Learning Experiences

So Mason developed this really red rash on his face a couple of days ago. No, I didn't take pictures. But I thought maybe it was from the constant presence of Thomas tattoos on his sensitive skin. We had to buy replacements when he was refusing to shower, and the short story is that he's been wearing tattoos in some form, on both cheeks, for the last three weeks. Well, the rash started on his cheeks. I thought maybe I'd scrubbed a little too hard removing the last batch of tattoos, but it spread. So here's our first learning experience: if you ever have to remove temporary tattoos, Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover with cotton balls does the trick gently and with minimal elbow grease.

Secondly, I had been using Febreze in Mason's room to help combat the smell involved when he has an overnight accident that soaks through his pillow case. This was the actual source of the allergic reaction. I had a hard time figuring out what would only involve his face, hands, and forearm. After replacing his sheets and pillow, the rash is all but gone. I guess we won't be using Febreze any more! Apparently they make pillow protectors for just such a scenario, though. When I'm not totally crippled by getting both kids out of the house (in other words, when my husband is home), I will be making a run to find something of that sort.

Third, regular Cortisone cream will make a three year old cry. They have a "cooling relief" gel that is wonderful. He didn't even rip his arms away while I was rubbing it on.

Now if I could get him NOT to grab the hot curling iron like he did yesterday, we'll be in business. Fortunately, he was "testing" to see if it was hot, so he just burned one spot on one finger. And the highly recommended aloe with lidocaine did the trick. Thanks, Kristi!

Better than Etsy

Some of you may not know that Mason was such a prolific spit-upper that I still have a huge collection of cloth diapers-turned-burp cloths. They are the only thing I used with him, and were so great that I had planned to use them again with Claire.



I don't know if my sweet mother-in-law had thought of any of this when she saw this super cute gift idea. It is also something even my sewing impaired self could duplicate for friends. She just took cloth diapers and paired them with some cute ribbon; attached the ribbon to the two sides where the centered thicker portion of the diaper, and used a small, simple stitch all the way around each length of ribbon.



With another length of ribbon, she used hot glue to attach cute accenting buttons to a clip (some are plastic, some are metal), and looped one end of the ribbon through the clip before finishing the loop with a stitch across the top. She made a bigger loop on the bottom and sewed it closed. I thought these were very clever and cute pacifier clips, but I won't be able to use them unless I switch pacifiers. I love the Soothies brand, but I hate how they don't work with normal pacifier clips.

Gifted

My mom makes amazing afghans, and has been busy crocheting away for her grandkids' benefit. She gifted Claire with the darling ladybug blanket, and Mason with the alphabet block blanket. Claire's only method of expression right now is for disapproval. Since she hasn't shown any, I'm going to assume she likes hers.

Mason on the other hand, loves his. He spreads it out on the floor or wraps it around him and sings the alphabet song as loud as he can. While I was feeding Claire yesterday, I heard Mason and his dad singing. I rushed out of the baby's room with camera in hand and this is the "above" view of them in the living room. I'm still not sure Alan knows I took it, much less that I'm posting it. But hey, it's not a video with him singing right? I'm still going to try filming Mason so I can post it, though.

Some Light Reading for Your Down-time (HA!)

We haven't been up to much lately, which has led to a lack of posting. And even when we have been up to something, I haven't photographed it because my memory card is full and I'm still working on the backup before I delete everything. Plus, not much of it has been interesting.

We took a drive up to Pocatello, ID last week when Alan's cousin got married. Whitney had lived down here for a while to go to aestetician school, so we got to know her pretty well then. We wish her all the best, and Mason was a trooper through the drive. Plus he was a dancing fool and a ladies man all in one at the reception. I kind of wished for my camera during that, but my saying it will have to suffice. Oh, and my kid is totally the one who YELLED, as the bride was walking down the aisle with her dad that "I don't need to be quiet now, not at the start!!" I had an aisle-side seat and could not escape with said loud toddler in time, but Dad did a timely dash in my stead.

Otherwise, we've just been spring cleaning and getting ready for this baby. The room is coming along, but not at a place where I can brag about it by posting pictures (because by "coming along", I mean "almost clean enough to paint if I could decide exactly what I'm doing").

Also, I realized I haven't said much about being pregnant while we've been expecting the newbie. It hasn't been too bad for me so far. I'm getting to the part where I have to remind myself that it's a marathon, not a sprint; I'm one of the lucky ones because I get tired but otherwise manage to make it through okay. I'm grateful for that. I did get the special treat of failing my first glucose test, and thus sitting through the three hour long version to learn that I don't have gestational diabetes. I sincerely hope none of my friends/loved ones have to go through that thing and a word of advice if you do: don't drink the fruit punch flavored one. Some people think it tastes like a melted popsicle. I vote for undiluted Hawaiian punch, which in my book means it tastes like crap.

Anyway, on to what I conjured up to post about (man, this is taking a long time for having nothing to say!)... Mason has recently acquired some books (thank you grandma!) that we love and I wanted to share the child book joy with you.

First is the classic The Little Engine That Could. Mason recently stumbled upon/begged for this book on a trip to Borders and Alan was happy to comply with him. In the subsequent reads, I've come to appreciate this one (first published in 1930) as a story that would not be published today. The "dolls" are not ethnically diverse, the "good food" is not low fat, organic, or sugar-free, and to be honest the clown is a bit creepy. That being said, it's message is simple and I love to listen to Mason read it to himself since he has the whole thing memorized.

Second is also a train book (wait, I'm sure we're shocked) that was a Valentines Day gift from grandma. Freight Train by Donald Crews is also an older book (I believe it was published in the late 1970s) and has received the Caldecott Medal for illustrations. The drawings and the narrative are simple and straight-forward, but stunning. Mason loves to pick out the colors and numbers, as well as name the different types of train cars. He also asks me to point out all the individual letters, so I'm glad the words are fairly simple! Alan mentioned this book was a favorite of his growing up, so I'm glad it's something they have been able to share as well.

Last but not least is Duck!Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It was also a Valentines Day gift to Mason, and while he likes it, I think I'm the one who enjoys it more. This is probably for kids a little bit older as the concept is a bit abstract for him. I'm glad the cover art copied over so large because you can clearly see the ambiguous drawing. The book is two out-of-frame characters arguing over whether the drawing is that of a duck or a rabbit. Which do you see? I saw the rabbit and there is only one illustration in the book that allows me to see the duck. Also, it took me a few pages to catch on and I laughed and laughed when I finally did. Good times.

Updates....

So remember when I told you how I had my handwriting turned into a font for free? Well, now it's available for anyone to download through the site because apparently she thought it was cute enough to share. I'm fairly flattered.

But imagine my surprise when I realized it was my handwriting in her title bar! If you've been looking for a new font or even just something a little different as far as typeface goes, there are tons of great ideas so take a moment to look. Mine is available in the group posted in July, along with plenty that are way cuter. The directions are also there; it's fast, easy, and free. Just choose the correct operating system from the page for detailed instructions.

They say the best things in life are free

So this blog title totally has me singing this song. And then I want to watch Empire Records (hey, Amber!), which might be one of the best stupid movies ever. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? "Excuse me, ow. Excuse me, ow." Well, back to your regularly scheduled post.

I've been looking into doing my own blog background now, thanks to the fabulous birthday gift my aunt-dad gave me. As a result of this pondering, I've come across some pretty fantastic things. And guess what? They are free. This Friday, here are my Five Favorite Freebies. These things are always linked to on the right hand side of my page toward the bottom of the column.

1. Cute Handwriting and Scrapbooking Fonts- I previously posted about getting my own handwriting turned into a true type font for free. Well, the last time I looked at the fonts on Kevinandamanda.com, she had updated the fonts for peas section and you can now download my handwriting onto your own computer for free. It's one of 20 she deemed cute enough to do! I got over that quickly enough when I scrolled down and saw the others she added that are so cute they make my handwriting look like chicken scratch. If you are looking for something new and a little different, this is one freebie you must check back with often. She also posts some recipes that look wonderful.

2. Blog design tips and amazing backgrounds that go right up- this is where my current background came from. They have about 200 others and new ones all the time. They also have tips for making your own blog design. I'm trying it out. Also, I apologize for anyone who tried using the link I've had for this one recently. I just figured out the other day that I had typed it incorrectly. If you're in the market for a blog background, TheCutestBlogontheBlock is a great place to start. Also, if you're having trouble getting your background from their old link to load, check out this new one for instructions on how to change it; they've recently changed their server and promised that the new links are working much better.

3. More cute blog backgrounds- If you want a layout that is a little different from the pyzam/cutestblogontheblock, try Leelou Blogs instead. Their designs are cute, scrapbook-y, and textured. They also all have a separate design for a header if you are after that, too. This one, like the others, will do a specialized blog design for you for a price if you're interested. But this is all about the freebies, and she has plenty of those!

4. Digital scrapbooking pages and extras- I stumbled across Raspberry Road Designs while I was trying to decide if I'm creative enough to do my own blog background. The blog tips on cutestblogontheblock recommended a site that led me to here with the promise of free "paper". She frequently offers free paper; everything I found on her site is cute and even when there is a price, it's relatively cheap for the download. If you're ever in the market for this kind of thing, stop there first.

5. Drinks- This is totally unrelated to any of the digital/scrapbooking/internet universe (other than I might be drinking one while I ponder this universe), but the Jamba Juice near me recently started offering punch cards again. Words cannot express my excitement about this, considering any trip to the grocery store or the "red" store prompts nearly unlimited patience from a two-year old who knows the parking lot well enough to ask for a "treat, please... pleeeeease?" anytime we're in the vicinity. I mean, a fruit smoothie is a way healthier treat than ice cream or the suckers Kyle gives him at the credit union, so how can I resist something that allows my grocery shopping to commence in peace? Getting every 7th one for free is just icing on the cake.

Handwriting Help and Free Fonts

I recently stumbled across a really fun website. It's called Kevinandamanda.com. My favorite feature are the free fonts. I took advantage of the "Fonts for Peas" section, and did something I had always wanted: I got my own handwriting made into a font for free. You have to follow her simple directions to the letter, and it only took me three days to get it back. I didn't quite make the graphic big enough, and it lost a little of the quality when I enlarged it, but you get the idea. It's pretty clear when I use it in, say, Microsoft Word. Now I can type my scrapbook journaling or Christmas letters and it will have a little bit of a personal touch. I'm typically too big of a spaz to actually handwrite something like that without screwing it up. But if you're like me and crave font variety, check out their website. She also has some fantastic recipes with very easy instructions on there.

Tweaking Recipes

We had our Cafe Rio pork salads again last night for dinner. If anyone is interested (I was because we had TONS of leftovers last time with 4 lbs of pork), it works just as well halved, and cooks up in about half the time. Also, I don't thicken the sauce at all because I'm lazy, I just put the shredded pork in the original sauce and let it cook for a little while longer (maybe 20-30 mins).


I also tried a new spin on the dressing. I think I'm just going to tweak the recipe a little in the future to combine the two I have, by using three tomatillos instead of two, and including 1/2 C. sour cream. I like the original recipe a little better. The second one I used has a little too much cilantro and not enough lime juice. I may try adding some zest if I'm feeling ambitious next time. Also, for the more pourable consistency like the restaurant, it works well to refrigerate it for about 24 hours prior to use. I noticed that with my leftovers more than through being prepared for something. If you want the actual second recipe, I totally thieved it from here. Thanks, Joey!

Also, Uncle Ben's has these new "instant rice" packs that you microwave for 90 seconds. I love the Zatarain's Alan usually buys, but this other cooks up a lot faster if you don't have time and it's got a few different kinds of rice and other grains in it, so it has a good flavor and is as healthy as you'd expect from a pre-made, packaged thing.

Our Radio Flyer

I have mentioned several times how much Mason loves his wagon. It was an Easter present from Grandma, and it has already been well-used. I thought he loved his stroller, but I knew nothing until we got this. It goes with us on walks, to the zoo, to the park. Sometimes he just plays with it in the yard or the house.



It's sturdy, it's durable, and it's roomy. We can easily fit in a friend, plus all the gear we need on an outing with at least two little kids. The only downside to that is it gets a little heavy when it's fully loaded, especially at the zoo with all those steep hills.



I think every little kid needs a wagon, and I love having it so far just because Mason enjoys it so. I'm guessing it will be our outing companion for years to come.

Ode to kitchen utensils, part one

If there's one thing in my kitchen I would sleep with under my pillow, it's my Pampered Chef Mix 'N Scraper. When I recently hosted a Lia Sophia party, my mom (and lovely snack-prep assistant.. all right, she was basically the head chef) asked for a scraper. I presented the aforelinked tool, and she was skeptical that it could double as a serving spoon. I would dare to say she now undersands my love for such a fantastic, multi-tasking gift.

I bought it because of the boast that it was melt-proof. After planning a baby shower, where we played a rather nasty game, it became apparent that I need melt-proof or fire retarded kitchen tools. The nasty game was that one (please tell me someone else has done this) where you melt candy bars and put them in diapers, then ask (force) your beloved guests to smell, look, and guess what the candy bar was formerly known as. Well, after an hour of the microwave/stir/repeat program, many of my plastic scrapers were melted. I believe a good portion of my co-conspirators were as well. The other plastic scrapers from the marriage gift set had been sent one by one to the fiery depths of the dishwasher heating element in a rather epic (messy) end. Suffice it to say, since I use these nearly every day, I was on the lookout for something that could withstand the test of me.

This scraper fit the bill quite nicely. It stirs in a hot pan, keeps things from sticking to pans and bowls, and works decently as a frosting/icing spreader on short notice.

After three years of surviving in my kitchen, this scraper is more than just a scraper. It's part of the family, and the second in a long line of products we love. Some day, I will have the whole lovely set. In the meantime, I will loudly recommend this to anyone who is listening (and even some people who probably aren't).

What makes your kitchen life easier?

Where there is cake, there is fire

My friend Kristi bought me an Oil Burner from The Body Shop for my birthday a couple of years ago. It has become an instant must-have in our house because of the variety of smells our dogs expose us to. It's not that they always smell bad, but you can almost always tell two dogs live here, so it's nice to get something fresh in the air. If we have a bad cooking experience, it is strong enough to overcome that. The smell is also subtle enough to burn while we eat dinner and it's not too overpowering. My favorite scents are pomegranate, cranberry, sumatra, and coconut. Every now and again, the scents go on sale in a 3 for $X sort of combination.

How is this related to Mason, you ask? Well, first thing this morning, I lit the candle (with the coconut scent since summer seems to have disappeared). Mason saw me strike the match and said "I want cake". It took me a minute to understand what he was thinking of (see below).

This is the cake from Mason's 2nd birthday in January. I wasn't very creative, honestly. I can bake a cake, but I can't "create" a cake like some people can. Anyway, Mason saw me light the crayon candles with a match. Why his mind went clear back there when I lit the candle this morning, I don't know. The memory on this kid often tests my limits a little and this was no exception.