Just Like Mommy...Too Much?

First the padded bikinis for little girls...now this. What do you think of the breast fed baby doll? Forget the toy bottles, little girls can now get the first breastfeeding baby doll.

According to a spokesperson for Berjuan Toys the breast fed baby doll allows little girls to express their love in the most natural way possible. There are several dolls to choose from, but their on the more expensive side.

Anyway, I know most of know the benefits a nursing mom provides her baby, but do we really need little girls walking around with Breast Milk Babies? I really don't know what to think of these dolls because lets face it kids imitate their parents so I'm sure little ones with younger siblings who nurse pretend to feed their "regular" toy dolls. I've yet to experience that in our house, but I know other moms who kids copy them while nursing.

So, is the doll that bad of an idea? Are little girls really expressing their love with this toy or they just copying mommy?

Please share your thoughts?

Losing It

Spring is in the air (or at least it was last week,ha). So if we've already kicked off spring, then summer is right around the corner. And that means swimsuit season. Raise your hand if that excites you...no hands?!?
I know most of us dread pulling the swimsuit out of the drawer and strutting our stuff at the beginning of the summer, so I wanted to know what you do to lose that winter weight.

This year I have plenty to lose (baby weight plus some) and I'm ready to hit the ground running.
In the past running helps me lose weight fast, BUT I really hate running because I don;t think I'm "good" at it. I love the cardio classes at our local gym. What about you? What is your go=to exercise? I know some people like yoga, pilates, Jillian Michaels Shred...
I know there's not a magical exercise out there that just shapes you up without the hard work so if you're like me and ready to sweat...share your secrets.

Happy Toning!

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Squares

Well, it's back to reality for me now. After several weeks of friends and family spoiling us with meals after the baby was born..I'm back in the kitchen. I hope the hubs isn't too disappointed.

But I wanted to share one more recipe from our sweek friend Rebekah. It was super good and she served it with green beans and topped it off with choclate cake. (side note: I think I might've eaten the entire cake, but give me a break I'm nursing, ha!) Anyway, this recipe is Chicken Squares and it's super yummy. Check it out. It's a hit with the whole family.

Yellow Polka Dot and PADDED Bikini

Ok, folks how far is too far? I know there are women...let me repeat myself WOMEN...out there that need a little support for the "girls" when they're sporting their swimsuits, BUT has Abercrombie gone too far?
Recently the trendy store, Abercrombie and Fitch, marketed their PADDED bikini to young girls. Girls as young as 7 and 8. Personally, I wish those girls were still innocent enough (as in don't care about fashion and let their mom's dress them) to be wearing Gymboree and Children's Place. But I know I'm living in a fantasy land.
Anyway, there has been an outrage on the padded swimsuits.Lets face it, (most) these girls aren't even in training bras yet. Shoot, they probably aren't even thinking about their upcoming development, so why do they need padding. Why do they need to give the impression that they have boobs?
What kind of message are we sending? Do we want our little ones to grow up way before their time? In my opinion, girls have their entire lives to be women...why rush it?
What do you think? Am I too conservative and straight laced? What's next? For now, my girls will be getting their swimsuits from stores like Target and the only padding will include their swim diapers.

Saving Pennies? Check out NWA DealPiggy

I don't know about you but I love a good deal. Whether it's a discount at a local restaurant or a great price cut on a cute shirt...a good deal can really make my day.
So, when I heard about this website I was thrilled. Now, I know a lot of you have already heard of this website and have taken full advantage, but if you haven't you really need to check it out.

NWA DealPiggy has a daily discount to a local business. They've had great deals to local boutiques, spas, kid play places, restaurants, etc...you get the idea.
All you have to do is sign up to receive their email. there's one catch...for you to get your treat a minimum number of people need to make the purchase too. So this is a chance to tell your friends about your great finds so everyone interested can enjoy!

It's a great site that helps promote local stores, restaurants, events...while helping us save a penny or two!
Happy Saving!

Comfort Food

Let's face it we all have our weaknesses when it comes to food. Well, since having the baby friends and family have spoiled us with meal after meal and guess what -- a lot of the meals are comfort foods. Yes, some have been healthier or come with some sort of veggie, but lets face it, we've had a lot of casseroles, etc and it's SOOO good.

Now, that we're back to cooking for ourselves I thought I'd ask you what your favorite comfort food is, so go for it!

We are jumping starting a healthy kick SOON, so I want to torture myself and talk about all the goodness of those foods that make us feel better when we stuff our face.

Park Time

Happy Spring!
In honor of spring break I thought I'd do a post about parks in the area. We seem to go to Gulley park in Fayetteville the most because it has a smaller playground and a bigger one. This way the big kids aren't running over the little ones. It has a great walking trail and a lot of land to just run around and play games. What about you?
I know Wilson Park in Fayetteville is a hit. There are parks everywhere and I'd love to try out some new ones in the Benton County area so tell me your favorite hot spot.
The weather has been awesome (a little windy, but I'm not complaining).
I don't know about you, but I'm happy spring is finally here. Now, lets hope it's here to stay.

Tasty Tuesday: Spring Slaw

Last week our sweet friends brought this coleslaw over with an awesome stew and it still makes my mouth water!
And guess what, it's healthy! I thought since it's warming up and lighter recipes seem to hit the spot (at least for me) I thought I'd share this one. I really am looking forward to making this soon. My friend got the recipe from this website. There are some awesome HEALTHY meals! I promise this is worth trying. I've linked to the recipe here too.

When To Turn & When Not To Turn

Most of us know that little ones like this baby sit the car the facing the back, or rear facing. They are supposed to sit like this for a year and weigh at least 20 pounds..WELL, today that changed according to a segment on Good Morning America.
Now, they are saying kids should sit rear-facing until they're two. What do you think of this? I know when our oldest turned one we switched her and she was super happy because she had leg room and could see out the windows. I can't imagine cramming her little legs rear-facing for another year. But I did have a friend that did that with her little boy and it was fine because he didn't know better.
The study says one year olds involved in a car accident that are rear-facing are 5 times LESS likely to be injured. That's a pretty good safety reason to stay rear-facing, but what do you think of the new guidelines suggestions? You can read more here. The story also mentions leaving kids in booster seats longer...thoughts?

Time to Hoop it Up

If you're looking for something to do on this St. Patricks Day head out to Siloam Springs! The ever so entertaining Globetrotters are going to be strutting their stuff agasint some local ballers.

It's all part of a fundraiser for the Siloam Springs High School Band. The game is tonight at 7:00, so you can still grab a green beer afterwards if that's a St. Patty's day tradition for you. It should be a great time for the entire family. You can buy tickets at the door or buy in advance (like this afternoon since it's tonight, ha).
KNWA Today's Tom Yazwinski is one of the crazies taking on the Globetrotters, so that should make a for a good laugh.

I know I'm excited! You can watch more about the event here.

Lots of Fabric...How Do I do this?

So I bit the bullet and bought a Moby wrap to carry Emerson in and I'm overwhelmed. It is definitely a lot of fabric. I think I put it on right, but for those of you who have one what is your trick to making it work?
I have directions I guess I just need some reassurance that I can figure this out and E will like it.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
PS I know there are several other brands out there and you recommend, but I needed it now and I didn't have time to order, so I was able to pick this up at the store.

Tasty Tuesday: Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas

Don't judge this recipe by the picture. It is one of my favorite enchilada recipes but I waited until they were almost gone to take a picture. Anyway, check it out here and enjoy. Thanks to our sweet friends for making us a meal while we adjust to being a family of 4.

Picky Eater Solutions?

Is it a battle at your dinner table? Do you have to beg your kiddos to eat their veggies? Do you go the extra mile to get them to choke down their food?

Well, a new study has tips on how to get your little ones to clear their plates! The tips may seem simple and like common sense, but according to this article they work.

The tips include: don't give up, make it taste good, combine veggies with other favorite foods, make mealtime fun, and even plant a garden with your family.

If you have tips you want to share with other parents struggling to clean their kiddos plates...please share.

Fashion Friday: Zulily

Warning: if you like cute kids clothes and great deals this site could impact your pocket book!

Ok, you've been warned. I wish my friend had warned me, but I'm so thankful she introduced me to this site. I actually bought the girls Easter dresses here and to say I got a deal would be a MAJOR understatement!
I know that zulily is not new, but it's new to me and if you're in the dark ages like me I thought I would share so you can enjoy this steal of a deal.
First, you have to sign up to look at the merchandise, but it's FREE!
Second, they will email you everyday with the newest deals and brand names they are featuring for the next few days.
Third, most of the items are 50-70% off. Yep, you read that right! Pretty awesome isn't it. And don't think it's cheap stuff...no it's awesome onesies, big tutu skirts, amazing outfits, shoes, baby gear, mommy gear, etc.
So,if you haven't already you need to check it out!

Once I get the girls dresses I'll share, but until then happy shopping. And remember you have been warned!

Stretch Marks

No, that is not my belly. I found this on the internet. So I'm sure by the title it's obvious I've just had a baby and want things back to the way they were, ha!
To be honest I don't get many stretch marks when pregnant...it might be because I'm so tall and the babies have room to stretch out without stretching my skin the max. But since I've been home and watching random TV in the middle of the night I've noticed several commercials on products to get rid of stretch marks. And I recently had a friend tell me she wishes she could get her stretch marks to disappear.
Of course, that when I decided to blog about it.
I know people say to lather up with lotion during the pregnancy to help your skin adjust, but what about post-delivery?

So, since I"m not an expert in this area I want to hear from you so we can all help our fellow-mommies out!
Ready, Set, Share!

Potty Training...I NEED YOUR HELP

Let me start by saying we all did it. One day in our lives we all tackled the task of tee-teeing in the potty, but right now it feels like my toddler will NEVER show an interest.
I know awhile back I had high hopes of having her out of diapers before #2 arrived, well, that has come and gone and everyone (besides mommy and daddy) are still in diapers. So, here I am asking for your help.
I need a little potty training advice. What worked best for you. Our toddler is 2 and a half. Right around her birthday she showed some interest but that went out the door quickly. here we are 6 months later and every time we mention the potty she says NO.
Do any of you suggest the potty boot camp...intense training for a few days? Should we wait until she says she's ready? Help. I know she'll get it, but what do I need to do as a mommy to help her along.
Any and ALL advice is welcomed!

I know I sound like a crazy women trying to do this with a new baby, but I thought I'd get some feedback and then weigh my options.

Thank you in advance!

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie

I did not make this meal, BUT I did devour it.
Thanks to the Swain family, also known as superchikk, for this yummy dinner.
The entire family enjoyed it and so can you. The recipe is posted here or you can go to Superchikks site for a total tutorial on this delicious dish.
I hope to share several more recipes from friends over the next couple weeks. There are so VERY talented cooks out there and we're blessed to eat their food :)

Take Them a Meal

I'm BAAAACK! A big thank you to Kelly Stamps for keeping the blog alive while I took a little time to welcome home our little addition, Emerson Kate. It has been a wild but incredible ride. Thank you to all of you for your support, notes, prayers, etc. I'm sure I'll be blogging about the girls soon, but today I wanted to talk about an incredible site that has made taking care of my family super easy the last couple months.

My sweet friends have set up a meal sign up for us so I don't have to worry about cooking as we adjust to our larger family. It has been amazing and we've enjoyed some incredible food. For the last couple weeks friends have signed up to bring us a meal through Take Them a Meal.  I don't know if you've ever tried to coordinate meals for someone but it can be overwhelming UNTIL now. I know there are several website like this one, but this is what my friends used. To sum it up...a mass email is sent to friends and they can sign up AND they can see what other people are bringing so you don't end up with a few nights of enchiladas and spaghetti.
Anyway, I sure most of you know about this site, but if you don't and you're in charge of setting up meals for friends soon check it out! We have enjoyed Baked Ziti, chicken pot pie, Italian sausage tortellini soup, and its all been so good.
So, I hope all is well you each of you!

American Idol

My husband and I don't agree on many TV shows but as long as we have been married - we always watch American Idol together! And I LOVE it!

I thought this season would be terrible without Simon - but so far it's my favorite season EVER! I LOVE the new judges!!! LOVE them!!!

And tonight we got down to the top 13 - wow - that was quick!

Are you watching? Who is your favorite? And what do you think of the new judges?

My favorites so far are Casey, Paul, Lauren and Pia!

Indoor Activities

It's so nice to see the weather warming up and knowing there will be lots of park days and outside play times coming up............but March and April are always pretty rainy so it's good to have some ideas for indoor activities inside. I thought I would share a few we have tried lately and I would LOVE your ideas..............and I imagine many others reading would love to get some ideas!
We always try toys, play dough, coloring, puzzles, books first................but some of these were bigger hits!
We didn't play outside when we had the big snow. It was just too cold and I'm 9 months pregnant and didn't want to fall down so we brought the snow inside. This entertained Harper forever!!! In fact - now if I lay down towels and bring out a tub she starts saying "SNOW!!! SNOW!!!". But if it does come a late snow - we are for sure doing this again!
My friend Bethany suggested taking two bowls and putting water and ice cubes in one and giving her a slotted spoon and letting her move the ice from bowl to another. This kept her busy for like 45 minutes! She LOVED it! I just laid towels down and let her go to town!
I had a few friends suggest putting rice or beans in a tub and letting her play in it. I decided rice was too messy so I bought a whole bunch of beans and let her try this last night. (This was before I decided to put a blanket down.) Now she loved this but I left the room for I promise less than 2 minutes and came back to this..........................
In 2 minutes she managed to scatter beans all over our entire family room. The type A in me decided we might not play with the beans again for a while. Especially when all 9 months of me had to bend down and clean this up (she helped!)

Any other ideas? Especially ones using basic home materials??? I'd love to hear anything! And not just for little ones - I'm sure moms all over NWA would love activities for school aged kids for those days you are home and they are "bored"!

Tasty Tuesday - Chicken Supreme

CHICKEN BREAST SUPREME

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
4-8 strips of bacon
16 oz sour cream
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of sliced mushrooms
1 jar of dried beef (this is found near tuna or spam)

Wrap the chicken in bacon and put in pan

Mix up all the other ingredients. Tear up the dried beef into small pieces (this is what gives the meal the real flavor)

Pour mixture over chicken and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours

I always serve with white rice and pour the extra sauce on top. If we had company - we would add vegetables or a salad and rolls - but since it's just us - we just had this. TASTY!