Pudding Sensory Play

Here's a fun, messy activity to do with the kids. It's easy to put together and safe for your little one to eat too!

What you need:

Pudding (it's easiest to buy a box of the instant and make ahead of time)

What you do:

Place kids in an area where they won't get pudding on important things. This is very important because pudding will probably go all over them and anything around them. Put a couple big scoops of pudding in front of them on a flat surface or in a big container. Let them play!

What I would do differently: 

This is definitely a messy activity. Kids needed a bath afterwards and there was about a 10 minute cleanup after they were cleaned. I used two different puddings, banana and chocolate, and that was a great idea. Connor loved mixing the colors together. However, next time there will be drop clothes all around him and I will probably do it outside. He managed to get pudding not only all over himself but also all over his booster, the chair, the floor and the walls. It was easy to wipe up but it was still more than I expected. Cayleigh was cleaner than he was! All in all it was a successful playtime though.

  

Some of my favorite things

Well I haven't really gotten the chance to do anything new in the last couple days but I thought I would post something anyways. Everyone has some favorite things and I wanted to share some of mine with you all. This list is a great way to get to know other people better but it also a great cheat sheet for the significant other in case they need some inspiration for gifts or special moments. (Hint, hint...Christmas is coming up!)

Favorite...

Candy: Sweetarts
Candy bar: Snickers
Nonalcoholic Drink: Apple juice
Alcoholic Drink: Reisling
Author: Tamora Pierce
Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Playwright: a tie between Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde 
Movie: A tie between the Harry Potter series and the newer Star Trek movie
Music: I love soundtracks especially of musicals
Date: I know it's cheesy and not very original but a dinner and a movie
Food: Desserts are my weakness but I also love cheese, bread and fruit (or cheese plates).
Me time: A good book, a hot bubble bath, something warming to drink and candles
Family time: Going to local festivals and family events
Holiday: New Years (I love the romanticism of the holiday and how everyone is excited about the new things to come)
Place in America: Seattle, Washington
Place in the world: Edinburgh, Scotland
New experience: visiting a new place or eating at a new restaurant



There are a ton of things you can add to this list but the idea is that it helps those around you get to know you a little bit better. Or, if you have a spouse like mine who has to be reminded of these things, it's a great little cheat sheet for them. There are a ton of things you can do with this information from planning a party, getting a gift or even learning something new about a friend. So, fill out a little list for your loved ones and ask them to do the same and let the fun begin. You can even change it a bit and have it apply to your kids! For example...

Connor's favorites...

Drink: Cranberry juice
Food: blueberries, grapes, pasta, pancakes
Book: Anything with animals
Movie: Veggietales
TV show: Super Why
Toys: Blocks, puzzles and dinosaurs
Craft: coloring and painting
Thing: Froggie (his little blanket with a frog head)
 

 

Mommies Groups

Today's post is about Mommies' Groups. I am personally a member of three different ones. The first one is a local group for Mommies of Little Ones. The second is a local baby wearing group. The third is a group of women from all over the world who were due in the same month as me, and we have stayed in contact. I wanted to talk a little about the different types of groups out there and how to find them.

The Age-Based Local Mommies' Group:

I love my local mommies' group and I think they are a great idea for new mommies as well as mommies with many kids. Local groups let you meet other moms in the area while getting out of the house and socializing both yourself and your kids. What I like about this group in particular is that we are moms with various backgrounds and interests, both working and stay at home, who are bound together through having kids. It gives you lots of various opinions and insights into different parenting styles and personalities. It's also a great way to find other kids around the same age as your children before they are in school. We do playdates, potlucks, moms nights out and other various activities together.  I found a few local mommies groups by using Meetup. After attending a meetup (an event held by the group), I decided which one was the best fit for me and my family. You can do a local search for yourself using yahoo meetup or even facebook. You can check out my mommies group at http://www.meetup.com/Mommies-of-Infants-Toddlers/ or https://www.facebook.com/groups/louisvillemommies/ They are closed groups so you won't see that much info unless you join, but you can at least see what I am talking about.

The Parenting Theory-Based Mommies Group:

The second group is a local baby-wearing group. This group is not really so much about playdates and other get-togethers, but more based on the interest of baby-wearing. This group hosts monthly meetings to talk about the different ways you can "wear" or carry your baby (or toddler). Most people have heard of the Moby Wrap or the Ergo Baby as popular baby carriers but there are other options out there too. Mommies or daddies interested in baby-wearing use a carrier of some form to wear their baby more often than not. It is a way to bond with your child. I found this local group by various means. the first was through another mommy's reference. She told me about the group and I checked it out. I also heard about this group through one of the local natural parenting stores, Mama's Hip. Last, I made contact with them through the facebook page they have. So if you are looking for a group of mommies that share a particular parenting philosophy or theme I suggest using your local resources like the local baby boutiques or other local mommies first. Second, do a Facebook or Meetup search and see what you find. Here is the link to the group. It is also closed so you would have to join to see more info. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KBWers/ You can also go here to see the local store I was talking about http://mamas-hip.com/

The Pregnancy Due Date Mommies' Group:

While I was pregnant with my second, I found Mothering.com. It is a website for parents who tend to lean towards natural parenting. I joined a due date club based on my due date month and talked to women around the world who were as pregnant as I was. We shared our grumpiness and happiness, our fears and hopes, our aches and pains, and our beautiful babies as they were born. Now that the babies are here, some have left the group, but quite a few of us remain in touch. We come from all over so there are many different cultures and beliefs but we remain connected through our babies. It's a great way to talk to other moms about any issues you are having from diapering to feeding to sleeping. It's also a great group to talk about what your little one has achieved so far and see cute baby photos! I found this group by searching for natural parenting sites because that was what was important to me. However, you can find a due date group on most pregnancy and baby sites like thebump.com or babycenter.com.


No matter what type of mommies' group you are looking for, you can probably find one that suits your needs and lifestyle. The best way is to do a search on networking sites like www.facebook.com or www.meetup.com However, don't underestimate the recommendations of local business owners and other mommies in the area!     

Day ?

So it's been a few days since I posted. Long story short, the kids haven't been sleeping so I haven't been sleeping. This means we haven't really been able to do much during the day with 2 cranky kids and one sleep deprived mama. I do have some new things to share though!

1. Cayleigh has her 2 bottom teeth in and is loving Baby Led Weaning lately! (I will share more on Baby Led Weaning in a bit once we have a bit more experience with it)
2. Connor knows most of his letters! (He shouts them out or points to the letter while watching Super Why)
3. I turned 28 on Friday! (After all the events that happened this past year there were moments that it was questionable if I would make it to another birthday)

And for a new experience: We played out in the yard today since it was so nice out. It's Cayleigh's first fall and Connor doesn't remember last year's so it was a new experience for them. They loved playing with the leaves (Cayleigh tried to eat a couple) and we had fun raking them up while they played. Go out and enjoy the fall before it disappears! It's the best time of year, well at least until snow comes along. 

Day 37 - Kidfest Louisville

This past weekend we attended a local event called Kidfest Louisville. It was the first time it was held and, all in all, it was a pretty good time.

What it was:

Kidfest Louisville was an event organized by local businesses and hosted Lil Cheezers and The Mommy's Nest for families and children. There was food, music and booths with a range of family friendly things. It was a nonprofit event, so any money they got after expenses were paid went to The Mommy's Nest. For those of you who don't know, The Mommy's Nest is a local nonprofit that helps mommies in the community.

What we thought:

We went to this not expecting too much since it was the first time Kidfest Louisville was held. It was set up a bit awkwardly but other than that it was a nice turn out. Unfortunately, it was really geared for kids ages 4 to 10. My toddler had a blast at the booth for Heartland Music Together but everything else was not really age appropriate for him. They had 4 bouncy houses that were a hit with the kids and there was also face painting and live kids music. The best thing about the event though was the food. This was the first time I had heard of Lil Cheezers and Grind Gourmet Burgers but they did not disappoint. Everyone ate the food and loved it. I can't wait to try Lil Cheezers' other grilled cheese sandwiches.

I know there are a lot of little festivals and family events in our area, especially in the fall. They are a great way to get out of the house and have some fun family time. It's also a great way to support your community and learn about local businesses.    

Day 36 - Expectant Mamas Giveaway!

Ok, here goes anything. The Expectant Mamas Giveaway starts at 12:01am tonight. I hope you all enter to win. It's good if you are pregnant, if you plan on getting pregnant again or even as a great present for someone you know. Here's some pictures of what you will win again. Good luck!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day 35 - Last Part of Giveaway 2

Ok, sorry for the hold up on this one. Here is the last item for the Expectant Mamas Giveaway. I hope you all like it and spread it around!

Pregnancy Tips for the Clueless Chick:

I sure at some point most of you have picked up a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Well, Pregnancy Tips for the Clueless Chick by Jennifer Durbin is so much better! It's like What to Expect's Cliffnotes plus it answers a lot of the questions that the other pregnancy books leave out. It's less than 100 pages long and it is an easy and quick read. At the back of the book, there are even tear out guides to take with you when you go to interviews with doctors and childcare providers and even for starting your registry. This book is perfect for the first time mama looking for some quick info or for those expecting their second or more who wants a quick refresher. Also included is a bookmark/info card with info about what you have to have before you can take baby home and must haves for a nursing basket. It retails for $9.99 and is well worth it! As someone who over researches everything, I would have loved this book while I was pregnant.

 Check back tonight for the chance to enter in this amazing giveaway. I hope you all are as super excited as I am!
   

Day 34 - Part 2 of Giveaway 2

So, I'm sure you all having been wondering what is in that makeup bag. Well, here it is!

What you get:

I've put together a sampling of some of my favorite things along with some new products on the market. I hope you like it!

 

1. Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Shampoo
2. Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Conditioner
3. L'Oreal Evercreme Sulfate free Shampoo
4. L'Oreal Evercreme Sulfate free Conditioner
5. L'Oreal Evercreme Sulfate free Deep Nourishing Masque
6. Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo
7. Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Conditioner
8. Fekkai Shea Butter Shampoo
9. Fekkai Shea Butter Conditioner
10. Jergens Daily Moisture Lotion
11. Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer
12. Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream
13. The Good Home Co. Lavender Hand Lotion
14. 2 Medela Tender Care Lanolin
15. 2 Medela Breast Pads
16. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
17. Lotus Wei Inner Peace Mist
18. Costume Jewelry Ring
19. 15% off one item at Mama's Hip

All of this is in that cute makeup bag and is up for grabs. It comes to over $50 worth of stuff. And there is still one more item I am adding in. I will let you know what it is tomorrow! Remember, this giveaway starts tomorrow and is open until Friday (my birthday). I hope you all are excited as I am! 

Day 33 - Part one of Giveaway 2

Ok, here it is, what you've all been waiting so patiently for. This is the first item to be included in the expectant mommies giveaway. It is a leopard print makeup bag from Target. Every expectant mommy deserves a little pampering and this is just the start. Oh, and just to let you know, this makeup bag will be filled with goodies! I'll have more on that tomorrow.

Day 32 - Nontraditional Shepherd's Pie

I know I promised more on the giveaway today but my children have prevented me from getting things done. Oh, and it is also a holiday for my family today. It's Dia de los Muertos so I have been busy with that. We did a Harry Potter themed celebration and dinner was a traditional British dish, Shepherd's Pie. However, I am anything but traditional so I changed it up a bit. Here's my recipe. I hope you try it out!

Nontraditional Shepherd's Pie:

What you need:

1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb ground beef (you could also use bison or lamb)
1 medium onion (diced)
2 large carrots (diced)
2 leeks (thinly sliced)
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1 cup peas
1 c chicken broth
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 tsp rosemary
1 Tbsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
About 3 to 4 c Mashed potatoes (you can use instant or homemade, fresh or leftover)
1/4 c shredded cheddar or parmesan cheese (optional)

What you do:

Make the mashed potatoes how ever you like them first and set them aside. If you are using leftover mashed potatoes you do not need to heat them up. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large saute pan, heat the veggie oil over medium high heat. Add beef, onion, carrots, leeks and mushrooms. Cook until meat is browned or about 10 minutes. Drain the fat and then add the chicken broth, ketchup and spices. Simmer until the sauces thickens or about 10 minutes. Add the peas. Pour into an 8x8 or larger baking dish. Cover  with your mashed potatoes. Sprinkle cheese over potatoes. Bake for about 30 minutes or until mashed potatoes look golden in color.

What I would change:

It was actually really tasty. My family all loved it too. Next time, I might go for a more traditional Shepherd's Pie with lamb instead of beef. In England a Shepherd's Pie made with beef is actually a Cottage Pie but lets not get technical. We loved it and I hope you do too!