Downy Unstoppables

The other week I received an awesome freebie from Vocalpoint, which is a great site that I am registered with. They've constantly sent me samples and coupons to try things for free, including cereal, juice, coffee creamer, discounts on tools, and now, a free full size bottle of Downy Unstoppables!

What IS Downy Unstoppables? Well, they describe it as an "in-wash scent booster" which doesn't mean much. I thought it was a fabric softener, but it really just adds extra laundry-fresh goodness to your clothes. I've used it a few times, and hadn't been very impressed...until I was dressing my son yesterday morning. I did his laundry over a week ago, yet when I unfolded his shirt, all that Downy scent came jumping out! It was a very pleasant surprise, and I will happily continue using my bottle.

If you are interested, then follow the link up at the top of this post (and I urge you to, the samples and coupons are phenomenal!) and sign up. If you're interested in Downy Unstoppables, then I have good news! Vocalpoint will be giving out free samples (which usually come with high value coupons) of these in a few weeks!

It's been a while!

Hello, internet!
No, I'm not dead, and neither is this blog. I've been really busy, and let's face it - my blog has not been high on my priority list. But I will soon begin updating this thing again, so come back soon...like next Monday, after my son's ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Not the same

Every once in a while, I get really bummed about my body, especially after having my baby. Realistically, though, I've always struggled with my weight. I diet, I exercise, nothing...unless I go to the extremes of starving myself, which I did as a teenager, or working out in basically all my free time, which I did before my wedding.

My mom jokingly calls it the "fat gene," which is quite true. There are larger women on both sides of my family, and when I started pre-puberty at around age 9 is when I chunked out. I have even recently tried diet and heavy exercise. When I stepped on the scale a few weeks ago, I saw a five pound change. I GAINED five pounds.

As I was attempting to find something to wear for my sister-in-law's birthday tonight, I was lamenting my mama-body. By breasts, butt, and especially my stomach hang down. I changed my clothes at least four times, trying to look thinner. I saw a photo from my wedding, and was a bit jealous of the me in that picture. Well-rested, vibrant hair, and thirty-five pounds lighter. I just wanted to look like that girl again.

Then that little voice in the back of my head spoke up. "Of course you don't look the same. You're NOT the same." 

There it was. The light went off. I am not the same as I was two and a half years ago. I'm not even the same person. As I put on the first outfit I had tried, I smiled. I traded a few things, for sure, but I got the beautiful little boy I have, and I would do it again. I'm not the same; I'm better.

Lessons from Childhood

About once a year, I like to watch video clips on youtube from Mr. Rogers and older stuff on Sesame Street. I always end up in awe of how simple, yet how profound, these messages are.

Lesson #1: Learning is fun.
No one has demonstrated this better than Sesame Street. For over forty years, these amazing actors and puppeteers have sought to make learning an enjoyable experience for small children. I would think that even they have exceeded their own expectations. They are the voice of all children, and are the heart of adults that still wish they knew how to get to Sesame Street.

Lesson #2: You are special.
There was a reason Fred Rogers concluded each episode of his show by telling children this. Not every child was lucky enough to have parents that loved them, and his gentle voice through the television might be the only time a kid heard that all day.
My parents were great, and I did not appreciate Mr. Rogers as a kid, but the world is a sadder place without such a good neighbor.

Lesson #3: It's such a good feeling to know you're alive.
Even as a child, and especially as an adult, we start to get overwhelmed with life. We stress over money and bills, dangers lurking around the corner, horrible natural disasters that fill us with sorrow for those affected. We worry that we won't be successful with our chosen paths.
Naive as it may sound, we should all spend a little bit more time being thankful for the smallest things in life. Take a deep breath. Glance at a photo of your loved ones. Look out the window at a plant in the sun. It is a good feeling to know we're alive, and that we, on the whole, are so blessed.

Lesson #4: Don't worry that it's not good enough...
In the famous Sesame Street song, "Sing" people are encouraged to always have a song in their heart, sing it loud, and not to worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear.
I interpret this as an anthem for being a little different, following your own drummer, and being proud of just being you, leading into the next lesson...

Lesson #5: People can like you exactly the way you are.
Another show-closer by Mr. Rogers, and probably the most important lesson of all. We don't need to change ourselves, or hide behind walls and masks. All we have to do is be ourselves.

At different points in our lives, these lessons slip away. We all need reminders at times, and that's ok. These lessons serve to give anyone a bit of a sunny day, and that is such a good feeling.

Weekends

I've been having a pretty nice weekend over here. My son has enjoyed playing in his outdoor baby swing over the past few days, and my husband and I tried in vain to play badminton on Friday. He was fine at it, but I lack any skill that involves hand-eye coordination.

I bought a strawberry plant at the Strawberry Festival earlier in the week, and it has been flourishing on the back patio. I have already harvested three or four berries, and countless more are ripening as I type.

Daylight Saving Time took effect today, and it will be strange putting the baby to bed before dark. He is napping now, and I just hope that his internal clock adjusts well.

My head is fuzzy without caffeine, and apparently eating a bunch of animal crackers doesn't count. I am constantly forgetting to put the laundry in the dryer after the washer stops, so I must go do that now...and maybe make some coffee.

Sacrifice?

Lent is upon us, and I was trying to figure out what my sacrifice would be this season. On Wednesday, I considered giving up the usual stuff: chocolate, caffeine, blah blah blah. But it didn't really seem good enough. Then, last night I was perusing my latest issue of Food Network magazine, thinking how lovely all the dishes looked and how much time it would take to make quality meals.

Ding.

This year, I will attempt to make at least one meal a day that comes from scratch (or at least not a box in the freezer). I used to do this all the time, but I think most first-time moms would agree that homemade, healthful meals take a backseat to caring for the baby. With my son getting older, I will spend less time for myself and more time caring for mine and my husband's nutritional needs. Yes, I will sacrifice some free time, but I consider it really more of a gift to my family.

I have no life

If you're reading this, you either are my friend or family, or somehow got lost in teh internets. Either way, welcome!

I'm starting this blog basically as a chronicle of my day-to-day boring stuff. Hopefully, people will enjoy it. If not, then at least I have my blog to talk to.


I was cleaning my house the other day while my son was at his grandma's house. After I finished cleaning, I was just kind of walking around the house with nothing to do. It was then that it dawned on me: I have no life outside of my baby. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing; I love my son and am happy to spend the majority of my time with him. I am grateful that I don't HAVE to have a job and can stay home. I just never really realized before that moment that he is literally my whole world.

So, with the house clean and a few hours of free time left, what did I do? Well, my mini van was experiencing a gas leak, so I couldn't go anywhere. I considered the long-untouched bottles of liquor from my pre-pregnancy days, but decided that I did not want a drink. Instead, I fired up the tv and watched an episode or two of Degrassi and called my mom.