Fall Clothes for a Baby

I just got this cute baby girl outfit to review, for my niece Margaret. 

She has Trisomy 18 like her big brother Emerson does. She's still in the hospital. Only my mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law have been able able to see her. That's not counting the numerous doctors and nurses that have helped her. 

She's had a MRI, EEG, and a sleep study done. She's for the most part doing well. We've known that she needed jaw surgery, but after the sleep study that doctor wants to make that happen ASAP. Lots going on, for them. It's a good thing my parents are retired, and can help out.  

When I get the opportunity to review clothes for Margaret, I jump on it! They've only had boys this far, so why not get neutral or girl clothes? All baby clothes are so cute. 

Recently I got a fall outfit to review. You can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G134KKM, for $10.98-$11.98.

Colors:

• Mustard Yellow
• Pink
• White

I thought with fall, the mustard color would be great. Plus we've been having this discussion - do baby girls have to wear pink? Some family members say, "Yes", while other family members say that color has no gender. I don't think pink always needs to be on girls. I watched an old video once that said pink used to be a boy color, and blue was for girls. Before that all babies wore white gowns to make it easier to change diapers, and bleach out stains. What do you think? Is pink a girl color, and blue a boy color? 

It Has a Hat, or Hair Tie

That's yet another thing we disagree on. Travis thinks big bows, flowers, and ties on babies look so dumb. I don't mind them. I just can't tie them all pretty like.  

Sizes, for This Outfit:

• 0-3 Month
• 3-6 Month
• 6-12 Month
• 12-18 Month

I love that it doesn’t have built in feet. Often times babies have smaller or longer legs that just don’t fit right in them. I like the snaps, that make diaper changing easier. 

Are you ready for fall?

Disclaimer: I got this product, for a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A Dress for Halloween

Halloween is so fun! Although I don't know how into the holiday I will be this year. When I worked at an art school, it was a blast. When the boys were in elementary school they had a Fall Festival. Many peoople dressed up for that as well. My costumes were used for a few events. Now I'm not really needing a costume. Possibly Halloween socks, or a shirt will be all I need. 

I do like to pass on my love for Halloween to others. 

My niece to be is going to get a Halloween dress from me. 

What I like about this outfit:

• It's themed wonderfully for Halloween!
• At first I didn't like that there were some things right side up, and other things upside down, but now I like it. Babies lay down. No matter how they lay, you can see the fun designs. 
• The colors are pretty.
• I love my boys, but now I can get something girly. 

What I dislike about this outfit:

• The skirt wrinkles fairly easily.
• The pumpkin gets hidden by the skirt. It would have been better if it was sewn higher up. 
• I wish it was a onesie under the skirt; instead of a shirt. Babies never keep shirts tucked in. 
  
  

Overall it's a cute outfit!

Where to get it?

 

You can get this outfit, and another cute one similar on Amazon for $10.98 to $12.98: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V7SRVJJ. 

Sizes:

• 6-12 Month
• 12-18 Month
• 18-24 Month
• 2T-3T
• 3T-4T

Considering that my niece Margaret is due mid August, I would have ordered a 3-6 month. They didn't have this size. My sister is a seamstress, so she might be able to adjust the dress part. Really it would look cute with a black or white shirt. 

About the Bow:

I like bows, but only if they aren't covering the babies head. Some bows are just too big in my opinion. This one is a fairly small size. 

Do you like bows on babies? 

Is Halloween a holiday you enjoy?

Disclaimer: I got this product, for a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Happy Halloween!

This is the first year I won't have my boys going out for Trick or Treating. Actually Mica stayed in last year as well.

It's supposed to snow AGAIN! I'm afraid we won't get too many Trick or Treaters. I might be wrong though.

I'll turn on something spookish, for the boys.

Isaak is dressing up in his all one colored body suit; to hand out candy. He wanted all black, but they were out of stock. It was supposed to be all white, but came red. I won his costume, so I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I thought if it was all black he could be a shadow, or throw anything scary with it. If it was all white he could be a mannequin, or ghost. What does one do with an all red body suit? Ideas are welcome. Otherwise he's happy just answering the door with his all red body suit, for the Trick or Treaters.

Since my work is crazy about Halloween, I went dressed as Salvador Dali. 

The Good: 

It's an art school, so why not dress up like an artist?

It wasn't expensive! All I had to buy was a T-Shirt that I'll wear other times, plastic ants, a mustache, and I did buy black, white makeup, eyeliner, and black hair spray (all of which I can use again).

The Bad:

I didn't get up any earlier than normal; to get ready.

I couldn't find my face glue, and know I have some.

There were students that didn't get it. I had one student ask me if I was Charlie Chaplin? Not the right mustache, for Charlie Chaplin. I found out first year hasn't gotten to Surrealism yet, in Art History. My Aunt Becky said on Facebook, "Who are you supposed to be?" Ya she isn't into art. I even had a hashtag #salvadordali in the post. Some people just don't read.

I didn't get first, second or third place, for my costume - when it came to the staff. I don't get anything for it anyhow, but I thought it was original, and I fit the part. I also was in my office quite a bit. It wasn't a teaching day.

A little bit about Salvador Dali:

He uses crutches and ants in many of his pieces.

 

I added ants, and borrowed a crutch from my Dad - put ants on that. I wish the ants were smaller.

I made myself more black and white because that's how I view Salvador Dali mostly. From black and white photos. 

My shirt had The Persistence of Memory on it:

 Will you, did you dress up for Halloween?

Happy Halloween!

This year I was at a loss as to what I wanted to be. I could have been a witch, I thought about trying to be Salvador Dali (he's an artist for people that are not art fans), and I thought about being a McDonald's worker (I have much of the stuff from a review).

Then I decided I wanted to be a cactus. 

One day I poked big toothpicks in a green sweater that I've had for a long time. On the backsides I hot glued buttons. Then trimmed them with a fingernail trimmer. By the end of that day I was done! I did great not hot gluing my fingers the first 1/2, but toward the second 1/2 I burnt them often. I don't even think I was careless. It's just that I had the task of getting them in the sleeves, which was tight quarters.

Then I had to get fabric to make blooms, for my cactus. 

I ordered a terra cotta skirt, which I was excited about. It  came in the mail, and was golden rod yellow. I bought dye, and dyed it too dark. 

It ended up being more work than I'd like, but at least I got to watch Man in the High Castle, while I put the toothpicks in. 

This is how it turned out:

Two students were cacti, so we grouped up together to get a few shots:

A detail you didn't see! My nails:

I hardly do my nails! I just use my hands too much. 

Lucky for me I didn't get poked too much. It was impossible to lean back in a chair though. The first green makeup wouldn't cover me, and the second was almost too strong. I'm not the best with makeup! I rarely wear any daily, let alone Halloween. 

I get to go home, wash my face, and dress Isaak up to be the girl he wanted to be. Travis said, "I just don't know how to get him ready!" Ha!

Mica's now too old for Trick or Treating. We'll hang back to deliver candy. 

What's your favorite costume that you or your child has been?

What's your favorite candy? 

Random Tid Bits

1. Tonight we have a Fall Festival to go to at Isaak's elementary school. They always have a lot to do. Kids of all ages have fun! 


2. I was going to be the Bansky's image the just got shredded. I wanted to find a long white shirt, paint it to look like his work, cut it to look shredded, and put a frame on me. Then I saw that sort of done, without the frame. Then there's the question of copyrighting - but I think Halloween is an exception to that. 





Source



3. I also thought to be a cactus. Much of Saturday, while we watched TV I stuck toothpicks in a green sweater, hot glued them to buttons on the inside. Then hot glued the buttons to the sweater, so they wouldn't slip out. I made a wreath for my head as well. Tonight will be a trial run for that costume. I probably won't go all out tonight; like I will for work on Halloween. 


4. Isaak is going as a girl. Travis kept asking why? I said, "If girls can dress up as boys, why can't boys dress up as girls?" His friend Daniel was a girl last year, which got a lot of chuckles. I've had guy students be girls here and there through the years. It's always pretty funny. 

Meet Felisha! He'd probably look better with a blond wig, but black was cheaper. Ha!





5. One of my Aunt's posts all the time about political things. She thinks about as opposite to me as possible. I would NEVER defriend her. I believe all people should be able to speak their mind. Do you believe in freedom of speech? 

Here's one of the things she shared:




But Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are two of her favorite presidents. They were both actors/a reality star.




Should freedom of speech be applied only to people that's not a celebrity? I think my Aunt has a right to state her opinion, but so should Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep or anyone else should be free to state their opinion.

Giant Spider - for Halloween Decor Review

I like Halloween, but have never gotten spooky decorations that last. I signed up to review a few things this year. I think I only got one.

Say HELLO to our newest Apel Giant Spider! 

Where it Can Go:

It's cool that the legs can be moved around. It came in a small box. Travis positioned our Apel Giant Spider how he wanted it.

-It can go on the floor

-It can hang on a door

-You can get a spider web to put it on that

We plan on getting a faux spider web to put it on for Halloween. Considering it snowed pretty good today we didn't want to put it up just yet.

What it Does:

You do need to buy a battery. It didn't come with one. Once you put the battery in, and turn it on the eyes glow red and it makes a spooky noise. Thankfully it does have an off switch. The noise doesn't come on unless you pull that black cord on the head.

Size:

It's pretty big! 43" of creepy fun! 20" high.

Where to Get it:

$13.99 on Amazon Prime. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G7WNWR8

I think it would be fun to have a few! It would be cool if they sold these spiders in package deals.

What kind of Halloween decor do you have?

Disclaimer: I got this product for a discounted price in exchange for an honest review.

Faux Wounds Review

Isaak loved to be the one to try out these faux wounds! 

The set comes with many fake tattoos. It's great there are options!

Isaak also did his own makeup. A bit too much on the red.

Isaak made up an elaborate story to tell Mica, once he got home. He fell off the retaining wall, and he spent a few hours at the hospital. It helped that Isaak had the day off school, and Mica did not.

Mica came home, and he bought Isaak's story. He our gullible child. I go behind corners all the time just to jump out at him. The other day as he walked home from the bus stop, Travis made his emergency horn start to honk as he walked by. Mica walked all around the Subaru to see if someone was around to make the horn go off. When he gave up, Travis quieted the horn, then made it go off again. Mica was looking all around. We sat upstairs, staring out the window laughing. Yep he'll probably need therapy.

Artistically the fake tattoos could have been more realistic. They are fun for Halloween, and more! Do you dress up for Halloween?

Where to Get Them:

You can get these on Amazon Prime for $9.99: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GTH4HJ1

Temporary Tattoos:

I thought they'd be like stickers, but they are just like temporary tattoos. I've always been horrible with putting those things on, but Isaak is a master at it.

They cause no harm to the skin, and are non-toxic.

Disclaimer: I got this product for free or a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review. No one influenced me on what to write.

Random Tid Bits

1. I've been listening to The Book of Joy with Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams. I won it off of Moms Own Words. It's inspiring. Mica likes it, but even for him some of it is a little over his head. They discuss how to bring joy into your life. There are 8 compact discs, so it's hours long.





2. It was a super cold Halloween! It even snowed, but nothing stuck. Travis wore my witches hat, Mica wore a scary Witches mask (bulgy eyes), Isaak wore a Zombie mask (the darker grey mask), and I was Pac Man. I was so layered by Halloween night you couldn't probably tell what I was.








3. Grandma Apel will be coming to our house next week. It's been so long, since we've seen anyone on that side of the family. We haven't told the boys that she's coming. Do you see one side of the family more over another? We don't live anywhere near Travis' family.


4. I had a dream a few weeks ago that I was taking care of puppies. I woke my husband up be barking and singing in my sleep. 


5. I keep hearing the same songs playing on the radio. I can't tell if it's just the radio that keeps repeating, or maybe it's a message to me. 

WW: Pac-Man {Linky}

I get into Halloween more than my kids do. I work at an art college, so most of my students get into the holiday as well. To me it's a fun day to dress up, and be creative.

Isaak's being the same zombie he's been for 3 years now. Mica may or may not dress up.

At Isaak's school Fall Festival I dressed up. Hey if I'm going to buy or make a costume I'm going to wear it more than once.

Punched and hand cut sticker vinyl on a black shirt and black pants. A yellow swimming hat. I haven't decided if my make-up is going to be this way for Halloween or not. I may have more pictures after Halloween.

Do you dress up for Halloween?

@gleegum - Gum Pops Review

It's almost Halloween time! 

I have a few questions for you:

1. Do you dress up? 
2. What kind of candy do you hand out? 

I've been trying to stay away from sugar, which isn't easy considering that my work has it all over the place.

Glee Gum sent me Gum Pops and Glee Gum to review. It's great because it's sugar free, but has the sweet taste that I'm craving.

We've gotten Glee Gum products to review in the past. Never have they disappointed us. I love that their product are fun, tasty, have great packaging, and are not filled with sugar.

Flavors:

• Sweet Strawberry
• Crisp Green Apple, or as we call them Crisp Green Apel Ha! Blog name - Last name.
• Juicy Orange

I was just a tad sad that they only had one Crisp Green Apple! It's my and Isaak's favorite. That was the one he picked to eat.

He said it was good!

About Gum Pops: 

• Allergy-friendly 
• Vegan 
• Made Without Artificial Colors (No Blue 2 Lake or Red 40)
• Made Without Extra Flavors (Made With Tree Sap From the Rainforest of Central America. It's Made From Chicle, Which Helps Conserve the Rainforest 
• Made Without Added Sweeteners (Like Aspartame or Acesulfame K) 
• No Added Preservatives (Like BHT)
• Certified Kosher by the International Kosher Council 

Ages:

3 and up!

Isaak is 9, so he's well over the age limit. He was a little concerned because he has a space maintainer in his mouth. He was told not to chew any gum. I told him to just chew it with his front teeth. He did just that, and had no problems.

Cost:

$6.95 per bag of Glee Gum - Gum Pops. If you spend more than $50 on their site you get free shipping.

Flavors of Glee Gum:

• Peppermint
• Bubblegum 
• Lemon-Lime 
• Wintergreen
• Mixed Berry 
• Tangerine 

Their Kits:

Encourage parents and kids to learn about what they are eating. Kits are $13.95 per kit.

• Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit
• Make Your Own Chocolate Kit
• Make Your Own Gummies Kit

All Glee Gum products are packaged in recyclable material. I love that they can have something a little sweet that isn't packed full of dyes, sugar, and crap.

Follow Glee Gum:

Check out their webstore
Facebook (Glee Gum)
Twitter (@gleeguy)
Pinterest (Glee Gum)
Instagram (glee.gum) 
Sign-up for their monthly e-newsletter with exclusive deals & offers

What's something you'd like to try from Glee Gum?

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. 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. Glee Gum provided me with a free sample of this product to review. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review.

Halloween Witch Hat Review

I love Halloween. Actually I like all holidays. I just think they are fun.

Since I work at an art college students really get into dressing up. Artists love to make things, so maybe that's why they get into dressing up so much.

I tend to work with what I have to create a costume that's unique. I think this year I'm going to be Pac-Man. I have yellow face paint for my face, a yellow swim cap to make my head look round, and I've been punching out lots of dots and cut out ghosts out of colored vellum with sticky backs.

All throughout this month I'm going to wear a Witches Hat: http://www.sdsaena.com/Sdsaena-Women-s-Luxury-17-5-High-Halloween-Witch-Hat-Adult-Set-of-3-p333505.html during lecture. How fun that will be!

I think my work even has an old broom I can carry into class with me. The students will love it!

Material:

This hat is pretty comfortable. It a polyester fabric, and can be hand washed.

The hat can hold its shape pretty well. I like it bent down too.

Colors:

• I got purple with black to review. 

• It also comes with orange and black.

• Then there's a black matte color with black lace. 

I really like all the above colors. I'm certainly satisfied with the color I got to review.

Details:

• A lot of lace.

• A flower with a bow.

• A big spider! 

Cost:

It's kind of pricey for an accessory: $39.90, but get this the set comes with not 1, not 2, but 3 hats!

I have 2 hats I get to share with my sisters.

What are you going to be for Halloween? 

Disclaimer: I got three witch hats in exchange for an honest review. This company didn't influence my review. I only review products I think will fit my family, or my readers.