Boo-Boo
Conner tried eating a lightbulb yesterday as a lovely Easter treat. Then today, he took a dive into the basement door and split his forehead....5 stitches.
Hoping the rest of the week is much more boring.
Long Time No Blog
Wow! It has been a seriously long time since I did a darn thing with this blog. Well, since September, life has been busier than our usually chaotic existence. We sold our house in VA and are now enjoying life in CO. Packing and moving over the holidays was quite a challenge, but we surprisingly survived the madness and after 3 days on the road with 4 kids and 2 dogs, we are now unpacking in our new home.
The kids love the fenced in backyard so they can freely play without mom or dad hovering nearby, especially the 2 year old. Thanks to the fence, we don't have to worry so much about coyotes. We seem to have traded our VA tick problem with the CO coyotes (mountain lions too).
The trip out here went as well as can be expected. Our first night in a hotel was pretty nasty. It smelled like cat pee, there were #2 splatters on the toilet seat, the hot water didn't work and to top it off, my key card crapped out leaving me stuck in a downpour with two dogs trying to figure out which window to knock on to get the hubby to open the door for me. When I tried to get a credit, the guy tending the desk that day apparently wasn't able to authorize a refund so we'd have to wait 3 days to contact the office manager. Needless to say, we haven't had any resolution to this problem...travelers beware of Best Western in Lexington, KY!!!
After the day long drive through flat, dry, not so exciting Kansas, we were so excited for the kids to see the mountains. Well, we pulled into town to see a beautiful sunset and moonrise, but unfortunately there wasn't enough light for the kids to enjoy the amazing view of the mountains. They forgot all about the mountains when they woke up to 6 inches of snow! It was a beautiful way to be welcomed to Colorado. That and our amazing friends who insisted we stay with them with their 3 kids and 1 dog (yes, that meant there were 7 kids, 3 dogs, and 4 adults under one roof). We hung with them for 2 days until we had access to our new home and our Pods arrived with all of our stuff.
Conner's bedroom is now done (it was a loft that we had closed in) and now that the unpacking is almost done, I get to start painting. As soon as there is enough order in this place and we figure out where the camera is, we'll take pics and post them. As motivation to get it all done, we have set up a dinner party this Sunday.
The kids started school today. I was very excited until I went to say goodbye to Marin and she wasn't in her classroom. I asked the teacher (who was beginning the day with the rest of the class) where she was and she said she was wondering the same thing...but obviously not doing anything about it since she had the class in circle time on the floor and was continuing with the day. Panicked, I ran out to the playground where the class hangs out before lining up and going to class. There was Marin with a "stranger" (parent or school employee thankfully) walking her to class. The poor thing was fighting off tears after being left all alone on the playground. Yes, I had to fight back tears too! I gave her a pep talk in the hallway that seemed to chase the tears away. Adam on the other hand, pretty much ignored me the minute we walked into his classroom.
45 minutes left until I pick up Marin and hopefully find out the rest of her day went well without her being left behind again. I'll just keep telling myself over and over that it will all be okay. She already wants to go to another school (which we are trying since they have open enrollment here, but unfortunately we won't be able to get into it until next Fall). Something tells me she will be more adamant about going to the other school after today.
The kids love the fenced in backyard so they can freely play without mom or dad hovering nearby, especially the 2 year old. Thanks to the fence, we don't have to worry so much about coyotes. We seem to have traded our VA tick problem with the CO coyotes (mountain lions too).
The trip out here went as well as can be expected. Our first night in a hotel was pretty nasty. It smelled like cat pee, there were #2 splatters on the toilet seat, the hot water didn't work and to top it off, my key card crapped out leaving me stuck in a downpour with two dogs trying to figure out which window to knock on to get the hubby to open the door for me. When I tried to get a credit, the guy tending the desk that day apparently wasn't able to authorize a refund so we'd have to wait 3 days to contact the office manager. Needless to say, we haven't had any resolution to this problem...travelers beware of Best Western in Lexington, KY!!!
After the day long drive through flat, dry, not so exciting Kansas, we were so excited for the kids to see the mountains. Well, we pulled into town to see a beautiful sunset and moonrise, but unfortunately there wasn't enough light for the kids to enjoy the amazing view of the mountains. They forgot all about the mountains when they woke up to 6 inches of snow! It was a beautiful way to be welcomed to Colorado. That and our amazing friends who insisted we stay with them with their 3 kids and 1 dog (yes, that meant there were 7 kids, 3 dogs, and 4 adults under one roof). We hung with them for 2 days until we had access to our new home and our Pods arrived with all of our stuff.
Conner's bedroom is now done (it was a loft that we had closed in) and now that the unpacking is almost done, I get to start painting. As soon as there is enough order in this place and we figure out where the camera is, we'll take pics and post them. As motivation to get it all done, we have set up a dinner party this Sunday.
The kids started school today. I was very excited until I went to say goodbye to Marin and she wasn't in her classroom. I asked the teacher (who was beginning the day with the rest of the class) where she was and she said she was wondering the same thing...but obviously not doing anything about it since she had the class in circle time on the floor and was continuing with the day. Panicked, I ran out to the playground where the class hangs out before lining up and going to class. There was Marin with a "stranger" (parent or school employee thankfully) walking her to class. The poor thing was fighting off tears after being left all alone on the playground. Yes, I had to fight back tears too! I gave her a pep talk in the hallway that seemed to chase the tears away. Adam on the other hand, pretty much ignored me the minute we walked into his classroom.
45 minutes left until I pick up Marin and hopefully find out the rest of her day went well without her being left behind again. I'll just keep telling myself over and over that it will all be okay. She already wants to go to another school (which we are trying since they have open enrollment here, but unfortunately we won't be able to get into it until next Fall). Something tells me she will be more adamant about going to the other school after today.
Living the "Green" Life - My Favorite Non Toxic Products
Ten months ago, I began my quest to transform my household and lifestyle into something greener and healthier. After ridding the house of all toxic personal care/household cleaning products, I scoured the internet for all things non toxic that were within my budget (i.e. basically anything that didn't break the bank and cause my husband, the sole income earner, to have a heart attack when the credit card bill arrived).
Not only was I interested in safer ingredients, but I also wanted the products I use to be cruelty free, fair trade, and from a company giving back to the environment or otherwise doing their part to ensure the future of our planet and its ecosystems.
After months of research and scouring the EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to find the best products that were as close to food grade quality as possible, smelled good, and actually did a good job cleaning, I present to you my list of favorites:
Miessence Garnet Exfoliant (normal skin) - the best scrub with a wonderful texture that doesn't feel too much like sand paper and delicious citrus scent
Tahitian Breeze Roll On Deoderant - Great scent and the only "safe" deoderant that doesn't leave me stinky on hot sweaty days or after a workout, but bear in mind, it will not keep you dry which is a good thing because you are supposed to sweat, it is your body's way of releasing toxins and cooling off
Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castille Magic Soaps - Peppermint and Sweet Almond, and looking forward to trying new Citrus. This stuff is so concentrated, I dilute it with lots of water so it lasts forever even for a family of 6...just don't use the peppermint in areas that are sensitive to the tingling mint sensation. I use it as a body wash, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo (follow with the Citrus Skakai Hair Rinse and Peppermint Hair Creme). I also fill my foaming hand soap pumps with water and a few squirts of Dr. Bronner's for a great smelling, cheap, and non toxic hand cleanser.
Aubry Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner - I love the scent of this stuff and the conditioner is amazing on my frizzy, dry locks! Its pretty thick, so it helps to add a touch of water to make it a bit easier to get out of the bottle.
Aubrey Organics Ultimate Moist Unscented Hand & Body Lotion - Thick, super moisturizing (I occasionally add a bit of almond oil to thin it out) and no icky scent.
Jaffa Lip Balm - my favorite lip balm because it actually works and has a great citrus, vanilla scent/taste
Ecover Dishwasher Tablets - combined with Wave Jet (below), is a terrific non toxic choice. I tried Seventh Generation but had a lot of murky film and food pieces left, but after 2 months of using Ecover, I am super pleased with my squeaky clean dishes.
Earth Friendly Products, Wave Jet Rinse Aid - Auto Dishwasing Spot and Residue Eliminator, this stuff works beautifully with the Ecover tablets to leave my dishes clean, streak free, and food free. I will soon be testing it in conjunction with Seventh Generation dish powder to see if it improves the film and food particles I was experiencing.
BioPure Probiotic Household Cleaner Concentrate - I love using this to clean my hardwood floors. It uses probiotic bacteria, antioxidants, and enzymes to break down grease, grime and dirt while neutralizing odors with a wonderful light vanilla scent.
BioKleen Bac-Out - contains live enzyme-producing cultures and lime peel extract that clean tough stains and odors while leaving the wonderful non toxic aroma of fresh limes...great on carpets, in bathrooms, and my top choice for use on cloth diapers with #2
Charlies Soap - Love this stuff! I was a Tide and Bounce addict until I converted to this miracle laundry soap. One tiny scoop seriously cleans an entire load of laundry and leaves it fluffly and smelling clean without harsh additives or fabric softeners. I highly recommend the big bucket...you won't have to buy more for at least a year and you can reuse the bucket for mopping, car washing, or storing toys.
Runners up:
Dr. Bronner's Hair Rinse and Conditioning Cream - while I love the scent of the Citurs rinse and Peppermint cream (haven't yet tried the Lavender) it can tend to leave a slight greasy like residue.
Bumble & Bumble Defrizz - the safest rated defrizzing shine goop I have found and a little goes a long way
My favorite places to order these products:
http://paigeye.mionegroup.com/
http://www.iherb.com/ coupon code: SAG078 for $5 off (October $1.99 priority mail shipping fee, always FREE shipping for orders over $60)
http://www.drugstore.com/
** Stay tuned for the next edition with my favorite products for kids **
Not only was I interested in safer ingredients, but I also wanted the products I use to be cruelty free, fair trade, and from a company giving back to the environment or otherwise doing their part to ensure the future of our planet and its ecosystems.
After months of research and scouring the EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to find the best products that were as close to food grade quality as possible, smelled good, and actually did a good job cleaning, I present to you my list of favorites:
Miessence Garnet Exfoliant (normal skin) - the best scrub with a wonderful texture that doesn't feel too much like sand paper and delicious citrus scent
Tahitian Breeze Roll On Deoderant - Great scent and the only "safe" deoderant that doesn't leave me stinky on hot sweaty days or after a workout, but bear in mind, it will not keep you dry which is a good thing because you are supposed to sweat, it is your body's way of releasing toxins and cooling off
Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castille Magic Soaps - Peppermint and Sweet Almond, and looking forward to trying new Citrus. This stuff is so concentrated, I dilute it with lots of water so it lasts forever even for a family of 6...just don't use the peppermint in areas that are sensitive to the tingling mint sensation. I use it as a body wash, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo (follow with the Citrus Skakai Hair Rinse and Peppermint Hair Creme). I also fill my foaming hand soap pumps with water and a few squirts of Dr. Bronner's for a great smelling, cheap, and non toxic hand cleanser.
Aubry Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner - I love the scent of this stuff and the conditioner is amazing on my frizzy, dry locks! Its pretty thick, so it helps to add a touch of water to make it a bit easier to get out of the bottle.
Aubrey Organics Ultimate Moist Unscented Hand & Body Lotion - Thick, super moisturizing (I occasionally add a bit of almond oil to thin it out) and no icky scent.
Jaffa Lip Balm - my favorite lip balm because it actually works and has a great citrus, vanilla scent/taste
Ecover Dishwasher Tablets - combined with Wave Jet (below), is a terrific non toxic choice. I tried Seventh Generation but had a lot of murky film and food pieces left, but after 2 months of using Ecover, I am super pleased with my squeaky clean dishes.
Earth Friendly Products, Wave Jet Rinse Aid - Auto Dishwasing Spot and Residue Eliminator, this stuff works beautifully with the Ecover tablets to leave my dishes clean, streak free, and food free. I will soon be testing it in conjunction with Seventh Generation dish powder to see if it improves the film and food particles I was experiencing.
BioPure Probiotic Household Cleaner Concentrate - I love using this to clean my hardwood floors. It uses probiotic bacteria, antioxidants, and enzymes to break down grease, grime and dirt while neutralizing odors with a wonderful light vanilla scent.
BioKleen Bac-Out - contains live enzyme-producing cultures and lime peel extract that clean tough stains and odors while leaving the wonderful non toxic aroma of fresh limes...great on carpets, in bathrooms, and my top choice for use on cloth diapers with #2
Charlies Soap - Love this stuff! I was a Tide and Bounce addict until I converted to this miracle laundry soap. One tiny scoop seriously cleans an entire load of laundry and leaves it fluffly and smelling clean without harsh additives or fabric softeners. I highly recommend the big bucket...you won't have to buy more for at least a year and you can reuse the bucket for mopping, car washing, or storing toys.Runners up:
Dr. Bronner's Hair Rinse and Conditioning Cream - while I love the scent of the Citurs rinse and Peppermint cream (haven't yet tried the Lavender) it can tend to leave a slight greasy like residue.
Bumble & Bumble Defrizz - the safest rated defrizzing shine goop I have found and a little goes a long way
My favorite places to order these products:
http://paigeye.mionegroup.com/
http://www.iherb.com/ coupon code: SAG078 for $5 off (October $1.99 priority mail shipping fee, always FREE shipping for orders over $60)
http://www.drugstore.com/
** Stay tuned for the next edition with my favorite products for kids **
YARD SALE/OPEN HOUSE
8am-12pm Saturday August 23rd
517 Clagett St SW, Leesburg
Glider - great condition
Cloth Diapers - lots of Nikky's covers with contoured prefolds
Fisher Price Soothing Motions Infant Glider
Double Bed Rail
Graco Stroller
Baby Clothes - Carters, Gap, Old Navy
Fisher Price Shake and Go Race Track w/ 2 Cars
Medela Single Pump (with equipment for a double)
Avent Hand Pump
Child Storage Bench - cloth and metal
Books
Shoes
Toys
and much, much more!!!
Come check it out and get a kick start to your day by treating yourself to some FREE cookies, coffee, and iced tea!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Our Summer So Far...
At the Glen Echo Carousel w/ Metzi
My Bday
Marin in my hat
Conner @ 4th of July Parade in The Neck w/ Nana
Conner in his monkey suit
Adam (aka Mowhawk Boy) and his new summer do
Riley being Riley
Roasting Marshmallows
Eating smores and generally having a great time
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