Homemade Valentines

The boys said they want to make Valentines this year. 

That's translated to: "We want you to make really cool ones of us being super heroes on your computer Mom."

It really didn't take that long. I asked Mica, "Do you want me to post funny Valentine's jokes on your Valentines?" He said, "Yes." But when he saw Isaak's Valentines that I made Mica said, "Mom I want ones just like Isaak, but I want to be Iceman." 

I didn't even know who Iceman was. But I learned. 

I saved money by making them. I spent more time than I would have liked to though.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

A few years ago we bought the boys ukuleles for Easter. 

They played them a little, but mostly they were one of those things that got set in their closets. Recently Mica's taken an interest in getting it out, and playing it. He watches YouTube tutorials on playing the ukulele. You've got to start somewhere right? 

I looked up bands, singers that play ukuleles. Lisa Hannigan came up. I really love her music. It's calming.

Between writing her first album - 2008's Sea Sew - and its eagerly awaited successor, Lisa Hannigan's life has changed in many ways. 

She was nominated for the Choice Music Prize in her native Ireland. Hannigan has conducted her life as a solo artist up until this point. 

Source

Knots

Little Bird

Check out Lisa Hannigan website.
Like Lisa Hannigan on Facebook.
Follow Lisa Hannigan on Twitter.
Subscribe to Lisa Hannigan on YouTube.

The Natural Dentist Oral Care Products for Kids Review + #Giveaway

The Natural Dentist Oral Care Products for Kids is amazing! Dad kind of rolled his eyes when I got a box of toothpaste to review. I said, "Are you kidding me. This stuff is great!"  

It has:

• No SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
• No Preservatives
• No Artificial Coloring
• No Artificial Sweeteners

The kids were so excited to get a box in the mail. They love when anything comes for them. 

They put the purest herbs and botanical ingredients into a toothpaste.

Ingredients:
 
Vegetable Glycerin
Purified Water
Sorbitol
Hydrated Silica
Xylitol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Natural Flavor
Cellulose Gum
Lycopene
Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Juice
Xanthan Gum
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract
Mica (Yep Mica's in it.)
Titanium Dioxide 

Directions:

Brush teeth thoroughly after each meal, or twice a day. 

Children 2 to 6 years; use only a pea-sized amount. It's not ok to swallow. 

The kids wanted to try out Groovy Grape. The boys loved the flavor. I know some natural toothpastes pretty much taste flavorless. This tasted like grape. It wasn't a fake grape flavor.

It's really clear. I love that they don't try and make it purple in color.

I was hoping to get their mouthwash to try. They sent me 3 toothpastes instead. All of which we can use.

Who wants to win The Natural Dentist Oral Care Products for Kids?

US only. 18 years or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  

Body Tea USA Review

I do love to drink tea when I'm feeling like my body is ran down. Body Tea USA just gave me some tea to review.

It comes in a big bag. The tea is not loose. Each one is prepackaged. This makes it easy to take to work.

28 Count Tea Bags for 14 Days (2 bags a day).

The tea looks healthy. It's not super processed stuff. This is an herbal drink that is made to help fight weight loss.

About

✔︎BodyTea USA Weight Management and Weight loss Tea Bags is a proven and safe all natural slimming metabolic booster formula which reduces cravings

✔︎Safe 100% Herbal, highly effective fat burning skinny tea, allows appetite control with ingredients including Garcinia Cambogia extract a great Carb blocker, even doctor recommended

✔︎A natural smooth tasting fat burner body cleanse which helps to prevent fat from being absorbed into the intestines so that you can be skinny too

✔︎A natural diuretic weight loss tea to slim down which helps to eliminate excess water from the body, purify the body form toxins and works great for both men and women

✔︎Contains Caffeine from Green Tea which helps increase your metabolism between meals, great for weight loss instead of a diet or together with- 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

✔︎Body Tea USA Costs - $32.99

Ingredients

PuEr tea, Garcinia Cambogia, Green Tea, Jasmine Flower, Flower of Hyacinth, Dolichos, Lemon grass

I like the taste of it. It's not strong. I don't mix any sweeteners with my tea. I do however mix chopped up ginger in with it if my allergies are bad. It's known to reduce inflammation.

Directions

Put a tea bag in the bottom of a mug, or glass jar, pour warm or hot water over it, wait for 7 minutes before drinking it.

Are you a tea drinker?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Today We Close a Chapter in Our Life Book

Today is my husband's last day of employment. I think I've cried more times than he has worried. When he went in on Monday he handed 2 of his co-workers thank you cards. They've been with him for 14 years. The act of him just purchasing the thank you cards made me cry. 

When he came home he told me that his boss didn't tell his 2 coworkers about him being let go at all. I think that his boss is so ashamed that he had to let Travis go. The thank you cards were unexpected. His coworker Steve got teary eyed. When I heard this I cried again. 

*I'm not even at that hormonal point in the month. I remember making fun of my mom for crying over movies and shows. Here I am a slobbery mess. I'm turning into my mom, only worse.

The thing is, I'm not crying over money really. Well maybe a little. Mostly it's the closing of the chapter that's lasted so long.

Tuesday night at the Y we went to a Family Fitness class. Mica and Isaak automatically want to play tag with me every time. Maybe it's because they know they can tag me much easier than their Father. We played tag, and kickball there. Guess who hurt his back at some point during the process? Dad of course. At the end the girl in charge asked if we needed a card to fill out? If you go for a certain number of times you get prizes. I looked at her, shook my head and said, "After this month we won't be going to the Y for awhile. My husband lost his job." I explained what happened. I don't want anyone thinking my husband did anything wrong, because he didn't. I know tears filled up in my eyes. 

We went home, and Dad grabbed a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer to put on his back. In the process of putting them back in the freezer a giant bag of berries fell out, busted and went all over the floor. At that point I had to laugh. Sometimes laughter has to take over tears. Your life is comedic after a certain point of disasters around you.

At Ju-Jitsu tears happened again. We're on a 3 month hold after this month. We won't have to pay a sign up fee if we decide to go back. We can close our account completely if we decide to go that route. I know they have scholarships for those that make less money, but right now if I spend anything I want it to go towards camps in the summer to keep the kids busy. It's just sad because Mica's been going there since he was 6, and now he's 9. Both boys are getting better at the martial art. 

My little {what used to be selfish} Mica said, "Dad if I win that writing contest you made me enter; you can have the money." Last night Mica said, "I want to start delivering papers for the family." We said, "Why?" He said, "You know to bring in some money." - I love that kid! Of course he's only 9, and we're not waking up at some crazy time in the morning to deliver papers. It's the thought that counts. This proves we've done something right with our kids. 

Where Travis works there's 2 businesses inside the building. They are pretty close to the other business. One lady said last week, "Hummm...I wonder when cookies will show up again?" That translates to, Your wife Alissa should bring in some cookies for me to eat.

As soon as he was asked to leave I made cookies. I don't over eat when I'm stressed, but I do want to bake. Conversation heart cookies were made. For one of the first times in Travis' life, he helped me pipe the words on. I said, "We should write typical things for my work: Cute, Sexy, Love, Hot... For your work we should write: Bye, See Ya, It's Been Fun..." He loved that idea.

For My Work:

For His Work:

He said, "If I'm doing this I'm going to write some naughty ones. I'm losing my job anyhow." I said, "That's perfect." He used his imagination in regards to "FAH Q" and "AH SOUL". You may need to use your imagination as well to figure them out. I said, "I hope your boss doesn't think you are calling him those words. He said, "They'll laugh. Who cares if he does think that."

 
Do you get sad/happy when your life changes? I cry over happy times to. Like when we got married, and had our babies. I've cried at sad times like when my Grandma passed away. I think it's human nature to be scared in regards to change. It's not like I think we're going to drown in a lake. I just know that what we're used to is going to change now. 

Travis has an interview on Friday, he's going to the unemployment office to fill out that stuff that day to. On Saturday he is modeling for a local art place. I just hope his back is better by then! Luckily for us a fellow friend/mom owed us a favor. The boys get off school early on Friday, so she's taking them. They'll love it because they love her, and she's taking them out for ice cream. 

Human nature is interesting. Change is vital to get better. Change is also very scary. I know I'll be a slobbery mess when my kids leave the nest. 

WW: Hospital Visit {Linky}

My Dad has his 2nd heart ablation. He's had problems with an irregular heart beat since he was in high school. I was nervous because his doctor said it was going to be more work than the last one. He pulled through.

Not his best picture.

I asked my mom if it was ok to take the kids up? She used to be a nurse for years. She said, "Sure it's a private room, and they are not sick."

The boys were so excited. It was like going on a field trip to them. They couldn't wait to see Grandpa. When we walked in the door they loved it because Grandpa was channel surfing, and happened to be on Cartoon Network. 

They loved it even more when we filled up the chairs, and they had to share. At home this would cause a fight, but at the hospital it was a brother bonding time.

They loved it even more when the nurse saw them and brought them bomb pops.

We teased my Dad. We had full blown conversations about work, the nurses, and the kids. The next day he didn't remember a thing. He only knew we came because he saw the card sitting there.
 
The oddest thing was when he was looking for a knife (he swore he packed) to cut the peeling off his apple. I looked, but couldn't find a knife. I finally said, "Dad just eat it. If you're worried about pesticides they soak through the skin of the apple anyhow." 
 
I had no idea he was that out of it. 
 
He's home now - taking it easy.

I'm a Worrier

Last week I worried about my Dad's heart surgery. He's fine by the way. More on that tomorrow.

On Friday my husband's boss said, "We need to talk the next time you come in." This happened right as my husband was about to leave to pick up our kids. I can't stand when people say things like that right as you are about to leave. It's like saying, "I have a surprise for you, but you won't get the surprise until next week."

After I said that my husband said, "Now we all know what your weakness is." Gee thanks! 

On Saturday my husband went to finish up his job. He goes in on the weekends, and in the evenings to finish up sometimes because the kid's get dropped off, and picked up by him during the week.

My husband was nervous. He's been working at the same dental lab since 911 happened. That day was his first day. His boss has been acting odd lately. Once he accused him of throwing away something they recycle. He didn't do it. It was like he was looking for my husband to mess up.

He and his boss talked. His boss said that he ran the business in the ground, and has to let him go. He hated letting him go. It's nothing my husband did. He's a good worker. In fact he called another lab to try and get my husband in there. One good thing - his boss will be a great reference for him to get a new job.

I'm worried; my husband is less stressed. He was so tired of working there. The tension has been so high because everyone knew that his boss paid his workers on credit.
 
There's a Few Things on My Mind:

1. How is any place going to work with our crazy schedules? Dad takes the kids to school, Dad picks them up. I know people do it. But I don't want my boys living at school. He always made sure all the work was done by going in on weekends, and evenings to do it. I don't know that all bosses would be as flexible as his current boss. His last day is Thursday.

2. Should I saturate the boys with camps for the summer, or not? Right now is prime season for signing up for camps. We've already signed Mica up for 2, and Isaak for 1. There's 1 more camp they can both go to. If we're low on funds, and Dad's going to be home anyhow I don't want them signed up for camps. If he gets a full time job we'll need the boys in as many camps as possible. Thankfully the camps here aren't too expensive. But it adds up.

3. He wants odd jobs, and I want security. He is an artist. He'd love to do workshops for the Kent Bellow's Foundation (which is only 4 hours a week), be a teach at Arts 4 All during the summer, teach a class at the art museum, and be a model for figure drawing. He of course wants to make more artwork to sell as well. I'd love for him to work steady hours, and have benefits. Save up for retirement.

One worry (my Dad) was replaced with another (my husband's current work status).

When the boys found out about Dad being let go they both said, "Oh I like going to Dad's work!" They go there on some snow days. It's like a home away from home to them.

We bought 2 thank you cards to give to Dad's 2 co-workers that have been by his side since day 1. They are going to A) Be pissed when they find out about Travis being let go. It's been busy. I don't know how they are going to manage without him. B) worried because they are next to be let go. They to have families to care for. 

Everyone at his lab loves my cookies. I already made a batch. I just didn't decorate them yet. They are hearts. Instead of saying typical conversation heart sayings like I normally do...I'm going to say, "Miss You" and "Bye". 

One chapter in our lives is about to close. It's scary, yet could be thought of as an exciting time. I'm going with scary. My husband would say, "It's about time."

Gaia Organics Shampoo & Body Wash Review

I confess that I still use baby shampoo and body wash on my kids. Their skin is sensitive, so I don't like using soaps with any bad chemicals in them.

Gaia Organics Shampoo and Body Wash is for kids and babies. It's a perfect product for my 2 sons!

It's a tear free formula that can be used to gently cleanse your child's delicate skin and hair. It's perfect for kiddos that have a dry scalp. My boys both had baby eczema on their scalp when they were itty bitty.

It's says it's for babies on the bottle, but on Amazon it says it's for kids. Thankfully my kids do not care what it says. They'll use whatever I give them to clean themselves.

Cost: 

It's $24.99 and on sale for $17.96. I think that's a pretty good cost considering it's organic and all natural. I've priced out similar shampoos, that were way more in cost. Gaia Organics Shampoo and Body Wash doesn't skimp on the amount. They fill it to the rim in their 16 ounce container.

All Natural, Organic Ingredients: 

• Distilled Water
• Lavender
• Organic Olive
• Organic Safflower
• Organic Sunflower
• Organic Coconut
• Poly Glucoside
• Natural Beet Powder
• Xanthan Gum
• Aloe Vera
• Citric Acid

*SLS-Free, Paraben-Free, Free of Petrochemicals and Other Harmful Preservatives and Additives.

Lavender:

I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of the scent lavender. When I was pregnant with Mica I got a stretch cream that had lavender in it, and it was a scent that didn't agree with me. The lavender in Gaia Organics Shampoo and Body Wash is relatively light. I can smell it, but it's not overpowering. 

Lavender is known to be soothing and calming before bedtime.

PDF Book:

The company sends a PDF book on caring for children, which I thought was a great!  

What My Kids Thought: 

Both Mica and Isaak used Gaia Organics Shampoo and Body Wash. It does foam up, but not a ton (because it's free of harmful chemicals). They happened to like it.

Are you careful about what you use on your skin?

 Disclaimer: Gaia Organics sent me this product free in exchange for a review.