Boudreaux's Baby Kisses Review

Now, I know the box says infant and kids, but this stuff has been on my lips more in the last week then it's been on Ryder's lips.  I'm in love.  I've never found any lip moisturizer better than Boudreaux's Baby Kisses.

The first day I wore it I put it on, ate lunch, took an hour long nap, and two hours after I woke up I realized that it was still on my lips, and they still felt soft!  How amazing is that!

I'm not one to normally wear anything on my lips, usually it has a terrible smell, or a bad taste, or makes your lips feel sticky, or dries your lips out, or leaves that nasty residue on your teeth.  My promise to you, Boudreaux's Baby Kisses didn't do any of those things.

It truly is the best lip product that I've ever used.  Even Ryder will bring the tube to me and point to his lips!

Please go out and try some for yourself!

Extreme Couponing: Kroger Steal

I went to Kroger tonight for cheese to make homemade pizza for dinner.  They are currently redesigning our Kroger store, and they had the cheese section torn to pieces.  So no cheese for us tonight, but I did walk away with a really great deal from their 10 for $10 sale.

I got 1 2 litter bottle of Sun drop soda, and 6 packages of Kandoo Flushable Wipes all for a grand total of .68 cents.  So all in all my trip was worth it.

There was also a wonderful deal in the 'Manager's Special' bin this week.  They had two pack bottles of Old Spice body wash on sale 50% off, making them $3.49 for two large bottles.  With a dollar off any one Old Spice product, it would have made them only $1.25 a bottle.  Great deal!  

Have I convinced you that coupons are well worth the effort yet?

Dear Wy

Today you are 8 months.  You are currently crawling, standing with support, walking along the furniture, and you have your first tooth.  We are so proud of you.

You are curious about everything, love to play with anything you can get your hands on, and might as well be a vacuum when it comes to putting things in your mouth.

You have the cutest squinty smile and big blue eyes to go with it.  You look so much like your daddy and I wonder how much your looks are going to change.

You make me so happy, Wyatt.  You and your brothers are the lights of my life.

I pray that you grow big and strong, healthy and smart, and that you love God and succeed in anything you wish to do.

Love always,

Momma

Project: Organize

So I've got that itch recently.  I suppose it's fall cleaning time, but this fall... we are starting Project: Organize. 

My goal:  Organize every room in the house and eliminate all clutter. 


Today we did Trevor's toy box.  This is a project we tend to do every October, cleaning out the toy box prepares us for Christmas (and his birthday right around the corner) and we donate all of the extra toys.

Before

After

Makes me feel much better!  I can't wait to start on my next project!  Check back for Day 2 of Project: Organize and look forward to my How-to Home Management Binder (or my mom book, as I like to call it)!

Now it's your turn.  Start your own Project: Organize!

Boudreaux's Halloween Costume Contest

That sounds Awesome!  I would definitely be entering my Ryder if we used Facebook!

Hurry and enter your little cuties now, voting starts October 27th!!

Remembering Halloween 2010

Handprint Ornaments

Today I figured with our free afternoon (since playgroup got canceled), we would try out some handprint ornaments that I found on Pinterest.

Now, ours didn't turn out quite as precious as hers did, but I'm still pleased that it took up an hour before naptime and gave little Ryder an art project.

If you decide to do this, make sure you keep lots of extra flour on hand because it can get sticky! ... and messy.

Then, when we were finished making our mess, we baked them, let them cool, and pulled out the paints so Ryder could paint his hand.

I put a ribbon through them, sewed on a button, and then hung them on the wall.  I plan on making more of these around Christmas time to pass around to all the grandmas and grandpas.

All in all it was a great afternoon art project for my little man, and a nice addition to my wall collage.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste Review

I was SUPER excited this morning to get a package on my front porch!  Blairex Laboratories, Inc. was generous enough to share some of their products with me!  Now I want to tell you how much I love them!

I already really love Boudreaux's Butt Paste and use it with both of my boys, but I am lucky enough to get to use and review 6 different Boudreaux's Products with you!

• Boudreaux's Original Butt Paste
• Boudreaux's Maximum Strength Butt Paste
• Boudreaux's All Natural Butt Paste
• Boudreaux's Rash Protector
• Boudreaux's Butt Bath Moisturizing Body Wash and Shampoo
• Boudreaux's Baby Kisses Infant and Kids Lip and Cheek Moisturizer

I am so excited to try out these products and tell you all about them in the weeks to come!  

My Ryder has very sensitive skin.  He gets diaper rashes easily, and will break out in rashes or burns if I use store brand diapers.  Butt Paste is the only product that I have used that does not cause Ryder to scream when the cream is being applied.  It has a brownish color and a wonderful smooth texture and... it actually smells good!  It doesn't have that harsh terrible smell like some of the other rash creams do.  And... its pediatrician recommended!  How can you get any better than that?

It comes in 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, and 4oz tubes and a mega 16oz jar and the tubes have an awesome super convenient flip top lid.  I don't know how many of you have ever tried to change a wiggly toddler... but a flip top really does come in handy! 

I give Boudreaux's Butt Paste two thumbs up and would like to thank them for making such a quality product for our little butts. 

Head on over to Boudreaux's Butt Paste Facebook page and become a follower of their Blog!

Look forward to a full product review and a giveaway of their wonderful products in the future!  

Tonight's Dinner

Tonight's dinner was heaven in burrito form.  Yum.  Pinterest inspired again, even Ryder loved this one!

Here is the recipe... Crispy Southwest Chicken Wrap  I added corn, and used green pepper instead of red.

Yes, he is sitting on the couch cushion.  Shane took them off to clean them one day and now I cannot figure out how to keep Ryder from taking them off the couch every time I turn my back.  

Anyway... Dinner was a HUGE success.... even with my lack of cooking skills, and for dessert, Ryder and I made homemade chocolate chip cookies!

Free Samples!!

After a long day running errands, I came home to a mailbox that was empty all except a small box.  Free Samples from Target!  It's like getting a present in the mail.  They take so long to ship that you most likely forget that are getting them and they always have fun little presents inside!  They also send coupons for more products... if I love one thing as much as I love free samples, it's coupons!

love, love, love.

Glad it happened yesterday...

Yesterday was just one of those days that you wish you could skip.

I had a large stack of money sitting in my car and when I went to step out, it all blew away in the wind.  We are talking hundreds of dollars here, blowing all over a busy parking lot.  I ran down the middle of the highway picking up bills as I went trying to collect it all.  I ended up getting all but five dollars.  Not bad if you ask me.  I coughed and hacked and felt like I was having a heart attack for the next hour though.  Put a treadmill in front of me and I'm great, but don't make me run down the middle of a car filled highway like a crazy person picking up money... I'm not built for it!

Ryder counted to three for the first time yesterday.  I've been in the habit since he was just a wee baby to count  when I put his clothes on him or his shoes.  We were putting pajamas on last night and he counted one... two... three... for me as I put his feet and arms in.  I was very impressed with him!

Got some pretty good deals on some nursery items yesterday though.

I picked up a woodlands decal set for the wall at Goodwill for $2.49.  Goodwill has become one of my favorite stores for great deals.  So many things to get creative with!

The story behind the nursery - We have been in this house since Ryder was 6 months old.  I had the room painted a light green because we weren't sure the sex of our little Wyatt at the time, and that was it.  I never really did anything after that.  Ryder still sleeps in there for at least a few more weeks and then it will be little Wy's. Eventually the room will be an office/hallway to the addition we plan on putting in, but until then, I figured the room needed a little bit of character.  

I think I've got a pretty good start at least.

I also went and got a basket at Big Lots on clearance for $5.00 down from $14.00.  Score for me.  I've been looking for a place to put all of my little guys books that he has been collecting.  Reading is one of his favorite things and now all of his books and neat and easy for him to get!

I also went to the local grocery store to do some coupon shopping today.  I won't break it all down for you, but I ended up getting around $70 worth of groceries for $18.00.  Again, not bad!  The cough drops were $.25 cents a bag.  Those were a score because when a sore throat his this house, we go through TONS of drops!  The soda was $.11 cents a bottle plus deposit.  The cat litter was $.89 cents and the Tai Pei Entrees (which are delicious!) were $.50 a box.  I love getting cheap food!

It was just a small trip this time, Ryder decided that he didn't want to take a nap today and was an absolute disaster in the store.  

A few futures posts to look forward to...

Review of my favorite Blogs and A how-to Household Management Book (I call it my Mom Book)

Blog on Fire Award

First, I have to thank Jenny at Sippy Cup Chronicles  for awarding me the Blog on Fire Award!  

So awesome, thanks a ton!!

Part of receiving the award is that I have to state seven things about myself.  This could be difficult though, it seems like all I remember how to talk about is my children.

1.  My obsession with organization comes from the fact that I'm not an organized person.

2.  I hate to be late for anything.

3.  I love love love the color pink.

4.  I feel like I was put on this earth to be a wife and mother.

5.  I love Jesus and believe that he died for my sins.

6.  I could eat pasta every night of the week.

7.  I grew up on a lake and love the smell of lake water, it makes me smile.  

Huh, not too difficult after all.  Now to pass it along.  

1.  Bringing Up Bumble

2.  A Good Life

3.  IROCKSOWHAT

4.  Diary of a Bad Mother

Bedtime Funny

Tonight we followed our normal bedtime routine, after a diaper change, pajamas, and teeth brushing we go to his bed for a story.  I read Ryder Hop on Pop tonight and then covered him up and handed him the book because he likes to go to sleep with it after I'm finished reading.

I told him I love him, smiled, blew him a kiss and got ready to walk out the door.  Normally he smiles and blows me a kiss back.

Tonight he smiled at me and stuck his finger up his nose.

Recipe Update

So, the chicken and carrots didn't go over as well as I'd hoped.  I ended up shredding the chicken and making sandwiches out of it.  Shane ate all of his, but I didn't care for it all that much.  I'm sure it was just my lack of cooking skills but it just wasn't like other bbq I've had.  Or maybe it was because I changed brands of chicken.  Who knows.  And as for the carrots, no one liked them... except Wyatt, but he would eat a rock if I would allow it. 

I did make mini chicken pot pies though.  Those turned out great.  I used large biscuits when the recipe calls for small which made a difference in the amount of filling, so I definatly will get the small next time, but they were a big hit and really turned out delicious!

Mini Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Tired of Walmart!

I'm getting so frustrated with my local Walmart store.  It's very much to the point where I'm considering not shopping there again.

I've always enjoyed shopping there because they have the best prices, and the most lenient coupon policy. 

This is the third time I've went there in the past month with coupons, and each time they have given me the hardest time. 

The first time the woman tried to tell me I couldn't use a coupon for 'any dial body wash' because I had the wrong scent. 

The second time I had the cashier refuse to honor the stores sales ad price even though the actual product was ringing up at a different price.

The fourth time I had the cashier scrutinize my every product against every coupon I had, actually tell me that I couldn't purchase certain items with coupons, and then telling me that she was probably going to lose her job because she gave me cash back from the coupon overages. 

The walmart coupon policy plainly states that if the coupon is over the amount of the item, that cash back is to be given.  I am also very specific about my coupons, I make sure I'm using the proper coupon for the proper item and make sure I'm going by all of the restrictions on the coupon.  I'm not a dishonest person and to be made to feel like one is unacceptable. 

The saddest part is that if I go to the store manages about the miseducation of their cashiers... I'm almost possitive that nothing will get done and I will continue to get the same treatment. 

Time to find a new store I suppose.

Anyone else have issues with Walmart?

Teaching Ryder how to talk

As I've wrote about before, Ryder has a delay when it comes to speech.  We've had him all over the place including to doctors in case of autism or problems with his ears.  We've had people coming to our house each month to keep an eye on his progress, and now we are participating in a weekly playgroup that encourages speech and sign language.  We've been doing sign language with him for quite awhile now even before the playgroup and he picks up on it so quickly, but now that we are in the playgroup, his signing has increased by double, and he is starting to say a large variety of words.  I definatly give credit to the playgroup for part of it, but I also know that it's just his time to start talking. 

The play group is all about encouraging your child to talk by doing activities and during playtime.  Today I found the perfect place to pull words out of Ryder (that is if he isn't screaming his head off for the nearest chocolate bar or bag of chips). 

The grocery store.

Today I was able to get him to say 'straw', 'cheese', 'fish', and 'grapes'.  That's more words in an hour that he's said in the last week.  His normal vocabulary consists of 'more', 'one more', 'momma', 'dada', and 'oh toodles'.

It's amazing watching him grow and learn.

Satuday's Top Five Laughs

Joining in the ' fun from The Mommyhood Chronicles.

This one is hard for me though, when you have a toddler you spend a lot of time laughing. 

#5 - I left Wyatt in the bathtub while I ran around the corner to get his clothes (it was an emergency bathtub trip due to messiness) and when I came back 2 minutes later Ryder was sitting fully clothed in the tub next to him.

#4 - The very next day Ryder was in the shower and Wyatt crawled in there and stood against the tub.  Ryder started pouring cups of water over his head to give him a shower too.



#3 - Last night Ryder pulled out my stock pile of toilet paper and was playing on them.  He stacked them up, climbed on the couch, and then jumped onto it sending the toilet paper and him all over the living room. 

#2 - Naptime the other day, Ryder fell asleep on the couch and a fly kept landing on his nose.  He made the funniest faces!

#1 - (See told you this was a hard one!  All I can think of is funny things my kids did!)  Here's a good one, and very typical of my wonderful husband.  Shane couldn't find his truck keys the other day.  So him and I walked through all the normal places that his keys would be and even asked Ryder to help incase he had hid them somewhere.   They ended up being hooked to his belt loop the whole time.



Tonight's Dinner!

Tonight's dinner adventure is Crock pot BBQ Chicken with Cooked Carrots.

Thanks to Pinterest for the inpiration.  Each picture is linked to the recipe I used.  These recipes seem perfect for the 'busy mom' like me.  The carrots take minutes, and the chicken took 5 minutes to prepare (Ryder helped pour everything so it took us a bit longer than it should).  The only thing I've changed so far is that I use whole carrots, cut them to pieces, steam them and skip the extra water.

I'm really hoping the carrot recipe will get my little guy to eat carrots.

Vote for us to get more delicious recipe inspirations from a busy mom!

Keeping the 'bored bug' away!

When Ryder was younger he would get so bored with his toys.  He could only play with some of them for so long before he didn't want to play with them anymore.  That is exactly where this idea came from.

To keep the bored bug away when it comes to their toys, I've packed them into two bins.  One bin comes out and they can play with them for a couple weeks while the other one stays packed away.  Then I will put that bin away and pull out the other bin for a couple weeks.  The toys get alternated and when the new bin comes out, its like Christmas!  They dive right in like they have never seen those toys before.

It's worked great for my boys, hopefully you can get some use out of it too!

Remembering One

Seeing all these little ones turn two recently has made me start thinking about when Ryder turned one.  He was just started to walk well, got into everything, and was the cutest and hairiest one year old you have ever seen.  He will be two in a few months, where oh where has the time went?

Remember with me...

Votes were reset!  Please Vote if you love us!

Potty Training Tips - Ryder Style

Let me start out by saying, I am no expert.  We haven't been potty training for long, and my little man makes it easy.  (So easy that as I type this he is standing in front of me without the diaper he was wearing 5 minutes ago signing 'potty' to me)

(pause for potty break)

When I started out I was so completely clueless as to when to start, how to start, and what to do!  How do you teach something like that?  While raising Ryder, I've always been a believer in doing things when hes ready to do them.  I let him tell me, and its the same with potty training.

He had a sudden interest in the toilet. I know all kids have that, but his was more that he wanted to be in the bathroom with us every time we were in there.  So I looked up the sign for 'potty' and taught it to him.  He picked it up immediately and signed potty every time we went in there.

After that, every time I changed his diaper, I would start signing potty to him.  That way he associated the two. Then we started sitting him on the potty for around 10 minutes after every diaper change.

Now the little guy will hit his diaper and sign potty every time he wants to sit on the toilet.  He has only actually went a handful of times, and finds it more interesting to look at his book and play with toilet paper (small, limited pieces of course, its rare that you find a good coupon deal on toilet paper!), but we spend a good amount of time on the potty now and hopefully we will make my goal of being mostly potty trained by the time he turns two.

Tips.

• I think that the best tip I have is to let your child tell you when they are ready.  Don't push them into doing it, just keep trying and I think you will be able to tell when they are really ready to start.

• I've heard treats for pottying is used in a lot of cases.  We don't really break out the candy or goodies when he goes, but we do let him flush the toilet.  The button on our toilet is hard to push, so he can't do it on his own, but when he goes we use his hand to push the button and he loves watching the potty go 'bye-bye'.

• Distraction is a good one two.  I don't think I've ever met a child Ryder's age that could sit still for long.  Well... really, sit still at all.  We have a collection of books in the bathroom for him to look at while pottying. That keeps him busy so that he sits for longer, giving him more of a chance to go.

• I've also heard that potty books and movies can help.  We've never actually used any of those methods, so I really couldn't tell you if they work or not.  I do know that there is a large variety of them out there.

• Please remember, this is just my opinion, every child develops differently and your little one will not do things the exact same as my little man does.  I just wanted to use my experience, since I'm just learning myself, to make someones life easier!  If you have any tips, please feel free to send them my way!

Good luck.

http://www.topbabyblogs.com/cgi-bin/topblogs/in.cgi?id=momma

Update of recipes mentioned

First, the Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells.  I make a similar recipe with ricotta and spinach, but Shane loves tacos and he loves my version so I figured I'd try this out.  He loved it, ate two bowls.  It made me sick to my stomach.  Was worth making though because he loved it so much.

This one I didn't mention before.  It's Rachel Ray's recipe for Mini Pizzas.  Basically a pizza muffin.  Turned out great but I think I might add more cheese next time.  I can't find the recipe again to link to though.

 This is the Chocolate Coke Cake that I made.   Delicious.  Rich.  Moist.  Yum.  Big hit here, was gone within two days...

I also made the Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Mac n Cheese that was mentioned.  Again huge hit with Shane, and Ryder loved it.  It wasn't my favorite though.  I think next time I will add more bacon, more chicken, and different kinds of cheese.  I forgot to take a picture of it.