Princess House

A couple of months ago, my friend had a Princess House party. For those that aren't familiar with that, it's a company originally selling crystal but now has so many more products. They sell cookware, dinnerware, items for entertaining and lots more. My order did take an extra long time to arrive but I'm so excited to finally have it, especially in time for the holidays. Just so you are aware, Princess House is quite pricey! It hurt to purchase this, but it was my splurge for the year :)

Fantasia- Chip n' Dip Set

Simplify entertaining with this versatile and beautiful Fantasia Chip 'n Dip Set.

• Exclusive pressed flowering vine design in clear crystal.
• Substantial weight and textured surface.
• Metal holder has a protective coating to resist rust and tarnish.
• Complements all Fantasia, Princess Heritage®, Pavillion™ and any tableware.
• Removable sections make serving foods at multiple temperatures easy — store prepared cold foods in the fridge, warm dip in the microwave, keep bread, crackers or chips at room temperature.
• Crystal pieces also fit into Bake 'n Serve Tray (536), freeing up the holder to serve drinks — just slip in the metal beverage insert included.
• Dishes can be arranged in many configurations for versatile serving and home decor.
• Includes four 21-oz. dishes, one 19-oz. dip bowl with plastic lid, and holder with removable beverage insert.

What makes you a Super Mom??

Have you ever wondered what makes a supermom super?

If you are a mom & fulfill more than three of the criteria below ... YOU are a supermom!

(this is just for fun, we're ALL Super Mom's)

You have more than one child ~ I have three (o:
You work full time ~ does being a full-time, stay-at-home mom count?
You are the entertainment & party planner ~ Most definitely!
You are the meal planner, grocery shopper & chef ~ yep!
You are the family attorney & judge ~ yes, Mom's rules always apply
You are the nurse & psychologist ~ YUP!
You are the taxi driver ~ Mon- Sun...the worst part of this job! Grrr
You are the teacher ~ Life teacher, yes
You are the homework checker ~ YUP!
You are the housekeeper~ unfortunately, yes!
You are the landscaper ~ Thats where I draw the line. I have a gardner for that! :)
You are the vet & pet groomer ~ Don't think I could be the vet but I have tried to groom our puppy

Looks like I qualify! I didn't need the quiz to know that but it's nice to see the facts. Hahaha!

Want to know what makes it all worth while?

These beautiful faces are my world! Their happiness and taking care of them is my main priority in life. Sorry hubby, you're a close 4th! LOL! I teach them to be good people and to have a good head on their shoulders. That is why being "Super Mom" or "Super Exhausted Mom" is worth it.

Quiz courtesy of Be Positive Mom

Are you a Super Mom??

In UNfamiliar territory....

When I was pregnant with my first and only boy (I have 2 girls already), I was told so many times how boys are SOOO different than girls. ALL THE TIME! And even though I knew that, I can't believe how unprepared and shocked I still am, at the differences. My son is really taking me on a crazy journey! I'm not gonna lie, it can be very frustrating, especially when I'm so use to raising girls. Not to mention I'm a SAHM, so we are together ALL the time. My girls were quiet, let's play Barbies and have tea parties kind of girls. I could take them ANYWHERE. Don't get me wrong they had their little diva fits now and then (still do actually) but I could totally handle it. Nate has started his "Terrible Two's" WAY early and even though that has really thrown me for a loop, I do know I have a couple more years of this. So I am trying my VERY best to keep him under control. God help me! He is SO much louder than my girls were (no volume control!), he screams more, he fights more, he hits more, he growls more..... over all, he's a little big ball of LOUDNESS! Did I already say "God help me!"...... aaahhh, GOD HELP ME!

This next one is really killing! My girls were the best eaters! They love salads and they were never picky eaters. They ate whatever I made with no arguments. Tahlia is about to be 7 now and she has just recently started being more picky (which I'm trying to nip in the bud!) but as babies and toddlers, my girls ate wonderful. Nate.... not so much! He's actually REALLY frustrating me because he won't eat ANY veggies. NONE! He ate them as a baby, in the baby food jars but now as a toddler, as soon as it touches his mouth, he SPITS it out. As a matter of fact, he spits EVERYTHING out! He'll barely eat chicken and rice, pastas he likes, cookies and crackers of course. He LOVES juice and milk but I do mix his juices with water, to lessen the sugar intake. I try to make his veggies as soft as possible and he still won't eat them.

Food, which should pleasurable to most people and kids, hasn't been for us. My son, at 10 1/2 months had, what at the time the doctors called an "Acute Life Threatening Episode" (still not sure what that means). We were having breakfast one morning, when he began to get fussy, as if he was uncomfortable or in some sort of pain. I noticed his lips turning blue, when he started to throw up, as if he was throwing up the devil! I ran outside with him (we happen to be in a restaurant), as he kept throwing up and after his final vomit, he passed out, his whole body going completely limp! Of course at that point I am completely hysterical, as you can imagine. To shorten up this "episode" story; he was taken to the ICU, tested for all kinds of things, everything came back normal, has had 2 more "episodes" since, seen a GI specialist and has been diagnosed with Acid Reflux. He has been prescribed Cimetidine/Tagamet, which he has been on for about 4 months now. It seems to have done the trick, so I guess that means he does have Acid Reflux. I was skeptical at first, just because the episodes were so extreme that I wondered if it was something more serious. So as you can see, food hasn't been very pleasant for us and now he's starting this bad eating behavior and I wonder when it will all end! His pediatrician has suggested I give him vitamins to compensate for the nutrients he's lacking and I have but WHAT DO I DO?!?!?! How can I get him to eat?? Is this a phase? Is he ever going to eat normal? This change, is one I cannot seem to get a grip on!

(Sorry this was so long. But I just had to get this off my chest! Phew!!)

Anyone have an suggestions?? Are there any of you who have had a child with Acid Reflux.... is this a part of it?? HELP!

What's in your bag??

I've just come to the harsh reality that I'm a receipt hoarder! LOL! Looking through my purse, this morning, TRYING to find a business card, I just laughed at what I saw. I thought of my sister, who I'm sure will comment about what she has in her purse, because she always has fun stuff in her bag. I really do need to stop collecting so many receipts, this problem is getting out of hand. But if I'm going to be honest, I need to get organized ALL the way around. I have become such an absent minded person, that if it's not written down or in my iPhone, it WILL get forgotten. Some of you know my passion for party planning and I have collected so many things through out the years. My garage has taken a hit, majorly! It is such a disaster and I'm so embarrassed but I'm actually going to let you all see my cluttered garage, in an effort to FORCE me to organize it. Especially as I plan more and more parties, it would be really nice to have things in order and easier for me to find. If one day, I go "pro", it wouldn't look very professional to have this type of storage place, right?!?! So I think I will go out this weekend and start buying storage bins and get crackin'! Back on the bag note, I'd like to know what's in YOUR bag?? Share the weird, gross, clutter and crap you have in your bags! (make me feel better.... please! haha)

My bag contained: receipts GALORE, tape, ipod, tampons, paper clips, a ball, a $20 bill shaped eraser, nail clippers, a roll of diaper trash bags, make up, a cd, sunglasses and a mini Prada perfume)
It's horrifying! I know! Give me a couple of weeks and I will hopefully have an organized photo to share.

Does Mommy get "me time"?

A couple of days ago I received my weekly email from "Circle of Mom's". It's a mom community site, where you can make profiles of your children, like a Facebook but private. A way to share your child's photos and milestones, with other moms. You can take part in discussions that relate to you and even start a discussion of your own. A place to voice your concerns or any questions. The discussion that was sent to me was "Does mommy get me time??". That is always a question that mothers battle. I think stay-at-home mom's probably yearn for this time more so than working mothers. Not that working mothers don't deserve "me time". But be honest, when you stay home with your child ALL day, you are more likely to want to escape. You have heard from mothers that being a stay-at-home mom is the hardest job in the world. And having experienced both, I can tell you from experience that it IS! Now of course being a working mom isn't easy, since you miss a lot of milestones and if you have school age children, working their schedules into your work schedule, is tough. Being a "Taxi Mom", working or not, is very exhausting. I am definitely for "me time" but I unfortunately don't get much of it. My husband works 6 days a week, so the children are ALWAYS with me. When I run errands, do groceries, clean the house, do laundry, cook, blog, party plan, visit friends...... they are ALWAYS there! I only get a babysitter when there is something special going on, which isn't very often. Date nights are very rare as well. I've squeezed in a Happy Hour with friends, what seems to be every 2 months! Sorry, that is just not cutting it.

But..... is there such a thing as too much "me time"?? For the "lucky moms" out there, that get 1 or 2 days/evenings a week to themselves while their children visit grandma and grandpa...... is that too much?? What or IS there a perfect balance? I started pondering over this recently. I've been itching to get out of the house more, by myself! Maybe join the gym, start cake decorating classes again, or just something new. Then I thought about how many times per week, if that, would be appropriate. So the question isn't really "Does mommy get me-time" because OF COURSE she does! We all deserve some time to ourselves, to relax, clear our heads, rejuvenate and feel rebooted, ready to get back to motherhood. Now I will pose the real question to you....... How much "me time" is TOO much?

Bon Voyage!

This is my farewell post, before we leave on our first family vacation. My little big family and I, are taking a trip to Los Cabos, Mexico. We've taken trips for weekends, hubby and I have gone on vacation without the kids, so this is the first time we will all be going on a week vacation. And boy do we need it! My hubby especially, REALLY needs it. He is such a hard worker, working 10 to 11 hour days, 6 days a week. Yes, that's his normal schedule! Even taking calls on his days off or when we're out (which totally irritates me!!) but I guess that's the price you pay when you run your own business. Things have been so busy for us, for a few months now and we are just so burnt out. So I can't tell you how excited I am for this trip. Not to mention that we could use some alone family time together. I've been really concerned about how Nate will do on the trip, mainly the plane ride. Now that he's in full on toddler mode, he doesn't sit still OR stay quiet. God help me! My girls are easy, all they need is a book and their iPods. So I've got a "Nate Checklist", that I'm hoping will help and I thought I would share some tips for traveling with toddlers.

• Get them a (non sugary) snacks (goldfish crackers and grapes are what we're taking)
• The open spaces in the airport can be a good place to let the kids run a little, while one parent waits in line to check the bags.
• Pacifiers, bottles, nursing or lollipops will help with the pressure in their ears, at take off and landing. (Bottles and lollipops are going to have to do for us)
• Pack an in-flight "Busy" bag, with toys and activities. (I will be packing a few toys, coloring books and a portable dvd player, with the always essential YGG dvd's and Toy Story movie)
• The usual diaper bag supplies (make sure your rash creams or gels are 3.4 oz or smaller)
• Have your child wear comfy clothing!!!

Nate's carry-on bag!

I hope these tips work, for the other passengers sake. Hahaha! I'm going to miss my blog but I'm hoping to come back refreshed and ready to make some moves. Take care everyone, don't miss me too much and I will "see" you soon! Adios!

I Love Blogging....

So I'm in transition at the moment. In between blog layouts. I see so many blogs with wonderful layouts, that I'm always thinking of changing mine. Maybe I just haven't found what suits me yet or what I'm content with. But as I continue my search, I become more and more in love with blogging. The sharing, the inspiring, it's just awesome. Since I am a "Party Planning Mama", I appreciate so much all the blogs I come across that offer their ideas and resources. It reminds me that there are still people out there, that aren't about just gaining popularity but that truly have a love for party planning. It's not about competition for them, it's just the love! Sites like "Creative Party Place" and "Catch My Party".com, are great because it's sole purpose is to display parties, in turn, sharing ideas. Which was my main objective when I first started my blog. But I've learned so much, since the start of my blog, some good things and some ugly things. One thing is for sure, pictures are EVERYTHING! Anything can look amazing if you take a great photo. Which isn't something I'm use too. I've ALWAYS been the "paparazzi", taking photos of my family and friends, at every occasion but taking pictures of my party set-ups, never! Which kinda stinks, cause by now I could've had a portfolio made, lol. I don't know how most of you can handle the added work of taking pictures of the party and then still entertain. But I guess that's when the professional photographer comes in handy. But I'm still learning about the "biz", although I'm not sure yet, how I feel about making the party planning experience into that. It's too much pressure for me and not to mention I'm not pushy enough. And I do appreciate all the times my friends and family have said to me, "You should do this for a living!". Maybe in time, but for now I'm just happy to plan these parties (big or small). I'm especially happy to come across so many Party Planning Mama's and appreciate them sharing their ideas, inspiring me. I'm still just getting the hang of this, there is still so much I don't know. Like I mentioned, photos and submitting your parties to other blogs/sites.....I didn't even know you could do that! So that's pretty cool! The contest you can enter?!?! The voting on blogs and parties?!! (not sure if popularity contests are what I want) I guess I will learn in time and maybe be up there with "Hostess with the Mostess".... one day! For now, I just love planning parties for my children and love my latest passion..... blogging!

Getting Ready for the Big Boy Car Seat

Today I spent the day searching for a big boy car seat for my little man. I still can't believe that it's almost that time for him to be seated, forward faced. Then there's the start of whole milk! But that's another story. I read some reviews and consumer reports and I'm still very conflicted. It's very important to me, to choose the right car seat, as I'm sure it is to most parents. But being rear ended on the freeway last week, really cements the importance of a good car seat. There are so many products out there, that it's not an easy task. With ratings/reviews from so many different people, with different opinions, price and different styles, there is a lot to consider. I think I have narrowed it down some but the tough decision is still yet to be made. I thought I would share my options and some of their specifications.

Evenflo Titan Elite Convertible Car Seat- Retail Price $99.99

• iParenting Media Award: Greatest Product Winner
• Rear Facing for infants 5 to 35 lbs.
• Forward Facing for infants 20 to 50 lbs.
• 5-point harness
• EPS, Energy Absorbing foam liner
• 4 shoulder harness positions
• High harness slots for taller child
• 2 buckle strap positions accommodate growing child
• Deluxe memory foam padding in seat area
• Removable head and body pillow for comfort
• Convenient up-front harness adjust
• Meets or exceeds all applicable federal safety standards
• All Evenflo car seats are Side Impact Tested

Britax RoundAbout- Retail Price $159.99-179.99

• Patented, Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether with staged-release tether webbing, anchors the top of the child seat at two points to minimize forward movement in a crash
• Rear and Forward Facing Recline for child comfort and positioning
• Built-in Lock-Off(s) secure the vehicle seat belt so that the child seat does not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path
• Convenient Harness Holders keep harness straps out of the way while placing child in the car seat
• Small Contoured Base ensures a tight installation in all types of vehicles
• Energy-Absorbing Foam Liner (EPS) absorbs and distributes crash forces
• High Density Comfort Foam provides an extra layer of padding to gently cushion the child
• Front Harness Adjuster provides effortless front adjustment when loosening the harness system
• Premium, Push-Button Lower LATCH Connectors for a quick, simple, and tight installation
• Plush, Premium Cover Set with matching belly pad provides extra comfort
• Energy-Absorbing Base deforms in the event of a crash to absorb impact forces

Out with the old, in with the New!

Now that we are approaching spring, it's that time again, to start the spring cleaning. Besides my garage, that needs major attention, I will be working on my daughters bedroom. My girls have pretty average size rooms, not small but definitely not big. Space is a big issue for them. So, we decided that in the next month or so, we would buy them bunk beds. They currently have their own separate beds and while I normally prefer that, the amount of space being taken, is too much. Fortunately, I worked in a furniture store for 5 years and have come to know good quality furniture. Which is why I chose bunk beds from Raymond Oak Furniture. The bunk beds that I will be purchasing are not oak, ironically, they are maple. The rest of their bedroom furniture is maple and also by Raymond Oak. If you are ever looking to buy kids bedroom furniture, I highly recommend them. They do tend to run pricey but it's very important to keep in mind, when it comes to furniture, it's quality before quantity. You can find Raymond Oak furniture at Henderson Furniture in Lawndale, Ca. The bunk beds pictured above are the ones that my girls will be getting. Unfortunately I can not disclose the price I am paying, because I still get "employee" discounts for anything I purchase. Retail price is $550.00- The pictures below are just a few of the bedroom sets that they have to offer.

Just some jibber jabber.....

It's about midnight and as I laid in my bed, my brain would not shut off. So I decided to get up and get on my computer. I was venting to my hubby earlier, that I felt like my brain was so cluttered. With Serina and Nate's parties in the works, I'm jumping from one idea to another. It's a bit overwhelming to keep things in order. While Serina's birthday is first, Nate's party is so big, that I have to keep on that as well. I have a binder of all kinds of ideas but a lot of them I haven't settled on either. So much is written down but not much is actually done. Which in turn, is giving me anxiety. I re-wrote everything today and I'm hoping I got things organized better. It's just hard to stay focused on one thing at a time. For instance today, while shopping at Party City for Serina's party, I seen some cute carnival games for Nate's and well, there I go, shopping for Nate too! I ended up forgetting an item I needed for Saturday....god help me! I need to do something to un-clutter my brain, or I'm afraid something vital will get forgotten. So if anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Sippy cup frustration.....

About 3 months ago, I went shopping for a sippy cup for Nathaniel. And I couldn't believe what I saw. Sippy/training cups "made easier" for baby. Soft silicone spouts, longer and more narrow, to make them seem like a bottle. I thought to myself "Boy, what won't they make to turn kids lazier than they already are?!?!" I thought I was pretty "modern mom" and it turns out, I'm much more traditional/old school than I thought. I don't understand how making these things easier, helps a child. Children didn't have a problem learning before, with our old products, they shouldn't have a problem now. I mean, the point of having our babies start using a training cup, is to eventually remove the bottle from the equation. So why would we want to give them something that feels like a bottle?? I had 2 daughters that learned the "hard" way and I'm not about to start to make it "easier" for my son. It's just nuts, what they look like now......
(This cup has actually been around for awhile and closest to what I'm use too)

I'm BACK!!!!

I know I've been away for quite awhile. Things have been so crazy, my head is spinning. Getting the kids ready for the holidays has been pretty time consuming. My computer was attacked by a virus. Which left me with no communication with the outside world. I was seriously going through withdrawals! LOL....got it fixed though, so I'm better now. We took a road trip this weekend, to Arizona. My hubby's business, has expanded to Arizona, so we went to check out the new property and just get away from the city. I have SOOOO much to do and I don't seem to be able to find the time. We were suppose to take pictures last week, for our Christmas cards but I couldn't get us color coordinated. Seriously! It's very important too me. So that remains to get undone. I still haven't decorated the tree or the house. I have been ALL over the place, looking for the right blue to incorporate into the browns that I already have. But no luck! So I have decided to give up and just use my brown and gold ornaments. I'm really anal about the colors I use....as you can see! I don't even know when I will get the time to do any of these things, with my kids school activities taking alot of my time. I have 2 holiday programs to attend, 2 parent conferences, 2 school Christmas parties to prepare for and a school awards ceremony. I'm preparing for my hubby's 30th Birthday, a week and a half away and I STILL haven't made a dent in the Christmas shopping. AAHHHHHH!!!! I'm tired, just typing this list!! I don't even know where to begin. Someone help! LOL....seriously....HELP!