Wordless Wednesday

Suitcase = Fun

Bipolar "Blues"

Okay, I promised a blog post when I got home. Unfortunately, it didn't happen as I had planned. Since coming home, I have been so exhausted that even looking at my computer has made me annoyed. I just managed to work in an hour of school work before getting so distracted (by nothing) that I couldn't stand it anymore. My escape was Facebook for about 10 minutes, but then I couldn't stand it any longer either. Now, I'm going to try to clean...well, if I can get motivated to get up off the couch.

These are the days I get really annoyed at myself. I KNOW it's the Bipolar (Type 2, in case you were wondering), but I can't help but feel like there's something I should be able to do about it. *sigh* Tomorrow is another day. Maybe it will be less distracting. Here's hoping, anyway!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a quick post during my trip to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all my friends and followers! I hope you have good food and lots of good times with your family.

When I return, I will be posting a few extra reviews since I forgot the cord to my laptop where all my photos are stored. (Yes, I am a genius.) I plan on also doing a giveaway in the very near future!

What Makes a Parent?

I was thinking this over yesterday while cleaning and getting everything ready for Thanksgiving with my Dad. Here is what I came up with:

1. A parent gives everything they have for the betterment of their child.
2. A parent does NOT need to be related by blood. They can be stepparents, adoptive, grandparents, and even in-laws.
3. A parent chooses to go without the things they want (and sometimes things they need) to give their child their needs and wants.
4. A parent works hard, whether in or out of the home, to provide a safe place for their child to learn and grow. A "home."

We don't always appreciate the parents we have in our lives. Honestly, I wish I knew more good parents. I am lucky to have many friends who are GREAT parents! I have to say "thanks" to the great parents who have shaped me and my life (you know who you are). And I will continue to strive daily to be a great parent. Even though, I will fall short some days, I know as long as I try, I will grow. Growing is all that matters.

Kidorable Umbrella Review

I received the Kidorable Ladybug Umbrella the day before Halloween. We haven't had much rainy weather since I received it, though. Instead, it has become a fun toy for Fuss. She has used it as a walking stick, pulled the Velco closure apart, attempted to pull the umbrella open via the tips, and stood on top of it! After all that abuse, it still looks great and functions wonderfully!

Fuss loves that it is colorful and interesting. She doesn't really "get" that it has an actual purpose yet. I'm sure that when she realizes what it's used for, she will love it even more and love playing in the puddles with it held high over her head (just like Mommy used to)!

Interior with the Push-button release

My favorite features of this umbrella are: 1. Durability. As I stated above, Fuss has already put this thing through the wringer! She has proven the toughness of the Kidorable brand in my eyes.
2. Stitching. The tips of the fabric are sewn into the centers of the end-caps, making the thread invisible. This also makes it more durable in the long run since the threads won't fray or wear from normal use.
3. Color. The colors are very bright. There are dozens of designs to choose from, as well as matching raincoats, hats, and boots! Can't get much better than that!
4. The mechanism is push-button, but concealed. You have to open the umbrella partway to see the opening mechanism. This is a little push-button that you use to release and slide. The fact that it is hidden (sort of) keeps accidental openings down. 

Overall, I'd give this umbrella a solid 9. It might make a 10 when Fuss figures out how to really "use" it, but until then we'll stick with a rating of 9.

Wordless Wednesday

The Annoyance of Online School

You would think that being a SAHM would make it really easy to do online classes. The sad fact is that unless you are willing to plop your child in front of the TV all day whilst doing school work, it's NOT easy! For some reason, no one seems to understand that fact. I have been able to complete a lot of my course work due solely to the fact of having family to help me by babysitting Fuss for a few hours here and there. The rest of the work I complete after she goes to bed. Why is it that she can be playing with her doll or her stuffed Clifford happily for hours while I sit and stare blankly into space, but as soon as I choose to do homework Fuss DEMANDS my attention and refuses to leave me alone? If only my mind worked like a toddler's I would understand.

Then, add to this the fact that every time I really get on a roll and get a good rhythm going the stupid course refuses to let me go forward! WTF!? I mean, I am literally working my butt off to get this course finished before the deadline but then they stop me!? I don't get it. One day I will be finished with these stupid classes and I will be certified as a medical transcriptionist! It may be another 6 months from now, but as long as I get it done and can still work from home and raise my daughter in the way I see fit, then it will all be worth it.

Getting Ready for a Trip!

We will all be visiting my dad in the next week...well, a little more since it will be Thanksgiving. We're all very excited. Fuss even picked out her own luggage (a Dora the Explorer suitcase) at Sears. She dragged that thing all through the mall afterward!

So, I will be traveling with my cloth diapers on an extended trip. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I'm trying to avoid washing them while at my dad's, so I have figured out that if I use sposies on the trip up and back, I have enough diapers to last the whole trip without washing. My only issue is finding a good wet bag to use while there. It has to prevent stink and hold ALL of my diapers!

Any suggestions?

The only suggestion I have so far is the WeeHuggers Laundry Bag.

Winner of My Memories Suite Software

Rachel Nyman!

Congratulations! The winner has been emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me to verify before a new winner is chosen.

Thanks to all who entered! I hope to have another giveaway soon!

Daylight Savings Sucks

You heard me right. I think DST sucks! It was originally designed with farmers in mind so they had an extra hour to work their crops. Sadly, in our tech-heavy world, we don't really have much need for the extra time to work the land like before. It really has lost much of its intended purpose. Now, it has been "modified" so we have a better grasp on saving energy. Really? How does this really help in the long-run? Especially since we are now turning to Hybrid and Fully Electric cars. Um...does anyone else see the irony? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for using less power and reducing greenhouse gases, I just don't think THIS is the way to do it!

I really wish the person who decides when DST begins and ends could have a newborn and/or a toddler. In all honesty, I wish good ol' Ben Franklin (who first came up with the idea of DST) could have had the responsibility of running a household and caring for children disturbed by the time switch. Yep, I AM that vindictive. To most, I'm sure it seems petty. A no-brainer. However, when throwing a toddler into the mix NOTHING is as easy as it used to be.

CASE IN POINT: Fuss woke up around 2 a.m. coughing. I ended up with her cuddling in my bed for about an hour before putting her back in her crib to ramble around for another 30-45 minutes before finally falling asleep again. Mommy normally is up until around midnight, so this means I got only 2 hours of sleep before she woke up. Awake another 2 hours, then slept when I realized she had passed out. She proceeds to wake up at 8 a.m. for the day. Logic tells us she should have slept until at least 10 a.m. since her normal waking time is 9(ish). That. Did. Not. Happen. Daddy comes home at 7 a.m. after working a full 13 hours (due to the time change) and needs to sleep for the following night's work. Joy. Mommy, exhausted, puts in a DVD for Fuss for quiet time so Daddy could sleep. We go to a birthday party (just me and Fuss) for my cousin and we're there for a couple hours. Craft show. Home. Fuss is very clumsy all day due to lack of sleep (and her refusal to nap), gets a bump on her head...again. We finally chill in the evening watching Disney movies prior to bed. Fuss starts her "I'm not tired! I'm gonna run and jump and play and go crazy!" routine an hour and a half before bedtime. Forty-five minutes before bedtime, she's rubbing her eyes. I ask who she wants to take to bed and she says "puppy" then asks for her binky. She was completely out in less than 5 minutes. And we still had 15 minutes before bedtime. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. I just hope she sleeps all night tonight!

So, again, WHY do I hate DST? 1) It really messes with our schedules here in regard to Fuss. When her schedules are messed with, we have a Super Fuss for about a week. 2) It makes it that much harder for my dear hubby to work nights. The poor man was a zombie this morning. 3) It's just a freaking pain in the butt! I hate having to go around my house and change every stinking clock! 4) Parents don't actually get an extra hour of sleep. Babies wake up at the SAME TIME even when the clock says otherwise. *Put that on a sticky note in your reasons NOT to have children yet column.* ;-)

What are your views on DST?

Been a Busy Week

It was the week of my 29th (Eek!) birthday, so I've been spending a lot of time off the computer with my family. I hope you all will stay tuned as I will be back to writing more this coming week. Don't forget to enter the giveaway HERE that ends tomorrow! So far there are very few entries!