Growing Tree Toys Birthday Club + $10 off Coupon

Growing Tree Toys is a specialty toy store committed to providing educational toys that challenge, stimulate, and encourage children to express their creativity. They carry the most popular brands in educational toys and then some.

I signed Marlie up for the Growing Tree Toys Birthday Club for kids, which includes an special birthday surprise delivered by email and exclusive offers.

Right now, Growing Tree Toys is giving away a $10 coupon to fans on Facebook!

Winner of Boogie Wipes Giveaway

By Rico Shen (Rico Shen) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Congratulations entry #30...Lisa Moore Gee!
Thanks to all who entered.


Check out these giveaways that are still open for entries:

• $25 to My Baby Clothes Boutique ends 9.10
• $75 to CSN Stores ends 9.15
• $25 iTunes gift card Blogversary Giveaway 9.20

Baby Log: 1 year and 2 Weeks Old

Marlie attended TWO birthdays parties this weekend and, of course, was the life of the party! She has also been giving lots of attitude this week. It's like she turned 1 and lost her mind manners. But for the most part she is a delight. She is really into having books read to her now. She will bring you a book and then crawl into your lap and wait for you to read. Adorable! Marlie tried strawberries for the first time and almonds, which I grounded up and put in her yogurt. Both new foods were a hit.

My long drought on giveaway wins is partially over. I won a $15 gift code to Piggy Paint at I'm A Lazy Mom and a Rubbermaid Reveal Mop at Girl Gone Mom. How lame is it that I am most excited about the mop?!

We are headed to Pensacola on Wednesday for a week of frolicking in the Florida surf and sun while visiting my in-laws. Try to be good while I'm away!

CLOSED...$75 CSN Stores Gift Certificate Giveaway

As a child, I spent summers with my grandmothers in NYC. I loved my grandma Millie's cooking, especially when she served it on her Corelle plates. They were white with double yellow trim...so simple and elegant. I always felt like royalty eating off those plates. Did you know that CSN Stores carries more than 70 different styles of dinnerware sets by Corelle?

CSN is sponsoring another giveaway at Marlie and Me! This time the lucky winner will receive a $75 gift certificate to spend at any of the 200+ CSN online stores. What would you buy if you won? Maybe one of the dinnerware sets? Like this one...

Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win a $75 gift certificate to spend at CSN Stores!

Mandatory first entry: Visit CSN Stores and then leave a comment here telling me what you'd buy if you won. If you are commenting as Anonymous, please include first name and an email address
Extra Entries: Earn one (1) extra entry for completing each of the following (leave separate comments for each):

• Be a current or new follower of Marlie and Me via Google Friend Connect
• Be a current or new subscriber of Marlie and Me via email (subscription must be activated)
• Grab my button (leave the URL in your comment)
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (leave the URL in your comment)

The rules:

• This giveaway will end on 9/15 /10 at 11:59 pm CST
• Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments posted using Random.org
• The winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond. Please make sure I can contact you either by having an email address visible on your blog profile or leave your email address in your comment(s).
• By accepting the prize, the winner is granting permission to be identified as such.The winner's mailing address will be forwarded to the sponsor for prize fulfillment.
• NEW RULE: the winner has one (1) month from the date of claiming the prize to report any problems (lost shipment, broken product). I will not be responsible for resolving issues after this time.
• In the event the prize is not claimed in the allotted time another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Void where prohibited.
• Entries that do not follow instructions or are falsified will be disqualified

Soapbox Saturday: Are They Kidding Me?!

"They" being the Corn Refiners Association. "They" decided to pay some high-priced Mad Men agency to create this television ad:



The first time I saw it I thought it was a spoof like those cigarette commercials by truth. Then I realized that "they" were serious after I watched it air at least once a day. I just had to pull out my soapbox and start preaching.

Of course, "they" are free to put out an ad extolling the virtues of high fructose corn syrup. But "we" consumers don't have to buy the b.s. My main problem with this false advertisement is the assertion that high fructose corn syrup is fine in moderation. Point taken. But here is the counter point. IT'S IN EVERYTHING! And I mean anything that uses sweeteners to mask the dull taste of processed, engineered and junk foods...

• fruit juices
• breakfast bars
  
• jams and jellies
• pancake syrup
• ketchup
• sauces
  
• cookies and crackers
• ice creams and sorbets
• soda
• fruit cups
  

It's even some quote, healthy food, unquote such as...

• a very popular brand of yogurt
  
• salad dressings
• bread
  
• "healthy" breakfast cereals
• childrens' medicines
• applesauce

Check the labels of the brands you purchase for high fructose corn syrup content. You and your family might be getting more than a moderate portion.

Flashback Friday: I Didn't Inhale

I was watching one of those public service commercials about the importance of talking to your kids about abstaining from drug use. These are directed at parents and far more sophisticated than the Just Say No campaign of my generation. Remember those posters plastered all over your school?

Anyways, it got me thinking about how the time will come to have a "talk" with Marlie about drugs (and alcohol). She is probably going to ask me if I ever used drugs. Then she will learn how incredibly straight-laced her mommy really is. I never experimented with drugs in my adolescences or in college for that matter. I didn't try a single illegal drug until I was 30.

The narcotic was....marijuana...dun, dun, dun! Wait, I know what you are thinking, aren't you Jamaican? Well contrary to popular belief, not all Jamaicans are ganja farmers. Back to the story...

I was 30 and out for drinks with a couple of my girlfriends from work (no, I won't tell you where we worked). The subject of weed came up. I was shocked to learn that one of them smoked on a regular basis to de-stress. The other confessed to being a weed head in college. Then they both looked at me waiting for me to spill the beans about my exploits with dope. They were sorely disappointed when I told them I had zero experience with drugs (except for a father who used and a step-father who sold).

Right then, my two friends vowed to get me my first hit. Peer pressure is a real beast even at 30. One friend was going to buy the stuff and the other was going to host the ritual at her house. I told Damon that I was having a girls' night out, but I was so paranoid that I told him to pick me up after.

The three of us sat at the dining table of my friend's home sharing a bottle of Riesling. Music was playing and the other friend was rolling the blunt. They both demonstrated how to drag and then inhale the smoke.

My turn.

I took a long drag of that marijuana cigarette and tried to inhale. cough. cough. cough. I was told I had to hold the smoke in the back of my throat and swallow. I just kept gagging. My friends threw their hands up in defeat. I think I got a contact high though.

So when it comes time to warn Marlie about the dangers of drugs, I will tell her that her mommy avoided drugs because she saw how they destroyed her grandpa. I will tell her the truth about my first and only attempt at drugs. I hope she laughs at how foolish her mommy was and decides that drugs aren't her thing either.

A Picture Perfect Summer

Summer is my favorite season. I bitch and moan along with everyone else about how hot it gets, but secretly I love it! I prefer stripping down to tank tops and cutoff shorts to cool down over layering sweaters underneath jackets to stay warm. You can never really get warm in winter. Fall colors are too drab and April showers bring Spring allergies. Give me summer all year round!

A perfect summer consists of these five things...

1. a trip to a sandy beach with water so blue that you wonder where the sky ends and the ocean begins
   

   
   
   photo credit: Marcos Chymera/CC 2.0

   
   
2. an old-fashioned backyard BBQ with "all the fixings" and by that I mean homemade potato salad and iced tea
   
   photo credit

   
   

3. watching fireworks on the 4th of July while sitting on a blanket with your arms wrapped around the person you love the most
   
   
   
   photo credit

   
   
4. vanilla ice cream in a cone piled so high that you can't lick it fast enough and don't care that it drips down your arm
   
   
   
   
   photo credit

   
   
5. watching three movies at the cinema on one Saturday because there is nothing but reruns on television
   
   
   
   photo credit

This post was brought to you by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Wordless Wednesday: 1st Birthday Party

Lots of Winners to Announce!

I held several drawings for giveaways that ended this weekend and the winners are (drum roll, please!)...

By Rico Shen (Rico Shen) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• Nadirah Angail book, on all the things that make me beautiful... #2 danarenaef

• Rattle On Music CD for kids...#12 Lonza728 and #18 tracietrump

• $25 Kroger Family of Stores gift card (from a record 200 entries!)...#33 Valancia

• 10 assorted Peter Rabbit Organic Fruit Puree Pouches...#22 Jessica

The winners have been notified. A huge thanks to everyone who entered. Check out my other giveaways as Marlie and Me head back to school!

Diamond Brilliance Cutlery Review

I received a box of Diamond Brilliance Cutlery (10 spoons, 10 knives, and 10 forks) for review. I saved it for Marlie's birthday party. I was not expecting it to be any different from other plastic cutlery, but I was in for a surprise. In my opinion, Diamond Brilliance cutlery has more heft than other brands and added a splash of elegance to the table setting.

Straight from the source...

From weddings to birthday parties and holiday gatherings, Diamond Brilliance cutlery is an easy and inexpensive option for any host's special occasion. The cutlery looks like real silverware, but doesn't require any of the preparation or polishing. In addition to its polished silver-look and intricate handle design, the cutlery is able to withstand even the toughest foods.

I was so impressed with Diamond Brilliance cutlery that I scooped up another box at Target for an upcoming dinner party. You can purchase Diamond Brilliance cutlery at Wal-Mart, Target and other grocery retailers nationwide for approximately $4.49.

CLOSED...My Baby Clothes Boutique Review + $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway

One of the best things about having a daughter is shopping for clothes. I am always on the hunt for the latest and most unique outfits. From ruffly tops to leg warmers to dresses to tutus...I am like a kid in a candy shop!

Alas, my was quest to outdo Suri Cruise in the kid-with-style department was hampered by my much-less-than-a-movie-star-makes-income...until I discovered My Baby Clothes Boutique. Once upon a time, a group of moms desired clothes for their little ones that were different than what was available in department stores, but without the "boutique" price tags. So, they waved their magic wands and launched My Baby Clothes Boutique. And all the babies in the land lived stylishly every after!



I mentioned My Baby Clothes Boutique before in this post about finding the perfect birthday outfit for Marlie in their online store. I literally got goose bumps when I saw it. It was girlie, yet sporty just like my little tomboy (she does not like anything too frilly). Well, I didn't win that giveaway.

But, guess what? A representative from My Baby Clothes Boutique saw my post and offered to send me the dress to review! In order to receive the dress in time for Marlie's birthday party, it was custom embellished with an embroidered #1 instead of the rhinestone applique shown in the online photo. A true original! It is made of 100% cotton, and, at $38, this dress is a steal. Excellent quality AND affordable!

Check out Marlie posing like a little diva in her birthday dress...she received lots of compliments at her party! Her baby headband and baby shoes also came from My Baby Clothes Boutique. I cannot wait to place an order for her Christmas and Easter dresses.

Now for some more good news. I get to host a giveaway sponsored by My Baby Clothes Boutique right here on Marlie and Me! You mamas with boys should enter too because My Baby Clothes Boutique carries an awesome selection of clothing for your little man. Like this Vintage Print Polo Romper:

What would you buy if you won the gift certificate? Perhaps one of their baby hats or baby onesies?

Buy it: First Birthday Party Dress, $38. Vintage Print Polo Romper, $27.20 (on sale!).

Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win a $25 gift certificate to spend at My Baby Clothes Boutique!

Mandatory first entry: Visit My Baby Clothes Boutique and leave a comment here telling me your favorite item. If you are commenting as Anonymous, please include first name and an email address
Extra Entries: Earn one (1) extra entry for completing each of the following (leave separate comments for each):

• Be a current or new follower of Marlie and Me via Google Friend Connect
• Be a current or new subscriber of Marlie and Me via email (subscription must be activated)
• Grab my button (leave the URL in your comment)
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (leave the URL in your comment)
• Become a fan/like My Baby Clothes Boutique on Facebook
• Tweet: Win a $25 Gift Certificate to My Baby Clothes Boutique @ MarlieandMe http://tinyurl.com/32nsapb (leave URL in your comment)
• Subscribe to the My Baby Clothes newsletter to find out the latest deals and coupons (at top of page)

The rules:

• This giveaway will end on 9/10/10 at 11:59 pm CST
• Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments posted using Random.org
• The winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond. Please make sure I can contact you either by having an email address visible on your blog profile or leave your email address in your comment(s).
• By accepting the prize, the winner is granting permission to be identified as such.The winner's mailing address will be forwarded to the sponsor for prize fulfillment.
• NEW RULE: the winner has one (1) month from the date of claiming the prize to report any problems (lost shipment, broken product). I will not be responsible for resolving issues after this time.
• In the event the prize is not claimed in the allotted time another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Void where prohibited.
• Entries that do not follow instructions or are falsified will be disqualified

Baby Log: 1 year and 1 Week Old

The theme for this post is survival.

First, we survived Roseola. It's a common and not life-threatening childhood illness, but I was shaken to my core when Marlie clocked a 104.1 fever the Thursday before last. I rushed her to the pediatrician where her ears and mouth checked all clear, so her doc did a blood draw and it came back as a viral infection. We gave her some ibuprofen Thursday and Friday. By Saturday her appetite was back and she seemed back to normal. But on Sunday (her birthday, no less) she woke up covered head-to-toe in blotchy, red welts. I thought it was hives, but she wasn't scratching. A few days later, I found a clue while reading Brandy's Facebook status. Her daughter Orlaith came down with the same red splotches a few days after Marlie and was diagnosed with Roseola. Kids are like giant petri dishes.

The next survival challenge was Marlie's 1st birthday party. I think it was a huge success! We had balloons, bubbles, and Mother Goose came by to sing songs and tell stories. Marlie had a great time with her little buddies. Yes, we let her have a regular cake. Damon made her a bear cake using the Build-A-Bear cake pan I picked up at Ross. It turned out beautifully (see photo)! But, no she did not like it. She just does not have a sweet tooth. She did, however love the strawberry rice milk ice cream. That's my girl!

You see the fabulous dress she is wearing? It's the one from My Baby Clothes Boutique that I was drooling over it in this post. The company sent it to me! How awesome are they?! Come back tomorrow for my review and a giveaway!

Marlie is now going to Montessori school two half-days and she is thriving. On Friday, she removed our nesting bowls from the bottom cabinet, separated them and re-stacked them in the correct order. She also knows how to put coins in her piggy bank.

What else?...

Oh! She sleep through the night on Friday! She went to bed around 6:30 pm but kept waking up. I nursed her, but she seemed restless. Around 9 pm, I made myself a snack of raw oats in almond milk and she opened her mouth. I gave her a taste. I made her a bowl of cereal from quinoa flakes. She gobbled it up! She fell asleep around 9:30 and did not wake up until 6 am! She slept right through her usual 2 am feeding. I am going to start giving her snacks before bed.

Don't forget to enter my Blogversary $25 iTunes Giveaway!

CLOSED...It's Our Blog Anniversary! + Giveaway...Take 2

By Hendrike 16:12, 21 December 2007 (UTC) (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Happy 1st birthday to Marlie and Me!


I didn't forget.

I planned a whole week's worth of celebratory posts...in my head.

But instead of writing those posts while Marlie took her naps, I have been...

CLEANING!!! Say it with me...UGH!

I have been scrubbing the house top-to-bottom in two-hour increments these last two weeks to remove several months worth of built up dust, cobwebs, and grime from every nook and cranny.

It was gross. I'm not going to win any housekeeping awards. Martha Stewart can erase my name from her contact list.

But now the house is sparkling clean and ready for Marlie's birthday party today. Why go through all that trouble, you ask? The answer is simple: pride. Just because I am no longer trying to be SuperMom, doesn't mean I shouldn't give the impression that I am. The party guests are going to be awestruck as they sit in my immaculate home while wondering to themselves, How does she do it?

Who am I to burst their bubble? :-)

Now for some presents!

All current and new subscribers are eligible to enter a drawing to receive a $25 iTunes Gift Card by simply leaving a comment here wishing Marlie and Me a Happy Blogversary. The most creative comment will win the prize (no randomizing this go round because I'm providing the gift card)! The judge will be none other than my husband Damon, you can suck up to him if you can find his email address.

Update: I didn't include an end date: Sept 20. 2010.

*This is a self-sponsored giveaway..hear that FTC!*

Giveaways Ending This Weekend

Don't miss your chance to win these amazing products by Marlie and Me!

• Rattle On Kids Music CD ends tonight
• Kroger Family of Stores $25 Gift Card ends tonight
• Peter Rabbit Organics Fruit Pouches ends tomorrow

And don't forget to enter my giveaway for two 30-count packs of Boogie Wipes...

• 2 packs of Boogie Wipes ends 8/27

Good luck to everyone!

Friday Date Night Movie Must-See: Outsourced

Time for another Friday Date Night!
So put the kid(s) to bed, grab some Junior Mints, pop in your movie, sit back and enjoy a show!

This week I recommend: Outsourced (not the new NBC show, the movie that it is based upon)



Synopsis: An American marketing manager is sent to India to train his replacement after his company outsources the call center. His anger is fueled by frustration as he struggles to overcome culture clashes to meet work quotas. But he softens after the workers and people teach him a few things about what really matters in life.

My Review: Most Americans view outsourcing as an evil act committed by greedy corporations working in cahoots with greedy foreign governments. I think the movie does an excellent job of telling the other side...the workers in far away countries trying to pass as Americans so that they can realize their dreams of upward mobility. The movie is sometimes simplistic and silly in its portrayals, but it is an honest and funny movie.

While I Was Sleeping

This one time I was sleeping and...fell out of the bed.

But I did not just simply roll off by accident. No, ma'am. I launched myself of the bed on purpose because, well, I thought I could fly.

Correction.

I was dreaming that I could fly.

In my dream I was running just like a plane taxis on a runway. I was running toward a cliff and right when I reached the edge I spread my arms and leaped off. There I was soaring like a majestic eagle.

Back in reality I hit the ground hard. So hard that it startled my husband awake. He wanted to know what I was doing. In my half-dream/half-awake state I told him the truth, that I was trying to fly. The look on his face told me that he was more than a little concerned. A girl can dream, right?


This post was brought to you by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Wordless Wednesday: New Pal

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl

Marlie is a year old today! Can you believe it?! I can't believe it! Can you?!

I can remember the day she was born like it was yesterday...

Now she's walking around and a year old...

It's been a year of bliss and 100 memories...

1. the first time I heard you cry
2. the first time I held you in my arms
3. the first time I looked into your eyes
4. the first time I touched your face
5. the first time I kissed your sweet cheeks
6. the first time I nursed you
7. the first time you burped
8. the first time you spit up
9. the first day we brought you home
10. the first time I gave you a bath
11. the first time I combed your hair
12. the first time you got the hiccups
13. the first time you sneezed
14. The first time I sang to you
15. The first time I rocked you to sleep
    
16. the first time I watched you sleep
    
17. the first time I changed your diaper
18. the first time you had a blowout
19. the first time you peed on my shirt
    
20. the first time you cooed
21. the first time you held my finger
22. the first time you grabbed my hair
23. the first time you scratched me
    
24. the first time I clipped your fingernails
25. the first time you smiled
26. the first time you went to a party
    
27. the first time you rolled over
    
28. The first time you got a cold
29. the first time you coughed
    
30. the first time I wore you in sling
31. the first time you discovered your reflection in the mirror
    
32. the first Halloween costume I put on you
33. the first time you slept for 4 straight hours at night
34. the first time you wrapped your arms around my neck
35. the first time you got cradle cap
    
36. the first time you babbled
37. the first time you waved hello
    
38. your first Thanksgiving
39. the first time you met your grandmas
40. your first Christmas
41. Your first new year
42. your first play date
    
43. the first time you sat on your daddy's shoulders
    
44. the first time you got a shot
45. the first time you played with your feet
46. the first time you laughed when I tickled you
47. the first time we spent the night alone when daddy was gone
48. the first time you splashed water in the tub
49. the first time you got hold of paper and ripped it to shreds
    
50. the first time you petted the dog
51. the first time you sat up
52. the first time you fell off the bed
    
53. the first time you crawled
54. the first time you ate solid food
55. the first time you picked something off the floor and put it in your mouth
56. your first winter snowfall
57. your first Easter dress
    
58. the first time you said dada
    
59. the first time you said ma
60. your first trip to the lake
61. your first invitation to a birthday party
    
62. the first time you got a boo boo
63. your first tooth
64. the first time you bit me
65. the first time you gnawed the wood off your crib side
    
66. the first time you pulled yourself upright
67. the first time someone said you look like me
68. your first sippy cup
69. the first time you clapped your hands
    
70. the first time you ate some newspaper and pooped it out later
    
71. your first plane ride
72. the first time we went down a slide
    
73. the first time you met your aunts and uncles and cousins
    
74. the first time you stood up
75. the first step you took
76. the first time you fed yourself
77. the first time you picked your nose
    
78. the first time I gave you a bubble bath
79. the first time you tried to eat bubbles
80. your first ride in our new car
    
81. the first time you took off your diaper
82. the first time you climbed off our bed
83. the first Mother's Day we spent together with your daddy at Urgent Care
84. the first time you gave me a kiss
85. the first time you "flirted" with someone
86. the first time you shook your head "no" and "yes"
    
87. the first time you danced to music
88. the first time you sang
    
89. your first trip to the zoo
    
90. the first day you went to school
    
91. the first time you got in a pool
92. the first time you smeared food on your face and in your hair
93. the first time you made fish lips
    
94. the first time you walked
95. the first time you climbed the stairs on your own
96. the first time you heard thunder and got scared
    
97. your first road trip
98. the first time you had coconut ice cream
    
99. the first time you ate a bug
100. the first time I told you "I love you"

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BABY GIRL! YOU HAVE GIVEN ME UNMEASURABLE JOY!
HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY MARLIE!

CLOSED...Boogie Wipes Review and Giveaway

Among the countless baby products that are marketed to parents, there are a few that I consider truly essential such as food, diapers, onesies. I add to this list...Boogie Wipes!

My first experience with Boogie Wipes were some sample packets I received at a Babies R Us grand opening. I put them in my purse without giving them a second thought. When Marlie caught her first cold I tried using regular tissue, but they chaffed her nose raw and left her screaming bloody murder. Then I remembered the Boogie Wipes in my purse, hallelujah! Boogie Wipes are soft on little noses, but tough on boogies! I have been a loyal fan and repeat customer ever since.

Boogie Wipes is currently running a special promotion featuring their furry friend Boogs! Your can receive him by simply visiting Boogie Wipes, printing out the form, attaching 3 UPCs and mailing it in! Don't forget to join the Boogie Bunch while you are there and get a $1 off coupon.

Buy it: Boogie Wipes are available for purchase at 40,000 locations nationwide. See store locator.

Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win two 30-count packs of Boogie Wipes

Mandatory first entry: Follow Boogies Wipes on Facebook or Twitter then comment or tweet that Marlie and Me sent you. Remember to come back and leave a comment here to enter the giveaway! If you are commenting as Anonymous, please include first name and an email address
Extra Entries: Earn one (1) extra entry for completing each of the following (leave separate comments for each):

• Be a current or new follower of Marlie and Me via Google Friend Connect
• Be a current or new subscriber of Marlie and Me via email (subscription must be activated)
• Grab my button (leave the URL where I can find it)

The rules:

• This giveaway will end on 8/27/10 at 11:59 pm CST
• Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments posted using Random.org
• The winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond. Please make sure I can contact you either by having an email address visible on your blog profile or leave your email address in your comment(s).
• By accepting the prize, the winner is granting permission to be identified as such.The winner's mailing address will be forwarded to the sponsor for prize fulfillment.
• NEW RULE: the winner has one (1) month from the date of claiming the prize to report any problems (lost shipment, broken product). I will not be responsible for resolving issues after this time.
• In the event the prize is not claimed in the allotted time another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Void where prohibited.
• Entries that do not follow instructions or are falsified will be disqualified

Flashback Friday: Marlie and Me 1 Year Ago

Time does fly...

Forgive Me Baby Girl

Dear Daughter,

About 12 years from now we are going to have our first major verbal altercation. It will go something like this...

me: Marlie, you are not leaving the house in that outfit. go change into something more appropriate for your age.

you: but Moooooom, all the other girls are wearing this. it's the styyyyyle.

me: I don't care what all the other girls are wearing. I'm not their mother...I only care what you look like. go change.

you: you are being unfair!

me: tough cookies. life isn't fair. go change!

you (running toward you room): you just don't want me to grow up! (slams bedroom door)

I am going to ask for your forgiveness from now because you are right...I don't want you to ever grow up.

This post was written for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Wordless Wednesday: These Bars Can't Hold Me!

Mocha Moms Regional Conferences to Highlight Financial Education

Wells Fargo recently became the sponsor of the Mocha Moms 2010 regional conferences, and this time they are bringing it to Maryland. Wells Fargo will
deliver financial education tools and programs to members of this national non-profit support
organization for at-home mothers of color through a series of customized seminars.. Information will include retirement savings, wealth building, investing, and planning.

Additionally the conference will offer parenting and technology workshops. There will also be mom time with a relaxing spa session, shopping, and a mocha mixer. The Mid-Atlantic conference will take place August 20-22nd in National Harbor, MD.

The remaining 2010 regional conferences are open to the organization’s membership and will take place in the following cities: Phoenix, Ariz.; New Orleans, La.; Windsor, Conn.; and Charlotte, N.C.

CLOSED...Peter Rabbit Organics Fruit Pouches: Review and Giveaway

I've talked a lot about Marlie's diet of homemade food, but sometimes it's not possible to do sit down and feed her fresh fruit and veggies like when I have to run a million errands. Those are the days when I need a grab-and-go snack that doesn't sacrifice healthy ingredients and real nutrition. Thank goodness I was introduced to Peter Rabbit Organics, makers of the 100% organic fruit snack in a squeezable pouch.

Peter Rabbit Organics 100% fruit puree pouches come in three tasty flavors: Strawberry and Banana, Apple and Grape, and Mango, Banana and Orange. There is no sugar added, no artificial additives, and best of all it's all organic!

You can check out Peter Rabbit Organics on Facebook and Twitter.

Our verdict: I wasn't sure if Marlie was going to be able to handle the squeezable pouch, but it was easy. She had no problem feeding herself, but she also had no problem turning the pouch upside down and squirting fruit puree over everything. It got a little messy! Her favorite was the Mango, Banana and Orange flavor. The 3.5 oz size pouch was more than she could consume in one sitting, so I put on the resealable cap and refrigerated the rest. The next day I placed the pouch in my purse before we left the house. When she needed a snack I handed her the snack pouch and continued my shopping without missing a beat...so convenient!

Buy it: Peter Rabbit Organics fruit pouches are available at Starbucks nationwide, in select Whole Foods Markets and natural food stores, in all Buy Buy Baby stores, and online at Amazon.com, Diapers.com, and BabiesRUs.com.
Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win 10 assorted fruit pouches thanks to Peter Rabbit Organics!

Mandatory first entry: Visit Peter Rabbit Organics and find the nearest store where you can purchase the fruit puree pouches and then leave it in a comment here. If you are commenting as Anonymous, please include first name and an email address
Extra Entries: Earn one (1) extra entry for completing each of the following (leave separate comments for each):

• Be a current or new follower of Marlie and Me via Google Friend Connect
• Be a current or new subscriber of Marlie and Me via email (subscription must be activated)
• Grab my button (leave the URL where I can find it)

The rules:

• This giveaway will end on 8/22/10 at 11:59 pm CST
• Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments posted using Random.org
• The winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond. Please make sure I can contact you either by having an email address visible on your blog profile or leave your email address in your comment(s).
• By accepting the prize, the winner is granting permission to be identified as such.The winner's mailing address will be forwarded to the sponsor for prize fulfillment.
• NEW RULE: the winner has one (1) month from the date of claiming the prize to report any problems (lost shipment, broken product). I will not be responsible for resolving issues after this time.
• In the event the prize is not claimed in the allotted time another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Void where prohibited.
• Entries that do not follow instructions or are falsified will be disqualified

Baby Log: Week 51

I have to share that Damon successfully eliminated Minnie Mouse and Mighty Mouse. I still can't believe we had not one, but two, mice living in our pantry. It's been a few days and the remaining traps are vacant so I am declaring our home rodent-free! We have been enjoying 100+ degree temperatures all week and then our upstairs air conditioner unit conked out on Thursday evening. We put in a service call and sought refuge downstairs for the night. The next day an A/C repair guy came out and flipped the breaker switch...cost us $50...doh!

This has been an exciting week for our Marlie what with party preparations in full swing. I am {} this close to letting her have an old-fashioned, sugar-filled cake for her birthday (Lord, help me!). I scored a Build-A-Bear cake pan at Ross that fits perfectly with her teddy-bear theme.
Little Miss Independent has been busy:

• removing her diaper cover every 15 minutes. Thank goodness that her actual diapers have snaps so her bum remains covered and the floors remain free of poop and pee.
• demanding to be put down so she can walk in public. Mind you she is usually barefoot (which is recommended for early walkers so that they develop proper gait). It might be time to invest in some of those high-priced baby shoes that I have been avoiding...they cost more than my shoes!
• injuring herself trying to run and plowing into stuff full speed. This week's boo boo highlight reel: a cut below her bottom lip from crashing into a table.
• feeding herself from her own bowl...
• practicing saying "thanks". I say thanks every time I give her something or if she gives me something. She said "dats" when I gave her a cookie at the store yesterday.
• kicking her ball like a professional soccer player
• playing with her buddy Orlaith.
  

Please head over to YouTube and vote for my video entry in the "What Ecomom Means to Me" contest by clicking on the 'Like' button. Thanks darling!

CLOSED...Kroger Family of Stores $25 Gift Card Giveaway

When you head out to restock your fridge and pantry for back to school, be sure to stop by your local Kroger Family of Stores to take advantage of their “Add Up the Savings” Event from August 8-21 and get great deals on your favorite General Mills & Kimberly Clark brands.

Plus when you buy 8 participating items from any Kroger store, you’ll receive $4 off of your purchase. Some of the great participating brands include: Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury Cookies & Biscuits, Kleenex, Huggies, Betty Crocker Brownies, Cottonelle, and Lucky Charms.

In addition to these great savings, be sure to take advantage of the special Bonus Box Tops Offers and get a jumpstart on helping the participating school of your choice this year.

All you have to do, if you haven’t already, is register at www.RewardYourSchool.com. Once you register, you will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up! You will also receive custom offers for Bonus Box Tops for purchasing participating products.These great offers are:

• Buy any 4 Box Tops products and get 10 Bonus Box Tops
• Buy any 8 Box Tops products and get 25 Bonus Box Tops

The offers you select will then load onto your Kroger Shopper Card to be redeemed once you purchase the items. It’s extra easy because there’s no clipping! Just remember to scan your Kroger Shopper Card and the Bonus Box Tops will automatically go straight the participating school of your choice.

Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win a $25 gift card to the Kroger Family of Stores. Visit The Kroger Co. for a full list of the family of stores.
Mandatory first entry: Simply tell me which of the eight participating brands I mentioned above you plan to purchase during the ‘Add up the Savings Event’. If you are commenting as Anonymous, please include first name and an email address

Extra Entries: Earn one (1) extra entry for completing each of the following (leave separate comments for each):

• Be a current or new follower of Marlie and Me via Google Friend Connect
• Be a current or new subscriber of Marlie and Me via email (subscription must be activated)
• Grab my button (leave the URL where I can find it)

The rules:

• This giveaway will end on 8/21/10 at 11:59 pm CST
• Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments posted using Random.org
• The winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond. Please make sure I can contact you either by having an email address visible on your blog profile or leave your email address in your comment(s).
• By accepting the prize, the winner is granting permission to be identified as such.The winner's mailing address will be forwarded to the sponsor for prize fulfillment.
• NEW RULE: the winner has one (1) month from the date of claiming the prize to report any problems (lost shipment, broken product). I will not be responsible for resolving issues after this time.
• In the event the prize is not claimed in the allotted time another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Void where prohibited.
• Entries that do not follow instructions or are falsified will be disqualified

The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by The Kroger Family of Stores, General Mills, and Kimberly Clark through MyBlogSpark

Flashback Friday: In Celebration of World Breasfeeding Week

I saw this banner ad for a breastfeeding advocacy campaign across the top of my inbox...

I've never said much on this blog about breastfeeding because it is such a touchy subject. I like to keep it light around here and slug it out on other people's blogs (I'm so subversive).

But today I am going to bask in the glory of breastfeeding in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week which coincidentally coincides with my one year breastfeeding anniversary!

I made the decision to breastfeed while I was pregnant. I took classes, read books, bought supplies. But in my opinion nothing can ready you for nursing your baby better than your natural maternal instincts. I found it stressful and counterproductive listening to the often conflicting advice of doctors, midwives, lactation consultants, and other moms. Once I relaxed and let my body do what it was biologically built to do I was able to nurse Marlie successfully and beyond the standard six months. I also gained the confidence to deflect questions about why I was nursing her for so long (as if I am volunteering to extend my prison sentence rather than opt for early release).

I admit that nursing has not always been easy, but overall it has been a positive experience for Marlie and me. For me the bonding and gratification from knowing that I am giving her the best nourishment that money can't buy far outweighs the difficulties. This is why I breastfeed.

Marlie's first meal courtesy of her mommy's milk jugs.