Swap Attack

I haven't participated in a swap in some time and I'm just itching to put together a package! So what would you think about me hosting a swap? Would you join in? What theme should we do?

Let me back up a little bit for those of you who aren't following the topic. A swap is where you give a package (usually with a specific theme) to another person (usually someone you've never met) and then receive a package for you. To make things even, you typically trade packages with a person, as opposed to sending to one person and receiving from a different person. Packages need to be mailed by a certain date (don't worry...I'll give you plenty of time!) and are within a price range (usually between $15 to $25). Hand-crafted items are highly encouraged. Also, I'd expect all participants to keep in touch through emails, to make sure they still intend to send a package.

Done with the nitty gritty. Let's talk about a theme! I've done a couple "Favorite Things" swaps, where you put together a package of your favorite things (lip gloss, book, movie, candy, lotion, picture of Taylor Lautner with his shirt off...whatever you like best) and share those with your partner. Those are fun. And fairly easy. Then there are the swaps for holidays. We'd be too close to Valentine's Day but Easter is still fair game. I've also done a "Birthday" swap. I sent my partner everything she'd need for a birthday party: cake mix, party favors, a book on party planning for kids, etc. Lots of options and I'm open to hear more, if you have 'em!

In your comments please tell me two things:

1 - If you'd be interested in taking part (this is not the actual signup, just gauging interest).

2 - What theme you like best.

I need a raise...

Moments ago, the Boy runs off to the bathroom. I didn't think much of it; he's been completely self-sufficient for over a year now. But I did notice how he sounded much more...splashy...than usual. Then he calls out to me. He peed on the floor.

There was no accident. No wetting his pants, because he had already pulled those down. His reason why he did that? "Just because."

So I made him clean it up and disinfect the floor. And now he will be spending some time in his room "just because."

You know what would really help me remain sane? A Sony Pocket Reader. Yep. If I had one of those neat little books-on-a-mini-computer things, then I could just lock myself in my room and not come out until the Man gets home.

Would you like one, too? Well, guess what? Shauna is giving one away on her book blog! Check it out!

(But if you win it, you have to let me borrow it the next time the Boy does something "just because.")

Here's where I show some humility

Normally, I am awesome.

Admit it. You think so, too.

On any given day, I am not only perfect, but also well-dressed, graceful, good with children, and a skilled cook. And I'm always on time to my appointments and remember the smallest detail at any given moment. (Amber, stop laughing...I can hear you!)

But even one as magnificent as I am will occasionally falter, if only to allow those basking in my glory to hold on to their hope that they might one day attain such heights of wonderment.

I was looking through hair blogs, trying to find some cute, do-able styles for my little girls when I came across a blog that detailed each step in the child-hair-fixing process. And this is where I discovered that for the last 20-odd years of my life, I've been doing something wrong.

Bobby pins.

Did you know there is a right and wrong way of placing bobby pins in hair? It's true! Apparently all those bad hairs day were due to the fact that I've been putting in bobby pins smooth-side-up. They're supposed to be wavy-side-up. Who knew? I certainly didn't!

Seriously makes me wonder what else I've been doing wrong all this time...

(and honestly, if it hadn't been for the slumber party when I was twelve, I would probably still be putting a brassiere on the hard way...)

Brain Freeze, here we come!

Giveaway time!

My kiddos were too busy running around the living room, tossing things up in the air and catching them. They didn't want to stop to help me pick a winner. So I went to random.org again. Already, I'm outsourcing my labor jobs.

And the winner of the mini ice cream maker and sundae kit?

Comment #23.

That was Nat! She wrote:

"I also love the snow. I'm just having a hard time with it this winter because I've been on bed rest. No sledding, no shoveling the snow, sigh...
My favorite flavor is cookies and cream.
I was already a follower, so does that count?
I am now following your cake blog.
I blogged about this giveaway."

Congrats, Nat! Email me your address and phone number so I can get that sent out to you!

And since random.org is so much fun, I clicked the "Generate" button again and got #35, so I decided to give that commenter some cupcakes. So LaDawn, aren't you glad you worked so hard for this contest? I know you live here in Happy Valley, but you'll have to email me your address so I can bring those over!

Hooray for giveaways! Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone for entering!

High Resolution

I'm late with the resolution/recapping the year post. But then again, I'm usually late with just about everything. I was even 45 minutes to my wedding reception (and not even for a sexy reason: I was locked out of my hotel room and my dress was in there). I'll have to ask my mom, but I'm pretty sure I was a few days past my due date.

Anyways...

I've been thinking a lot about the last year. So many good and wonderful and cuddly things happened. Then there were the not-so-great things (that I am still not allowed to blog about).

So how do I want this year to be better? Well, for starters, I'd like to no rush to the hospital quite so often. But I think most of my goals boil down to this: DO MORE.

More Family Home Evenings that have a real lesson and not just watching a movie.

More playing with my kids instead of listening to them play while I blog check Facebook read a book.

More writing, editing, and getting serious about the "get published" dream I've had for years.

More physical activity. I complain about my weight but I'm only half-hearted about changing that.

One thing I'm going to start is a program called Couch to 5k. It's a paced running program designed specifically for non-runners (aka: couch potatoes). It starts you off nice and easy, with walking, and only requires three sessions a week. I can do that! So many people in my circle of friends have started running, even taking on marathons, 5ks, and triathlons. Surely I can do more besides jog down the stairs to get another handful of chocolate. I need to do more!

Anyone want to start the program with me for moral support?

*And don't forget to enter my frozen contest going on right now!

Embrace the Chill

The weather forecast calls for more snow. I hear groans and whining from various sources (most of them from the power behind the snow shovel) but I love the cold! Snow is beautiful! There's nothing like breathing the frigid air in through your nose and having your nostrils freeze shut. And as you're snowed in, there are all sorts of online toys you and your chilly offspring can peruse whilst dreaming of warmer weather.

Instead of complaining about something we can't change, let's all just give in. And how do we do that, you might ask? By eating ice cream.

Specifically, by eating ice cream we made ourselves and then creating various tasty combinations with toppings and such. To aid you in these efforts, I'm giving away a mini ice cream maker and a sundae kit.

This midget ice cream maker uses only a few batteries and freezer space to make your very own ice cream; no salt and no cranking. The sundae kit includes, a scoop, 4 cups, 4 spoons, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, chocolate sauce, paper hat, and ice cream ideas. Nothing like giving yourself a continuous brain freeze to help you adjust to cooler climates!

To enter, do one of the following, leaving a separate comment for each entry:

• Comment here, telling me your favorite ice cream flavor.
• Follow my blog.
• Follow my cake blog.
• Mention this giveaway on Facebook (sorry, I don't use Twitter).
• Blog about this giveaway (for three entries).

Contest closes Sunday, January 17 at midnight.

Should I be worried?

The Boy is fascinated with Lady Gaga. The other day, he burst out singing her new song, "Bad Romance," while we were shopping at Wal-Mart. No worries, right? Stranger things have happened, especially at that place.

Friday, while he was getting ready for school, I set out his clothes for the day. He glared at me, then insisted that the jeans were "no good." What? Last week, he wore them nearly every day without comment. They are his only pair of carpenter pants, which, I am told by other sources, are no longer cool.

But this morning, I came downstairs, wearing my awesome silver dress and new red shoes with kitten heels. He takes one look at me and says "Mom, those shoes are adorable!"

And it wasn't just once! He's repeated this declaration several times today...in front of other people.

But they really are adorable.

**Stay tuned...I will be having a spiffy giveaway next week!

An FHE Post?

Don't you just miss those weekly FHE posts?

Not really? Oh.

Well, one of my New's Years Resolutions (obligatory post still in the making) is to be better about having Family Home Evening. I've been slacking off for the past several months, what with the stressful-event(s)-that-cannot-be-named taking up my entire Autumn and getting my Winter off to a lousy start.

But there will be one tragic difference in our weekly meetings...

The Boy no longer demands that we sing Twinkle Little Star.

I know! I nearly cried! My baby is growing up!

Instead, he had a new song, taught to him by my good friend who owned a day care. It goes like this:

Starkle, starkle little twink

How I wonder what you think.

Up above the world so high,

Think you own the whole darn sky!

Starkle, starkle little twink,

How I wonder what you think.

how to get on your Mom's nervs

No, that's not a typo. Just before Christmas, da Boo was busy for nearly an entire afternoon, writing away in her notebook. Whenever I asked what she was doing, she said she was making a list. Finally, she showed me. (Click on the picture to bigify.)


It's a pretty accurate list! And I wondered why she asked me how to spell "whining."

Soaking it up

Despite the fact that she's now past the one year marker, Baby had yet to have a bath in the Big Tub. As an infant, bath time in the little plastic tub that fit over my sink was not a pleasant experience once she discovered her lungs. My ears would ring for a good hour after. So instead of that torment, Baby got a shower. She was much more content in a downpour than in a puddle of water. However, as she's gotten bigger, she's gotten more wiggly.

(Baby + soapy water)wiggles = very slippery situation.

Although we decided weeks ago that she needed to upgrade to the big tub, I was still slow in implementing the process. Tonight, I bit the bullet. After Boo's shower, we filled the tub and let Boo stay in so she could help.

Once she saw the bath, Baby was very excited. I had a hard time getting her out of her diaper before she was trying to plunge head-first into the tub. I'd include pictures, but I'd rather not get arrested. She had definitely outgrown her crying fits! Maybe it was all that time at our local water park this summer...

Even though she's a strong sitter/crawler, I had Boo hold her up from behind and minimize the wiggling while I scrubbed. She wiggled, as was to be expected, and Boo lost her grip a few times. Nothing like a face full of water to help Baby learn the tub ropes. But she loved it. Actually, that might be an understatement.

Baby loved taking a bath so much that it took TWO full-grown adults to hold her back from joining her brother in the tub. I'm still worn out from that wrestling match!

But hey, at least it's no longer a screamfest.

How did your kids handle the Big Tub?