Fun ways to announce a pregnancy… and SURPRISE!

So I have come up with a few fun ways to announce a pregnancy.

The first time I was pregnant I sent little pacifiers and a note in the mail to immediate family to share the joyous news.

The second time I was pregnant I sent a picture of my digital pregnancy test that read “Pregnant”.

Now that I am pregnant {SURPRISE!!!} with my third bundle of joy I thought I would try and get a little creative… here goes.

Giving up naptime

When I was a Pre-K teacher my class took an afternoon nap every day. They needed it; and almost every day every single one of those children slept. They were 4 years old and as soon as their heads hit their cots they were down for the count.

My son is three and a half and is desperately trying to give up his one and only nap. He tells me every day that he is not tired and that he does not want to go to sleep. And every day that he does not nap he gets cranky, sassy, and temperamental. It is not good for anyone. He so obviously needs his afternoon nap, but it is war to get him to lie down.

Some days I will lie down with him and cross my fingers that this does the trick. There is a 50/50 chance that this will succeed. When I can get him to sleep, I may or may not take a nap right along with him {you know you miss nap time- don’t judge me}. On days where he is too ramped up to sleep I tell him he can play quietly in his room until nap-time is over.

#WW: Father and Son

I love watching my husband interact with our children. He is such a great dad and is always ready to give them his undivided attention. You can see what an impact this has on the boys. They are ecstatic to see him whenever he walks in the door. They want snuggles, and hugs, and cuddles from their dad morning, noon, and night. It makes my heart happy to have such an amazing family. I am counting my blessings.

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Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Presents Dragons review

 

Recently my family had the opportunity to go to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey presents Dragons show in Chicago. We decided that although we were sure our youngest would love it, it was too late in the evening to have him out and expect good behavior from him. So my husband and I packed up our oldest to head into the city for a night of ooohing and ahhhing.

Black Friday Shopping

For the past couple of years I have flat out lied to my sisters about going out for Black Friday shopping. I have told them time and time again that I would stay up all night and go out with them in the wee hours of the morning to snag those amazing deals. This has never happened.

I think the latest I have ever stayed up for Black Friday shopping is 11pm on Thanksgiving Day. I just do not have the energy to stay up late and battle the crowds. To be perfectly honest, the crowds do not want me battling them either {I get very cranky when I am tired}. Just knowing that I am going to have to wake up at 6:00am the following morning with two little boys has me in my pajamas and clutching a pillow shortly after dinner has been devoured.

Needless to say I am not one of those people out at 3 am trying to get the best deal on a flat screen or whatever the hot ticket item is. I am the person who pours over the ads and tries to find the best deal for Black Friday shopping on Black Friday. I have done a little bit of Thanksgiving shopping before, but am usually just too pooped to do more than grab a few things and call it a night.

#WW: Box Children

I guess now I can get rid of all the toys and just buy them empty boxes for Christmas… Isn’t it ridiculously funny that children are so entertained by cardboard boxes?

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Holiday Gift Guide: Something About Silver Forever Necklace Review and #Giveaway #GiftGuide

There is something to be said for the best gifts coming in small packages. A good piece of jewelry can make a lasting impression and a great piece of jewelry can take your breath away. I personally prefer jewelry that has a personal touch to it. That is why I was super excited to have Something About Silver as a part of this year’s Holiday Gift Guide!

Something About Silver jewelry is custom made and can be personalized to fit any situation or occasion. It is well made and looks great. I was given the opportunity to review the “Forever” necklace, which is a part of the new "limited edition" collection and I could not be happier. I feel like Goldilocks when I say this, but it cannot be helped. The pendant is not too big and it is not too small, it is just right. The chain is not to short and not too long, it too is just right. The words stamped on the pendant are not too many and not too few, they are just right. The “Forever” necklace is a great piece of jewelry that would make a great gift.

Thanksgiving Plans

Where did the year go? Heck, where did the month of November go? I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is already here and it is time to sit around the table with family to give thanks and feast. This year has simply flown by!

I feel like I was just getting ready to put my house on the market; spending my days tidying up after a houseful of boys. I know that it was just the other day that I was taking the kids to the park for a picnic… wasn’t it? Halloween came and went and all of a sudden Thanksgiving is knocking down my door.

Personalized gifting with Fracture: Review and #Giveaway #HGG #GiftGuide

Some of my favorite gifts are the ones that are personalized. You know- the ones that people have put a lot of thought into. These gifts tell me that you care and that you spent some time and energy putting together the perfect gift that fits me. Who doesn’t like to feel special?

My mother-in-law got the family together for a little photo shoot at her home a couple weeks ago and there were so many great pictures that I knew immediately I wanted to have a couple enlarged for display in my home. This was the perfect opportunity for me to review a company called Fracture.

So what is Fracture?

Fracture is a new way to print and frame your personal digital images. It is not your typical photo gift. Fracture prints your images directly onto glass. Printing, mounting, and framing are combined into one really cool product that is both well made and pretty to look at! Not to mention it is relatively easy on the pocketbook.

Holiday Gift Guide: Vera Bradley Weekender Review #GiftGuide

I am constantly on the go. I am either traveling to visit family and friends or I am off at a blogging event. I like to travel. I think it is fun going places and seeing people I don’t typically get to see. But no matter where I am going I always avoid having checked luggage. I also avoid over packing… usually because I am the one hauling my luggage everywhere.

While most of the time I travel with my two boys, I have been known to take a mini mom vacation every once in a blue moon. Packing up the kids can take up a bit of space, what with diapers and a change of clothes and what not. I on the other hand, can usually pack pretty efficiently. I am a big fan of carry-on size luggage and weekender bags and totes.

I received my Vera Bradley Weekender right before I was supposed to go and visit family for an extended weekend. It was kismet. I was able to pack my Vera Bradley Weekender and still have a bit of room to spare. All of the pockets and the solid base helped to keep my bag upright and organized. There is a lot to like about the Vera Bradley Weekender.

Vote for Mom Mart as a Circle of Moms Top 25 Product Review Moms



  Mom Mart has been nominated as a Circle of Moms Top 25 Product Review Moms of 2012.   I could not be more excited. There are only 8 days  left for voting  {voting ends November 16, 2012}  and EVERY vote counts.   So what does this mean?
 

  You do NOT give any personal information and you do NOT have to sign up for anything in order to vote.You CAN vote once every 24 hours and I would greatly appreciate each and every single vote!   Thank YOU!   Http://MomMart.blogspot.com  

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

Melissa and Doug toys have always been a big hit in my house. They are well made entertaining toys and great for a variety of age groups! Some of my favorites are the wooden toys! With the holidays fast approaching Melissa & Doug have compiled a Terrific Twenty list of their top toys.

To celebrate they’re running a “20 Days of Terrific Twenty” Giveaway on their Facebook page. Visit the Melissa & Doug Facebook page to enter to win a gift every day from the Terrific Twenty list!

Melissa and Doug will be giving one lucky Mom Mart reader their very own Big Rig Building Truck Wooden Play Set. Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

Contours Classique 3-in-1 Bassinet Review & Giveaway! #GiftGuide #Giveaway

Both of my children spent the first couple months of their lives sleeping in a clip on bassinet/pack-and-play right next to my bed. It was big and bulky, but worked. Now that we have moved to a new home, there is simply not room next to my bed for a huge pack-and-play.

Those first couple of months after each child was born I remember being utterly exhausted and constantly waking up in the middle of the night to check on them, feed them, or change diapers. Having them right next to me just made sense and was easier on me and my children.

Whenever I wanted to take my sleeping baby around the house with me I used a padded laundry basket or I simply carried my baby in my arms. Sometimes they woke up and sometimes they slept. I really wanted a mosses basket, but I never got around to buying one.

I have to admit that I have secretly been drooling over this bassinet for a while now. So when I was given the opportunity to review it I did a little happy dance… Okay, a big happy dance. So why am I so excited about this bassinet? Because it is not just a simple bassinet, it is so much more.

Stocking my freezer with make ahead meals! #menuplanning

A while back I shared some freezer meal planning pictures with you on Facebook and received requests for the recipes. I wanted to try them before I shared them and I have. I have had a lot of fun planning and preparing these meals. I also adore how easy my meal planning has become since starting freezer meals.

I have already shared with you the creamy chicken taquito recipe that my family raved about, now I am going to share with you another family fravorite recipes as well as my experience with a typical freezer meal prep day. I do one week of menu planning at a time, but thanks to freezer meals I am not spending a ton of time cooking each night.

How was your Halloween?

I really enjoy Halloween. I make my entire family dress up. We pick a movie and then everyone in the family dresses up as a character from that movie. Last year we did Peter Pan, This year we did Star Wars and it was a blast!

Venstar ColorTouch Thermostat #Giveaway #GiftGuide

The Holidays are just around the corner and that means that it is time to start thinking about gifts. Some people have been on top of things and have already finished their holiday shopping. Others are just getting started. I am in between. I have some of my Christmas gifts taken care of and am still working on others.

One newest household item that we could not be happier with is our Venstar ColorTouch Programable Thermostat. It is a touchscreen that does it all and then some. We love everything about it. I think my favorite part is that I can put photos on it and have a slideshow going. My hubby loves that he can access our settings via his iPhone. It really is a fantastic household item that would make a great gift for him, her, parents, grandparents, techies, and friends alike {btw- you can win one here!}