Cleaning Green

If you haven't checked out Ange's blog before, Swell Little Life, it's so sweet! Ange's little babe, Chloe is way too cute and reading about their life makes me feel lucky to be sharing such amazing experiences with another great Momma! I met Ange through blogging and, since then, we've traded lots of great advice and become long-distance buddies.

Ange just recently posted some Green Cleaning Recipes that are awesome. I know we're likely all concerned with what we're cleaning our babe's toys and play areas with... not wanting to use anything that may hurt them to ingest but at the same time wanting to kill those big, bad-a** germs! Prior to stealing these recipes from Ange, I was just using Clorox Greenworks Dish Detergent and water but these cleaners give me so much more peace of mind because I know exactly what's in them.

Here's her recipe for All Purpose Cleaner:

Georgeous Green All-Purpose Spray:

Fill 32oz spray bottle with water first then add all the rest. Make sure to use 100% essential oils.

• 2c Water
• 1/2c distilled white vinegar
• 1tsp peppermint castile soap
• 3/4c hydrogen peroxide
• 20 drops tea tree oil
• 20 drops lavendar or lemongrass

You can get spray bottles at the Dollarstore and, like Ange does, place the bottles all over the house so you're ready to go when cleaning emergencies strike (or when the Monica's strike - a Friends reference, yes).

I found the castile soap and oils at a local natural products store. Believe it or not, it was cheaper there than walmart. I also saved a little dough by buying Lavender scented castile soap so I only had to buy the tea tree oil drops (which is what makes the cleaner anti-bacterial). It smells awesome and I love it! It was a little $$ for the castile soap and oil ($38) but, I'm not kidding (look at the recipe) it will literally last me years and years! Once my clorox wipes are used up, I may make my own wipes by making some of this cleaner, getting a large tupperware container and soaking some high quality paper towels in the cleaner. Easy peasy!

Check out her post for a great and natural fruit and veggie wash - I'm a total sicko and I never wash my own fruits and veggies cept the gross once like lettuce that have visible dirt. I know. You don't need to tell me this is stupid, nasty, etc. I know it. Whateves. I'm not dead yet, it can't be that bad! :p But, I scrub the death out of anything Jane's going to eat or peel it (and you lose a lot of nutrients this way).

Happy cleaning!

For My Hubby

Today is my hubby's Birthday. His first Birthday as a Daddy (although, I'm sure he'd say he was a Daddy last year too seeing as he's loved our little bug as much as I since we first knew of her existence). So, I thought I'd write him a little love note to surprise him on his Birthday.

I remember your first Birthday that we celebrated together as a couple. We had only been dating for just a few days over a month. Typically, I would have been stressed. In most of my previous relationships I would have been so insecure about what to do for a Birthday, especially after only being together a month - do I buy him something? do I just do a dinner thing? am I supposed to do both? am I supposed to do anything? maybe just a card? and a cake? if I do buy him something, what should I buy him? clothes? something sentimental? Holy crap, it'd be easier to just dump the guy! :p But, for you, it was different. I wanted to buy you everything. I wanted to do everything. Although, we were only a month into our relationship we had already said "I love yous", we hadn't spent a day apart, you were basically moved in to my place, we knew this wasn't a "typical" relationship.

Six years later... look at us. Yes, there are days when I want to kill you. Yes, there are days (obviously, less days) when you want to kill me. ha ha ha. :p But we're best friends. Even when I'm mad at you, I have to try my hardest not to laugh at how "stupid" you can be some times and, even more hilarious, your attempt at apologies... bringing me home chocolate.

We don't pretend to be perfect, you and I. Many of our friends get a kick out of our constant banter back and forth. But that's what makes us work - we're 100% honest with each other, we don't hold anything back and we always tell each other when we're pissed about something. Because of this, from the outside, it may look like we're always at each other - to us, it's what ensures that, at the end of the day, we are laughing together... we're not bitter with each other, we're not ticking time bombs waiting for the "right" moment to explode into a giant blow-up, we're laughing and content.

I don't think it surprised either one of us that we would transition into being parents so easily. We were both aware of the challenges that we'd have to overcome and we talked our a**es off about it before Jane was born. We're both well aware of each others strengths and weaknesses and, so, we know what will be more challenging for the other and we've done pretty well at supporting each other and not criticizing when those "weaknesses" show themselves. This is one of our biggest strengths as a couple... really knowing each other and working (always working) to understand and accept the differences.

I could sit here now and write about how you have surpassed my expectations as a Father... how you are a better Dad than I ever envisioned. But that'd be a lie. I knew from the minute I started thinking about you as a Dad that you would be a great Dad. Where you have surpassed my expectations is as a husband after becoming a Father. To be a good Dad and a good husband are two completely separate things. You have done your best to make my life easier this year, to make sure I was happy, to make sure I could focus my attention at being a great Mom (which I obviously am :p)... and that's what a great husband does. You are a great husband (95% of the time, 5% I want to kill you, ha ha ha, hmmm... actually, it's likely more like 85-15ish, ha ha ha).

So, this Birthday will be unlike all of your others. Instead of getting spoiled rotten, going out for a fancy, expensive dinner and drinking too much, we will probably order in, eat on the floor while playing with Janers and be in bed by 10pm. I know you. I know, to you, this will be your best Birthday yet.

I love you soooo much. I know you don't believe me most of the time but it's true. :)

Me xo

Important: CPR Update

See below for today's regular posts...

Lovin' Lena

Hey Y'all,

As I've always said, I'm going to "blogger hell" because I don't follow the blogging etiquette at all (commenting regularly, doing the whole award thingie, etc.).

With that said, there is one blog I am religious about checking and commenting on... Listen to Lena. Everyday Lena gives the latest and greatest deals for Canadian Mommas and Chicks (e.g. Coach sales, freebies, sales on kids clothes, etc. etc.). She's already saved me tons of $$ (and by save I mean she made me spend money because she let me know about sales I wasn't aware of - so technically she costs me money but I love her because in the long run she's saving me $$) tee hee hee I can rationalize anything.

As a PTPA Panel of Moms member, like myself, she's always got fabulous giveaways and product reviews (check out "Lena Loves..."). I asked Lena if it would be OK to share her giveaways with you guys and, because she's awesome, she said "of course"!

So, here's a link to her giveaway this week - An MD Moms Baby Silk Spaaah Gift Set!

Lena usually has one giveaway per week, so I'll be sure to share as often as I remember... :)

Today's Weigh-in Wednesday post below...

Weigh-in Wednesday

Today is day 10 of the 30 day shred. I've done that stupid workout for 9 days straight... well, that's not 100% true. I didn't want to do it last night at all. I sat around pouting about it for 30 minutes and then Dan suggested just doing a few crunches and whatnot right there while watching tv. That sounded much better but then once I started, I ended up working out there in the livingroom for at least 20 minutes and probably pushed myself harder than I would have had I done the workout. So, I'm counting that as a shred day even though I didn't actually do the video.

On day 7, I moved up to level 2. Level 1 was getting BOOOOOring and not so difficult come day 5-6 so I knew I had to kick it into gear. I thought the level-up would be a big challenge but it wasn't too tough at all, which was nice. Plus, I could have done level 1 with my eyes closed and mute on by that point.

The body is a little sore this morning but I think that's because I threw in some different moves last night on my own, like I said, so it was a little muscle wake-up, which I think is a good thing to do (seeing as the premise of this whole workout series is "muscle confusion" and keeping your muscles "guessing"). Other than that, I haven't really been sore since day 2-3 of the workout, just a little stiff some mornings.

I've been doing better than ever with the eating and have been finding it surprisingly easier to do so since I started the workout, so, if nothing else, that's a bonus! Dan's bday is tomorrow, however, and "all he wants" is a Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake. My plan is to have a small sliver, so I can still enjoy without over-indulging. We'll see how that goes! :) I haven't had DQ cake in like 3 years or more! :p Maybe it won't be as good as I remember? I am a bit of a chocolate/dessert snob these days it seems (if you can't have quantity, you must have quality).

So, down to the nitty gritty. After a night of little sleep (imagine the grouchiest Jen in you heads possible), I stepped on the scale and POOF! Effin' nothing. Are you kidding me? I literally can not comprehend at all how I didn't lose at least a pound in the last 10 days! Seriously! My only explanation (and this has happened to me before) is that sometimes, when you start working out after a long hiatus, because you are putting on muscle and muscles weighs more than fat (not sure if you all knew that ladies), but your weight remains the same but your size decreases. It's one of the many frustrations of working out! This is likely why I am not decently fitting into my pre-preggers clothes right now, despite being 145 lbs - although this is 8 lbs off my pre-preggers weight, I used to fit into my clothes at 145 lbs. So, obviously (and this shocks me after 8 months of not working out - sarcasm) I am less muscle than I used to be. :p Hilarious.

After that depressing weigh-in, and my exhaustion, I told Dan today that I'd rather tweeze my arm hairs off one by one than do that stupid shred crap today. However, I am going to do it. This is the thing I hate most about this workout... it's only 20 minutes. I used to love that feature. Now, it's the angel on my shoulder when I want the devil to win... "it's only 20 minutes"! :p In all honesty, the workout is pretty easy to do. The fact that it's only 20 minutes is it's saving grace. I swear, if it were 22 minutes, I'd be less willing to do it daily.

My motivation to keep going is my jeans. Oh, how I want to look good in my cute jeans again. My "in-betweeny" jeans that I bought to make myself feel good in November are basically making me look like a plumber because they are so big on me now (which does make a girl feel good) but makes a girl look like ____. I've considered buying a new pair of "in-betweenies" but I'm forcing myself to wait until day 30 of the shred to determine if it's necessary... I pray for you all that it's not as OMG the whining you will hear. :p

Here are the details:
Starting WIW weight: 157 lbs
Current weight: 145 lbs (stupid)
Pounds lost: 12 lbs
Pounds to lose: 8 lbs

Quite a few of you emailed me saying you were trying out the shred along with me - Lindsay, Jen, Mandi (I'm writing your names so you're now accountable to the blogging world as well) - so I hope you're sticking with it and doing your best! Don't let my neutral weigh-in (HAH, was going to say "lack of weight loss" but this is my "spin") dissuade you (Emily - is that proper use of dissuade?)... I'm positive that next week will yield better results! :)

For the Mommas out there with babes in diapers and the Moms-to-be looking to score some free goodies - enter my SkinFix Buttocks Paste Giveaway before next Monday!

Sedan or Mini-Van?

I'm not buying a new car... I don't have a job, remember? :p

Now that I've had my first baby, the comment/question I get all the time is about "the next one" - "time to have another now eh?", "when are you having the next one", etc. As soon as you're in a committed relationship, the questions start...

Committed relationship - "When are you guys getting engaged?"
Engaged - "When you are guys getting married?"
Married - "When are you guys having babies?"
Baby (singular) - "When are you having the next one?", "How many are ya going to have?"

I got this last question a few weeks ago from my Dad. My answer was unchanged from my childhood dreams of having "two kids and a golden retriever". :p If I had a golden retriever right now, I'd be giving it away cause Molly weighs 8 lbs and drives me crazy enough as it is! I've always wanted two kids. I think mostly because I grew up with one sibling in the house (two "step" brothers who were older). It was great growing up with someone to count on and someone to play "work" and barbies with. I want Jane to have that same companionship.

Then he asked me a second question, "if money weren't an issue, how many kids would you have?". Hmmm - would I want a sedan or a mini-van? I never really considered that. I mean, right now, in the real world, I can't imagine having more than two kids because of the expense of it. I want my kids to grow up like I did - having everything they needed (need being key, not want, need). We were spoiled but not so spoiled that we were "spoiled rotten" - big difference. Spoiled is getting the things you need and some "surprises" but appreciating them. Spoiled rotten is getting more than you deserve and expecting it... and throwing a tantrum if you don't get it (these kids drive me bananas - actually, scratch that, the parents of these kids drive me bananas).

My answer? "More than two". If I were wealthy, I think I would have more than two kids. I didn't know how much I would love being a Mom and, obviously, you can never know how much you will love your children, until they arrive. More money wouldn't make me want more kids just so I could "spoil" them but also so that I could hire help. I don't think I'd want a full-time "Nanny" as I don't think that money would change the fact that I want to spend all the time I can with my kids. But someone to help with the nonsense - cleaning, shopping, massaging (oops, did I say that out loud :p Come on people, I'm living in the dream world here). And, perhaps, this person would give me an hour a day to myself... to exercise (HAH, yeah right), or get a bath, or read a book, etc. Is that a Nanny? I don't know what a Nanny does exactly (ok, I know they don't give massages, but that's it).

With that said, I don't think I'd have 4 or 5 kids, even if I was rich (not judging, that's just my thought). I think 3 though. When I was at the docs recently, there was a Mom there with a 9 month old little boy. She was a little older, obviously. After chatting with her for a second (that's all it takes with Moms), she mentioned she had two other children - an 18 year old and a 15 year old. I looked at her shocked (I mean, this 9 month old had to be a "surprise"). Her response to my lack of composure? "I missed having a baby in the house. I missed being completely needed and depended on." Huh. I get it. Everyone's got different reasons.

So, I'm interested...

How many kids do you want (or have)?

Does money affect your decision?

Interesting thought. Actually, it makes me kind of sad. It sucks that money dictates my life (or our lives) as much as it does.

Don't forget to enter our SkinFix Giveaway for a chance to win the BEST diaper cream around! :)

SkinFix Buttocks Paste Giveaway

*** Note: Giveaway now closed***

When I find products I love, I can't wait to share them with you all! Not only do I hope it saves you money (from buying a bunch of things that might not work) but I hope it saves you headaches too!

In Constipation Explanation, I mentioned Jane has been having poopy issues. As a result, she started to get diaper rash. I have always used vaseline at every diaper change but that wasn't enough to keep her free and clear. Upon seeing signs of the dreaded rash, I did all the recommended: increased diaper changes, upped her nudie time, switched diaper brands, stopped using wipes (using clothes and warm water) and I started using Zinc-based diaper creams (tried both Penaten and Extra Strength Zincofax) to try and heal her sores. This started last Monday. Come Thursday, her toosh was getting worse despite dedicated efforts! I had no idea what to do next!?!? On Friday I asked my local pharmacist what to do. She immediately grabbed a jar of SkinFix Buttocks Paste from behind the counter. She said this "was the latest and greatest, worked fabulously and was also made by another Nova Scotian Momma." I was sold - I would have tried anything to avoid Jane's rash getting worse (made the mistake of googling pictures of diaper rash and the results were scary).

HALLELUJAH! SkinFix Buttocks Paste is my new favourite baby product! Within a day of using it, I notice an improvement in Jane's rash - went from bright, painful-looking red to a pinkish tone. I also LOVE that it's a light-weight cream, it's not greasy like the zinc-based creams - those creams drive me bonkers - once you get that white cream on your hands, it seems impossible to get it off your hands! When you finally do get it off, you have to put the lid back on the jar and then you get it all over yourself again!

SkinFix is about $11.50 for the smallest jar (112g) but a little goes a LONG way. I've been using it religiously for the last three days and there may be a 1/2 tsp gone. Although the price point is a little higher than other creams, it's going to last a heck of a lot longer! The other beef I have with the zinc-based creams is that they get absorbed into the diaper almost immediately - If I wanted to protect the diaper from rash, this would be great! :p With the SkinFix, I put it on Jane's toosh and leave her out of the diaper for a minute or so and it seems to absorb into Jane's skin, which may be another reason why it works so much better.

My only worry... that I'm going to start using SkinFix like the Dad used Windex in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (to cure everything). I started using it on Jane's eczema spots yesterday and I swear I'm seeing a difference - which makes sense as it claims to be good for cradle cap (another form of dermatitis).

Here are the details on SkinFix Buttocks Paste:
Based on a natural home remedy that has been used since the 1500s, SkinFix acts as an antiseptic, antioxidant, who's anti- inflammatory and antibacterial nature are perfect for young children and those who handle them. Additionally the paste can also act as a fungicide, anti-yeast agent, and is recommended by doctors. If you're not aware - babes can get yeast infections because of the ideal wet-n-warm environment created by the diaper, so the anti-yeast/anti-fungal properties are definitely beneficial!

A therapeutic emollient barrier keeps wetness away from a baby's skin which helps to safe guard against diaper rash, but in the event of a rash it can provide treatment and relief. It can also prevent cradle cap and can be used by breastfeeding mothers, as a nipple cream, who are experiencing discomfort (Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the affected area before breastfeeding).

Skinfix Buttocks Paste is a non staining paste and will not stain clothes or skin. It is a natural health product and contains many ingredients that are botanical. It also contains no Lanolin.

Check out this link to see the awesome properties of all the botanical ingredients!

So, you're thinking, this is all great Jen but I want it for myself and you said this was a Giveaway. So...

Four LUCKY MOmMy bRaIned ladies will each receive a 112g jar of SkinFix Buttocks Paste!

Here's what you need to do to enter: (1) Become a Fan of SkinFix on Facebook by clicking here. (2) Follow SkinFix on Twitter, if you're a twitterer/tweeter/whatever - http://twitter.com/SkinFixInc (3) Comment on this post (not anonymously, obviously) (4) Become a MOmMy bRaIn follower and vote for MB by simply clicking the button to the left

* Open to both Canadian and US Residents.

Four winners will be randomly chosen and posted under Giveaways in the right-hand sidebar next Monday, February 8th. So check back!

If you're not a lucky winner, check out www.skinfix.ca to see where you can buy SkinFix OR for details on ordering online.

Good luck!

PS - Thanks to the fabulous owner/creator of SkinFix for (1) creating such an awesome product and (2) providing us with product for this Giveaway!