Halloween Photo Album Idea

My friend Jessica shared this idea with us on our "baby board". She gave me permission to share it here.

A friend with grown-up children told me about this great idea! It's so simple, but I had not thought of doing this...just wanted to share with other moms...Happy Halloween! This is our first year to really "do" Halloween with Soren, so I'm just starting it now.

Today I started a Halloween photo album where we'll put our favorite pics of Soren (and any future kiddos) during the Halloween season every year. I am not good about scrapbooking, but this seems really manageable! I picked up a regular photo album at Michael's and some cute Halloween scrapbook stickers to decorate it. I also bought a few orange scrapbook pages to cut out some backgrounds for typing a little note each year. I'm going to go back and print out some of last year's pics from 3-month-old Soren, as well. I found an album (40% off) that has places for horizontal and vertical pictures.I just know that Soren is going to love looking back at these pictures each year. (And me, too!)

On a side-note, this could really be done for any holiday or birthday. Great job, Jessica! It looks fantastic!

Activities: Silly and Spooky Fall Fun

I tore this page out of the October 2009 issue of Parenting magazine. It has some cute ideas - especially if you have kids! Here's the article:

Play catch
On a windy day, have everyone try to catch leaves as they fall, calling out the color of the leaf before grabbing it. The person who can score five leaves first wins the game. (If it's not windy, have a grown-up throw leaves in the air; little ones will love helping with this job, too.)

Leaf through it
Before heading inside, collect a pile of colorful, newly fallen leaves (dry ones will crumble) for these classic crafts: Make a place mat by arranging leaves between two sheets of clear contact paper; use scissors to trim the edges. Create stamp art by applying water-based paint to the veined (back) side of a leaf and pressing it onto construction paper. Or place double-sided tape on the back of your finds and let toddlers stick them onto a window.

Try a scary snack
Sustain hungry goblins with creepy centipedes, made by sticking crunchy chow mein noodles on both sides of a string-cheese stick. For a sweet spider, insert four two-inch "legs" of thin licorice pieces into the sides of a cupcake. Add Red Hots or M&M's to the frosting for eyes.

Liven up meals
Food that stares back at you shouldn't be a once-a-year occasion. Sliced black olives can turn a mini-pizza into a jack-o'-lantern; smiley-face peas can perk up mashed potatoes.

Have a ball
Create festive bowling pins by painting ten empty one-liter soda or water bottles with orange poster paint. When they're dry, use black paint to add jack-o'-lantern faces. Then line them up, grab a ball, and let the game begin.

Feed the birds
Tie a long string or ribbon around a pinecone and then slather it with peanut butter. Roll it in seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin) and hang it up from a tree branch or clothesline. Watch the birds dig in!

Jokari Cool Cones

This was featured in the August 4, 2009 issue of Womans' Day magazine:

"Mom-Tested: WD food director Jackie Plant raved to me about Jokari Cool Cones, plastic ice cream cones with push-up handles ($3.99 for two; in supermarkets): When I cam across these, I thought, 'Why didn't I think of this?' It's such a great idea! You can use them to scoop out and serve ice cream or make your own healthy pops with leftover fruit smoothies."

- Terry Grieco Kenny

Design Your Own Lamp

Parents magazine featured this lamp in the May 2008 issue. I think it's so unique, and what a great way to display kids' artwork!

"Light Show: If you've run out of room on the fridge to exhibit your petite Picasso's latest creation, then check out Streamline's Design Your Own Lamp ($30; thespottedgoose.com). Just slide your child's artwork between the double shades and presto - you've got a personalized lamp. When he gets bored of one drawing, it's easy to slip in another, then another...and so on."

MizPee.com

Ok, I think this website is just cool - especially for all those germaphobic moms out there.

"Goody Tech: When You Gotta Go; This is the best thing since...well, we think this is the greatest thing to ever hit a mom's cell phone: mispee.com, a new website that helps you find the nearest, cleanest restroom instantly when you're out and about. Just download the site onto your mobile browser. Then whenever you're in need, enter your current location and a list of area loos appears."

But seriously! St. Louis is not a city in their list? Camdenton and Ozark, Missouri are? That just seems weird to me. Come on you germaphobic moms, let's get on this! My kids aren't potty training yet, but next year I might need this! :)

Featured in Parents magazine, May 2008

Bobo Glove

Parents magazine has a "Goody Bag" section in each edition. I just love all the unique stuff they find! The Bobo Glove was featured in the August 2008 magazine.

"Infant Toy: Play With Your Baby; Let's face it - entertaining a newborn 24/7 can get kinda tough. With the Bobo Glove, you've got hours of fun in the palm of your hand. Your little one will teethe, rattle, tug, look at herself, and more, all while boppin' on your lap. Workman, $18."

BabiePlates

When the boys got their trikes for their first birthday, I kept thinking of the little license plates we all use to have for our bikes when we were little. These totally remind me of those!

"License to Stroll: never lose your kid's ride in a sea of sameness again! A personalized plate gives your wheels standout panache. Just don't blame us if the stroller police give you a ticket for being too fabulous. ($40; babieplates.com)

Featured in Parents magazine, August 2008

The "Nose Hose"

This was written in the September 2007 issue of BabyTalk magazine:

"Nose Hose: We admit it sounds icky. But if you've ever struggled to relieve your baby's stuffy nose with a nasal aspirator, you may welcome the Nose Frida, a newfangled gizmo from Sweden. Put one end of the 14-inch-long plastic tube against (not in) your baby's nostril, and then suck - yes, with your mouth - on the other end to extract the mucus. Wait, don't stop reading! There's a filter on the baby's side of the hose that prevents the yuck from getting anywhere near your lips. Swedish moms swear by the thing, so it's worth a shot, right? ($15; nosefrida.com)"

Okay, so this sounds gross, but the boys fight me on sucking out their snot! I checked out the website, and it looks like this is available at Whole Foods as well as Target (online)...

StrollAway Stroller Hook

This was written in the January 2009 issue of Parents magazine:

"Out of Sight! Tired of tripping over all the baby gear in your home? The StrollAway is a mom-invented over-the-door stroller storage system that's perfect for families who are tight on space (and who isn't?). Slide the metal frame over a closet door, then hang your stroller from the hooks to get it off the floor and out of the way. Now why didn't we think of that? $50; metrotots.com"

What a great idea! I can see this being extremely helpful if you don't have a garage or a shed...
Seems like there must be other hooks available - some that might not cost so much. Organized Living? The Container Store?

For Little Cooks: Fiesta's Head Chefs

This was written in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine:

"Little Cooks: A fun way to help your kids get active in the kitchen: Fiesta's new Head Chefs, a line of five silicone baking figure with bendable arms and legs; $10 each, surlatable.com"

Look how cute these are!! What kid wouldn't want to help mom in the kitchen with these?!

There are 3 other options on the website, so be sure to check them out. With the holiday season approaching, this seems like it would be a great gift idea!

"Tech TLC" - saving your wet cell phone

This was written in the November 2008 issue of American Baby magazine:

"Tech TLC: Did baby drop your cell phone or digital camera in the toilet? (Oh, it happens!) Try this, from Best Buy's geek Squad: first, don't try to turn it on. Remove the battery and seal both it and the device in Tupperware, along with a silica gel pack (found in a purse or shoebox - or in a bag of beef jerky, if you don't have a new purse around). Wait a day for the gel to absorb liquid before reassembling your device and turning it on."

I hadn't heard this before, and Mike's cell phone seems to always be getting wet - he sets it on the counter, the night-stand, etc. I think we'll try this technique next time!

Batteries - Part II

It never fails...we are almost always out of one or more kinds of batteries. And then I get to the store, and forget which one kind it is - but I almost always remember which toy it belongs to.

So, I made a list, and I carry that list in my wallet. On the list - the brand of the toy, the name of the toy, the type of battery, and how many of that battery.

(Note - also on that list are kinds of light bulbs, and which light in the house they belong to. Because that's something else I always forget.) :)

What kind of batteries does it need?

I read this tip in the January 2009 issue of Parents magazines - I always had the intention of following through on it, and even went so far as to make a list...


The tip: "Genius Reader Tip - Battery Trick: Using a Label Maker, create stickers to attach to any toys and gear that tells you what kind of batteries it requires."


I think it would also be beneficial to indicate on the sticker how many of that battery.


I have a Label Maker like this one, from Target for under $20:

Target Reusable Tote Bag Credit

StLMommy.com is a blog that I subscribe to. Ironically enough, I found out that I went to college with Kim, the "owner" of the blog. She recently posted this:

Target is becoming more eco-friendly by offering a $0.05 credit for every reusable tote bag that you use when you check out!

It does not have to be a Target bag it can be any bag that you want to use. They will scan a bright red sticker that has a UPC code on it beside or behind the register which will give you a $0.05 credit for each bag that you use. It's not a lot but every penny counts and it's a great way to give us an incentive to be more eco-friendly!

I'm a big Target shopper, and I try really hard to use the tote bags, so I'll take a few cents off my total!

Update: On Thursday, 10/29, I visited the Kirkwood Target. I asked about the tote bag credit, and she had a bar code on the register to scan. I had two bags with me, and though I only needed to use one - she still gave me credit for the two. Bonus!

Pampers Rewards Program

Did you know that their is a code on the inside of Pampers Diapers and Pampers Wipes? We are fond of the Pampers diapers, so I've accumulated lots of those codes. You can register on the Pampers website for their Gifts to Grow program, and then accumulate points to "purchase" stuff.

Also, there are occasionally Gifts to Grow codes on the web that anyone can put into their bank. Check out some of the blogs on my "Helpful Info Sites" for more information.

I've gotten books for the boys and a $25 Applebee's Gift Card - for free. Well worth it!
The often have Starbucks gift cards (though I'm not a coffee fan) as well as Shutterfly freebies in their Rewards Catalog.

Tikatok Books

Here's their motto: Where Kids Write, Illustrate, and Publish Their Own Books

How cute is that? Take those drawings that kids do in school, and turn it into their own masterpiece...

http://tikatok.com/

(Featured in Parents magazine, April 2009)

Mudpuppy Money Banks

I love getting magazines - I see so many great ideas in them! But boy are they a waste of paper - it's frustrating...especially when 3/4 of the magazine is ads! But I like all the fun things that the magazaine-workers find.


American Baby had this in their April 2009 issue: Mudpuppy Money Banks
They are available from galison.com - but I just love the divided parts, so kids can learn to divy money up between Spend, Share, and Save. These cost $14, and there are several different designs for the buckets.


For all the crafty people out there...this could so easily be done! And I'm sure for cheaper. :)

Saving My Floors...

When they were little, Connor and Logan spit up. A LOT. And the idiots who previously owned my house laid practically-white carpet in the living room before putting it on the market. It's always been on the to-do list to rip up the carpet, but it's yet to happen. Anyone who's been in my house knows how disgusting and stained it is...between kids, the dog, and not having a foyer.

But, I bought this item to help protect the carpet, and now that the boys have a playroom that has hardwood floors, it's in there to protect the hardwoods.

I'm probably a sucker, but I bought the matte from One Step Ahead because it was "the thickest". Whatever - I'm pleased with it. I only bought the A-Z alphabet set...none of the trim or any other accessories. It's done it's job. Also, Connor likes to pull the pieces apart and carry them around. And, the pieces are texturized - good for sensory development. :)

My Best Baby-Proofing Suggestion...Play Yard

I cannot even explain how much this item has worked to our advantage - it is the Today's Kids Play Yard. The one I have is discontinued, but I got mine second-hand anyway.


We have used ours in many different set-ups - as a rectangle to keep the boys contained when they were rolling everywhere...as a long-line gate across the living room/dining room opening all the way over to block the hallway opening...and now, we just have it blocking the living room/dining room since we have the spare bedroom set up as a playroom (we keep our bedroom and the bathroom doors shut).



But, this doesn't HAVE to be snapped together in a circle/square shape all the time - which we love and have certainly gotten more use out of for it.



These are similar items:

Li'l Playzone with Lights & Sounds - which is available from One Step Ahead and Target

Superyard XT - Babies R Us, etc.

As I stated I got mine second-hand from another twin mom. She also had 10 panels, whereas the typical one comes with six. I have seen lots of these on Craigslist (etc.), so absolutely look for them used! But they go fast - so be prepared for that! To search, you might look for play zone, playzone, play yard, playyard, etc. And don't forget, the would also be great to use outside, especially if you don't have a fenced-in yard!

Do you want updates emailed to you?

Apparently, I can set up the blog for you to receive email updates whenever I've added new posts. If you'd like to be added, please email me - I will add your email address. Thanks!

Preparing for Winter - Mittens & Gloves

One of my coworkers and I were discussing gloves and mittens for the kids the other day...this came to mind, as she mentioned trying to figure out how "not to loose them".

When we were younger, we had gloves and/or mittens that were each attached to a string. My mom would feed the string through the sleeves of our coat, so that when we took the glove or mitten off, it was "attached" to our coat. Seems like an ingenious idea for kids!

I searched for mittens on a string, and came up with this link...look how cute he is! I also found that these types of mittens are commonly referred to as "Idiot Mittens"...well!

And, if you already have the mittens/gloves for your little one, don't buy new! Jusst attach a string to the tops of the mittens/gloves. Give it a few, strong stitches, and you should be good to go - I don't sew, but that seems easy enough!

Gift-Giving Traditions - for children and adults

So far, I've started two "traditions" for the boys...
- I get them books for that holiday. For example, I just picked them up Halloween books at the store the other day.
- The other tradition was one that my mom did for us when we were little...we got an ornament every year for Christmas...it usually came in our stocking, and the ornament usually gave in indication of what we enjoyed that year. The boys each received a "1st Christmas" ornament last year, and I've been on the hunt for their ornament for this year. I'm pretty sure that their ornament for 2009 will have penguins on it, since they have been obsessed with this dvd all year! The current song they are obsessed with on the dvd is the butterfly song, but not very boy-ish, so I think I'll go with the penguins instead. :)

St. Nick's/Christmas
Socks
Christmas pajamas
Ornament
CD



For children:


My sister-in-law Jamie started giving my niece the Precious Moments Birthday Train Set when Rachel was born. Each year for her birthday, Rachel gets another piece of the ceramic train set...it looks like there is a piece up to age 16. My sister Katie said that was one of Rachel's favorite gifts, and that each year she looks forward to seeing 'which animal will add to the train'. Too cute!

When my boys were getting ready for their first birthday, Jamie asked me about this train set for Connor and Logan. After much debate, we determined the Precious Moments set wasn't very boy-ish, so we decided on a real, battery-powered train set. The boys each received a train car for their 1st birthday, as well as some pieces of track, etc., and will continue to get a piece of the train each year. This way, wheen they are older, they will have a train set to put around their Christmas tree, play with, etc. Putting the train on the floor around the Christmas tree was always a tradition when I was a kid...and it was "Scott's train". So it seems even more fitting that the boys are receiving their train sets from Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie.

I'm a super-slacker on this one, but I started a tradition for my nieces Sammie, Rachel, and Taylor. This tradition was getting them a charm (for a charm bracelet) each year...for example, for their baptism, they got a small cross. Sammie was obsessed with purses one year, so I that year I got her a purse, etc. Like I said - I'm pretty far behind on this one, but I do have the intentions of catching up one day...my plan is to give them a "complete" bracelet on their 13th (or 16th, or whatever) birthday to exemplify their lives.

For adults:

One of the gifts my mom gave her children and step-children was a collection of cookie cutters. She would pick out 2-3 for each month, and then we received cookie cutters for that season/holiday as well as a recipe for that kind of cookie...and a few of the cookies. This was nice for us because now we each have a small collection that we can continue the tradition of baking shaped cookies with our kids.

Best of Chums Crochet Booties

So this is my first copy-from-a-magazine posting...one of the reasons this blog began. :)


These were featured in the October 2009 edition of American Baby magazine:
Best of Chums crochet booties - $22 from Amazon.com
There are other designs as well - animals, taxicabs, snowmen
So freakin' cute, but size 0-12 months - bummer for my boys!

No aspirin for babies...

This bit of information came from my school's nurse:

Please review the label of all medications that you administer to your children when they have a fever. Consult your doctor before giving them anything. Do not give them aspirin or other products that contain salicylates. Another name for aspirin is “salicylate”. There is the possibility of Reye’s Syndrome in children with influenza or viral illness, that receive salicylates.

Remember to tell grandparents about not giving aspirin for a fever! Some of us grew up on baby aspirin, and our parents may think it’s OK to give it for a fever.

I checked my bottles of Tylenol and Motrin - those are safe and do not contain salicylates. The linked website confirms that.

Also, this page gives lists of medications (over-the-counter and prescription) as well as topical products that contact salicylates.

A follow-up to Babies R Us Rewards - Pampers Diapers

I have only seen this opportunity ONE time, so I didn't post it in my original post - found here. However, I received an email from Babies R Us today, so I thought I would share.

Disclaimer: I am not guaranteeing this will work - it might depend on your salesperson. There is the fine print on the coupon that it's not valid with any other offers for that same item...but I have done this once - and kicked myself for not buying more at that time - because I think February was the last time I saw it.

Okay, first - this is the email I received:
http://www.pampers.com/en_US/emails/Tru_Bru_Oct/web_tru_bru.html
Basically, it's one of those deals where you buy 2 boxes, you get a $15 gift card for your next purchase. The valid dates are Saturday, 10/10 through Monday, 10/12.

BUT, the current Babies R Us/Toys R Us ad, valid through this Saturday 10/10, has a coupon for $5/off each box.
Go here for the weekly ad: http://toysrus.shoplocal.com/toysrus/default.aspx?action=entryflash&
(For me, it's pages 8-9 that has the coupon)

So, if you went Saturday, you could attempt to use the $5/coupon per box. You could also use manufacturer coupons for Pampers that you have. And finally, the register should automatically do the gift card when your 2nd box is scanned.

This makes a box of diapers go from $40.99 to $28.49 (if you consider the amount you are getting for a future purchase)...and then add on your manu. coupons. And don't forget to have your Rewards card scanned.

Unique Baby Gift Ideas...

1. Lovems - I've mentioned these blankets that the boys have in this post

2. Baby's 1st Alphabet Block - Suzanne likes to give this gift for new babies, so when Luke was born, I got it for him. :) Ironically, I found this one today when looking for my link for #6.

3. When I was little, my godmother gave me a personalized Sesame Street book - myself, my cousin, and my dog were all characters in the book. I still have it! I found this site, which offers the same sort of thing, but not just with Sesame Street.

4. I see me books - the same sort of idea as #3, but other options

5. Birthday Keepsakes - Suzanne has ordered from this site, and I saw these when ordering supplies for the boys' 1st birthday party.

6. Personalized Frame - I've given frames with this to my nieces Rachel and Taylor. I found a silver one at an outlet mall that I had engraved for Rachel and ordered this one for Taylor.

Unique Bridal Shower & Wedding Gift Ideas...

As I stated at the beginning, I started this blog to organize myself - my computer, my house, and my head. So in an effort to do that, this is another post. :)


1. Alphatography - of course my own side-business has to be #1

2. A personalized drink tub
- Several years ago, this one from Lillian Vernon was my wedding/shower gift of choice
- Suzanne's sister Trisha started making some as well; these are on her Etsy site; Trisha also makes a personalized tray that can coordinate with the bucket

3. A Wine Theme - corkscrew, a wine bottle coaster, wine glass charms, coasters for glasses (some even have initals on them - get their last name initial!), a bottle of wine, wine glasses. You could also add cheese and crackers and combine this with a picnic basket idea...

4. A Beer Theme - Sometimes the couple registers for beer glasses...you could have them etched with their monogram, last initial, etc. Include a six-pack (or more) of their favorite beer!

5. A picnic basket with various items - can be made by you or pre-purchased. Some things to include - include a service at least for two!: melamine plates, napkins, melamine wine glasses, a tablecloth, silverware, a corkscrew, a cutting board

6. BBQ tools - might also include bbq seasonings and a cookbook for bbqing

7. A recipe book - or a photo album with some of your favorite recipes included, printed on
index cards. You could also put this in a gift bag with some of the utensils the couple registered for - slotted spoon, serving, spoon, tongs, spatula, etc.

8. The last wedding I went to, the bride had registered for this container of cookie cutters from Crate and Barrel. Long story short, I put together my own set of cookie cutters, for way cheaper from a little store in IL that specializes in baking. Then I added some of mine, my grandma's, and her grandma's favorite cookie recipes. (Our grandmas knew each other years and years ago and are both deceased, so this was really special to her...plus it was my best friend's sister...so it was special to me.)

9. Gardening tools - even if the couple doesn't garden, weeds still need to be pulled. You could include gloves, a pot, a garden hose, and some tools.

10. A friend of mine got this for a shower gift - holiday decorations for every holiday. The gift-giver had been collecting them throughout the whole year on clearance! St. Pat's wreath, Halloween fingertip towels, Christmas cloth napkins, etc. It was QUITE cute, but took a lot of planning ahead of time.

11. Suzanne and I got married 2 weeks apart...after the weddings, we both mentioned how we didn't get many personalized gifts. Strange, we thought - but we ordered these photo frames for ourselves. We have the black one, and on the frame you can put the couples names (first and last) as well as the wedding date. Too cute!

Babies R Us Rewards Program - Pampers Diapers

When the boys were first born, I did a lot of checking into who had the best price for Pampers Diapers. I literally would stand in the store with my phone-calculator and divide it out to the price of the diaper...I mean, I had twins - who also required formula - I needed to find the best deal!!! For a long time, Target had the best price...until I found out about the Rewards Program at Babies R Us.

I already had the Rewards Card - basically, you get a reward card and you can accumulate money towards gift-certificates...I was already participating in that. What I didn't know was that they also had a program targeted at diapers. What it is: Buy 9 Pampers Diapers Value Boxes, Get the 10th FREE. The Value Boxes are the 64 count - 252 count, depending on the size of the diaper. A box of those diapers retails at Babies R Us for $40.99; Sam's has them for the same price (or maybe $1 cheaper/box), but then doesn't have the 10th box free.

PLUS - Babies R Us frequently offers coupons off those boxes of diapers: $5 off/box or $15 gift card for the next purchase with the purchase of 2 (or sometimes 3) boxes

I try and minimumly do the $5 off/box - this makes the box $35.99.

DOUBLE PLUS - Did you know that Babies R Us also accepts manufacturer coupons? So I can get an additional $1, $1.50, and sometimes $2 off each box with a man. coupon.

By using both sets of coupons, I could get a box of diapers for as low as $33.99.

WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE - I guess I never read the fine-print...or they changed it on me and I didn't know it. You can only accumulate a free box every 9 months...I purchased a 9th box in April 2009, so I couldn't get another free box until January 2010! What!?! I'm writing this in October, and I've already purchased 13 boxes since April...so I'm already due for a free box, plus I'm headed towards a 3rd free box. I found this out on Friday...needless to say, I was pretty pissed. (For most of you, this probably wouldn't happen, but remember, I go through double the diapers...)

But, I found a loop-hole. I picked up another rewards card - I'm going to put this one in my mother-in-law's name...and start accumulating diapers on that card as well. Connor and Logan are her only grand-kids, so it's not like I'm competing with anyone else in the family...

ExpediteSTL - IKEA Delivery

My previously-mentioned addiction to HGTV has also addicted me to IKEA. Unfortunately, there is not an IKEA in St. Louis, and almost every single item I've selected so far is "not available for sale" on the IKEA website. So, unless I could lure a friend to visit IKEA for me on a trip to Chicago, or unless I was making a trip myself, I was kind of screwed.

UNTIL...I found Expedite STL. So see, this is how my Craigslist addiction comes to my advantage. I saw a post about IKEA delivery on CL. I checked it out - it linked to a website. Basically, the owners of Expedite travel to IKEA once a month...they will pick up your items and either deliver them to your house or you may pick them up in Chesterfield. You pay a fee for their service, in addition to the cost of the items.

I used Expedite STL this summer to purchase some items - Excellent Service! They travelled on the weekend, contacted me on Monday to schedule a drop-off, and delivered to my house on Monday night. I couldn't have been more pleased.

The fee I paid - probably more than shipping would have been (had my items been available to purchase on the internet), but I also had smaller items. BUT, cheaper than I would have paid in gas travelling to/from Chicago. Verdict? Well.worth.it!!!

HGTV - IKEA - Toy Boxes

I'm an HGTV junkie - love it. I could maybe get away with just having that one channel, but a few of the designers annoy me, so maybe not. One of the shows I watch is Rate My Space...and on an episode this summer, Angelo commented about "these being toy boxes kids would actually use". Well, I wanted to know what they were, so I hunted them down - I went to the Rate My Space website and watched the reveal over and over again until I could match what I saw with the IKEA website...sad, isn't it?

So here are the items - and don't worry, I bought them and love them!

IKEA Snack Boxes - easy to assemble, stack one on top of the other, low enough for the boys to reach over and get their toys

IKEA Rill Caster - I will say that I haven't added the wheels onto the bottom of the boxes yet. I don't want the boys to be pushing the Snack Boxes around and then them fall. But Angelo recommended them, so I got them. :)

The Downfalls - the boxes have metal corners...worried me a bit, but so far, all is okay. The other thing I wish is that the Snack Boxes had a removable lid...to hide the contents sometimes. :)

Picky Sticky - The Original Picture Stickers

My friend Melissa has the best ideas...and since Genevieve is about 4 months older than the boys, I've had the opportunity to copy many of those great ideas. One thing Melissa did was take monthly pictures of Genevieve - with an iron-on attached to a onesie that depicts how old Genevieve is. Melissa made these at her old job, and I was able to get two sets of the onesies done for the boys. Because I had monthly pictures, I was able to do this for their 1st Birthday Invite (another idea I borrowed from Melissa):

Melissa no longer works at that job, so she can't apply the iron-on transfers anymore. However, I found Picky Sticky on Etsy, and she has some adorable stickers! From what I've read, her stickers are more of a picture-prop - they are not ironed-on, and then are removed after taking the picture. I like this idea because then I could have stuck the monthly stickers in the boys' baby books after taking each monthly picture. Plus, there are some onesies that I could have reused since the boys stayed in some sizes for a while. I currently have 22 monthly onesies (1-11 months) that I'm hanging onto...and not sure what I'm going to do with. Picky Sticky seems a bit more cost-effective while still achieving the same idea.

InchBug Bumpy Name Orbit Labels

If you have more than one child, or a child that goes to day-care, the InchBug Bumpy Name Orbit Labels are a must-have! These stretchy bands fit around all of the sippy cups that we have, as well as the bottles we used with the boys. My sister recommended these because many kids at day-care have the same kind of bottles that her son does...I bought them when we started using sippy cups. Much more high-class than the masking tape I was using to mark the bottles!

The Baby Registry

As I've mentioned, I'm a mom of twin boys. In the past 14-months, I've found that I hated some items that I registered for and found others that I can't live without. Since I have so many women in my life who are adding to their families, I've decided to make a list - well, two lists - the must-have's and the don't-bother with. :) Just to add a disclaimer - this is my opinion, but I will say that many of the must-have's were discovered by me because other mom's told me about them.

The Must-Have's

Nursery
Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe and/or Miracle Blanket (also known as 'the straight jacket') - When I was first registering, I thought the idea of these sort of blankets was ridiculous - why not just swaddle them with a receiving blanket? The boys were no more than 3 weeks old when I broke down and bought them...the boys weren't sleeping well because they would break out of the receiving blanket. We started with the SwaddleMe because it was cheaper and I could get it local - worked like a champ for Logan, but not for Connor. Connor still broke out of it, so we splurged for the Miracle Blanket. They work wonders!

Baby Buddies Size-It Closet Organizer - I must say that I don't personally have these, but I've recommended them to friends. I have the Sugar Booger ones from Babies R Us, and I hate them...total waste of money because the six hangers are pre-labeled Newborn, 3-6 month, 6-12 month, 12-18 month, 18-24 month, and toddler. Um, where the heck are the rest? I could have used a 0-3 month (after newborn), a 6-9 month, and a 9-12 month. So, to me they are missing three necessary ones. On the other hand, the Baby Buddies Organizers still include six hangers, but there are 15 labels, so you can remove when they've outgrown those and then add the ones you need. Plus, they are cheaper than the Sugar Booger ones!

Feeding
Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair - seriously, my husband and I love this item. We love that it attaches to real chairs - in our small kitchen, it really is a space-saver (haha!). When the boys were really small and first started eating, we loved that these chairs reclined - it made it so much easier to get the food in their mouths because their head was already tilted back!

Bumkins Junior Bib - I probably did 5 months of regular food-feeding before purchasing these bibs because they are so darn expensive! But seriously, just buy them...don't bother with the smaller fabric bibs. Mike and I love how easy these are to clean - we can wash them in the sink with soap and water and then lay them out to dry, and they'll be dry by the next feeding time. The bib is large enough to basically cover their whole chest, and the sleeves prevent the boys from pulling the bib off - which they had been doing with the smaller bibs.

Bathing
Bath Rings - The brand that we have is Safety 1st, but apparently they don't make it anymore, so this looks the closest. With having two kids in the tub, I love the rings. It makes it so much easier on us because I know they are supported when sitting on the slippery surface. At 14-months old, the boys are figuring out how to get out of the rings, so it won't be long before they aren't useful for us, but these are well-worth the $5/each I paid - we've used them about six months...and probably could have started a bit earlier.

Munchkin Bath Friends Toy Organizer (Target) - I love this item because it's shape can be manipulated. It fits a ton of stuff inside, and since it has the netting at the bottom, all the water drains easily.

Summer Infant Tub Time Rinse N Pour Pitcher - This folds flat when not in use...a great space-saver!

I'm a Craiglist Addict...

I have an addiction to Craigslist. The addiction began many years ago, but has only intensified since having children. My rationale - the kids go through things so fast; if it's a kid-item that I can wash in the washing machine or wipe down with a Clorox wipe, then I'm all for buying it second-hand.

My current favorite kid item that was purchased off Craigslist is the Kangaroo Climber. Shortly after their 1st birthday, Logan decided he was going to be a climber. He climbs on the couch, the chair, boxes, etc., so I thought this would be a good purchase. It was a total steal! This retails new for $139.99, and I got it for $55. Plus, it had only ever been used inside (which I was pumped about since I wanted it for inside), and it looks brand new!

Here is a picture of Logan up top, Connor looking up,
and the boys' girlfriend Genevieve peeking out the window.

I'm picking up my new favorite mommy item today. It is a tv/entertainment center armoire...this is going to become my craft closet. (I guess that means I'm going to get crafty?) I've started accumulating fabric, sewing supplies, etc., and I've been on the Craigslist hunt for a sewing machine. Melissa (Genevieve's mom) and I are going to attempt to build a fold-out desk from the inside of this armoire so that I have a work space. Do you think it can be done? Any suggestions? (Leave them in my comment section if you do...)

This last picture is my inspiration for the fold-out desk...

Lovems - the boys' blankets

Suzanne and I had a booth at a craft fair last fall for Alphatography...that's where we first found Nancy and her Lovems. Lovems are these adorable hand-sewn blankets, with the head of a Beanie Baby attached to one corner, and the tail of that animal attached at the opposite corner.

Connor and Logan got their blankets for Christmas 2008; while it took some time, they are quite attached now! In fact, with Logan sick this week and the blankets getting repeatedly washed, it was time to order back-ups!

These are my current gift-of-choice for recent babies that have been born. I think I mentioned to Nancy today that I have given 5 as gifts! It's so nice for me because Nancy lives about 5 minutes from my house, so I can customize blankets especially for the person receiving it.

Connor and his Lovem - December 2008

Logan and his Lovem - December 2008

The boys fighting over a Lovem - July 2009

You're Pregnant? My best piece of advice...

This is the one tip that I was given when pregnant, that I didn't do, and wish I woud have:

Whenever you are at Target (or Wal-Mart, or wherever you shop), add $20 (or whatever amount) to a gift card to be used later for diapers, formula, etc. You don't know what kind of diapers you might prefer (we are a Pampers family) or what kind of formula (if you need it) the baby might like, but by putting money on a gift card you are stocking up.

I rationalized that I should put that $20 towards the credit card bill, but I never paid the extra $20 anyway, so I should have just added it to the gift card. I kicked myself when I had issues nursing and therefore was putting $250/month (initially) towards formula. Now, that was for 2 babies, but still - that's a ton of money!!!

Alphatography...my side business

Well, of course I'm going to start my blog with my own personal plug! Alphatography is a side-business that I started with my dear friend Suzanne. It all began as something we saw in a magazine - and then at a craft fair - and then the decision that 'we could do that!'

We started taking photos in November 2007 and gave Christmas gifts that December. We signed up for a first craft fair in March 2008 and we've continued to grow since then. Now we do several craft/vendor fairs a year...especially in the fall months towards the holiday season.

All of our pictures are from the St. Louis area - some in Illinois on my drive to mom's house and some around Suzanne's lake house near Perryville, MO. We pride ourselves in that our pictures aren't 'staged' - they are all images that we have just found.

Feel free to visit our website for more information!

Why It's Begun...

I'm beginning this blog to organize my favorites, to share things I love with other people, to share...my wealth. As a school counselor, as a mom of twin boys (currently 14-months old), as a wife, as a sibling, as a friend, I've started to compile information - and I can't keep track of it all anymore! My internet bookmarks are exploding! and I can't hardly find anything when I do want it.

This blog will be designated to goodies I love - most likely things related to my kids. This blog will share tid-bits of knowledge I've read in magazines...so I can stop hoarding numerous magazine cut-outs in my office. And last but not least, this blog will be about life - how to manage, how to organize, and how to enjoy.