There's nothing quite like the feeling of putting on your very own customized hand-crafted necklace. Sure, you can buy a necklace from the store... but to have something customized & hand-crafted just for you is entirely different. I just recently discovered how amazing it is to have my very own hand-crafted sterling silver necklace, courtesy of Love Letters Jewelry.
The "B" is for my last name. Combined with the heart, it's a symbol
of my love for my husband, son, and soon-to-be baby girl.
And, the photo above simply does not do this beautiful necklace justice. The heart sparkles in the light, and the stamped circle has an incredibly smooth finish - a bit more like the photo below.
Love Letters Jewelry is absolutely breathtaking, and that's why I'm excited to announce that I'm hosting a giveaway in honor of their 1-year anniversary this April. To celebrate this milestone, they're giving one lucky winner an amazing customized, hand-stamped necklace - just like the one above - with the initial of their choice!
THE PRIZE: A custom necklace from Love Letters Jewelry - hand-stamped with the initial of your choice.
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED
THE FINE PRINT:
I received a hand-stamped necklace from Love Letters jewelry for the purpose of this giveaway.
The other day, I was in the mood for crepes, but didn't want to use regular flour because of how unhealthy it is. I knew there had to be some super-healthy way to make crepes... and I found it! By substituting homemade oat flour for most of the flour in the recipe... I managed to cook up some delicious, and incredibly healthy crepes!
Put oatmeal in blender or food processor & blend until flour-like consistency.
Whisk together milk, oat flour, regular flour, egg, egg whites and half the honey in a medium bowl. Allow batter to rest 5 minutes at room temperature.
Heat a 10 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup batter into skillet; quickly tilt and swirl batter to coat bottom of skillet.
When crepe is lightly browned at edges, use a thin spatula to loosen and turn over. Cook turned crepe about 20 seconds or until lightly browned; slide onto plate to cool.
Continue making crepes with remaining batter. To prevent sticking, place a piece of wax paper between each crepe.
Puree strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth.
Microwave strawberry mixture, until warm if desired.
Spread each crepe with cottage cheese.
Roll crepes into cylinders. Add strawberry topping & powdered sugar (if desired).
That's it! Simple, healthy, and delicious!
Preparation time is approximately 30 min.
Don't forget to leave a comment with any suggestions you have. Also, feel free to share this post by pinning the image below. Thanks! :)
Well, perhaps "quit" isn't the right word. "Submitted my resignation" is a bit more accurate. But... I'm getting way ahead of myself. Let me explain.
You see, for as long as I can remember, I have always been indecisive. The littlest question would leave my head spinning in a whirlwind of decisions. What did I want for dinner? Ooh! Pizza! No, wait, Mexican. Or spaghetti. And, now I realize that it's not so much me being indecisive, but not really caring what we ate for dinner.
There have been a handful of times in my life when I knew I was making the right decision... like when I met my husband 16 years ago... when we got married... when we bought our house... or a few years later when I bought my car. And, now, I am excited to be making another decision that just absolutely feel right to me.
Ever since I found out that I was pregnant with baby #2, I've had an overwhelming urge to become a *shudder* stay-at-home-mom (SAHM). It's not something you would imagine feeling ashamed about, but I did. It even took me a while to tell it to my husband. Never in my entire life had I ever felt that I would actually want to be a SAHM! I went to college! I had always wanted to be a career-person! That full-time-mom crap was for other people. I wanted to be a successful graphic designer.
But things change.
Life changes.
And life changes you you are.
"Nothing is static or fixed. Everything is fleeting and impermanent. It is the first mark of existence. Everything is in process. Everything—every tree, every blade of grass, all the animals, insects, human beings, buildings, the animate and the inanimate—is always changing, moment to moment."
- Pema Chodron
We all grow. We all change.
But for a while, I felt like I stopped growing. I stopped changing. I felt stuck in a job that was no longer making me happy. The days I felt most productive & important were the ones I spent with my son. So, today I made a change. I submitted my two-weeks notice to my employer so I could pursue my new dream... my dream of being a stay-at-home-mother. I'm excited, because it feels like the right thing for me to do.
I have learned a lot during my lifetime. But, the most important thing I have learned, it's that I must follow my own heart.
How have you embraced change in your life? Leave a comment.
Phoenix loved trying
on his new Happy Heinys
One Size Cloth Diaper!
HAPPY HEINYS ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPER REVIEW:
I was recently sent a Happy Heiny One Size Pocket Diaper to review from SweetPeas Cloth. The first thing I noticed was how durable the outside of the diaper was. The fabric used for the outer shell, the aplix fasteners (aka velcro), and adjustable-size snaps are created with a incredibly high-quality, durable materials. And, while it's very durable... it's also soft & comfortable at the same time! Need proof? My new-to-cloth-diapering 2-year-old will immediately take off any cloth diaper if he doesn't like the way it fits. In fact, he does it a bit too often... but, the Happy Heinys One Size Pocket Diaper he leaves on! If that's not proof that it's comfortable, I don't know what is! It seriously feels like I'm wrapping him up in a cloud of fluffy softness whenever he wears it. Happy Heinys calls it their "custom milled fleece"... but either way... it's seriously amazing!
A cloth diaper need to be more than comfortable. It needs to be easy to use. Happy Heinys has that covered too. Since it's a pocket diaper, all you do is stuff an insert into the diaper & it's ready to go! No prefolds or covers to mess with... which means quick diaper changes. And, with a wiggly toddler, getting a diaper on quick is crucial! (I stuff my pocket diapers as I'm taking them out of the dryer - that way, they're ready to go when I need them.)
And... they work! Happy Heinys Pocket Diapers come with 2 inserts that do a great job of absorbing ... and the diaper does a great job of keeping it all in.
Happy Heinys come with 2 inserts that can be used
separately to accommodate your growing baby
or together for extra absorbency
It's also nice to know that baby #2 due in June will be able to use these as well. Since it's a one-size diaper, it fits from 8-35 lbs. And, being able to use a diaper from birth to potty-training will certainly save you money in the long run as well!
You can purchase Happy Heinys One Size Pocket Diapers at SweetPeas Cloth for $16.95-$17.95. And, because SweetPeas Cloth owner Kayla Lockhart is so amazing... she's giving one FREE Happy Heinys One Size Pocket Diaper to a reader of It Keeps Getting Better!
THE PRIZE: A Happy Heinys One Size Pocket Diaper in the color/print of your choice. (Includes 2 inserts)
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED
THE FINE PRINT:
I received a Happy Heinys Diaper from SweetPeas Cloth for the purpose of this giveaway.
Recently, I posted about how I'm making some extra cash via my blog through SocialSpark. But, what completely surprised me was the astonishing number of blog referrals I had that weren't approved. Seriously, if you weren't accepted, you weren't the only one. Hardly any of my referrals were. So, I contacted SocialSpark, and am excited to share with you these exclusive tips on how to get your blog approved on SocialSpark.
1. In order to be approved, a blog must be at least 90 days old with a minimum of 20 posts written within the 90 days prior to submission with no more than a 30 day gap in writing during that time.
2. The blog must have an uncluttered, easy to navigate layout, be written in fluent English and contain a chronological archives.
3. If a blog is not approved initially, it can usually be resubmitted when it meets the Terms.
So, now that you know what they're looking for, if you're interested in signing up or re-submitting your blog - just click here -SocialSpark.(I get a referral bonus... and once you sign up, you will to!)
Nope, I wan't paid to post this. I purchased the Econobum on my own & am just sharing my thoughts. :)
I recently decided I was going to give cloth diapering a try. So far, things have been going fairly well... and I'm learning A LOT! Amongst other reasons, I'm really hoping to save a bit of money in the process. So, I figured I'd post my thoughts on one of the most budget-friendly brands out there... Econobum.
Econobum is one of the simplest, most affordable ways to get started cloth diapering on a budget. Their diapers are one-size, fitting 8-35lbs... so, in theory, will last you from birth to potty-training. They cost $9.95 for a cover & prefold.... but you can keep a look out for deals. I got mine on sale for 2 covers & 2 prefolds for $9.95 at Cottonbabies.
My Thoughts
The Econobum was the first ever cloth diaper I have tried, and so far, it's one that I always go back to. The cover fits great... and the prefold just lays inside it. That's it. You lay the diaper out, place the prefold inside it, snap the diaper on, and your little one is ready to go. It certainly does the job... but because the prefold isn't being held in place by anything, it does tend to bunch up in the middle when it's being worn. I know some people use Snappis to hold the diaper on... but I haven't tried them yet. I prefer to have the "bulk" of the prefold right there in the middle of the diaper as opposed to putting the prefold on like a diaper itself.
Phoenix's Thoughts
If It's Yellow... Let It Mellow
During a diaper change, if there's just pee in the diaper, I toss the prefold in my dirty diaper bag, set the cover out to dry, and put a new diaper on. The cover usually dries quick, and is ready to be worn again at the next diaper change.
If It's Brown, Flush It Down
If there's any poop, I just set the messy diaper to the side... put on a new diaper, take the messy diaper to the bathroom, drop the poo in the toilet & flush it down. (It takes all of about 10 seconds to do.) Yup, there will still be some on the diaper, but it all comes out in the wash. And, because of how these diapers tend to bunch in the middle, chances are, it got on the cover too, so the cover & prefold both need to be washed. I put the diaper in my makeshift wet diaper bag, and that's it!
The Extra Laundry
Yes, cloth diapering means you'll need to to extra laundry... but it really isn't that big of a deal! I cloth-diaper almost exclusively at home... but don't have much of a stash yet. So, I use my diapers up, and wash them every 2-3 days. They can usually be washed on the small cycle because I have so few of them. And, on occasion, I'll even wash Phoenix's clothes or even our whites right along with them. (Yup, your stuff too Ken! Surprise!) It all comes out smelling clean! Seriously! I wouldn't do it if it didn't! And, so far I've had success washing all of our cloth diapers in regular Tide. There are many other perfume-free, all-natural options as well, but since Tide is cheap enough... I just use that. It has a great reputation amongst many cloth-diapering families, and so far has been working great for me too!
And... right now I'd totally post an amazing photo of the diaper itself... but since my only two happen to be dirty... so I've decided that might not be the best idea! This photo of Phoenix in his Econobum will have to do instead! :)
Ever since I read a post on My Name Is Momma on how to make "easy peasy donuts" - I have been obsessed with trying them. Well, today was the day... and they turned out excellent!
- oil to pan fry in or a deep fryer- toppings of your choice (ex. cinnamon & sugar or frosting)
Recipe:
1. Break apart biscuits & form into circle shape.
2. Use a shot glass or other circular object to cut holes in the dough.
3. Pan fry in oil or deep fryer until they're golden-brown.
4. Remove & add your favorite toppings :)
They were every bit as delicious as they look! The one below was topped generously with frosting.
And... for the record... Ken was scared that they wouldn't be that good, but he loved 'em too! In fact, he admitted to being surprised! Why is that such a big deal? Well, he kindly reminded me that #31 on my list of 101 Goals In 1,001 Days was to "Surprise Ken by doing something thoughtful (he must be genuinely surprised)."So... woo-hoo! Amazing donuts & another goal crossed off of the list! What could be better than that?!
As part of our night-time routine, right before Phoenix hops in the bathtub, I sit him on the potty to see if he needs to pee. His usual go-to move is to pass up going on the potty, and go right when he gets in the tub. But, the last two night have been different, because Phoenix went pee on the potty... standing up!
On Sunday, it was one looooonnnng pee. The next day, he actually went a few trickles, & stopped. I asked if he was done, and he said, "No". He just stood there, trying to go, but nothing came out. Occasionally yell out for "Dad", but Dad didn't come in, so eventually Phoenix ran bare-butt into the computer room to get him. And, wouldn't ya know, as soon as Ken got in the bathroom, Phoenix stood on his stool and finished going potty! He just wanted his daddy to see him! I'm so proud of my boy!
(You think it's too early to credit transitioning him into cloth diapers a few changes a day? They ARE supposed to help with potty-training!)
Phoenix Rockin' His Econobum at 27 lbs.
It's a one-size diaper that fits from 8-35 lbs.
So, as some of you may know, I've decided to give cloth diapering a try. There are quite a few things than influenced my decision, but here are the main ones:
Potty Training - Phoenix is beginning to enter the potty-training stage, and cloth-diaper-wearers tend to potty-train easier & faster. Also, we're using one-size diapers, so the diapers we're currently using on Phoenix will also fit our baby!
No need to please others - I'm becoming a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) once our girl is born in June, so I won't have to have to provide day care with a huge stash of certain (more expensive) kinds of diapers. I can choose to do what I want.
It's better for the environment - While this can technically be debatable... as you're using water & energy to run them in the wash... at least they won't be sitting in a landfill. I might even try to hang mine dry as well, so that's environmentally-friendly too. AND... more importantly, week-old feces won't be stinking up the trash can in our garage, which is certainly better for my environment!
1 cover & 2 inserts (ordered & will be arriving soon)
FREE - I have a stash of old Gerber Bird's Eye Baby Diapers that I got as a baby shower present when Phoenix was born. I'm using temporarily as prefolds until I build up a good stash of better-quality ones. So far, they've been working decently, so I'm excited to see how differentbrands of prefolds perform. In general, the Gerber "cloth diapers" aren't recommended to be used as actual cloth diapers by most cloth diapering mothers today. It's just something I'm doing temporarily.
TOTAL = $25.94 = 4 covers & 5 inserts
If I like the Kawaii diapers that are on their way, I can spend $71.99 and get their 12-diaper cover kit w/ 24 inserts. I'd have 16 covers & 29 inserts... at a total of $97.93 spent on cloth diapers... that could complete my collection.
But, if I don't like the SunBaby or Kawaii diapers that will be arriving soon, I can just stock up on a few more Econobums and keep trying out different brands here and there just to see what works best.
A slight dramatization of what I saw...
not by much though.
It was any other day of driving... until I saw it right there on the side of the road... a dead alligator... in Ohio. I couldn't believe it, but my eyes can't lie... right? It had a long tail, scales, and everything! So, when I saw it, I did the first thing that popped into my head... I called the hubby. I just HAD to brag about the freakin' alligator I just saw!!!
And, of course, the hubby didn't entirely believe me. I told him that I SWEAR that's what it was. I even offered to turn around & pull over right next to it, just to get a close-up of this thing. But, he assured me that wasn't necessary.
"It wasn't an alligator. We don't have alligators in Ohio." he said.
"I know... that's what makes it so cool!!! I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes!" I replied in bewildered excitement.
"Are you sure it wasn't just a tire?" he asked.
REALLY?! A tire? How could it have been a tire? And then, my world stopped. I felt a sudden rush of sadness and disappointment overwhelm my body.
The scales... the way it curved... why it was on the side of the road... could it have really just been a tire?
I never did turn around the car to check, but I guess it was because I didn't need to... I already knew what I saw. ;)
What's the strangest thing you've seen on the side of the road? Leave a comment!
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