Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Family Christmas

It's been a while since we've had a big family Christmas. Typically, it's been Dadda monkey, the two little monkeys, and I. However, this year we've been lucky to have my parents and sister join us. I'm so happy the monkeys got to experience a Christmas with extended family. It's been really busy and tiring trying to fit everything in. It's my sister's first time in San Antonio so we're trying to fit in all the sights and tourist attractions along with all the normal Christmas festivities.

Tonight we're looking forward to going to the Alamo, seeing the holiday lights at the Riverwalk, and having a nice dinner downtown. Tomorrow, my parents head back home and the day after that my sister will go home as well. I think everyone enjoyed having a big family Christmas again and I hope we can make it happen again.

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Devine Acres Farm

This is the first year we've taken the monkeys to Breakfast with Santa. My parents used to do it for my sister and I and I was excited to have a chance to take our family. Devine Acres Farm was about 45 minutes from our house and was an easy drive. Upon pulling into the entrance, we immediately noticed the Christmas trees growing in the fields, some chickens and ducks in a pen near the parking lot, and a large expanse of other things to see and do.

We wandered around the area up near the barn where breakfast would be served and the monkeys enjoyed dressing up scarecrows, but their favorite activity was the duck races. They have old fashioned water pumps aiming onto rows of channels where you put your rubber ducky and race against a friend with their water pump. It was difficult to tear the monkeys away from that one. Next we had breakfast, we got our pancakes and picked a seat in the decorated barn. We sat near the stage so we could see the musicians and santa's sleigh. Santa's helpers served us orange juice and Mrs. Claus even came by to let us know she'd be reading the kids a story later. Santa arrived just as we were finishing up and they've obviously had some experience with this as it was handled really well. The line wasn't too long, but they had it set up so the parents could wait in line while the kids sat on the stage listening to Mrs. Claus read them a story. Then when it was approaching our turn, we could easily go retrieve our kids for their turn on Santa's lap. Santa was his normal jolly old self and handed the kids candy canes when they were done.


From there, we wandered further onto the farm and found the maze, a huge playground area, tetherball, sack races, a fishing hole, a fire to roast marshmallows, and more. We spent a good amount of time exploring the areas and even went for a hayride where we could see the Christmas trees growing. We've already decided it's worth going back next year so I highly encourage you to make your reservations and have breakfast with Santa at Devine Acres Farm.

 There were plenty of hand washing stations around the farm.

The first view of the farm from the parking lot.

Santa's helpers.

My monkeys transformed.

 


Sunday, November 25, 2012

Alphabet

When I noticed my monkeys didn't know how to navigate around the computer (using the mouse and arrow keys)  as well as other kids their age, I decided to look into games that would help them learn to work with the computer. Monkey girl has gotten really good at it and I've bookmarked the Nick Jr., Disney Jr, Sprout, and Barbie sites for her on my toolbar. Bro Bro monkey is getting there and enjoys just watching his sister play, but they both love this alphabet 'game' that I found. It's really cute, colorful, and informational in a way that the monkeys enjoy. I love that I can feel good about the educational value of it and that they choose to sit together and play it. If you have pre-schoolers, this has been a great site for us.


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our Monkey family to yours! So far, most of the dinner has been made or is in the oven. On the menu for us:

  • Cajun turkey breast
  • Oven roasted turkey breast
  • Sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Corn souffle
  • Sizzled green beans with crispy prosciutto and pine nuts
  • Berry nut freeze
  • Wheat rolls
  • Pumpkin cheesecake
  • Pumpkin pie
  • Pecan pie
  • Apple crisp
Everything's looking good so far. We're watching the Redskins play on TV and will be eating around 6 after it ends. Dadda monkey is still trying to convince me we should eat earlier, but it's Thanksgiving DINNER for a reason. It's also the way I grew up and it's hard to get me to change my ways. It's just us this year (and every year since we've been together), but it's nice to have a day to just be together with no place to be and have a chance to reflect. We're really thankful for our healthy children, our friends and family, the roof over our head, and the delicious meal we're going to have. Hope your Thanksgiving is as special as ours has been.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Devine Acres Farm


We're looking forward to our first visit to Devine Acres Farm this year. We're also planning to get our tree there. This will be our first experience chopping down our own tree (let's hope no one loses a finger). You can even get a coupon for $5 or $10 off a tree. On top of the fantastic Christmas trees, they're also offering Pancakes with Santa! That will be another first for the monkeys. Below is some more information about it.


Courtesy of Devine Acres Farm and US Family Guide:

• CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY HOURS •
Open Wed - Sun - Noon until 6pm
Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 23 - December 16
No admission if purchasing a tree
Families coming out just to enjoy the farm are $5 per person, 2 & under are free.


Christmas Special Event: Pancakes with Santa
December 1st, 8th and 15th

Two seating times available: 9:00am and 10:00am

$12.00 per person ticket includes:

    A hearty pancake and sausage breakfast!

    Live Christmas music!

    A choice of milk, orange juice, hot coco or coffee (additional drinks are $1.00 each)

    A memorable visit with Santa.

    Great photo opportunities!

    A scenic hayride through the Christmas tree fields.

    Visit our farm animals.

    Play on the playground.

    Family game stations

Our Christmas Trees:

Choose and cut your own tree right out of our fields! We grow three varities of trees including Leyland and Arizona Cypress. We have beautiful Leyland Cypress trees ranging in size from 3-12 feet tall for $8.00 per foot. We also grow Elderica Pine trees ranging in size from 4-9 feet tall for $8.00 per foot. Hayrides, saws for cutting, shaking and bailing are all provided. We even sell the stand. All you need is your Christmas spirit and your camera.

We also have a large selection of gorgeous 5-10 foot Fraser Firs shipped directly to us from North Carolina priced individually based on size and quality. Displaying them in the shade and keeping them in water assures their freshness.

 Save $5 to $10 on Fresh Cut Christmas Trees at Devine Acres Farm http://www.sanantoniokidsguide.com/coupon.php?bid=10878&dealid=978

It all sounds terrific and we can't wait! This will kick off the start of our Christmas season, which I refuse to officially start until after Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me. I just realized yesterday that I have just over a week to plan and prepare. On one hand, it's just our immediate family so there's not too much to prepare, but I like making sure the monkeys have a traditional Thanksgiving even if there's not extended family to join us. One of the things I like about our local HEB grocery store is that they have this great cajun turkey that comes as just a breast. No stuffing turkeys for me! We'll get a second one for the monkeys because it's too 'picy' according to Bro Bro monkey.

Dadda monkey and I always argue over what kind of stuffing to have. He likes a cornbread stuffing, but it's too dry to me. My mom always made a sausage stuffing, which I like better, but it's still not quite my cup of tea so I'm going to try something new this year like an apple stuffing. See, I haven't even narrowed down which one. The rest of our table will be rounded out with green beans (again, not decided on variety), corn souffle, berry nut freeze, rolls, and gravy. For dessert, pumpkin pie and either apple pie or pecan pie. I wish I had more people to feed because I love gathering with family for the holidays and I love baking (ie: more pies). I'm sure come Christmas time, I'll be tired of baking with all those cookies, but Monkey girl loves helping me and every year we've tried new recipes and come up with some great new cookies that will be added to our repertoire for the future. However, that's a story for a future post. Good night for now (I must go plan my shopping list)!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

'Tis The Season For Shopping!

I know, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I love getting my gifts figured out as early as possible. Believe me, I will NOT start decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. It even annoys me that the stores are opening for Black Friday shopping earlier and earlier. I read some stores will be open early Thanksgiving evening, which makes me feel bad for the employees as well as consumers. Let everyone enjoy their families/days off for the holiday and don't even give people a choice of ending their festivities early to go shopping.

This Black Friday will probably not see me participating unless I find a good deal for a smart 3D DVD player online. There's nothing we need so I'll be sleeping in Friday morning (well as much as my monkeys let me anyways). As much as I try to stay on budget, the holiday season always does me in. I find it so hard to pass up a good deal, especially when it comes to the monkeys. We limit the Christmas gifts they get from us to 3 each (akin to the story of the three wisemen), but there's no set limit for gifts from Santa. I've already purchased the 3 they'll get from us and Santa should be nearly done too as long as his helper (yours truly) can stop herself from any more purchases. On the bright side, I'm mostly prepared for Christmas. I need to figure out a gift for Dadda monkey's father and my sister, but otherwise, we're done! So bring on the holiday season, I'm ready!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sesame Street Live

Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music is now on tour and is coming to San Antonio for 3 shows November 13-14. Thanks to US Family Guide, you can get $3 off each ticket by visiting this link or using the code USF at ticketmaster.com. My monkeys are hoping to go see it and it should be a great show.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

The Heart of Christmas

Just in time for the holiday season comes a beautiful heart-wrenching story that will have you looking at your own life in a new light. The Heart of Christmas was a fantastic movie that touched the Monkey family even more so because of the connection to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Though it was before Dadda monkey and I got together, St. Jude played an important role for his step-brother. As a result, it's a charity that's near and dear to our hearts. Every year we try to make a donation to St. Jude. Before watching this movie, I had no idea there was going to be so much focus on how wonderful this hospital is.

Anyways, back to the story (I'm not a movie critic so I won't go into the acting, producing, etc...), it follows the life of a little boy named Dax, his family, and a mother who reads their blog. Dax has a form of leukemia and his family is blessed to be admitted to St. Jude. You follow the roller coaster of emotions as Dax goes through his treatment and watch his family's support. The mother blogs about it to keep her friends and family updated and a neighbor (struggling with her own family life) begins reading it. It's based on the true story of Dax Locke and I'll warn you now, if you're anything like me (ultra emotional when it comes to children with life threatening illness) have a box of tissues nearby. I think I cried through a quarter of the movie. At the end they show pictures of the real Dax. I love special touches like those to really bring the movie to life.

I don't want to reveal too much about it because you really need to watch it for yourself to get the full effect. It does a great job portraying the struggle of families connecting to each other and taking time to appreciate the small moments. This is really the perfect time of year to watch this story and reflect on your own family/life. Take a moment to cherish the memories you make with your family this holiday season and value this time together.

Two Mommy 2 Monkeys readers will have an opportunity to win this DVD for themselves.

How To Enter:
(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) Leave a separate comment for each entry.
This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the United States.

1. Let me know if you've had an experience with St. Jude or just tell me that I'm not the only cry baby when watching these movies based on true stories.

2. Become a follower of my blog, Mommy 2 Monkeys, and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
3. 'Like' the Mommy 2 Monkeys Facebook page and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
4. Follow me on Twitter and leave  a comment on this post that you've done so.


This giveaway will remain open until November 11,2012 at midnight central time. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. I will post the winner on my blog and also email the winner (please make sure your email is visible on your profile or post it in your comment). The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with a sample for the purpose of this review and the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Halloween Sugar Crash

I let the monkeys stay home from school (pre-k) today because we were exhausted from Halloween night. The idea of gettting them dressed, fed, loaded in the car, and in their seats on time did not appeal to me. So we all slept in. Even my early riser, Little Red Riding Hood, slept late. Blame the sugar rush crash for our lethargy this morning. Anyways, we had a great night and I hope you all did as well!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Halloween Costumes for Siblings

The monkeys are still young enough to not have much input yet into what they want to be for halloween. Bro Bro monkey did say he wanted to be a car, but that seemed a little difficult and it doesn't take much to dissaude him. Monkey girl is happy with pretty much anything if it involves dress up especially if it's very girly (ie: princesses, ballerinas, dresses, tutus, etc...). I've been lucky that I've been able to come up with some cute combinations for them up to this point, but it is getting harder and harder lately.


We started when Bro Bro monkey was 1 and he was the scarecrow to his sister's Dorothy. The following year (last year), he was a blue crab (in honor of  my Maryland roots) while Monkey girl was Ariel. For this year we were originally thinking of Olivia and either William or Ian, but while Olivia costumes were available, there wasn't much in the way of Olivia's brothers and since I'm not really crafty we postponed that idea. We've since come up with Little Red Riding Hood and little brother is going to be the Baby Big Bad Wolf. He'll be the Baby Big Bad Wolf because for the first time (in a long time) I've found a Big Bad Wolf costume that I thought would be fun to be in while passing out the halloween candy.


Hopefully, we'll be able to continue this costume pairing tradition for a while. I've heard other Mom's talk about how difficult it's been to find their children's preference of costume (and even harder to find it in their size) so I'm grateful that I've learned to do my costume choosing/buying early and online!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Plus Size Halloween Costumes

The monkeys and I have all picked out what we're going to be for Halloween 2012. We're going with the Little Red Riding Hood theme, but with an additional baby big bad wolf learning from his momma big bad wolf. Dadda monkey, however, loves to go all out for Halloween and prefers it to be scary. It's been hotly debated at our house whether or not we do scary or cute. I think we've compromised and leaning towards scary, but not too scary for our little ones (think fog machines and spider webs with cute colorful signs that say BOO!).


The costume on the other hand was difficult to nail down. Being scary and still not terrify little ones at night is harder than you might think. Also, apparently my idea of scary isn't quite enough for Dadda monkey. After quite some time of searching (Plussizecostumesupercenter.com
has some great, affordable costumes), I finally found this costume and showed it to Dadda monkey who said it would work for him. I think he still preferred to be scarier, but after reminding him that it would be night and he'd get to be dressed in all black with dark lights and fog around, he was convinced.


The outfit may not be quite as scary on Dadda monkey, but then again it'll be dark and other people don't know him like we do. It looks like it's going to be a great costume for this year and beyond. Plussizecostumesupercenter.com has some fantastic costumes for adults (mens and womens). I found one I have my eye on for next year as well. I have to say the costumes I've gotten online have been much nicer than the ones I've seen in stores and it's much more convenient as well.


As you can see, even Monkey girl got in on the act.


Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Washing Beloved Stuffed Animals

Monkey girl and Bro Bro monkey have similar stuffed animals that were given to them as babies. Like most children, they adore the animals and love to cuddle up with them at night. We decided it was time to give Draggy and Tiger a 'bath'. I had heard a tip to place stuffed animals inside a pillowcase to help protect them when going through the washer so that's what we did. Monkey girl was completely distraught that Draggy needed a bath and was almost in tears as we explained that it was as routine as her taking a bath. Dadda monkey and I were downstairs doing something when the washer's cycle ended, but Monkey girl was apparently standing by to rescue her precious animal. She removed him from the washer, got a towel to help dry him off, and then dressed him in a cute new outfit. She brought him down to us and declared she was never, ever going to let him go through that again. I guess that means next time we'll have to do it while she's at school or sleeping, but I have to say Draggy and Tiger came out much cleaner and no worse for wear!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Batteries

I am overwhelmed by the need for batteries in our house. A lot of the monkey's toys run on batteries and they get very upset when the batteries get drained. We frequently get the pitter patter of little feet running to us to tell us 'need batteries' or 'needs charge'. After a while, I realized we shouldn't keep buying 'disposable' batteries. 
It's no secret that I love Costco so when I saw they had large packages of rechargeable AA and AAA batteries, I immediately put them in my cart. Since then I've bought 3 more packs. The Eneloop batteries from Costco have been wonderful. We had to buy a separate charger and based on a little research and consumer feedback, we bought this La Crosse Technology BC-700 Alpha Power Battery Charger. It's been so good to us the past year that we just bought a second one to keep charged batteries readily available.


Sunday, July 29, 2012

2012 Summer Olympics


Dadda monkey and I love watching the Olympics. Every 2 years, we faithfully sit glued to our TV to cheer on the USA in various sports. We've also been fond of discovering new sports we didn't know existed and trying to figure out the rules. This year we've been intrigued by handball. I've always wondered, how do you go on to be a champion in some of these obscure sports. For example, I'm pretty sure my PE classes never had a handball session. Maybe Bro Bro monkey could be a natural at handball, but how would I find out? That's one thing I want to make sure I do for my monkeys; I'd like to give them the experience to try as many things possible and if they want to try something new, then I will dutifully sign them up to try it whenever I can.


Monkey girl is enjoying watching the gymnasts, but for some reason, she only wants to watch when there's a girl in a pink leotard. I don't think she quite has the grasp of the Olympics yet, but it's a start. I also have to mention I was shocked by the number of Judo flag carriers in the opening ceremony. I never knew Judo was so popular and honestly don't think I've watched much (if any) Judo, but now I'm curious so I'm going to keep an eye out for Judo when it's televised. Archery was also interesting yesterday. In fact so much so, that I completely forgot I had a neighborhood event that I had committed to. We were a little late, but had a good evening and made sure to have the DVR record the Olympics while we were out. As I sit typing this, the TV next to me is airing volleyball with the whole Monkey family watching. What Olympic events do you enjoy viewing? GO USA!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Ebates

I do a lot of online shopping and before I finalize any purchase, I always go check ebates.com to see if I can get money back from that merchant. Every quarter we get a check for the amount of 'ebate' we've earned. I've used them for a couple of years now and it's just a little bonus for the online shopping I do. Here's an easy link for you to signup and start earning cash back for yourself.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Pinterest Cupcakes

I'm a big fan of Pinterest, mostly because I'm already a big fan of internet surfing and my list of bookmarks is out of control. Pinterest allows me to view mostly pictures and in a sense bookmark them online in one central location where I can access it from almost anywhere (of course they have an app for that too).

 Anyways, Dadda monkey's birthday was last week so we decided to bake him some cupcakes. He's a huge fan of Andes mints and I happened across a recipe for Andes mint cupcakes on Pinterest. They were a big hit, even with the kids. I'd recommend decreasing the amount of mint extract for the icing just a bit, but they really did remind me of an Andes mint. I also have to work on my technique for filling cupcakes because most of them had very little filling. Also, my green food coloring came out faster than I expected so they're more green than I wanted, but I highly recommend this recipe.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Bravo, Brave!


We've been watching little clips for the new movie, Brave, for months now. Needless to say, we were eager to go see it. We've learned Bro Bro monkey doesn't sit well through movies yet, especially 3D movies, so Dadda monkey and I decided to bring Monkey girl along for a special evening.

Brave was a very entertaining movie and Monkey girl was fascinated with the main character, a young princess named Merida. Merida's not your ordinary princess, having been raised in the Scottish highlands. She seems to always have handy the bow her Dad gave her, much to her mother's dismay. Her mom is grooming her to be a proper princess and future bride while Merida would rather be riding her horse, Angus, and practicing her archery.

Monkey girl's eyes were glued to the screen and she declared she loved this movie when it ended. She's still talking about her favorite parts and requesting to watch it again. It's a must see for mothers and daughters in particular. Hope you all get to see it and enjoy it as much as we did. The clip below includes one of Monkey girl's favorite parts.


It's a classic Disney/Pixar film and we give it 0 monkeys sleeping,even though Bro Bro monkey was at home (and I might add, still awake when we got home).

Here's a fun little activity for your monkeys.



Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day!

We didn't have many (any) plans for Dadda monkey today, but I think that's what he actually prefers. We're picking up some Chinese food for dinner, which is as much of a treat for me as it is for him since I've been trying to watch what I eat. After dinner, the monkeys have a small gift for him and then he gets to spend the rest of his evening watching TV or playing video games. Personally, I'd have gone for a trip to the spa or just going to the pool, but it's his day and he's happy, which is all that matters today. The monkeys have been very cuddly and lovey today. I hope all the Dads out there have had a fantastic day catered just to them!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Surprise Visits

We had an exciting week last week. We decided to take off for a couple of days to go to Galveston, TX. It was nice to be able to dip our toes in the 'ocean' (the monkeys don't understand the difference between the ocean and the Gulf yet) and play in the sand. Getting away, if even for a few days, does wonders for your emotional well being.
Meanwhile, we had some sneaky family members decide to surprise us with a visit. Much to their surprise (and our disappointment), we weren't home. Luckily, we were planning on heading home the day after their arrival and they extended their trip by a day. Monkey girl and Bro Bro monkey were delighted to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa even let the monkeys (and Dadda monkey and I) ride in his big truck.

Friday, May 4, 2012

The Avenger's Movie Review

Before you begin reading this, I want to let you know that I loved 
this movie. I didn't expect to enjoy it, but I did, especially in 3D.
The following is a guest post review from Dadda monkey:
 
I had the honor of watching The Avenger's recently in IMAX 3D.  I
have to say it was an outstanding movie.  The movie was obviously 
designed with 3D in mind, so I would suggest seeing it in this 
format if possible, but I'm sure it will be just as awesome in 2D.
     In my opinion Joss Whedon (Director/Screen Writer) has come
a long way.  This wasn't a teen script meant to capture the 
imagination of all those Buffy fans out there, it was a great piece of 
work that even Stan Lee would be proud of.  There was a lot of 
action in the movie, but something I didn't expect was the amount
 of humor. 
Robert Downey Jr. did an excellent job as Tony Stark, yet again.  I 
was laughing throughout a good portion of the movie, and to my 
surprise, so was my wife.  She wasn't a fan of any marvel super 
heroes and I'm not sure if she's ever laid a finger on a comic book, 
but she genuinely really liked the movie as well.  There were 
several times I looked over and noticed her laughing or sitting on
the edge of the seat.
    In all, the movie was excellent and I would recommend it to 
anyone as a great movie to watch, even if you don't like Comic 
Books!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Kindle Fire

Dadda monkey gave me a Nook for Mother's Day last year and I really enjoyed reading it, but it's extremely limited in other areas. So when friends raved about their Kindle Fires, I kind of wanted to try one, but felt it was unjustified since I already had an e-reader. However, they'd talk about watching movies on it among other things that I just couldn't do with mine. So when the price on a refurbished Kindle Fire dropped, we took a chance and bought one. It's fantastic! I haven't watched a whole movie, but the kids have watched cartoon episodes and the screen is great. I've already read about 4 books on it and buying books is so much easier (and most times cheaper) than it was on my Nook. Anyways, for today only, they've dropped the price on a refurbished Kindle Fire; and it also comes with a 1 year warranty. I recommend you hurry and get one for yourself before they sell out. We picked one up for Dadda monkey today so he could have his own.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Pirates: Band of Misfits!


We took the monkeys to see Pirates: Band of Misfits in 3D. I guess it was cute in it's own way and a little humorous, but I have to say I wasn't all that impressed. To be fair, I spent about half of the movie trying to get Bro Bro monkey to sit quietly through it, so I could easily have misjudged it. Also, as I've mentioned before, I don't think my kids are ready for 3D movies. Trying to get them to wear their glasses through the movie just makes the experience even more difficult.



Dadda monkey and I were discussing a new movie rating scale to use for reviews (although sleeping, while preferable to the alternative, is not nearly as realistic as clamorous monkeys):

2 monkeys sleeping = not very good, don't waste your money on the theater tickets
1 monkey sleeping  = pretty good, might be worth a look
0 monkeys sleeping = excellent movie, don't miss it

I'd have to rate this a '1 monkey sleeping'. Monkey girl, who is 4, managed to sit through it, but wasn't really captivated. Bro Bro, 2.5, started making his way through the tunnel (crawling under the seats) to amuse himself.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler




We're still getting settled into the new house. I think each room has at least one more box left to be unpacked. Overall, we've slowed down and are enjoying the extra space. One of our favorite parts of the house is the kitchen. It's completely open to the living room (divided only by the kitchen table area) and has nice granite counters with an under-mount sink. I've always wanted a corner sink with windows open to the backyard and now I get to enjoy that. 

However, one of the changes we've made is not having a large trash can in the kitchen. Instead, we opted to leave a smaller one in the cabinet under the sink. There are two problems we noticed with this: 1. We have to empty it a LOT more often and things spill over it when it gets full. 2. This doesn't leave us much, if any, room for a recycling container. Above you'll notice what our counter typically looked like... piled up with soda cans awaiting their turn to be taken out to the recycling bin.


Then, I learned about the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler and Rubbermaid was kind enough to send one for me to review. It couldn't have arrived at a better time. Dadda monkey immediately used the cabinet door hooks to install it on the cabinet under the sink. To my delight, it fits even with the trash can being under there. The Hidden Recycler also comes with screws to mount it to your cabinet door. We'll probably do that eventually, but I think we've put enough holes in our new home for now. 


It holds a lot more than I expected, it's even wide enough for milk jugs, and it's really easy to pull up the bag to empty it into our recycling bin on trash day. Surprisingly, we typically can wait the whole week to empty our recycling now. We haven't washed it yet, but I'm really glad it's machine washable. This is one of those products that I never thought I needed until I got it.

The Hidden Recycler boasts these features:
  • Easy attachment to a cabinet door with hooks included with the product or screws
  • A convenient handle allows the bag to easily be transported to wherever your recycling is stored for pickup or transport
  • A 5 gallon bag that holds up to 36 12-ounce cans and can fit a milk jug
  • The bag has a leak-proof liner and is machine washable to make it easy to clean after any unexpected
          spills
  • The bag is soft-sided allowing for flexibility inside any cabinet
  • The bag and all packaging is made from recyclable material, and the product is recyclable
Rubbermaid has generously offered one of my readers their own Hidden Recycler!

How To Enter:
(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) Leave a separate comment for each entry.
This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the United States and Canada.

1. Let me know how you think the Hidden Recycler would benefit you?

2. Become a follower of my blog, Mommy 2 Monkeys, and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
3. 'Like' the Mommy 2 Monkeys Facebook page and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
4. Follow me on Twitter and leave  a comment on this post that you've done so.
5. 'Like' Rubbermaid's Facebook page and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
6. Follow Rubbermaid on Twitter and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until April 30,2012 at midnight central time. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. I will post the winner on my blog and also email the winner (please make sure your email is visible on your profile or post it in your comment). The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with a sample for the purpose of this review and the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

April Stooge Day

The monkey family enjoyed our time checking out April Stooge Day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. In celebration of the upcoming release of  the movie, The Three Stooges, opening April 13, Six Flags held a look alike contest. I was a little disappointed that no one dressed the part, but there were quite a few people who knew their Stooge trivia. The contest involved choosing to answer a trivia question or a physical challenge (imitating a famous Stooge trait). The trivia questions seemed difficult, only a few got them correctly, but then again I wouldn't have been able to answer any of them. However, the fun part was the physical challenges. It was really great seeing little kids and older folks re-enacting famous Stooge moves and sounds. They chose a winner for each Stooge (Larry, Moe, and Curly) and we loved the final trio. The host was terrific at involving the crowd and working with each contestant. We had a lot of fun and are looking forward to the movie release!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Stooge Day at Six Flags

April 1st is "April Stooge Day" at Six Flags. They have an open invitation for people to join them as they celebrate the release of The Three Stooges: The Movie! Dress like a Stooge and Enter to win their Stooge Look-Alike contest at noon and look for 'MOE' giveaways throughout the day! For more information, special offers, and event details, click here. Don't forget to check out The Three Stooges: The Movie, in theaters on April 13th!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

HEB Specialties

Okay, I admit, when I first moved to San Antonio, I was extremely disappointed in my grocery store options. We had HEB... or HEB... or HEB. Yes, there's a Super Walmart and Super Target, but HEB is literally the only normal grocery store in town. In the beginning, I'd frequently stop by to pick up some of my old favorites only to be stunned that they didn't carry so many of my regular items. I'll give them credit though for offering an easy way to request items they don't regularly stock, but it took a while to adjust to the change. However, now I've been finding new things I really like at HEB that I'm sure I'll miss when we eventually move out of San Antonio.

A couple of my new staples are the BBQ seasoned chicken you get in the meat department as well as the cranberry gorgonzola turkey burgers (also found in the meat dept., but seasonally, and DELICIOUS), cowboy burgers, and the newly discovered Chocolate Mootopia. The Mootopia is a high protein low fat milk and is absolutely creamy and delicious (at least in the chocolate flavor). I heard about it through word of mouth and now it's a weekly purchase along with the Central Market organic milk nearby. Apparently too many people have been raving about the chocolate Mootopia because it was out of stock at our closest HEB last week. We made a side trip to another HEB a couple of days later and we went to check on their stock. They only had 2 left (of course we grabbed both), but I hope they start increasing production because clearly I'm not the only one in love with this new product. HEB, you've made my life much more comfortable after a brief transition period.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Moving from the Kid's Perspectives

My kids are too young to understand the whole idea of moving. They know what the new house looks like and have enjoyed running through the empty rooms and the backyard, but I don't think they know that our furniture is going to be moved in there. My daughter has been asking if various things will go with us, the light in her room (no), the blanket on her bed (yes), the bathroom (no). However, the most heartbreaking was the question about their playset. Unfortunately, no, the playset will not be coming with us, but in a few months, we might be able to get another one, depending on how things go. We have all enjoyed having the playset since we had it installed a couple years ago. Like a lot of things with our current house, we did upgrades because we were planning on living there a few more years. However, with current low interest rates and builder incentives, we couldn't pass up the chance to have a house that had more of the things on our wishlist. We'll miss the deck and the playset most of all, but hopefully we'll get something similar in the future. I forgot how expensive moving can be, even if it's within the same neighborhood so some things are just going to have to wait. Dadda monkey and I don't even have garage door openers purchased yet.

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that maybe we can win the kids a new playset (and Mommy a new raised garden). Backyard Discovery, https://www.swingsetsonline.com/backyard-ideas/backyard-blog/playsets/January%202012/Double_the_Prize_Double_the_Fun_Sweepstakes, has a great sweepstakes going on that I can only hope I have a chance to win. Good luck to any of you that are in the moving process and those that might try your hand at the sweepstakes.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Blah, blah, and more blah

Since getting my wisdom teeth removed, which wasn't as bad as I feared, I have been sick on and off for the past month along with the rest of my family. Whatever this bug is, that seems to be spreading among my friends and neighbors, tends to linger for weeks. I finally feel semi-human again so I can concentrate on my big news. We're moving, just down the street, but moving none the less. It's exciting and a pain in the butt at the same time. I hate packing, but I'm trying to look at it as a chance to finally get my clutter problems under control. I hope to do some serious purging along the way, but things are moving quicker than I anticipated and much quicker than I feel I can manage since we've all been ill.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

I got 3 wisdom teeth extracted on Friday and I think I'm healing well, but the medicine is kicking my butt. I take it and 2 hours later, I'm conked out on the bed. Tomorrow will have to be my last day of it because I've got to start playing the role of chauffeur again. At the same time, I signed up to be part of a neighborhood weight loss challenge group. I thought this week would help me get ahead since I wouldn't be able to eat much, but it's had the opposite effect. I've gained a couple of pounds because I took advantage of having ice cream handy and eating high carb foods like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I'd love to cut them out, but I'm starving and can't eat a whole lot. I'm completely sick of chicken broth and foods just aren't tasting like they should for now. I'm currently working on a bowl of applesauce, but it's tasting incredibly sour and tart. Hopefully, I'll get myself back on track before the end of the week. I'm not sure what the timeline is on these things, but I'd really love to have a chicken sandwich and some onion soup. My mind is going stir crazy and is focusing on food!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Tangled Ever After: The Rings



Tangled will always hold a special place in my heart since it's the first Disney movie I took my daughter to. We went with friends and Monkey girl adores the movie. We're excited to see the new short, The Rings, premiering with Beauty and the Beast 3D (another of Monkey girl's favorite movies). I'm pleased to be able to present you with a small clip of this short, Tangled Ever After: The Rings. Enjoy!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Kids' Clothes

I've been kind of obsessed with Zulily this past year. The monkeys have a lot of new clothes in their rooms, but I have a confession to make... I haven't wanted to buy clothes in their current sizes for fear they'd outgrow them too quickly. As a result, we have lots of roomy shirts, pants, dresses, and even swimsuits, but not a whole lot in their current sizes. The real problem here is that I don't feel comfortable sending Monkey girl off to The Little Gym or preschool in clothes that are too large for her, but we're facing a shortage of clothes in her real size of 3T and I'm reluctant to buy them now. Though the clearance rack at Target has been our friend here a couple of times. I hope I'm not alone in this 'buying clothes one size too large' situation. Additionally, Bro Bro monkey is a chunky little guy so I'm starting to have to pay attention to the differences between 4T and 4, which I'm still not real clear on. In the meantime, we're hoping to make it through the winter with our current wardrobe selection.