Thursday Thoughts

I'm linking up with Jennifer at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts.

~ I am expecting fun stuff in the mail this week: Stork Stack and The Little Book Club (hopefully). Later this month I should be getting Citrus Lane for both boys, Cotton Booty, and KLUTCHclub Mom for review.

~ Tim and I tried Ben and Jerry's Liz Lemon recently and were so surprised at how good it is. It's part of their new Greek frozen yogurt line and is lemon Greek frozen yogurt with a blueberry lavender swirl. It is super yummy and has a lot fewer calories than their normal ice cream and a lot of protein. 

~ Owen's big boy bedding came in the mail earlier this week and I love it even more now that I see it in person. I think it is absolutely perfect and will really grow with him for the next several years. 

~ In case you hadn't heard, Erin Condren revealed their new 2013-2014 Life Planners on Tuesday. I love my planner from last year and it runs out in August so I'm looking to replace mine. Picking a cover design is really hard though. I like so many of them! What I love most about Erin Condren planners is that they take everyone's critiques and suggestions to heart and find little ways to improve the planners each year. And the monthly tabs! Love them!

~ Tim and I watched the movie Warm Bodies last night for a little mid-week date night and while we didn't particularly like how the ending was altered from the ending in the book it was based on, overall we really liked the movie.  The movie just came out in Redbox this week and is based on the book "Warm Bodies" by Isaac Marion. Not sure how people who have never read the book will respond to it, but it is really clever and cute.

~ After making the decision to cloth diaper our next baby, I have been doing tons of research online and I'm starting to figure out why some people call it addictive. I think Tim believes I am nuts because I am constantly watching how-to's on Youtube and reading blogs about cloth diapering. But the more I know about them, the better our chances for succeeding in using them will be. I have also been entering tons of cloth diaper giveaways in the hopes of winning us some free ones. I've also started a registry on my favorite diaper site Kelly's Closet so I can keep track of what I still need and so family and friends who might want to get us something can contribute. Our password is 1234. (We really don't need much else since we have basically everything of Owen's leftover). 

~ If you haven't already, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $100 certificate for Kelly's Closet. Even if you don't use cloth diapers, they have tons of other stuff for your kiddos.  

Cotton Booty review (May box)

       Since I've been researching cloth diapers for the past couple of weeks, I have found so many awesome online resources to learn more about them. And of course, you know I would find a subscription box specifically for cloth diapering mamas. Cotton Booty is a brand spanking new box subscription that just shipped out its first month's boxes this May. And because I am interested in trying out different types of diapers and related products, I thought this would be a fantastic subscription box for me to order! 

       Cotton Booty costs $24.99 a month (extended subscriptions are discounted) and includes one name brand cloth diaper, a "fun" item, and a cloth diaper related sample. You customize your box by selecting between girl, boy, and gender neutral options. The box ships first class mail and mine took six days to arrive at my house in Kentucky from their store in Pennsylvania. The package arrived in just a plain cardboard box, but that didn't matter because the brown paper and cute sticker concealed some really awesome stuff inside! 

        The theme for May's box was "Easy Does It" and it featured items that make cloth diapering easier: an all-in-one one size diaper, Baby Legs leg warmers, and cloth diaper safe diaper rash cream. I chose the boy box this month so my items were all tailored to a baby boy. 

        Here's what came inside my May box:

• BumGenius Freetime All-in-One One Size Cloth Diaper ($19.95): This is how the insert describes this diaper: "One of the easiest to use diapers on the market. Using the snaps on the front of the diaper, adjust the size if needed, put the diaper on your baby, wash, dry, and reuse. These one-sized diapers are designed to fit most babies weighing between 8 and 35 pounds." I am really excited about receiving this brand and kind of diaper because they were recommended to me by some cloth diapering friends and I definitely wanted to check them out. I was really impressed that Cotton Booty sent a really good quality, more expensive diaper from such a well-known company. And it is stinkin' adorable!

     The diaper that I received in the boy box came in the Albert print, which is part of BumGenius's special edition Genius Series. I included a picture of the back of the diaper so you can see the print better. It's so cute and looks kind-of like a little diaper tuxedo. Girls received the Lovelace print (pictured below right) and the neutral box came with a diaper in the color Clementine (pictured below left). I believe all diapers came with the snaps and not the aplix (aka Velcro).

• BabyLegs Leg Warmers ($12): The insert describes them this way: "These leg warmers will not only keep your baby warm, but also protected them from the elements, makes diaper changing and potty training easier, and protect their soft knees while crawling. BabyLegs are a parenting essential around the world because of their utility, practicality, and stylish appeal." We have a pair of these already for Owen and I am super excited to get another pair. I think they are definitely more useful on a smaller baby and I can't wait to put them on our next little boy. The print I received is the Edward. A different design came in the girl and gender neutral boxes (girls were pink with hearts and gender neutral were a black and yellow striped bumblebee design).

•  CJ's BUTTer ($1.50): This product is described as "a miracle in a tube by some, CJ's BUTTer has been used on adults and children to help relieve: eczema, rashes, dry/chapped skin, rug burns, mechanics hands and cuticles, and hand nails. The only ingredients in original butter are shea butter, olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, Vitamin E, and gluten free colloidal oatmeal. CJ's BUTTer is completely cloth diaper safe. It will not cause repelling or staining." I am happy to receive a cloth diaper related product sample so I can test stuff on our little man and pick the ones we like best in the future. I received the Lavender and Tea Tree scent. I can't attest to the smell because it is sealed and I don't want to open it until I'm prepared to start using it. 

  
      I came up with a total retail value of $33.45 for the items in this box, which is $8.46 more than what I paid for it. This is a great value for a box with such a niche market that is just starting out. I am really happy with my first box and look forward to learning more about cloth diapering and testing out more products in the months to come. If you're interested in trying Cotton Booty, check out their Facebook page or sign up on their website. If you use my link, you will receive $5 off your first purchase.  

Fun in the Sun (Kelly's Closet Giveaway!)

      Summer is almost here and with it comes lots of outdoor play, vacations, and more. We aren't going to beach this year, but my son loves being outside and I have to find ways to keep him cool and safe from the harmful rays of the sun. Here are some of our favorite things to do during the day this summer and some of my must-have products for Owen. 

• Playing in the Pool

      Like most people, we love spending a lot of our summer in the water. We aren't members of a local pool, so we've been hanging out in an inflatable pool in our backyard. This is a cheap way to entertain your kiddo and I swear Owen would spend the whole day in the pool if I let him. My must-have for playing in the pool is a reusable swim diaper. At Kelly's Closet, I like the My Swim Baby Swim Diapers. They come in several cute patterns (my favorite is Navy Swim Friends) and they cost only $9.95. There are many reasons to use a reusable swim diaper: they are more economical, they are more effective than disposable swim diapers at containing No. 2,  they're eco-friendly, and they are free of the chemicals and hold their shape better than disposable swim diapers. Kelly's Closet also offers coordinating rash guard shirts which provide even more sun protection!

• Playing Water Games

       Another way to keep cool during the summer while entertaining a toddler, is to play games with water. Our favorite is one we call "Put the Fire Out." I draw a house with a ladder up to a "fire" on our driveway using sidewalk chalk and then instruct Owen to use a bucket of water with a sponge to carry up and down the ladder to squeeze on the fire to put it out. He loves playing fireman and its a great way to expend some energy. Even though he's not in a bathing suit, I make sure to cover Owen with sunscreen to protect his skin from the harmful effects of the sun. I prefer to use natural and organic sunscreen on Owen because his skin is so sensitive. Kelly's Closet offers one of my favorite brands: Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35. This sunscreen is perfectly safe for babies and toddlers and has been okayed by the Environmental Working Group as free of harmful ingredients. 

• Picnics at the Park

        There's just something about eating outside that makes lunch more fun. Sometimes when we're stuck in a rut with our day-to-day routine, I will take us "out" for lunch. No, not to a fast food place, just outside. And when we're driving to visit family or going on vacation, we typically pack a picnic to eat at a rest stop rather than eating at a restaurant to save money and give Owen a place to run around and stretch his legs. Kelly's Closet sells reusable snack and sandwich bags that make taking our lunch on the go or to a picnic that much easier. And it saves us from using (and trashing) tons of disposable plastic bags. I like the Planet Wise Zippered Sandwich Bags. They come in more than a dozen different patterns and cost just $7.99. 

• Hiking/Sightseeing

     We love being outdoors as a family. One of the things we like to do is explore the area where we live now and do a little sightseeing and hiking. The above photo is from our trip to Cumberland Falls last summer. We are hoping to hike the Pinnacles soon. My must-have for hiking with a baby or toddler is a comfortable, supportive carrier. Owen likes to walk, but sometimes we want to move a little faster or he will get tired and having a great carrier makes it so much easier. We have a Beco Butterfly II carrier, but Kelly's Closet sells several great looking carriers. In particular, I am interested in the Moby Wrap Moby Go. We love our traditional Moby Wrap and they had not come out with this product when we were buying baby gear. It only costs $79.95 and will accommodate a baby from 15-45 pounds!

       For more of the best products for summer, check out Kelly's Closet's Top Five Summer Must-Haves for Baby HERE. In addition to my must-haves of a swim diaper, sunscreen, and reusable snack bags, they include a swim shirt, a swim hat, and a wet bag. These all would be necessities for us this summer if we were headed to the beach! 

      Now, here's the really fun part! Kelly's Closet is offering a giveaway for a $100 gift certificate to purchase all the items you need to keep your little one healthy and happy this summer. Complete the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter. The giveaway ends at June 30 at midnight EST. One winner will be selected. Must be over 18 years of age and a resident of the United States.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
    If you can't just can't wait to purchase some of these great items, Kelly's Closet is also offering a special coupon code through its affiliates that you won't find anywhere else! Use the code SUNANDFUN to save $5 on your purchase of $25 or more. 

Owen Lately

       I have abandoned doing monthly updates on Owen now that he is two, but I want to post some more random updates on him every once in a while to keep the grandparents happy. He is at such a fun age right now. Here are some fun facts about Owen lately:

• Owen's favorite song is "You Are My Sunshine." He loves singing in general and wants us to sing with him a lot. He has also starting humming little made-up tunes which is really cute. 
• Owen used to be a complete Daddy's boy, but recently he has been asking for me to put him to bed every night. A tiny part of me is really enjoying this. I only have a few more months with him as my baby. He is going to seem so old and big once the baby is born. 
• If Owen had his way, he would play cars and trains and play in the pool all day long with some book reading thrown in. 
• His current favorite foods are scrambled eggs and pepperoni, which he pronounces "pepper-honi."
• Owen has gotten really mischievous lately. He has started to ask us to leave the room when he wants to do something that he knows he's not supposed to do. And yesterday, he came and shut the door to our bathroom while I was drying my hair so that he could play on my tablet in the bedroom without asking (something we've been working on getting him to do). 
• He has an amazing memory and can remember the names of people he has met only once. He knows the names of people at the library and the post office and church. And at a recent work barbecue with people from Tim's job, he impressed several of them by calling them by name.
• Owen hates having his hair washed lately and screams like a banshee whenever we bathe him. We have tried doing it all different ways and nothing helps. Hopefully this stage will end soon. He still likes playing in the bath after we're done washing him. 
• We have started teaching Owen to recognize lower case letters. We call them "little" letters. He is a super sponge lately so it shouldn't take long. 
• Owen loves Barefoot Books books that come with a CD of the book as a song. We watch them on Youtube and he has memorized a lot of them. 

Thursday Thoughts

       
      I am linking up with Jennifer at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts. I haven't participated in this link-up for a few weeks because I've either had nothing to talk about or we were busy. 

~ I am still loving my Ibotta app on my iPhone. It is completely free to download and is basically like using coupons without all the hassle of having to clip them out and store them and all that. The app lists coupon deals for various products you can buy at the grocery store and you can get credit for buying the items simply by submitting a photo of your receipt and scanning the barcode on the item. I just make sure to check and see if there are any deals on the things that I'm going to buy at the store before I shop so I can make sure to buy the brand that will get me money back. They also have other offers for additional savings, like purchasing four deals in a month will earn you an extra $2 on top of what you have already saved. I have earned more than $10 so far since I started. They pay you through a PayPal account once you've accumulated at least $5. If you are interested in signing up, click HERE. Also, I think if you sign up now using my referral link, they have a special incentive for new users where you can earn $10 when you sign up with the Share the Love Bonus. 
       Another recent accomplishment with another money-saving method is that I recently made over $50 with my Ebates account. If you're new to Ebates, basically you sign up for free and search for your favorite online stores on their site before you shop and you earn cash back on your purchases. You don't have to mail in any rebate forms or do anything else, it just comes to you in a check in the mail. It's such an awesome program! 

~ In case you've noticed it at the grocery store or in advertisements and wondered about it, MioEnergy is the real deal. I bought some using my Ibotta app earlier this week and had a glass of water flavored with it with dinner last night and I was awake until 3 a.m.! And I am normally not really affected by caffeine that much. Obviously I don't usually drink coffee before bed, but I didn't imagine at all that a glass of this with dinner would affect me the way it did. Ugh. I am dragging today. But at least I know what I can drink to get some energy... :)

~ While Tim's mom was in town last week, we took advantage of her free babysitting to go on a date night. We ate dinner with Owen and my MIL, but then headed out to see the new Star Trek: Into Darkness movie. We both really enjoyed it and just getting to see a movie in the theaters was really fun since we don't do that too often anymore. The movie was definitely action-packed and funny and I don't see any reason why non-Star Trek fans couldn't enjoy it. It was a bit predictable, but we were just out for a non thought-provoking entertaining movie and we got just that. 

~ I am hoping going to use cloth diapers with our baby-to-be so I have been doing  a lot of research over the past week or so. Tim is reluctantly on board. We failed miserably with Owen, but I feel a lot more knowledgeable this time around and there are so many kinds of cloth diapers that I didn't know about before. We used diaper covers and prefolds and just did not like the mess and hassle of them. Plus we had a crappy washer at the time and we were new parents who had no idea what we were doing and had very little help since we lived so far from family. Now, though we still live far from family, I feel like we are both more confident in taking care of a newborn and that adding a few extra loads of laundry with our newer HE washer and dryer won't be that bad. Plus, with pocket diapers and all-in-ones (AIOs), cloth diapers are so similar to disposables that we shouldn't have as much trouble if we use those kinds. Another thing I have found is that mothers in the cloth diapering community are so nice and helpful when it comes to giving advice on which diapers to choose and how to care for them, that I should have plenty of advice if I need it. I do love my Honest Company disposables, but saving money on diapers by using cloth would be really great and really help out our finances. Plus, we will most likely have two in diapers for a little while so I'd rather eliminate some of the expense of that. Do you cloth diaper? What are your favorite kinds? I am thinking about registering online for some cloth diapers and accessories since we don't really need much else for our baby-to-be. I would most likely register at Kelly's Closet because they seem to have a lot of great deals. 

~ After getting our guest room cleaned out and ready to begin transitioning into Owen's big boy room last week, I made my first purchase for his new room: this quilt and sham from Pottery Barn Kids. They had a free shipping discount code on Monday so I took advantage of that on top of a sale to save about $50 on them. I really love the colorful pattern and I think that it will suit Owen for several years. I also love that they will match a number of different sheets so I can keep the same main bedding while switching out sheets based on Owen's current obsession (cars, trains, dinosaurs, sports, etc.) I really want to avoid having the whole Cars-themed or Thomas the Train-themed rooms since his interests will probably change over time. Plus, I just like the look of sheets like the ones pictured instead of Disney sheets, you know? 

Tasty Tuesday

       It seems as if at least a few people were interested in my menu plan last week so I decided to post it again this week. Again I have a mix of favorite meals and brand new recipes that we've never tried. And they aren't all from Skinny Taste! Shocker! 

• Monday: Slow cooker hot fruit salad. We had our small group last night where we had breakfast for dinner. Everyone else had planned to bring pancakes, bacon and sausage, eggs, and cinnamon rolls so we had to think of something different. We ended up bringing this slow cooker hot fruit salad, which is super easy to make and tastes yummy on top of pancakes, kind-of like they do at Cracker Barrel. I found the recipe just by Googling slow cooker fruit compote or something like that. 

• Tuesday: Bacon-topped petite turkey meatloaf. This is a recipe that I have made before and we liked it a lot. It uses vegetables in the meatloaf so I am able to sneak some healthy stuff in there for Owen without him knowing. (Not that he's much of a picky eater anyway). I made little muffin tin meatloaves for him when he was starting to eat grown-up food and didn't eat as much of what we ate. I don't think we've had this since then so it's about time. We will have it with roasted green bean bundles and maybe some roasted red potatoes.  

• Wednesday: Skinny chicken fajitas. We had this recipe last week and it was so good that I already want to have it again. The funny thing is that it is so simple, but the flavors are so good! We will have these with black beans and corn. Owen is currently obsessed with black beans and will eat a ton of them. 

• Thursday: Breakfast for dinner. I know we had breakfast for dinner on Monday night too, but I love it and it is such a cheap and quick dinner. We already have pretty much everything we need for it so I figured it would be a good way to save some money on our grocery bill this week. 
• Friday: Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger. This is a new Skinny Taste recipe that was posted last week. I can't wait to try it. We have to wait until the weekend so Tim can grill it since he generally gets off work pretty late during the workweek. The burgers contain carrots (interesting) and have a pineapple soy sauce glaze. It seems super yummy and we all love pineapple, especially the babies. It's Owen favorite fruit and one that I have craved during both pregnancies. 

• Saturday: Grilled pork chops with sauteed spinach and baked sweet potatoes. Nothing fancy. This is just a dinner that we do frequently in the summer. Tim seasons or tops the pork chops however he wants and we have the same side dishes every time. 
• Sunday: Bangin' Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Asian Edamame Fried Rice. I thought this seemed like an interesting recipe and I hope that it turns out well. It is not really something I would typically pick out to make, but I thought I would give it a try anyway. We'll see what the family thinks about it. 

What are you eating this week?

Bump update: 26 Weeks

        According to my pregnancy app, the baby is about the size of a head of cabbage at about 14 inches long and between 1.5 and 2.2 pounds. His eyes are continuing to form and will soon begin to open. His eyelashes are now grown too. He is breathing in amniotic fluid to practice for when he is outside the womb. 

        I am enjoying my second trimester still, particularly in the late evenings and early morning when he is most active. Watching him kick and roll around in my belly is so amazing. He is still preferring my right side, which looks funny and sometimes hurts, but it's also kind-of sweet to imagine him snuggled up in there. I am hungry frequently and drinking a lot of liquids. Mostly I have been craving fruit, whether just cut up or in smoothies or popsicles. My favorite treat is a blueberry spinach smoothie. I just combine frozen organic blueberries, a banana, a handful (or two) of fresh spinach, a half a cup or so of Greek yogurt and a splash of milk in the blender. I also add ice if it seems to need it. It is so yummy and you can't even taste the spinach. 
       My belly seems super huge. Tim rubs BioOil on my tummy every night, which is a sweet moment that I enjoy. Generally baby boy is kicking up a storm at this point and seems to react to hearing his daddy's voice. I don't have any new stretch marks that I can see. And I only got a couple very small ones when I was pregnant with Owen so I'm not expecting to get many, but I am trying to be as proactive as possible. Sometimes if I'm lucky I get a little backrub thrown in. My lower back and the sides of my stomach are starting to get sore. My belly button is getting more shallow, but I doubt it will every completely poke out. 

       This past week, my mother in law came to visit and I was fortunate to be able to get some extra rest and get some things done around the house. It was wonderful. We also went shopping for baby boy and she bought him some really cute new outfits and a sweet baby blanket.