ask them if they'd ever changed a 4 year old's dirty diaper. Honestly, it's gross. It's much easier to be a 'lazy' parent when your child is potty trained. I can't remember the last time I put Hannah in a pull up or diaper. Life after potty training is a breeze comparatively.
I felt so judged as his 'mom'. I wanted to advocate for him. I wanted to hug him and protect him from their words even though I knew he hadn't heard them. I wanted to pause that moment and have time to figure out the best way to handle this situation.
Instead, as calmly as I could I said "His name is Travis, and he's doing the best he can."

I stood and collected the kids and we went home. Hannah exclaimed "This was the best day ever!" from the backseat and Travis* asked "We go back?" and I told him we could return tomorrow. Inside I felt defeated, and sad, and slightly proud that I had said something instead of letting their judgement continue.

A week later and I'm still not sure what I should have done. Travis has since returned to his foster home, but in many ways I'm still back on that playground. Thinking of those moms, of all the children like Travis*, of the future foster children I'll care for and the judgements they'll receive.

I suppose I wrote this to remind you to smile at the mom, for an ounce of kindness goes a long way, and to be mindful of your words, for they carry more weight than your realize.

“I have learned silence from the talkative,

toleration from the intolerant,

and kindness from the unkind.”

~Khalil Gibran

Video Roundup for July 27th - August 2nd

2014-08-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

With VEDA (Vlog every Day in August) and Vlogust kicking off this week, my YouTube subscription box is overflowing with videos. In case you're having a hard time keeping up with the new videos and mine got lost in the shuffle, here are the videos I posted this week:

Epic Water Slide - Roadtrip Part 2 (watch Part 1 HERE)

I really love this video. We left Grandma's house and on the way home we spent the night at a water park, camped at Yellowstone National Park, and the slept in a hotel in Boise. I edited down over 4 hours of footage, so this video is full of the best clips from our vacation.

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Birchbox vs Ipsy - July 2014

This month's Battle of the Beauty Boxes was perhaps the closest match up yet. Fabulous cosmetics and skin care products, testing out new brands, and a few favorite products as well. Which box came out on top in your opinion?

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Julep Nail Polish Unboxing - July 2014

When I got back from vacation I had all my subscription boxes waiting to be opened and so I filmed them all in one day. Thus, this is the week of the green shirt. I really enjoy my Julep box each month because I have some control over what colors I receive and the products are always full sized so I feel like it's a great value.

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Citrus Lane Unboxing - 17 Month Old Boy - July 2014

I have been receiving Citrus Lane boxes for over 3 years and really enjoy them each month. I like that the products are a surprise each month, but that they're catered to my child's gender and age. Here's William's box which included this great pretend cell phone from Plan Toys

A big thank you to all of my subscribers! I've almost reach 17,000 subscribers which is incredible and humbling. If you haven't checked out my channel yet, here's the link: TheBubblelush

Behind the Scenes in Seattle - WITL 65

2014-07-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

I really like this week's Week In The Life video (WITL 65) but we had such a great time and I took so much footage that I couldn't fit in some of the photos that we took on a trip to Seattle. Like this gem:

If you haven't watched this video yet, make sure to check it out. Hannah graduates preschool, we attend the annual company party at the Museum of Aviation, and then we spent Saturday morning at Pike's Place market watching them catch fish, drinking Starbucks and eating delicious pastries. And at the end of it I got to stop in to Marie Bitsandclip's birthday party and finally meet her son Luca. It was such a fun trip!

Here's Hannah hamming it up at a gas station just off I-5.

The museum had a retired commercial airplane, so we took a break from the dance floor to drink in first class.

William has this *thing* with taking off his socks and shoes the second your back is turned. Hannah explains that he just likes his feet to be naked. He's obviously my kid because I agree completely.

My mom's first time in Seattle. She came with us to watch the kids while we were at the party.

An attempt to take a family selfie in front of the fish market.

Hannah rode on Christopher's shoulders and appreciated not 'staring at everyone's booties' as we walked the crowded aisle at Pike's Place.

The flowers. Look at these! Such a beautiful color.

Chris and the kids. Hannah looks windswept and fabulous, and William refuses to smile.

Both kids refuse to look at the camera. It's a phase, right? Right??

And this is what happens when I jump in the family shot. William sticks his hand in Hannah's mouth and I look completely disheveled. But we're all happy!

Marie was nice enough to share this shot of Luca and I.

I can't wait to see her and her family again in August for vloggerfair!

5 Things to Know Before Watching The Fault In Our Stars

2014-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Four months ago my husband bought me The Fault In Our Stars for Valentine's Day. In his defense he didn't realize that he was giving me a book about kids with cancer, but bought it because I was excited for the movie trailer that had just been released. I held off on reading it. I didn't want to finish this book that everyone had raved about and then have to wait months to see it come to life in the theater. So I waited. But I'm a procrastinator at heart, as well as a fast reader, and before I knew it the day I could see the movie was upon me and I still hadn't cracked the spine. And thus #TFIOS day was born. In a span of eight hours I read the book, fixed dinner, put the kids to bed, and saw the movie*. And when I got home at midnight I was thoroughly emotionally depleted.

So here are my ~~FIVE~~ SEVEN tips for seeing The Fault In Our Stars:

Wear waterproof mascara. You're going to cry. It's a movie about love and kids and cancer. There's no escaping the emotion.
Bring tissues. I forgot to bring tissues and ended up using the sleeve of my sweatshirt as I hunkered into my tiny theater chair in what resembled the fetal position and wept. If you to go this movie without tissues and wearing a short sleeve shirt, you're screwed.
Attend a late showing. Consider the run time of your movie and figure out the approximate time you'll be leaving the theater. Is this a high traffic time? Are blockbusters starting and will the lobby be full of people? Because you're going to be, like, 10 minutes post-ugly cry. I when to the 9:45pm showing and the lobby was thankfully a ghost town when I left the theater. I was able to power walk to my car under the guise of darkness with few witnesses.
This is not the best first date movie (have I mentioned the ugly cry enough for this to be self explanatory?), but this is a good movie to help weed out the heartless bastards. They don't have to cry to be considered a keeper, but if they laugh at you for it, they suck. Kids. With. Cancer. Consider this movie a litmus test for his emotional maturity.
Read the book first. I've gone back and forth on this ruling for a week, but I think the movie was better after reading the book. The movie was solid - the acting, the emotion, the storytelling - it was all nearly perfect, but because I read the book and I knew the inner dialogue of the character I felt like I could read between the lines of the scene and picked up on all the nuances of the emotions portrayed. The movie stays fairly close to the book, but some things are cut for time and reading them helps you to understand the characters a bit more. The movie easily stands on it's own two feet, but if you have time read the book first.
And a bonus tip (because the first 4 were about crying I feel like I owe you a bit more substance): Appreciate the fabulous casting. Laura Dern as the mom is so believable and brings depth to what could easily be a background character in the movie adaptation, and Ansel Elgort as the male lead Gus is so adorable and self assured that you root for him, but Shailene Woodley steals the show. She's perfect in this role. She's lovely and vulnerable and wonderful, and this role is sure to catapult her to leading lady status more so than the Divergent series which she also stars.
Bonus Bonus Trivia: Speaking of Divergent, Elgort and Woodley play siblings in the Veronica Roth series and love interests in TFIOS.

*Tuesday nights are my 'Mommy Moment' movie nights. Chris stays home with the kids and I sneak out after bedtime to see a movie on $5 Tuesday. Everyone wins. Except Chris I suppose, but he has an early shift the next day and couldn't come regardless. Just wanted to clarify in case you thought I left the kids home unattended.

Meet The Men of the Bachelorette - Episode 1 Recap

2014-05-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Before each season of the Bachelor and Bachelorette I check that the DVR is set to record and listen to my husband chuckle at how ridiculous the premise is.

I get where he's coming from. Cramming 25 guys into a house (where they're sleeping in bunk beds 6 to a room - isn't this place a mansion!?) while they date the same woman, and compete for dates, roses, and most of all - time to sit down and have an authentic conversation with someone they could potentially propose to in a few short weeks is fairly absurd.

And while I'm not sure finding your soul mate amongst a group of guys assembled by a casting director has a better shot as success than walking into your local bar or supermarket, I have to admit that I'm looking forward to Andi's take on the experience.

But this season I'm doing it a little differently. Instead of paying so much attention to Andi's experience and reactions, I'm going to focus on the contestants. I wouldn't say I have a spreadsheet or anything, but I'm taking notes. And screenshots. And keeping track of the order they're called in the rose ceremony with a little red rose emoji on my iPad.

I've also assembled a Dream Team.

My husband laughed until I reminded him of his TWO Fantasy football teams.

But first, let's meet the bachelors, in order as they stepped out of the limos:

Marcus - 25 - Dallas, Tx - Sports Medicine Manager

I wasn't won over by him, but Andi seemed to be. From his shaking hands, to his declaration that he has 'a lot to give and offer' she appeared to be impressed, and even exclaimed 'He is hot!' after he went inside. I marked him as a Yes for a rose that night.

Chris - 32 - Arlington, Iowa - Farmer

Yes. I liked that he was a little older, seemed sweet and genuine, and you've gotta admit - he's about the best looking "farmer" I've ever seen.

JJ - 30 - San Francisco, CA - "Pantsapreneur"

The guy walked out of the limo wearing a bow tie and looked like a lanky, awkward, cheese ball.

But Andi liked that he referred to the show as a "love quest"so I voted Yes.

Marquel - 26 - Las Vegas - Sponsorship Salesman

As one of the younger guys in the competition I was a little leery, but he's a smooth talker and appeared humble so I voted Yes. Later, in a hilarious moment, he took Andi aside for a cookie tasting where he gave her a black and white cookie and told her to "Look to the cookie". I promise, it was funny.

Tasos - 30 - Denver, CO - Wedding Coordinator

Based on first impressions I'm not expecting Tasos to last long in the competition, but he used his first moments with Andi to recreate the Love Locks that the bridges of Paris are known for and made a wish on the key as they threw it into the fountain.

He won her over, but all I could think of was the intern that would later wade into the water to recover the key.

Cody - 28 - Chicago - Personal Trainer

Seriously? No. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but based on first impressions there is no way that Andi is going to marry him. No Way. He might make it through the night, but he's not making it to the end.

Steven - 30 - Encinitas, CA - Snowboard Product Developer

Next season I'm going to play a game where I cover their info and try to guess their profession. I'd have gotten this guy's correct. Andi labeled him the 'Cali Boy' and I immediately knew that she didn't see him as an equal and doubted he'd make it through the night.

Rudie - 31 - Long Beach, CA - Attorney

The first thing out of his mouth was "May I approach the Bachelorette?" and I knew he was out.

Mr. Attorney was not going to last the night.

Carl - 30 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Firefighter

He was a little awkward, but he came bearing gifts - a little globe in a box - and he's a firefighter! Yes.

Jason - 35 - Wisconsin - Urgent Care Physician

"Do you have a fever? Because you look hot!" Do I need to say more? No.

Nick V - 33 - Chicago - Software Sales Executive
I found him to be boring, but fairly harmless, so I voted Yes.

Turns out he got the first impression rose!

Dylan - 26 - Boston - Accountant

The only thing I wrote down for him is "Hell Yes." Wow, he stepped out of that limo looking like an original Abercrombie model. Gorgeous. He was flustered and forgot what he was going to say, but I think it helped him come across as more approachable.

Patrick - 29 - Newport Beach, CA - Advertising Executive

Raise your hand if you're shocked that this guy is an Ad Exec. He screams 'country club' out of the gate, and is holding a soccer ball which brings up bad memories of Juan Pablo, but they make a joke of it and with one strong kick I decide that Andi might just be ready to date another Soccer player.

Emil - 33 - Cost Mesa, CA - Helicopter Pilot

When he introduced himself he explained that his name rhymed with 'anal'. Done. No.

That's why you're single. If there was a 'Worst' impression rose, he just earned it.

Brett - 29 - Westminster, PA - Hairstylist

His mother always told him 'never greet a lady empty handed', so he stole a floor lamp from the hotel and gave it to Andi. I'm shocked he made it through the night.

Craig - 29 - Denver, CO - Tax Accountant

As soon as he stepped out of the limo he popped a bottle of champagne and sprayed it all over the driveway. No. He might make it through the night, but he's not lasting long.

Ron - 28 - Memphis - Beverage Sales Manager

The only thing I wrote down for him was 'Smooth'. Unremarkable, but not offensive.

He'll hang around for a few weeks.

Bradley - 32 - Michigan - Opera Singer

No. I'm beginning to question the casting director's sanity at this point.

Josh B - 29 - Denver, CO - Telecommunication Marketer

I'm bored just looking at his picture, and I remember exactly nothing from their interaction.

The only thing I wrote down was 'maybe'.

Nick S - 27 - Kissimmee, FL - Pro Golfer

He skipped the limo and rolled up in a golf cart.

Brian - 27 - Camp Hill, PA - Basketball Coach

Hello, Adorable. Just look at how cute he was:

Andrew - 30 - Culver City, CA - Social Media Marketer

He looked like a pompous ass, but I'll admit that by this point I'm getting a little over it and ready to give the boys access to an open bar and see who make a fool of themselves.

Mike - 29 - Utah - Bartender

He said something about pretending they were meeting in a 'natural public setting' and what was meant as an ice breaker just came across stilted and awkward. Then he slipped her his number. No.

Eric - 31 - Citrus Heights, CA - Explorer

My faith is restored. He is a gorgeous, adventurous World traveler:

A few weeks after wrapping up filming Eric died in a paragliding accident.

I have no idea how far he makes it in the competition, but he seemed like an amazing guy.

Josh M - 29 - Atlanta - Former Pro Baseball Player

Finally - the last guy. He's gorgeous, athletic, well spoken, and lives in her hometown -

and exactly her type:

Rose Ceremony

Six guys went home at the first rose ceremony. Let's take a second and say goodbye to:

Emil aka Anal

Jason aka Dr. Not So Funny

Josh B aka The B Stands for Boring

Mike aka The Bartender with no skills

Rudie aka The Attorney

Steven aka Cali Boy

This post was huge, so I'm going to share my Dream Team in a separate post.

Which Bachelor is you favorite so far?

Huggies Little Movers Diaper Review and Sweepstakes

2014-05-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central for Huggies. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

I always encourage moms to make the parenting choices that work for them, and recently I had to take my own advice. We've cloth diapered William from birth, but were starting to have a real issue with overnights. He'd wake up wet and unhappy and I'd have an entire load of laundry to do between the sheets, blankets, and pajamas. I troubleshooted with different inserts and brands of cloth, but ultimately Huggies disposable diapers worked best for us.

Since I'm new to disposables I tried a few different brands, but I was most impressed with Huggies Little Mover diapers. Given our history with overnight leaks in cloth diapers a good fit is important. William is tall and skinny, so I really like the SnugFit waistband because it moves and stretches with him as he tosses and turns in his sleep.

William's favorite time of day is bath time, and it kicks off our bedtime routine. After he gets dried off and lotioned up, I change him into his Huggies Little Movers diaper and then he gets to run around for 20 minutes to get that last bit of energy out. This is where it gets exciting!

The perfect fit that Huggies is known for just got even better. I was able to test out the new Double Grip Strips feature that will soon be available in your local Target - and it's amazing!

For moms familiar with cloth diapers, this feature is

similar to a hip snap in that it helps maintain the fit.

These extra purple Velcro strips on the sides of the diaper are the new Double Grip Strips and they really help keep everything in place when the baby is busy running around.

I'm proud to cloth diaper so you know a disposable diaper is good when I'm recommending it. Those of you that watch my Week In The Life vlogs know that Hannah loves shopping at Target, and I was excited to see that my Target offered a $10 gift card when I bought two packs of Huggies, so I stocked up - But with this sweepstakes you'll really be able to stock up:

Enter to Win a Year’s Supply of Huggies from Target!

Target is offering the chance to win a year supply of Huggies Little Movers diapers in the Little Movers Sweepstakes.
To enter, click the link below and share a photo or video of your little one’s best moving moments.
You’ll receive a $2.00 coupon just for entering!

https://www.moments.huggies.com/Coupon?coupon=target

Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce Recipe

2014-05-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Baked Salmon:

Preheat over to 350°F. Place a large sheet of lightly greased tin foil a cookie sheet. Place salmon skin side down and top with:
1 1/5 t Lemon Pepper
1 t Salt (sea salt, onion salt, or garlic salt)
1/2 Medium Red Onion - sliced thin
1 Lemon - sliced thin
1/4 C Butter cubed
Wrap foil tightly around the Salmon and bake 20 minutes at 350°F, then open tin foil and broil for 8-12 minutes 4-6 inches from heat until the Salmon flakes.

Dill Sauce:

1/3 C Mayonaise
1/3 C Sour Cream
1 T Red Onion finely diced
1 t Fresh Dill
1 t Prepared Horseradish
1 t Lemon Juice
1/4 t Salt
1/t t Minced Garlic

Mix together and serve with salmon. Enjoy!

Mother's Day Gifts that Save Lives

2014-05-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is on Sunday and while we all know the traditional gifts - roses, chocolate, and beauty items - this year I'm going to suggest something completely different:
A life saving clean birthing kit - in addition to something beautiful for yourself.

The website Given Goods Co has partnered with ayzh and is giving away a clean birthing kit called a JANMA for every purchase through May 11th, 2014.

The JANMA birthing kit contains 6 vital items that every birthing mother should have access to - a sterile sheet, antiseptic soap, a cord clamp, a surgical blade, a pair of gloves and a baby wiping cloth - all wrapped up in a jute bag.
(Learn more about the JANMA here)

Given Goods has some greats items to choose from, but I really liked these Zulugrass earrings ($22) made by female Maasai artisans in Kenya. They come in 5 different colors, but I like the confetti earrings:

For the digital mom in your life there is the Contort Power by Quirky ($24.99) which can also charge 2 USB devices as well. Another bonus is that 20% of each purchase is donated directly to the American Cancer Society to help cancer initiatives in the U.S.:

If you're on a budget but would still like to help, I really like the Bar Soap by SoapBox Soaps ($4.99). According to UNICEF, more than 3,000 children's lives could be saved every day just from simple good hygiene, like a bar of soap and access to clean water. Through a one-to-one business model, for every SoapBox product purchased, soap, water or vitamins is donated in turn to countries around the world, so what seems like a small purchase could have a lasting effect on a child's life.

I also liked the idea behind the Kate Tote Bag by EduKate ($25). The bags are made in Colorado using locally sourced sustainable materials, but even better than that is the impact that the purchase of this bag has on a child:

The proceeds from each sale goes to provide a school scholarship and a mentor to a girl in Guatemala, Cambodia or Tanzania. T he scholarship gives girls the opportunity to attend school, and the mentorship program is what helps keep the girls in school. Female empowerment through education. Love it!

$25 for a sturdy tote and a scholarship contribution. That's a great deal!

And don't forget what I mentioned at the beginning of the post -

With your purchase from Given Goods this weekend they’ll donate a birthing kit to a mother in need.

Chocolate and flowers are always nice, but this is a gift that could literally save the life of a mother and baby. What better way to celebrate this special day?

Not a sponsored post.

Pinspired - Dryer Lint Fire Starter for Camping

2014-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love Pinterest and am very excited about all of our camping trips this summer, so I thought I'd share this free Pinspired craft idea. These are campfire starters. Basically you assemble the kindling and logs in your firepit, but you light this help start the fire.

Not excited yet? Would it help if I said that it uses up the dryer lint collecting (more) dust in your laundry room AND it costs absolutely nothing? Intrigued yet? Here's what you need:

Empty toilet paper rolls, a giant pile of dryer lint, and paper of some sort - newspaper works well, but I used discarded sheets from an old coloring book. The crayon wax is actually a good thing. Other pins I've stumbled upon call for pouring melted wax on the dryer lint to create a sort of candle, but that just seemed messy to me.

First you stuff the lint in the toilet paper roll. I packed it in there pretty good.

I only had enough lint to make five, so I'll be saving up my lint and rolls to make enough for all our nights of campfires this Summer.

Then roll it up. Don't use any tape. Just roll the paper around the roll and tuck in the ends.

This is what they'll look like when you're all done.

Your work surface will get very dusty from the lint, but I found that cleaning the table with a baby wipe makes clean up a breeze.

Free? Easy clean up? Completed during a commercial break?

This is my kind of project.

I'm storing these in a plastic lidded container. I like the idea that these will be used during the camping trip and will leave me an empty box to store muddy/dirty/nature-ified stuff in for the drive home.

Make sure to follow me on Pinterest and check out my

Camping board for more camping tips and tricks.

It's Happy Hour | WITL 58

2014-04-30T20:07:00.001-07:00

Week In The Life 58 - It's Happy Hour!

I attempt to set a Guinness World Record, Hannah wears baby clothes, William is a pizza head,

Chris eats goldfish by the handful, and we all celebrate with cheesecake. Life is as it should be.

Subscribe to theBubblelush on YouTube and you won't miss a vlog!

==Sign Up for Julep and Get your first box FREE with code FREEBOX

Learn more about Julep. Here's a blog post I wrote about the May Boxes:

http://www.bubblelush.com/2014/04/sneak-peek-of-juleps-fresh-colors-for.html

==Check Out These Videos:

ONE YEAR AGO: http://youtu.be/3dbXN244Kls

LAST WEEK: http://youtu.be/5rsGqlgROGk

==WHAT DOES WITL MEAN?

My name is Carla, and I've been vlogging our family for the past 5 years. Through infertility, pregnancy, and now life as a family of four, I film little clips of our daily lives and combine them into Week In The Life vlogs. Follow along, get to know us, and don't forget to subscribe!

==Other Places To Find Me:

Blog: http://www.bubblelush.com

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Bubblelush

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/thebubblelush/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thebubblelush

Instagram: http://instagram.com/thebubblelush

Hannah Found The Golden Egg

2014-04-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

In the latest Week In The Life vlog #57 we go grocery shopping at the Asian Market, William throws up on me, I dance around to Bruno Mars instead of cleaning, Hannah shows off her April Kiwi Crate, we dye Easter Eggs and all then celebrate all the Easter family goodness.

William is 12.5 months old and Hannah is 3.5 years old

I've gotta admit, I love this video. Hannah was SO funny during the Easter Egg hunts. There is a bit of an audio sync issue at the end of the video, and I spent days trying to fix it to no avail. It's minor, but in case you were going to let me know, I know - but thank you.

Tip Toeing in the Tulips - Throwback Thursday

2014-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Springtime in Oregon means a trip to the tulip fields for our family. I shared footage of our trip in last week's Week In The Life vlog (WITL 56), but thought I'd share some more pictures from this year - and last year! When I look back at our annual tulip pictures I see more than just flowers and smiles. I can see everything we were feeling as a family at that moment.

Last year we went a little earlier in the season because we wanted to bring Christopher's parents out to the fields while they were visiting from Minnesota. In this picture William is just 10 days old, which means I'm 10 days postpartum - and I look haggard. I was exhausted, and I've got some impressive sleep deprivation wrinkles. We had just begun the process of transitioning to a family of four, and the growing pains were tough for everyone. Hannah was so excited to have the attention of 4 adults including 2 grandparents that were doting on her, and was so proud to wear her big sister backpack she'd received at the hospital the week before. It was windy that day and in my rush to pack for our first family outing with TWO kids, I forgot a coat for myself. I was cold and could barely walk the fields, but wanted to badly to sit that aside and savor this day with both of my children.

Thankfully this year we hit the fields on a gorgeous sunny April day with fields fully in bloom, two kids excited to run around a farm, and everyone got 8+ hours of sleep the night before. William had no interest in looking at the camera and seemed to attract every ounce of dust and dirt in a 5 foot radius of him. He even managed to fall into the only mud puddle we saw that day. He was caked in dirt by the end of the day and enjoyed every second of it.

Hannah really hated posing for pictures. The sun was too bright for this Northwest girl, and she would rather roam up and down the rows looking for broken flowers because she knew she wasn't allowed to pick any (farm rules). Every time she saw someone that worked at the farm she explained that she didn't pick them, she found them, and she was going to take them home and keep them forever.

Chris and I had a wonderful day watching the kids explore. I love this picture of us, and the picture of Hannah below turned out so cute!

Each year I take a picture of Hannah in the wooden shoes, and this year William joined her!

It's amazing the difference a year makes.

For our first vacation as a family back in 2011, we went to San Diego with a 10 month old Hannah. In the middle of Balboa Park, Chris took pictures of me throwing Hannah up in the air. She loved it.

Just like his big sister, William laughed hysterically after every toss and I was able to capture some great shots of 12 month old William in the tulip fields.

I love the perspective of this shot. He was so happy!

Watch the video below to see more of the beautiful flowers at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon. (Video Link)

Sneak Peek of Julep's 'Fresh' Colors for May & New Boxes

2014-04-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't signed up for Julep yet, make sure you read the big announcement below and Join before the price increase!
Julep's May collection - called The Fresh Twist Collection - is so happy and shimmery that I'm having a hard time figuring out which box to select.

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If you're unfamiliar with Julep, let me take a minute to explain.

Julep started as a nail parlor. Then they created their own line of products - polishes, spa products and beauty items. They are sold online, but for the best deal you should become a Maven. Mavens are subscribed to their monthly box of products that are curated for your personal style. When I took my style quiz it was determined that I'm 'Classic with a Twist'. Each month on the 20th I'm able to look at that month's collection and view the products picked for me. The best part? If I don't like that month's selections I have choices! I can switch my box for a different style's, I can gift my box to a friend by providing her mailing address, or I can skip that month's box.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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Let's take a look at this month's boxes:

Introducing the Plié Wand

May's "extra" item is the awesome new Plié Wand. To learn all about it, click here to watch an introductory video. Basically it is a magnetic snap on handle extension for your nail polish lids that will give you more control when painting your nails. I'm excited to see how well I'll be able to paint my right nails using the 'bent' wand position when painting with my left hand.

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Boho Glam

Jeanne - Jet-set Blue Creme
I love creme colors, but I don't think this blue is right for me.

Paulette - Golden Lilac Tulle Shimmer
This color is very pretty. I like the golden shimmer, and would wear this.

Plié Wand

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Bombshell

Laree - Golden Pink Taffeta Shimmer

Saaya - Golden Apricot Shimmer
My April box was a pink and orange duo, so I probably won't select
Bombshell this month, but I do love Laree.

Plié Wand

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Classic with a Twist

Maddy - Raspberry Sorbet Shimmer
Yes. I want a pedicure in this color immediately.

Ramona - Muted Lavender Rose Creme
This reminds me of a demure ballerina. So Pretty.

Plié Wand

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It Girl

Kam - Vintage Spearmint Creme
Maybe it's because it's a flat creme - which I love - but I'm so drawn to this minty shade.

Jules - Warm Powder Pink Creme
What a great pink! Fresh, bright, yet still a light pink. Great color!

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Color Crush

(This box was put together for those that wanted three polishes without the plié wand.)

Iona - Hydrangea Blue Creme - Too dark for me.

Jules - Warm Powder Pink Creme - from It Girl Box
Paulette - Golden Lilac Tulle Shimmer - from Boho Glam

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Modern Beauty

Brilliance Glycolic Scrub- This dual action exfoliating scrub is like a facial for your hands.

Rock Star Hand Cream - An anti aging combination of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil and vitamin E.

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Featured Add-On: Plie Wand Creativity Kit

Dotting Tool - A rounded tip for dots and hearts.

Striping Tool - Superfine bristles for French manis, swirls and stripes.

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First Impression Of My Box:

I'm torn between Classic With a Twist and It Girl. Maddy and Kam are both such great colors, and Ramona and Jules are great manicure pinks. I'm goin gto flip a coin and you'll just have to wait and see which one the Mailman brings me!

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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
HEADS UP ABOUT JULEP:

Julep is getting ready to change up their subscription packages and if I understand correctly, anyone that signs up AFTER May 1st will be enrolled in the new system which starts at $24.99 a month or $19.99/month if you prepay for 3 months at a time. While the new system will give you more flexibility to customize your box, if you want to be Grandfathered in with the $20 box Mavens, you should sign up in April before the change takes effect.

Read more: http://www.julep.com/blog/the-new-improved-maven/

__________________________________________________

If you'd like to become a Julep Maven,
use my REFERRAL LINK and the promo
code FREEBOX to get your first box free
- just pay $3.99 shipping!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased this product and the views and opinions expressed are my own. No compensation was received.

60 Easter Basket Ideas - That Aren't Candy!

2014-04-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

With Easter right around the corner I thought I'd compile a list of 60 items that are perfect for an Easter basket - besides candy! I've attempted to organize them by age, but keep in mind that a "Little Kid" might like something from the "Babies" list. It's just a suggested minimum age range.

To see what Hannah and William are getting this year, Click Here!

Babies - 0-12m+

Little socks fit perfectly in an Easter egg
Bibs
New shoes
Hat
Cloth Diaper
Bottle
Pacifier
Sophia the Giraffe
Freezer teethers
Puffs
Baby spoons
Hand puppet
Stuffed Animal
Books
Bath toys

Toddlers - 1 year+

Character bandaids - they're gonna need them once they start walking!

Stacking Cups

Weeble Wobble toys from Playskool

Little People toys

Sunglasses

Swimsuit

Swim goggles

Beach towel

Sand bucket and shovel

Flip Flops

Water bottle

Flashlight

Stickers

Sippy cup

Clothing

Little Kids - 3 years+

Gardening Supplies - trowel, hand rake, garden gloves

Seeds to grow plants

Melissa and Doug Lacing Cards

Doll house furniture

New outfit for baby doll

Purse

Play doh

Silly Putty

Hair brush

Hair accessories - rubber bands, clips, bows, headbands

Chapstick

Bouncy balls

Sports balls

Trading cards

Board Game

Card Game - Go fish, Uno, Old Maid, Memory

Puzzle

Bag of balloon - regular or water balloons

Bubble bath

Drawing Paper

Crayons

Stamps

Fancy edged scissors - zig zag or deckle

Paint brushes

Watercolors

Paint Smock

Coloring book

Sidewalk chalk

Bubbles

Legos or Duplos

Happy Easter!

Who Does Hannah Look Like? Throwback Thursday

2014-04-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

My mom posted this picture of me on Facebook yesterday.

This is tiny Carla at 3.5 years old - the same age as Hannah.

I cant believe how long my hair was, but what first struck me was the mischief in my eyes.

I recognize it because I see the same look it in Hannah's eyes everyday.

I've heard "She looks just like her daddy!" since the day Hannah was born, so I thought I'd compare this picture of me to some screenshots of Hannah from my recent video with her:

None of the poses match up exactly, but I think it's pretty obvious that she has my eyes and eyebrows.

So then I figured I'd find a picture of tiny Christopher and see just how much Hannah looks like him.

Isn't tiny Christopher just the cutest!?

When I added him to the mix I was blown away:

Hannah is our daughter. There is no doubt about it.

It's like you put my eyes and hair on Christopher's face, but she really does look just like him.

It's neat to think that these little kids grew up thousands of miles apart,

met at a frat party in college, and made a cute little family together.

Next time we'll have to compare pictures of William!

kinda creepy, huh?

How I Organize My Blog Files | Naptime Organizer

2014-04-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

Usually I film my Naptime Organizer projects on YouTube, but today I focused on catching up with my photo and file organization. I'm interested in how others backup their video and blog files, so I figured I'd share part of my current system to start the conversation.

Since I've been more active on my blog this year, I've used and created more graphics and photos for blog posts. These files are watermarked and branded with 'theBubblelush' so I set them apart from my family photo archive and into their own business files. I don't want to just delete them after uploading them to my blog, so I've created a system to back up my blog files. I'll also share how I back up similar files for other social media platforms.

The first thing I want to direct your attention to are the files on the desktop at the top of the picture. These five folders have very distinct uses for organizing images and photos:

Vlogs - This folder contains all video thumbnails (sorted by year, then month), as well as any photo, graphic, or image created for the video. An example would be a stock image of a product I received in a subscription box.
Branding - This folder contains all the background music I've downloaded for use in videos. It also is where I save all of my social media buttons and profile pictures, channel art, cover photos, watermarks, signature images, and my end slate graphics.
Blog - Let's come back to this one.
Company Logos - I use company logos quite often, so I save them here to save myself from having to redownload them next time. Examples include:

Social media platform logos like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
Subscription Box logos like Birchbox, Ipsy, Citrus Lane and Kiwi Crate.
Cloth diaper company logos like FuzziBunz, CottonBabies, and GroVia.

Business Files - This folder is mainly for company records that I'd use for tax purposes like scanned copies of receipts, screenshots to prove items were a business expenses, as well as a separate folder for each sponsored social media campaign - like the Piggy Paint giveaway I hosted in March.

The 'Blog' folder contains any image that I use in a blog post including the raw screenshot or stock photo to preserve the original source image if I have it, and any final watermarked versions that I've edited. (Other images like my blog header or social media buttons are all in the 'Branding' folder.) Like the other folders, 'Blog' contains subfolders for previous years, and monthly folders for the current year (as seen above). I label these folders with a 4 digit year, 2 digit month, 2 digit day for blog images, and a brief description so that they are sorted chronologically by post date, not 'date modified' or 'date created'.

I back up the previous month's folder on the 1st of each month to an external hard drive, and delete old files from my iMac as needed to free up memory. I suppose in this way I have a sort of triplicate backup - the online storage through Picasa/Blogger, my computer folder for short term storage, and my external hard drive for long term storage.

Is this overdoing it a bit? Perhaps. It's not necessary vitally important to archive your blog images, but this system seems logical to me and I works well with the way I use my computer.

How do you backup your blog images? If you're a vlogger - do you save your custom video thumbnails? I'd like to hear about your file organization systems.