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  • The Little Rascals Save The Day

    Disclosure:  I received product to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed below are 100% my own.
    I don’t know about you but growing up, The Little Rascals was one of my all time favorite movies.  And guess what?  Buckwheat, Alfalfa, Darla, Spanky, Petey and the rest of the gang are all back in the new movie The Little Rascals Save The Day!  This time around Grandma’s bakery is on the verge of being foreclosed if she doesn’t come up with $10,000 to pay back the loan she owes.  Well, of course the Little Rascals can’t let their grandma and favorite bakery owner go out of business, specially with their enemy Waldo Kaye and his father Mr Kaye trying to buy up the bakery and turn into a mall complex.
    The Little Rascals get very creative with coming up with ways to raise $5,000 after Grandma is able to pay off half of the loan.  They do everything from getting jobs to starting their own pet washing salon.  Their last hope is the win the local talent competition, but can they all get along long enough to win it?  Furthermore, will they have enough time to practice so that they sound great by the night of the talent show or will Grandma’s bakery end up a mall complex and the Little Rascals treehouse a swanky playhouse for Waldo?
    What we loved about this movie is that it’s family friendly and suitable for children of all ages.  There were quite a few funny moments in this film.  Our favorite is the scene they attempt to make a red velvet cake.  I don’t want to spoil it, but you’ll have see how the cake comes together and whether or not it makes it to its intended customer.
    http://player.theplatform.com/p/frKfDC/z8rXtBuv7wPr/embed/select/lHbga73auhoE

    Grandma is played by Doris Roberts, who does an excellent job.  I also loved that there were several messages in this movie.  The most important message was probably  that: Being  a leader of group doesn’t necessarily mean that you get to make decisions for the whole group.  Spanky has to learn this lesson, but will he learn it in time before he loses his friends and their last chance at saving Grandma’s bakery?
    I definitely recommend that you get this movie and watch with your kids.  It’s available here for DVD/Blu-ray purchase and for digital download.  You can also use the Rafflcopter widget to enter for a chance to win a copy!  Giveaway ends April 22nd at 11:59 PM.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway
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  • Celebrate Your Skin

    Disclosure: I am BzzAgent and received a sample of the product below to facilitate this review.  All opintions expressed are 100% my own.

    I recently got invited to try out the new Petal Soft body wash by Tone®.  Now, I’m no stranger to Tone ® products.  I’ve used their Coco Butter line quite a few times.  It was actually one of my go-to product lines  when I was college.  So, I had nothing but great expectations of the Petal Soft body wash.

    And I have to admit that it did not disappoint.  Scented with pink peonies and rose oil, this body wash smells divine!  I’ve been using it for 30 days now and have not had to use perfume at all unless I wanted to layer on a different scent.  The first time I used the Petal Soft body wash, my husband did notice that I didn’t smell like my usual perfume.

    It was actually quite funny because we were getting ready to head out to park and he passed me by to get the kids’ sippy cups.  He kind of stopped and reversed and gave me a sniff.  Then of course being the curious child that she is, Moo asked, “Why are you sniffing Mommy?” LOL.  Kids miss nothing.  Anyways, he asked when I had gotten a new perfume and I went and retrieved the body wash from the bathroom and showed it to him.

    He was kind of impressed that you get such a lovely and lasting fragrance from a body wash.  Another thing that I’ve been enjoying while using the Petal Soft is that it makes the skin naturally soft.  So, after I try off my skin is soft without even having to apply any moisturizer or lotion.  And that’s important for me because as someone with severe dry skin, my skin can really feel a little rough if it’s not moisturized properly and regularly.  It’s something I inherited from my father and have been dealing with all my life.

    Now, I wouldn’t recommend that you use this on your face simply because it does have fragrance in it.  For me the skin on my face is super sensitive.  I made the mistake of using a perfumed soap on my face once it broke out so bad that I had to get medicine for it..  I did get a little of the Petal Soft on my cheeks once and I didn’t have a severe reaction to it because I quickly rinsed it off but a small cluster of bumps did pop up.  However, I put some acne cream on it and two days later they were gone.

    That did not change my opinion of how much I liked the body wash and I did continue to use it as I didn’t break out anywhere on my body.  Like said, fragrances just aren’t made for the face period.  Therefore, I definitely think that if you’re in the market for a new body wash or you like to switch up your bath products, then give Tone®’s Petal Soft a try.  It also comes in bar form.

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  • Thankful Thursday

    It’s feels like this week is going by slower than last week.  I’m not complaining either.  I’m actually thankful that the days and time seem to be slowing down because guess what?  My little man turns 3 next month!  He’s trying to be so independent and it’s just a little bit overwhelming.  Anyways, no clue as to what we’re going to do for his special day yet.
    We’ve made the choice to switch JJ’s speech therapist.  While his current therapist is good and he’s gotten used to her, I feel like he could better benefit from the resources and therapy offered through the school system.  Not only would we have access to a speech therapist if we go through their program, but behavioral therapist, a psychologist and special education teachers as well.  I just couldn’t pass up those resources for him.  
    Anyways, we had our first meeting with two of the teachers who will be involved in his upcoming re-evaluation and screening in two weeks and it went really well.  I’m very thankful for that because I wasn’t sure how the meeting was going to go or how JJ was going to do.  But he did well and so did Moo.  Our caseworker was able to make it and so was the Mr.  They showed us the mock preschool classroom that he would be getting evaluated in and went over what all it would entitle. 
    I have a good feeling about this transition.  I did warn them that whoever his therapist will be that they will need to know right off bat that he takes a long while to get used to new adults.  So, he/she will need to be patient and give him his space for the first month at least.    I’m also looking to connect with other moms with kids his age because there is probably a good chance some of them will end up in his preschool class when he starts next year.  Plus, it’ll be great for the Mr and I to have other couples to talk and vent to.
    I’m also thankful that things are still going well with my book and I looking forward to having it published by next month.  I’m thankful that Moo is being even  more of a big helper.  She’s been volunteering to do things like sweeping and helping with the laundry.  I think that she knows that I get overwhelmed more often than I need to.  She told me that other day that we needed a butler so that I could have a day off.  It made me smile that she’s so concerned about me running myself ragged.
    I’m thankful that we’re closer to being debt free!  It’s such a rush when you see your debt number decreasing and decreasing.  We’re looking forward the even bigger doors that having financial freedom will open up for us.
    What are you thankful for?

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  • The Nut Job

    Disclosure: I received product to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

    As a mom, there’s nothing better than spending time with Moo and JJ.  They’re getting to that where they don’t want me hovering over them quite as much.  However, one thing that I doubt will change anytime soon is their love our family movie nights.  We do movie night at least once a week and they absolutely look forward to it.  Last week, I surprised them The Nut Job!

    Moo is a sucker for any kind of animated movie that has animals in it.  And we’ve seen the commercials for The Nut Job like million times and she had been asking if we could see it.  Plus, I have to admit that I enjoy a good animated movie from time to time myself and this one looked like it would be something that I would enjoy as well.  So, when I got asked if I was interested in receiving a copy, I was like “Heck yea!”  So, what did we love about the movie?

    Kid Appropriate

    In today’s society, it’s getting harder and harder to find movies and shows that are appropriate for kids to watch, especially younger children.  Moo is 5 and JJ is almost 3.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that a lot of shows and movies created for children now days have been slightly tainted with adult content such as overly suggestive jokes, overuse of violence and more.  It was refreshing to find that The Nut Job had none of those. 
     From start to finish, it was a good clean movie.  I didn’t have to mute or fast forward through anything.  That was a good thing because once JJ gets into a movie, if you pause it or fast forward or rewind it, he gets really upset.  It disturbs his vibe.  And I’m glad he was able to watch it all way through without any disturbances. 
    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkEhLHhr0jU]

    Funny

    The Nut Job is pretty much a movie about Surly, a squirrel who is on a quest to find….you guessed it, nuts!  However, he’s not the only one on that quest.  The rest of animals in the park are on the same quest.  They need enough food to last throughout the Winter.  So, Grayson and Andie are chosen for the challenge of hunting down enough nuts for everybody to share.  However, this quest proves to be anything but easy for all parties.
    We were so keeping our fingers crossed that this movie would be funny.  After all with a title like The Nut Job, how could you expect anything less?  Well, it was funny.  There are definitely some great laughs in this movie.  My favorite funny scene, or scenes I should say, are at the beginning of the movie and involve a runaway nut cart.  I don’t give too much way.  Moo and JJ’s favorite funny moments are almost all the scenes involving Precious, the pug.

    Life Lessons

    While The Nut Job was funny, there were also some lessons to be learned in this movie as well.  Yes, I’m that mom who uses movies to talk to her children about life lessons.  I feel like it’s never to early to start schooling Moo and JJ about some of the challenges they will face.  And it helps when I have examples that they can understand.  One of the biggest, lessons of this movie was to never give up on doing the right thing no matter who pressures you to do otherwise.  
    Again without giving away any spoilers, one of the characters in this movie has a hidden agenda and manipulates others to join in on his scheming.  I loved that Moo asked questions about why said character would want to do his friends wrong.  “Doesn’t he care about his friends, Mommy?” she asked me.  And without getting too deep, I explained to her that sometimes greed and power can cause us to turn our backs on those who care about us the most.
    Overall, we greatly enjoyed The Nut Job.  I do recommend it for those of you who looking for a great family movie.  You can purchase a Digital HD copy today from various retailers.  Check out the list here.  And the Blu Ray and DVD copies will be available on April 15th, but you can pre-order from any of the retailers listed here.  You can also enter below using the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win your own copy.  Contest ends next Tuesday, April 15th at 11:59 PM!

      a Rafflecopter giveaway
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  • Thankful Thursday

    Can’t believe it’s Thursday already!  For some reason my body clock feels a day behind.  I woke up thinking today was Wednesday.  Whelp, who’s looking forward to the weekend?  I am!  Nothing special planned, but we’re finally having real Spring weather here.
    I’m so thankful that it has been warm all this week.  We actually have had to turn on the AC the last few days.  It gets hot quick in this apartment when it’s warm outside.  And while I’m enjoying this warm weather, the one thing I’m not enjoying is that our front yard has been taken over by bees and the wasp have commandeered my recycling bin!
    I went to take the recycling Tuesday and a small swarm of wasps came flying out the bin.  Y’all should have seen how fast I tossed our recycling trashcan in the air and made a run for it. LOL.  I don’t do bee or wasp stings.  An ant bite can send me to the hospital.  Therefore, I don’t ever want to find out what a bee or wasp sting can do.  Plus, my mom, two aunts and a cousin all have very serious allergic reactions to stings.  They all have to carry EpiPens and I have seen them hospitalized because of stings.
    So, I’m thankful that I didn’t get stung because they just shot out of there like they were on the hunt.  I’m also thankful for car warranties.  The Mr works a good distance from home and well, going back and forth almost seven days a week puts a lot of mileage and wear on our car.  Not to mention, I still go about my business with trips to the library, mall, park, etc.  The car overheated on him and died, but thankfully he was able to turn into a parking lot and coast to a stop in a shopping mall.  
    There is a long stretch of highway there aren’t any gas stations or stores for miles.  So, I was glad that he didn’t get stranded there because he would have burnt up waiting in that car.  Anyways, I was glad to have him home.  The kids went nuts when they saw him coming back through the door the other day.  They really love it when he’s here all day (which is not often).  I don’t want to complain, but I can’t wait until we can stop doing this coming and going dance and be able to spend real family time together on a daily basis.
    I’m most thankful that Moo read her first real book today and all by herself!  I was trying to check some emails and JJ wanted me to read The Goat Who Ate Everything.  He’s obsessed with this book.  We’ve been reading it three times a day.  So, she decided to read the book to him and at first I wasn’t really listening by then she got the word catastrophe and I was like wait, she’s really reading this book!! Talk about a proud mommy moment.  
    I’m not sure if she’s reading it from memory because we’ve read it so much, but she definitely can identify most of the words and she read it word for word.  Either way, I’m proud of her.  It was such a precious moment.  After she finished, she told me that just because she’s reading now doesn’t mean that she wants me to stop reading to her.  My heart melted!  Just when I feel like she’s gotten all Miss Independent on me, she goes and reassures me that she still needs me.
    It’s moments like these that make me confident in my decision to become a mom.  I wear a lot of different hats, but Mommy is the one that I’m the most proud of.  It’s the most rewarding hands down and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
    What are you giving thanks for today?
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  • April Goals And To-Do List

    Pinterest

    Happy April!  I know that I have been scarce around here as of late, but that’s because between trying to spend more quality time with the Mr and the kiddies, writing my novel, trying to do reviews and other stuff, I have just felt slightly overwhelmed.  But I’m back and I’ll definitely be more present this month.   I’ve been looking back over my New Year’s resolution/vision board/goals and I’ve decided to set monthly mini goals to help me stay on track with reaching my main goals.  Let’s get in to it!

    April Goals & To-Do List

    • Get A Pet:  Moo has been talking my head off about getting a pet!  Seriously, if I have to hear the word pet one more time, I might need to start doing shots of the hard stuff.  She asks at least twice a day.  I think last month she missed two days of asking.  If anything, my baby girl is persistent!  She wants a poodle but I definitely don’t see that in her future.  Her second choice is a hamster and my choice is a gold fish.   We’ll see which one we end up with.
    • Family Outing:  Well, I put on my list of resolutions and goals that I wanted us to do/attend two family outings/events and we have.  We went to the ImaginOn, which counts as a family outing because the Mr tagged along and we don’t go there often, and we went to a private screening of Disney’s The Pirate Fairy this past Saturday! Review coming up on that.  But I’d love to attend and have one more family outing with the Mr in attendance.  Moo has requested a family picnic.

    • Send Cards/Letters:  Obviously, if I haven’t had time to blog, I haven’t really had time to be on social media or my phone either.  With Easter coming up, it’s the perfect excuse to buy some cute stationery and cards to send out to my friends and catch them up on what’s been going on with the family!
    • Publish Novel:  I’m really cracking the whip on myself to get Forever Branded by the end of this month.  I think I had started to get writer’s fright (kinda like stage fright for actors) and took a few days off from working on it.  I’m back though and it’s chugging along.  I have the ending halfway written out, a few chapters in the middle done and the beginning.  Now, I’m just filling in and connecting the dots.  No, I don’t write in chronological order.  My mind just doesn’t work that way when it comes to writing fiction.
    • Exercise:  I have really been slacking on this, but I’m determined to get my body more toned.  I don’t need to drop anymore pounds because even the new pants that I got for Christmas are a little loose on me now.  Plus, the Mr has been getting on me because he thinks I’m going to end up looking like a skeleton.  I’m going to be honest and say that I wouldn’t mind being back in a size 4 from my early college days but I’m going to be content with my size 7/6.  I’ve worked hard to get here (I was a size 18/16) and now I just need to exercise to maintain it.
    • Vlog:  I have about three videos that I need to film, lightly edit and upload.  I’m thinking about taking a stab at daily vlogging for a week but idk about that.  We’re still not comfortable with the kids being on YouTube, especially since Moo refuses to go by her nickname in person anymore and she prefers to call her brother by his first name.  I’m not ready to reveal their real names just yet.  I am planning on doing it, but you’ll have to wait to see how I do it and when.  Feel free to leave your guesses at to what you think their first names are in the comments.  Hint:  JJ’s first name doesn’t start with a J!
    • Finish Blankets:  I’m crocheting a few blankets for a few different people right now and I need to finish them up and ship them off.  I’ll be posting pictures and maybe even doing some crochet vlogs.  I hear so many people talk about how hard crocheting is but honestly it’s not.  I taught myself as a teenager using a book.  
    • Get More Active On Author Blog:  Yes, I have an author/writing blog!  Check it out here.  I’m really looking to publishing a few books and I want to build up my readership and share more about my journey and process.  You’d be amazed at how easy people think writing a book is.  Fiction is really hard to write because you’re not stating facts but relying on your imagination.  You battle with wondering if your imagination is good enough to create a story not that others will love necessarily but that YOU will love.  There’s nothing like writing 40-80,000 words only to get to the end and realize you hate your own work.  
    • Experiment With More Hairstyles:  I’m still Team Natural.  And I have been ditching the ponytail, but the issue now is that I’ve become obsessed with milk braids.  I wear them all the time.  It’s time to switch it up.  I think that I’m going to try out some crochet braids or get a good silk wrap and just wear my hair down for a week or two.  We’ll see.
    What are your goals for April?

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  • Medicine Taking Made Easy With Sabi

    Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

    Sometimes, taking medicine can a be a pain.  It’s not necessarily the medicine itself that is always a pain to take, but the process.  Have you tried pouring out one pill from a bottle with a big opening and half the bottle of pills ends up pouring out?  Or maybe, you have one a vitamin that looks like it was made for a horse to swallow instead of a human?  Well, Sabi has four products that are guaranteed to make medicine taking a little bit easier or at least they did for me.

    SHAKE

    SHAKE is a flip-top pill bottle or box that dispenses only one pill at a time.  I love this because as I mentioned above, I hate trying to shake out one pill and ending up with half the bottle in my hand.  Then, you have to pour them back into bottle and I kind have this thing about contamination.  Usually when I’m taking medicine it’s after a meal.  So, while my hands are clean in terms of germs, I don’t want the oils or residue from whatever I have eaten to rub off on the other pills that I then have to pour back into the bottle.

    CARAFE

    The CARAFE water cup has two compartments.  The top compartment is a pill box to hold your medicine and the bottom is a 124 milliliter cup to hold your water.  I like the that blue stopper fits really snug in the top of the pill box as well.  I also like that for those medicines that I have to wake up and take late at  night, I can add a few ice cubes in the cup part with a small amount of water and then when I wake up I don’t have to go tip toeing through the apartment to get water. 
     It’s all right there on the night stand. I can take my meds, lay down and go right back to sleep. Also, this cups handles falls well as JJ and Moo have already knocked it on the floor quite a few times.  It doesn’t have any cracks or anything it.  So, that’s another plus.

    CHOP

    So, a while back, I had to split a pill in half to give to Moo.  Let me tell you, the method I used kind of dangerous.  I used a seraded kitchen knife.  I had tried breaking the pill in half in my hand but one side was always bigger than the other and I didn’t want to overdose or take a dose that was too small.
    But I ended up cutting myself using the knife.  The whole situation was just very irritating to say the least.  Anyways, with the CHOP, I don’t have to worry about any of that.  Next time I can just insert the pill on the platform, close the lip and the let the CHOP do all the work.  No, uneven dosage amounts or cut fingers.  This is also great for those of us who take those giant vitamins and supplements that are honestly too large to swallow whole.
    I like that the CHOP is easy to use.  You don’t have to apply too much pressure.  And best off all is that it’s the perfect size that I can take on the go!  

    Crush

    So, remember that pill I mentioned earlier that I struggled with chopping in half for Moo?  Well, she’s five hasn’t quite mastered the art of swallowing pills just yet.  This has been both a good and bad thing.  In the past, I’ve usually wrapped the pill halves in plastic wrap and worked it with a hammer or a mug to make into a powder form.  Then, I just put it in a spoonful of yogurt and down the hatch it goes.
    Whelp, with CRUSH, no need to waste my plastic wrap or pull out the hammer.  With a few quick twists of the top (it doubles as a pill box by the way), I can crush her pills easily.  Now this tool will come in handy also for large pills that you feel uncomfortable swallowing whole.  I’m thinking of getting one of these for my aunt and baby sister for Christmas this year because neither of them can swallow pills either.  Their gag reflexes are too sensitive and make pill taking for them a real struggle!
    I definitely enjoyed trying out all of these products.  The CHOP and CRUSH are favorite about of all them simply because they were the most useful.  If you’re interested in purchasing any of these, those would the two that get the highest recommendation from me.
    Be sure to follow Sabi on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products, sales and more.  You can also check out their blog here.

    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.
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  • Thankful Thursday

    Pinterest
    Happy Thankful Thursday!  We’ve been invaded by the sickies this week.  I’m talking runny noses, stuffy noses, sore throats, massive headaches, coughs, etc.  Y’all this mommy is running on fumes pretty much.  I have been getting zero sleep these past few days.  It sucks when both kids are sick and then you get sick too.
    But like the quote above says, I’m thankful and happy to still be here with those I love!  I’m also thankful that we still co-sleep because if I get up every time JJ woke up due to his cold these few days, I would feel like I walked a thousand miles.  Having him in right here in the bed with me has been so much easier.
    We did get out the house this past weekend and went Uptown to enjoy the “Fun Place” as Moo has so fondly renamed the ImagOn.  The kids had a blast and even made a new friend.  JJ got his first library card!  Moo already had hers and I had been meaning to get him one but just never quite could remember.  I’m thankful we were able to spend time together as a family, the Mr included.
    I’m thankful that my internet struggle with Time Warner hasn’t been that bad this week.  I feel like sometimes we are the only ones have issues with our internet going out so much.  And it’s very frustrating because I’ll be about to hit the publish button on a post and what do you know, the wifi is down.  And it’ll stay down for hours.
    JJ is continuing to do his signs!  Yay, for that.  We checked out some sign language videos designed specifically for toddlers his age group.  I think that the more he sees other children signing the better and more comfortable he will with it.  Also, I feel like he’s attempting to actually talk more now.  The words come out as gibberish, but it’s still progress.
    One last thing before I go, stop my writing blog today!  Kristin from Musings of Me tagged me in the Writing Process Blog Tour tag and I’m sharing more info about my novel, Forever Branded, and what my writing process is like.  Check out my post here.
    What are you thankful for this week?


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  • 6 Pull-Ups® Big Kid App Features That Make Potty Training Easier

    Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pull-Ups®.  I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
    It’s been a month and some change since JJ and I decided to get serious about this potty training business.  I have to admit that potty training JJ has been a very different experience than when I potty trained Moo.  For starters, there was his dislike for actually sitting on the toilet.  Also, he is my most stubborn child by far.  When he makes up his mind not to do something, it can be quite the challenge to convince him to do otherwise.  
    But thankfully, in addition to the Big Kid Academy resources that can be found via the Pull-Ups® website, they also have a super cool Big Kid App that is available for free for both iPhone and Android smart phones in the app stores.  Using this app has helped me to help my stubborn little man get more comfortable with potty training and make some progress on this potty training journey.  I would definitely recommend that any parent that has or is getting ready to start the potty training journey with their child download this app and check the 5 features listed below.

    5 Cool Pull-Up® Big Kid App Features I Love

    Multiple Account Creation– The first featured that I love about the Big Kid app is that you can create multiple accounts.  Having the option to create multiple potty training account for each child is perfect, especially if you’re a mom with multiples.

    You can personalize each account with your child’s name/nickname and choose from a selection of pre-made aviators or upload up a picture from your phone.  Parents now have potty training resources and tools right at the touch of finger no matter where they are.

    Videos & Songs– One thing I’ve come to learn about JJ is that he enjoys learning through songs and visuals.  The Big Kid app has an awesome selection of videos and songs like Bye-Bye to Diapers, Potty Dance, and more that I have been playing for him to really help him get pumped about making this transition.  I can play these songs and videos in the car, at home, in the store, at the playground or wherever.  When our children see other children pumped about doing something, then they’re more likely to want to follow suit.

    These songs and videos have really helped to make using the bathroom more fun.  And I’m not going to lie, parents once you listen to these different songs over and over with your child for a few times, you start to get into them too.  Yes, I have gotten my dance on to the Potty Dance song.  I’m not afraid to be silly with my kids.  Seeing me excited about using the bathroom has helped to make JJ more at eased about it.  We’ve conquered our fear of sitting on the potty.

    Big Kid Timer– Having conquered his fear of actually sitting on the potty, I then started using the timer feature to help make sure we’re going to the potty regularly.  The timer has made potty training for us easier in that it’s a reminder when I’ve gotten busy and forgotten to ask if  he has to go to stop and ask him.  You can set your time for as long or short of a time period as you want.  You’ll get a pop notification when it times to ask your little if he or she has to go potty.

    And just a tip, even if JJ says no, we still go and sit.  I can guarantee you that almost 50% of the time when they say no, they really mean yes.  Usually they’re too engrossed in their playing to want to stop and go use the bathroom.  So, I started off setting the timer at 45 minutes.  Therefore, every 45 minutes I was checking if he had to go.  But since then I’ve learned that during certain parts of the day he goes longer in between having to use the bathroom.

    We prefer Sully

    What’s even cooler about this feature is that you or your child can choose between using the James P. Sullivan or Mike Wazowski Monsters University themes.  Fingers crossed that they add Boo and some Disney Princess ones by the time I have number three.

    Potty Rewards– In addition to using our printable chart, I am to track JJ’s potty training victories and reward him whether we’re in the house or on the go.  With the Potty Rewards features, your child can unlock fun games featuring some of their favorite Disney characters by doing things to stars.  So, if your child enjoy virtual games this is another tool that you can use to motivate him or her to use the potty.

    Pull-Ups® Big Kid 3D Celebration– Each pack of Pull-Ups training pants comes with a special marker inside that you will need to keep to activate this feature.  But I love it because it’s another fun way to celebrate major potty training accomplishments.  Your child can choose Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lighting, Minnie Mouse or Princess Rapunzel to help them celebrate.  Of course, JJ is nuts for Mickey and that’s who he’s chosen each time we’ve celebrated.

    Your special marker should look like this

    Tips & Articles– I know some might expect me to be a little bit of a pro at potty training since I’ve done it before, but each child is different.  Therefore it helps to have tips and articles that I can access quickly for help or for a refresher course.  This journey has been and can be frustrating for both parents and children.  And what was frustrating for me was the fact that some things I did with Moo didn’t work with JJ.

    So, I did consult the tips and advice from this feature to get some new ideas like keeping a few toys that he likes in the bathroom to keep him occupied while he’s sitting on the potty.  They recommended books too, but after fishing out one book from the toilet, I decided to scrap that and just stick to toys.  Toys I can bleach, but paper books I have to throw away.

    More Updates

    So, we have officially ditched diapers.  We’ve been enjoying the Lighting McQueen Pull-Ups® Learning Designs ® training pants that were sent to us.  I love that they have a special design that fades when wet.  No more having to unfasten diapers to check.

    And we’re so close to him doing his first poop in the potty.  I have to make sure I catch him when he first starts showing signs of having to go because let me tell y’all, it’s hard and messy to put a child on a potty while they’re still trying to poo.

    Lastly, our biggest success hands down has been the fact that he is no longer afraid of the potty or the toilet.  This potty training journey would be even more challenging if he was.

    Don’t forget that you can check out Big Kid Academy and more the Pull-Ups® website.  Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more tips and resources as well!

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  • Thankful Thursday

    Happy Thankful Thursday!  And Happy First Day of Spring!  Yep, I woke up singing Little Bill today.  I’m super excited at the hope of warmer weather finally being on the way.  But I’m a little bit sad as well because it’s grilling season and y’all already know the story about our missing grill.  
    Nevertheless, I am thankful that Spring is indeed here.   What I am most thankful for this week is the progress that JJ has made with his speech therapy.  So, last week I mentioned that he wasn’t repeating the sign language I had been teaching him.  And on Monday, during one of his weekly sessions, we couldn’t get him to repeat them either.  Fast forward to later on that night and the Mr has decided to take the day and and treat everyone to their favorite snack.
    Well, it dawned on me that maybe, I could use the snacks as an incentive to get him to do the signs.  And what do you know, he did them all!  He came to me for another Twizzler and I told him he had to do his signs first.  So, he signed out the words hungry and more!  Talk about a proud mommy moment.  I was over the moon and wanted to cry, but I showered him with kisses and gave him the Twizzlers instead.
    The fact that I didn’t have to show him the signs first for him to know which ones to use, let me know that he’s paying attention and that he’s learning.  There was some concern that his comprehension skills weren’t as sharp, but his therapist has since reassessed and determined that he’s actually probably smarter than what he can communicate.  Of course, I’ve always thought that because he can follow simple directions, knows how to operate things like the remote and is a great problem solver.
    I’ve been looking into investing in a membership to ABC.com because a few moms with children who have autism have claimed to have seen excellent results in less than a year using it.  At this point, his therapist and caseworker agree me that anything is worth a try to finally push him over the edge to speak.  We know that he’s capable of learning and learning quickly, but now we need him to work harder at practicing  his verbal skills.
    And can you guys believe that my little man is going to be 3 in less than two months?!  Y’all know how emotional birthdays make me.  I’m not sure what we’re going to do but I’m sure it’ll involve games, cake and maybe Mickey Mouse.  I’m also thankful that I finally purchased a custom domain for my author website and blog.  Now, I’m just waiting for it port over.  
    It hasn’t been quite 24 hours, but I feel like this process is taking way longer than it did when I changed my url for YUMMommy.  I was able to use my new url within a few hours.  So, if it’s not up and working by tonight, I’ll call customer service and see what the hold up is because I entered everything correctly.  Y’all keep your fingers crossed and send up prayer that it starts working!
    What are you giving thanks for this week?

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