the gift of an ordinary day

March 12th, 2010

As seen on ohdeedoh.

what happens at girls weekend you ask?

March 10th, 2010

Wouldn’t you like to know!  It’s a secret and only for the girls in attendance to know.  Okay, I will divulge some of the happenings.

This year we missed Phyllis.  But, she was with us in spirit.

We stay up way too late.  I mean WAY too late.  By the time Saturday night rolled around I was falling asleep in conversation.

We talk.  Hence the reason we stay up way too late.

We bring fun things to do.  Magazines, books, crochet projects, movies and games.  But this year we were exceptionally lazy and accomplished very little.  Except for the talking part.

We eat.  Everything from seafood to munchies to homemade treats.  Oh and drink.  Wine, liquor and soda and sweet tea are plenty.  Where was the Hawaiian Punch this year?

We walk on the beach.  We don’t care if it is windy and cold.  We walk on the beach.

Sometimes we shop and find awesome bargains.

Sometimes we jump in the hot tub.

Or, the outside shower.

oscar night

March 10th, 2010

I really liked Sandra Bullock.  I’m in love with her now.

uncle goose

March 10th, 2010

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My grandmother bought Haven these Uncle Goose blocks and I love them.  They are larger than the standard blocks out there and are so much prettier to look at than any of the other regular blocks I have seen at the store.

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The blocks are a little pricier, but are made in the USA.  While I still think these blocks are GORGEOUS, I think I’d have a hard time letting Haven play with them.

take a guess tuesday II : week seven

March 9th, 2010
Today Haven managed to do which of the following while I wasn’t looking?a.  Open and walk out the front door.
b.  Open and walk out the back door.
c.  Climb up the stairs.
d.  Climb on the back of the couch.

The answer to last week’s question is….

The Vietnam War Memorial.  Everybody is a winner!

organic eating

March 8th, 2010

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Since Haven started eating solids we have made a conscious effort to eat more organic foods.  While Haven’s diet is definitely more organic than ours, I’m trying to learn what foods are at a higher risk of chemicals and toxins and which foods are less of a risk.  I’m posting the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides because I am constantly referring to them and I know some of you might find the information helpful.  Or, you can download the iPhone application instead.

puj baby tub

March 3rd, 2010

I was selected to be a product tester for the new Puj Baby tub (http://babybathtubs.com) and last week Katherine brought over her five week old daughter, Mara, and the Puj tub was christened.  Check out the Puj Tub for yourself at Puj’s new website for baby bath tubs!

A few things we liked about the tub.  It’s lightweight, nicely padded and easy to put together.  Plus it looks cool and stores neatly since it folds flat.

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What we didn’t like:  Because of the drainage holes, it doesn’t hold a lot of water so we couldn’t fully submerge Mara in the water.  This was disappointing to everyone involved.  Speaking of drainage holes, they were actually above the sink, so water spilled over the sink, which isn’t a big deal, because you do get wet when bathing a baby, but it could be a safety issue  Also, it was difficult to wash and rinse Mara’s back and behind, due to how close she was to the faucet.  If you have a faucet that swings, this wouldn’t be a problem, but since most bathroom sinks don’t have moveable faucets, this definitely was a nuisance.

Also, some packaging complaints.

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Although this picture doesn’t show it clearly, right above the baby’s head on the package the photo was digitally altered and you can tell that someone used an eraser tool.

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Another photo editing faux pas.  They used an image of a hook, but it was enlarged so that the image is blurry.

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Misspelled words.  A big pet peeve of mine.

I was disappointed overall with the Puj tub and would probably not recommend it to others.  With a steep price tag and the lacking in functionality, although it stores nicely, isn’t worth it.  Also, if the recipient lacked having a suitable sink, the bathtub cannot be used, nor could it be used in other sinks (or countertops) in the house.

take a guess tuesday II : week six

March 2nd, 2010

The following pictures were taken on our date day last weekend. Where were we when we took the pictures?

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The answer to last week’s question is….

a. Gumbo

tick…tick…BOOM!

March 1st, 2010

After a great weekend, which included a DATE DAY! while Haven stayed with grandma and grandpa, I’m gearing up for another great weekend:  GIRLS WEEKEND 2010!  I have a list a mile long of errands to run, things to do, items to pack, places to go and people to see before leaving the hubby for the Outer Banks.  It’s so good to see the ocean and go a little crazy with the girls for a weekend and stay up way past our bedtimes. 

learning tower

February 25th, 2010

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Elizabeth from my childbirth class showed me the Learning Tower, a cool way for kids to help out in the kitchen. I think the idea is fabulous, but logistically fitting the thing in the kitchen may be somewhat difficult.

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The platform is large enough for two kids and even comes with an easel attachment for art time.

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With a hefty price tag of around $190, the price is a little steep, but I have found some DIY instructions online here and here.