Name Change!

Why the name change? I have been jonesin' for a new blog name, but has luck would have ALL of the unique names that I would come up with were/are taken.  So, I guess they were not so unique after all.  Anyway, for months I have been trying to think of something clever.  I have even relentless bounced names off of my cool friends.  Alas, it turns out that the cool and clever person in my life happens to be my umm... 2yr. old.  I mean he is pretty dope but in a cute, messy, love of my life sorta way.  However, he apparently has the awesome ability to remix nursery rhymes, who knew!?  Let me fill you in and say that Ole' McDonald has been a fix all solution since my son was about 3 or 4 months old.  He was a GREAT baby, but as any parent or caregiver knows, there are moments where nothing, and I mean NOTHING will soothe a crying child.  Anyway, we were totally having one of those days when he was just a few months old, I had tried everything.  Nursing, dry diaper, making sure he wasn't too hot, tried to burp him, walking around, bouncing up and down like a mad women, singing various nursery rhymes, you name it.  I was doing everything I could think of and then repeating it, thinking that surely something would finally do the trick.  Still, he CRIED!  It was unusual for him to cry unless he was hungry or was not being held (which I did 24/7), other than that he rarely cried.  So, just when I was trying to decide between whether or not I should be really concerned or downing the closest bottle of wine, I started to sing Old McDonald, and Voila! the heavens opened up, the crying stopped, and alas Ole' McMommy is born.

Crest 3D White Strips...Compliments of the amazing Influenster!

A few months ago I joined Influenster.  If you aren't a member of this network... Shame on you!  It is a fairly new website that allows you to create a profile and read reviews of different products.  The best part is that you can review products absolutely free!  I received an email back in October, letting me know that I had qualified to review the Crest 3D white strips.  I was beyond excited, because life with an 18 month old has turned my occasional cup of coffee into a staple in my morning routine.  Needless to say, my choppers were in need of a little TLC.  My voxbox arrived quicker than I had anticipated and I could not get it open fast enough.  The 20 day supply of white strips was welcomed with open arms.  I have tried other whitening products on the market, but only to be disappointed that I had spent money on a product that delivered little results.  I have to admit that I was skeptical that the Crest 3D white strips would be any different.  However, I noticed a slight improvement after the first use.  I do tend the leave the strips on longer than the recommended time frame, although I would not recommend doing so if your teeth tend to be on the sensitive side.  I have missed a few days, so I am still using the last of my supply, but I cannot say enough good things about these powerful little strips.  The new year is quickly approaching, so I will be using the last of my supply over the next few days.  I mean who couldn't use a brighter smile for the new year?!  If you have been thinking about trying a whitening product I would totally recommend opting for the Crest 3D strips!  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.  I hope you experience the same awesome results!... After all, if you aren't whitening, you are yellowing :-)

Ciao

Update from a Slacker... Many more to come!

So, the title pretty much says all.  I cannot believe that I have not written a blog entry since March 1st... Shame on me!  Needless to say, life has been a whirlwind... I will do my best to bring things update.  Travel with me, if you will... back to the month of March.

Most mornings I was dropping Phoenix off at his Gigi's house, so that I could make it to my workout class at Pure Barre(this place deserves its own blog entry).  Well, we are just about to get down into ab work, when one of the instructors comes and pulls me out of class.  Of course I am freaking! I'll cut to the chase and tell you that Phoenix had swallowed a PAPER CLIP.  I rush to my grandmother's house in complete distress, not knowing what to expect.  Alas, I get there and he is PLAYING on his play-mat!  I franticly plop him in the carseat and rush off to the emergency room.  Naturally, he falls asleep in the car.  Once we get there, we have a zero wait period.  The nurse proceeds to wand my child down with a metal detector, while the doctor on-call proceeds to ask me what happened.  I of course start feeling like I deserve the mom-of-the-year award as I say, "um.. well... um I wasn't there!" Luckily my mom and grandmother were in tow with me, so my grandmother chimes in, and explains that she was carrying Phoenix around on her hip when the phone rang. With him still on her hip she sat him on the counter and before she could stop him, he picked up the paper clip and popped it in his mouth.  I should now mention that my child is freakishly quick.  If I didn't know any better, I would think that I procreated with The Flash!  Thanks to the wand not picking up on the metal that was floating around in my child's abdomen; I had the beautiful experience of getting the 3rd degree regarding any possibility that I could be pregnant because I was about to embark on the excitement of pinning down my chubby baby so that we could both be exposed to radiation.  Yay us!  I held down my wailing child for not one, but two X-rays.  If I never hear the word paper clip again, it will be too soon.  So anyway, I am finally able to console my officially pissed off baby while I wait for the doctor to give us an up date.  As you already know, there was indeed, a paper clip located in my child's stomach.  Now for the really exciting part... I had the luxury of digging through every poopy diaper for 3 days (who said being a mama was glamours), because the doctor ensured me that his body would work wonders and form a mucus around the foreign object, thus causing zero injury to his little tush (Thank God).  Finally, on day 3 I found a little treasure!  I have pictures, but I will spare everyone.  Although, I must admit, that I considered framing the paper clip and hanging it in his room.  Okay, I am joking(kind of).

P.S.
Did I mention that all of this took place days before I was about to head to New Orleans to watch my Cards play the Cats in the final four?  Mustafa assured me that Phoenix was in good hands with MiMi (my mom), and that at least we knew he was strong, I mean after-all the kid can freakin' eat metal!  Sorry parents my son is tougher than yours =)

Struck Gold at Dollar General

Okay, so not gold, BUT to my surprise they have more deals than I had expected.  Yesterday, after all of the nasty weather Phoenix and I broke out the bugaboo and took it for a stroll.  25mins. later I found my self wandering the isles of the Dollar General, or as my mom likes to call it "General Dollar."Surprisingly, they have some steals on brand name baby items: diaper rash cream, Hyland teething tablets were marked down to TWO DOLLARS, and Huggies brand wipes were deeply discounted.  I could go on and on about this store.  They had a gazillon things for adults as well.  If you are a frugal mom like myself, you may want to check out your nearest Dollar General or General Dollar, which ever you prefer to call it.

Giving back

I took a few hours out of my usual lazy and gluttony filled Sunday, to head downtown in the city that I admire and grew up in to give back to the community. I spent a few hours serving a hot meal to some members of the community that are less fortunate. Needless to say, it broke and opened my heart simultaneously.

I spent the first few minutes feeling sorry for the men and women that sat before me patiently waiting to consume a hot meal. I wondered what, why, and how things had gone wrong in life to lead them to this moment. Then is dawned on me that my feeling sorry for them would not be of any service. With that thought I decided that I would spend every second that I had with them treating them with kindness, dignity, and respect. I waited on the men and women as if they were patrons in a fine dining restaurant, as if I were working for tips to provide for my family. I know that my kindness may be the only kindness that the experienced all day or perhaps all week. I pray that for even just a moment the men and women I served yesterday felt like human beings as opposed to garbage that has been thrown away by society.

I could continue talking about my experience, but Phoenix is starting to wake from his nap. I have decided that no matter what city I happen to be in, I will Give back in some form at least once a week.

Here is a man that just happen to see her shoe was untied and he eagerly tied it for her and went on his way.

Ahoy!

So, I have been slacking on the blog front thanks to my current obsession with Phoenix's 1st birthday. It is still 5 months away, but I want it to be perfect, not to mention I love a party.   Phoenix's birthday falls on a Thursday this year, so we will have his party that following weekend which happens to be right before the 4th of July. So, as of now I have decided to go with a "little sailor" theme complete with a red, white and blue color scheme.  Pintrest has been my latest go-to website for cute, easy, diy ideas.  I have been checking out little sailor-ish outfits for his big day and it makes me oh so excited.

I am obsessed with this number, but I think it will be too big (insert sad face here)



















This is super cute as well and may be better due to Phoenix having his dad's genes and being hot natured

Ok, off to do more idea hunting!

Nawlins here we come...Again!

So, we are super excited to be traveling back to New Orleans.  Mustafa booked an episode of Common Law that comes on the USA network, and N.O is where the show films.  We are heading down tomorrow and I cannot wait to be in warm weather with the best fried(yeah I'm healthy like that) seafood you could ever put in your mouth.  BUT, I am totally freaking out about leaving Phoenix for 5 days.  He is staying with his MiMi (my mom), but 5 days in mommyland feels more like 5 months!  Alas, I am sure we will have a slamming time-did I mention that you can walk down the street with an adult beverage? Its like Disneyland for adults. Here are a few pictures from our last trip.