feisty frugal & fabulous and natura world mattress

Sorry about the last minute notice but I'd really love to win this twin mattress from Natura World (and I'd like the extra points from telling you about it)

Feisty Frugal & Fabulous and Natura World are giving away a twin Moonbeam mattress. Enter by tonight at 9pm cst.

The oldest doesn't fit on the toddler bed anymore and she complains every time she has to sleep on it. We've taken to putting the mattress on the floor so that she has a bit more room to move around and boy does she move around.

Wordless Wednesday: Goodwill Refashion

Before

After

Want to see more Wordless Wednesday: WW at 5minsformom or WW

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Welcome to my piece of the internet. Pull up a hammock or a swing, which happens to be our favorite places to sit, and grab a handful of M&Ms. I'm currently working on several handfuls now so grab another handful and catch up. (I just looked back at my UBP post from 2009 and I was eating M&Ms then as well. Those were fancy Spring colors. Today you just get the regular colors.)

My name is lace and I started this blog back in March of 2007 on a whim. I focused on giveaway listings in the beginning and slowly worked a bit more personal stuff in. Now I mostly blog about days with Buttercup and Pony (my nieces). And the giveaway listings I post are at Prizey where I am the Assistant Editor. If you've submitted a giveaway listing to Prizey, I'm the one who edits them and posts them to the site. Hi!

Speaking of prizes there are tons to be won at the UBP 2010!

These are my top choices:

The Grand Prize - Toshiba Laptop
USC17 - $200 apple gift certificate
US3 - $150 A Rocking Horse to Love
Us63 - Razor Rip Rider 360
US1 - $150 Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles

Or any of these: us: 10, 51, 75, 112, 89, 73, 74, 87,
usc: 57, 8, 3, 15, 37, 61, 60, 39, 35,

Actually, I'd be happy with anything really.

Good Luck everyone and have a great time at the UBP 2010!

Dam, Who Lives Here?

I don't know about your kids but the girls love playing on the computer. Some of their favorite activities are:

• Typing their names using Word

• Listening to music on grooveshark (because you can pick which songs and how often you hear them) in our rotation is: Gotta Pebble in my Shoe - Ella Fitzgerald and That's How you Know (Enchanted) - Amy Adams (that's it over and over and over)

• Watching various Youtube videos

• Playing games at PlayhouseDisney, NickJr, HighlightsKids, Peep

This post is about one particular game they like to play at Peep and the Big Wide World. Have you seen Peep? It's a really cute cartoon about a chick (Peep), a bird (Chirp), a duck (Quack) and various animal friends.

On to the game, it's called House Hunt. It's basically a memory matching game where you match an animal with its house. When you click on a leaf it tells you the name of the animal or what kind of house is on the leaf. Along the way, you get some questions and encouraging words like "Who lives here?," "Rabbit," "Good Job!," "Nice going!" "Where does this animal live?,".

One animal friend that lives here is a beaver and the beaver lives in a dam. And I can't help it. I laugh every time I hear the girls play this game (yes I am easily amused). "Beaver, Where does this animal live? Dam! Good Job!" or "Dam, Who lives here?"

You really should play the game to hear how it sounds. So funny.


*I had a .wav file I created of the game but I don't know how to put it here and it's really late and I'm too tired to try and figure it out. I'll try again later. In the meantime, go play the game. It's really fun.

Bedtime Conversations

Pony: I can't reach my water (said with a pitiful fake cry)
Me: I guess you better grow
Pony: I don't wanna grow. It's smarter to be a kid. Buttercup (older sister) will freak out if I grow.

P: It's too hard to sleep in a bed (sitting up)
M: lay down and try (slightly annoyed voice)
P: But grandpa sleeps up
M: Yes, he does sometimes. Lay down.

Other conversations that took place:

Why Puff the Magic Dragon song doesn't have a girl in it (the book version has the lyrics changed to 'A dragon lives forever but not so little girls and boys'. We were listening to the original version by Peter, Paul and Mary)

Wondering where a cardboard house went that was on display at the library and if she could get her grandpa to make her one.

And a few complaints and questions:

Can't find my pillow, can't reach my pillow, it's too dark, the lights too bright, I don't like my bed, I don't want to be here, where's mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa, what's that noise, where's my water, I'm hungry, I don't like covers

and finally she pulled up the covers; snuggled closer to me and was quiet.

The Crazy Cycle of Hair Ties

I think I've been on a break long enough. I just realized I haven't posted anything here in over a month. That's the longest break I've ever taken. I'm sure I've lost all of my readers (all 2 of them that aren't actually related to me or a great friend) If not say Hi and let me know you are still here.

Nothing profound to post about today just an observation I made a few weeks ago. I have a lot of hair things and they all end up on my bedside table. Often through the day, I pull my hair back or at least part of it to get it out of my face. Then I go to bed and take it out and put it on my table. The next day, I go looking for another hair thing and usually get a new one out. I also have 2 little nieces that contribute to the hair band clutter on my table. Well I cleaned my table and found:

4 headbands
18 bands (elastics)
10 little girl bands
5 cloth bands
7 barrettes
3 bobby pins
4 clips

I was going to take a picture but one of the girls got into them all and scattered them on the kitchen table so I just scooped them all up and deposited them in the bathroom cabinet.

I looked today and there is a new pile growing on my bedside table. It's going to be a never ending cycle of cleaning up hair ties.

Christmas

Merry
Christmas

Joy

Things that bring me joy:

• Curling up on the couch and doing nothing but reading all day long

• Snuggling with my nieces

• Chocolate

• looking at old photos
  

• A great movie

• Finishing a project

• Learning something new

• The Sun and it's warmth

• My family

• A great bowl of soup

• God

What brings you joy? I'd love to know.

Want to read some more joyful things? click on over to Barking Mad

(this is not a complete list and it's in no specific order)

Santa Lives in a Cave

A conversation with Pony in the car on the way home from Toddler Time today:

Pony: *singing a Christmas song*
Pony: Santa's in a cage.
Me: Santa's in a cage? Why is he in a cage?
Pony: NO! in a cave!
Me: Oh, a cave.
Pony: I'm gonna sing a song so it can float to Santa in his cave so he can wakeup and then it's Christmas time and then he'll bring me presents! *sings Christmas song again and then some more rambling about Santa in his cave*

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
9. Favorite holiday song?
10. Favorite holiday pastime?

1. Books, maybe a cute necklace, bike helmet that fits better than the one I currently have, a bed, a laptop, and a bookshelf.
2. A quilt from my Mom
3. Dresses for the girls, waldorf dolls, jewelry
4. Roller skates
5. A play/makeup vanity, games, cupcake maker, slippers
6. Favorite foods: pumpkin pie and stuffing
7. I'd like to make some twirly skirts for the girls and camera lens bags for my brother.
8. A Christmas Story
9. Favorite holiday CD: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's Once Upon a Christmas
10. Playing board games with the family

Tale of a Walk in the Woods and Lost Bubbles

On our walk we stomped through leaves

Collected leaves

Watched the water flow under the bridge

Threw leaves into the water

And if you look closely, you can see a bottle of bubbles being tossed over as well. (it's a little white and pink smudge falling from Pony's hand) She held those bubbles for the entire walk until she started collecting leaves. The bubbles ended up in the bottom of the basket covered by leaves. Just as she threw the last of the leaves over she yelled "My bubbles!"

Watching the bubbles float away

We continued on with our walk even though she was a bit bummed at losing the bubbles.

We looked for animals living in trees

And then Pony yelled out "My bubbles!" This time in a happier tone. We looked and sure enough the bubbles were floating by us. We had expected them to be long gone by now. But here they were. I ran ahead to try and get in front of the bubbles and find a place that I might be able to reach them.

Standing on a log in the water holding a large branch waiting to snag the bubbles

Success! I was able to snatch them with the branch and guide the bubbles my direction and rescue them from the water.

Some bubbles were blown in triumph and jubilation and then we continued on with our walk and exploration of the woods.

Cute Dress Pattern Giveaway at Grosgrain

There is a great giveaway at Grosgrain for a set of girls dress patterns. I've been interested in making the girls some super cute and easy dresses.

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmade-dress-patterns-guest-giveaway.html

and one more:

This one is for a gift certificate to Aunty Ollie clothing store.

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/11/aunty-ollie-100-guest-giveaway.html

Scenes from an Apple Orchard

Pony's New Bed

The bed is here and I've finally put it together. We received a toddler bed from CSNBaby.com to review and it came at a perfect time. Pony is ready for a new bed.

The box arrived and the girls were so excited they danced on it.


I think the excitement might have been more to do with the box than what was inside of it. As soon as I got the box opened and emptied, they took it over.



The bed arrives in several pieces that will need to be assembled. All you will need to supply is a screwdriver. Everything else comes in the box. The directions were relatively easy to figure out but it would have been much easier if it would have contained worded directions as well as the pictures. The directions are all picture based and I do a bit better reading directions and then following along with the pictures.


The only thing that had me stumped for a bit were these thingies. They are used to hold the screws in place or something like that. My brother had to help me figure these out. It probably didn't help that the girls were screaming, the phone was ringing, and the music was too loud. It was a bit hard to concentrate.


The bed is almost complete. Now I just have to join the two halves to make one bed.



A few more turns of the last screw and ...


It's finished. After I had the bed completed, I realized I should have built it in the room where I was going to put it. But with Buttercup's help, we carried it up the stairs and into the room.



The bed does not come with a mattress. You will need to supply that yourself. A standard crib mattress fits and since we are taking down the crib, we used the mattress from that.




The bed is made with solid wood and is very sturdy. So sturdy that I've even cuddled up with Pony in the bed. I wouldn't recommend this for a couple of reasons. First, there is a weight limit on the bed of only 50lbs (I think. I'd have to read the sticker on the bed again) and second, it's a little uncomfortable having the railing poke my back and my feet stick out the sides or over the end of the bed. The girls both fit well on the bed. Buttercup is not going to fit for very long in the bed. She's 5 and has just a few inches of space at the ends of the bed before her feet or head hits the head/foot boards. Pony is 3 and has lots of room still.

One of my favorite features is the removable side rails. Not all toddler beds can have their side railings removed. I figure we'll take these off in the near future. I don't think the girls need them to stay on the bed at night.

The girls both really like the bed so much that there has been fights about who gets to sleep in it. The first night they both laid in it. Then neither wanted to lay in it and eventually Buttercup slept in it and Pony ended up going home later that night.

CSNBaby has a great selection of toddler beds, cribs, nursery decor, baby gear and even toys. If you're looking for cheap baby cribs take a look at their site. They have a large selection of cribs with a current selection of about 500 you can choose from.

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I was not paid to write this review. All opinions on the bed are my own. CSNBaby provided the bed for review.

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

Adventures in Babywearing Presents the Sakura Bloom Triatholon

If you are interested in trying out Sakura Bloom slings and are willing to take videos, photos and answer some questions, then head on over to Adventures in Babywearing and enter the Sakura Bloom Triatholon.

Pony is Getting a New Bed

Pony is taking a nap in her crib right now but that will soon change. She's getting a toddler bed from CSNBaby.com. I can't wait to show you the bed and let you know my thoughts and share my review.

She's ready for something different. She climbs out of her crib now and I worry she's going to fall and get hurt even though she is a climbing monkey. This bed will be low to the ground and have some side rails so there is no chance of getting hurt when she gets out of the bed.

If you're in the market for cheap baby cribs or know someone who is, take a look at CSNBaby. They have some great cribs, toddler beds, nursery accessories, baby gear and toys. I've looked through their site and saw several things I'd like to have.

*insert witty title about summer fun and blog absence here*

(It's late and I just couldn't come up with an interesting title)

Oh my! I just noticed an entire month went by that I haven't posted anything. I've been trying to squeeze some fun and outside time in these last few weeks (now days) of summer.

A few things I've done

• mini golf
• the beach
• bonfires
• apple picking
  
• visiting friends
• sitting in the yard watching the girls play
• wishing Buttercup a great first day of Kindergarten
• celebrating some birthdays
• lounging in the hammocks
• read some books
• visited with family
• watching Buttercup learn to ride a two wheel bike
• watching Pony dance her socks off
  
• harvesting veggies from the garden and watching the pumpkins turn orange
• getting in a few more ice creams before they close for the season
• I'd like to get some more bike rides in

I've got some photos to share and a few posts to write about some of these adventures we've had this last month. I really didn't mean to be absent for so long but the warm sun was calling to be outside.

My Bike with Basket and Liner

I finally got a picture of my bike with my basket on it. My bike is a Giant Suede W 2007. It's a wonderful bike if your looking for a comfortable bike for cruising around town.

I really wanted fabric that matched my bike for my liner but I couldn't pass up the cuteness that this fabric was.







I'm just waiting for another sale at Joann's and the perfect fabric to make another liner.

Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover Review

This week is World Breastfeeding week Aug. 1 - 7, 2009 and the whole month of August is Breastfeeding Awareness month. It's a great week/month for me to be showing you Bebe au Lait's nursing covers.




Bebe au Lait's nursing covers are made with 100% cotton and feature signature fabric designs. This is one thing I love about their products. You won't find any one else using the same fabrics to make other products. The material is very soft and a great weight and thickness. You can tell they focus on quality with all of their products. Bebe au Lait sent me their Kensington Nursing Cover. It's beautiful! I adore the blue, green and white floral pattern.

photo courtesy of Bebe au Lait

If you've never seen their nursing covers, they have rigid necklines that allow you and your baby to keep eye contact yet still remain covered. I find this feature to be wonderful. You can keep an eye on your baby. Your baby can see you and it allows for some air flow to keep both of you cool.

The cover has a neck strap that you place over your head and behind your neck. There is a set of D rings and a strap that you pull on to tighten and adjust the cover. I do have a bit of a problem adjusting the strap. The strap is tapered and gets wider as you get closer to the main part of the cover. I find that when I pull on the strap it bunches up in the D rings making it harder to adjust. I think I might need to re-thread it and practice tightening it. It's not that much of a bother though because once you adjust it to your liking, you probably don't have to adjust it much.

closeup of D-ring and strap

The nursing cover is a great size. I wanted to see how well it covered me and a baby. I borrowed a friends baby (he's a very healthy 1 year old) and had him lay on my lap under the cover. He was not happy that I stuck him under the cover but it did a great job of covering both of us.

Bebe au Lait has also created a small terrycloth pocket in the corner of their nursing covers to hold breast pads or anything else you might need while nursing. You could even use the corner for clean ups although, I personally don't think I'd use the terrycloth for cleaning up spit up or anything else. You'd have to wash the cover all the time if you did that. But it's there if you need it.

close up of terry cloth pocket

Overall, this is a wonderful product that I think all nursing moms could use. I know that everyone has their own preferences on coverings while nursing. Some use them others don't. I personally think I'd use the cover while out in public and at home probably not.

Bebe au Lait nursing covers are available in their signature fabrics or their organic line which features solid colors. They also have nursing covers available with their original name, Hooter Hiders. You can purchase a cover for $35 - $40.

For the month of August, any customer who purchases a nursing cover from Bebe au Lait will get a free sample of Mustela nipple cream and also receive free shipping. As an added bonus, any nursing cover purchase enters you into a drawing for a gift basket filled with Bebe au Lait and Mustela products valued at $250.

Go and get your Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover today! It would make a great baby shower gift. And if you're not in the market for a nursing cover, I highly recommend their hooded towels. It's the first towel the girls ask for after their baths. Want to read my review of Bebe au Lait's hooded towels?


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Bebe au Lait provided me with a nursing cover for review. I was not paid for this review. All opinions on the nursing cover are my own.