Mommy 2 Monkeys

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

2012-01-16T14:46:00.000-06:00

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!

Tangled Ever After: The Rings

2012-01-06T23:39:00.012-06:00

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!

Kids' Clothes

2012-01-05T21:34:00.001-06:00

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.

Arthur Christmas

2011-12-30T11:32:00.002-06:00

I think we have a new favorite holiday movie. We took the monkeys to see Arthur Christmas last month and we all adored it. I wasn't sure what to think going into it since I'd seen limited previews for it, but it was definitely worth checking out. Unfortunately, we saw it in 3D and while that was fun for me, the kids aren't ready to sit through a 90+ minute movie AND wear the required glasses. I have to say I had some concerns too when I saw monkey girl was sitting through it, but didn't want to wear the glasses for much of the movie. That couldn't be good for her eyes so needless to say we won't be doing any 3D movies for a while.

However, back to the subject, Arthur Christmas was such a cute film. There was quite a bit of humor for the adults to enjoy, but it never seemed to take away from the kids entertainment. It starts on Christmas Eve and Santa is getting set to deliver presents. One of his sons is in control of the high-tech operation, complete with commando type elves, and the other son seems to have been relegated to the lesser job of handling Santa's mail. Of course something goes awry when they return to the North Pole and realize a present is still onboard, thus never being delivered. The mail handler son, Arthur, realizes it's recipient was supposed to be a little girl who had written to Santa and tries to correct the problem. I'll stop there so I don't ruin anything for you, but the story's delightful and the animation is colorful and captivating. I highly recommend it. We'll be purchasing it when it comes out on DVD. I'd try to catch it in theaters if you can though. It gets 4 out of 4 monkey thumbs up from us.

Shutterfly Holiday and New Year's Cards

2011-12-19T15:33:00.003-06:00

I wasn't sure what I was going to do about holiday cards this year, but I saw the huge selection of photo cards available at Shutterfly and managed to narrow down my favorites. I love that their search feature allows you to sort by folded or flat, number of photos on the front, size, etc... I have a hard enough time getting one presentable picture with both my children, that I was really happy I could sort by cards with just one picture on the front.

Dadda monkey and I settled on Magical Night because it suited my picture the best. Shutterfly's tools for viewing the finished product with your own photo is fantastic. It's really easy to make changes and immediately view the result. Along those lines, Shutterfly Family Photo Days, is a great resource for taking great family photos. They have a few ideas on how to casually set up photo opportunities. They recommend planning a day out with another family so you can take turns taking family photos in a casual environment where the kids can play and feel more natural. There's even meetup groups you can find for arranging this.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with our cards. They were delivered in a bright orange box so I was sure to see them and get working on them right away. They did a great job placing our photo in the card and the quality is fantastic.

As a bonus, Shutterfly has agreed to award one of my readers 12 free 5”x7” holiday cards and free shipping, valued at over $25. I know it's really close to the holidays, but you might consider sending New Year's cards. They have a really cute selection and if you are running behind on sending out cards, New Year's cards would be a great solution.

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.)

This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the continental United States.

1. Let me know if you have ever sent New Year's cards before.

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 December 21, 2011 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:

Black Friday (looking for Keurig deals)

2011-11-25T13:11:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a lovely time with friends and ate until we were stuffed. Now that it's black Friday, I'm happy to be sitting at home and enjoying the day with my monkeys. Dadda monkey's at work, but should be getting off early. Then we're hoping to just finish decorating for Christmas and putting the house back together after having had house guests for a few days.

The past two years, we've braved the crowds and headed out to Black Friday sales in the wee hours of the morning to snag some good deals. This year, however, there's nothing we really want that necessitates joining the crowds. We have working computers, televisions, etc... and the monkeys aren't quite old enough to want the hit toy of the season, which is good because I have no idea what that toy might be this year. In addition, I've had a list of gift ideas for a few months now and have been purchasing things as they go on sale. There's only one item that I'm hoping to find a good deal on sometime before Christmas. I'd really like to buy my sister a Keurig coffee maker.

It's kind of a funny story as to why I want to get her the Keurig. We stopped by her house about a year and a half ago (she lives several states away) and I could have sworn I saw one in her kitchen. So last year I bought her some Keurig accessories including the storage drawer for k-cups from Bed Bath and Beyond, which I highly recommend. Shortly after she got her gifts, she asked me if I had meant them for her or had made a mistake because she doesn't have a Keurig...oops! Anyways, I knew right away, this would make buying her gift this year a cinch. Clearly, I need to buy her a Keurig so I'm patiently waiting for the right time to purchase one.

So today, I'm sitting at home, browsing online occasionally to see if any of my gift idea items go on sale and glad to not be out and about. Good luck to everyone on their holiday shopping, whether you're home or out among the Black Friday masses!

Families, Distance, and the Holidays

2011-11-19T22:53:00.002-06:00

Table for 4?

Dadda monkey and I live hundreds of miles from any relatives. It doesn't hit us that hard until the holidays or when a special event happens. Dadda monkey's sister-in-law just had a baby and with Thanksgiving around the corner, we're feeling a little nostalgic. I miss the formal Thanksgivings my mother would host. Plus my Mom is a much better cook than I could ever hope to be.

I'm lucky to be surrounded by great friends though. When I lived in the DC area, a friend would invite us over for 'orphan' holidays. We'd get together with others who didn't have family in the area and we'd have a great time. Last year, a friend invited us to her house for Thanksgiving and we loved that it gave the kids a feeling of family and togetherness. There's nothing like celebrating Thanksgiving with others. This year she invited us again and I jumped at the gracious invitation.

However, we'll still miss being with extended family. I'll be honest, like all families, we've had our differences with one another. One of my main faults is that I lack empathy and openness when it comes to my in-laws, and my Mother and I have a tenuous relationship, but I'd like to feel like part of a close family at least for my kid's sakes. These are the times when I feel bad that my kids won't get to know their aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents as well as they could have. I didn't grow up with much extended family nearby, but I was lucky that my cousins were close in age to my sister and I, and our parents ensured that we visited each other regularly. I spent a period of time every year in Kentucky with my Dad's family and my Mom's family would visit us (at least) annually.

We'd consider visiting family for Thanksgiving, but it hasn't been in the cards for us yet. My parents are busy with their retirement lives. More on that later, but their social calendar is almost busier now than before they retired and they do make a specific trip every year to visit us. Dadda monkey's family all lives close to one another so it'd be easy to visit all of them. However, since they're all there, it ends up being a big commotion. It's gotten so bad in the past that we've sometimes felt slighted and regretted making the trip up there, which is never a great result, especially since we're trying to show the monkeys how important family is. Again, I've got to work on this empathy thing, but it can be really difficult sometimes.

We've invited family to join us for the holidays, but it's out of the way for everyone to come down here and so they just make plans amongst themselves. That's what hurts the most is to think that it's a hassle for family to visit our monkeys. Again, if it were just Dadda monkey and I, it wouldn't be a big deal, but I really feel like the monkeys are missing out. We'll continue to try to ensure the monkeys know who their family is and that it's important to make time for one another. In the meantime, I'll continue to enjoy the generosity and company of friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Yard Sale Laziness (my own)

2011-11-12T09:54:00.001-06:00

I've been waiting for another community yard sale ever since the last one ended. We put the things that didn't sell in a corner of the garage and have been gradually adding to that stack. I'm convinced that's why we can't get a car in the garage yet. (Don't judge me, the new homes in San Antonio have tiny garages). Although, the garage is also quickly filling up with large Christmas presents for the kids that have to be assembled. So any hope of getting a car in the garage before Christmas is a pipe dream.

Anyways, at the HOA meeting two weeks ago, they let us know that the community yard sale would be today. I was really happy about getting an opportunity to rid myself of our garage sale pile. I planned to make a list of excuses here as to why I was too busy to get to it, but in reality if I had been dedicated enough, it would have gotten done. I think knowing that most of the items were already in a pile let me slack too much on the other things that needed to be done to prepare for the sale. Needless to say, early in the evening last night I decided to skip this one and wait for the spring yard sale. It was an easy decision since I hadn't set prices, gotten signs to put up, or figured out how to put out the baby clothes in an organized fashion. Not to mention Dadda monkey had been insisting all day yesterday that he did not want to do the yard sale and he had a golf lesson to go to that morning.

So here we are today, Dadda monkey is at his golf lesson as I'm watching tons of cars driving down our street perusing all the yard sales. There are at least two people on my street participating. Therefore, I'm now kicking myself for not getting my act together and getting my stuff out there. Lesson learned though, I feel so guilty about giving in to my own disorganization and Dadda monkey's complaints that I know this won't happen next time. Not to mention, I want my garage back! I'll continue brooding while I make a few Craigslist ads just in case! Anyone want a coffee table?

Eversave Bakery Deal

2011-11-01T00:16:00.011-05:00

I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween festivities. In the spirit of edible sweets, Eversave has a great bakery offer. For $14 you get a dozen cupcakes from The Cakery Bakery. This comes out to just over a dollar a cupcake, which is a great deal in my book. For that price, it's worth it to not bake them myself. Take the time off before holiday cookie season and get some cupcakes for the family, office, or any event.

The Cakery Bakery features traditional flavors including red velvet and german chocolate as well as some unique varieties. A couple that pique my interest are the strawberry citrus and coconut lime (their signature flavor). You're allowed two flavors for your dozen cupcakes, which could be a tough decision, but you can always purchase additional Saves. Hurry though, this Save ends Thursday, November 3rd.

The phenomenal folks at Eversave have agreed to offer one of my readers this Save (worth $28). So on to the fun part...

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.)

This giveaway is only offered within the United States.

1. Let me know your favorite kind of cupcake (if it's unique or you have a terrific recipe, please feel free to share the recipe) OR what great deals you've picked up from Eversave.

2. Become a public (GFC) 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' Eversave on Facebook, tell them Mommy 2 Monkeys sent you, and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

6. Follow Eversave on Twitter and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

7. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until November 4, 2011 at 6:00 AM, 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 the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Great Multi-Use 18" Doll Bed

2011-10-29T11:20:00.001-05:00

Okay, most people would call it a multi-use nightstand, but I was specifically looking for something like this for Monkey Girl's doll that would fit her room. Pottery Barn Kids has the Kendall Storage Console available for $199 in either white or espresso.

We got it in espresso to blend with her bedroom furniture. She didn't have a nightstand so this was the perfect find! The bottom cubby is large enough to be a bed for her 18" doll. She keeps books and puzzles on the second shelf and the top shelf fits her clock and water bottle perfectly. Before I ordered it, I was concerned with how small the top shelf might be, but it's perfect for holding essentials and not large enough for her to clutter the top (like Dadda monkey and I tend to do with our nightstands).

The console is very well constructed and a beautiful piece. It's not quite as dark as the other espresso furniture in her room, but it's not too far off to be a distraction. I think it's going to grow with her really well since it's so functional, attractive, and solid. Even the back is not your typical particle board backing.

It was easy to put together (at least that's what Dadda monkey says) and Monkey girl loved it. She was even more excited that evening when we put the console in her room, and put her doll, Abby, to bed. I like it so much that I'm considering getting another one for Bro Bro monkey's room even though he has one nightstand. The storage in this console is great and easy for toddlers to use. One word of warning, Bro Bro monkey now uses this as a ladder to climb into his sister's bed.

(I still have to get that wall paper border residue off her wall)

Eversave Texas Hill Country & Winery Tour

2011-10-20T07:46:00.004-05:00

Today Eversave.com for San Antonio has a fantastic deal. For $30 you get to tour two historic Texas towns and up to three wineries. I have yet to experience the hill country wineries, but I keep mentioning to Dadda monkey that it's something I'd love to do. While we live here, I need to take advantage of all that the hill country has to offer. To top that off, getting to do it for $30 AND not having to drive is a bonus. I'm sure you'd meet some fabulous people, with similar interests, if you decide to jump on this, but hurry because this deal ends on October 22nd.

As a bonus, the great people at Eversave have offered this Save ($65 value) to one of my readers! Eversave.com is a place I check frequently because of the great deals they offer. I've picked up a few Saves from them before and it's a fun, easy, and cheaper way to explore businesses in the area. As a note, the winner of the Save will be announced after the winery tour deal has ended so if you want to ensure you get to go on the tour, grab it now!

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.)

This giveaway is only offered within the United States.

1. Let me know if you've ever been to any of the Texas hill country wineries OR what great deals you've picked up from Eversave.

2. Become a public (GFC) 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' Eversave on Facebook, tell them Mommy 2 Monkeys sent you, and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

6. Follow Eversave on Twitter and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

6. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until October 23, 2011 at 6:00 AM, 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 the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Back From Florida

2011-10-17T19:54:00.000-05:00

The monkey family has returned from our vacation. We had a nice visit with my parents near Tampa. Most of our friends criticize us for not taking the kids to Disney World while we're there, but I've heard it's really better to wait until they're older. Monkey girl is currently 3 and Bro Bro is 2. Not to mention, we're there to visit with family who lives there so there will be return trips to the area. I'm not denying them the Disney experience permanently.

We took Monkey girl on a tugboat ride and watched a dolphin play in the wake. Also, the Largo Central Park playground is fantastic! That park will definitely be a spot we go to again (repeatedly). All in all, we just got a chance to relax and spend time as a family, but it's good to be home!

Neighborhood Teen Jobs

2011-10-02T20:38:00.000-05:00

We're going on vacation soon and I was trying to find a teenager in the neighborhood who might be interested in making a few bucks by coming by and caring for the dogs. I know when I was a teenager that was a great job. Easy job, no travel, and a great way to pick up some spending cash. I posted to our neighborhood facebook page and I asked some friends, but I couldn't find anyone interested. I know there are teenagers here, I've seen them around. How could this be so difficult? So, we asked the vet and they had a recommendation, but who knows how much that will cost us. I just thought this was a win-win situation for both parties if we found a neighborhood teen. I'm still holding out hope so maybe not this vacation, but the next we'll find someone interested in it.

Shoes!

2011-09-24T21:10:00.001-05:00

No one ever told me that there was a good chance my feet would grow a size larger after I got pregnant. After Monkey girl was born, I noticed my shoes were a bit snug. However, after Bro Bro monkey was born, I knew there was no way I could wear most of my shoes again. Apparently the weight of carrying a baby around can flatten your arches. I'm now a full size bigger than I used to be. So the hunt began to begin a new shoe collection (gradually). I know you feel so sorry for me that I have to build a new shoe wardrobe. Though truth be told, as much as I love buying new shoes, I still have my old favorites sitting in the closet, but I'm going to have to part with them soon. The other big difference is that my favorite strappy heels and pumps that I used to wear are now being replaced by loafers, ballet flats, and athletic shoes. Just the other day I was browsing Zappos.com and decided to purchase a pair of driving loafers (the ones pictured above). And so continues the metamorphosis of my life.

Sirius XM Radio

2011-09-18T19:04:00.001-05:00

I mentioned that we bought a new car a few weeks ago. It happened to come with a free preview of XM radio, which I didn't think I'd care much for. However, with all the chauffeuring I'm doing, and the lack of radio stations that I enjoy in San Antonio, I found a couple of stations on XM that I liked. Anyways, the free preview ended and we had gotten several pieces of correspondence asking us to subscribe. I finally buckled down and mailed the check for a year's subscription. Mind you, the multiple items of unsolicited mail we received had an account number and an amount due for the year just like ordinary bills. They cashed the check shortly after it was sent and ten days after that we still didn't have the service. We called and they apologized for not starting the service for us and that they would activate it immediately. The next day we still didn't have service so we called again. We were then told that there was a subscription fee that hadn't been paid. We told them we could fax them a copy of the letter that said how much a year would be and that it said it included all taxes and fees. A few hours later, 2 levels of supervisors, and they finally conceded that our account was paid in full for the year. I'm not sure how they keep a business afloat when they send you a bill, the consumer pays it, the company doesn't uphold it's end of the bargain, AND wants to charge more fees?! At the end of this year, I'm pretty sure they won't be getting my business back. I'd consider cancelling now, but wouldn't you know... there's a $75 early termination fee.

Give Us Rain!

2011-09-15T21:59:00.001-05:00

Well, that was close! A few days ago, we were coming home from the vet and noticed the traffic was heavier than normal, fire trucks kept passing us, and ahead in the distance was a whole lot of black smoke. As we neared our neighborhood, we saw that one of the major side streets was closed and that the fire was less than two miles away from our home.

We pulled into our driveway and many of our neighbors were in their driveways packing to evacuate. It wasn't mandatory at the time, but it was too close for comfort. So we immediately headed in and started packing a couple of suitcases so we could head out. We grabbed the important paperwork, a few sets of clothes, many toys and movies, and departed on back roads to a nearby town where we met a friend at Dairy Queen to discuss what was going on (and enjoy a Blizzard of course). By the way, we found out later that in these situations, you should also bring a utility bill as proof of residence. And something that has moved WAY UP on my To Do List is to buy a safe so we can keep important things in a convenient, centralized location.

It was surreal as we sat there watching the smoke around us. We were still close enough to smell the smoke in the air and see ash flying around. Another friend invited us over to watch the news and hang out until we decided whether or not we could head home or if we should get a hotel room. Thankfully, a couple of hours later, it was deemed safe enough to go home. We kept our bags in the car just in case we needed to make a quick exit, because the winds did shift a few times and the neighborhood across the street was ordered to evacuate.

The drought conditions, here in Texas are beyond horrible and I've never seen a population wish so intently for a hurricane to head this way. I know my friends back home in the mid-Atlantic would love to ship us some of their rain and we'd gladly take it. The forecast is slightly humorous at this point because someone called it 'wishcasting'. The last day of the 10, or however many, day forecast is the only one calling for a 20-40% chance of rain. Then as the days go by, that day continues to slide to the last day of the forecast. It's been that way for quite some time now. Anyways, I'll mark this down as another experience we've gone through with lessons learned and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for multiple days of rain.

Annual Carpet Cleaning

2011-09-07T21:08:00.000-05:00

So it's time for our annual carpet cleaning experience. With multiple dogs and two small monkeys, we make sure to do this every year. We used to use Steamers, and they were great, but we got a brochure on our front door a few weeks ago for a new company. As a side note, I frequently debate putting up a no soliciting sign, but every once in a while, someone worth while comes along. This advertised deal was really great and useful for our needs. They're going to clean 5 rooms AND our couch. I can't tell you how badly our couch needs it. As a bonus, the company uses an all natural system so it's safe for the kids and pets. As a second bonus, the owner said when they made the switch to the natural system, they noticed that it actually did a better job than the chemicals. I'm excited to get the carpet/couch cleaned and to see how good of a job they do. We have one nagging stain that disappears each carpet cleaning only to reappear about a week later so that will be a real test for them. Hopefully, we'll be able to get our downstairs flooring replaced, but for now I'm really looking forward to this cleaning.

The Trials of Adjusting to a Family Vehicle

2011-08-30T21:43:00.001-05:00

A few months ago, we bought a Buick Enclave. I love the car, but am still adjusting to operating such a large vehicle. It has a third row of seats and is bigger than the Explorer I used to drive. The driving part I've got down, it's the parking that is quite a challenge. I figure I give loads of amusement to the people around me when I enter a parking lot. Several times I've been torn between parking at the back of the parking lot for ease, or attempting to park closer since I usually have the monkeys with me. The other day at the YMCA, I was sure the front desk was enjoying a good laugh at my expense as I repositioned myself about 4 times to try to park in my parking spot. Even parking in my driveway is troublesome. Dadda monkey wants me to park all the way on one side so he can park on the other. I'm not sure if I mentioned before, but two car garages here are not really for two modern day cars. Thus, the driveway is narrower as well. On the bright side, I do think I'm improving and we're all enjoying the new car (except maybe other drivers in tight parking lots).

Dogs and My Little Green Machine

2011-08-26T23:10:00.000-05:00

We have a couple of large dogs and although all but the newest puppy are house trained, we still have our share of accidents and bouts of illness. Couple that with my monkeys (okay add Dadda monkey and I in there as well) and we get quite a few messes around here.

I just wanted to share with you the little gem that makes me worry just a bit less about these accidents. My Bissell Little Green Machine is quite the handy little item to have around. It's easy portable, quick, and best of all efficient. The machine has even taken up some stains that were older, but there are still some nagging ones that it seems to clean temporarily until they start showing back up again. Any stains that we get to immediately, seem to clean up easily right away in just minutes. The only downside that I've found so far is that the reservoir that holds what's sucked in, can have a pretty bad odor so we try to empty it regularly. Also, we try to keep an extra bottle of the solution around, but I'm guessing you could also make your own solution, maybe with some vinegar.

My Little Green Machine has been a hero to me since we have a lot of carpet in the house. We're thinking of replacing the downstairs carpet with laminate wood, but I have some concerns about that project as well. Even if we go for it, we'll still have area rugs and all the carpet left upstairs.

Costume Discounters Made My Son Crabby!

2011-08-16T00:01:00.012-05:00

Halloween always arrives before I'm completely ready for it. This year, however, Monkey girl told me she wants to be Ariel so I was on the search for something Bro Bro monkey could wear that would be related. I know it won't last forever, but it's been fun to outfit them together. For example, last year Monkey girl was Dorothy, and Bro Bro monkey was the scarecrow.

I was browsing through Costume Discounters site and found a great assortment of reasonably priced costumes. In fact, they guarantee their low prices. I started by searching animal costumes. I found this adorable infant/toddler crabby costume and knew it would be great for us. Searching Costume Discounters site is made simple due to your various sorting options. You can search by size, theme, category, holiday, or keyword among others. I apologize for the pictures, but Bro Bro rarely sits still and he was having so much fun wearing his crab costume.

You can tell it has that incredibly soft minky fabric and it was even softer than I imagined it would be. The green tummy is padded for extra effect, which is a nice touch. I was worried about how this would fit since Bro Bro is a large 2T and this costume was available in mostly smaller sizes. I wanted to order him a 3T just to be sure, but the largest size offered for this particular costume was the 2T so I went for it. Thankfully, it has a generous fit, so I'm not worried about him fitting into it when October rolls around. Another great thing about this costume is that the head piece is a separate piece so if it bothers him, we can go without it and he still looks like a Maryland blue crab (had to throw that in due to my Maryland roots). As you can see though, he was far from crabby when I tried the costume on him. He was absolutely giddy about getting to wear it.

I had a lot of fun perusing Costume Discounters, www.costumediscounters.com, and even found a couple of cute ideas for Dadda monkey and I. I even started thinking about next year already, though Miss Monkey girl will have to have her say in it of course so we'll wait on that, but I feel great that the monkeys are all set for this Halloween.

Disclaimer:
Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with a sample for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Peanut Butter Pie Friday

2011-08-12T23:32:00.000-05:00

I did not know Jennie or Mikey, but their story of such a deep, unexpected loss resonated with me. A simple request was made to bake a peanut butter pie as a memorial and so that is what I did. I can't imagine what the family is going through at this time, but Jennie's message was so clear. I did not waste this night with my family. We made this pie together and I enjoyed every moment of it from spoons licked clean with little tongues, to the fresh indent where Bro Bro monkey thought going straight for the pie was a much better idea than just eating the tidbits left on the spoon. Tonight we savored life as a family and I hope we can continue to make the most of our precious lives together.

Curtain Rod Vs Toe

2011-08-04T23:20:00.001-05:00

One of the items on Dadda monkey's honey do list is to fix the curtain rod that came loose from the wall a couple of WEEKS ago. His temporary solution was to just push it back in real hard and hope it stayed. Well, with 2 toddlers, his hopes were dashed pretty quickly, but the curtain rod just kept getting pushed back into the wall.

A couple of days ago, while he was at work and I was home with the kids, the monkeys were running up the stairs and snagged the curtain, which pulled the curtain rod down AGAIN. I, being the lemming that I am, proceeded to push it back into the wall. Shortly after, Monkey girl needed a time out. By the way, our time out step is right next to said curtain. So of course, she was playing around and the curtain rod came down.

I'd finally had enough of this nonsense and tried to take the curtain down. It was too high to reach, but my kitchen chair was nearby. I'd say a whole ten feet closer than my step ladder. Why walk the additional ten feet, when I could see what glorious daring feats could be had with the chair. It took a while to screw off the finial, but when it finally got unscrewed the curtain rod came out. Even though it was still in my hand, it swung around, got me off balance and landed on my little toe. I didn't know a curtain rod could hurt so bad. My toe was swollen and I was convinced I'd broken it, but a few hours later I was able to bend it.

It's not a great picture, but that's the curtain rod just beyond Monkey girl. It's been a few days and my toe is still really sore. Dadda monkey (who has a lengthy honey do list with due dates now) says I limp just a little. I'd been hoping to make it back to the gym tomorrow, but I just put Monkey girl to bed with a horrible cough. She's been acting a little under the weather all day so I guess my attempt at a routine will be pushed off until next week. I feel like that's how everything around here gets handled. Oh well, I'll get to it next week!

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers

2011-07-27T22:32:00.001-05:00

I received a small package of Seventh Generation's newly re-designed Free & Clear diapers to try on my monkeys. As luck would have it, both of them wear the same size diaper due to having a boy that doesn't stop eating and an older daughter that eats like a bird. That meant that I got to try the diapers on each of them. First thing I noticed is that the packaging is minimal. The package can even by recycled at your supermarket's plastic bag recycling collection point. That, in addition to a redesigned lighter-weight core that is both more efficient at absorption and uses less processed chlorine free wood pulp, means that they contribute less to overall landfill use.

The second thing I noticed is the difference in color, it's a light brown that automatically reminds you that you're doing a great thing for both your child and the environment. The diapers don't have 'decorations' on them, but I don't miss them at all. Neither of my kids really bothered to check out the illustrations on their diapers before. Though I admit that I did almost put a diaper on my son that was inside out because it looks the same all over. To be fair, I was really tired at the time and Bro Bro monkey was being fussy and squirmy.

Aside from the obvious benefits of using Seventh Generation's Free & Clear diapers, I was really impressed with the design. In a pinch I've tried other brands of diapers and have been severely disappointed so I was skeptical about how these would perform. Immediately I saw that the tabs are generously sized and fasten really well. Having a boy that likes to take his diaper off randomly, I was really appreciative of how secure these are. Also, they perform fantastically. We've not had any leaks or blowouts in the short time we've been using them. The monkeys have really sensitive skin and get diaper rashes easily so I feel better about the fact that these don't have added fragrances or any chlorine.

I am always concerned about my ecological footprint in the world, but am afraid to sacrifice quality in some things. Honestly, I can feel good about making the switch to Seventh Generation's Free & Clear diapers. I was really impressed with them.

Thanks to Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark, you can win a pack of the Free & Clear diapers in size 2, 4, or 5.

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.)

This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the continental United States.

1. Let me know why you'd like to try these OR how you feel about eco-conscious baby products.

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. Follow Seventh Generation on Facebook, tell them Mommy 2 Monkeys sent you, and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

6. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until August 2, 2011 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. The information presented, the review sample, and the giveaway item are all provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.

Vacation!

2011-07-26T21:43:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been wanting to make sure we take our kids on regular family vacations each year. As a result I've been MIA for the past couple of weeks. We intended to go to the Delaware beaches for a week, but it turned out a little longer due to difficulty with flights. On the flip side, the monkeys did a pretty good job handling the traveling and we all really enjoyed our beach vacation.

Back to business now...tomorrow, I'll have a pretty nice review and giveaway with a product I've been pleasantly surprised with. If you have little ones in diapers stay tuned.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

2011-07-03T23:46:00.000-05:00

Mr. Popper's Penguins was perpetually pleasant. If you see the movie, you'll understand the use of P words. Pippi turned out to be a cute touch to the movie. I thought this was a really enjoyable movie. It seems to have gotten some poor reviews and I guess that's why I don't usually bother listening to reviewers. Reviewers don't like happy endings all the time or anticipated story lines. I, however, find those things soothing to my soul. Seriously, movies are an escape for me and I don't want to be shocked by a bad twist or have my experience end on a less than happy conclusive note. You can tell from my Pirates of the Caribbean review that I was distraught by the open endedness of one of the side stories.

My critical review of reviewers aside, I really enjoyed this movie. Mr. Popper's Penguins was humorous and adorable. The penguins are definitely the main stars and I was surprised at just how much they were featured doing various things (more than I thought penguins could be trained to do). Since it's not animated, I don't think I'd take my 18 month old monkey and even monkey girl (at 3 years old) might struggle to stay focused on it. I took my friends 5 year old and he seemed fine with it.

As a bonus, something I didn't realize before, is that this Mr. Popper's Penguins is based on a book. We're going to look for it the next time we're at the library. If you're child is 5 or up, I think this is a cute children's movie that adults will like just as much.

The New Disney Store

2011-06-16T15:05:00.008-05:00

I decided to be brave and venture out with my two monkeys to the new Disney store in North Star Mall. I'm glad I went because the kids enjoyed being there and we discovered a lot of neat features they've implemented. I have to say the employees and PR people we met were very friendly and enthusiastic and ensured we had a great visit. Shopping at Disney is now even more of a magical experience.

At first glance, it doesn't seem terribly different, but you quickly discover a couple of gems in the store. Looking down at the floor, you'll see a sparkly blue winding path that you can follow through the store. It leads to my favorite new feature that I"ll share in a minute. First we came upon the Disney princess castle. Needless to say my monkey princess wanted to call that home for the duration of our stay. You can go through a small opening to the enchanted mirror. Grab one of the princess wands (only 3 princesses were featured at the time) and wave it in front of the mirror to see a video clip of that princess appear in the mirror.

Next we saw the Cars Ridemakerz station, which seems like it'd be fun and a favorite of older kids. It has power screwdrivers hanging from above 4 workstations where you can completely design and build your own car. Since my monkeys are still little, we took a short peek at it and then continued along the path. Bro Bro monkey loved the plush animal display that was built to resemble Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. There was a tunnel they could crawl through and gears on the lower shelf that you could turn and make the buckets above you spin. Bro Bro monkey also created his own game of 'in one foul swipe, knock down more stuffed animals than mommy can pick up at one time'.

Finally, we arrived at the gazebo area (my favorite) with a small table and a large screen for movie clips. There's a large touchpad device where your kids can choose what movie they'd like to see different clips from. It's very easy for little ones to use and as a bonus, the display above it shows how long until your chosen clip will play so you can continue shopping and get back in time to watch your video. At the table were 4 child size chairs with coloring pages and crayons. The gazebo is lit up beautifully and is an enjoyable place to stop for a bit.

Throughout the store are also translucent trees that appear very ethereal. They also randomly display different noticeable Disney icons and fireworks for special occasions. Above the shelves along the walls is a skyline that incorporates local landmarks. We saw the Alamo, Riverwalk, and Tower of Americas. If you're in San Antonio or another store that's newly opened or been remodeled I encourage you to take a step in and check it out. The North Star Mall location will have a grand opening celebration on June 18th from noon to 4 pm. Mickey and Minnie will also make an appearance at the mall center court on that date.

San Antonio Disney Store Opening

2011-06-07T14:09:00.001-05:00

If you live here in the San Antonio area, there's some great news. A new Disney store is opening at North Star Mall this week. Wednesday, June 8th, at 10:00 am, San Antonio's newest Disney store will be open to the public. In 2010, Disney Store 'unveiled an innovative, highly interactive new store design' that claims to offer 'the best 30 minutes of a child's day'. Some of the features that appeal to my monkeys are the Disney Princess Neighborhood & Disney Princess Castle with Magic Mirror, the Pixie Dust Trail, and the CARS Ridemakerz Neighborhood.

If you can make it, I highly encourage you to go. The first 250 guests will receive FREE Mickey Mouse ears and one lucky child will “Unlock the Imagination.” Also, ten percent of the first days sales will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011-05-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to preview Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in IMAX 3D this week. Overall, Dadda monkey and I really enjoyed it. It had a good story, compelling characters, and great action scenes (though maybe a tad too many). We wisely decided to leave the monkeys at home not just because of the late hour, but because it's rated PG-13. Some people think I'm over protective, but I'm just not comfortable with my children seeing violent scenes at these young ages.

On Stranger Tides was a lot more action paced and not quite as juvenile as the second and third installments of Pirates. The scenery is fantastic and the movie keeps you looking forward to what happens next. As the viewer, you get to go along on the adventure with Jack Sparrow and it's a long, tumultuous journey. To be honest, I felt it was about 20-30 minutes longer than it needed to be. That could also be because I'm used to watching short condensed children's shows or because we haven't been to a movie in eons. Along that line, some of the 3D effects were spectacular, but they got sparser and more mundane as the movie went on until the end of the movie where they picked up again. I'm not sure this movie warrants paying the extra money to watch it in 3D, but I do recommend you see it. Also, Dadda monkey didn't like Penelope Cruz's character. I didn't mind her, but there was a sub-story that started to intrigue me when they encountered the mermaids, but it doesn't seem to have come to a satisfying conclusion.

As with the other Pirates installments, this one left open ended so I won't be surprised to see a 5th one. If you liked the previous Pirates movies, you'll enjoy this one just as much if not more and even if you haven't seen the previous ones, you'll be able to jump right into this story.

Flies, Flies, Everywhere

2011-05-15T22:00:00.001-05:00

We had a BBQ yesterday that went pretty well. For some reason Daddy monkey's coworkers don't feel the need to RSVP to our gatherings so we never know if we're going to have 2 or 20 so we always have leftover food. This time I think we have about a dozen burgers left and a few chicken breasts. I completely forgot to make the sweet potato fries so our abundant supply of them is my fault. We bought a new fire pit that has a table top option so that gave us an extra surface for guests which we really needed. The weather cooperated and it wasn't overbearingly hot. However, the flies around here have gotten worse.

Every year around this time, we have to leave our fly swatter out because the flies are everywhere! As a friend put it, each time the door opens and closes, we gain about 5 flies in the house. They're a horrible nuisance and unfortunately there's no great solution to reducing their presence. I've tried hanging clear bags of water (I don't think that worked at all) and we have a bug zapper. I consider it a success if I don't let the flies live long enough to make it upstairs. Of course for the BBQ, they decided to join the party. We've also have a bad wasp problem this year (in the whole neighborhood, not just our house), but we only had a couple of them appear yesterday. The flies are driving me crazy though. I wish they had a fly version of the mosquito repeller's that supposedly work for about an acre of land.

We have family visiting next week so I can't wait to put the fire pit to use and hopefully that will repel the flies a little. We're trying to enjoy the new deck as much as possible and I love spending time out there. Monkey girl asks to eat outside a lot and unfortunately we've had to say no more than we'd like to because of those pesky flies. I wonder if putting candles on the table would help. We'll have to experiment a bit more I guess and see if anything helps. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2011-05-09T22:38:00.000-05:00

I honestly haven't meant to neglect my blog this much. We've just added quite a few more things to our schedule and my days seem very regimented. I've also been trying to get to bed earlier. We joined the local YMCA so I could start exercising regularly. Both monkeys are going to The Little Gym one day each. We still have playgroup once a week and dance classes start for Monkey girl in a couple of weeks. Even small things like getting all the plants watered each morning is time consuming. However, I'm seeing results in my little garden. I have a couple of cherry tomatoes turning red, a large tomato growing, the grapes are getting bigger, and the blackberries are ripening. There's even a few more strawberries starting to grow. The pool opened too so we've been going there a few days a week. I love summer time, but it's starting to feel exhausting. I can't wait until our beach vacation in July!

Back to the YMCA...If you haven't been to the Y in a while, you might want to check it out. When we joined we made an appointment with a trainer to do a strength test and set some goals. It was pretty informative and really made me excited to get started. Additionally, they (I'm saying 'they' even though I'm not sure it's available everywhere) have an automated program called Activtrax. The trainer input my strength test results, along with my goals, and it sets up a routine for me to do each workout. It starts with a small warmup, then resistance training followed by some cardio.I just completed my first week and feel great. More importantly, I think I'm seeing results. I do feel better every time I go, even if it's just a mental thing. I'll post more, I promise, but for now I'm off to bed so I can head back to the Y in the morning.

Glade Spring

2011-04-18T00:04:00.001-05:00

With a couple of dogs and toddlers running around the house, I love finding products that can help my home smell fresh and nice. Along that line, Glade has introduced two new limited-edition home fragrances, Bring on the Blossoms™ and Sparkle of Spring™. I was lucky enough to get to sample two of their products in these fragrances, the premium room spray which retails for $2.99 and the Scented Oil Candle in a decorative glass holder which retails for $3.49.

The room spray, Bring on the Blossoms, was a unique light floral scent that made me instantly think of warm weather (not that we're having a shortage of that) and enjoying gardens in bloom. I guess it's been a while since I've bought new room spray because aside from the pleasant scent, my favorite feature was the twist and lock nozzle. Dadda monkey likes to leave room spray out where it's handy, but that means the monkeys frequently get their mitts on them. I love how simple the lock feature was and that it was built right in.

The scented oil candle in Sparkle of Spring was my favorite item. I LOVE the scent and the decorative glass holder was beautiful and fit right in with my decor. It's currently in my bedroom because I wanted to enjoy it there while I relaxed, but it's been in the family room for a while as well. The scent is harder to describe, but it's also very light and springy with it's citrus tones.

It is the perfect time to freshen your home with citrus and floral fragrances and spruce up your wardrobe with new styles that reflect the joy that comes along with sunny, longer days. Entertainment journalist and co-host of E!’s Fashion Police, Giuliana Rancic1 has partnered with Glade® to inspire women to update their look this spring and celebrate the budding season. Rancic is an expert in today’s fashion and shares firsthand how surroundings, especially in the home, can help set the mood and she has a few tips for us.

How to Step into Spring:

In order to help other women rejuvenate their look and surroundings, Rancic shares her top five tips to stay on-trend and feel fresh and exhilarated in time for spring.

* Reinforce Ruffles. Spring is all about feeling pretty and feminine, and designers are pumping up the volume with ruffles. Whether on a throw pillow, journal or jacket, this season we’ll be seeing gorgeous fabrics and textures draped and ruffled into fabulous creations.

* Revitalize Home Fragrance. Glade® Limited Edition Spring Collection fragrances refresh the home and wipe away the doldrums left behind when winter fades. “I love the Glade® Sparkle of Spring™ Premium Room Spray,” says Rancic, “because the hints of citrus create an energized vibe during the day and the fresh scent is a simple way to make my home more inviting for family and friends.”

* Bright Colors, Fresh Look. Cheerful citrus is perfect for those bright spring days. Take advantage of the season’s uplifting hues and make lips pop with orangey pink lipstick.

* Wake Up Happy. Start the day with colors that awaken your senses. Make your bedroom environment happy with a bright, cheerful new duvet or throw.

* Go for Geometric Jewels. Cool, geometric shapes are everywhere this spring. Clean, straight lines and bold color accents make a perfect pair. Best of all, you don’t have to spend a lot to achieve this look. “I love a good bargain and recently found a pair of bold emerald green earrings for just $8!” says Rancic.

I thought her tips were great and really fall in line with the season and people's optimistic, energized moods. Glade's new products also correlate well with these sentiments. Here's a little more information on these great new products. They've also been great additions to the monkey household.

The Glade® Limited Edition Spring Collection is available now through July in the air-care aisle of food, drug and mass-merchandise stores such as Target, Walmart and many more. The manufacturer suggested retail price for the Glade® Limited Edition Spring Collection is:

* $3.49 for Glade® Candle 4 oz. Jar

* $2.99 for Glade® Premium Room Spray

* $3.49 for Glade® Scented Oil Candle Decorative Glass Holder

* $3.49 for Glade® Scented Oil Candle Refills; contains four refills

* $3.49/$5.49 for Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil Refills; available in 1- and 2-count

Celebrate the season with these two fresh new fragrances from Glade® in bright, fun packaging that looks as good as it smells:

* Sparkle of Spring™ - Fresh and citrusy with zesty lime, ginger and vanilla notes.

* Bring on the Blossoms™ - Fruity and floral with a medley of jasmine, rose, peony and sandalwood.

For more information about the Glade® Limited Edition Spring Collection, visit www.glade.com.

Thanks to SC Johnson and Family Review Network, I have two of the same products I tried for one of my readers.

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

1. Let me know which scent appeals to you more OR what your favorite glade product is.

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until April 23, 2011 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:

The Poteet Strawberry Festival

2011-04-04T13:49:00.001-05:00

First I'd like to mention that I LOVE strawberries. Since I moved here a few years ago, I'd been hearing about The Poteet Strawberry Festival. I don't know why it's taken me so long to go to this berry special festival. Sorry, I've been on a Strawberry Shortcake binge since Monkey girl's birthday is coming up. Anyways, this year I was determined to go, in part because I actually found out about it before it happened this year. It's only a 3 day event and we decided to go on Saturday. We looked up where Poteet was and low and behold, it's only about 40 minutes from us.

We got there Saturday morning and discovered it's much like a county fair with all the carnival rides and vendor booths. Dadda monkey found a mirror maze, which I also loved as a little girl, and he wanted to take Monkey girl. So the two of them went in there first and they were doing great until Monkey girl paused to wave at me and then plowed right into a glass wall. She was okay, though her nose was a little sore, so Dadda monkey carried her through the rest of it. After that she rode her first solo ride, a bubble whale. After a few times around the circle, she yelled to us that she was done, but she didn't get upset as the ride continued on and she patiently waited for it to come to a stop. We were proud monkey parents. Poor Bro Bro monkey didn't get to do much, but we did find a bounce house that they both enjoyed. Bro Bro monkey also started to get a little fussy. I don't blame him since he wasn't involved in a whole lot there and we were there at his normal nap time.

Unfortunately Bro Bro's fussiness meant that I didn't get to peruse the vendor section much, but we did grab a genuine Poteet strawberry hanging plant on our way out. It already has a couple of strawberries growing on it. Although I guess I'm supposed to pick them off when they just start to turn red because the two that were already red are starting to get a little mushy sitting on the soil.

I'm really glad we decided to go early on Saturday because on our way home, we could see that traffic heading to Poteet was horrendous. It was an enjoyable day and we'll definitely plan on going again next year, especially since we know what to expect now.

Birthday Parties

2011-03-30T20:38:00.000-05:00

Monkey girl's 3rd birthday is coming up soon and we've started planning a small party for her. The bounce house I posted about previously just arrived yesterday. Her Strawberry Shortcake party supplies came last week and are very cute. I ordered 18 sippy cups since most of the invitees are also around 3. I figured the sippy cups would be nice because then they can also take them home. Goody bags are also enroute with some small toys and my kids favorite fruit leather and fruit pouches.

I was originally thinking of making Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake cake, but after a trial run, it's pretty time consuming to make and I'm not sure the kids would be huge fans of it. It was absolutely delicious though if anyone wants to try it. I completely endorse it for consumption, just not necessarily a 3 year old's birthday party. My next thought is to make 3 sets of cupcakes: strawberry, lemon, and lime. I tend to over think things sometimes so it might be wiser to scale that down. We'll see. There are 16 children on the invitee list plus my two monkeys and I'm anticipating that maybe half will come.

I'd also read about a cute game called Pupcake's mess and we were thinking of doing that, but once again, I'm reconsidering that. We'd buy the little strawberry candies, spread them out over the deck and hand each child a bag to collect as many candies as they could and help clean up Pupcake's mess. The party will be two hours. After going to a friend's 3 year old's birthday party, I'm convinced that is a good length of time. It's just enough time to play outside, eat cake/ice cream, open presents, and play a little more before heading home. Now we just have to hope it doesn't rain. Plus we're hoping to get the deck finally finished this weekend. The party's just the little push we need to get us going again.

I'm looking forward to the party and I feel like I'm pretty well prepared for it already. Finishing the deck, picking up a couple of last minute items, and getting carpet cleaners out here should just about round out my to-do list. I think we might take a friend's idea though and only have parties for the kids every two years. In the alternate year, we'd just celebrate with family. Monkey girl is already looking forward to it and talking about it. The part I'm looking forward to is watching her enjoy her special day.

Bounce Houses

2011-03-23T13:15:00.000-05:00

We had discussed the possibility of just buying our own bounce house to save money in the long run. Then when I sat down to start seriously researching them yesterday, I came across the Big Ol Bouncer on sale at Toys R Us! It's a larger bounce house with a bounce floor of 12x12, holding 6 kids (100 pounds or less) for a total weight limit of 600 pounds. Dadda monkey was let down when I read the part about each individual weighing under 100 pounds. I guess he thought he was going to be able to bounce with the kids. I looked at several 8x8 and 10x10 bounce houses that ranged from $400 to to almost $1000 before I found this one on sale. I decided not to hesitate on this deal and pulled the plug. I just had to share what I think is a great deal so I hope it helps someone out there.

Obviously I haven't tried it yet, When it does arrive it will probably sit unopened until Monkey Girl's birthday in April. However, I think if you're in the market for a bounce house, there aren't many deals that come along and can beat this. I figured we were going to spend about $100 to rent one for the day and with two kids birthdays each year, this was an easy decision for me. It'll pay for itself by the end of next year. Plus we can use it for other special occasions such as the 4th of July. Who knows, if it's warm enough, it may make an appearance for Thanksgiving!

Gardening Endeavor

2011-03-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Today we're finally going to put the raised garden beds in. Living in San Antonio (or at least our area of it), it's nearly impossible to plant anything in the ground. About 3 inches below the grass is pretty solid rock so raised beds are essential to us getting a garden. I thought if I ever lived in such a warm climate that I'd love my own fruit trees in the back yard, but shortly upon moving here and researching it, I found it wasn't a good option for us because of the rock. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for container citrus trees when we go out today. They'd be perfect for the new deck.

I think we're going to try tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, summer squash, and maybe cucumbers and snap peas. I know very little about gardening myself so this is a big undertaking for me. The plan is to head to the nursery and get the seedlings and a large shovel (I bought smaller gardening tools last night at Costco). Then Dadda monkey will head out to Fertile Gardens to pick up some soil. I was really excited to learn that you can bag the soil there since we don't have a pickup truck. When he gets home, we'll get the raised beds set up, fill with soil, and get our seedlings in. I know it's likely going to be more work than it sounds, but we're all excited about getting it started. The deck staining, however, is going to have to wait another week.

Taking Longer Than Expected

2011-03-15T00:36:00.000-05:00

The deck has been done for a couple of weeks now. Done in the sense that the professionals did their job. We still need to get a second coat of stain on it and work on the sides. However, work days and inconvenient rain keep postponing our tasks. It hasn't stopped us from enjoying it and even eating a couple of meals out there. Hopefully this week we'll be able to get the final stain on.

I also want to get our raised garden beds set up. This will be my first attempt at a home garden. I'm excited and hope I'm not getting in over my head. I really want some tomatoes, cucumbers, and snap peas, but I need to find some place that will tell me step by step what I need to do and when. We bought the raised planters and will set them up (fingers crossed that it'll be this weekend) and then start doing some research as to what to do. From what I gather it's too late to start with seeds so I'll have to find starter plants. Then I have to make sure I'm planting them at the right time and doing it all properly. Monkey girl is very excited to have a garden, but she's hoping for flowers so I may have to find a couple of flowering plants to throw in too. That just brings up another question, can I plant flowers with vegetables? If not, I'll find a little corner she can call her own. Here's hoping for a productive weekend.

Ladies Night

2011-03-08T14:09:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm still brand new to San Antonio still so I'm really grateful for all the wonderful people I've met. There are a couple of girlfriends and I that meet once a week. We usually meet to watch a little TV or movies, but last night we went out to eat at Grimaldi's. The pizza was fantastic and we shared a carafe of their house wine. Between the food, wine, and company, last night was a perfect escape from the house and kids. I can't wait to do it again. One thing that I won't let myself keep thinking about is that because this is a big military town, several of my friends are going to have to move on in the next year or two. Hopefully, we'll all be able to stay in touch and maybe we'll end up in the same areas again later. Until then I'm enjoying ladies night immensely every week.

We've got a lot to do this weekend between finally get a second coat of stain on the new deck and attempting the skirt. I've also got to plan Monkey girl's birthday next month. We'll be running around a lot on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Unfortunately with Dadda monkey's new schedule, he'll be returning back to work on Sunday, but I'm hoping we get a lot done before then.

Update

2011-02-28T22:34:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's been this long and we're still recovering. All fevers are gone, but we're all battling this lingering cough and some fatigue. The monkeys and I got out for a 2 mile walk around the neighborhood this afternoon. It was great to get out and get some fresh air, but we were all tuckered when we got home.

I'd been planning to adhere to Meatless Monday, but Dadda monkey was exhausted when he got home too. Monkey girl slept through her Little Gym class so the kids got whole wheat chicken nuggets while Dadda and I had onion soup. We're allowed a few hiccups along the way I guess especially considering the circumstances. However, I did sit down and plan out the rest of the week's menu and grocery list. A couple of new recipes were incorporated so we'll see how those pan out. I plan to resume updating the blog every few days again so things are getting back to normal gradually. Believe it or not, I've still managed to get a few ideas (and giveaways) lined up for future posts. For now, it's bed time for all the monkeys here so I'll be back in a couple of days.

New Flu

2011-02-16T15:10:00.000-06:00

Our household has been hit with the new flu; the kind that shows up as negative when given a flu test. For an indication of how much I dislike going to the doctor's, I didn't even know there was a flu test. Not that it matters since our doc told Dadda monkey this is the 'new flu'. Dadda monkey goes running to the doctor if his temperature fluctuates by a tenth of a degree. I do feel a bit bad for mocking him since I got it the next day and this does suck: chills, fever, shivering, sweating, headache, horrible cough which is tearing up our throats, etc...

The monkey family is out of commission for the next few days. Dadda monkey took the rest of the week off work. One thing I do like about our doctor is that she doesn't push medicine on us, she takes a more holistic approach if possible. We're taking vitamins C and D3 and drinking lots of tea with honey. We are giving the kids Tylenol and taking Nyquil ourselves at night. This also means that work on the deck has been delayed. Hopefully next week I'll be able to post some pictures and report some actual progress. As for now, I'm heading back to bed.

Backyard Improvements

2011-02-12T23:41:00.000-06:00

Last year I posted about the playset we bought for Monkey girl and the landscaping plans we were working on. Step 2 of the plans is currently in the works. Last week our contractor finished building the deck and it's beautiful. I can't wait for the warmer weather to return so we can take advantage of it.

It was a little more than we had wanted to spend on it so to save money we decided to stain it ourselves and complete the bottom. I'm still confused as to why the estimate of the deck wouldn't include completing the bottom. Our contractor told us it would be another $800 to do the bottom and he could recommend a guy to stain it, but that would be another cost of about $500. I have better things I could do with that money and the work/experience is good for us, right?

We have yet to decided if we're going to attempt to skirt it or take the easy route and put up lattice. I like the look of the skirt better and our contractor encouraged us to do that to better complement the deck. We're leaning towards buying a few cedar boards and attempting it on the side people won't typically see. We'll see how that goes in the next few weeks. We're not in a hurry to do that part.

We wanted to protect it as soon as possible so the past few days Dadda monkey has been researching the process and different products. This morning we headed to Lowe's and bought what we needed for just under $200. As soon as we got home, we put the monkeys down for their naps and started working on the deck. Most of the credit has to go to Dadda monkey since all I did was some taping and pulling out the aluminum balusters. It turns out 2 cans wasn't quite enough though, so the bottom stairs aren't done yet, but the rest looks great. For the next 24-48 hours the dogs are going to go crazy (which in turn will drive us crazy) with not being able to go in the backyard while the stain dries. I'll post some pictures after we get the stairs done.

We Got Snow!

2011-02-06T13:34:00.000-06:00

Our wish came true and on Friday morning, we woke up to a light blanket of beautiful white snow. It was only about a quarter of an inch, but that was enough to get everyone excited. Dadda monkey already had the day off, but most of San Antonio was shut down. I have to admit, while I was watching the news, I got some amusement out of watching people trying to make it around the city streets in their cars.

Monkey girl had been really eager to see snow for the first time so she was ecstatic when she looked out the window. We quickly got dressed and headed outside. Bro Bro monkey was still sleeping and I'm not sure how much of a memorable occasion it would be for him at 16 months old, so we let him continue to sleep. We knew we had to take advantage of the snow quickly before it started to melt. Monkey girl got to the driveway and laid down to make a snow angel. A lot of our neighbors were outside as well so it was a fun occasion. Monkey girl noticed our neighbors two little girls were out as well and proceeded to start a snowball fight. However, the snow we got was not the sticky kind so it just fell straight out of her mittens, but she had fun pretending to throw snowballs at everyone.

The one thing I didn't think of though was that the she was spending a lot of time playing with the snow in her hands and it was soaking through the knit mittens. Her hands were so cold and red when we came inside and they were hurting her as they warmed up. I'm going to have to find some snow mittens for both of them for any future snow adventures. However, it was still a lot of fun for everyone and the snow was all gone around noon. Next winter we're hoping to visit family in more snow prone areas. As for now, we're ready for 70-80 degree weather again!

Snow in San Antonio

2011-02-03T21:56:00.001-06:00

The forecast is calling for a 40% chance of snow tonight. We're keeping our fingers crossed that we start to see snowflakes around midnight. Our backyard would look a little like this picture. Dadda monkey is off tomorrow regardless and the kids have never seen snow. Yet more proof of how television can be educational is the fact that Monkey girl already knows how to make snow angels. However, they're not as effective in the pea gravel around the playset.

If it does snow we're planning a fun filled day (realistically, just the morning) of snow angels and snowball fights. The latest weather report that says the west side of San Antonio (where we live) may just get a dusting. As long as it's enough to make snow angels, I'm okay with this. Although I did contemplate driving east a bit so we could have a little more to play with. I'm heading to bed shortly and will keep the blinds open so I can see what's going on outside. That may result in me not getting a lot of sleep tonight, but the excitement reminds me of being a kid and hoping for snow days. I hope everyone's enjoying their winter weather and that everyone stays safe.

Progression

2011-01-25T09:51:00.005-06:00

Monkey girl advanced to the next class at The Little Gym (TLG). I was a little worried about this because I wouldn't be going inside with her. The parents/caregivers sit outside of the gym in the waiting area. We can see each other through the windows, but I thought she might balk at the idea of staying there without me. I knew when they opened the door to enter, she'd rush right in to get started, but I figured once she realized I wasn't coming with her, there might be a problem. Boy was I wrong. She did rush in, but other than waving at me one time through the window, she was content as could be and couldn't have cared less where I was. We still have to work on staying with the group the whole time and doing what the instructors are asking, but they said she was doing fine and those things will come in time.

Here's a video of how class used to be (On this day, Dadda monkey was able to go and you can see how the parents involved):

I consider this good progression because this is the first activity she's doing without me. We have playgroup once a week that we all attend (Bro Bro monkey, monkey girl, and I) and we used to go to TLG together while a friend watched Bro Bro monkey at home. However, this is the first structured activity on her own. I'd been worried since I found out that kindergarten is now a full day and there's no pre-school through the school system. My plan is to try a Mom's Day Out program in the fall, in addition to TLG, and then possibly Montessori school when she's 4. Mom's Day Out would just be once a week for a couple of hours so it's a small step above TLG. Hopefully, with this plan, both she and I will be prepared for school.

Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies and a Giveaway

2011-01-21T17:18:00.006-06:00

Beech-Nut sent me this fantastic tote with samples of their new Homestyle Steamies and some other goodies. I couldn't wait to try them because they looked pretty good and are a generous size for my toddlers. Additionally, they're made with all natural ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. They're steam-cooked to lock in flavor and improve texture. The meals are packaged in re-sealable, re-usable tubs that are microwavable and BPA free.

So far I've given them to the kids when we've had spicier food that I don't feel comfortable feeding them or for quick lunches. They're really convenient and I feel good about giving these to my monkeys. I think the pictures show how much the kids loved them. Monkey girl doesn't eat a lot at a time so I was able to split one meal between the two of them, but the containers make it really easy to store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Homestyle Steamies come in 6 classic flavors that appeal to kids (and myself):

Cheesy Lasagna
Chicken and Cheesy Potatoes
Chicken Vegetable Stars
Macaroni and Cheese
Spaghetti Rings in Meat Sauce
Turkey Rice Vegetables

Beech-Nut has also offered the same package to one of my readers! It includes:

An organic cotton tote
A roll of 'plantable' gift wrap and gift tags
Organic cotton fruit and veggie toys
Samples of new Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies and coupons
Feeding tips for toddlers (how to make meal time fun, etc).

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

1. Let me know why you think you'd like to try Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies.

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until January 31, 2011 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Kid Songs and Nursery Rhymes

2011-01-15T23:03:00.000-06:00

Monkey girl has been singing a lot lately. Even in the car she'll start singing along to the radio to songs she's never heard before. She loves it so much that if I start singing she tells me to stop so that she can sing by herself. So we've been working on typical kids songs like the Alphabet song, Row Your Boat, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, etc... We've also done little games like London Bridge and Ring Around The Rosie. Unfortunately, it seems that I've forgotten a lot of the songs and games. I've had to go look things up or consult friends to refresh my memory. Hopefully, Monkey girl hasn't caught on yet that I'm not an expert when it comes to these things.

Monkey Monkey Music

2011-01-09T22:21:00.005-06:00

We got this DVD the other day that is perfectly in line with my kids. It's called Monkey Monkey Music: The Videos with Meredith LeVande. The title alone makes it seem as though this is music just for my little monkeys. I was excited to have my monkeys watch it and I wasn't disappointed. My kids love listening to music and they love when videos come on TV. The songs in Monkey Monkey Music are just what they're used to. They teach lessons, encourage you to get up and move with them, as well as sing along.

Our favorite track is 'Jump High'. I even enjoy listening to it myself. Both of my monkeys like to follow what the people are doing in the video. I caught a couple of pictures of them dancing along. As you can see, even Bro Bro at almost 16 months old got into the video.

Monkey Monkey Music: The Videos with Meredith Levande has gained acclaim by winning both a 2010 NAPPA Honors Award and endorsement from Kids First: The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media. When the album came out it was a Parenting magazine "Pick". The songs include themes from jumping high, to exploring Chinatown, to flying around the country and are brought to life through a blend of live action videos and colorful animation.

Here comes the good part. One of my you can win this DVD! Read below for details.

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

1. Visit Monkey Monkey Music and tell me what song you like or let me know why you think the child/children in your life would enjoy this.

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until January 17, 2011 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

CSN Stores Review

2011-01-03T16:13:00.001-06:00

I have had my eye on this for a while (it's been sitting on my wish list at CSN Stores) though in a different configuration. There's a popular chain store/catalog that has a really nice similar looking wall system for toy storage. I didn't want to pay their high prices though so I started looking for something similar. I was very pleased to find exactly what I was looking for in the babyletto items at CSN Stores. I bought the storage drawer ($99.98) and cubby hutch (also $99.98) to begin my wall collection.

I was a little worried that the size or finish wouldn't be what I was hoping for, but it was perfect. It did need to be assembled, but that didn't take Dadda monkey very long to complete. The finish seems slightly darker than what it shows in the picture so it goes great with our other dark brown furniture. Also, the drawer opens and closes smoothly and the cubbies are a perfect size. Some of the pictures showed just one toy in each cubby, but there's plenty of room without being so big that it just looks like junk thrown in there. The height is also great and I plan on adding a third tier eventually, but it doesn't really need it.

As usual, CSN stores delivered my items fast and in great condition. The items were packed well so even though one of the boxes corners was showing signs of wear, the product was well protected. I love that they sell these pieces individually so you can purchase them gradually as your budget/space allows. I'll be buying 2 more of these sets to go on the wall with this one. The toy basket that I had used previously already looks less cluttered and the whole play area looks more organized since we've moved a lot of the toys to this wall unit.

I really love the ledge that the drawer base provides. I figured it would be great for the kids to sit on, but I didn't anticipate my children discovering another use for it. They take the cars, trains, and even the dolls and play with them on that ledge. I think they'll love it when it's expanded to two more units. Dadda monkey assembled it while the monkeys were napping and when they woke to see their new toy storage they liked it more than I expected them to. Honestly, I didn't expect much of any reaction from them, but my daughter was really excited about it and Bro Bro monkey loved opening and closing the drawer with his toys in it. He's only 15 months old so that's about as much of a show of joy as you can get from him.

The babyletto toy storage is upstairs in our loft/playroom. I'm really pleased with what we have and even though we just have the one combination, it doesn't look out of place. In fact, I've considered getting another single drawer and hutch for our family room downstairs. We have a playgroup that sometimes meets at my house and we generally stay downstairs with a bunch of the smaller toys. As with upstairs, I have a basket that's become much too small to hold all the toys and this furniture fits right in with our other furniture. Dadda monkey has to sign off on that proposal though. He does agree that this furniture was perfect for us and just in time for all the Christmas presents to arrive. I think it even goes along with my resolution to be more organized!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with a $45 gift code to review an item from CSN Stores. Mommy 2 Monkeys (well, Dadda monkey) paid the remaining balance. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Time Flies

2010-12-31T13:29:00.004-06:00

Wow, time really flies during the holidays. I can't believe I haven't posted in 2 weeks. My apologies, but I do have something great to share with you today. My last post provided a hint as to my favorite organizational tool (another clue, it's an app) and I'll get to that in a moment. First I'd love to hear some of your New Year's Eve traditions. My family, even as a kid, just stays home and watches the ball drop on television. We'll have a light dinner and then munch on hors d'oeuvres like shrimp cocktail the rest of the evening. Closer to midnight I'll have a glass of champagne, Dadda monkey will have a sip of mine (he's not much of a drinker) and then have a glass of Martinelli's sparkling apple cider. That's what I always had as a kid and since I introduced it to Dadda, he can't get enough. If Monkey girl makes it up that late, she can have a small cup as well. Sounds pretty boring and perhaps it is, but every year now when I see the crowd in New York City, I'm grateful that I'm sitting in the comfort of my own home. It's a little strange now that I live in the central time zone. I've always been on the east coast and now we kind of celebrate the New Year at 2 different times.

On to my favorite app...My favorite little tool will allow me to schedule my New Year's festivities and write out my shopping list in the same place. I don't remember how I came across it, but I stumbled upon an app for my iPod Touch called Intuition. This little program is quite a gem. I don't have an iPhone yet (come on, Verizon) so I can't attest to it's full capabilities, but I'd originally been looking for a good app to do my grocery lists. I tried a few, even on Dadda Monkey's Android phone, but none of them were really up to par. Then I found Intuition. The shopping list section is really well done. There's already a large list of items and I just click on them to add them to my list. If something I want isn't on there yet, then it's really easy to add it yourself. Once your list is complete, you save it and pull it up at any time to view or make changes. When you're at the grocery store, the list is organized by section (ie: produce, meat, dairy, etc...) and you can check them off as you put them in your cart.

As if this weren't enough, Intuition also has a calendar and sections to organize errands, calls, family, wishlist, and an 'everything else' tab. I have mundane items on there like when the milkman comes so I remember to leave my cooler and my order form for him. Then I have things that may be on there for quite some time like take a photo of my neighborhood and have it turned into a 4 piece canvas. What can I say, my house is lacking in art work on the walls and I saw this idea somewhere. I thought it was a great idea so much so that I have it indefinitely scheduled to be done. When Monkey girl had her speech therapist appointments, I had that listed under the family section.

When you click on Intuition, you get this little flower and each petal is a different section. I usually just click on categories because that takes me to the menu which shows me how many tasks are pending and there's an exclamation point if something is past due. You can also click on the calendar to see what is scheduled from any section. Apparently you can do things by location too, but my use of this is limited because I don't have an iPhone. However, this app is worth it's weight in gold for just the parts I'm able to use. I've asked them if they're going to get an app for Android and they said Android is high up on their list of next versions to do. What that means, I'm not sure, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The app is free, but I would pay money for it. Hint, hint developers, get that Android version out with a fee for it and I'll be your first customer! They have a facebook page as well, if you want to take a peek, make a comment, or pester them for an Android version like me. One of my New Year's resolutions is to make better use of this app so I can be better organized. Perhaps I'll even get that photo done. Happy New Year's Eve!

Overloaded

2010-12-16T22:51:00.002-06:00

This is the crazy time of year when I'm trying to keep track of all the things going on and what needs to be done. I like to make lists to organize the chaos going on in my head, but I still forget things or think that something is so simple it doesn't need to go on the list (especially if it's not handy). Today, I had a regular chant going on of all the places I needed to run errands. Then there's a separate list of things I need to do. My list for today looked a little like this:

milk man comes, leave his check and the order form
notify Bro Bro's sitter that there's no Little Gym for Monkey girl for the next 2 weeks so she doesn't have to haul herself over here those mornings
run errands at bank, post office, grocery store, and department store
take trash out this evening
clean up kitchen so I can bake cookies tomorrow
finish wrapping presents

Needless to say I forgot a couple of things like getting the dogs dinner. I was preoccupied with feeding the children. Not to worry though, because they reminded me pretty quickly. If only things like my Christmas tree could whine or bark to remind me that they need water. Or if my holiday cards could remind me they need to be addressed and mailed off already. I know, I know, they're really late, but I have a bit of an excuse, they just got here today.

On top of that, Dadda monkey is laid up for a couple of days so I'm on my own with everything. I can truly say I sympathize with all the single Moms or Dads out there. Normally I don't credit Dadda monkey enough, but every little bit helps. I was so stressed today, that I forgot my favorite weekly activity...Ladies Night. Once a week, some girlfriends and I gather at a friend's house to watch a little TV, drink a little wine, and chat a bit. I always look forward to it and tonight it somehow completely slipped my mind. On a week when I could use it the most, my head was in a fog and I missed it.

I hope your schedules this holiday season are allowing you a chance to enjoy it. I love this time of year, but I feel swamped this week. I do have one little tool that helps ease my mind a bit. I just have to discipline myself to use it and consult it more often. I'll share that little gem with you soon. For now, I'm off to take out the last of the trash and then get some sleep so I can do this all over again tomorrow.

YGG Update

2010-12-13T20:41:00.000-06:00

Yo Gabba Gabba went better than expected. That may have something to do with the fact that I didn't let Bro Bro monkey take his nap earlier that day. Monkey girl was a bit unsure of the loud music (it was incredibly loud) and flashing lights at first, but when they got into the dancing and the crowd joined in, she was happy. They sang songs she knew so she sang along, danced with the crowd, and really enjoyed it. Bro Bro sat on my lap most of the time. When my arms got tired about 3/4 of the way through, I passed him off to Dadda.

One funny thing to note is that Dadda monkey does not like Biz from Biz's Beat of the Day. He finds him 'creepy'. Well, Biz showed up and did his thing with the kids. Just before he went off stage, he sang a couple rounds of 'You...You got what I need. But you say he's just a friend, but you say he's just a friend...' I immediately recognized the song and it was a bit of fun for the adults. I admit that I didn't know he was the one who sang it. The show was fun and both kids enjoyed it, as did I. I'm counting it as their first concert since it was so loud with a lot of music. If you get a chance to go, you definitely should. I think the San Antonio crowd and theater is smaller than elsewhere so we had decent seats, but I still think it's a must see if you have kids that enjoy Yo Gabba Gabba.

Yo Gabba Gabba Tonight

2010-12-09T12:44:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the night our family has been looking forward to. Months ago, we bought our tickets for Yo Gabba Gabba Live and the date has finally come. I'm excited to see how Monkey girl reacts to seeing everything, but I'm nervous about taking Bro Bro monkey. He's at the stage where he does not want to be contained. He's a boy on the go! If you attempt to restrain him, you're sure to hear his discontent. The show isn't very long, about an hour, so hopefully we'll make it through okay. Ideally, he'll be mesmerized by the characters and music, but we'll see. Wish us luck.

CSN Stores Wish List

2010-12-03T12:15:00.002-06:00

I've created a wish list at CSN Stores because I keep finding things I'm interested in. With over 200 stores there's a lot to see, from furniture to toys and everything in between. If I weren't getting a new kitchen table set I'd probably go for these counter height stools.

In the near future, I'll be reviewing something from CSN Stores that I've had my eye on for a while (something that once resided on my wish list). I highly recommend using their wish list feature. Since CSN Stores has such a vast array of products, I'm able to keep track of items I want. Dadda monkey knows about my wish list too so it makes buying presents easier on him. If you haven't already, this holiday season is a perfect time to check out CSN Stores.

Almost ready for Candy Land

2010-12-02T15:34:00.000-06:00

I can't wait to play games regularly with my kids and I had been wondering if my two and a half year old was ready to play board games. I can't think of any game that's better to start with than the classic Candy Land. We got Hasbro's Candy Land: The World of Sweets and set it up promptly. Setting up involved nothing more than unfolding the board, shuffling the cards, and placing our characters at the start. My mother, Nai Nai, was here and she was excited to try playing with her grand daughter. Monkey girl was enthralled with the vivid colors and the novelty of it all. She picked her card and we explained that she needed to move to the next purple square. Unfortunately, 'next' purple square meant 'any' purple square to her. We're still working on the concept of following the path so I don't think she's quite ready for a full game. Needless to say, she won in as little as 3 turns.

Candy Land was one of my favorite games as a child and I had fun playing with my daughter. I still think it's a great game to start with and we'll keep trying to play with Monkey girl. The most important part, as with any game, is that everyone has fun and it's a fantastic family activity. For next year's National Family Game Night, Candy Land will be our go to game and maybe even Bro Bro monkey can try playing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T12:09:00.000-06:00

The monkey family and I don't have family in our state so we were lucky enough to have been invited by friends to have Thanksgiving with them. The past couple of years we'd been celebrating Thanksgiving alone, which was still pleasant, but not quite the same as being with a larger group. My mom always had extended family over to our house for Thanksgiving and would prepare a large elegant meal. This was one of the few times we got to eat in the formal dining room. My mother is also a really good cook. I'm not sure why that didn't get passed on to me. Dadda monkey would say I inherited her nagging trait, but that's another topic entirely. This Thanksgiving I'm especially thankful for having friends nearby who have welcomed us into their home. It will feel more festive this year to dine with others and the monkeys will have other kids to play with as well. Dadda monkey is hoping they'll have the football games on. I'm also thankful to have people taking their time to read these posts. Wherever you're spending this holiday, I hope you enjoy it. Happy Thanksgiving!

Changing Tables

2010-11-23T17:51:00.000-06:00

Normally, my blog is about products that work well for me. This time it's just the opposite. When we found out we were expecting Bro Bro monkey, we wanted to save some money on furnishing his nursery. For Monkey girl's nursery, we went to Babies R Us and bought the Babi Italia crib and dresser and we haven't had much trouble with them, but I thought they were a bit expensive for what they are.

So after shopping around, we bought the Da Vinci Kalani crib and the Storkcraft Aspen 3 drawer dresser. The crib's been fine. The dresser/changing table is another story. We've had it about a year and it seemed fine at first, but a couple of months ago, we started having problems with the drawers. It got so bad that I finally stopped using the middle drawer completely. However, that seemed to compound the problem with the changing table's stability because now the whole unit is unsteady and falling apart. We're not able to use it at all anymore. The interesting thing is they don't appear to sell that particular piece anymore.

I'm now in the market for a new dresser for Bro Bro. I'm trying to decide between the Da Vinci Kalani dresser to go with his crib or shopping at a regular furniture store for a dresser in a similar color to his other furniture. You already know how much I stress over making these kinds of decisions so I probably won't do anything until after the holidays.

Facebook

2010-11-22T14:27:00.001-06:00

I have a separate personal Facebook page, aside from the Mommy 2 Monkeys Facebook page. I've considered deleting it, but it does help me keep in touch with friends and family who I wouldn't otherwise correspond with as much. The problem is, so many of the posts irritate me. I think I'm a little high strung and opinionated anyways so it's not difficult to get under my skin. I don't typically take offense to the people personally, it's just certain posts that bother me and make me wish they would put some more thought into what they type.

First off, I am not of the texting generation. I don't like the abbreviations (it takes me 10 minutes to figure out half of them) and I really feel it detracts from the English language and writing skills. I know that subject is up for debate, but that's my opinion. We've actually had text options disabled on our cell phone plan. I hate seeing LOL being used as punctuation. 'I just made dinner, LOL.' Was it really that funny? If so, maybe you should be elaborating on what made that so darn funny.

Secondly, I've never been a fan of chain letters (or in this case posts). I remember getting postal chain letters occasionally as a kid and throwing them away, while secretly wondering if I'd really have 10 years of bad luck (or whatever other consequence) for doing so. They moved to email and now to Facebook. I still ignore them, but I'm no longer concerned about any impending doom. It doesn't help your cause when words are misspelled or the grammar is off. English certainly wasn't one of my stronger subjects, but numerous, blatant mistakes bug me. If you're a sister (or third cousin-in-law once removed) and proud of it, great, boast about it in your own words. I'll take my time to read it then, but seeing it copied from place to place demeans it a bit. If you're a fan of chain letters, great, to each their own. Just be aware, I'm not going to re-post it as my status and I probably won't even read it.

Third, do your own research. It's really easy to read something on the internet and copy and paste it for everyone else to read. Snopes is great for fishing out stories that may be less than true. I'm also not going to put a whole lot of credence into some rumor being half-wittedly posted around Facebook. If that's not the case then I apologize. After all, everyone is entitled to their opinion and free speech.

I love being updated with what's going on with everyone's personal lives and those posts rarely bother me. Additionally, if you check out your facts (which I will inevitably double check), I don't mind being informed of important current issues. Several weeks ago, I posted about an alumni family with some personal problems. They weren't asking for money, but more for verbal support. I hesitantly posted about it, but kept having second thoughts about it because I didn't want to come across as pushy, overbearing, or out of line. Even with this post, I really don't hope to ruffle anyone's feathers. It's more of a personal rant and I'm sick so that makes me a bit more overzealous. Overall, I've found Facebook to be a great tool, but one that also irks me from time to time. If I end this with LOL, will that help lighten the tone of it?

I'm going back to bed now until Dadda monkey gets home with some toast and tea. I hope everyone's Thanksgiving week is off to a better start than ours.

Funtastic Playland

2010-11-17T21:30:00.000-06:00

I'd never heard of this place until recently, but Funtastic Playland has over 13,000 feet of indoor play space. I haven't been yet, but I'll be going to check it out soon. There's a 2 story pirate ship, castle, monster truck, and more. I love finding out about new places to take the kids. I'm especially interested since they have a designated toddler area. If any of my San Antonio friends are interested, there's a deal of 2 weekend passes (includes 2 drinks) for $9 or 2 weekday passes (including 2 drinks) for $6.

Potty Training and Toothbrushes

2010-11-16T10:12:00.001-06:00

It's no wonder my daughter can't get on board with potty training. Her Mom is apparently dense. I've been leaving the kids bathroom door open so that she can have access to her potty chair. Since we started leaving the door open, we've gone through about 10 additional rolls of toilet paper because Bro Bro monkey thinks it's fun to unwind the rolls. Additionally, we've bought many new toothbrushes because Monkey girl loves her toothbrush so much, she goes in there, grabs it, and plays with it everywhere (including in the toilet). Yesterday a light bulb finally went off in my head and I've moved her toothbrush to the medicine cabinet and the toilet paper is not being put on the holder anymore. I blame the unpredictable weather and the stress of family visiting on my Mommy fog recently. I just hope this potty training thing starts to stick soon.

Cards Direct

2010-11-11T13:37:00.009-06:00

With the holidays approaching, my thoughts have turned to preparations for this festive season. I've already begun buying gifts and now my attention has turned toward getting our holiday cards. Cards Direct is a fantastic source for this task. They have some beautiful Christmas cards, but I think we'll be getting the photo cards this year. I personally have my eye on this one (assuming we can get a good photo of the monkeys together):

I love a lot of their snowflake/snowy designs as well, but it seems silly coming from south Texas. This one is cute too if you get your photos printed separately:

There really is a great selection of holiday photo cards to choose from. Cards Direct offers personalized greeting cards for business and/or personal use. They have over 2,000 designs in categories such as holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, photo cards, baby shower invitations, birth announcements, and more. Additionally, the online ordering process is simple and convenient. Don't you love getting things accomplished while still in your pajamas?

I'm going to have to remember they have birthday invitations as well when it comes time for Monkey girl's birthday in the spring. She'd adore these birthday tea party invitations:

Cards Direct has generously offered one of my readers 25 cards of your choice (up to a $50 value). Please note that your code will expire December 31st.

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Tell me which design you like for either holiday or birthday cards (either the description or a link).

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until November 22, 2010 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys hasn't done business with Cards Direct yet so a review was not possible. Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers through Cards Direct in partnership with Global Influence. I will be provided with some cards for my personal use. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Dogs at Play signs

2010-11-10T23:12:00.000-06:00

Some of you may remember my review of the Dogs at Play sign I put on my fence. I recently got an email from Doginyard.com saying you can buy their signs through Amazon in the Home, Garden, and Pet section. On top of that, they're 30% off until November 14th with free shipping by entering the code DOGSIGN7.

Family Visits

2010-11-06T00:40:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the short hiatus, but we had family visiting from Florida. We love when family comes to visit since we don't have any nearby, but afterwards I feel like I need a staycation. We did a little running around town and surrounding areas and also did some routine things like going to Little Gym and our weekly play group. The kids were also happy to have new people to play with. Even though we did a pretty thorough cleaning of the house before they came, we're going to have to do a lot of picking up since we've been so busy while they were here. The kids found plenty of free time to pull out toys, food, clothes, etc... As for now, I'm off to bed for a good night's sleep. Hopefully, the monkeys will sleep in a bit tomorrow morning. It's just wishful thinking...

The Little Gym

2010-10-27T17:39:00.002-05:00

We've been attending The Little Gym for a couple of months now and I can definitively state that it's been good for Monkey girl. She still isn't staying with the group the whole time, but there's been some definite improvement. From my view, I've been impressed with the program. Monkey girl is in a super beasts class with other 2-3 year olds and they started with simple skills. For example, we've learned monkey jumps (which lead to cartwheels), donkey kicks (lead to handstands), how to walk on the balance beam, and hang from the uneven bars. We play with shakers, parachutes, hoops, and balls as well.

The sessions start with everyone sitting in a circle for introductions and some songs followed by a warm-up. Monkey girl would never sit in the circle and only joined the warm-up when it was time to run. Last week she sat with us and introduced herself when it was her turn. Although today she regressed a bit, I think this is good structure for her before she starts school. Now that we've been doing it for a while, Dadda monkey and I decided we will go ahead and enroll her for next semester too since we're both happy with it. We may enroll Bro Bro monkey too next year. I really encourage those of you with little ones that aren't in daycare to try The Little Gym or a similar program near you.

Happy Friday

2010-10-22T13:13:00.001-05:00

We're going to be a bit ambitious this weekend. Since we had the yard sale, we were able to get rid of some large items in the garage. So I'd like to finally get it somewhat organized. We've had another set of shelves sitting in a box for months now and we can get those up and put some things away. Then maybe we can get the car back in on one side of the garage.

We also have to go get our pumpkins and there's a pumpkin patch with a corn maze not too far from our house. They also have a petting zoo so Monkey girl will excited. I'm not too sure how much goats like to be hugged constantly though. I'm waiting for the day she asks for one as a pet. Monkey girl has been asking to go back to Sea World too so if we get everything done beforehand, we might make it there for a couple of hours. See, I told you ... ambitious. What actually gets done is another story, but at least we have some goals.

Bro Bro monkey is still recovering from the vicious ants we have here in San Antonio. Everyone told me the fire ants here are bad, but we went to the neighborhood playground a few days ago and he has about 10 large bites from the regular black ants. Seriously! I don't remember ants being that much of a menace when I was a kid. Poor Bro Bro has been a trooper though and needless to say we won't be frequenting that playground much anymore. Maybe he'll be distracted from the bites when he sees the goats. Happy Friday everyone!

CSN Stores

2010-10-21T10:00:00.006-05:00

Just in time for my kitchen table dilemma, CSN Stores has offered another giveaway for me to offer my readers. Since I first learned of CSN Stores, I have bought a hammock stand and a dog kennel from them. I've been very pleased with both transactions. I even had a chance to try out their customer service when the hammock stand we ordered was sent with some incorrect parts. With one quick phone call to them, the correct parts arrived in days. In case you're not familiar with CSN Stores, they have over 200 stores with pretty much everything, including bar furniture, which is where I found this lovely table. I had to start a wish list because we've found a grill, playroom furniture, fire pits, and light fixtures that we like.

The table above is really lovely, but I'm convinced I don't want another counter height table for my space. If you read my previous post, you know my struggle with choosing a new kitchen table. I think my first choice may be too big, but the other two choices is just a decision between black and white. Sounds simple enough, right? However, I don't trust myself with these decisions even after I take forever to make them, so this time I'm enlisting your help.

First choice, a foot longer and wider than my current table and with upholstered chairs (keep in mind I have 2 small children), but by far my favorite design.

Second choice, keeps the white/wood style, but is 8 inches shorter than my first choice. It also has wood seats that will be easier to wipe clean and rounded corners (good for both space saving and small children).

Third choice, same as the second, but in black. May match our brown cabinets and black appliances better (though our walls and floor are lighter colors and all trim is white) and may hide dirt better since it's darker. Though it's not my favorite, I'm thinking it may be the best choice.

CSN Stores has generously offered my readers a chance for a $45 promotional code. There really is so much to choose from it's hard to do thorough 'window shopping', but I love the feature on their homepage that allows you to see what people have bought recently. You can also click on the sales and promotions or clearance center to do some great bargain shopping.

How To Enter:
(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) This one's a little different in that I'll ask that you follow my blog to enter as I'd really like to reward my readers with this giveaway.
This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the continental United States.

1. Help me decide which table I should purchase (the first one that I like the most (but I fear is too big), or the white or black smaller set). The choices and more details can be found here
OR
tell me what you've purchased from CSN Stores and how you like it
OR
what you would like to purchase from CSN Stores

AND
publicly follow my blog, Mommy 2 Monkeys (GFC is in the upper right side).

2. 'Like' the Mommy 2 Monkeys Facebook page and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
3. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
4. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until November 5, 2010 at midnight central time. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. I will email the winner (please make sure your email is visible on your profile or post it in your comment). The winner will have 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was given the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Help Me Decide Which Table Is Best

2010-10-19T13:30:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting a new kitchen table for a couple of reasons. First, our current table was just a cheap set we bought as a starter piece before we had kids. Secondly, it's a bar height table and it seems to take up more space because of that. Also, I'd rather have a normal height table for our family with small children.

The other thing I'm looking for in a new table is the ability to expand for when we have company. When Bro Bro monkey arrived we turned our third bedroom into his nursery. This meant we lost our guest room since we only have a 3 bedroom house so we're turning our separate dining room into a make-shift guest room and the new kitchen table will be the only place for us to eat together. I picked a table that I really like, but I feel like it may be too big. I love the design of the chair backs and the upholstery would match our sofa and curtains. Here it is:

Our current table is only 48 inches long and this one starts at 60 inches and can expand to 78. The space where the table will go is not large so I wanted to keep it smaller. I was looking for a table that was 48 inches round and would expand to 60+ inches, but I had a hard time finding something of that size. I found something close though. This table is 52 inches long so it would only be 4 inches longer than our current table, which isn't bad, and the corners are rounded which might help with both my small space and small children:

The even more difficult part for me is choosing between white or black. As you can see my favorite choice (the first picture) is a white set and I love the casual cottage/beachy look, but the kitchen table will be amidst our dark brown cabinets and near the black appliances. Additionally, our family room is an open space next to the kitchen and has all dark brown wood furniture with a sage green sofa. My husband loves darker colors and I love lighter ones and so far he seems to be getting his way. So I'm thinking this set in black (below) might work better.

For some context here are some pictures of the area:

Dark cabinets and black appliances, but lighter countertop (to be replaced and probably another blog plea for help on color in the future).

Dark wood furniture in family room and sage sofa.

Sage sofa and brown/tan floor (to be replaced in the future)

Tan walls and white doors/trim/window (at the other end of the table you can't see).

As I've mentioned before, I'm not very artistically inclined so I'm struggling with this decision. I can go with my absolute favorite (first pic) and deal with the loss of open space. It's 8 inches longer than the other two considerations (and a foot longer than the current table) so I'm thinking it's the worst option. I can choose the white table (second pic) and it will fulfill my desire for light colors or I can choose the black table (third pic) with the thought that it blends better with the current style of our house. I think realistically the third choice is the best, but I'm hoping it won't make the space feel even smaller because of the dark colors. Please help!

Curious George Live!

2010-10-15T21:17:00.001-05:00

We weren't sure how a 1 and 2 year old would do with sitting through a live show, but we were pleasantly surprised. I think it helped that it was characters my 2 year old recognized. We try to catch Curious George on TV in the afternoons here and she thoroughly enjoys the 'silly monkey'.

On a Sunday afternoon, we went to Freeman Coliseum and took our seats while waiting for the performance. As an aside, the staff was really patient with allowing my monkeys to crawl around before the show began. Note to self though, don't get there really early with small children who will be bored and restless. However, once the lights and music started they were as curious as George himself. Then when George and the man in the yellow hat appeared, they were hooked.

The story begins with George getting a large package and what might be inside. It's traveled all the way from Italy and inside is a chef's hat. It then goes on to a meatball contest and trials and tribulations along the way. I have to admit that as much as my daughter enjoys singing and dancing, she's not quite patient enough to sit through unfamiliar songs by other people. On top of that a lot of the story is told through the songs and she's too young to catch on to the meaning in the song. Luckily for us there was a lot of activity going on on stage and Curious George was oversized and very animated, which helped keep her attention. All in all, our monkey family enjoyed watching Curious George Live and we'd go again. I recommend it to others, especially if your kids are slightly older.

Yard Sale

2010-10-15T08:13:00.001-05:00

My neighborhood has organized a community-wide yard sale this month and I've decided to take advantage of it. I'm really glad they're doing this collectively and I have plenty of things I'm ready to part with. On the other hand I have a few things that I should part with, but am having a hard time letting go.

Dadda monkey and I have decided we probably won't have any more children and Bro Bro is a very large 13 month old. As a result, all those baby things I had to have should probably go now. The bouncer, swing, and monitor are already in the garage for the sale. Dadda monkey wants me to sell the exersaucer and baby bathtub as well, but just yesterday I had Bro Bro in the exersaucer and when I give him baths I still prefer to use the baby tub inside the larger tub for extra security. We probably don't need either of these items, but if we have them I think we should use them until we're definitely done with them. However, if I don't sell them now, we'll probably have them until the next yard sale. One of the problems with keeping them is the pure fact that they're taking up room. I've noticed the homes around here have very limited storage space. I think they make up for this fact by giving you a 2 car garage that realistically is only big enough for 1 car.

I'm probably going to go ahead and sell them (and many other things), but they were my babies' firsts. We're also selling the infant car seat that I meticulously researched and begged Dadda monkey for. Similarly, I've been bagging up the clothes they've outgrown and passing them onto friends who can use them. I guess I'm just a sentimental fool, but looking at each outfit and the memories they accompany has just been hard. I'm thrilled they're going to friends who can use them though. All in all this will be good for everyone. I'll bid a fond farewell to the things we had and they'll go on to people who have a need/use for them. Wish us luck on our first yard sale!

Gorillapod

2010-10-09T15:19:00.019-05:00

I love taking pictures and Dadda monkey was nice enough to give me a DSLR camera for Christmas a couple of years ago. I took a couple of years of photography classes in school, but that was before the digital age and I feel like it's a whole new ballgame now. All that time we spent on learning how to process your film and develop your pictures seems all for not now. I think I may take a class to work more on composition and lighting. I'll forever be working on taking better photos, but at least I'm on the right track in terms of equipment.

One item I have that helps me take better pictures is my new Joby Gorillapod. It really makes a difference having your camera on a steady base versus relying on your hands. However, the best thing about Gorillapod is it's flexibility (literally). You can wrap the 3 legs around almost anything to help you take great photos.

I can use it as a regular tripod standing flat on a surface or have tripod stability by wrapping it around a post or tree limb and have the ability to take some unique shots that I wouldn't otherwise be able to get. In the picture below, I wrapped it around my kitchen chandelier to take a photo from directly above the vase of flowers I had.

From the side versus from above:

Joby's website for the Gorillapod makes it really easy to find the right tripod for you. You can search by your camera make or type. In addition, they have Gorillapods for your video cameras. I have the Gorillapod SLR which also has an attached level to help ensure you're taking the best pictures you can. I've just started playing around with manual settings, but the Gorillapod will make taking long exposure shots much better.

One of the things I was worried about, despite the fact it's clearly made for it, was putting my camera on the tripod, while hanging from something, but the Gorillapod did it's job well. It holds up to 1.75 pounds. Some features from their site:

It's made from injection molded plastic which will stay firm through lots of action
Over 24 leg joints bend and rotate 360 degrees
The lock ring provides extra security that your camera is safely attached

You can buy the Gorillapod direct from Joby's store and the model I have retails for $39,95 which is extremely reasonable to me for such a versatile tripod. The quality is clearly superior and I have no hesitation in putting my camera in unique locations now. At this price, I highly recommend it for any photographer. I'm looking forward to using it to take some family pictures for the holidays.

Disclaimer:
Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with a sample for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

October!

2010-10-05T11:08:00.000-05:00

I think October may be one of my favorite months in San Antonio. The weather is starting to cool a little yet the sun is still out allowing lots of outdoor play. We bought a hammock for the backyard and it's been a great to have the whole family outside enjoying everything. Even Bro Bro is starting to enjoy going down the slide (assisted of course). One of Dadda monkey's favorite things is Halloween so he's been like a big kid ogling all the Halloween decor in the stores. He's currently working on a graveyard set up for the front yard. And now we're off to Costco, where hopefully they'll have the pumpkin streusel muffins available. Yum, October is a great month all around.

Stuck Toys

2010-09-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

I have spent a good portion of the past 2 days pulling stuck toys out of other toys, or laundry baskets, or kitchen gadgets, etc.. I have heard the stories of poptarts being put in the VCR or gum in various places, but my kids are under 3. I had hoped not to have to be worrying about this for some time. Granted I'm happy it wasn't food, but I'm hoping this is not a sign of what the future has in store for me. Top that with the terrible 2-3 (I've heard 3 is worse....) year old tantrums that accompany frustration and unhappiness and you've got a Mommy that needs some quiet time. This weekend is a busy one for us though and I won't be getting much quiet any time soon. Hopefully, it will be a fun weekend though and one without any more stuck toys.

Potty Training 102

2010-09-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

Many moons ago, I wrote about getting the potty chair to start potty training. I still love the potty chair, but the potty training isn't going so well. I think Monkey girl's just not ready yet. She'll be 2 and a half in a couple of weeks and we've tried to start potty training several times to no avail. The first couple of hours go well, until she has to go, then it's always in between the 10 minute intervals I've been taking her. I've tried pull-ups, big girl underwear, and training pants. After she goes, I ask her if she wants to try again or if she wants a diaper, and the response is always in favor of the diaper. We'll keep at it every couple of weeks, but just as with her speech progression, I'm going to have to accept that she'll do things in her own time.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!

2010-09-20T12:42:00.004-05:00

Ever since we discovered Yo Gabba Gabba! over a year ago they have been shown in our house at least once a day. Bro Bro monkey is even starting to watch the show. At first, Dadda monkey and I found the show fairly bizarre, but we soon learned how addicting the songs were and noticed the really great messages the show conveys to their pint size audience. My daughter is often caught singing songs like 'There's a Party in my Tummy', 'Keep Trying', or 'Try it, You'll Like It'. For those who know about my daughter's speech problems, the fact that she's singing these songs is great for more than one reason. I even did a post about Yo Gabba Gabba's influence in our lives back in March.

Last year I didn't know about Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! until they had already come through our area so this year I made sure to buy our tickets as soon as I heard they'd be in San Antonio. December 9th, the Monkey family will be going to see Yo Gabba Gabba! Live and I can't wait to see the kids reactions when they realize what we're going to see. You can visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com for more information on the show including when and where their performances will be. The show is supposed to be about an hour long and, unlike most live shows, will be careful about hurting your little one's ears. There will even be surprise special guests at the live show. We honestly can't wait until we go and as an added bonus, by December I think even Bro Bro will be aware of what he'll be watching. There's going to be a party in our city and we've made sure we're going to be there.

Yo Gabba Gabba! has also been generous enough to provide one Mommy 2 Monkey's reader with a prize pack. This includes the Yo Gabba Gabba! Clubhouse DVD - released on June 15 and features performances by musical guests Erykah Badu, The Killers, Jimmy Eat World and more AND Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 2, which is a compilation of songs from Season I, II, and III. The CD was released August 31, timed with the launch of the live tour, KIA Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE'S A PARTY IN MY CITY.

A couple of notes about the CD (including a free download): Jam-packed with Super Music Friends & all of the songs you’ve grown to love including those from Weezer, MGMT & Jimmy Eat World. A deluxe edition featuring bonus songs from the hit series will also be available on iTunes. Fans can get a sampling of the record with a free download of our favorite Super Music Friends – Weezer’s track “All My Friends Are Insects” at www.yogabbagabba.com/freedownload

MUSIC IS AWESOME! VOLUME 2 is available on CD at Target, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and independent music retailers nationwide and for pre-order on Amazon (link below):

http://www.amazon.com/Yo-Gabba-Awesome-Exclusive-Sticker/dp/B003WHL9HQ

I have to confess I'm jealous of the winner. While I'm typing this post, my daughter is peering over my shoulder with a big smile on her face, looking at the pictures, and saying 'Yo Gabba'. Sorry YGG, we've dropped the last part of your name.

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Let me know what your favorite part of Yo Gabba Gabba! is. For example, do you have a favorite character, song, special guest appearance. You can go here for some help. If you've been to the live show leave me a comment letting me know what you thought of it.

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until October 4, 2010 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

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

Bro Bro's Birthday

2010-09-15T18:35:00.003-05:00

We recently celebrated Bro Bro monkey's first birthday. We're so happy to have hit this milestone and as if he knew what time it was, he started taking 2-3 steps on his own. It took him forever to crawl, but once he got going we all knew immediately just how much he likes to move. So we really shouldn't have been surprised when he started taking baby steps recently.

For the monkeys' first birthdays we decided to keep them low key. Just like for Monkey girl's first birthday, we celebrated Bro Bro's birthday with just our immediate family. We picked up cupcakes and let him dive into his very own. As for presents, I have high praises for 2 of the gifts we got him. The first one was the Haba Colori Stacking Ball. It's a little hard for him to assemble right now, but it's a great size and I love the colors. In fact just today, a friend of mine was admiring it.

The second toy was a Busy Zoo Activity Center. It was discounted slightly at Amazon and I thought it would be worth a try. It turns out that both Bro Bro and Monkey girl love it. It's hard to find toys that Bro Bro will sit in front of and be content for any extended period of time, but this is one of those and I'm so glad that we decided to give it a try. I highly recommend it for any young children.

We had a great day and Bro Bro (and Monkey girl) seemed equally as happy with the festivities. Happy Birthday, my little man!

Are You Ready For Some Football?!?

2010-09-11T22:56:00.002-05:00

I am! Though I'm not in the DC area anymore, I'm still rooting for my beloved Redskins. It is my favorite professional sport and football season holds many great memories for me. To me it also signals the beginning of fall. I've held onto my season tickets in hopes of getting great seats when/if we move back to the area. Dadda monkey wasn't a big football fan when we met. We started watching some games together and he was hooked. Naturally he became a Redskins fan because those are the games we watched the most and he took a great interest in them. Now he may be a bigger fan than me...maybe.

Last year we made it back to DC just as preseason was starting so Dadda monkey got to go to his first professional football game ever. We talk about heading up to Dallas for the Redskins game, but I wouldn't want to take the kids and it may be hazardous to our health to display our loyalty in Cowboy country. Today, however, I proudly wore my Redskins shirt in anticipation of Sunday's game against the Cowboys. Even the monkeys have Redskins apparel of their own. Though we're relatively far from Dallas (in fact closer to Houston), there's a great many avid Cowboy fans in San Antonio. They even televise the Cowboys on the news as if they're the home team. I haven't figured out if it's just because Texans in general love the iconic Cowboys or if it may be because the Cowboys practice here at the Alamodome. Either way I'm looking forward to tomorrow's game and watching my favorite player #47 Chris Cooooooley! It should really set off the season with a bang (hopefully in favor of Washington). Go Skins!

Being Sick With Kids Is Not Fun

2010-09-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

Dadda monkey must have picked up something at work and shortly after he was having symptoms, I got sick. The kids followed suit too. Luckily, I think they're bigger troopers about it than their parents are. We have completely different ways of reacting to being sick. Dadda likes to take his sick days and spend them playing video games and watching movies. I prefer to stay in bed, sleep most of it off and maybe read a little. The kids went about their normal routine though. Dadda monkey's dietary preferences don't change except for wanting more sweet tea. I prefer soup, raisin bread toast, and hot tea. If my throat hurts I love sorbet.

The worst part, aside from watching my poor children be semi-miserable, is trying to still care for them and keep our routines when I just want to curl up in bed with quiet surroundings. The tropical storm passing through allowed me to cancel Monkey girl's gym session without much guilt and we were able to re-schedule for this Saturday. Dadda monkey's feeling better and I think I'm getting better as well so it looks like things will get back to normal soon.

Monopoly and Family Game Night

2010-09-02T15:55:00.003-05:00

Monopoly is one of my favorite board games of all time. I remember trying to get my parents to play this with me frequently when I was younger. Too often though they weren't interested, which was sad both then and now. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to play with me. I love the idea of instituting a family game night and was thrilled to discover that September 29th is officially Family Game Night. Check out the Hasbro's Family Game Night Facebook page. The new Monopoly Revolution seems like a great updated version I might have to pick up for my family in anticipation of family game night.

Hasbro is also celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Monopoly with Monopoly "Money Makes It Real". A recent survey conducted by Hasbro, showed that 60 percent of United States residents who have played the game have imagined the cash in the game becoming real money. If the money became a reality, more people would use this cash to pay off debt (70 percent) or buy something for their family (54 percent), before they purchased something for themselves (40 percent). Did you know over a billion people in 111 countries have played Monopoly? In honor of the anniversary, they're giving away all the money in the bank (Monopoly's bank) to the tune of $20,580. Hurry up and enter for your chance since entries will only be accepted until September 3rd, but you can vote until September 27th.

Hasbro is generously sponsoring a giveaway in honor of Family Game Night and Monopoly. One of my readers will win the Monopoly Property Trading game.

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Let me know what memories you have of playing Monopoly OR what you would do if you won the money from Monopoly's bank?

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until September 10, 2010 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

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

San Diego

2010-08-30T22:32:00.000-05:00

We had a great time in San Diego. Flying out there with the kids wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. We didn't have a lot of time out there, but we managed to do quite a bit. We went to the zoo, the wild animal park, and took a harbor cruise. We also did a lot of sightseeing in and around San Diego. It was nice to be near the beach. That's something I really miss. I'm trying to convince Dadda monkey that we should make regular trips to the Texas coast with the kids.

The weather was beautiful and cooler than San Antonio. The best thing about the trip is that it truly felt like a vacation. Too often Dadda monkey has to use his vacation time and we end up making trips for family commitments and they never feel like a relaxing break. I'm not completely sure why that is, but this was a nice change of pace and long overdue. We're looking forward to more family vacations and really satisfied with how this trip went.

I'll post pics soon.

Gone Fishing

2010-08-20T22:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't really gone fishing, but we're headed to a place where we could. I've been busy the past 2 weeks preparing for our trip. I'll make sure to post all about it when we get back. I'm really looking forward to the time away, but I could do without the travel part of it. I've always been that way. I find it hard to enjoy the ride and always want to be at either point A or point B. That's something I think I'll always struggle with, but I'm working on it.

I hope everyone's enjoying the end of summer. I hear a lot of parents dealing with the back to school routines and I know I'll be there soon enough though it's hard to fathom. There was a new elementary school built near our neighborhood last year and they are already having to use portable classrooms. I can't imagine what it'll be like by the time Monkey girl gets there, but there are plans to build another elementary school nearby. I just hope they've really planned it with all the neighborhood growth in mind. Anyways, I'll be back soon. Maybe the giant bugs will be gone from my back yard when I get back, but I doubt it.

San Antonio Zoo

2010-08-13T10:06:00.001-05:00

We bought memberships to the zoo a few months ago, but we've only gone twice now. I intend to go more, especially once school's back in session. It's just been so hot outside that I haven't wanted to deal with crowds, much less deal with the kids in sweltering heat. There's been a lot of debate about the zoo, notably the elephant enclosure, but to their credit the zoo has been going through a major renovation. It's a smaller zoo, but perfect for small children and the habitats are easy to get to and view. Just outside the zoo is a train that runs around//through the local park. The train also stops at the Witte Museum, which is another place on my 'to do' list.

Yesterday I was going through the mail and found a pamphlet from the zoo talking about their other programs. There's quite a few options and even multiple things for 2-5 year olds. They're reasonably priced too so I'm excited to get Monkey girl signed up for something this fall. Once a week we'll go to the zoo and they'll have stories, crafts, and some close encounters for the kids. I'm looking forward to it now. Around the holidays, they also turn the train into a 'Holiday Express', which I think the whole family will love. I'm really glad we bought our memberships so we could learn about all the other activities the zoo has. Now bring on the fall weather!

Family Vacations

2010-08-05T13:54:00.000-05:00

I guess I was lucky as a kid because my family always planned a week long vacation to somewhere every year. Sometimes it was just to the beach, sometimes it was to another state for sightseeing, and every once in a while it was to another country. With Monkey girl getting older and starting to be more aware of things, I want to make sure she has the same opportunities to explore, learn, and become a well rounded individual. Of course I feel the same for Bro Bro monkey, but he's not quite old enough to be attuned to this yet.

We're not able to do week long vacations yet, but we are trying to make sure we go somewhere every year if only for a few days. This year we'll be going to San Diego to visit my father-in-law. I'm really looking forward to the zoo and/or the wild animal park. I've been to San Diego a couple of times and somehow missed out on those spots. Monkey girl loves the zoo and last time grandpa came to visit we went to the zoo here and she remembers that. So when we told Monkey girl that we're going to see grandpa and go to the zoo, she was excited. She says, 'go see grandpa and zoo' and that's exactly what we'll do. Unfortunately grandpa seems to be mostly associated with zoos now though. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

In the spring, we have plans to visit my parents in Tampa (yes they did the common thing and moved to Florida after retiring). From almost everything I've heard, the kids are too young to enjoy Disney World, but there's still plenty for us to do there. Last time we went, we saw Winter. I'd like to go to St. Petersburg and maybe take a ride on Little Toot.

So for the next 2 years we have family vacations covered and it helps to have family living in prime vacation destinations. After that, who knows..., but Dadda monkey and I will try to make sure we go somewhere. I've had a goal to visit every state in the country and I'm missing about 10 still, which leaves plenty of locale choices just in the United States (not to mention favorite places I've already been to). My greatest wish is for my kids to have fond memories of their annual family vacations.

Welcome to Living in South Texas

2010-07-29T23:20:00.000-05:00

Just in case I forgot where I was temporarily, this little guy (to my husband he was little, to myself he was a monster of epic proportions) decided to pop by and remind me that I am now living in south Texas. Thanks, bud! I was having a moment of peace and sitting on the couch watching some television. Bro Bro monkey was in his pack and play while his sister was napping. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a large brown spot across the room. I couldn't make it out at first and thought it's awfully large to be a bug. We've been having a problem with flies in our neighborhood so I've become accustomed to spotting them around. I watched it for a moment and started to make out it's shape. It looked kind of like a scorpion, but surely there wasn't really a large scorpion hanging out on my wall near where it meets the ceiling. I got up and inched closer and saw it's tail curl and finally confirmed that, yes indeed, there was a LARGE SCORPION in my house!

I moved Bro Bro's pack and play further away from it and closer to me on the couch. I sat back down and tried to call my husband. Why is it that whenever I want to talk to him during the day, he's conveniently 'stepped away from his desk'?! I did move as close as I dared to it in order to take a picture for posterity. No one told me scorpions climb walls. I remembered that our pest company had been out earlier that morning so I thought I'd call them. I don't know why, it's not like I expected them to say 'oh, sorry ma'am, we'll be right there to help you remove this little guy so you're not so freaked out'. I confirmed that they do spray for scorpions and the woman was very polite and understanding. She said that if it was out during the day, then it was probably having a reaction to the pesticide and might be in distress. Honestly, I couldn't care less about the scorpion's distress when I was in my own distress due to him. I told her I wasn't going anywhere near it and she said she understood. I thanked her for the information and that was pretty much the end of that call.

There was no way I was dealing with this on my own and I didn't want to leave the room and let it out of my sight. I sat on the couch for 2 hours until Dadda monkey came home, laughing at me on his way in. He decided it was a 'normal' size for a scorpion and he was going to trap it and take it out to the trash. First off, I have seen 2 other scorpions since I've lived here and I know this one was at least twice as big as those others had been. Secondly, I forbade him to use my Glad containers unless he was willing to throw it out as well. Am I really that unreasonable in not wanting to keep a food container around that used to house a scorpion?

I asked Dadda monkey to take a closer picture since mine weren't very clear (it's kind of obvious who took which pictures) and then he set to work. He took an old soup carryout container and put it over the scorpion. I saw part of it flick out of the top and warned Dadda monkey. I'm not sure if it was intelligible because, to be honest, I was shrieking a bit. He slid the container down the wall and the scorpion fell out and landed on a picture that was hanging below it. That put me over the edge and I was completely standing up on the corner of the sofa, still shrieking. I honestly don't remember much that follows, except that Dadda monkey finally got him back in the bowl and took him out to the trash. Good-bye Mr. Scorpion and thanks for the reminder that I'm not in Maryland anymore, though I could have done without it. By the way, your friends are not welcome here!

Introducing The Rattles...and a giveaway!

2010-07-25T12:16:00.010-05:00

There's a new music group, straight from the wild, called The Rattles. They're a lively band of furry, family-friendly critters and their debut album, Rattle On, will be released on August 17. They call their music a fusion of classic rock and power pop. The unique animal collective consists of four stellar musicians and life-long friends – Gus, Kitty, Sal, and Hal – who describe their upcoming release as “the album we were born to make”. I was told their influences are The Beatles, The Monkees, and They Might Be Giants. I'm a big fan of They Might Be Giants and I can really hear semblances of all 3 bands in their song Wavy Lane. You can listen to the lead single, Wavy Lane, at http://themusebox.net/mp3s/wavy_lane.mp3.

We're getting to the stage with Monkey Girl where we need kids music in the car for our trips and this is a great choice. I wouldn't mind listening to The Rattles for any length of time on a road trip. The music is enjoyable for the whole family. I think she'll enjoy it more as she gets older, but you can have a lot of fun with the songs. For example, I envision waving our hands in the air when we're listening to Wavy Lane. You know how you need to come up with fun activities to get their mind off the fact that they're in the car for hours. You can read more about The Rattles here and get a copy of their album starting August 17th.

Each character has a distinct personality and Gus is the most vivacious of the group. Check out their website, http://www.rattlesrock.com/ for more about them. You can also follow them on twitter. I think Gus would be excited to hear that I have THREE copies of their new album to giveaway to my readers.

How To Enter:

(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the United States (including AK and HI) and Canada.

1. Let me know what you think of Wavy Lane or why you think you'd enjoy The Rattles new album.

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until August 18, 2010 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. Press release information came from The Musebox.

My Camelbak Is Good For Me

2010-07-20T10:36:00.001-05:00

I don't remember how I found out about them, but I do remember that I really wanted one for myself when I first saw them. The color choices were fantastic with vibrant jewel tones. I ordered my first Camelbak in a pretty pink shade. Later I decided I wanted a bright blue. At the time that I bought my Camelbak water bottle, I bought one for Dadda monkey too. I was hoping that they'd encourage us to drink more water. It's really convenient to fill it with ice and water and keep it with me all day, refilling both the ice and water as needed. The bite valve took about 2 minutes to get used to and I love it. I have to question though why my pink bottle came with a blue valve and my blue bottle has a clear one.

Normally I hate drinking water, which is why I needed something to make it a little easier on me. I made the mistake of trying lemonade in my bottle, which probably isn't normally a problem if you thoroughly wash it each day, but I confess that it took me about 2 weeks before I figured out that you could take the bite valve off for cleaning. It was starting to get pretty gross in there, but Camelbak also sells replacement bite valves separately. I haven't needed to buy one for my new bottle since I know how to clean it now and that scenario taught me that I should use my bottle for water only. That makes it easier for me mentally to think that I can only drink water out of it, but you can really put any beverage you like in your bottles, just be sure to disassemble for cleaning regularly. As long as I have fresh ice in there, I'm okay with drinking water. I think I've made a pretty good adjustment to drinking mostly water every day.

One day we were shopping at a sporting goods store and I saw the cutest little Camelbak bottles with neat graphics. My daughter has been fine with all the different sippy cups we've tried and I thought this would be a great idea for her too. Her dentist told us that she should be drinking only water except for with her 3 meals and 2 snacks each day. It was something about not being able to handle the extra acid in her mouth. She had used my Camelbak a few times and thought it was neat when she was able to drink from 'Momma's water'. So I ordered her a pink zinnia Camelbak when we got home. The kids Camelbaks are adorable and my daughter loves hers.

Camelbak also has a stainless steel kids water bottle that really keeps her water cold. It has butterflies, which is her new fascination so she is also getting the side benefit of drinking more water without realizing it. The stainless steel bottle also comes in multiple cool graphics. Bro Bro monkey even has a blue boy's Camelbak bottle waiting for him as soon as he's old enough to use it. Monkey girl loves her bottle and the fact that it's like Momma's.

The kids bottles and the stainless steel bottles (for adults and kids) came out in early 2009. The stainless steel bottles are insulted to keep beverages cold for hours and has a dual-wall design to eliminate condensation on the outside. Both bottles are BPA free and offer quick flip and sip hydration. The looped handle is also handy for attaching to backpacks or diaper bags when you're on the go. The kids bottles are 12 ounces and retail for $14-$20 (for stainless steel).

I fully encourage everyone with a child in their life to try the kids Camelbak bottles (get one for yourself too). They're as easy as any sippy cup to drink from (it's just a straw) and spill proof too. I feel so much better with Monkey girl drinking water throughout the day when she's thirsty. It's been kind of life changing. Discovering Camelbak has been good for my whole family and I'm thankful to have found them.

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was provided with a sample for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received (in fact I bought all my other Camelbaks myself) and the views expressed here are my own.

CSN Stores Giveaway Winner

2010-07-20T10:13:00.000-05:00

The winner has been selected for the CSN Stores Gift Certificate. The winner, as picked by Random.org, is comment #123. Congratulations to Lona.

I've sent the winner an email. If I don't hear a response within 72 hours, I will select a new winner with Random.org. Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thanks to CSN Stores for sponsoring the giveaway!

Not Much Going On

2010-07-18T01:56:00.000-05:00

The title says it all. There's not much going on in the monkey household these days. It's been tremendously hot out. We made it to the pool the other day and there were very few people there. I made the mistake of only bringing the single stroller and hoping Monkey girl would walk both ways. When we got home I was exhausted from carrying her and pushing the stroller all while making sure the diaper bag was also secure. On the bright side, the cloth swim diaper I bought Monkey girl was great. We didn't have a poo experience, but it fit well and performed well in the pool. I'll try Bro Bro's next time we go. He was content with sitting with me and playing with the fountain in the pool. It took a few minutes, but he was running his hands through the fountain and by the end he was kicking his little baby feet. Taking both of them by myself wasn't as hard as I expected, but next time I'll remember to bring the double stroller!

CSN Stores Giveaway!

2010-07-11T22:43:00.006-05:00

As I mentioned before I have very little artistic imagination. I love to watch decorating shows and wish I could do what I see on TV and in magazines. I strive to achieve that kind of professional look in my home, which is a never ending project. My husband's differing taste lends to the struggle. He loves dark colors and keeping the windows covered. I love light colors and having all the sunlight/open windows I can get.

The one room I think I've mastered is our bedroom. We got black furniture (to please him) in a matching oversized set (to please me). We bought a beautiful subtle teal colored bedding set and a puffy down comforter with a matching duvet cover. I have two clear stacked globe lamps with black lampshades and an armoire for my necessary television. There are a couple of green plants in the room to bring some life to the room. We painted the walls a muted blue-green color to blend with the bedding. I'm quite happy with how it's turned out. I have to say, appropriately enough, I think it's the most relaxing space in our home. Now if only I could get the rest of the house figured out.

One thing I've always thought would be great though is to have a vanity in my bedroom. You know the kind you see on TV and in movies where every evening beautiful women diligently brush their hair. Before parties, they put on their jewelry and makeup there. I can see my daughter looking on as I'm grooming myself for my glamorous life. All kidding aside, I found one that would go great with my bedroom furniture though I'd have to figure out where to put it.

That great little vanity is currently available for just $437 at www.justvanities.com, one of CSN's 200+ Stores. There's also some really cute kids vanities that I could see Monkey girl enjoying as she got older.

I did order this fantastic dog crate end table from CSN Stores which I think will work perfectly in my living room as it'll save space and it looks great. Then maybe we'll have more room in our living area without the eyesore of a large wire dog crate taking up room. I had hoped it'd get here before I did this post, but it should be here soon and I'll update as soon as I get it. One of the great things about CSN Stores is that nearly all their items have free shipping including my oversized purchase.

Onto some more exciting news, CSN Stores has been gracious enough to let me offer another giveaway. This time it's for a $40 gift certificate for you to use as you please at any of their numerous stores. There are so many great things to be found at their sites. I found some All Clad cookware, children's water tables, fire pits, and more that I've bookmarked for possible future purchases.

How To Enter:
(The first step is required for your first entry. Any steps after that reward you with an extra entry.) This one's a little different in that I'll ask that you follow my blog to enter as I'd really like to reward my readers with this giveaway.
This giveaway, and subsequent shipping, is only offered within the continental United States.

1. Let me know something that peaks your interest at CSN Stores by commenting about it here AND follow my blog, Mommy 2 Monkeys.

2. 'Like' the Mommy 2 Monkeys Facebook page and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
3. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
4. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until July 19, 2010 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Mommy 2 Monkeys was given the opportunity to hold a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Dogs at Play

2010-07-08T12:02:00.006-05:00

We have a couple of golden retrievers who mean a lot to our monkey family. However, given the chance, they'd probably head off with any friendly face so we're careful to keep them in the yard (when not in the house). It's also important to me to let our service people know about the dogs just in case I don't have them inside when they come around. You can never anticipate everything that might happen. Also, some people just aren't dog people and my gentle goldens may as well be fighting dogs to them. I had visions of someone opening the gate, the dogs in all their glory go bounding for the gate looking for some head pats and kisses, and scaring the person away, leaving the gate wide open to let my precious pups roam the neighborhood.

I didn't want one of those hardware store 'Beware of Dog' signs because they're not very attractive and, despite their best efforts, my goldens really aren't menacing. I also found out that if you have a 'Beware of Dog' notification posted and something happens, there may be more legal repercussions for your 'admission' to having an aggressive dog. Living in Texas where they're quite liberal when it comes to protecting your self, I feel that it's necessary to make people aware of my dogs, but without scaring them. A simple notification of the dogs presence is enough so people aren't surprised or they have the option of coming to my front door and asking me to bring the dogs inside so they can enter the yard without worry.

I came across The Original Property Postings and loved them. There are several options including Dog In Yard, Dogs in Yard, and Dog at Play. Dogs at Play seemed completely appropriate for my house. I initially wanted it in black with brass writing, but it wasn't available for Dogs at Play so I chose brown. The signs also come in blue and green. As it turns out the brown works really well with the tan coloring of my house. We'll eventually get the fence stained so it will look even better, but I really love the way the sign looks. It's a little classier with a friendly tone.

Installation was easy and took about 5 minutes. The powder coated steel signs are 3.25 x 12 inches and come with the mounting hardware (4 very shiny brass screws). There are 4 holes in the corner of the sign for installation. It might be easier to drill pilot holes in the fence first, but Dadda monkey did just fine screwing it directly onto the fence. If you have a chain link or wrought iron fence they also provide cable ties for those mounting options. We have a black wrought iron fence along the back of our property and if we get a gate installed back there later I'll probably order another sign. They have black cable ties as well, which would look great.

I couldn't resist posting this photo of Monkey girl helping with the installation.

Here's a couple of interesting points taken from www.doginyard.com:

Most dogs are friendly but even normally docile dogs may bite when they are frightened or surprised.
Dog bites account for 33% of all homeowners insurance liability claims.
Over the last several years, many insurers have implemented rules aimed at limiting their exposure to dog bite claims.

You're better off safe than sorry and with these elegant signs there's no excuse not to take the precaution. The story as to how these signs came about is really interesting too. You can read the meter reader story here. The Original Property Posting started in August 2002 and they have shipped to all 50 states. The signs are a nominal $16.95 which includes shipping (they also take care of the tax for their Illinois customers). They're clearly dedicated to making our pet environments safe for everyone. They don't take credit cards, but their order form is very simple and then you just mail a check to them.

If you own a dog, there's really no reason not to post one of these signs, just go to www.doginyard.com, they can blend in any decor and are very informal. Clearly my favorite is Dogs at Play, it's just so whimsical, but Dog in Yard still gets the informational point across which protects everybody.

Introducing Doyle Dog (Bailey puppy wasn't as cooperative for the photos). See, he loves his new sign too!

As a side note, we live in a fairly new neighborhood and as a result we get a lot of solicitors. Everything from people selling steak to vacuums to yard services and security companies. I've been contemplating getting a no soliciting sign. On days when I'm really annoyed you'd get a kick out of my hand written (in crayon) No Solicitors sign on the back of a blank envelope. The Original Property Posting carries the No Solicitors signs as well as signs for Private Property, No Trespasing, and No Parking among others.

Disclaimer:

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

4th Activities (or lack of)

2010-07-05T19:58:00.001-05:00

We decided to treat the holiday very casually. We bought a bunch of chicken and steak and Dadda monkey grilled them outside. Monkey girl got to play on her playset for a while and Bro Bro's been working on pulling himself up. Bro Bro monkey was uncharacteristically fussy for a little while because he has his two top teeth working on coming in. He wanted to be held most of the time which made for difficult cooking, but he eventually passed out for a nap in the play yard we set up in the living room. I thought it would be nice to make crepes (I know, not very American) with the leftover strawberries for everyone for breakfast, but it turned out no one was interested in my breakfast for some reason, hmph. I promise they weren't that bad; I can attest to that since I got extras.

The evening was enjoyable as well. We heard fireworks going off during dinner and decided to take a walk around the block to see more. We got a little mini fireworks show from our neighbors. Bro Bro was in the stroller and just enjoyed being pushed around. Monkey girl liked the 'sparkles' that were a couple streets over, but the ones nearby were a little much for her. At one point, she told me various Ni Hao Kai Lan characters were scared so we decided that was our cue to go back inside. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and Happy belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends.

Fantastic Friendly Friday

2010-07-02T01:00:00.002-05:00

Another Friday has arrived and I am thrilled to have been awarded a top spot from our 3 gracious hostesses, Charla (Healthy Home Blog), Christi (The Frugal Novice), and Xenia (Thanks, Mail Carrier). I look forward to discovering some more fantastic blogs. Thanks for stopping by!

Unfortunately, Hurricane Alex, is barreling toward land nearby and we're already starting to see consistent rain. I had wanted to take the kids to Sea World tomorrow (for the first time by myself), but I think those plans will be put on hold. I'm not sure what my backup plan is, but we'll come up with something, maybe just making a black bean salad since I think the bell peppers have been sitting in the fridge long enough. This all probably means going to watch fireworks and have a picnic on the 4th of July isn't going to happen either. Monkey girl had been asking to put up a small tent inside and have a camp out, so that sounds like a good idea for this weekend. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and an enjoyable holiday weekend.

Dadda Monkey's Birthday

2010-06-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Dadda monkey's birthday and we didn't have any set plans. True to form, we found some old Outback Steakhouse gift cards that had been misplaced and decided to go ahead and use them for a birthday lunch. The monkeys were very well behaved and the waiter loved Bro Bro monkey. He even offered to go above and beyond and carry Bro Bro around the restaurant if he got fussy. Admittedly, it was slow in there, but he was a nice guy and apparently has a son who's a few months older than Bro Bro. Between you and me though, there was no way I was letting a stranger take my son out of my sight. Luckily, there was little to no fussiness. We did get very attentive service and had a nice meal out as a family. We recently bought a new (used) car so I think it was also an excuse for Dadda to get to drive it.

When we returned home, I began working on Dadda's birthday cake. I'd seen Trisha Yearwood's Key Lime Cake recipe and decided to try it. It turned out pretty well. I was a little surprised at the tartness at first, but it did taste good and a lot like a key lime pie (in cake form). The recipe said the cream cheese icing is optional, but I'd recommend you go ahead and include it because it's a good addition to help cut the tartness. Monkey girl also liked the icing and couldn't keep her little fingers out of it. I wish I could remember what the tip was on how not to get crumbs in your icing, but this one wasn't too bad. Happy Birthday, Daddy monkey!

Friendly Friday

2010-06-25T13:22:00.001-05:00

Today's somewhat busy for us. This is Dadda monkey's last Friday off before he switches to a Monday - Friday schedule. There are pros and cons to the switch, but we're taking it all in stride. We went to get Monkey girl's first professional hair cut today, which I was not pleased with. We picked up a few groceries, grabbed lunch, and came home.

Dadda monkey had to run an errand without us so he switched the car seats to our Explorer so I can take the kids with me to the vet this afternoon. Hopefully, Dadda monkey will meet us there so I don't have to handle 2 dogs and 2 kids the whole time. Then what's left of our afternoon is free for some playset fun (and maybe a glass of wine for Momma). McCormick posted an interesting shrimp/snow pea coconut curry dish the other day so we're going to try that for dinner tonight. Happy Friday everyone. I'll leave you with a picture of our completed playset (finally). Enjoy your weekend!

all Free Clear Giveaway! CLOSED

2010-06-24T16:22:00.004-05:00

When my daughter was born, I learned how important it was to treat her skin delicately which meant, in part, paying more attention to what laundry detergent we used. There were few options for us, but I noticed several people recommended all Free Clear. It's safe for our babies, effective, and affordable. The greatest thing about all Free Clear is that it's free of dyes and perfumes. The second greatest thing is that it works really well. All Free Clear is pediatrician and dermatologist recommended. I'm really happy that I can use it in my HE washer too. I use all Free Clear for the whole family's laundry now.

During my pregnancy with Monkey girl, I tried to read as much as I could and do a lot of research before she arrived. I still wasn't fully prepared, but was eager to welcome the adventure that would begin. When Bro Bro monkey arrived, I learned more, some of which I've shared in previous posts, but a book like How to Have Your Second Child First by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen would have been a great asset. The sub-title, 100 Things That Are Good to Know... the First Time Around, really says it all. I love the tips and I agree with almost all of them (ex: wipe warmers aren't necessary and it's okay for your baby to cry). The book is concise so you don't need to set aside time to read a consuming novel. It's also realistic with examples I can relate to along with some light humor.

I have to mention one funny thing. One of the tips in the book is that you don't need to separate your baby's clothes from the rest of the family's laundry. I just started doing that, but I think that was just a mental hump I needed to get over (made easier by the fact that I'm already finding the kid's clothes intermingled in our laundry basket).

To help new moms manage, all Free Clear is teaming up with Kerry Colburn, author of How to Have Your Second Child First, to create a forum at www.facebook.com/alllaundry for first-time moms to share tips and seek out advice from other moms who have been there before. You can visit all's Facebook page for more parenting/laundry tips and a downloadable coupon.

In partnership with MomSelect, I have the opportunity to give one of my readers 2 coupons for all Free Clear AND a copy of How to Have Your Second Child First.

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

1. Let me know why you want to try all Free Clear OR share your tips for first time parents.

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. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until July 5, 2010 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 72 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner via Random.org. Good luck!

Disclaimer:

Giveaway Winner Communication

2010-06-21T21:11:00.000-05:00

Every morning, I eagerly open my own email to see if I've possibly won something. Usually there's nothing there, but occasionally I get a pleasant surprise. So I'm stunned that it's been so difficult to communicate with the chosen winners for my last giveaway. I've just sent an email to the 3rd chosen winner after the first two didn't respond. She has a blog of her own so I'm hoping that's a good sign. It's not a big deal other than being slightly more work for me and a big delay for the sponsor to get the information they need. Oh well, I tried (and will continue to do so) and I'm glad to have every one of my readers. After all, my blog's not primarily about giveaways.

Proud Military Dadda

2010-06-18T13:27:00.002-05:00

Bro Bro monkey has been so close to crawling for a few months now. Everyone who has seen him kept saying how close he was and that any day he'll be cruising along. Well, 'any day' took about 3 months, but he's now mobile, just not with the typical crawling we expected. He decides where he wants to go, turns that direction and uses his arms to reach out and drag himself there.

It's been a few years since Dadda monkey was in the Air Force, but he still works for them indirectly and is very proud of all of it. Dadda monkey, with beaming pride, says that Bro Bro monkey does the best military low crawl he's ever seen. He definitely has some arm strength and just today he started opening the DVD drawers like his sister used to do. Just after crawling over to the drawers and opening them, Monkey girl went over and closed them and gave her brother a hug. I love watching them when they interact together and can only hope they'll always get along this well.

Finding Proper Places for Things

2010-06-15T23:37:00.000-05:00

Since we moved into this house, I've been struggling to find places to put all my junk. I know I have too much stuff, but weeding through it is easier said than done. In addition, there are a lot of things I know I want to keep. However, this house has very little storage and there's only so many things I feel comfortable with storing in the garage. This weekend we're getting another storage tote to finish putting christmas stuff away (yes, I know it's June, just don't look in my dining room). I also found a box of my old flight attendant uniforms that I guess I want to hold onto, but the best way I can think of to store them is with space bags so I have to order a couple of those.

Also, my camera charger is lost AGAIN so I'm delaying some of my posts until I can get my camera charged again. Take a guess what other object doesn't have an appropriate place for it and all of it's accessories/boxes. That's right the camera. If it did have a normal storage spot perhaps I wouldn't keep losing the charger. The good news is we've been working on getting the house organized so it shouldn't be long until everything has a proper place. Now getting the monkeys (including Dadda monkey) to put everything where it belongs is a whole other task.

Nursery Decorating Lessons Learned

2010-06-11T14:44:00.004-05:00

Since decorating both baby's rooms I've learned a few things. I don't intend to have any more children, but I thought I'd share some of these things with you. In order of importance:

With my daughter's room, the first thing I learned is to not decorate with wallpaper border (at least not at chair rail height). Monkey girl developed a habit of playing with the border while getting her diaper changed. Also, she's taken off a good portion of it around her crib.
With my son, I learned that the small changing tables are good for space saving in the footprint of the room, but I really need the extra length of a dresser to keep items like diaper cream and wipes easily accessible. I'm going to have to replace Bro Bro monkey's changing table with a dresser in the near future.
Waterproof mattress pads are vitally important.
Blinds are also vitally important if you value not getting up as soon as the sun does. (Tip: point the blinds down towards outside so the sun doesn't come through as much)
Small bookshelves are a must, though I'm still trying to figure out how to divvy up the books between their rooms.

Bookcases are also obviously good for getting into gift boxes to play with tissue paper.

Safety Innovations Door Locks Giveaway Winner

2010-06-11T13:55:00.006-05:00

A winner has been selected, with the help of Random.org, for the Safety Innovations giveaway. Congratulations to Laura!

I've sent the winner an email. If I don't hear a response within 72 hours, I will select a new winner with Random.org. Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thanks to Safety Innovations/Safe Beginnings for sponsoring the giveaway!

Favorite Kitchen Chopper

2010-06-05T22:56:00.008-05:00

I'll admit that occasionally I find myself watching QVC and mentally bookmarking an item for later consideration. One day a food prep device was on and I showed my husband. He agreed that we 'must' try it. So we ordered it, all the while hoping it would be better than the slap chop type things we had before. You know the kind; they're hard to clean and are messy to work with. Anyways, the Kitchen King 11 piece Food Preparation Station lived up to the hype. This is one of those items that I love to share with my friends because it truly is wonderful.

It's similar to the salad spinners and that's even one of the attachments. You simply put your items in the bowl and turn the handle. Three blades chop your food quickly and efficiently. I am even willing to do onions now with this chopper (that's my nickname for it). I haven't done chocolate yet, but I don't foresee that being a problem. There's even a mandolin attachment for the top that I haven't used yet. Suction feet keep it secure while you're chopping and there's a lid for storing your items in the same bowl when you're done. This, along with my Kitchenaid mixer, is one of my top choices in kitchen gadgets. I'd have loved to see if I could give one away to my readers, but I can't find the company's contact information, but you can order one from either QVC or Amazon.

Happy (Friendly) Friday!

2010-06-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

Happy (Friendly) Friday! It's a good day at the Monkey house since we found out we got HOA approval for our playset. Also, the contractor has agreed to start work on the 15th, which is a little later than we were hoping for, but it's really only 10 days away.

Now I have to figure out a good Father's Day gift. I was thinking of buying Dadda monkey a gas grill, but I'm worried that he'd rather choose one himself. I have a tough time with gifts because he accuses me (probably rightfully so) of buying things for the house and calling it a gift for him. Personally, I'd be overjoyed if for my birthday he bought me...oh, I don't know...a new countertop for the kitchen, or a new dining table, or put money aside to go towards a deck, or hardwood floors, or ...! See how easy I am. :)

Safety Innovations Door Locks Giveaway!

2010-06-02T21:44:00.008-05:00

If you're like me and haven't heard of Safety Innovations, you might know their parent company, Safe Beginnings. Safe Beginnings has the largest selection of carefully selected baby products for your home. Here's a little information about Safety Innovations:

Safety Innovations is a division of Safe Beginnings, Inc. At Safety Innovations, we designs our products for use by safety professionals. This means that they are designed with high quality and the utmost attention to minor details in order to obtain positive results. We are concerned with safety, solutions, quality and results before we even start talking about cost. Most manufacturers set a price point before they even know what has to be done in order to prevent future accident and injury, this is not the way we work.

Safety Innovations was kind enough to send me a deluxe top door lock (there's also a bifold door lock) to install and review. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I am a week behind schedule, but...the lock has been installed and tested by one little monkey. We chose to install one (they come in a pack of 2) on the door to our laundry room, which also happens the door that leads to the garage door.

It's a fairly simple concept, but you mount a peg to the door frame and the door lock itself simply rests on top of the door. There's a notch cut out in it and you slide the lock, along the door, toward the peg to lock it, or away from it to release it. I'm sure my technical description there is incredibly helpful. You might find some pictures more useful.

Some of my favorite parts of Safety Innovations top door lock are:

It's very easy to install with minimal assembly
For us, it completely blends in with our white doors
It's simple and easy to use

There is a wand that can be attached to help people operate the door lock, but I found that to be more difficult to use. However, it is provided for those that might need it.

Overall, I found the door lock to be effective, minimally obtrusive, and easy to install. Another key point to note is that it's not for use on exterior (or oversized) doors, but Safe Beginnings has plenty of other options. In fact, you'll find all kinds of useful safety products there. One thing I have my eye on is an exterior gate for our porch.

Check out their website, http://www.safebeginnings.com, and I bet you too will start making a list of the things you want to get to help protect your little monkeys. Thanks again to Safety Innovations and Safe Beginnings for letting me try the deluxe top door lock.

Safety Innovations/Safe Beginnings is also letting me host a giveaway to win a 12 pack of these door locks.

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

1. Go to Safe Beginnings and leave a comment on this post telling me what other item(s) they carry that interests 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' Safe Beginnings on Facebook and leave a comment that you did so.
4. 'Like' the Mommy 2 Monkeys Facebook page and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
5. Follow Safe Beginnings on Twitter and leave a comment that you did so.

6. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.
7. Place my button on your blog/website and leave a comment on this post that you've done so.

This giveaway will remain open until June 11, 2010 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 72 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 purposes of this review and the opportunity to host a giveaway for my readers. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.