Marlie and Me

Review: Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment

2012-02-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

When it comes to winter hair care, there is one rule that you cannot break...MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE!

Coconut oil has been used for hair treatment in coconut producing countries such as India and the Philippines for thousands of years. I've been using Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment as a pre-wash conditioner on me and Marlie for the past two weeks. Following the instructions on the label, I rubbed the oil into our hair and scalp at least 30 minutes before showering or before bed at night making sure to wear a protective plastic cap. Then I shampooed. That's it! I am happy to report that our scalp and hair are no longer dry and feels incredibly soft! Plus, it smells really great!

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment works for all hair types.

Buy It: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment retails for $25.00 for a pint (now on sale for $19.95!). Please use my affiliate links when you make your purchase:
Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Hair Treatment - 16 oz

Win It: Come back February 20-28, 2012 for the Green is Beautiful Giveaway Hop and a chance to enter to win your own 16 oz jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment!

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Wordful Wednesday: Globe-Trotting Love Birds

2012-02-15T06:42:00.000-06:00

I survived another Valentine's Day without massacring my husband! Okay, so I had to make the reservations at Medieval Times and arrange for a babysitter, but I had a cheesy good time! And to his credit, he did surprise me with a great gift. He has great taste in jewelry. :-) Anyways, I was digging in my photo folder for something good for WW and came across these pictures from our European vacation in 2008. Damon planned the whole 3-week trip by himself. "See?," I told myself, he is capable of organizing a romantic getaway. Try to guess where we are in the photos while I go figure out where his motivation has gone.

Kids

2012-02-14T13:11:00.000-06:00

Thanks for the guest post by Jo Levy

Being a mom can be so tough and exhausting sometimes. I use to think that every age was the best and also the hardest. The newborn stage was just literally exhausting with no sleep, but also the best because you finally had your baby in your arms and not in your belly. When they start crawling, you worry about them and their safety around the house, but it is so exciting to see them learning and growing up. Walking is exhausting because you are constantly chasing them around. The worrying of motherhood just goes on and on! My kids are now in third and first grade. We just moved to Houston and I am sitting at home worrying about their first day at a new school. I so wish I could be a fly on the wall and see how it is going. Are they making friends? Do they like their teacher? Who are they playing with at recess? Will they see each other in the hallway? These are all my thoughts. Thankfully I had one task today to get my mind off of them. I researched shop for Bounce electricity rates in Houston Texas. Now I also won't have to worry what our energy bill will be when it comes in the mail!

Must-See Love Stories on Film

2012-02-14T07:49:00.000-06:00

If you are staying at home this Valentine's Day why not cuddle up on the couch with your favorite person, pet, or stuffed animal and watch one of these movies about love:

Documentary Love: The Loving Story. Airs on HBO. Why you should watch: this true story of an interracial couple in 1950s Virginia who fight to have their marriage legally recognized in the face of Jim Crow laws demonstrates the power of love to overcome racial prejudice and hatred.

80s Throwback Love: Say Anything. Available on DVD. Why you should watch: no romantic movie list would be complete without romantic leading man John Cusack starring in this story about young love. He showed us what a stereo heart was before it was a song.

Wacky Love: I Think I Love My Wife. Available on DVD. Why you should watch: Leave it to Chris Rock to make a movie about a marriage on the rocks, but fill it with hilarious narratives and fantasy sequences.

Redemptive Love: Crazy, Stupid, Love. Available on DVD. Why you should watch: When you're married for a long time it's easy to forget why you got together in the first place. And sometimes it takes being apart to remember why.

Sisterly Love: Bridesmaids. Why you should watch: You will laugh, cry and cheer for the bride and her maid of honor as they face the challenges of planning a wedding and preserving their friendship.

Comment Consideration #3

2012-02-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

I received the same request in two comments on my Randomly Yours post, so I figure why not give a little comment consideration...

Krissy said...you know I love randoms! I wanna see this pic of you with long hair, I cant even picture it!

Kim said...I'd like to see pics of you with the long hair....

Okay, curious people. I never understood the fascination with hair, but I will indulge you since I put it put there. I had to go digging around on Facebook because: 1. I don't get in front of the camera often, and 2. I didn't have a digital camera back then, but I found this one picture of me that a friend took and a photo of a scrapbook page with another photo:

Growing it out circa Fall 2006

My hair at it's longest. Summer Vacation 2007

Now tell me I don't look better with shorter hair.

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 26 Weeks Old

2012-02-12T09:45:00.000-06:00

I want to pay my respects to Whitney Houston before I begin this week's recaps. Her voice was the soundtrack of my middle school and high school crushes, relationships, and proms. In recent years she was known more for her personal problems than for her tremendous success as a singer and that was sad. I never stopped rooting for her. I read in this month's Essensce magazine that she was working on the remake of Sparkle. She looked fantastic in the accompanying photo. I was so happy for her. Now she has died suddenly. There will never be another Whitney.

Marlie turns 2.5 years old this week and but I didn't feel like celebrating at first. For one, this week is also the one year anniversary of the miscarriage I suffered last year. Secondly, I have not been feeling so hot. Have you ever been so tired that you can't see straight? Have you ever been so stressed that ever muscle in your neck and shoulder is a knot? That's what the past four months have been like for me. Between keeping a house tidy for showings, hosting my MIL for three weeks, running down to Miami to see my brother, and taking care of Marlie alone for a week all while carrying a growing life inside me...let's just say I was running on fumes. So I took action. I checked into a hotel by myself on Friday and did not come home until today. It was a little daunting at first. I had never been away from Marlie overnight...ever. But I pushed myself to take this break. I slept soundly for two straight nights and napped for three hours Saturday afternoon! I feel refreshed and recharged.

Now I have the energy to keep up with Marlie, at least for this week anyway. I have been shopping around for a baby doll for her 2.5 year/Valentine's Day gift. She seems like such a kid to me now, no longer a baby or a toddler. She talks SO MUCH and gets into SO MUCH TROUBLE! But I wouldn't change her for anything. My phone was acting wonky all week and wouldn't hold a charge. Then Marlie dropped it and it's been fine ever since. How many parents can say their kids fixed their phone by dropping it?!

The Walking Dead returns tonight! It also airs the same time as Downton Abbey. What is a girl to do? Last Sunday, I watched Dowton Abbey instead of the Super Bowl, so maybe I've already made up my mind. I can watch the rerun of the other show On Demand.

Wordless Wednesday: Building Castles

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Baby girl loves to "build castles." I think she is going to be an architect.

Win $105 in Valentine's Day Gifts Giveaway {#All4Love Event} US & WW

2012-02-07T23:59:00.000-06:00

***This is a sticky post. Please scroll down for the newest articles on Marlie and Me***

Love is in the air! Are you ready for Valentine's Day? If not, the All for Love Valentine's Event is here to save the day! Real Mom Reviews and Mama Chocolate have teamed up to bring you a love- (and of course gift-) filled Valentine’s Day blog hop!This event will start on February 1st and run until 11:59 EST on February 7th.

I HAVE TWO AMAZING PRIZE PACKAGES...

Prize #1: Something Sweet (Worldwide)
$50 gift certificate to NanoStyle Jewelry, the first and only jeweler to engrave 24 karat gold onto semi precious stones. If you are looking for a unique gift, then NanoStyle's imprinted jewelry is a winner! Give your Valentine a gorgeous piece from NanoStyles' collection of pendants that express faith, belief or zodiac sign. Your loved one won't be disappointed! Read my REVIEW POST.

Prize #2: Something Spicy (18+, US Only)
$55 gift certificate to EdenFantasys.Com, a leader in the adult shop industry offering a wide selection of products to put the spice back in your relationship. From candles to sexy lingerie to adult toys, EdenFantasys has something for everyone. Let EdenFantasys help you make this an unforgettable Valentine's Day! Read my PREVIEW POST.

Please Read How to Enter This Giveaway: you must use the Rafflecopter form below to record your entries. Comments left on this blog post for the required or extra entries don't count unless you record it on the Rafflecopter form. There have been some changes to Rafflecopter! For instance, you now have to login with Facebook or your name/email address. This enables you to see your entries in a giveaway and edit them if needed. Please wait for the form to load, it may take longer to pop up than the rest of the web page. Make sure you have java script enabled and your browser updated. If you encounter an error, refreshing the page usually resolves the problem. If problem persists, please report the issue to Rafflecopter. Login to get started, click "Do It" next to each task to see the instructions, and start collecting your entries!

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What I'm Watching on #Netflix

2012-02-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week's picks from Netflix Instant Watch:

TV Show:
Nip/Tuck.Thank you Kia for recommending this show! The pilot grabbed me like that alligator and did not let go! A pair of hotshot Miami plastic surgeons deal with the pitfalls of success. One is an aggressive, skirt-chasing, unethical boar and the other is a passive, unhappily married, perfectionist bore. Their contentious partnership makes for great television. I am hooked!

Movies:
Morning Glory.I adore Rachel McAdams and think she is a great actress, so it pains me to see her in a movie role meant for a C-list actress. McAdams plays a 28-year-old television producer married to her job. She attempts to rescue a failing network morning show by recruiting a grumpy, veteran journalist played by Harrison Ford. Diane Keaton plays his co-anchor and they do not get along. It's not that the movie is terrible, it's just a lightweight comedy that is beneath these heavyweight actors. I kept expecting to see Ashton Kutcher show up as the boyfriend.

My Top 3 Picks: Raisin Bran

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

Constipation is a common problem that pregnant women experience. I keep the by pipes flowing by eating raisin bran everyday. I actually eat enough raisin bran to keep a small army regular. But not all raisin bran is created equal, some are downright disgusting and taste like what I imagine is barn hay. I should know because I've probably tried every brand of raisin bran out there. And let me tell you, only a handful deserve to grace my breakfast table. They are, ranked in order from 1-3:

Cascadian Farms Raisin Bran.
Pros: Organic. Hardy wheat bran flakes that don't get soggy in milk. Plump, juicy raisins that aren't covered in sugar.
Cons: Pricey. 14 oz box doesn't last me more than 3 days.

365 Whole Foods Market Raisin Bran
Pros: Only 200 calories per serving. Big flakes. The most protein of my picks. Cons: Pricey. 15 oz box doesn't last me more than 3 days.

Mom's Best Naturals Raisin Bran
Pros: Best value at 20 oz box.
Cons: Unnecessary sugar on raisins=30 more calories per serving. Smallish, thin flakes.

*I did not receive any complimentary products or compensation for this post. I am just sharing my opinions*

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 25 Weeks Old

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

So I thought I was going to have some big news to share with you folks this week, but that has been delayed and I am not happy about it. Hopefully, I can announce it by next Toddler Log.

Damon left for Indianapolis on Tuesday morning to plan events at the Super Bowl for work. Ask me how irked I am later. We flew my sister in to help me out. Marlie won't let her change a diaper, so it's not been real helpful. But she's company and she washes all the dishes.

Speaking of Princess Marlie. Her teacher informed me that she is ready for colors, numbers, and letters at our last parent conference. I've been holding off on introducing these learning concepts not wanting to be one of those parents who drill the ABCs and 123s into their kids. I bought a set of sandpaper letters (so Montessori!) and we've been doing color sorting with her blocks this week.

As for me, I'm just beat.It takes all the energy I have to keep pace with Marlie. I keep worrying about what it's going to be like when the baby gets here and The Princess refuses to share my attention. *sigh* Oh, and just when I thought I had turned a corner with winning giveaways, the last prize I won was partially filled by the sponsor. I only received one of the Mommy N Me aprons from Pink Butterfly Aprons (and it was poorly wrapped in shipping and came out very wrinkled). The poor blog I entered at tried to get the company to send me the other apron to no avail.While I'm at it, I also want to put Dazzle Me on blast. I won a $50 gift card to spend on a handcrafted hat during Blogmania last October and...nada!

Not wanting to end on a sour note, so I have to tell you that I had a really good hair week!

Randomly Yours

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

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It's been a long while since I've participated in a tag meme, but I couldn't resist when Kia at Determined to be Fit tagged me in Random Lists...

The Rules

Post these rules.
You must post 11 random things about yourself.
Answer the questions set for you in their post.
Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

My 11 Random Things

(there might be some repetition from previous lists, but they are worth repeating)

I dream every night, sometimes several times. They are vivid dreams like little movies.
I cannot eat a piece of fruit with a blemish on it. I will stand in the produce section for 10 minutes picking out 10 perfect apples.
I consider myself a reading buff, but I scored higher on the math portion of the SAT and GRE.
I have a green mole on my right shoulder because it's sitting on a vein.
I own and read all the Harry Potter books and saw all the films at the movie theater.
My celebrity crush is John Cusack.
I am a celebrity gossip junkie
I would never see a male gynecologist, not because I'm shy about showing my lady parts to a dude, but because it's important that my doctor have the same plumbing as me.
My first two cars were Hondas. The first was an '88 Accord 5-speed and the second was a '99 automatic Civic that me and hubby shared for six years.
I started a nonprofit in back when I lived in Atlanta that is still operating today.
I'm always cold. I cannot tolerate temperatures below 60 degrees. I will put on a coat, gloves and scarf if it's below 60 degrees.

Kia's Questions

Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? Got any real life ghost stories to share?
I do believe in ghosts, but I don't believe spirits and living humans should interact. There was a ghost of a little boy in the house I lived in from 7-12 grades. My mom saw him one night when my little brother came into her bedroom and asked her to tell the little boy that he didn't want to play because he was sleepy. When she looked at the foot of her bed, there he was!
What would your dream career be (regardless of your personal talents or familial obligations)?
I would be a writer.
Describe the best restaurant meal that you’ve ever had.
It was pan-seared salmon with roasted baby potatoes and sauteed spinach at a restaurant in the village of Oia on the island of Santorini in Greece. I still think about that meal.
What is your favorite candy bar?
It used to be Snickers, but it's been over six years since I ate a candy bar...they contain too many processed ingredients. I also gave up gum for the same reason.
If money was not an issue, how many children would you have (if any)?
Two is my limit no matter how much money I have. I don't think financials matter nearly as much as your capacity to be a good parent. I've seen single, working moms with four kids doing amazing parenting and I've seen two wealthy parents with one child who should have DCFS called on them. I know I couldn't give my all to more than two children.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes! When I first saw my husband my sophomore year of college I knew I was going to fall in love with him.
Where would you like to live besides the place you live now?
I've always wanted to live abroad for a few years in a Spanish-speaking country so I could learn the language. Maybe Costa Rica.
If you could travel back in time and change some incident in your life, would you do so? You would have no idea what effect this change might have on your current life.
That's a tough one. I've always said that all my life experiences (good and bad) have made me who I am and I wouldn't want to change that. But there is one incident that I wish I could do-over. I'm not sure if I would though.
When your hair was the longest, how long was it? When your hair was the shortest, how short was it?
When I went natural in 2005, I stopped cutting my hair except for trimming the ends. I got really into taking care of it and it grew pretty long after about two years of consistent care. It came down to my mid-back when it was flat ironed. Then I cut it in 2008. At the start of my senior year of high school, I had it cut like Halle Berry's from Boomerang.Then I quickly grew it out because it was more maintenance than I realized.
I heard on the radio that a recent episode of Fear Factor had the contestants drinking donkey se.me.n. Would you do this for the chance to win money?
Heck, nah! Just the thought of it makes me want to vomit. My fear of vomiting is bigger than my competitive spirit.
What’s the largest prize that you’ve ever won?
The $750 cash prize that came with a volunteer award I won my senior year of high school. I used it to pay for my class ring and senior trip.

My Questions

If you could live in a cartoon, which one would it be and what character would you play?
What is your favorite cereal?
If you could have a talent that you don't currently possess, what would it be?
In high school were you a jock, a nerd, a drama kid, a band geek or something in between?
Have you ever met a celebrity? Who was it, where was it? Did you act cool or like a crazed fan?
Harry Potter or Twilight or neither?
When was the last time that you were REALLY angry?
If you could travel back and forth in time like in the movie Midnight in Paris, what period of time would you visit?
Is your belly button an innie or an outie?
Do you have any strange phobias?
If the doctor informed you that you had one month to live how would you spend that time?

Duck, Duck, Goose...Tag, You're It!

Nicole @ Help! Mama Remote
TOI
TOOJE Mama
The Babby Mama
Mrs. Pancakes
Kim @ The Child
Blogging While Nursing
Kelly @ My Voice, My View
Pamela @ Still Dating My Spouse

Wordful Wednesday: Inspired by Marlie

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

My dear friend Renee created a art production series entitled, "LULU'S GARDEN" and guess whose like likeness inspired the piece Pink Flower? My Marlie is a muse!

Lu Lu's Garden Series is a tribute to the bond between mothers and their daughters regardless of age, ethnicity, marital and economic status and is dedicated to the memory of Renee's beautiful and colorful beloved mother Lu Lu Marie Nunnally.

Please visit Renee's Neighborhood Art Gallery if you live in Atlanta.

Review: NanoStyle Jewelry {$50 Giveaway Coming Soon}

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000-06:00

Every woman loves bling, and I am no exception. When it comes to jewelry my tastes range from sparkling, fine diamonds to earthy, natural stones like turquoise. NanoStyle Jewelry is the perfect marriage of my tastes. Their onyx jewelry is breathtaking!

NanoStyle is an international jeweler renowned for its cutting edge technology in jewelry design. They engrave symbols and messages onto pendants of semi precious stones using nano lasers. "Through these contemporary jewelry collections NanoStyle aspires to connect people of all faiths and forms of spirituality bringing beauty and exquisite expressions of faith to all. Each NanoStyle pendant, inspired by the individuality found in the world’s diverse cultures, faiths and beliefs, is an experience and an art form."

I chose the "I Love You in 120 Languages Pendant" in black onyx for my review. It is engraved in 24 karat gold and set in silver (retail $99). It is truly a uniquely beautiful and elegant piece that I will treasure forever. NanoStyle offers a wide range of stunning pieces starting at $95 so you can dazzle that special lady in your life this Valentine's Day.

Come back February 1-7 for a chance to win a copy of a $50 gift card to shop at NanoStyle in the All for Love Giveaway Hop, open worldwide! Meanwhile, connect with NanoStyle on these social media:

Facebook
Twitter

*disclosure: I received a complimentary product in exchange for a honest review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*

Answers I Seek in 2012

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

It's almost February and I still haven't made any New Year's Resolutions. The truth is I find the whole exercise pointless at this stage of my life. I figure if I'm not already doing something then resolving to take it up now is just a setup for failure. Besides, I have enough on my plate for 2012 with planning a move and delivering a new baby all within the first four month of the year. By the time I reach the halfway point I think I deserve to skate for the rest of the year.

I however, being a naturally curious person and avid researcher, I do plan on getting some answers to these serious and (and sometimes silly) questions that plagued me all of 2011:

When there is an Amber Alert for a missing elderly person, why is the car always a Lincoln or Buick? Why don't they runaway in Porsches or Mustangs?
Do people whose street address start with 911 feel uncomfortable about the association with September 11th or do they feel extra patriotic?
How many signatures would I need on a petition to get The Real Housewives, Mob Wives, Basketball Wives and all other "reality tv" shows that make wives look like shrill shrews cancelled? And while we're at it can we throw those awful "mom" shows like Toddlers and Tiaras and Dance Moms on the bonfire, too?
What is behind the nation's collective fascination with planking?
Am I the only one who thinks actor Peter Dinklage is hot?
Is there a scientific study that explains why men put produce stickers everywhere but in the trash can that is 2 feet away?
Whatever happened to that chick nicknamed "New York" from Flavor of Love and I Love New York?

This is going to be me this year...super sleuth!

Has anyone watched this show? I'm waiting for it to be added to Netflix Instant Watch. Image source and synopsis at Jori's Entertainment Journal.

See I have plenty to keep me busy in 2012! BTW, if you have answers to any of my pressing queries, pleas send them my way!

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 24 Weeks Old

2012-01-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

This was shaping up to be a lousy week.

It was rainy and gloomy for several days, which put me in a gloomy mood. But the main reason it was so crappy is that Marlie has been acting "extra" all week...extra defiant, extra temperamental, extra demanding, and extra rude. She fought with me over everything. I was seriously tired and at my wits end by mid-week so I talked to her teacher who gave me a book called, Raising Your Spirited Child.I do not exaggerate when I tell you that the clouds parted and sun rays beamed down on me once I started reading this book.

It has helped me realize that there is nothing wrong with my child, this is her normal. She is not bad or out-of-control, she is spirited. The book talks about how a spirited child "feels more" and "does more" than the typical child. I can attest to that! All the things that I admire about her like her keen observations are also the things that can frustrate the hell out of me. Do you know what it's like to try and get a spirited child into a car when she stops every two feet to look at a leaf, pick up a rock, or point out the spiderweb along the way?! It can take ten minutes to walk from our front door and get into the car!

Anyways, I am learning how to work with her unique perspectives and personality traits. This doesn't mean I let her run wild and get away with being disobedient. It means avoiding the things that set her off because she is extra sensitive (like her socks seam not lined up with her toes) and showing her how to channel her spirited qualities (like her bossiness, err, I mean natural leadership skills) in a socially acceptable way. If it sounds like a lot of work, it is! Having a spirited child is like being on-call, but I must say that I am feeling less drained and more at peace since this book has come along. If you have a spirited child, I recommend you pick up a copy!

Preview: EdenFantasys {Giveaway Coming Soon}

2012-01-24T09:41:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. Are you tired of the same, old dinner-and a-movie routine? Why not try a date night with more sizzle?! It's time to start thinking out of the box. Hop on over to adult shop EdenFantasys and pick out something that will blow his mind!

It case you think that I have become a smut peddler, get your mind out of the gutter! EdenFantasys is not a porn site, but some of the items and pictures might be considered NSFW, so do your shopping from your personal computer.

EdenFantasys offers a large selection of romantic and sensual products that will earn you an A+ chemistry! You are going to look so hot in the sexy lingerie that your bedroom will burst into flames, but then you can both cool off with a shower and the fun bathroom accessories you bought. If you are a little less daring, try setting the mood with some candles followed by a nice massage. Whatever you decide, you can get everything you need for an unforgettable Valentine's Day at EdenFantasys.

Come back February 1-7 for a chance to win a copy of a $50 EdenFantasys gift card in the All for Love Giveaway Hop!Meanwhile, connect with EdenFantasys on these social media:

Facebook
Twitter

*disclosure: I received a free gift card for the giveaway in exchange for mentioning the above company on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 23 Weeks Old

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week I had my first my-kid-embarrassed-me-in-public experience. We were at a take-out place called picking up dinner on Friday evening standing in line to order our rotisserie chicken meal. A teenage boy on metal crutches joined his father who is in line in front of us. Marlie points and loudly says, "look mommy, a robot!" I wanted so badly to make us invisible. Other things my observant toddler said this week:

"Look! Daddy has a tail!"...said while catching a glimpse of her daddy in the shower.
"Be careful! Don't get it in your eyes!"...said while I'm peeling an orange. She's wary of citrus juice squirting in my eyes ever since a lemon got her.
"Put on your seat belt mommy!"...said while I am backing out of our driveway. I always put it on after I've backed out, but she insists on reminding me.
"Don't talk to me like that!"...said in response to be verbally reprimanding her.

What else? She has been spoiled by Netflix and Pandora and YouTube. Now she thinks we can summon whatever tv show or song she wants to watch/listen to anytime and anywhere. This makes car rides tricky. I'll be driving her to school and she'll ask for the "stereo song." What am I a genie?! I explain that I can't just make the song play in the car, we need a computer. Sometimes she accepts my explanation, sometimes she starts throwing a tantrum in the backseat. In that case, I turn up NPR and drive a little faster.

Mommy got some me-time on Saturday. I went to a little art shop and painted pottery for three hours! It was so quiet and relaxing. I really enjoyed it. I made a mental note to make more of an effort to get out and enjoy activities like this more often.

Seeking Sponsors for Marlie and Me Virtual Baby Shower!

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

When I was pregnant with my first child, I became so overwhelmed by the process of creating a baby gift registry. I did not know which baby products and gear were the best. There were literally hundreds of car seats to choose from! I did read the online customer reviews, but the conflicting testimonies made me more anxious.

I those months leading up to the birth of my daughter and ever since, I have relied heavily on mom blog reviews for information about products for my family. It's a source I have come to trust!

Now that I am expecting my second child this April, I feel better educated about what brands to buy. Some of that confidence comes from the experience of trial and error, but I largely have mom blog reviews to thank. This is a gift I want to share with my readership.

So I am hosting a virtual baby shower for the entire month of March featuring reviews and giveaways of products that with help expecting moms get ready for baby! Please contact me at t_freckleton[at]yahoo[dot]com if you have a product that is right for this campaign (pregnancy, postpartum, or newborn). I will send you my pitch letter right away! I am open, but not limited to:

baby clothes/layette
cloth diapers and cloth diaper accessories
nursing items
blankets and bedding
babywearing gear

ABOUT ME

Wordful Wednesday: It Goes by in a Blur

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

We took Miss Marlie to the park so she could get some practice on her balance bike. Her daddy did all the work. I stood by taking pictures, but at one point I put the camera down and just watched her. Do you sometimes look at your child and try to remember when they were just babies? I feel like mine is growing up way too fast and soon she's going to be taking driving lessons (in my car!).

Rafflecopter Launch Party Giveaway: #Win an iPad2 or Kindle!

2012-01-17T00:00:00.001-06:00

It's no secret that I love Rafflecopter, the contest widget. It has totally transformed the way I manage and enter giveaways. The program has been in beta testing for almost a year, but now the developers have released a new and improved version to the public!

To celebrate the new year and it's public launch, Rafflecopter is going to give away a 16GB Apple iPad2 and two Kindle Fires. To enter, simply tell Rafflecopter who referred you to this giveaway (say Marlie and Me, please). You can receive additional entries by tweeting about this giveaway, following Rafflecopter on twitter, and giving feedback. In addition, you can suggest a mascot name for another entry. That certainly makes things more fun!

This giveaway is open for the US and Canadian residents and will close February 9th at 12:01 a.m. EST. Suggest a Mascot Name
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Win $100 Family Prize Package to Ring in the New Year (US/CAN)! #ToastTo2012 Giveaway Hop Jan 10-17

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Internet Friends! New Year's is generally an adult holiday what with the resolution-making and midnight-kissing and the alcohol-drinking. But the kiddos can have fun too! Imagine their delight if you win my awesome Toast to 2012 Giveaway Hop family prize package filled with cool stuff they will enjoy!

Toast to 2012 is hosted by Sweep Tight and Just Married with Coupons and the Grand Prize is sponsored by Likeographers.com. Likeographers.com is a website where users from all over the world can enter awesome giveaways where they can win items such as gift cards and makeup by simply signing up and uploading a candid photo. Likeographers.com is dedicated to providing a place where users can upload a picture of their likes, share them with the world and win awesome prizes.

Here's what ONE lucky Marlie and Me reader will win! Even if you don't win, I encourage you to visit all of my sponsors in this prize package because each has a charitable focus, so you can shop for cool gifts and contribute to some good causes by making a purchase:

Go! Go! Sports Girls Doll of choice ($19.99 value): Dream Big Toy Company™ created Go! Go! Sports Girls™ as a fun and educational way to promote self-appreciation and the benefits of daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping habits, self-esteem and overall healthy life-skills for girls ages 3-12. A portion of their profits is donated to organizations that encourage girls to participate in physical activity and develop healthy lifestyles. Read my REVIEW.

Lovable Labels Friendship Pack ($24.99 value): Lovable Labels was launched in 2003 by a mom to fill the need for durable, personalized labels to identify our children's belongings. The collections includes Regular and Slimline Stickers, Shoe Labels, Iron-ons and Bag Tags in bright, fun, and colorful designs. Lovable Labels has generously supplied us with a "Friendship Pack" of 120 labels for one lucky winner! Thanks, Lovable Labels! They are also generous supporters of breast cancer research. Read my REVIEW.

Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure book ($12.99 value): Cooper and his doggie pal Bella get lost in a snowstorm and must find their way back home. This book provides a wonderful opportunity to teach children the importance of making good decisions and the gentle lesson of how to be prepared in case they get lost. $1 of every Winter Adventure book sold will go to advance research and treatment of pancreatic cancer via the Lustgarten Foundation. Read my REVIEW.

S2S Nation t-shirt of choice ($35 value): S2S Nation makes Eco-Fashion hip with their limited-edition bamboo/organic cotton apparel that is designed by the People for the People. 10% of each purchase will go to the charity of your choice based on the acronym N.A.T.I.O.N (Nature and Environment, Artists; Town and Community; Imagination and Happiness; Orphanages and Children; Nurture and Health. Take 25% off your next purchase with discount code: S2SM2M25

A shopping trip to Target on me with a $10 gift card (self-sponsored)! That can buy you 10 items at the Dollar Spot!

This family prize package is worth $103! Open to US and Canada. After entering my giveaway, scroll to the bottom of the post a the list of all the blogs in this hop. And don't forget to ENTER TO WIN the Toast to 2012 Grand Prize 1 of 5 $100 PayPal or Visa gift cards!

Please Read How to Enter This Giveaway: you must use the Rafflecopter form below to record your entries. Comments left on this blog post for the required or extra entries don't count unless you record it on the Rafflecopter form. There have been some changes to Rafflecopter! For instance, you now have to login with Facebook or your name/email address. This enables you to see your entries in a giveaway and edit them if needed. Please wait for the form to load, it may take longer to pop up than the rest of the web page. Make sure you have java script enabled and your browser updated. If you encounter an error, refreshing the page usually resolves the problem. If problem persists, please report the issue to Rafflecopter. Login to get started, click "Do It" next to each task to see the instructions, and start collecting your entries!

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Comment Consideration #2

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm focusing this week's Comment Consideration entirely on this comment from DuPont Representative Sara on my eco-eggs post.
She writes:

I applaud the idea of creating a safer home, and because there's so much misinformation out there about PFOA and the Teflon® brand, I'm not surprised that you are concerned. I'm a representative of DuPont though, and hope you'll let me share some information with you and your readers so that everyone can make truly informed decisions.

Regulatory agencies, consumer groups and health associations all have taken a close look at the Teflon® brand. This article highlights what they found -- the bottom line is that you can use Teflon® non-stick without worry.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/105953916/_

I'd truly be glad to share additional information about it if you are interested, and appreciate your consideration of this comment. Cheers, Sara.

My reply:
Please note that I took a week before responding to Sara from DuPont because I wanted my reply to be based on a thorough investigation on my part and not a knee-jerk reaction. When I write parenting posts, my job is to provide facts and that is what I did in the original article about PFOAs in nonstick cookware. I do welcome debate, so I encourage you to read the document she referenced (click Full Screen to read because their is a membership fee to download or print). It is an article by ConsumerReports.org that summarizes lab testing they had done on nonstick cookware. CR found little to almost no PFOAs in the air after using nonstick pans, so they conclude that the pans are safe. I thank Sara for sharing these findings. There are dozens of conflicting studies about PFOAs and nonstick cookware. I found two articles that I felt offered a balanced perspective in examining the pro and cons on this issue. For you research wonks, I also linked up to the EPA and Environmental Working Group's websites. You can draw your own conclusions. I know my mind is made up...

Toddler Log: 2 Years and 22 Weeks Old

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

Marlie, who I now refer to as Terror Fabulous (not the reggae dancehall artist), had quite an interesting week. She started off with the bright idea to boycott nap time. Fun for her, frustrating for me. The upside was that she crashed at bedtime, no ploys to delay going to sleep at night.

On Thursday morning she woke up and emphatically stated, "I don't feel good. I need medicine." I checked her temperature, felt her tummy for stiffness and got her ready for school. She ate breakfast normally and we headed out the door. She sounded congested when I picked her up and then she fell asleep on the way home. Then she napped for 2 1/2 hours! I kept checking on her because she was breathing hard. I rubbed some eucalyptus ointment under her nostrils while she was still asleep. She immediately started draining mucus when she woke up. Poor thing had a cold. She was fine except for all the snot. She sat on the couch with me for the rest of the day and we watched tv and shared a mango. That evening, I received an alert from her school that strep throat was going around. aack! Marlie has not shown any signs, so I think she's been spared.

As for chocolate chip...this baby has got the moves like Jagger! The kid dances around so much that it wakes me up at night and I have to go to the potty very often. I take it in stride and just tell myself to enjoy the sensation of feeling him/her move because pretty soon s/he will be out and I will forget this feeling.

Our weekend was uneventful. We did the usual...shopping for groceries, shopping for household supplies. When did my life get so routine? I am hoping to go on a picnic Monday if the weather cooperates (in my language that means warm temps, at least 60 degrees). I need to check our TV listings or Netflix for Eyes on the Prize. Happy King Holiday!

Dear Baby X or Y: Why Mommy Doesn't Prefer That You Are a Girl or Boy

2012-01-12T01:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Chocolate Chip:

Greetings, my beautiful unborn child! I felt it was time that mommy explain why we decided not to find out if you are a boy or girl ahead of your birthday. It's not that we don't care to know everything about you, it's just that we only care that you are healthy.

This planet is very hung up on things like gender and other means of classifying people like race, religion, and sexuality. Everywhere you turn some organization or agency wants you to check a hundred boxes identifying yourself as this or that for some bureaucratic purpose. It's all very tiresome, especially if you don't belong to a favorable group. In America, being born a girl means earning 75 cents on the dollar as a woman and having to decided whether to trade in on your feminine wiles to get ahead. It's even worse in some countries where females don't even get to be born or are sent to orphanages if they survive pregnancy. It's hard being a girl in this world.

But it's not always easier being the opposite sex in our society. If you are a boy you are expected to wear blue and play with trucks and roll around in the mud. My brother recently told me her would never give his son a doll if he asked for one. Rest assured that mommy and daddy are going to do their best to protect you from these "social norms." If you are a boy who wants to sport long hair or a girl who wants to wear polos, your parents will happily accommodate. I'm not the only one who is pushing back against gender identity constraints in case you think your mommy is some renegade, lone-wolf, nonconformist. There is "princess boy" Dyson whose parents let him dress up as female cartoon character for Halloween.Then there is that Canadian couple who refused to reveal their newborn's gender.

I promise your mommy and daddy won't take it that far. We will proudly present you as our son or daughter after you are born. But what we won't do is wish, hope, or pray one way or the other. After reading this article on gender disappointment, I was even more adamant that your sex remain a secret for the duration of my pregnancy. People are free to predict what you might be (I actually like playing the guessing game with folks) but when people ask me if I have a preference, I say no. I get all sorts of skeptical looks and remarks. Few people seem to think that it's possible for me to feel neutral about your sex. But the honest truth is that you are a win-win baby...boy or girl.