Arthur Christmas

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

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:

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. 

Black Friday (looking for Keurig deals)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

  

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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.