Stowed Stuff - Adventures in Mommyhood

Thirty-One Gifts: Giveaway!

2012-01-29T21:01:00.000-05:00

So, have you checked out Thirty-One Gifts yet? O.M.G. I just got wind that their new Spring 2012 catalog is out and they've got some super cute styles for helping mom stay organized. I can't get over the new products and prints available for the months of fun and sun (it's almost February ladies, and the school year is just about half over!) Spring is really just around the corner.

Thirty-One is focused on providing useful, stylish products for the details of YOUR life. Thirty-one bags are so hip and trendy. I love the entire loot in the Spring collection. Really. Some of my favorites are the Tote-Ally Awesome Tote, Square Utility Tote (perfect for the back of the car!) and the Large Utility Tote.

My local Thirty-One consultant is Stacy Colella and she's available to host your party, in person or online! She even has a Facebook page you can join to learn more about becoming a consultant or hosting a party! If you would like to get your hands on a catalog, place an order or host a party, she's your woman. And look what she brought me...

Organizing Utility Tote in Pin Dots ~ so versatile!

So how would you like to win your very own Organizing Utility Tote from Thirty-One Gifts, courtesy of Stacy? You will LOVE this bag! It can hold everything you need for just about anything...I'm hoping to keep mine in the front seat of the Traverse as a catch-all for mail, preschool crafts and notices and daily errands. It is SO cute!

So if you'd like a chance to win your very own, leave a comment below telling me how you would use your Organizing Utility Tote from Thirty-One Gifts. Contest period ends on Friday, Feb. 10th at 8pm EST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be chosen using random.org.

Want an extra entry? Leave an extra comment for each of the following you've completed.

Follow me on Twitter
Tweet this Giveaway
LIKE Stowed Stuff on Facebook
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I received an Organizing Utility Tote to partcipate in this review and giveaway! Thanks, Stacy!! I totally LOVE it! All opinions are my own, as usual.

Is This Normal?

2012-01-29T19:17:00.001-05:00

Shit. I'm doomed.

Kindergarten Love Notes

HATCHEDit.com: An Online Calendar for Families

2012-01-28T16:45:00.000-05:00

This past week, I had the pleasure of hosting a blogger party with Megan and Kirsten; co-founders of Hatchedit.com. An amazing group of women came together to learn about this new online tool which helps families stay organized.

The Ladies who came out for the Hatchedit.com Blogger Event!
They all went home with amazing loot from Mirassou Winery and The Container Store!

When you log into HATCHEDit, you can create an account for your family to keep track of all your events and tasks to make managing everyone's schedule easier. The calendar allows you to connect as many as eight children to your account, each with their own username and password! Each family member is marked with a unique color code so that their events are categorized. The calendar even has the ability to set up recurring events that span certain days and organize events according to different categories, i.e., travel, work, academics, medical appointments, playdates. You can even invite people to events and set permissions so only chosen people can see your events. It's a pretty neat tool that gets rid of long, confusing email chains. Hatchedit makes organizing events much easier for everyone in the extended family!

One great feature of Hatchedit is groups. You can invite certain people to join your group and start discussions that everyone in the group can see. It's pretty fantastic! HATCHEDit groups would be great for planning a holiday meal ("Who's bringing the mashed potatoes?") or a family vacation ("How many bathrooms do we need in our cottage on the Cape?"). It's neat, tidy and easy to manage -- all in one place!

Hatchedit even allows for you to set up a personal blogfeed and newsfeed, so you can keep up-to-date with your favorite sites. And, let's not forget the curation tab, where you can post images and keep track of your favorite things. It's all right there on your dashboard when you log in! Beautiful!

And, best of all, HATCHEDit is FREE! So log in today, start organizing your family's busy schedule, and don't forget the app for your Android device! You can download the app in the Android Market or at Hatchedit.com. The iPhone app will be coming out in just a few short weeks.

Get yourself a free HATCHEDit.com account and you'll be able to invite family members to dance recitals, organize school pick-ups, playdates, notify baby-sitters of important dates, manage PTO meetings, and golf outings all in one place!
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I was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Mirassou Wine for the Ambitious Moms

2012-01-25T21:30:00.003-05:00

Annie is ready! So excited to party with HATCHEDit!

Boston area bloggers should join us at Ambitious Moms so you don't miss out on any of the fun!

We're ready to party!

Stow Sledding Adventures

2012-01-23T14:08:00.001-05:00

Yup, I stayed in my jammies ALL WEEKEND LONG. I never left the house. Felt good.

The kids, on the other hand, played in the snow all weekend long with Daddy. I sure did marry a good one. Thanks Daddy. He even made me a little YouTube video!

SleepBuddy: Giveaway!

2012-01-22T21:49:00.002-05:00

"I got a present!"

So, we went through a couple of weeks of hell after Christmas trying to get Aidan to stay in his bed all night. I stuck to my guns. Chris and I followed through with our plan to keep dragging him back to his own bed without speaking to him (except for an "I love you. Goodnight.") It's been going pretty well, however we have a small 25 watt light next to his bed that he still likes to have on at night sometimes.

But not anymore. A few days ago, Aidan received a lovely little present from MomSelect. He was so excited to open it and see what it was. So was Mommy! We got a SleepBuddy! I absolutely love how it was gift wrapped and made Aidan feel really special.

SleepBuddy features a soft blue light that can sits on Aidan's dresser. We no longer need any other light on in the room at bedtime. HALLELUJAH! The light is set to stay on while Aidan is sleeping (for naps and bedtime!) We have set the light to go off at 7:30am, which means it is OK for him to get up! And it's working. Over the weekend he told me, "I swept weawy good wast night because I weawy weawy wike my SweepBuddy." Too cute.

SleepBuddy comes with a cute children's book that explains how it all works, reinforcing healthy sleep habits. It even includes a rewards chart with stickers to track your child's progress and a parent's guide to help you reach sleep success. Emily loves encouraging her little brother and helping him with his stickers each morning. It's totally great.

SleepBuddy is great for any child between the ages of 1 1/2 - 6 years old. It's perfect for kids who are:

Soon to be transitioning from crib to bed
In the process of transitioning to a bed
Sleeping in a bed, but not staying through the night

Gift wrapped SleepBuddy

I know how important it is to get your beauty rest and teach healthy sleep habits to your kids. One lucky reader is going to win their very own Sleep Buddy, the complete system for naps and nighttime. If you're struggling with sleep, along with your little one, this may very well be the answer to your prayers.

Contest is open to U.S. residents and contest period ends on February 5th, at 8pm EST. In order to enter, please leave a comment below telling me a little bit about the sleep culprit in your house. (Mandatory)

For extra entries: (please leave one extra comment below for each that you complete)

Follow SleepBuddy on Twitter
LIKE SleepBuddy on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
LIKE Stowed Stuff on Facebook
Subscribe to my RSS Feed
Share this giveaway on your own Facebook wall
Tweet this giveaway (one per day, must leave comment for subsequent tweets)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you to MomSelect and SleepBuddy for realizing I needed one of these bad boys. Love it. All opinions are my own.

Atrocious Bows on Babies

2012-01-21T14:04:00.000-05:00

So you have a newborn baby and it might be a girl. You love your baby girl to pieces and you dress her up in really cute girly clothes and you snuggle her and you snap lots of photos. And then some of you do this to the poor child.

Photo By Savvy Britches Boutique

Call me crazy, but I hate it. They are so weird. What's even weirder are the people who purchase these giant things and put them on their baby's head for a professional photo. Do these kids wear these on a day-to-day basis? Or is this some sort of fashion statement that only looks *good* in photos? I think it takes away from the sweet, dainty newborn child. God awful. Do the photographers think these giant bows and flowers are cute on children? Or is it just "art?" I don't get it.

ritzybaby.com

My dad used to always laugh and shake his head whenever he saw a newborn baby girl wearing something over her bald head. But this brings it to a whole new level. This is far worse than a headband from the 1980s and I know my Dad would not approve either. Hair or no hair, just don't do it.

beautifulbowsboutique.com

See more at pinkbowtique.com

I think folks actually pay money for these things. I think it's horrendous.

Playdates: Lifesavers for Mom

2012-01-19T14:30:00.000-05:00

We've had a lot of playdates recently and I'm learning a lot as we go. It was hard for me to arrange them before kindergarten, and having a baby in the mix makes it even harder with nap schedules, etc. But I'm learning that playdates rock. Here's why:

Everyone plays nicely. No siblings are fighting. Throwing an extra kid into the mix is fun for everyone.
The kids are so busy playing nicely with each other, that there's hardly any time for snacking and whining, "I'm hunnnnnnnnnnnnngry." The cushions even remain on the couch!
No time-outs!
It's quieter!
Mom can get a lot of stuff done when everyone is playing nicely!

What are your thoughts on playdates? I think it's super beneficial to have a friend over here to keep my own kids under control! I'm learning. I'm really learning.

Crab Juice

2012-01-18T20:45:00.001-05:00

Me: "So how do you like these juice boxes?"

E: "I love them. It's made with crab juice!"

I thought she was telling me a funny...

Me: "Oh, so is that why you're in a bad mood sometimes? They make you crabby?"

E: "No, Mom... it's made from TOTAL crabs! That's what it says!"

The AMAs

2012-01-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

The American Music Awards, right? That's what I thought my friend was talking about when she first mentioned it to me. She wants a third, mentioned AMA, and I was like, "huh?"

Advanced Maternal Age.

OH. If I have a 4th I will be AMA.

SOL?

Hubs and I had words about #4 this past weekend. We actually discussed it. Aren't you just dying to hear what was said? I think it was all brought on by putting more baby clothes away.

So did you have a baby when you were considered AMA? How'd you make out? Ok, right? I was made to deliver babies, or at least I think so. Recently, I've been given some advice. "You're almost out of it - you can't wait much longer. If you're gonna do it, do it now! Imagine being out of it and then having to start all over again?" She has a good point. I'll be turning 35 in a few weeks.

Out of it, out of the baby stage. I hardly ever carry around a diaper bag anymore. I just stuff the necessities into my bag - which often leads to the discovery of a cheesy sippy cup concoction while at work on a Monday morning. Other than that, the chaos is getting a little bit easier. Easier before it gets hard again, I'm sure of it. The teenage years are going to be ever-so wonderful.

A 4th? The thought is scary. I'd be considered, "CRAZY" by most. It'd be a crazy life. I'd be one big hot mess, kinda like I am now, but just a little bit worse.

Babies do grow up, I know. But wouldn't it be fun having the clan here for Thanksgiving and Christmas? A whole gang of us? And imagine the grand babies?

Must run. Off to a playdate with a new friend of mine who is pregnant with #4. This should be fun.

Happy Family Baby Food: Giveaway!

2012-01-16T20:26:00.000-05:00

When Owen was eating baby food, we discovered Happy Family Brands at Target and I'm not sure who loved this baby food more, Owen or Mom and Dad. Owen devoured the yummy organic pouches without a hitch every time. We loved that they mixed the veggies with the fruit in the same pouch. And we also loved the variety of flavors that Happy Tots offered. Before we discovered this convenient way of dispensing baby food, we were opening two jars and mixing fruit with veggies so that they'd go down easier. Thanks for making our lives easier Happy Family. The best way for my kid to get the green stuff, was in a Happy Tot pouch of green bean, pear and pea. YUM!

The convenience factor is huge. If you're a busy family on the go like us, you just pop some of these delicious pouches in the diaper bag with your Boon, and your set to go! Just squeeze the pouch into the Boon Squirt when it's time to eat! No mess! No mixing! And you know you're giving your baby nothing but the best!

Big kids love this stuff too. Happy Morning is an organic super breakfast that all kids will enjoy. Just tear, squeeze and go! No soy, no wheat and gluten free too! They are a super yummy snack on a hot summer day if you decide to chill a pouch! Delish! I'm really excited to get my hands on HAPPYBITES, their line of healthy frozen kids meals for toddlers and bigger kids that are high in protein and fiber.

Owen and Aidan fight over the Organic Puffs, Happy Melts and Happy Munchies - no joke! How else am I going to get my kids eating broccoli and kale? It's the healthiest snack in the house!

Here are some other great facts about Happy Family:

Organic goodness
Green packaging
Available at Target
Lower sodium
Crazy antioxidants
BPA free
Contain Supergrain Salba
Dr. Sears recommended
Did I mention convenient?

How would you like a chance to become a happy mama and win some Happy Baby Food? I'm giving away two prizes to two lucky winners! Here are the details:

Happy Squeeze Giveaway (1 winner)

6 Squeezes

Recipe Cards

Nutrition Guide

Happyfamily FAQ

Toddler/Preschool Giveaway (1 winner)

2 Frozen Bites

2 Happy Munchies

2 Happy Tots

Recipe Cards

Nutrition Guide

Happyfamily FAQ

Here's how it works. Leave a comment below telling me which Happy Baby Food Giveaway tickles your fancy. One winner will be chosen for each prize. Coupons will be mailed to you. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. U.S. residents only. Contest period ends on Jan 31, 2012 at 8pm EST.

Mandatory Entry (Must do the following 4 things):

Leave a comment telling me which one you want!
Become a fan of Happy Family on Facebook.
Follow Happy Family on Twitter.
Sign up for the HappyBaby Newsletter OR subscribe to their blog.

Extra entry for following me on Twitter
Extra entry for LIKING Stowed Stuff on Facebook
Extra entry for sharing this giveaway on your wall on Facebook
Extra entry for tweeting this giveaway on Twitter

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*I was given free trials of Happy Family Baby Food to take part in this review and giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Our New Lens at Work

2012-01-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

Santa brought us a new lens for the Canon Rebel and we finally got around to testing it out. Well, at least Daddy has! He really is talented behind the camera. We can't wait to use it more and more. As always, the photos come out stunning when you've got natural light.

And here are a few taken indoors at my nephew's basketball game last week. We had so much fun cheering Liam and his teammates on.

Got any good photography tricks you'd like to share? We have a lot of fun messing around with our camera. Still gotta get that lens hood.

Disney On Ice Dare to Dream: Giveaway

2012-01-14T18:19:00.003-05:00

Would you believe me if I told you I have another Disney On Ice family 4 pack to giveaway? Well, it's true. This time, it's during February school vacation week and one lucky winner will receive 4 tickets to the opening night performance at TD Garden on Friday, February 17th! Doesn't that sound like fun? Purchase your very own tickets here.

For more information about this show click here!

To be entered for a chance to win the family 4 pack to opening night, simply leave a comment below. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry!

Follow Stowed Stuff on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook by clicking the Facebook button below
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet this giveaway using the Twitter button below

Good luck everyone! Contest period ends on January 31st at 8pm EST. Winner will be chosen using random.org.

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-I received tickets to Disney On Ice Dare to Dream to participate in this giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Here One Minute. Gone the Next.

2012-01-12T14:12:00.001-05:00

Dad with his girl

Dad always wanted a hug. He always wanted to know the name of the pop artist who was singing the song on the radio. He always wanted to travel. He always wanted to have fun. He always wanted a granddaughter.

Tomorrow, Friday the 13th, marks six years. I was on maternity leave with my newborn baby girl, getting ready to take her on her first road trip to New Jersey to stay at her grandparents' house. Emily was just six weeks old. As I was packing, my mom called to tell me what had happened to my dad. She had come home from the gym to find him upstairs laying on the floor. She tried to do CPR, she called 911. The paramedics came, but it there was nothing they could do. It was too late. Dad was gone.

I had been spending a lot of time with him since I was home with Emily. I had been over the house, and he had been over for a chinese luncheon just a few days prior. He shared my chicken and cashew special with me and told me he was going to order that one next time.

He loved that Emily. He laughed at all the snorting she did and loved to just look at her. I remember each time I fed her, he would ask, "Chocolate or vanilla?" He was bragging all over town about how he finally got his granddaughter. He even told me it was the only thing missing in his life ~ that he could die a happy man now.

Who says that? I always wonder about him and if he knew something wasn't right? But then again, maybe not. Because if I knew I wasn't long for this world, I don't think I'd spend my last night at Building 19 for a free cup of coffee. That's Dad for ya.

We all knew he had heart problems and high blood pressure, that's for sure. But I don't know. Maybe it was just his typical morbid talk ~ like how he used to always tell me, "You'll wish you could hug me when I'm six feet under!" Or, how any time we would discuss fixing up the kitchen or start a project at the house he'd say, "You can do anything you want when I'm gone. This house is perfect!! What's wrong with this wallpaper? It's beautiful!" Maybe that's what happens when you live across the street from a cemetery your whole life.

The six year mark seems harder this year since all the days on the calendar match up perfectly. I relive the moments each year, but I think it seems harder this year. Anyway, I miss him more than ever and wish I could give him one last hug. Life is precious. Hug your dad today or call him up and tell him you love him. Even if he can be a pain in the ass sometimes...

Annie and Dad October 2005 (Super pregnant with Emily)

Curly or Straight?

2012-01-09T21:02:00.002-05:00

My hair sucks. It's between stages. I can pull it back now, which is kinda nice. The shape is gone from the last cut. Am I letting it grow long again or shall I cut it?

long and curly

I love it straight. I just love it. Hubs likes it curly. I don't have time to straighten it. EVER. Well, maybe once every couple months. I think the curls do their thing better in the summer months.

To get the keratin treatment or not? My hairdresser told me a lot about it last time I was in. Gotta keep it dry for like 72 hours after it's done and stuff. Wicked expensive. Even gotta pay extra for thick hair like mine. How long does it last? Add in highlights, and we won't be able to pay the mortgage! And the upkeep!? What's a girl to do?

I want to give it a try, but I'm kind of chicken. However, I think I would love it. I also think I deserve it. What should I do? Cut? Grow? Keratin? Gotta look good for the big Blissdom!

long and straight

short and curly

Stats

2012-01-08T08:49:00.002-05:00

Oh, BOY. I forgot to share baby O's 18 month stats in his "baby book!"

My prediction was off by 2 oz.

Height: 33.5''

Weight: A whopping 29 lbs. 14 oz.

Head: Off the charts. Let's just say I'm tossing shirts that can't fit over the poor guy's noggin.

Oh, and the "house" is still going strong. Best present ever!

Have You Blogged Today?

2012-01-07T16:11:00.001-05:00

A lot of my blogging friends are looking for ways to increase traffic to their site and gain more followers. Heck, we all want our blogs to sizzle! One sure way to do that is to blog daily. Yup, I said it. Every.Single.Day. And get this, it'd be even better if you could post at the same time every day. Consistency is key. According to the folks at Problogger, the best time to post is early in the morning. And if you publish multiple times day - well, you'll see really big improvements. I just thought you should know.

I started this blog in 2005, and I blogged sporadically. BAD. Will blogging 10 times per year help to successfully build your brand? I think not. So count yourself lucky that I'm telling you the importance of blogging every day. For me personally, becoming a more consistent writer has really improved my statistics. It really does work.

If you blog every day, your readers will feel compelled to come back for more and are far more likely to leave a comment and start sharing and tweeting with their own friends. If they know they can count on you every day, they'll surely be back for more ~ especially if it's good stuff!

Post a photo, take part in all the daily blog series out there. A fun new weekly series could be about something you pinned on Pinterest! There are so many fun ideas out there and you should check them out so you can start blogging regularly! Think of your own ideas for a series! Make writing a ritual! Get inspired. Try something new. Put yourself out there. Be bold.

So let's link up! Have you blogged today? Please show us today's blog post. You'd better get blogging!

Finding Great Family Care: Care Fair Boston

2012-01-07T05:48:00.000-05:00

Annie's baby shower confections!

A dear friend of mine from college and her husband are expecting their first baby this summer. I'm thrilled with their great news and know it's the most exciting time in a couple's life. Like most moms I know, my dear friend will have to return to work when the baby arrives. She is already wondering what to do about childcare and how to find a great nanny - one who will be a perfect fit for her her family and their schedule. Finding the perfect nanny is not an easy task and it can sometimes be very overwhelming for a new mom.

Well, all you moms and dads currently searching for childcare are in luck! Care.com is offering Boston parents an opportunity to connect with local providers at a lunchtime event on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Grill 23 in Copley Square ~ YUM!

Whether you are seeking full or part-time care, Care.com can help. The Waltham-based online site will help ease the process of finding the right child care, pet sitters and even senior care for your family.

If you are a nanny who is currently seeking work, you should also attend. It's the perfect opportunity to network and meet new local families. Moms, dads, nannies and sitters who are interested in this event should register at Care Fair Boston by Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

So take the stress out of the entire process and enjoy a delicious meal at Grill 23 next Thursday. I can't think of a better event to help jumpstart the process of hiring a nanny or finding a great family to work for. Care Fair Boston might just be the answer to your prayers.

Care Fair Boston

Thursday, January 12, 2012

11:30 - 1:30pm

Grill 23 (161 Berkeley Street, Copley Square)

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I was compensated for this post.

Disney On Ice Is Back Again: Dare to Dream

2012-01-04T21:39:00.003-05:00

You know the drill - Disney On Ice is coming back to the TD Garden for February school vacation, February 17th through 26th! So what have I got for you? A coupon code that is only good through tomorrow! So act fast and purchase the best seats in the house at the pre-sale rate! Offer expires after January 5, 2012!

And just so you know, I know a lot of people were looking for last minute tickets to the Disney On Ice show in December. There were none to be had! So act quickly and buy your tickets today! Don't miss out on Dare to Dream!

Buy your tickets here.

Choose your performance.

Under Advance or Promotion Ticket Selection, choose the $25 price level.

Enter code EARLYMOM

See you at the show!

Played Like A Fiddle...

2012-01-04T16:41:00.002-05:00

Twilight Turtle Fail

"Annie, you look tired," says a fellow colleague at work today. "Is everyone well in your house?"

"Yup, but we've got a bad case of the threes."

He went to bed fine. He had a nap during the day. He ate a good dinner. He wasn't hungry. The previous night he scored an A+, staying in his bed all night long and sleeping through the night. And then....

It began at about 2:30am. "DADDY! DADDY! I can't sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep!" Daddy went in for a snuggle and told him to go back to bed. Daddy left. An hour later, "Mommmmmmmy, Dadddddddddy, I still can't sleep." We ignored. He cried. He cried some more. I yelled to him, "Just rest your eyes, etc." This went on far too long. Yelling from room to room wasn't a good idea.

He then came into our bedroom dragging his pink blanky behind - just like Linus. A really big display took place. We told him he simply couldn't come in our bed. We battled, we had words. I dragged him back to his own bed at 4am and proceeded to turn off the light that had somehow gotten turned on during all of the shananigans.

"No wonder you can't sleep. You have a bright light shining in your face." I reassured him that morning wasn't that far off and he could come into our bedroom when it gets light and it's time for breakfast." You know how it goes. I snuggled. I left.

30 minutes later -
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddy!" The yelling was bad. Daddy was MAD. Daddy decided to show him who was boss. But I think there were too many grown up ideas being discussed - like how Daddy won't be able to function at work in the morning, etc." At one point, the clever three year old told us, "I'm gonna keep screaming until you let me in your bed. I have to sleep in your bed."

Shit. We never ever let Emily in our bed. But then again, she never wandered in during the night at this age. We caved with Aidan during the night before at age 3, so now he thinks he can just sneak his way in. Now mind you, it wasn't an often occurrence. You know, sometimes we are both just dead tired and can't be bothered getting up to deal. So we had let him get in the middle (probably around the time when we got the King bed?) Shit. Yes, we caused this.

We'll have to end it. The kid has been warned. But you know how it goes, one night's great, the next night's a shit show. I am not a fiddle.

What would you do in my situation? Any fresh ideas or middle of the night techniques that have worked for you? Please do share. I can use all the help I can get.

I'll show him who's boss. No more negotiating. Starting tonight.

10 Things That Piss Me Off

2012-01-03T16:58:00.001-05:00

Wet socks
When people leave colored paper in the copying machine at work
Finding a valid coupon right after making a big purchase at that very store
Having to walk 10 miles to return my shopping cart to the correct place in a parking lot
A missing lime from my Corona
The smell of freshly, burnt popcorn and/or the smell of wet dog/dog breath
When grapes aren't on SALE
Sand on my beach blanket
A burnt tongue and brain freeze
Debt

Leave a comment below telling me what pisses you off. Or even better, link up your pissy post!

Get Organized with HATCHEDit.com

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've read a lot of goals and resolutions for 2012 in the past couple of days. It looks like "getting organized" is high on the priority list for most moms. Let me introduce you to HATCHEDit.com

Log in today and set up your family calendar FOR FREE! You're going to love it! You can organize events and tasks -- even color code them according to each member of your family! And then, after that, don't forget to download the FREE APP so you can have your family calendar at your fingertips all day long! (iPhone app coming soon!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------** I was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

How to Start a Blog

2012-01-01T14:35:00.003-05:00

Recently, I've been giving tips to lots of my friends on how to start a blog. I may as well share a few tips with all of you so you can join the blogosphere too.

Think of a creative title for your blog.
What is your niche? What will you be blogging about? Will you be a family/motherhood blogger or do you have a talent or a hobby that you could tie into and share with the world? Sports, hobbies, crafts, cooking, technology, finances, couponing, photography, design, etc.
Log into blogger.com or wordpress.com and start typing. It's SO EASY. Write your first post and hit PUBLISH!
Include photos.
Join Twitter.

There you have it. Now get blogging. The rest will come.

Baby's First Hair Cut: After

2011-12-31T19:30:00.002-05:00

And in with the new... (see the before pics here!)

"Ok, maybe it won't be so bad!"

One last look

Tonsils

"This sucks!"

"Pop!"

No pain, no gain...

Big boy

Time for another one...

Baby's First Hair Cut: Before

2011-12-31T18:05:00.002-05:00

Out with the old... (see after pics here!)

Bath mullet

Lovely baby locks

Whispy bits

"I'm not so sure about this, Mom." The forehead comb over in full effect