Ahhh. I can feel spring coming!

Spring time is upon us here in Minnesota. I'm hoping the snowfall that they have predicted loses sight of us and finds someone else to bother. Us Minnesotans are stir crazy and need a little sunshine and warmth! Usually winter lasts from Nov-April with a short May-June spring and a July-August summer and then a September-October Fall. So, basically, a Minnesota winter is six months out of the year. That's OK sometimes, but this winter seems to continue to drag on and on. It was starting to feel like there was no end in sight, until today. Now, we have had some teasers with a warm day here, three cold days there and another warm day thrown in just to flare up another common cold outbreak. Yea, I guess you could say that sums up our weather forecast and we can move on to something a bit more relevant.

Today has not only been productive, but it has also been fun. I chose to wake up a bit early to get to the store and grab a few things I needed to surprise the ladies at our play date with some lactation cookies, I'll do a recipe follow up blog on that next. I had gone to the store, mixed up two batches of cookies, got myself and four kids ready and out the door before 10:15 am. If you know me, you know that that is a rarity! Usually it takes an hour just to convince my own kids to get ready and out the door, but I also had my young, four year old, cousin as well. I haven't felt quite this accomplished since yesterday! Yesterday, I cleaned the entire living and kitchen area thoroughly. Some of you might think that was nothing, but in my house, it is definitely an accomplishment. I have a few more things on my to do list, but this is my break time!

While we're still thinking about spring and spring cleaning, what are some things you do in the spring time? This year I am forcing my house to purge. We have focused on material things far too long and have accumulated way too much. My kids want to do a garage sale again. Last year we did one with friends and it was kind of a bust. We will see how much we can get rid of first! Maybe hold a garage sale to pay for a vacation? Hmmmmm......now my wheels are turning! Aside from that I have a few play related ideas that I have taken from Pinterest to make our own chalk, bubbles and other fun outdoor activities. I have also found a few storage items that I'd like to either build or purchase for some better organization, our house seriously lacks organization.

Thanks for letting me ramble and come back tomorrow for an amazing lactation cookie recipe! I can feel them working already!

Review: Bloom Coco Stylewood Baby Lounger

Have you looked at baby furniture lately and realized just how busy it looks? Are you looking for something sleek and modern to fit in with your home's contemporary style? If you answered yes to those questions, then I would Highly recommend Bloom's baby lounger. The lounger is a piece that gets comments from friends and family about it's stylish design and contemporary looks.

First, let's start off with the seat itself. The seat is a very sleek and modern piece of baby furniture and comes with a nice carry bag for storage and easy transport, if necessary. While other seat will use batteries or an outlet, this seat will need a gentle bounce every once in a while. Between that gentle bounce the lounger will use the weight of the baby to continue it's motion. I found that the way in which the seat was designed, somewhat backless, made it much more comfortable for my baby. He didn't care for activity seats or bouncy chairs, but place him in the lounger and he will relax and people watch for quite some time.

The pad is securely attached to the frame, but the back doesn't have any bars or supports going across, hence why I said it was somewhat backless. The frame is a smooth, almost v-shaped, stylewood. These features are what give it that modern, sleek look.

As far as any negatives, the only one I have found is that some may need to purchase an infant liner. We didn't ever use one for our little one, but some people have found that it is the only way to use the seat right at birth.

You can check out a  Bloom Coco Stylewood Baby Lounger here:
 http://www.albeebaby.com/bloom-coco-stylewood-cappuccino-baby-lounger-in-harvest-orange.html

**Disclaimer** This is my personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and are not influenced in any way by others. All information provided on my blog is for informational purposes only. I will make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors in this information that is provided. All information is provided on basis of my own opinion. I purchased a Bloom baby of my own free will. One was not provided for me for this review, nor was I contacted to review the item. 

Recipe: Bran Buds Muffin Recipe

Have you ever had a snack or a meal that triggered a happy memory? A taste of something that made you feel like you were at home again? Well, not too long ago, I did. I have had so many kinds of bran muffins that were bland and juat plain dry, but the muffins I had the other day reminded me of my grandma's fresh and delicious bran muffins, only they had a slight hint of honey, which made them that much better! So, that is why we are here today. We're going to see if I can make my kids a delicious treat that takes me down memory lane.

Today I am going to try my hand at baking. I do this every so often, and it usually turns out well with the occasional disaster. My grandma is amazing at baking. You name it and she can bake it, and if she hasn't yet she will. She makes wedding cakes and other special baked goods. Her decorating skills amaze me! I don't think I tell her that enough. I've always been able to cook, but baking doesn't exactly run in the family, which is probably a good thing!!!

I ran across some Honey Bran muffins with raisins at my local Hyvee store and have fallen in love with everything but the price, $4.49 for four muffins is steep. So, I am on a mission to find the perfect recipe for something similar. I have Bran Buds in the cupboard, so that is where we will start!

Here is a link to the recipe I used for the basis of my bran muffins:
           http://www.food.com/recipe/bran-buds-muffins-57569?fb_action_ids=648067998553549&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=recipe-57569&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582


Instead of just milk I used 1/4 cup buttermilk and 1/2 cup of skim milk, I added more raisins and added a touch of honey to the batter as well as a drop on top of the muffins after being in the tin! Here's to hoping they turn out like I hope!!!

These turned out wonderful! As I bit into one I could taste the warm honey, soft raisins and the wonderful grainy texture. Next time, I will add a little more honey to the top. They were delicious and a huge hit!!

I've added a photo of my fresh muffins and mini loaves! Yummy!

Review Disclaimer

**Disclaimer** This is my personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and are not influenced in any way by others. All information provided on my blog is for informational purposes only. I will make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors in this information that is provided. All information is provided on basis of my own opinion. In each review I will state whether I purchased the item of my own free will, or if the item was provided to me for review by a specific company. Any item sent to me for review will have to be surrendered as my own after completion of publication review. I am not required to review every item sent to me for review, nor am I responsible for return of items sent to me for review. I will give a review of my un-biased opinion of the item up for review. I deeply appreciate all products being provided. For larger item reviews, please contact before sending them. For some reviews I may require an item be sent for a giveaway. Thank you for reading, respecting and understanding my review policy and blog disclaimer.

Catelynn and Tyler: Reality TV Stars from 16 & pregnant and Teen Mom

Last night we had the opportunity to attend an event at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. It was part of a small speaking tour who's main speakers were Catelynn and Tyler, a reality TV couple who's lives were filmed as part of a documentary on MTV about teenage pregnancy. Catelynn and Tyler chose an adoption plan and their story is filled with hope and inspiration for people everywhere, young and old.

I attended the event with my long-time friend as well as my eight year old daughter. I had my daughter when I was 16 years old. I was young and naive, but had hope that everything would work out for the best. I had thought about adoption and even met with a counselor, but I knew I couldn't do that. I just didn't have the strength it takes t embark on such a journey. At that time in my live I was a child of the state of Minnesota. I lived in foster care homes and didn't really feel like I had a home or much support. It may sound crazy, but watching that show and seeing some of their triumphs and struggles made me think back to my own. I am so happy I am where I am today, but I had a lot of help getting here. But this post shouldn't be totally about me.

I drove the hour and a half drive to Minneapolis just to see them and met up with a friend on the way so that we could ride together. It was quite the adventure in the pouring rain, imagine wipers on full blast trying to see on your way home. The adventure was totally worth it. They spoke about the realities of making an adoption plan and how they feel now about it and what's in store for their future. They were very candid, yet funny at the same time. It was nice to see such a happy, playful couple. They were so relaxed and fun to hear from. After they spoke and answered questions they had a photo op time. We got in line, very excitedly, and waited for our turn. Each group took photos and then it was our turn. My 8 year old loves them and cried watching their show right along with me, so she was shaking sitting next to them. They both stood up to give her a hug and told her how happy they were to have her as their youngest fan. Afterwards their was pizza for all of the attendees, so I let my daughter grab a slice and we walked back to the front so she could watch the rest of the people have their photos taken. When everyone was done she asked me if she could ask them something, so I told her to make it quick. She asked them to do a goofy picture with her and for an autograph. They were very accommodating and even talked to us for a few minutes after. That was one thing my daughter won't forget for a while, and neither will I.

**After the event my daughter wrote about how she views adoption and how it affects the parties involved for a school project. Living life and learning too!

Product Review: Charlie Banana One Size Cloth Pocket Diapers

I've decided the first review I do will be of a product I love, cloth diapers. Cloth diapering can be a journey, but most definitely a rewarding one. No more toxic chemicals on baby's bottom. No more urgent, last minute trips because you only have a couple diapers left. No more endless pails of diaper trash. Yes, there are downsides, but the positives far outweigh the negative! So what if I have two extra loads of laundry each week, I'd rather that than trekking to the store with three kids for diapers.

Charlie Bananas (CB) are a popular choice in our home. We use several others, but the ease of use for Charlie Banana diapers make them very family friendly. Charlie Bananas are 2-in1 diapers. You can use them as a pocket diaper or with disposable inserts. We use ours as pocket diapers. You can purchase them sized or one size. We chose one size, which is more cost effective in the end. With a one size diaper you will get the diaper and two inserts, one small and the other medium/large. The inserts are an absorbent microfiber and have a cute little CB tag on them to tell you the size. You can adjust your one-size CB diapers inside the leg gusset. You will find xs, s, m and l sizes on the strap, which is similar to a bra strap. My little prince has fairly skinny legs, so the ability to adjust the diaper to our needs has worked very well for us. Charlie Banana diapers come in an array of fun colors and designs that are sure to fit every style. Every public diaper change that we use a CB diaper with, we get tons of compliments, and once in a while the odd stare because we use cloth at all times. The inside is very soft and my little prince loves them. The only negative we have run across  is how easily they stained when our prince was on antibiotics, but sunning them worked and you can barely see any marks. Charlie Banana gets a 9/10 from our family.


If you want to try a Charlie Banana diaper, check out your local Super Target or order them online.

**Disclaimer** This is my personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and are not influenced in any way by others. All information provided on my blog is for informational purposes only. I will make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors in this information that is provided. All information is provided on basis of my own opinion I provided this review of my own free will. I was not provided a diaper, nor was I reimbursed for this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Birthday cake and a Charlie Banana! Nothing better ;)

Ah-Ha!!!

The other day I had this Ah-Ha moment. You know, that moment when an idea strikes and you can't think of anything better in the world. A moment so defining, yet lasts mere minutes. Yep, one of those moments. It's something we have talked about and dreamed about, but nothing really clicked until the other day.

Hubby and I have always wanted a small farm or piece of land where we could let the kids free and have a few animals. We also wanted more than one home on that property for his brother to have a house nearby. It's been something we have all talked about, but didn't know how to go about it or if it was possible. By some random chance I ran across a page on Facebook that had information about co-housing. Reading about it at first I was thinking to myself that those places are for some crazy hippies who can't function in the outside world. Then, I realized, that is exactly what we want, only with family! A couple of homes on some acreage. A place for our kids to grow up together, yet still have space apart. Not the co-housing with apartments or dorm style, but separate homes for each family. Three, to be exact. Maybe more one day, but for now that is what we've always dreamed of and talked about for our future.

So, you ask, what kind of crazy am I? I am the kind that wants her children to grow up being able to play outside without worry. The type that wants them to experience an animal being born and the miracle of witnessing new life. The type that yearns for a family life that she never had. The type that wants her kids to learn from doing and seeing, not just sitting and memorizing. Yes, that is exactly the type of crazy I am.

If you have any links or experiences similar to this idea, I'd love to hear about them!! I want to be fully prepared for when our dream can become a reality. Thanks for reading today!

Here goes nothing! Welcome to my blog!

I just want to say thank you to anyone who reads this and embarks on this journey with me and my family. I try to share as much information as I can with the people around me, so starting a blog just seemed natural. Starting a blog is a daunting task! So many questions run through your mind; Will I have any readers? What will I write about? Will people find me interesting? What if my beliefs clash with theirs? Am I really that interesting? I could go on and on! I hope you can bear with me while I develop a writing style and become comfortable in the blogging world.

With this blog I hope to write about many things. I want to share my family goals, and just how we plan to get there. I want to share reviews of products I love and use. I want to share recipes that my friends and family love. But, most importantly, I want to share my life with people.

Have you ever had an Ah-Ha!!! moment? Well, I get those every once in a while too. My last Ah-Ha moment will be in my next blog post. It was a concept we have dreamed of, but never heard of before. You will just have to stay tuned for that!!

Thank you for reading today, and please don't forget to join me again!!