Mommy Cracked

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T00:00:00.001-06:00

~Our cat Clyde

We Drove 2 Hours To See a Rat

2010-03-08T08:28:00.002-06:00

It's tough being a small child in our small town. Besides the city parks and organized sports, there aren't a whole lot of options for entertainment. We certainly don't have the huge indoor play gyms and inflatable bouncy places. We don't even have a movie theater anymore.

Since we had to postpone E.B.'s birthday outing 3 weeks ago due to my raging sinus infection, we hit the road Saturday in search of fun in the form of a giant, smiling rat. We found him 2 hours later.

My baby experienced Chuck E. Cheese for the first time.

I came prepared, though. Not to be thwarted by the Chuck E. Cheese disease, we were armed with hand sanitizer. We drilled E.B. on staying near to us at all times and about stranger danger. Then we took a deep breath and opened the door to the place.

Oh. My. Gawd.

The place reminded me of a kiddy casino. Lights flashed, games were ringing and dinging, the chatter was at roar level and there were kids. running. everywhere. It was like a cracked-out daycare multiplied by 10. We placed out order, were escorted to a booth, and sat down for a moment to take it all in.

In the two hours we were there, E.B. played his heart out. He smiled, laughed, and had the time of his life. I'll admit I got sucked in into some of the games, too. When it was all over, E.B. cashed out his measley 300 tickets for some cotton candy, a mini deck of playing cards, and a piece of candy.

I really do have to hand it to the Chuck E. Cheese we visited. They immediately stamped our family's hands with matching numbers that showed up only under blacklight, so there was no getting in or getting out with children without passing a checkpoint. This eased my mind somewhat in the event that if E.B. happened to get seperated from us he wouldn't make it very far. Hopefully. The staff was also friendly and helpful.

However, the best part was after we had left, driving down the road, our ears still ringing from all of the chaos. E.B. very sweetly sighed and told us, "Chuck E. Cheese was soooo much fun!". Then he promptly fell to sleep, completely exhausted.

I'm glad we waited until he was 5 years old to try this and I'm also glad we only had one child to keep up with. It was definitely an experience.

Banquet Thanks a Million Promotion

2010-03-04T08:40:00.005-06:00

Banquet, the makers of great frozen food products, is currently giving away $1 million in cash prizes through their Thanks a Million giveaway. Look for participating Banquet packages with the Thanks a Million logo on them, look inside the box, and you might be a winner! For more information and official rules, please visit www.BanquetThanksaMillion.com

Courtesy of Banquet and Mom Central, I was sent a few coupons to try out Banquet frozen food products. I chose to buy the Macaroni and Cheese meals as side dishes. This is something that I frequently serve to my son because it's one of his favorites. I'm happy to report we did enjoy the macaroni and cheese and it was quick and easy to prepare! Perfect for nights when we have other things going on but need a quick, hot meal.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

The Baby Bunch Review & Giveaway

2010-02-28T11:54:00.006-06:00

If you are ever in search of the perfect baby gift that will bring a huge smile to the face of the mom-to-be, The Baby Bunch has the cutest line of baby gifts all beautifully designed to look like a bouquet of flowers.

We were recently sent a medium Blue Baby Bunch to test out (pictured above), and we passed this along to a family member who just recently gave birth to a precious baby boy. The Medium Baby Bunch we received contained a complete outfit consisting of a shirt, hat, 2 onesies, two pair of socks, and a bib. Each item of clothing was wrapped to look like a flower in the bouquet and people are amazed when they find out that each flower is actually an item of clothing!

Each Baby Bunch can be ordered for any gender, and if you're not quite sure what gender the baby will be, they also offer a unisex Baby Bunch. In addition, they also offer an organic line and have been featured on Martha Stewart.

The Baby Bunch is pleased to offer one of my readers a Medium Baby Bunch in their color choice (retail value $59.95). To enter, visit The Baby Bunch and leave a comment on this post telling me if you would choose the Boy, Girl, or Unisex Baby Bunch if you won. Deadline to enter is Saturday, March 6 at 11 PM Central. U.S. ONLY.

Mama Needs A New Pair Of Shoes

2010-02-24T22:37:00.004-06:00

I've been researching online (and off) for the absolute best pair of tennis shoes I can afford that will make my feet feel like heaven, or at least offer way more support than my poor little New Balance's are giving me at the moment. Being the ever so helpful website it is, Facebook offered me a suggestion in the right sidebar of my page of an athletic shoe guaranteed to provide me with 85% less pain in my feet AND be able to defy gravity.

There's just one issue I have with this shoe. Look closely and please tell me what YOU think is wrong with this picture. And WHY, pray tell, would anyone think this was a smooth branding move for a shoe? (Or maybe it is because I'm wigging out and it obviously got MY attention.)

Also taking your suggestions in comments on good tennis shoes to invest in.

Butterfly Kisses...Or Something Like That

2010-02-23T19:48:00.004-06:00

Whenever my son picks something just for me out of the treasure chest at school for his good behavior, my heart just does a total flip flop, for two reasons. The first reason is that, "*sniff* Mah Baby loves me so much he picked something for ME when he could have picked anything he wanted!!! *sniff*", and secondly, the treasure chest means he was on his best behavior, and when you have a very lively and spirited little five year old boy, this is always good news to hear.

Monday was a great day for E.B. When I picked him up from school he couldn't wait to show me the yellow plastic butterfly he picked from the treasure chest especially for me. According to his teacher, he had been working really hard the past few days to be able to get this butterfly, so naturally this made it even more special.

That night at bathtime he wanted to play with the butterfly in the bathtub, and sicne it was made of hard plastic I let him. Bathtime is when I sing corny songs to him, so naturally the butterfly inspired a song I remembered singing at church during my childhood. And naturally, I bursted into my "Broadway" rendition of said song....

"If I were a butterfly, I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings....and if I were a robin in a tree, I'd thank you Lord that I could sing...."

All at once the little plastic butterfly was snatched from my hand and dunked down into the water. Then E.B. added his own line to the song....

"...and if that butterfly fell in the water he might droooowwwwnnnnn......."

At least it was a plastic butterfly.

Prilosec OTC - Everything You Do Without Heartburn

2010-02-23T19:12:00.003-06:00

Have you ever asked yourself what you could be capable of doing if only you had the means to do it? What are you excited about? If you had the resources, what could you be doing in life to make a difference and fuel your passion?

Prilosec is the official sponsor of the Everything You Do Without Heartburn promotion and they are looking to sponsor people who want to take their passions in life to the next level but don't have the means to do it on their own.

To participate, visit www.PrilosecOTC.com for official rules and to complete the online application. Your application will become a live profile at their online community where you will then campaign for yourself by asking for votes from friends and online members. If you are selected for sponsorship, you will be rewarded with a nice contribution to fuel your passion.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Prilosec OTC. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Social Media Overdose- Bloggers Rehab?

2010-02-20T16:12:00.005-06:00

Does anyone remember the dinosaur days when blogging was so simple? You blogged, you read and commented at other blogs, and you *might* have gone to a blogging convention, but that was pretty much the extent of blogging. It was easy enough to keep up with your favorite blogs and people because you probably had them listed on your blog roll and, at least in the mommy blogging world, there weren't quite so many blogs to to choose from. I miss those days sometimes.

THE PROBLEM:

And now? There is Twitter, Facebook, vlogging, blogging forums, feed readers, Google Follow, stressing over stats, SEO, PR opportunities, giveaways, and about twenty billion blogs to choose from.

I finally came to the realization that I would never, ever be able to keep up with all of this at once. I work. I have a child. I have a life beyond this computer screen. I love Facebook, I love blogging, I love reading blogs, and I love to work with PR and offer relevant giveaways on my blog, BUT... I also feel incredibly guilty if I don't visit someone who has recently left a comment on my blog, I feel bad if my stats don't hit a certain number each day, and I feel like if I'm not at my forums or checking out Twitter, then I miss what's really going on in the blogosphere. I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with 300 blogs in my feed reader. I also feel like if I am not doing all of this on a daily basis, then I am not "working my blog" to its fullest potential. I hate the competitiveness that goes along with blogging. I hate feeling like blogging is just not enough.

I want to do it all when it comes to blogging, but I just can't keep up.

THE SOLUTION:

I'm implementing my own therapeutic blogging program called Do One Thing to help me reign myself in, put the focus back on my writing and to sincerely enjoy the other blogs I read. And what is Do One Thing, you might ask? If I only do ONE thing a day to connect with other bloggers, readers, or PR contacts, then I won't hold it against myself. If I only answer ONE email, leave ONE comment, read ONE blog from my reader, make ONE Tweet, then I'll have done one thing pertaining to blogging besides blogging itself and I'll have managed my time more wisely. There will be days, of course, when I do MORE than one thing, but on those days when my computer time is very limited (which has been the case more often than not recently), I won't allow myself to feel bad about what I don't do. That's it.

And? I must somehow whittle my feed reader down to 100 blogs. That's going to be very painful. But necessary. And? Stop obsessing over traffic, SEO, networking, and stats. It's a blog, for crying out loud, right? But it's also so much more. *sigh* In regards to PR and giveaways, I am only accepting and posting the ones I want to, so I am proud that I have been more selective in that aspect. Baby steps.

I've promised myself in the past that I would do these very things to stop the blogging insanity, but I never do. But it MUST stop. It must.

I may lose readers, traffic may tank to new lows, and I'll probably miss out on all of the blogging gossip, but that's ok. It will have to be ok, because I'll still be here blogging if anyone stumbles in and wants to read.

Is there a such thing as Blogger's Rehab?

Scooby-Doo! AbraCadabra-Doo Review & Giveaway

2010-02-20T11:08:00.006-06:00

One cool thing about parenting is getting the rare chance to share something from my childhood that my son also grows to love, and Scooby Doo has definitely been one of those things E.B. and I can enjoy together. We recently received a copy of the new Scooby Doo DVD called AbraCadabraDoo and we enjoyed watching Scooby and the gang solve another mystery.

Synopsis:

In this brand-new adventure, Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang set out on a trip to visit Daphne’s sister Madelyn, who has been studying magic at the Whirlen Merlin Magic Academy. However, when the gang arrives, they learn that the school has been troubled with strange disturbances. Many of its students have fled after reporting sightings of a giant Gryphon that’s frightened them. The gang smells trouble and sets out to investigate

To get a sneak peek, check out the clip below:

Scooby Doo! AbraCadabraDoo is now out on DVD as of February 16, 2010 and you can watch even more clips at the official website at www.abracadabradoo.com

GIVEAWAY: I have 3 copies of the new Scooby Doo AbraCadabraDoo DVD to give away to 3 lucky winners! To enter, just leave a comment on this post. Giveaway will end Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 11 PM Central. U.S. only.

Play Ball! ....Or Not.

2010-02-17T19:37:00.002-06:00

Last week E.B. turned 5 years old and reached the "magic age". He can now play park commission tee ball if we so desire to sign him up. I'm torn.

PROS:

This would be good physical activity for him. It would also be a chance for him to be around other kids his age. Of course, I know he is around children his age at school, but he has no brothers or sisters and the neighborhood kids are a good 3-4 years older than him and I won't let him out of our yard to play yet, so his social interaction is pretty limited. He also hits a mean ball, and sure, maybe I'm a little biased, but he is pretty good.

CONS:

Is he ready for this? I mean, he is only 5. We have many, many years ahead of us to participate in sports. Shouldn't we wait until he is old enough to request to play?

Any "ball moms" out there willing to chime in with your two cents? I'd love some other perspectives.

Valentine's Schmalentine's

2010-02-14T23:53:00.003-06:00

The older I get, I find myself crossing over to the "Valentine's Day is just a commercial, made-up holiday with no real relevance other that to guilt people into buying something for their significant other because you kind of have to or risk looking like a clueless loser" camp. We weren't going to make a big deal over it this year and I was perfectly fine with it, because I know Cracked Daddy loves me and really, we've just about done it all when it comes to Valentine's Day.

And then....Cracked Daddy ordered me to the couch to watch Twilight (!!kid-free!!) Saturday night, and then I woke up this morning to roses, chocolates, and breakfast fit for a queen. And the nap!! I got a 2 hour nap. Alone! Kid free!! And I liked it.

Well played, honey. Well played.

Suave Wash Them Grow Giveaway

2010-02-14T00:16:00.004-06:00

Bathtime for my little guy has never seemed like a parenting "chore" to me. When he was a baby, it was relaxing. As he has grown, bathtime is "fun" time. He plays with toys, we sing, and we also talk about his day. It's definitely quality time while getting clean.

Suave has recently started a new campaign called Wash Them Grow to encourage parents to turn bath time into quality family time. As part of the campaign, Suave Kids created www.washthemgrow.com, an online forum for parents which includes a trivia game and tips generated by parents, for parents.

Each day parents play the trivia game they are entered into the Wash Them Grow Sweepstakes and are eligible for a weekly family e-Keepsake Kit, or the grand prize, a family vacation to Orlando!

Suave Kids is also launching a new body wash --Moisturizing Body Wash-- that will leave kids’skin baby soft and smooth. All Suave Kids Body Washes are hypoallergenic and have an ophthalmologist tested formula that makes bath time tear-free.

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky Mommy Cracked reader will win a set of 4 Suave Kids Body Washes. (Berry, Strawberry, Free and gentle, and Moisturizing)

TO ENTER:

Just leave a comment on this post. Deadline to enter is Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 10 PM Central.

I Have To Get This Off My Chest

2010-02-13T20:11:00.005-06:00

Dear Mr. Weatherman,

All I can really say at this point is FAIL! That light dusting of
snow looks nothing like the 1-3 inches you promised and assured all of us we would get a snow day because of. I'm done
with you. Done! Your predictions mean nothing to me anymore.
We're through.

Sincerely,

Mommy Cracked...who will never get her hopes up for a snow day ever, ever
again.

Dear Mother Nature,

Sweetheart, we need to talk. May I just ask HOW is it that my little
section of the great state of Mississippi gets NO significant snow, while you
dump it exactly 30 miles north and south of us every. single. time.? And
to tease us with beautiful, big snowflakes, only to turn off the snow faucet an
hour later with NO accumulation? You are a heartless tart!

Sincerely,

Mommy Cracked....who thinks you do this just for kicks. Snow in SOUTH
Mississippi over 3 times this year but not us? Really?! Really?

Dear Wycleff (Or whomever it was that came up with this idea...)

While the intentions of raising money for Haiti by re-doing We Are
The World are admirable and a cause I am definitely down with, What The Honk did you do to the song? I was not impressed at
all. At all. Or maybe I'm just too old school to appreciate
this.

Sincerely,

Mommy Cracked...who is probably the only other person in the world that
hates this new version.

Dear E.B.

Your Mommy feels just terrible that we didn't make it to the Monster Truck
Rally tonight. We had a big weekend planned for you, and then Mommy got
sick. You're totally OK with it because, bless your heart, your Daddy and
I never mentioned it to you at all (because we'd never hear the end of
it...which is good I suppose since we had to cancel), so you are completely
oblivious and happily playing Sponge Bob on the PlayStation. But
still. It's your birthday week. You deserved this. I'm sorry,
and we promise to make it up to you in the near future with another fun trip in
which we won't tell you about either.

Sincerely,

Mommy....Who loves you more than peanut butter.

Disclosure: These rants were brought to you by Sinus Infection from Hades and Antibiotic-Induced Stomach Issues. I did not receive a gift card from anyone for writing this, but I totally should.

General Mills Cereals

2010-02-12T23:04:00.003-06:00

General Mills recently announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. While that's great news for kids, it's also great news for us adults who enjoy our favorite "kid" cereals, also! General Mills and My Blog Spark recently provided my family with some free cereal coupons to celebrate this initiative to make some of their cereals lower in sugar.

Interesting Cereal Facts:

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less
cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters?

Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential
nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits: Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened
cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s
diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and
lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study
showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school.
Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher
on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported
discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

General Mills is offering a great $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals. To get yours, click here.

All Eyes On Me

2010-02-09T00:38:00.003-06:00

I was already "having a Monday". The kind of Monday where it's cold and raining, having to muster up as much get up and go as I could to make it through the day, topped off with the mother of all tantrums from E.B. while taking him to school this morning (and all over a Pop Tart, might I add).

And that? Was just my morning.

I was relieved when it was time to leave work and go pick up E.B. from school so we could go home and relax before I had to tackle the nightly chores. I had made it through another day! The rest of the afternoon/night was smooth sailing!

And then? My car went dead in carpool line. And not just anywhere in carpool line. Oh, heavens no! How about right at the front door where the children come out...where there's a covered driveway so nobody has to get wet on rainy days like this. Why, let's just block the whole front part there and make everyone have to back up, go around, and watch their little darlings get wet as they sprint out to the cars. And the teachers walking the little ones to their cars? Get them wet, too!! It's a non-cranking dead battery 14-year old hooptie-car free for all!

And the looks. They alternated somewhere in between..."Glad that's not ME!", "UGH! The NERVE of HER!! (complete with eye rolls as she sped off in her luxury SUV)", genuine sympathy (very few of these looks), and rubber-necking stares. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die because I knew the inconvenience I was causing, and there was nothing I could do but call my Dad (who will be referred to on this blog as Super Dad from here on out).

As E.B. got situated in the car, he demanded that I "Go!!". I told him the battery was dead. The child started crying as if I had told him a person died and at that point I could have very easily joined him in the cry-fest because the day was completely shot.

My Super Dad showed up immediately and got us going again. By that time carpool was over, so at least I could do the "drive of shame" out of the parking lot in private. I had turned the car off in an effort to try and conserve gas while waiting in line, but I guess I left the lights on during that time. Lesson learned.

And for those that gave me dirty looks as they passed me by, this one's for you.

Hormel Game Day Party Package Review

2010-02-08T21:45:00.006-06:00

Our Super Bowl party was made even yummier thanks to the great folks at Hormel. We were sent a Hormel Game Day Package to try out on Superbowl Sunday and I was so impressed with the quality and generosity!

We received the following Hormel products to try:

Hormel® chili
Hormel® party tray
Hormel® pepperoni
Hormel® microwave-ready bacon/bacon toppings
Hormel® chunk chicken
Hormel® party ring

I made this great Cheesy Chili Dip using the Hormel chili and everyone raved over the party tray, which consisted of salami and pepperoni, crackers, and Monterrey jack and cheddar cheese.

Hormel has also recently introduced the Party Ring to their fantastic line of party foods and it consists of pepperoni with slices of provolone cheese on a deliciously crispy baguette. Just heat in the oven for 5-7 minutes, slice, and serve!

We thoroughly enjoyed all of the products provided to us and highly recommend Hormel for their amazing taste and convenient products!

Clorox "I Don't Want To Miss..." Blog Tour

2010-02-08T20:07:00.005-06:00

E.B. was out sick all last week with croup and missed many, many fun things at school. Try as we might with washing our hands and my neurotic cleaning and wiping down of surfaces, eventually the "sickies" find our home and we just have to endure it.

What would YOUR kids hate to miss out on if they were home with the flu?

Clorox is sponsoring a great video contest for school musical groups nationwide to enter.

All they have to do is follow the guidelines at http://www2.schooltube.com/Contests/IDontWanttoMiss2010.aspx and submit a music video performed to a pre-chosen song describing what teens wouldn't want to miss out on if they were home sick with the flu. The grand prize is former American Idol finalist, Danny Gokey, leading a music class at the winner's school!

For each entry submitted, The Clorox Company will donate $100 (up to $10,000) to the Sophia's Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Danny Gokey in honor of his late wife, Sophia and dedicated to helping children achieve academic success via musical training, and restoring musical dreams in children.

To learn more about flu prevention, connect with Clorox on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Clorox.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox and received $20 thank-you gift certificate.

Sick Children Make For Tiny Tyrants

2010-02-04T18:37:00.003-06:00

Being taken care of when you're sick is a wonderful thing. It helps to know that when you can't do for yourself, someone is there to step in and make sure the house is kept clean, food is prepared for you (and the rest of the healthy ones), and that all you need to worry about it getting your medicine on time and commanding the remote control.

However. HOWEVER. There comes a point in time when you know you're feeling a little better and could do a little more than what you've been doing, but gosh darnit, having people wait on you hand and foot and be at your beck and call is just plain old heaven.

E.B.'s free pass on "milking" his sickness has expired. He can play just fine, climb all over the furniture, etc., but can't bring me his cup when he wants a refill. Picking up the toys he has littered the house with "makes his arms hurt", and disrespect is being served up to me everytime he doesn't want to take a bath, go to bed, etc.

And I? Am done.

And he? Is doing much, much better. And it is time to nip the milking of the sickness in the bud.

Goby Create Your Own Adventure Review & AMEX Card Giveaway

2010-02-01T18:54:00.005-06:00

I've found in the past that one of the most frustrating parts of planning a trip online is that there are just too many websites to choose from when gathering information. I recently tested out (successfully!) Goby while planning my son's birthday trip and I can't stop singing it's praises! It was super fast (something busy moms and dads can appreciate), easy, and informative.

Goby (pronounced GO-be) searches more than 300 different categories of “things to do” from zoos and aquariums to playgrounds and children’s museums. Goby poses three questions: What, Where and When. By just answering two of the three questions, you can instantly receive an easy-to-read results page that includes not only detailed information about attractions, activities, locations and events, but also an interactive map and photos from sites like Google and Flickr.

Goby has generously offered a $50 American Express gift card to one lucky Mommy Cracked reader so they can plan a fun day with their family.

TO ENTER:

Visit Goby.com. Search for a perfect adventure! Leave a comment on this blog post telling me what type of adventure you are looking for and what you found.

Deadline to enter is Tuesday, February 9 at 11 PM Central. U.S. Only.

Poop On Croup

2010-02-01T18:34:00.003-06:00

E.B woke up yesterday with a terrible sounding cough. It was like nothing I had ever heard before, and at first, I seriously thought it was our fat male cat Clyde hacking up a hairball. Yes, gross, I know. I can always tell when E.B. doesn't feel well because he gets really quiet and slows down. This child was asking me to sit on the couch and watch TV with him yesterday. Do you know how often he will sit down and actually watch TV? Unless it's a movie or cartoon, this rarely happens. And the fact that he was letting me command the remote? It only confirmed what I feared. He was sick.

This morning was more of the same, so we ventured out to our pediatrician who confirmed that E.B. did indeed have croup. He was also blown away with how much progress E.B. had made in speech therapy and couldn't believe how much E.B. was talking. The talking? He does that in his sleep, too.

So we've spent the rest of today indoors and tomorrow E.B. will stay home from school because apparently this is contagious. I can't tell you how sad he is to know that tomorrow he will be spoiled by the person he loves more than chocolate cake (his great-grandmother...who actually makes him chocolate cakes) and be forced to watch all the cartoons he wants.

OxiClean Power Paks and Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater

2010-02-01T17:46:00.005-06:00

If you're already a big fan of OxiClean products, you will be excited to know that OxiClean has unveiled two new powerful stain-fighting products to help make preserving your clothes that much easier.

The OxiClean Power Paks and Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater will be hitting store shelves in mid-February, but thanks to Mom Central and OxiClean I was given a "sneak peak test drive" of these and was seriously impressed. The Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater salvaged one of my white tee shirts that had been stained with spaghetti sauce. I also appreciated the fact that it was in a stick packaging, not a spray. To use, all I had to do was simply push down on the stick and the gel released, much easier for my arthritic hands than fumbling with a spray bottle.

I'm definitely sold on the Power Packs, though. Think OxiClean powder in convenient little packs that you just toss in with your laundery. It made the clothes smell fabulous once they were finished washing, and the best part was that there was no messy measuring of powder. This was my favorite of the two and I will be purchasing these on a regular basis.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of OxiClean and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Alternative Birthday Idea

2010-01-31T13:38:00.004-06:00

As I looked around E.B.'s bedroom this past week I made an executive decision. Based upon the outrageous amounts of toys received during the holidays and making note that all but 2 of those toys had seen actual playtime, I decided that E.B. would not be having a birthday party next month.

I know. I know. I'm a terrible mom and such a funsucker, right?

I do plan to send cupcakes to school on the day of his actual birthday so he can "celebrate" with his friends that day, but we've decided this year to take him on a little weekend roadtrip and do some fun things instead of having a traditional party with another slew of gifts.

On that list of fun things? A monster truck show. Ohdearlordbabyjesus, I never thought I would be caught dead at one of those, but E.B. loves monster trucks, and who am I to deny the birthday boy that small pleasure in life? We're also planning to stop in at Incredible Pizza and perhaps the Memphis Zoo, depending on the weather. So, the celebration will still go on, just a little differently this year.

How does your family celebrate birthdays? Big parties, small get-togethers, fun activities? I'm always open to alternative ideas, so share with me how your family does things.

The Case For No More Babies

2010-01-29T23:46:00.005-06:00

While looking through baby pictures of E.B. tonight, I started remembering things.

Things like tiny, brand new little baby hands:

Things like chubby baby arms and thighs:

And cute little ears.

And I am convinced, now more than ever of one thing. I do not want another baby. I do not want another baby. I DO NOT want another baby.

Repeat as necessary.

Smartipants Reusable Diapers Giveaway

2010-01-28T23:52:00.005-06:00

If you are expecting a baby or still have a little one in diapers, did you know that:

3.4 million tons of disposable diaper waste fills up our landfills each year?

Most parents go through 7,000 disposable diapers per child?

I'll admit when I was pregnant and even after my son was born that I never gave facts like these a second thought. Ignorance is bliss, right?

Smartipants are one size fits all reusable environmentally friendly diapers. With Smartipants you only need a total of 24 – saving parents up to $3000 a year. Since these are reusable, they can be passed down to younger siblings, thereby passing on even MORE savings for your family! Available in six trendy colors (plus traditional white), Smartipants are also a big hit with Hollywood moms like Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Gwen Stefani, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson, Jennifer Garner and Jessica Alba who are all going green with Smartipants reusable diapers.

Smartipants would like to offer one of my readers one Smartipants reusable diaper. To enter, visit the Smartipants site and then come back here and tell me what color Smartipants you would choose if you won. Deadline to enter is Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 11:00 PM Central. Please make sure you have contact information available in your profile or entry. U.S. only.

Girl Goes Geek

2010-01-25T00:52:00.004-06:00

I've written in the past about how slow I am to adapt to technology, but today I outdid myself and here is why I deserved the ~~two slices of~~ cheesecake I had today.

I was already super annoyed by the fact that my laptop was missing a couple of keys (the darn things just pop off and hide, apparently) but to top it off, the space bar on the keyboard popped off and the spring holding it in broke. Fortunately, I had seen this coming a couple of weeks ago and already had a replacement keyboard here in my hands, only...I had NO clue about replacing laptop keyboards. Luckily, I found a website that offered a step-by-step tutorial and in 5 minuted flat I had the job done. If I had known it would be that simple, I would have attempted it sooner.

But apparently, that challenge wasn't enough because, "HELLO MALWARE!!". My laptop had been hijacked during the night and I was about to wave my little white flag when I found the website Bleeping Computer. This is in no way a paid advertisement, but seriously....if you ever have virus/spyware issues with your computer, this website will save you many tears of frustration. After following some super easy instructions, I had the laptop rid of the malware and ready to go.

I love channeling my inner geek. She makes me feel smart.