I Was Placed on House Arrest...

...that's right!  I was home-bound and stuck.  My lil miss Rainbow was sick as a dog today!  We couldn't go anywhere!  (I really had ya'll worried now, didn't I?)  

Poor Rainbow woke up throwing her guts up this morning and running fever!  She was on a strict diet of Pedialyte (the off brand) and Pedialyte Freezer Pops (also the off brand).  Off brands work just as well with most things.  Most is a key word here.  There are some things that definitely do not work near as well when they are not name brand.  But returning to the subject...we missed church this morning, and again this evening.  Rainbow got tons of rest though, and her energy and spunk returned right about 7:30pm.  Just in time to get ready for bed...NOT!  She was a live wire and I didn't get her down till past midnight.  But I'm just glad she's feeling better.  

On a random note:  Do you ever wish you could tell someone something so bad, but you just can't?  Everything in you wants to come out and spills the beans, let Ol' Glory explode - and let the chips fall where they may.  But there is so much at risk by doing that.  Things could turn out to be amazing if there was a positive response, and they could go super sour in a heartbeat and ruin so much if it was negative.  But alas, no one needs to know right now...

Well here are pictures from today that I know ya'll are waiting for!

White Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods with Sprinkles

*These were delicious*

Yesterday we made our white chocolate dipped pretzel rods with the hot pink sprinkles Rainbow picked out.  We called them our "Royal Princess Wands" because this is National Princess Week!  

What you need:

1 bag of Pretzel rods

1 box of white chocolate squares

*or*

1 bag of white chocolate chips

sprinkles

Recipe yields about 24 covered pretzel rods

I will be honest with ya'll.  I burnt the chocolate because I got distracted with Rainbow.  Imagine that!  So my batch only yielded about 12 pretzels!  But that's ok because they were amazing!!

You need to melt your chocolate.  Mine called for 2 minutes in the microwave.  Well my chocolate burned at 1:20 so please, watch your chocolate closely!  

Lay out some wax or parchment paper on a cookie sheet and out on the table.  The cookie sheet will be where you place your pretzels to dry, and the paper out on the table will be to sprinkle the sprinkles over.  I was out of wax and parchment paper so I substituted with aluminum foil.  

Cover 3/4 of the pretzel rod with chocolate and allow the excess to drip off.  Then sprinkle with your sprinkles.  

Lay them on the tray, spaced apart, to dry.

The end result!!!

Rainbow LOVED them!

On another note, the kids and I enjoyed a good, lazy, cartoon-filled, Saturday morning.  This is how Rainbow insisted on eating her oatmeal!

Play time for Ladybug...

...Cartoon time for Rainbow...  

...And relax time for Mommie.  :)

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for this week?  Well I have a list!  And this is my first "Thankful Thursday", with many more to follow!

1. My children - Rainbow 3 years, Ladybug 5 months

2.  Speech Therapy - I'm so glad  my daughter has the opportunity to get help so we can fix any issues before they become a problem.

3.  Pedicures - My mother bought me a gift certificate for a spa pedicure and I had the opportunity to use it last weekend.  I felt like a million bucks!

4.  Sno Cones - Perfection when it's hot outside.

5.  My Brother, Marcus - He's so good with his nieces and loves them.  We had a blast seeing him today at Larry's Pizza.  Rainbow got to play games, win tickets, and trade them in for a prize.  I don't think she realizes she wins her prizes.  She seems to think Marcus gives them to her. :)

What are you thankful for?

What I Love Wednesday

*Disclaimer:  I know it's technically Thursday, but its still Wednesday for me because I haven't slept yet.*

A list of things I love and have made me happy this past week, even if I only thought about them:

1. Rain on a tin roof - just the thought of it makes me swoon.  I LOVE it.  

2. Holding my sleeping babies - it brings a stillness and peace that nothing else compares to.

3. The Easter Lily - my all time favorite flower ever.  Pure lily whiteness.  

4.  Dream House - a beautiful log cabin!  Ok so this isn't exactly what I'm picturing...but pretty close.  I love the country feel of the log cabin, but I'd want it to be pretty upscale too.  The kitchen in this place would be to die for!  And wow, I would love to entertain guests and have cocktails out there!  Ahhh...yes.  Dream on, Ava.  Dream on.  

5.  Strawberry Daiquiris - YUM.  Relaxing and delicious.  And I'm super happy after just one.  :)

6. Family - always there for you, even when you don't want them to be.  ;-)

7. Chick-Fil-A:  Rainbow's favorite place to go play.  Therefore, it is my favorite place to go eat and get a break.  And the fact that it's a Christian-based company and the employees are the sweetest people on the planet, makes it that much more appealing.  

8.  Birthday parties - I love, love, love planning them!!!  We just had Rainbow's on March 31st with a Blue's Clues theme.  Ladybug's will be next on December 1st with a hot pink/black/white Minnie Mouse theme!  Oh, I just can't wait!  I've got tons of creative ideas.  

(This was Rainbow's 3rd Blue's Clues Birthday party - she's being held by her soon-to-be Aunt Megan.)

9.  Bonfires - ain't nothin' like 'em.  Seriously, they are so relaxing.  When I'm out by a bonfire, I feel so amazing.  For some reason, I also get a brave streak...in more ways than one.  I will leave it at this; the last one I had - I got burned probably 20 times.  

10.  Swimming at the lake - I simply cannot wait to do this!  I want to go float!  It's so peaceful at times, and so ridiculously fun at other times!  Sometimes I wonder if I was meant to be a fish....or a mermaid.  Yeah that sounds prettier.  

The Honest Company Review

Eeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm so excited!  I got my sample package in today from "The Honest Company", which was founded by Jessica Alba in the last year.  They make plant-based, biodegradable, eco-friendly, super cute, disposable diapers!!!  They also make wipes, baby shampoo, lotion, laundry detergent, hand soap, dishwashing liquid, bubble bath, and an array of other products - all eco-friendly!  It's all non-toxic, free of harmful chemicals, and all natural.  All of the packaging is recyclable and super adorable, too!  Wonderful company with a wonderful vision.  

So needless to say, I received my sample package today and wanted to share with ya'll what I got and what I thought about it after I tried all the products.

What you get in a sample pack:

7 Diapers

10 count Wipes

Laundry Detergent

Shampoo & Body Wash

Healing Balm

Face & Body Lotion

Hand Soap

1. Diapers:  I vote yes!  They are super cute and super absorbent!  I love that she doesn't wear the same old boring diaper after every change.  I love the fact that I can have the convenience of disposable diapers without the guilt since they are biodegradable.  My daughter seems to be more comfortable in them, too.  The elastic isn't so tight on her skin.  They fit wonderfully and the sizes seem to be right on with our previously used Pampers Baby Dry.  My babies never could wear Huggies, they always leaked since my girls were both chunky babies.  I love chubby babies.  I'm getting off-track here.  I would definitely recommend these diapers!  As a matter of fact, I'm keeping my membership to keep the monthly subscription.  Ladybug will be an "Honest" baby!

2. Wipes:  They were thinner than what I'm used to, more like Pampers consistency rather than Huggies.  But they smelled fresh and cleaned well.  And it was wonderful knowing that my little girl's skin was not having all those harsh chemicals exposed to it.  I definitely approve.

3. Laundry Detergent:  I cannot brag enough on this stuff!  Smells light and clean, as it should.  I decided that I was really going to put this stuff to the test.  So I threw really stinky bibs covered in spit-up in there, some blankets, and this one really bad shirt that belongs to my oldest .  Let me tell you about this shirt.  It was covered, and I mean COVERED in bright blue cookie icing...and the shirt was white!  My daughter got a huge, blue cookie from Grandma the other day at the mall for being especially well behaved.  I just knew I was going to be throwing that shirt away.  Can I just simply say that I am amazed?  The shirt came out bright, beautiful white!  I just couldn't believe it!  I'm officially in love.

4. Shampoo & Body Wash:  Ok, I'll be honest (no pun intended).  I didn't even get to use this today.  I sat it out with the intention of using it, and ended up using Johnson & Johnson's Night Time Lavender Lotion instead.  Totally forgot about it for a hectic portion of the day.

5. Healing Balm:  This stuff is also amazing.  Best diaper rash remedy I have found yet.  Rainbow is so incredibly sensitive and this worked wonders for her.  Ladybug's small rash was gone in one application.  I also used it on Ladybug's cheeks and it's healing the redness on her face from all the drool.  I love that it's all-natural and multi-functional!!!

6. Face & Body Lotion:  Also amazing!  It has a wonderful, fresh smell.  I covered Ladybug in it today and it's helping to moisturize her ankles well, they seem to stay dry for some reason.  This stuff is made up of organic olive oil, aloe, and calendula (which is what I get from the natural health food store for Ladybug's cradle cap, and works wonders).  I just love, love, love it!!! (Pun was intentional - Jessica Alba says that in reference to penguins in "Good Luck Chuck")

7. Hand Soap:  I love it!  It smells so fresh and citrus-y!  It was so sensitive for my hands and didn't dry them out at all!  I'm going to be getting tons of this!

You get the a full month's supply of diapers and wipes for $79.95 + $5.95 S&H.  

You get a full month's supply of family essentials for $39.95 + $3.95 S&H.

I already spend $50-$65 a month on diapers and another $15 on wipes, so its about the same price for the diapers and wipes bundle.  And I spend a good deal more on the family essentials bundle items, especially since my girls and I have such sensitive skin.  

My bottom line opinion:

Totally Worth Every Last Penny!

Here are some photos of everything I received and my little model for the day, Ladybug.

Pampers on Left, Honest on Right

I love those piggies!!

And I love the leg rolls!!

\Ok ya'll!  This was a serious milestone here!!!!  I was trying to take a picture of the 3rd diaper print on her and as I snapped the first picture of this print....she rolled over - for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!

4/23/12 

(Family members - mark your calenders)

Lovin' those baby rolls!  :)