CLOSED...Tillamook Cheese Review and Giveaway

I am toying with the idea of becoming a vegetarian. I would have to be a lacto-ovo though because I ♥ Cheese! I am a cheese snob too. I will spend the extra cheddar for high quality cheese...ha ha! All joking aside, I am thrilled to share with you a cheese brand that found its way into my heart. It's called Tillamook and it is wholesome, yummy goodness.

I received the Baby Loaf Box for review. It came with coupons for approximately 3 lbs of Tillamook cheddar cheese, a slicer and a heart-shaped sandwich cutter. Damon, in true cheese connoisseur fashion, likes his cheddar well-aged and sharp. I prefer mine mild, but Tillamook makes a medium cheddar that is the perfect compromise. Damon made this pan of mac n' cheese with it...

it was a delicious as it looks!

Tillamook cheese tastes fantastic. It is a rich and smooth with a nutty flavor. It's also aged naturally with milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. That's a huge plus in my book! Give Tillamook Cheese a try, you won't be disappointed.
Buy It: Tillamook is available in grocery, club, superstores and natural food stores nationwide and online. Go here to find out where to purchase Tillamook Cheese products in your area.

Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win the same Baby Loaf Box I received.

Mandatory first entry: Visit Tillamook Cheese and leave a comment here telling me another product you'd like to try besides their cheese. 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):

• Follow Tillamook Cheese on Facebook or Twitter and leave the URL in your comment below (one entry 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 10/22 /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).
• 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.
• 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.
• Entries that do not follow instructions or are falsified will be disqualified

Wordless Wednesday: Dancing Queen!

CLOSED...UPrinting 250 Die Cut Business Cards Giveaway

UPrinting has taken the classic, square business card and updated it with a contemporary look! You will like these sleek and sophisticated designs that can be used for everything from marketing materials to personal cards. Of course UPrinting still prints the standard square cards, but why would you want those when you can go edgy with die cut options like rounded corners or a circle?!

Buy It: Check out UPrinting's cool business cards!Win It: One lucky Marlie and Me reader is going to win a 250 Die Cut Business Cards.
The 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)
Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle
Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides

Mandatory first entry: Visit UPrinting.com and then leave a comment here telling me which die cut option you like best AND how you would use the cards. 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 10/18 /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 6 Weeks Old

Whew! This has been the hardest week for me as a new mom. Marlie is going through the sick baby trifecta...teething (the molars are coming, the molars are coming!), a late summer cold (can it be called a cold when it's hot outside?), AND a nasty stomach bug that had her expelling foul-smelling stuff from both ends (she's not welly in the belly y'all). The general malaise caused babykins to lose her appetite and we all know that my skinny minnie cannot spare an ounce. Her weight loss is freaking us out, but her doctor says the important thing is her fluid intake so I have been giving her lots of coconut water and extra nursing time to prevent dehydration. Dr. A says she will resume eating normally once she is over the gastroenteritis. I hope that it happens soon. Despite everything Marlie is in good spirits and still playful when she's feeling up to it. There were some bright spots this week such as...

• Marlie drinking from a glass all by herself. I am nervous about her dropping and breaking it. We don't have plastic cups. I need to buy some (eco-friendly, of course!).

• Her Halloween costume arrived and it is a little baggy because of her weight loss. When she plumps back up it will be a perfect fit. I won't reveal what it is, but here is a hint: our family is dressing up as a famous cartoon trio.
• I taught her how to play hide-and-seek. She only hides behind doors and chairs, but I am impressed that she got the concept. I know every mom think her baby is a genius, but Marlie really is super smart! She is such a fast learner and so advanced in her communication and understanding. For instance, on Thursday she kept saying "shea" and pointing at her closet. I opened it and she removed her shoes ("shea" = shoes). I helped her put them on and then she walked to the stairs and pointed. I carried her down the stairs and put her down. She walked to the front door and pointed again. I picked her up and stood in front of the door and she tried to open the lock! She wanted to go for a walk so we did. Another example is the morning when she and her daddy were dancing while he got dressed for work. When he tried to say good-bye, she hugged his legs and said "no, no, no!" Then she pushed him away from the bedroom door and shut it close so he couldn't leave! I also caught her trying to climb onto the toilet and soon realized she had a poopy diaper. I'm guessing she was trying to dispose of the poop the way she sees me wash out her soiled diapers over the toilet. Her intelligence amazes me.
  
• As for me, I've been scarce this week and promise to visit my favorite blogs and catch up. I took a blogging break to tend to my sick bambi and work on monetizing my blog. So please click on the ads and help me earn some cash for a monthly spa day and new wardrobe. I am also lining up some more reviews and giveaways. Stay tuned!
  
• Lastly, I want to share a #PASS (as opposed to all the blogs and micro-blogs devoted to #FAIL). Do you remember that giveaway I won for a $15 Piggy Paint gift certificate? Well, I placed my order on August 31 right before we left for vacation. There was a hold on our mail delivery until we returned. On September 9 the postal carrier delivered our back mail, but there was no package from Piggy Paint even through I received an email notification that it had shipped on Sept. 1 and the tracking system on USPS.com showed it was received at my local post office on Sept. 3. I waited and waited. Finally I called the post office on Sept. 17 and asked if they could look in the back in case it got left behind. Nothing. I was told that it must be misplaced and that they couldn't/wouldn't do anything about it unless it was insured. Frustrated, I emailed Piggy Paint and they offered to send me a replacement shipment no questions asked...now that's what I call excellent customer service! Now here's the kicker: a package from Piggy Paint arrived this past Friday, but the mailing label is dated Sept 1, plus it was wrapped in some old mail that should have been delivered two weeks ago! I think it's the original package that the post office discovered hadn't been delivered and our mailman tried to slip it in with that day's mail. The nerve! Anyways, I just wanted to share this story to give Piggy Paint two painted thumbs up!
• p.s. the winner of my Blog Anniversary $25 iTunes gift card, selected by judge Damon, is comment #13 Tammylyne. A special thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a blog birthday wish!
  

Baby Log: 1 Year and 5 Weeks Old

Marlie and Me have been convalescing most of the week (me with a cold and her with teething). We are both very tired. It's no picnic being sick when you are a parent. I just want to nurse my cold and she wants to nurse. I just want to sleep and she wants to play. You get the picture. My little energizer bunny...


Here's what else went down this week...

• Marlie is quite the chatterbox. Her favorite word is no, but she doesn't just say it once. She goes no-no-no-no-no. She also likes to talk nonstop in her baby babble, but she will also pause and wait for you to reply. Then she starts talking again and gesturing with her hands. She also makes this earnest face like she is having a real conversation with you. :-]
  
• The teething is on again. She is constantly rubbing her gums, picking at her food, not sleeping well, and just generally cranky. She is having a rough time, which means we are having a rough time. She better get some teeth soon.
• Speaking of sleeping. I think it's time to put and end to the co-sleeping or get a bigger bed. Our full-size bed is getting crowded and Marlie sleeps bad, meaning she is all over the place! She gets up and flops around and crawls over us trying to get into a comfortable position, but she wakes us up in the process. I also have to sleep defensively because I might get an elbow to the eye or a foot in my chest. I wind up with half of me hanging off the sides to give her a wide berth.
  
• Marlie has been streaking around the house since she figured out how to take off her fitted diaper, before she could only remove the cover. Another amazing feat of magic from baby Houdini!
  
• Me: I finished reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and then I watched the Swedish movie adaption on our Netflix box. The movie was okay. I found the subtitles hard to follow. They flashed on the screen so fast. I found out that I won two Blogfest giveaways: a $25 Target Gift Card from Surviving Motherhood and the book A Lucky Child from Mom vs the Boys. I also did Blogmania this week, visited 165 blogs in two days and entered 85% of the giveaways. I am still waiting to see if I won some prizes. It would be a shame if I didn't win a little something, something after all that work!
  

Flashback Friday: Sisters

That's me on the right and my sister on the left. She is 13 months younger, but taller by about 7 inches and "prettier" by my family's standards. It still stings a little when I think about all the times an aunt, uncle, cousin, grandma, or even our father would call her pretty and then silently stare me.

It was painful to be considered ugly by your own family. How was a girl supposed to develop a positive self-image?

I found other ways to get attention and praise. I devoted myself to my school books, and I became the "smart" one. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, and even our mother would call me smart and then silently stare at my sister.

Looking back, I see how it must have hurt her not to be considered bright. How was she supposed to develop positive self-esteem?

To this day I have no idea why our families pigeonholed us that way. Their labels sparked a competitiveness that fueled a bitter rivalry that still simmers. We fought like wildcats and spewed hateful words at each other. We never became close like sisters should be.

As adults we've managed to put the animosity aside, but it's hard to get past the past, especially when we are around our family. They bring all the nasty emotional ooze bubbling to the surface. That's not a good excuse. We are both grown women and should be mature enough not to let others drive a wedge between us.

So I'd like to tell Tameka, my sister, that she is an intelligent, gifted young woman. I hope one day soon that we can trust each other enough to have a sisterly relationship.

Thanks to my cousin Tony for supplying this long-lost photo for today's flashback.

Winner of the $75 to CSN Stores

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

Out of 161 entries, the winner of the $75 gift code to CSN Stores is...
Comment #108, Melanie! Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

FYI: My Baby Clothes Boutique $100 Giveaway at Nickelodeon Parents Connect

My Baby Clothes Boutique and Nickelodeon Parents Connect have partnered to give away a $100 gift certificate to MyBabyClothesBoutique.com!

Click Nickelodeon Parents Connect to enter the contest. Enter once a day, every day until midnight on September 21st.

In addition, you can use the discount code below to get 10% OFF any order over $75 at MyBabyClothesBoutique.com! Simply enter the code SAVE10 during checkout.

* Promo Expires on 9/30/2010. Shipping not included.

Discount Code: SAVE10

Wordless Wednesday: There's More On Her Than In Her

ecoSTORE USA: a Review

When I received a pitch in my inbox to do a review for Ecostore USA, I happily agreed based on my knowledge of the company as one of a few that manufacturers truly non-toxic products (the founder was a stay-at-home dad who lived in an eco-village...how cool is that?) and my love of their Cream Cleanser...

very good stuff!

For my product review I selected... the Baby Moisturizer, $10 for an 8 oz. bottle

I must preface my opinion by informing you that my Marlie has extremely dry skin, which she inherited from both her parents. The only thing that has worked on her skin is 100% Pure African Shea Butter, but it can be messy and a hassle to apply. I am always searching for a chemical-free, traditional lotion that will nourish and moisturize my baby's skin. I have tried many.

So, I was excited to give Ecostore's Baby Moisturizer a whirl. The first thing I did when I opened the bottle was to take a sniff. The crisp, herbal scent of eucalyptus greeted my nostrils and my hopes soared. I turned the bottle upside down and gave it a squeeze. I was not prepared for the runny liquid that squirted out everywhere. No biggie I thought, it's just not as thick as other brands. I made a mental note not to squeeze so hard.

I proceeded to rub Marlie from head to toe with the Baby Moisturizer after her bath. I was pleased that it absorbed quickly and didn't just sit on top of her skin. Her skin had a healthy glow thanks to a combination of essential and carrier oils like Jojoba and Coconut. But an hour later her skin was dry again. I was so disappointed!

My thoughts are that Baby Moisturizer is a fine product for babies with normal skin, but doesn't work as well if your baby has severe dry skin (like mine) or eczema. It does not provide the hydration needed for these skin conditions.

My second product review was...the Front Load Laundry Powder, $12 for 35.3 oz/33 loads


I cannot tell you how frustrating it has been to find a laundry detergent for my HE machine that cleans without compromising eco-standards! Several of the brands that are marketed as "natural" detergents still contain enzymes and other chemicals that are harmful to the environment when introduced into the water supply and can irritate your skin.

Not so with Ecostore's Front Load Laundry Powder! I cannot overstate how impressed I am with this product. Our clothes come out of the machine so clean and fresh-smelling. I was a little wary at the claim that the small box would do 33 loads, but 2 weeks later I have barely made a dent. A little goes a long way with this laundry detergent...it is a workhorse!

I will be restocking Ecostore's Front Load Laundry Powder!

Ecostore offers free shipping for online orders over $25 and is available in stores at Meijer and Duane Reade.
Look for Ecostore on Twitter and Facebook - they like to be social.

Winner of the $25 My Baby Clothes Boutique Gift Code

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

Out of 101 entries, the winner of the $25 gift code to My Baby Clothes Boutique is...
Comment #3, Brandy! Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Monday Morning Parent: To Wean or Not to Wean...THAT is the ?

Marlie is 13 months old this week. She is still nursing. That in of itself is not a problem. I feel truly blessed that I have been able to breastfeed this long and my plan is/was to keep going until she is 2. The issue is with nursing on demand.

I had a (naive) vision of nursing her 3 times a day once she turned 1...once after breakfast, once before nap time, and once before bedtime. Marlie swiftly and deftly blew my plans to smithereens.

If she needs it in the morning or the middle of the night, she ain't 2 proud 2 beg...if you catch my drift (10 cool points if you got the TLC reference). She wants to breastfeed when she is thirsty (um, hello there are two sippy cups right in front of you!), when she is sleepy, fussy, teething, bored, so forth and so on. I can't walk past her without her making the sign for nursing, motioning to be lifted up, and then pulling at my shirt. Most of the time she is not even technically eating, just soothing for a couple minutes and she's off.

I am starting to think it's time to start weaning her now before things really get out of control. She has a knack for asking for my breast while I am in the middle of something (shopping, cooking, exercising, making out with her daddy). I am living la vida interruptus!

So all you breastfeeding mamas out there...help! What is up with Marlie wanting to nurse 8 times a day? When did you know it was time to wean? How did you do it? Anyone successfully switch their breastfeeding babies from on-demand to a schedule?

Baby Log: 1 Year and 4 Weeks Old

The theme for this baby log is quality time with family.

Marlie and Me are back from our week at the beach and we are settling back into our routine. Sleep has been disrupted because Marlie got used to falling asleep to the sound of the crashing waves and then sleeping with us every night. Back home, she is waking up every hour because she misses the arrangement at her godmother's house. So Damon and I are grumpy right now, not to mention that we both picked up a cold on the flight back thanks to some coughing kids sitting directly behind us. Still, the trip was worth it and I would do it again.

During our vacation Marlie discovered...

• How fun it is to have a big kid to play with and teach you new things. Marlie is a quick study. She now furrows her brow just like her Big Cousin.
  

Marlie and her Big Cousin Lennon

• Climbing. She was already climbing our stairs, but her abilities grew by leaps and bounds on this trip. Now she's on top of the couches, the tables, chairs...and I have a few more gray hairs.
  
• Her Southern roots. Her father's clan gave her banana nut bread, cheese grits, and crab claws.
• Ice. On the plane she sucked all the ice out of our cups. It was the only thing that calmed her down on the flight back home.
  

Some other highlights from our trip...

• Damon went swimming with his cell phone in the pocket of his swim trunks. {sigh}
  
• We ate great food at Lulu's restaurant owned by Lucy Buffet, Jimmy Buffet's sister.
  

• I read a book from cover to cover for the first time in over a year! My vacation read was The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. She writes historical fiction about the medieval royal families...I'm obsessed with her books! I also started The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson...I'm captivated and cannot wait to watch the movie adaptation when I am finished reading the book!
  

Flashback Friday: Like Mother, Like Daughter

This picture of Marlie at the beach in Perdido Key, FL last week reminded me so much of this picture of me at the beach in Negril, Jamaica from 30 years ago. Aren't we a couple of mawga gals? (Jamaican patois translation: super skinny)

Mommy circa 1980, 4 years old Marlie 2010, 1 years old

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday: Marlie at the Beach

Marlie's first trip to the beach...

she dug for buried treasure


she ate copious amounts of sand


she built sandcastles with her daddy


she got her feet wet


she swam in the ocean

Baby Log: 1 Year and 3 Weeks Old

Aloha from Pensacola! Marlie and Me decided to take a quickie break from our vacation to say hi.

The trip started out as a nightmare that included a canceled flight due to a storm (mind you that it hasn't rained in NE Texas for eons), multiple delays in our rerouted flight to Mobile, a bumpy plane ride, my checked bag and Marlie's cars seat being left behind, getting the last crappy rental car on the lot when we finally landed around 10:00 pm, a two-hour car drive to Florida on an unfamiliar scenic highway in the middle night (translation: dark and scary), having to stop as soon as we set out because Marlie is having a meltdown from the long trip.

BUT we did arrive safe and sound. AND is has been nothing but a dream since we got here. The beach at Perdido Key is aquamarine waters and pearly white sand. It's almost like being in the Caribbean!

Marlie's first trip to the beach has been a priceless experience. She ate lots of sand and loved getting in the ocean...she is a real water baby! She loves falling asleep to the sound of the crashing waves at night. (We need to move the beach!)

Above all else, it's been great for Marlie to hang out with family. She adores her big cousin Lennon. They play together all day long...tea party is one of their favorite games. When she isn't playing Marlie is on someone's lap, usually her granny's. I promise to post pictures on Wednesday.

As for me, I've been sleeping like it's going out of style. That's what I call a vacation!

Happy Labor Day Weekend! Come back rested...I know I will!

Wordless Wednesday: She's in the Betty Crocker Band