Thursday, June 16, 2011

Water, Water Everywhere. Water Near and Far.

It's not really that bad. We came inside and heard a weird sound. Daddy went to investigate. It was our hot water heater. He turned off our water. There's some water downstairs, but it's not as bad as it could have been!

It just sucks that this kind of stuff happens at a bad time, 9 pm! No plumber will come at night.

It also sucks that last month we had a plumber come out to fix our kitchen sink. Ya we've never had it snaked out, and it needed it! Then we got a roof our on house. That was out of pocket because it was considered expired before we bought the house. Insurance wouldn't cover it. Now this!

It's Time to Come Up With Birthday Ideas

My birthday is right around the corner. June 21, the first day of summer, sometimes lands on Father's Day and Aunt Terra's due date.

Aunt Angela called to ask for ideas from me. I have to be honest I haven't even thought about it. My mind has been all over the place lately. Usually when I see little kid things I jot them down. What about ideas for mom's!?! What about ideas for dads!?! That will be another post. I have Father's Day figured out already. I know stores I like, so usually I go to them to figure out what I want.

Ideas for me:
  • Red Robot Necklace at Hot Topic for $12.00 found here. I like the Robot ID tag necklace too at Hot Topic for $14 found here. Why do I like them? Red's my favorite color. My boy's are into robots, so naturally I'm into them too.
  • I like water bottles like this. It doesn't have to be the same one. Just something similar.

  • Speaking of which I'd love a glass pitcher or two. All I have is plastic, probably not BPA Free ones. I saw one on Target's site for $14.99. It has a lid. I liked the ones at Pottery Barn, but they don't have lids. One of those would be ok on days we make juice from our juicer, but I'd like one for other juices too. Kind of nice to have a lid.
  • The Afternoon is one of my favorite shops in Omaha!!!!! I heart their selection of children's books! Some of the most creative and inspiring! I've bought a few just for me in the past.
5 Piece canning set. Ya I want to learn. I'm sure this type of thing could be purchased elsewhere, but I saw it here. Oh and it's red, again my favorite color.
They have another cute robot necklace, but it's much more then the above ones. Probably because it's custom. Sweet looking!


This Alice and Wonderland Bracelet is cool!


They also just started selling Karine Demers' art. I think I love it. Funky, yet cool! A book by her would be great too!



It's too bad I only have boy's. Sorry boy's I love you, but one girl to join me would have been nice. I love these stacking glasses made off of the Russian stacking dolls!

  • Uncommon Goods is my favorite online store. Well they have a store in New York, but I live in Nebraska. Grandma Spiehs and I love their packaging! I know too late for family to get me anything from there, but their products are sweet. Rain check please. New Age Mama is hosting a giveaway for a winner to pick from any gifts for men $50 or less!
I like these pillows:
An indoor composter that doesn't smell. It sits under the sink. Totally great, but I would have to clean under my sink to make it fit. ;) Right now we use just a bucket. They have other's, other places. A great idea! We have a huge backyard for a city, so why not compost the heck out of our veggie and fruit peelings!?!
  • Random, but cute and can be found here. I like owls right now. I like that they can move their heads so well! I'm jealous, I wish I could move my head like they can! Imagine how well I could see my kids and students. HA

Ok now you know what I like! I look for things that are artsy, inspiring, different and functional. My likes might be way too odd for you. I'm a little odd.

What do you like?  Do you like what I like? It's ok if you say, "NO!" I'll like what I like anyhow. ;) It would be a pretty boring world if we were all the same!

Puppies

Isaak loves puppies. He'll never have a real one as long as he lives with me. Yep I'm allergic to anything furry. Except for stuffed animals. Even with them I wash them, freeze them and vacuum them to get rid of dust mites.

New Age Mama is giving away one of these Furreal Doggies from Hasbro. This is about as real of a dog that Isaak will get!

Cold Drinks

I thought some readers might be interested in this: New Age Mama is hosting a giveaway for one reader to win $250 Mocafe prize pack.


If I win I will do one of two things: I'll split the samples up between my mom, my sister's and I, or I will have a friend get together and we will sample Mocafe products.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Some of You Were Asking About Isaak's Tie

  • I won Isaak's tie off of Mom4Life
  • It's super cool because it's reversible! 
  • It's only $9.25 and they have free shipping all the time in the US. 
  • The tie has a band that goes around Isaak's head really easily. He didn't complain about it, nor did he want to take it off. 
  • It's also handmade. 
  • There are only a few patterns to pick from. I knew right away that I wanted the green one.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Berry Picking


I decided this weekend that it was time to pick the June Berries off of our Service Berry tree.

Mica picked the berries inside the tree:


  I picked the berries on a step ladder {my view}:



Isaak, well he handed us the bucket, ate the unwashed berries {oh well} and the rest of the time threw sticks in the air.


How it ended: The boy's ran around the tree playing Ring Around the Rosy. Mica quit because he was tired and Isaak wanted to keep playing. Isaak said, "Come on Mica keep saying it because I can't say the, 'Asses Asses' part!"

I made muffins. I'm going to make a crisp. The photo's were just too much fun!


Gummylump Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart and Slice and Bake Cookies GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

I'm excited ecstatic that Gummylump wants to giveaway a Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart and Slice and Bake Cookies to one of my readers!!!!!!!!

These products are beyond cool! They've kept our two son's and our two nephews occupied for extended periods of time. Isaak tested these products out. He got the Shopping Cart for his birthday from us. Gummylump has the Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart on sale for $55.99 right now. It's original price is $69.99.

It literally took Daddy only 7 minutes to set up! He had no problems.


We took him to Whole Foods a few days later. Isaak did much of our shopping! He was so entertained with having his own cart. Usually I'm saying, "Isaak stay with me!" or "Isaak if you can't stop running, I'll have to put you in the cart {my cart}." He also offers to help me push my cart, which takes forever. I love that he now has his own cart. He kept up with us. Most importantly he was happy the whole time. This cart made our shopping experience much more enjoyable!

Here he just stopped off for a cheese sample.




Isaak got the Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set by Melissa and Doug for his birthday from Aunt Terra. Gummylump has the Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set on sale for $15.99 right now. It's original price is $19.99.



I had to take a picture of the set all packaged up! It super cute!


It comes with the works. Maybe it could come with some Olive Oil spray ;). It has a pan, 12 cookies, cookie dough container, spatula, knife and oven mit. 


What the boy's and I like is that the cookies are attached with Velcro. It makes them easy to pull up with the spatula. Also the top of the cookies are attached with Velcro as well. This is where the knife comes in handy! Mica calls these cookies, "Donuts." They look a little like both. ;)


I'm super excited about Isaak's new toy's from Gummylump



You can win what Gummylump sent me! One winner will receive a Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart and a Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set!
Together the value is $89.98. You can enter if you are not a blogger. Leave a separate entry for each. Make sure the first entry is filled out before all others.

  1. For your first mandatory entry, join Gummylump's email list! Leave your email address only with this first entry. one entry
The other entries are optional. Be sure to leave a new comment for each.
  1. Google Friend this blog. one entry
  2. Add Planet of the Apels button to your site. Leave me your site link. one entry
  3. {Like} Gummylump on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
  4. {Like} Apel Mom on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
  5. Leave a comment on one of my other posts. Just leave the title. one entry
  6. Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post and Gummylump. Leave a link. five entries
  7. Vote for me on We're on the Fence! Just click on the button to the side to vote. one entry
  8. Go to Gummylump and tell me another toy you would like to own. one entry
You do not need to enter all of the entries to be qualified, just the first mandatory entry. This contest closes in 2 weeks, June 28 at 10 pm. The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer:
The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Gummylump provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration AT hotmail DOT com

Monday, June 13, 2011

Three Year Old's!

Yesterday Daddy and Mica were playing outside. Two neighborhood kids were playing in their backyard. One is 3 and the other upper elementary. The 3 year year old grabs the Frisbee right out of his brother's hands. The older kid said, "Give it back, or I'm going to tell Mom!" The 3 year old starts running away, Frisbee in hand. He gabs it into his brother's back.

Today cousin Elijah, who is also 3 started slapping his older brother multiple times just because he wanted a turn at throwing a ball.

I'm not alone! I may have a 3 year old that's a punk, but he can also be a sweet heart. I'm just hoping we get over this throwing, hitting phase really soon! Oh did I mention that he threw a toy into Elijah's eye last Friday? Yep Elijah has a black eye. I was hoping that Aunt Terra was exaggerating over the phone! Terra's due any day now! Elijah's has a shiner! That will look just great in their family photo's! NOT!

Isaak you're mommy little punk! I may have to give you MANY time outs! Please learn that negative behavior is not cool! I love you!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Tropical Traditions Powdered Dish Detergent Review and Giveaway!

Tropical Traditions sent me Powdered Dish Detergent to review and giveaway! This giveaway is open to US and Canada.


I was really excited to try this ultra-concentrated chlorine free dishwasher detergent because Isaak tried to eat one of these:

 

He spit it out! I was so glad because I thought I might have to call poison control!

Tropical Traditions is known for their environmentally safe and non-toxic products. It is still harmful if swallowed. What I like is that it does not look like candy. It also is much better on my dishes!



I've ran five loads of dishes. They all came clean! No residue was left on our dishes!





About Tropical Traditions Powdered Dish Detergent:
  • The product does not contain chlorine, phospates, fillers or fragrances.
  • It only has a handful of ingredients: Sodium citrate, sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, surfactants, rinse agents and silicate.
  • It comes in a 5 LBS. container. One load = one scoop, which is 2 ounces. If you have tougher problems, you will need to fill both sides according to your dishwasher instructions.
You can win what Tropical Traditions sent me! A 5 pound container of Powdered Dish Detergent. A $32.00 value! Right now it's on sale for $19.99!

You can enter if you are not a blogger. Leave a separate entry for each. Make sure the first entry is filled out before all others.
  1. For your first mandatory entry, check out Tropical Traditions and tell me a recipe you would like to try! Leave your email address only with this first entry. one entry
The other entries are optional. Be sure to leave a new comment for each.
  1. Google Friend this blog. one entry
  2. Add Planet of the Apels button to your site. Leave me your site link. one entry
  3. {Like} Tropical Traditions on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
  4. {Like} Apel Mom on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
  5. Leave a comment on one of my other posts. Just leave the title. one entry
  6. Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post and Tropical Traditions. Leave a link. five entries
  7. Vote for me on We're on the Fence! Just click on the button to the side to vote. one entry
  8. Subscribe to Tropical Traditions Email Sales Newsletter here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/subscribe_for_special_sales.cfm. one entry
You do not need to enter all of the entries to be qualified, just the first mandatory entry.
Remember to leave your email address if it is not public in your profile.
This contest closes in 2 weeks, June 26 at 10 pm.
The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.


If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com