Let's see, what's new? LOTS! Today I had a midwife appointment, and I was SERIOUSLY looking forward to it. I haven't been seen by my midwife (who I am close with) since September, as she has been out of the office and I have been seeing a "Midwife in Training." I was so excited to actually see her in person. I learn so much from every visit with her, and she has a wonderful way of alleviating your fears and giving you confidence and peace of mind. The baby seems great. She asked me what we were naming him, which was neat, and when I told her Marek, she said that it was a great name and fit so well with our family of names. I know I have been asked, so I will let you know that it sounds like Merrick, and is just a varied spelling, Merrick is a Gaelic/Irish name and Evan and I both love Gaelic names (look at ours, and Ardyn) and that is the base requirement, and where we start when we pick a name. We both liked Merrick, but preferred the spelling Marek, which is a variation that seems to make the name more polish, but it's perfect for us.
I was telling the midwife that I am finally now starting to feel pregnant, and she was giving me a hard time about "The whole 9 pounds that I have gained" by month 7. LOL. I told her that as soon as the appointment was done I was on my way to McDonald's. She laughed. I was telling her that I can not BELIEVE the difference in the way I feel with this pregnancy versus Ardyn's, and it's completely because I am 50 pounds lighter this time. Extra weight makes pregnancy so much harder. With Ardyn I was much more out of breath (MUCH MUCH Earlier) and had swelling, and higher blood pressure, and was much more tired and lethargic. I had terrible congestion and was practically unable to breathe when sleeping. I also had practically every symptom much earlier, including not being able to get comfortable and stay sleeping soundly. Just recently I have started to have problems sleeping. Much of it is because I have to pee every 1-3 hours all night, and once I wake up I have a hard time getting back to sleep. I also notice more back and hip pain now, and a few Braxton Hicks now and then. But other than that I have been feeling really well.
We discussed childbirth and my biggest fear is that this one will stay in too long as well, and I will have to be induced again. We will start Evening Primrose Oil (orally) in about 8 weeks, and see if that helps. If I dilated to a 6 with Ardyn by my due date, and had my membranes swept (and I mean swept GOOD) three times and still didn't go into labor, then my midwife and I are both curious as to how much I will dilate this time. Plus I lost the MP at 32 weeks last time, and was already almost dilated to a 2 at 32 weeks. That's only 4 weeks away!
She predicts that if I am able to go into labor on my own, I will have a fast labor (3 hours or less from start to finish) and be unable to get any epidural. We plan on attempting waterbirth again, hoping that this time it relaxes me instead of making my so freaking HOT. I am scared shitless but as long as I know that I can do it (I did it before under some of the worst circumstances: Induction, pitocin, 15.5 hours of labor, baby being stuck, prepping me for a C-section, etc) so hopefully this time can only be BETTER.
So tonight I went to my Computer User Group Meeting and Evan and Ardyn played at home. The meeting was great, shorter than usual, and afterwards I picked out two books at the library for myself, and four for Ardyn. I picked a Three Billy Goat's Gruff story, because Ardyn suddenly insists that a goat is a dog. Yesterday we had a serious discussion where she INSISTED that despite my pointing out of horns and goatee's, that goat was a flop eared, barking dog. No matter how many goat sounds I made and how convincing I was in my argument, she would respond with "Dog. Arf Aarf!" I will be on the lookout for more books with goats so that I can drive home this point. Also, ever since being at my mom's house while I was scrapbooking, she thinks that everything is a mouse. When I was upstairs making scrapbook noises, like rustling paper, mom was telling Ardyn that it was a mouse, so that she would keep playing and not come up the stairs to bother me. Ardyn kept saying "Mou-se" like she was calling it's name. Then that very night when we got home, all unidentified rodent-like animals became "mouse." Including squirrels, Kangaroos, and Bunnies. Most definitely "Mouse." And again, no matter how much I explained, it was a mouse. She DOES know what a mouse is, and she points mice out in books, and says "Squeak squeak" but now she things that all fuzzy unidentified creatures are mice.
Right now she is reading a Country living magazine from this past fall, with a cake on the front, that has a black cat frosted on it. She's drug that magazine everywhere with her today. Mom said that while I was at the dr., Ardyn spent 10 minutes talking to and about the cat on the magazine. Kinda like how she got attached last week to the beagle on the back of the JC Penney fall catalog. You know how they always put beagles in fluffy fabulously made beds.... well, we are partial to beagles around here!
After my meeting tonight and my library time, I ran to the evil store to pick up a few 1 hour photos (some mine, some BIL's) and to grab a few boxes of cereal. I also got a $3 bird feeder with a suction cup, because we wanted to put one on the playroom window (right at Ardyn's height) so that she could see and watch the birds. Unfortunately, when I got it home, it was broken, and I didn't discover that until I put birdseed into it. So now it's laying here and I have to go BACK to the evil store and exchange it for another. Bummer. I was so excited because it has been snowing and tomorrow would be an excellent day to attract birds to the window feeder.
In other exciting news. We have been given an excellent and thoughtful gift. Ardyn will be going back to daycare, for just one day a week. At first I was hesitant about the whole idea. The gift-giver (who shall remain anonymous) wanted Ardyn to have the opportunity to participate in some sort of playgroup or preschool, and give me some time to accomplish things like cleaning and grocery shopping, as well as time to relax/rest as the end of pregnancy approaches, and also to have some time alone with the new baby to bond and rest when he gets here. Unfortunately, there aren't really playgroups in this area, nor preschool programs, so our alternate idea was to send her back to her daycare center for one day a week, and allow her to play with other kids her age and socialize. I was incredibly excited for her, but kinda hesitant as to giving her up (believe it or not, even for one day a week.) I was also concerned about her going to daycare, and catching all the daycare illnesses (Rotovirus, Pink Eye, Stomach Flu, Colds, etc) and bringing them back to us, including a pregnant mom, or eventually a new baby at home. Because we are mostly in our own little bubble here, we don't get sick often. But I have decided that getting out and socializing is good for her and outweighs (I think) the risks of catching sickness. I also tell myself that it's unrealistic to think I can keep us in a bubble forever. LOL. Although part of me thinks I should have delayed her "one day a week" adventure until cold and flu season is over. (pray for me!)
So starting NEXT week, Ardyn will have one day a week at daycare, and she will start out in the toddler room, which is also exciting. I really hope that she enjoys it, and that I can enjoy myself while she is gone. The first day she goes I have scheduled lunch with a friend, which we have been trying to do for the longest time but haven't had meshing schedules. I also do look forward to one day a week alone with the baby, where perhaps I can actually "Nap when the baby naps" and get some rest. I have been having a hard time keeping things picked up around here long enough to actually CLEAN good, and that bugs me. I miss my cleaning girl. But now that Ardyn is going once a week, that gives me a whole day to do what I need to do here without the toddler tornado here. And I have found someone who I have known for years and who I trust, who can come and clean when the new baby gets here, so that will be a lifesaver for me. That's another worry I have, that when the baby gets here I will never have time to mop a floor again. LOL.
So that's what new. Tonight I hope to read some and sleep. 10 minutes till Ardyn's bedtime!!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Children's Items and Clothing required to be tested for Lead and Pthalates.
I am not sure if any of you are aware of this, but it is something that is near to my heart, and I find it incredibly frustrating. There is a new law that was passed in 2008 that will require lead and pthalate testing on ALL ITEMS marketed to kids. You would think that this is a GOOD thing, but it is seriously flawed. It is a retroactive law. All items that are sold in a resale shop (Goodwill, or even your local children's resale shop) must now be tested for Lead and Pthalates.... and this expense is the responsibility of the RESALE SHOP.
All moms that work from home and make handmade baby items, kids clothes, and diapers will now be required to have every single material or sewing notion tested by a private lab before they are able to sell their items. This will not only eliminate the ability of many moms to work from home, but also seriously limits the moms in the green community, who are more committed to organic and healthy toys and clothing, than almost every other toy manufacturer who outsources the manufacturing to other countries, like China.
The law even goes so far as to cover comic books, and books printed in past years, even if is a rare, or out of print book.... or the last copy of a children's book. "The manufacturer needs to provide a testing certificate to the retailer, which must be available for inspection, should a Consumer Product Safety Administration inspector come in. No certificate, the retailer can’t sell it. The truly bizarre part is that the new regulations apply retroactively. Even if it was printed 50 years ago and the publisher no longer exists, you need to have a certificate proving it’s not filled with lead. Even if it is the only remaining copy of a rare children’s book worth thousands of dollars and only will ever be handled by collectors, you cannot sell it because you can’t prove it is not filled with lead."
Here are a couple of links to check out:
Regarding how the law will affect book sellers and collectors
http://bookshopblog.com/2009/01/04/book-burning-on-feb-10th-2009-due-to-cpsia/
Article about the law affecting resale and initial sale of children's items and clothing:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,5601821.story
Links to contact your congressmen and women to try to fix this law so that it is beneficial to families and resellers everywhere. https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
If you are still reading, thanks. It frustrates me that all the items that go through resale shops will end up in landfills instead of being reused by people who need them. I also think about how this will affect things like ebay sellers who sell their children's used toys and clothes.
All moms that work from home and make handmade baby items, kids clothes, and diapers will now be required to have every single material or sewing notion tested by a private lab before they are able to sell their items. This will not only eliminate the ability of many moms to work from home, but also seriously limits the moms in the green community, who are more committed to organic and healthy toys and clothing, than almost every other toy manufacturer who outsources the manufacturing to other countries, like China.
The law even goes so far as to cover comic books, and books printed in past years, even if is a rare, or out of print book.... or the last copy of a children's book. "The manufacturer needs to provide a testing certificate to the retailer, which must be available for inspection, should a Consumer Product Safety Administration inspector come in. No certificate, the retailer can’t sell it. The truly bizarre part is that the new regulations apply retroactively. Even if it was printed 50 years ago and the publisher no longer exists, you need to have a certificate proving it’s not filled with lead. Even if it is the only remaining copy of a rare children’s book worth thousands of dollars and only will ever be handled by collectors, you cannot sell it because you can’t prove it is not filled with lead."
Here are a couple of links to check out:
Regarding how the law will affect book sellers and collectors
http://bookshopblog.com/2009/01/04/book-burning-on-feb-10th-2009-due-to-cpsia/
Article about the law affecting resale and initial sale of children's items and clothing:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,5601821.story
Links to contact your congressmen and women to try to fix this law so that it is beneficial to families and resellers everywhere. https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Sunday night Stuff
The days seem to be flying by. Maybe that's because we sleep late and stay up late. I dunno. Maybe it's because Ardyn seems to be growing so fast. Maybe it's because there don't seem to be enough hours in the day. Maybe it's because I am already working on the 7th month with this baby.
Anyway. Today Ardyn and I went to Brad and Anya's and setup their wireless network again. For some reason their router keeps losing pieces of it's settings. The previous router did the same thing, but at least this one is still keeping them for an extended period of time, and keeping SOME of the settings each time. Ardyn played with Ava and cried when it was time to leave. We came home and had supper and then she played while I went through about 10 more oldscrapbooking magazines. I brought a bunch home from moms that I had read before but saved, and so I am now through 2005, 2006, and 2007, as well as the beginning of 2008 when I stopped subscribing. And I had Lots of them. Memory Makers, Scrapbooks etc., Creating Keepsakes, and at least one more. I think Memory makers and Creating Keepsakes are my favorites. Scrapbooks, etc. was not something I was ever thrilled about.
Then I used the dining room table to sort the torn out inspiration pages into categories (Holidays, Mom/Wife/Self, Dads/Grandpas/Boy Ideas, Baby Ideas, Toddler Ideas, School Years, Techniques and Tips, Crafts/Decor/Gifts, Siblings, Layouts and Sketches, Organization and Craft Room, Marriage and Relationships) and labeled the categories with sticky notes so that I can put them into files shortly. I also created a category for Backlog ideas, for ideas that already matched photos I have or things on my backlog list (see yesterday's blog post) and then I made a list in my notebook of all the ideas that match the backlog, so that when I work on the backlog, I won't forget (hopefully) to pull the coordinating idea from the file. I figure if I am on top of things I can do that during my planning phase. I also used a retractable sharpie (which I LOVE. My mom got us each one in our stockings and I have comandeered them both because one is fine tipped and one is broad. They are so neat and great around Ardyn because there is no cap and if I sit it down for 2 seconds next to me and she finds it, it gives me extra time to recover it because she hasn't figured out the click feature yet.) I would just click it open and mark the page with the category I wanted to file it on, and sometimes star the exact item on the page if there was more than one layout. That way in the future if I leaf through my idea files, I won't say "Why did I file that?" In some cases I would just circle the exact element in the layout that I wanted to duplicate, like the title, or the shape of the journaling.
I also decided to go ahead and use the money I made fixing the computer to order some of the planning folders that I discussed yesterday. I personally decided to stick with cropper hopper, mostly because of the cost. They were just less expensive by almost a whole doller per folder. I also know that they are what I need, because I already have three. The other's didn't have tabs to label them, and didn't have page planner cards or a place for the card in the front of the folder. That is what really sold me. The page planner cards also fold open so that you can hand draw your sketch if you want. It gives space for writing down a list of how many papers and embellishments you will need to complete the layout, which is REALLY cool, and each folder comes with three planning cards, so that's 6 pages that can fit into each folder. I think that's really cool because a holiday (like a first Christmas or a birthday party) might realistically have 6 pages instead of 2. The Cropper Hopper Folders are also appearing more sturdy and longer lasting (material wise) than the other product. I found a source online to buy the cropper hopper folders at $4.09 for a 3 pack, which is more than $1 less than the cropper hopper website price. So overall I saved a bunch. Now I wait for them to arrive, and then I start my planning phase with the photos I have printed already.... and determine which pictures I need to print to complete the backlog.
Tonight Ardyn took a bath. She is getting way too brave. Most boy moms would say I haven't seen anything yet, and I am aware of that, but in addition to her standing and being silly routine she has added a "splash and stomp with one foot" thing and a "run back and forth in the tub" thing that I am constantly correcting. I must say "Sit DOWN" about ten thousand times per bath. Tonight she fell and conked her head, and them she listened for a few minutes and calmed down. After she goes to bed I hope to file these pages I have sorted. I would love to go to my moms and scrapbook again tomorrow, but although I have nothing "planned" to do, the house needs my serious attention, and that includes laundry. I did unload and reload the dishwasher tonight, and wash again, so I need to unload and load AGAIN. For some reason the last three times it was ran, nothing came clean. That pisses me off. This time I hope things were clean. Last time they were.... Ugh.
Ardyn ate rice for supper and had rice in a strategic pattern (excellent coverage) for a 7 foot radius around her high chair. There was so much rice on her overalls when I tried to clean her up, I ended up just standing her in the booster seat and brushing it off on the floor, then vacuuming everything up. Ugh. What a mess. She LOVES rice but like 2/3 of it makes it to her mouth. Of course as I was trying to get the vacuum out and get it cleaned up, she kept trying to walk through it, and I kept NOT trying to walk through it, and ended up with rice encrusted socks. ACK. Some days I think I should feed her in the kitchen sink, so that when she's done I can strip her, hose her down, and then run the garbage disposal.
Tuesday I have an appointment with my midwife, and then probably some routine pregnancy labwork too. This will be my last "monthly" appointment, as I will switch to every 2 weeks for the next appointment. Wow. Time is flying.
At this point in time, I try to NOT think about labor. After being traumatized by the 15 hours of an Induced Labor, 12 hours with no drugs, near C-section, and finally BIRTH.... I don't have the positive outlook that I wish I could for this. I tell myself that logically I should be able to go naturally. Logically if I was dilated to a 6 with Ardyn before my due date, and just had my water broke as induction, I should be able to do just fine with this one. I tell myself that There is no need to be induced again, but then I know that my sister (who was #2 for my mom) was INSANELY overdue (which they won't allow in this day and age.) I tell myself that now I have a higher tolerance for pain. I tell myself that I know what to expect. I tell myself that my cervix is a muscle and that muscles have a memory. I tell myself all kinds of things when I am trying to go to sleep at night.
I tell myself that it is quite possible for me to have the med-free waterbirth that I wanted so desperately with Ardyn, and then I tell myself that I don't even give a shit and after my last experience just give me an epidural as soon as I sign the paperwork. So mostly, I just try NOT to think about or worry about birth itself. I try not to have a plan at all. I try not to think about how lucky we are to have a happy healthy child, and try NOT to think about how with Ardyn I was seeing specialists and had SO many ultrasounds and tests and was so sure that she was healthy, while this one has just been cooking away in there with the regular 19 week ultrasound being the last... and no inkling to me if there could be something wrong health-wise. Could he be breech? Could he have the cord wrapped? Could the placenta be low lying now? Ugh.I try to think about the baby himself and not how he will get here. Because that part freaks me out. Bad.
Anyway. Today Ardyn and I went to Brad and Anya's and setup their wireless network again. For some reason their router keeps losing pieces of it's settings. The previous router did the same thing, but at least this one is still keeping them for an extended period of time, and keeping SOME of the settings each time. Ardyn played with Ava and cried when it was time to leave. We came home and had supper and then she played while I went through about 10 more oldscrapbooking magazines. I brought a bunch home from moms that I had read before but saved, and so I am now through 2005, 2006, and 2007, as well as the beginning of 2008 when I stopped subscribing. And I had Lots of them. Memory Makers, Scrapbooks etc., Creating Keepsakes, and at least one more. I think Memory makers and Creating Keepsakes are my favorites. Scrapbooks, etc. was not something I was ever thrilled about.
Then I used the dining room table to sort the torn out inspiration pages into categories (Holidays, Mom/Wife/Self, Dads/Grandpas/Boy Ideas, Baby Ideas, Toddler Ideas, School Years, Techniques and Tips, Crafts/Decor/Gifts, Siblings, Layouts and Sketches, Organization and Craft Room, Marriage and Relationships) and labeled the categories with sticky notes so that I can put them into files shortly. I also created a category for Backlog ideas, for ideas that already matched photos I have or things on my backlog list (see yesterday's blog post) and then I made a list in my notebook of all the ideas that match the backlog, so that when I work on the backlog, I won't forget (hopefully) to pull the coordinating idea from the file. I figure if I am on top of things I can do that during my planning phase. I also used a retractable sharpie (which I LOVE. My mom got us each one in our stockings and I have comandeered them both because one is fine tipped and one is broad. They are so neat and great around Ardyn because there is no cap and if I sit it down for 2 seconds next to me and she finds it, it gives me extra time to recover it because she hasn't figured out the click feature yet.) I would just click it open and mark the page with the category I wanted to file it on, and sometimes star the exact item on the page if there was more than one layout. That way in the future if I leaf through my idea files, I won't say "Why did I file that?" In some cases I would just circle the exact element in the layout that I wanted to duplicate, like the title, or the shape of the journaling.
I also decided to go ahead and use the money I made fixing the computer to order some of the planning folders that I discussed yesterday. I personally decided to stick with cropper hopper, mostly because of the cost. They were just less expensive by almost a whole doller per folder. I also know that they are what I need, because I already have three. The other's didn't have tabs to label them, and didn't have page planner cards or a place for the card in the front of the folder. That is what really sold me. The page planner cards also fold open so that you can hand draw your sketch if you want. It gives space for writing down a list of how many papers and embellishments you will need to complete the layout, which is REALLY cool, and each folder comes with three planning cards, so that's 6 pages that can fit into each folder. I think that's really cool because a holiday (like a first Christmas or a birthday party) might realistically have 6 pages instead of 2. The Cropper Hopper Folders are also appearing more sturdy and longer lasting (material wise) than the other product. I found a source online to buy the cropper hopper folders at $4.09 for a 3 pack, which is more than $1 less than the cropper hopper website price. So overall I saved a bunch. Now I wait for them to arrive, and then I start my planning phase with the photos I have printed already.... and determine which pictures I need to print to complete the backlog.
Tonight Ardyn took a bath. She is getting way too brave. Most boy moms would say I haven't seen anything yet, and I am aware of that, but in addition to her standing and being silly routine she has added a "splash and stomp with one foot" thing and a "run back and forth in the tub" thing that I am constantly correcting. I must say "Sit DOWN" about ten thousand times per bath. Tonight she fell and conked her head, and them she listened for a few minutes and calmed down. After she goes to bed I hope to file these pages I have sorted. I would love to go to my moms and scrapbook again tomorrow, but although I have nothing "planned" to do, the house needs my serious attention, and that includes laundry. I did unload and reload the dishwasher tonight, and wash again, so I need to unload and load AGAIN. For some reason the last three times it was ran, nothing came clean. That pisses me off. This time I hope things were clean. Last time they were.... Ugh.
Ardyn ate rice for supper and had rice in a strategic pattern (excellent coverage) for a 7 foot radius around her high chair. There was so much rice on her overalls when I tried to clean her up, I ended up just standing her in the booster seat and brushing it off on the floor, then vacuuming everything up. Ugh. What a mess. She LOVES rice but like 2/3 of it makes it to her mouth. Of course as I was trying to get the vacuum out and get it cleaned up, she kept trying to walk through it, and I kept NOT trying to walk through it, and ended up with rice encrusted socks. ACK. Some days I think I should feed her in the kitchen sink, so that when she's done I can strip her, hose her down, and then run the garbage disposal.
Tuesday I have an appointment with my midwife, and then probably some routine pregnancy labwork too. This will be my last "monthly" appointment, as I will switch to every 2 weeks for the next appointment. Wow. Time is flying.
At this point in time, I try to NOT think about labor. After being traumatized by the 15 hours of an Induced Labor, 12 hours with no drugs, near C-section, and finally BIRTH.... I don't have the positive outlook that I wish I could for this. I tell myself that logically I should be able to go naturally. Logically if I was dilated to a 6 with Ardyn before my due date, and just had my water broke as induction, I should be able to do just fine with this one. I tell myself that There is no need to be induced again, but then I know that my sister (who was #2 for my mom) was INSANELY overdue (which they won't allow in this day and age.) I tell myself that now I have a higher tolerance for pain. I tell myself that I know what to expect. I tell myself that my cervix is a muscle and that muscles have a memory. I tell myself all kinds of things when I am trying to go to sleep at night.
I tell myself that it is quite possible for me to have the med-free waterbirth that I wanted so desperately with Ardyn, and then I tell myself that I don't even give a shit and after my last experience just give me an epidural as soon as I sign the paperwork. So mostly, I just try NOT to think about or worry about birth itself. I try not to have a plan at all. I try not to think about how lucky we are to have a happy healthy child, and try NOT to think about how with Ardyn I was seeing specialists and had SO many ultrasounds and tests and was so sure that she was healthy, while this one has just been cooking away in there with the regular 19 week ultrasound being the last... and no inkling to me if there could be something wrong health-wise. Could he be breech? Could he have the cord wrapped? Could the placenta be low lying now? Ugh.I try to think about the baby himself and not how he will get here. Because that part freaks me out. Bad.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
I didn't MEAN to have a New Year's Resolution....
My apologies for not having much blogging done in the new year. My house is this endless wreck that I can't seem to get ahead of, and my body is only about halfway into actually trying.
We spent New Year's Eve at my parents, out of pure boredom. (Not because my parents are boring, but because we had nothing planned and didn't want to sit home alone.) Evan had band practice and Ardyn and I went over there because I needed to go through my cardstock for the "hootie owl" Project I have been working on. I decided that I don't have the cardstock colors I need, and none that I have match, nor is there even remotely enough. I ordered three colors from CTMH to compensate and get the project going.
New Year's Day we slept late, Ardyn didn't wake up until after 12:30, but then again she did stay awake until almost 1am. I would say that she partied like it was 1999, but actually she aimed for 2009. And it makes me feel incredibly old to remember that we actually WAITED for 1999 to come so that they could actually play Prince. Ha.
We spent the 1st just lounging around the house doing nothing really. Friday I went and got groceries and Ardyn and I ate at McDonald's. Our local Wal-mart is no longer going to carry fabric, so we stopped there because Ardyn needed some new socks, and they had the fabric all clearancing out at 50% off. I grabbed some basic flannel, a yard of each color, since I use it for Ardyn's wipes, Pants, and also for mamma pads. It was like $1.29 a yard. Last night I watched Ocean's 12 while Ardyn was napping and then we heated up leftover Pizza Hut and played on the bed for a while. Then we played in her room, she took a bath, and then she stayed up until Dad got home.
Today Ardyn and I got packed up and spent the afternoon at my mom's house, so I could do some scrapbooking. Last night I started on a "scrapbook plan" that I found inspiration for in an old issue of Creating Keepsakes (January 2008.) It's a plan to get caught up and stay caught up on scrapbooking, and it has you write out a list of what you need to scrapbook still (backlog) and then a list of what you intend to scrapbook in the new year. I spent several hours last night looking through old issues of scrapbooking magazines, as I had about 1.5 years of them that I had never looked at or dealt with (Dec 2006 till sometime in early 2008) which is why I stopped my subscriptions (or in some cases just let them run out as two of them were freebies.) So I went through and tore out layouts and ideas that I knew I would use, and compiled them into a notebook, and I made my backlog list as well as my scrappin plan for 2009. Things seem so much clearer now, and I feel much more organized and inspired.
Today I worked for about 2.5 hours and got 6 pages done, which was great. The hardest part was trying to be somewhat neat because my space is limited and I need to leave things picked up at my moms versus still strewn about and in progress if I were at home. But the 6 pages turned out cute, and I was especially pleased to be able to use one of my new sketchbooks (layout books)- Cherish By CTMH. It's a lifesaver and it actually moves me FORWARD versus having me sit there re-arranging things trying to acheive perfection for hours on end. and never actually COMPLETING anything. I am ALMOST finished with Ardyn's first birthday now. I have another 2 page spread to do of her birthday party, and then pictures from her actual birthday when we went out to eat and took photos of her at home in the "chair" that we used for the first year pictures.
Once I get those done, I still have plenty to do from her first year. I want to get caught up on Ardyn before Marek is born. My goal is to scrapbook at least twice a week until then. Hopefully I can get that done! If I can complete an average of 4-6 pages twice a week until April 1st, that would give me somewhere between 96-104 pages complete by April. I think I will set my goal at an even 100 and see what happens! I guess this means that I do have a New Year's Resolution after all!
In my plan I have decided to scrapbook events and holidays with their own layouts, and then to do a 2-page layout for each MONTH of Ardyn's life, at least for the first year. I KNOW that I have plenty of pictures, I just have to narrow them down far enough to do that. I use Flickr to organize the photos, and for some months I would create a set for myself that was "Mom's favorites for (June 2008)" and then add just my very favorite photos. I wish now that I would have done that for EVERY month.... but it may be just as easy to go through the months (which I have all organized on Flickr anyway) and tag the favorites similarly, and then order them through Qoop. I always try to grab one 5x7 of each major event or activity that REALLY was my favorite and captured her well, then I get the rest in 4x6. I find that many of the 4x6's can be easily cropped (physically with a paper cutter) to make sizes like 3x3 and 3x6 that are in many of my layouts sketchbooks. I like the look of a layout with a larger photo that sort of sums up the layout, and then smaller supporting images. This has really helped me to eliminate the problem of having all these 4x6 photos staring at me and looking boring and identical on my page.
The sketches have also really given me a good handle on cutting and layering Cardstock and B&T papers. The only problems I have ran across so far is not having ENOUGH Cardstock that matches my B&T papers. Each layout takes at least two base cardstock pieces (which show on the layout) and then anywhere from 1-3 more coordinating sheets/colors of cardstock, with even more B&T (Background and Texture) Papers. So really, I will be better prepared when I buy patterned paper to be sure to have enough solid papers that are an exact match. That's my toughest challenge right now. I may have lots of solid colors, but they don't match as well as I need them to. Or I may have two that match exactly, but need more like 3-5 for each 2 page layout. That's a bummer. I think that getting into this routine and knowing what I need to purchase BEFORE I get working on a layout will really really help.
Before I start any layout, I find myself sorting pictures, counting number of pics and potential sizes, and then looking through the sketchbook to determine which layout will fit best. Ideally, I should do that ahead of time, then write down the layout number and the amount of each paper I will need on a sticky note and attach it to the photos. Then I should organize the photos in a clear envelope and take that envelope on my shopping trip to purchase the paper types, quantities, and colors as well as my matching embellishments accordingly. As I take more and more advice from the professionals (Master Scrapbookers) in magazines, I see that many of them use this method and that is how they always seem to have exactly what they need. I feel like I have the creativity, but I am not managing my time effectively and planning ahead accordingly.
I have three Cropper Hopper 12x12 layout folders that I ADORE and I always wish I had more of them. Problem is they are $6.99 for a three pack, and that's a it pricey. Especially when you see each event as a layout, and have a backlog of at least a year's worth of events... and when you figure one folder for each month of your child's life in ADDITION to the event layouts. Recently I have decided that I do need more of them if I intend to follow this schedule and actually accomplish my goal. The price is probably worth it, as It should help me in my organization and planning stages, as well as in my shopping stage. I figure I should Go through the checkout at Hobby Lobby and then sit in the car and put the appropriate embellishments and papers in the envelope with the photos.... and the layout number has already determined and written down. Complete those steps and BAM you are ready to scrap and the planning and matching and buying are already completed.
These are the things that take the most time, and when you sit down to scrapbook, you can feel like you have taken FOREVER just getting things ready, and never get much of anything completed. It's my goal to make the most of my scrapping time by scheduling and maintaining ways to stay organized and prepared to actually WORK on a LAYOUT instead of sitting there planning when I would rather be scrapping! The planning and layout parts can also be done at home, which would allow me to maximize my time with my scrap supplies when I travel to mom's.
Of course then there is another layout and planning system (Croppin Companion) that I have seen in magazines that is a binder style system. And this makes sense to me but I need to investigate it online and see which is more cost effective and which one I am more likely to use.
I am sure this seems dizzying (or completely boring) to most of you, and maybe it's inspiring to others, but I have to tell you that it has finally helped me to get a handle on how and why these masters have such successful techniques and finished products. And I really hope that I can get this rolling (I guess I already have!) and keep it up to actually get done what I want to get done. Otherwise it seems pointless to have the thousands of dollars of scrapbooking supplies that I already have, and even MORE pointless to kid myself into accomodating any more.
Thoughts? Scrapping Tips to share? I'd Love to hear them!
We spent New Year's Eve at my parents, out of pure boredom. (Not because my parents are boring, but because we had nothing planned and didn't want to sit home alone.) Evan had band practice and Ardyn and I went over there because I needed to go through my cardstock for the "hootie owl" Project I have been working on. I decided that I don't have the cardstock colors I need, and none that I have match, nor is there even remotely enough. I ordered three colors from CTMH to compensate and get the project going.
New Year's Day we slept late, Ardyn didn't wake up until after 12:30, but then again she did stay awake until almost 1am. I would say that she partied like it was 1999, but actually she aimed for 2009. And it makes me feel incredibly old to remember that we actually WAITED for 1999 to come so that they could actually play Prince. Ha.
We spent the 1st just lounging around the house doing nothing really. Friday I went and got groceries and Ardyn and I ate at McDonald's. Our local Wal-mart is no longer going to carry fabric, so we stopped there because Ardyn needed some new socks, and they had the fabric all clearancing out at 50% off. I grabbed some basic flannel, a yard of each color, since I use it for Ardyn's wipes, Pants, and also for mamma pads. It was like $1.29 a yard. Last night I watched Ocean's 12 while Ardyn was napping and then we heated up leftover Pizza Hut and played on the bed for a while. Then we played in her room, she took a bath, and then she stayed up until Dad got home.
Today Ardyn and I got packed up and spent the afternoon at my mom's house, so I could do some scrapbooking. Last night I started on a "scrapbook plan" that I found inspiration for in an old issue of Creating Keepsakes (January 2008.) It's a plan to get caught up and stay caught up on scrapbooking, and it has you write out a list of what you need to scrapbook still (backlog) and then a list of what you intend to scrapbook in the new year. I spent several hours last night looking through old issues of scrapbooking magazines, as I had about 1.5 years of them that I had never looked at or dealt with (Dec 2006 till sometime in early 2008) which is why I stopped my subscriptions (or in some cases just let them run out as two of them were freebies.) So I went through and tore out layouts and ideas that I knew I would use, and compiled them into a notebook, and I made my backlog list as well as my scrappin plan for 2009. Things seem so much clearer now, and I feel much more organized and inspired.
Today I worked for about 2.5 hours and got 6 pages done, which was great. The hardest part was trying to be somewhat neat because my space is limited and I need to leave things picked up at my moms versus still strewn about and in progress if I were at home. But the 6 pages turned out cute, and I was especially pleased to be able to use one of my new sketchbooks (layout books)- Cherish By CTMH. It's a lifesaver and it actually moves me FORWARD versus having me sit there re-arranging things trying to acheive perfection for hours on end. and never actually COMPLETING anything. I am ALMOST finished with Ardyn's first birthday now. I have another 2 page spread to do of her birthday party, and then pictures from her actual birthday when we went out to eat and took photos of her at home in the "chair" that we used for the first year pictures.
Once I get those done, I still have plenty to do from her first year. I want to get caught up on Ardyn before Marek is born. My goal is to scrapbook at least twice a week until then. Hopefully I can get that done! If I can complete an average of 4-6 pages twice a week until April 1st, that would give me somewhere between 96-104 pages complete by April. I think I will set my goal at an even 100 and see what happens! I guess this means that I do have a New Year's Resolution after all!
In my plan I have decided to scrapbook events and holidays with their own layouts, and then to do a 2-page layout for each MONTH of Ardyn's life, at least for the first year. I KNOW that I have plenty of pictures, I just have to narrow them down far enough to do that. I use Flickr to organize the photos, and for some months I would create a set for myself that was "Mom's favorites for (June 2008)" and then add just my very favorite photos. I wish now that I would have done that for EVERY month.... but it may be just as easy to go through the months (which I have all organized on Flickr anyway) and tag the favorites similarly, and then order them through Qoop. I always try to grab one 5x7 of each major event or activity that REALLY was my favorite and captured her well, then I get the rest in 4x6. I find that many of the 4x6's can be easily cropped (physically with a paper cutter) to make sizes like 3x3 and 3x6 that are in many of my layouts sketchbooks. I like the look of a layout with a larger photo that sort of sums up the layout, and then smaller supporting images. This has really helped me to eliminate the problem of having all these 4x6 photos staring at me and looking boring and identical on my page.
The sketches have also really given me a good handle on cutting and layering Cardstock and B&T papers. The only problems I have ran across so far is not having ENOUGH Cardstock that matches my B&T papers. Each layout takes at least two base cardstock pieces (which show on the layout) and then anywhere from 1-3 more coordinating sheets/colors of cardstock, with even more B&T (Background and Texture) Papers. So really, I will be better prepared when I buy patterned paper to be sure to have enough solid papers that are an exact match. That's my toughest challenge right now. I may have lots of solid colors, but they don't match as well as I need them to. Or I may have two that match exactly, but need more like 3-5 for each 2 page layout. That's a bummer. I think that getting into this routine and knowing what I need to purchase BEFORE I get working on a layout will really really help.
Before I start any layout, I find myself sorting pictures, counting number of pics and potential sizes, and then looking through the sketchbook to determine which layout will fit best. Ideally, I should do that ahead of time, then write down the layout number and the amount of each paper I will need on a sticky note and attach it to the photos. Then I should organize the photos in a clear envelope and take that envelope on my shopping trip to purchase the paper types, quantities, and colors as well as my matching embellishments accordingly. As I take more and more advice from the professionals (Master Scrapbookers) in magazines, I see that many of them use this method and that is how they always seem to have exactly what they need. I feel like I have the creativity, but I am not managing my time effectively and planning ahead accordingly.
I have three Cropper Hopper 12x12 layout folders that I ADORE and I always wish I had more of them. Problem is they are $6.99 for a three pack, and that's a it pricey. Especially when you see each event as a layout, and have a backlog of at least a year's worth of events... and when you figure one folder for each month of your child's life in ADDITION to the event layouts. Recently I have decided that I do need more of them if I intend to follow this schedule and actually accomplish my goal. The price is probably worth it, as It should help me in my organization and planning stages, as well as in my shopping stage. I figure I should Go through the checkout at Hobby Lobby and then sit in the car and put the appropriate embellishments and papers in the envelope with the photos.... and the layout number has already determined and written down. Complete those steps and BAM you are ready to scrap and the planning and matching and buying are already completed.
These are the things that take the most time, and when you sit down to scrapbook, you can feel like you have taken FOREVER just getting things ready, and never get much of anything completed. It's my goal to make the most of my scrapping time by scheduling and maintaining ways to stay organized and prepared to actually WORK on a LAYOUT instead of sitting there planning when I would rather be scrapping! The planning and layout parts can also be done at home, which would allow me to maximize my time with my scrap supplies when I travel to mom's.
Of course then there is another layout and planning system (Croppin Companion) that I have seen in magazines that is a binder style system. And this makes sense to me but I need to investigate it online and see which is more cost effective and which one I am more likely to use.
I am sure this seems dizzying (or completely boring) to most of you, and maybe it's inspiring to others, but I have to tell you that it has finally helped me to get a handle on how and why these masters have such successful techniques and finished products. And I really hope that I can get this rolling (I guess I already have!) and keep it up to actually get done what I want to get done. Otherwise it seems pointless to have the thousands of dollars of scrapbooking supplies that I already have, and even MORE pointless to kid myself into accomodating any more.
Thoughts? Scrapping Tips to share? I'd Love to hear them!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Ode to 2008- a Year in Review
Just a few memories. Fond Memories. And with two kids, I am sure 2009 will be DOUBLE the fun. Happy New year to Everyone!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
My Review of Cord Wind-Ups
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
Dangling window blind cords can present a real hazard to your toddler. Tying them up can be a daily nuisance when you want to adjust your blind. Our cord wind-ups are the ideal solution. The plastic box clips around the coiled blind cord and keeps the extra cord out of the way, yet doesn't int...
I hated them. We took them all down.
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Cons: Difficult To Maintain, Difficult To Install
Best Uses: Toddlers, Accident Prevention
Describe Yourself: Pregnant with number 2, Mom to a Toddler
We had these on ten windows in our home, on mini blinds and roman shades. I hated them. I did not feel that they functioned properly, and they DID get in the way of the shade operation for us. We ended up removing them all and putting up blind cord wraps that we purchased at a local window treatment store. They were inexpensive and we can wrap the cords up and unwrap quickly as needed.
I don't recommend purchasing these.
(legalese)
My Review of Lamaze Spin & Explore Garden Gym
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
How ingenious! This deluxe tummy time mat is topped by a rotating platform that lets baby explore from every angle. As baby turns herself on the padded support, she builds upper body and leg strength. The plush mat is loaded with textures, activities, crinkles, rattles, and more; makes a great play...
She hated it. But it is cute!
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Entertaining, Portable, Great Features, Durable
Cons: Easily Outgrown
Best Uses: Infants
Describe Yourself: Pregnant with number 2, Mom to a Toddler
We bought this before our daughter was born. I could say that she hated tummy time. But even when she started to LIKE Tummy time, she HATED this. She enjoyed the mat itself, but being put on the ladybug sent her into a fit of rage. She loved the crinkly leaves, and the mirror (which removes with velcro) She did better lying on her side, or eventually on her stomach right on the mat I thought the "lazy susan" design of the ladybug would be fun, but she was less than thrilled, and before long she was so long that when on the ladybug (for the short amount of time she would tolerate) she would hang over the edges of the mat. If I had to do it over, I would buy another mat. The construction is great, it's really cute, but I feel like it's not what a baby wants in tummy time. Might be more fun for us adults? Hee hee. I think she would have done better with a mat that allowed her to lift her head, perhaps with a support pillow. This just mad her cry because her head hung down unless she held it up. Not fun.
(legalese)
My Review of Germ Guardian Nursery Sanitizer
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
The easy, foolproof way to sanitize toys, pacifiers, and bottles! In just 30 minutes, our automatic sanitizer kills the germs that cause RSV, colds, flu, ear ache, diarrhea, and more. In fact, it's proven to kill 99.9% of germs! Works with dry heat, not harsh chemicals, so it won't shrink...
WAYYYYYY too small.
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Effective
Cons: Won't Fit Pump Horns, Doesn't fit larger bottle, Not for Electronic Toys, Can't sanitize Teethers, TOO SMALL, Items must be dried first
Best Uses: Infants, Newborns, Preemies, Daily Use
Describe Yourself: Pregnant with number 2, Santizing freak, Mom to a Toddler
I bought this item before returning to work because I thought it would simplify my sterilizing routine for my breast pump parts. I also liked that It was dry sanitizing, so I was excited to sanitize items like teethers, small stuffed animals, etc. I wish that I had seen more reviews online before purchasing. I assumed by the photos that this was a much bigger item, and that I would be able to fit lots inside.
I was sadly mistaken. When the germ guardian arrived I was shocked at how small it was. Unlike other online reviewers have stated, I was able to fit all of my double pump pieces inside, both horns, both diaphragms, and all the sterile caps, etc. However, that was about all I could fit. If the unit is completely empty, I can fit four, 4 ounce avent bottles in it, but none with the pump horns. The avent 4 ounce bottles must be in the 4 corners, otherwise the lid hits them and won't close. Anything larger than a 4 ounce bottle will only fit on it's side. Because of the strange plastic divider pieces that are in the container, only ONE 8 oz bottle will fit inside, on it's side. Strange! So when I thought that I would be able to come home and sterilize Four bottles and all my pump parts in one load, I was sadly mistaken. I can fit almost 50% more items in my Micro Steam Sterilizer. Every night after daycare I have to run the Germ Guardian THREE TIMES to get the bottles and pump parts from the day sanitized. That's an hour and a half of sanitizing cycles, not including time to wash dry and swap loads.
If I didn't have to pay for return shipping on this item, it would be going back. The small size of the chamber is just ridiculous. They could have at least made it deeper, if not wider dimensionally... that way it would take up very little counter space and still handle a nice sized load.
Another thing I wasn't expecting, the bottom of the container is "open" with spoke-like dividers radiating out from the center. Instead of being a nice grid design like say, a colander, it allows smaller pump parts and even pacifier handles and small MAM Pacis to fall through. That is crazy to me. I am always afraid this will cause something to melt or drop through.
That said, the sanitizer is easy to use. It does it's job. It's nice to walk away and come back to clean, dry, sterile pieces. My favorite part is that silicone breast pump parts and nipples are never "spotted" or cloudy as they are with boiling or with steam sterilizers. Just nice and crystal clear. At least things look nice!
Another thing I was shocked about? You can't use this to sanitize teethers! The directions state that no toys with liquid inside can be placed in the sanitizer in case they get too hot and burst. I was disappointed at this. You also can't put in any toys with light or music/sound features. So no light up keys or musical rattles. I thought that as a dry sanitizer, it would be able to do these things for me. That even ruled out the stuffed animal that I wanted to sanitize, because his hands are plastic and filled with a teething gel.
Another downside is that wet items cant be placed inside. So while I thought I would save drying time, I still have to wash and hand dry all the parts before they can go inside. I thought they would probably dry while in the sanitizer, since it uses heat much like a dishwasher. However, the directions tell you that it is NOT A DRYER and that Wet Items are not to be placed inside. If wet items are inside, they won't get hot enough to be sanitized.
I was extremely frustrated with the lack of information about the product that was available before I purchased.
This could use some serious improvements. The idea is great but the design is not.
(legalese)
My Review of Baby Spray Brush & Comb Set
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
Uh-oh, did baby wake up with "crib head" again? To the rescue: our gentle bristle brush with built-in sprayer! Just mist hair with water, brush — and calm those crazy cowlicks. With soft bristles for delicate scalps and a soft-grip handle tots can hold themselves. Includes detangling...
Has worked well for 14 months!
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Comfortable, Compactable, Easily Stowed, Travels Well
Best Uses: Bedhead, Hygiene, Sling-hair, Hathead
Describe Yourself: Pregnant with number 2, Mom of a toddler
Okay, I admit. This is one of those things that you really don't NEED but I find myself using and being pleased to have. It's the super quick solution to bed head and what my husband and I call "Mad Scientist Hair." Now granted, if your baby is... ummm... not blessed with hair, this might seem like a complete waste. But in our case, our daughter came out with more hair than some babies have at 1 year old. We love her hair but after a nap, or a while in the sling with mom, or after wearing a stocking cap or cute hat, she gets CRAZY mad scientist hair. And she hates it when I stick her head in the sink to flatten it down. In previous times, I was wetting her baby hairbrush and then brushing her hair down. Not the most convenient when out and about, if you have a vain baby that is. Ha.
Made by Summer Infant Products...This brush has a BUILT IN sprayer! You fill the handle with water or if you have serious tangles, no more tears spray... and then, spritz and brush. I read tons of reviews online, and many moms thought that it didn't spray enough out with each pump. I disagree wholeheartedly... I think it sprays the perfect amount, and I can smooth out her hair in seconds, anytime, anywhere. She doesn't mind it one bit. Quick, Painless, and Convenient enough to toss in the diaper bag. So if your baby brought you lots of pregnancy heartburn... and you turned out to have a head full of hair to deal with, this is a great buy.
Once her hair got thicker as a toddler, this brush just didn't seem to cut it anymore. The bristles are of the stiffer variety and didn't seem to penetrate to the hair beneath the surface layer. We have owned this for about fourteen months now and it still functions and sprays well. We will be using it for our next child. I still find myself using the accompanying comb on our toddler now and then.
(legalese)
UPDATE: We have used this brush for 2.5 years and on two children and it still works just fine!
My Review of Door Gripper
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
Keep kids from slamming doors — and pinching little fingers! Our door gripper holds doors open securely, yet is softer and safer than traditional door stops. Works on all flooring surfaces.
This is THE BEST. Should've bought more!
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Playful Design, Useful Application, Strong Construction, Easy Use, GREAT for swinging doors
Best Uses: Accident Prevention, Swinging Kitchen Door, Toddlers, Crawlers
Describe Yourself: Mom to a Toddler, Pregnant with number 2
We purchased this to use as a door stop/holder for our antique swinging door. It had an old doorstopper that flipped up and down, but it was a choking hazard with the rubber tip. Not to mention that she could flip it up and the door would come crashing in on her. We bought this and temporarily removed the antique stopper. This holds the door perfectly on the hardwood floors and it will hold the door open either direction. I wish I would have bought another because I could easily prop open other doors in the house that she tries to close on us, it would prevent finger pinching and door slamming. Highly recommend. Excellent price! I especially like that I can put it in place or remove it with my foot, so I don't have to bend over (great when pregnant!)
(legalese)
UPDATE: This door stopper finally broke after 2.5 years of daily use. We have replaced it with another of the exact doorstop and are VERY Happy with it!
My Review of Outlet Cover & Cord Shortener
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
Great idea! This clever outlet cover lets you childproof wall outlets that are in use, while hiding up to 4 ft. of loose, tempting electrical cords (2 cords maximum). Simply remove the existing faceplate, screw in the safety plate, wind the cord, and snap on the tamper-resistant lid. 2 per pack.
We have Five of these Installed. GREAT!
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Useful Application, Strong Construction
Best Uses: Toddlers, Bedrooms, Living Room, Infants, Accident Prevention, Crawlers
Describe Yourself: Pregnant with number 2, Mom of a toddler
We purchased just enough of these to install them in the nursery when our daughter started to get cord curious as a crawler. These prevent her from unplugging, which is a BIG issue now as a toddler. How annoying is it to put her down for a nap only to realize later that she unplugged the monitor? Or to change a diaper to realize she unplugged the wipes warmer? These are a lifesaver. We now use one in her "big girl room" to keep her from unplugging the fish filter so that she doesn't kill her goldfish and leave them gasping for air circulation.
They are SUPER simple to install. I have only two downfalls. AC Adapters don't fit well into them, which is the issue we had with our baby monitors. My husband used side cutters to trim the plastic to allow clearance for the adapter under the cover of the outlet protector. It works fine now.
My other downside is that these are not really to be designed to use on outlets that will be used frequently. This is more of a device that would be useful for things that are to remain plugged in. They are a BIT difficult to remove. I have to sit down on the floor and use both hands to remove the cover. The more cord you have wrapped, the harder it is to remove the cover. I do not suggest these for use in areas where you will be plugging and unplugging items, especially like vacuums, etc.
They don't really wrap up much cord at all, otherwise the cord will either be pinched and cause a fire hazard, or the cover won't fit on. So although they are advertised as a cord shortener, don't count on them shortening much cord!
these were worth every penny.
(legalese)
My Review of Universal Outlet Cover
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
Our customers say these are the BEST outlet covers! Less hassle than plug-in caps (no broken fingernails) and better looking, too. Pull out a plug, and the safety plate slides automatically in place, covering the socket. New universal design fits both standard (one screw) and Decora (two screw) out...
We have installed over 100 of these!
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Useful Application, Easy Use, Strong Construction
Best Uses: Infants, Toddlers, Crawlers, Living Room, Bedrooms, Accident Prevention
Describe Yourself: Mom to a Toddler, Pregnant with number 2
We have purchased so many of these outlet covers. We have over 30 of them in our house alone, and then also installed them at my husband's office (family owned business) and at my Mother-In-Law and Brother-In-Law's homes.They are nice looking, easy to install, and fit both decorative and standard outlets. My daughter is now 16 months old and while she can UNPLUG things from these outlets, they are instantly covered, and that is safer than using removable outlet plugs of the plastic sort that can also be a choking hazard, not to mention hard for adults to use. The ONLY downside I have found to these is that sometimes if the outlet box is installed too deeply within the wall/drywall, the outlet doesn't make proper contact and things will unplug or not stay secure enough to provide power. I have this issue on about two outlets in our home. I will also say that items that have a "foldable" or collapsing power adapter (like a Nintendo DS) won't stay plugged in because the adaptor prongs fold within the adapter with the pressure of the outlet cover. I can't find a better way to explain this. Other than these two problems, they are wonderful covers, sturdy, functional, and worth every penny. I wish they came in ivory as well!
(legalese)
My Review of Gummi Crib Rail
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead
Our chewy crib rail protects baby's gums — and the crib! Crib rails are a favorite teething surface, but it's not good for baby or his crib. Why not turn that crib rail into a giant, soft teether? Our non-toxic, medical-grade rail cover has a unique chewy texture that soothes sore g...
Has been working for seven months for us
By dazed81 from Illinois on 12/30/2008
Gift: No
Pros: Strong Construction, Useful Application, Easy Use
Best Uses: Toddlers
Describe Yourself: Pregnant with number 2
I purchased this and installed it when my daughter was about 9 months old. I bought two, one for each rail. I installed BEFORE she started chewing, and right about the time she started to pull up. I followed all the directions, cleaning the rails with alcohol wipes and letting them dry. I also installed in the early morning after she woke up, and had her nap elsewhere that afternoon.... She wasn't near them for about 12 hours, which helped them to dry and adhere properly before being near little hands and gums. My daughter is now 16 months old and has 12 teeth and we haven't had a single issue. The rails are still stuck as good as they were the day of installation and they even stand the test of things hanging or tied to the rails (crib toys, soothers, etc) and also adult hands on the drop side several times a day. I highly recommend these but advise you to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS PRECISELY when installing.
(legalese)
More Cricut Love.
According to my watch, today is Tuesday. :) that would make tomorrow New Year's Eve!!! Yay! It really isn't any different than any other day I guess. We have no plans. Except that I want to pull some New year's Confetti and Hats and Horns from the attic and let Ardyn play with them all day and night. That's about it.
Today was pretty uneventful. Ardyn took a bath and had a wonderful time. I started using conditioner on her hair just before Christmas, and just got around to buying her some tear free apple conditioner by Suave, which I really like. It's helping to keep her curls in the back from getting tangled. And it's saving my carrot conditioner for me (yay mom.)
Ardyn played and played and played. We played in the kitchen (her kitchen) and she rode her horse, and discovered her oven "mittens." She fed her baby doll and pushed her in the stroller. She watched TV, ate lunch, and had pizza hut pizza for supper. (She gets a personal pan without cheese.)
We played with her Backyardigans Circus. We finished Marek's name by laminating it in sections and putting it above his crib (or soon to be his crib!)
We (Okay, I) started on baby announcements, I made 48 owls, 48 owl shadows, and 48 little branches for them to perch on. And that is just the beginning. Ardyn and I were hoping to go to my mom's tonight and pick out cardstock, but it got REALLY windy, and I can hear it inside, and now it's snowing, and it just seems like a good night to stay in! My mom threw her back out again on Sunday, and so we were planning on vacuuming the house for her while we were there, so I feel kinda bad, but tomorrow is another day! Another hour or two and Ardyn will be going to bed. I can't go into the sewing room because the water hasn't receded yet, so I have the laminator in the dining room with the Cricut and we have pretty much taken over the table.
Evan took the last Craft Locker down in Ardyn's big girl room, it was the last "office/scrapbook room" remnant that needed to come down. I have diapers to wash, diapers to fold, and laundry to do also, so I assume that after she goes to bed I might try to take a bath and work on some laundry. Nothing to strenuous! I have gathered the Christmas Cards and need to sit down and write in my book who I received from this year, and I have a few new addresses to record and add to next year's list. I have been trying to keep the list at 50 people, but each year it's a challenge. As new people get added, people sometimes have to go. It's a tough thing to make yourself do, but sometimes communication becomes one-sided, and that means it's time to move on to someone else who wants to reciprocate in "card-world." Ha.
I have had LOTS of chocolate cravings lately. LOTS. Today I ate 4 PB Cups and a package of Peanut M&M's and tonight I am pretty sure I will have to have Oreo Cookie Ice Cream.
Ardyn spent an hour tonight "snorkeling" around the living room with a juice box straw in her mouth. She can entertain herself with ANYTHING. I have to keep her out of the nursery at all times now because she loves to unload drawers. Shoes, clothes, diapers, socks.... everything. It frustrates the hell out of me, so I just shut the door, but it seems to get COOL in there, so I have to remember to open if before she goes to bed, and when we go in to change a diaper she says "Brrrr! Cold!" She has been in her timeout chair twice tonight, and that was amongst many warnings and redirections on my part. Now that she figured out how to get back in the corner between the couches, she is always going back there and unraveling my crochet or trying to get in the garbage. I am back to running the Roomba everyday as she has rediscovered the shredding of paper and there also seems to be an abundance of KIX and Cheerios around. She won't leave it alone, so I have to put the gate up and corral her in her bedroom to play while the Roomba vacuums the living room and dining room.
Well, now It's Ardyn's bedtime. Goodnight!
Today was pretty uneventful. Ardyn took a bath and had a wonderful time. I started using conditioner on her hair just before Christmas, and just got around to buying her some tear free apple conditioner by Suave, which I really like. It's helping to keep her curls in the back from getting tangled. And it's saving my carrot conditioner for me (yay mom.)
Ardyn played and played and played. We played in the kitchen (her kitchen) and she rode her horse, and discovered her oven "mittens." She fed her baby doll and pushed her in the stroller. She watched TV, ate lunch, and had pizza hut pizza for supper. (She gets a personal pan without cheese.)
We played with her Backyardigans Circus. We finished Marek's name by laminating it in sections and putting it above his crib (or soon to be his crib!)
We (Okay, I) started on baby announcements, I made 48 owls, 48 owl shadows, and 48 little branches for them to perch on. And that is just the beginning. Ardyn and I were hoping to go to my mom's tonight and pick out cardstock, but it got REALLY windy, and I can hear it inside, and now it's snowing, and it just seems like a good night to stay in! My mom threw her back out again on Sunday, and so we were planning on vacuuming the house for her while we were there, so I feel kinda bad, but tomorrow is another day! Another hour or two and Ardyn will be going to bed. I can't go into the sewing room because the water hasn't receded yet, so I have the laminator in the dining room with the Cricut and we have pretty much taken over the table.
Evan took the last Craft Locker down in Ardyn's big girl room, it was the last "office/scrapbook room" remnant that needed to come down. I have diapers to wash, diapers to fold, and laundry to do also, so I assume that after she goes to bed I might try to take a bath and work on some laundry. Nothing to strenuous! I have gathered the Christmas Cards and need to sit down and write in my book who I received from this year, and I have a few new addresses to record and add to next year's list. I have been trying to keep the list at 50 people, but each year it's a challenge. As new people get added, people sometimes have to go. It's a tough thing to make yourself do, but sometimes communication becomes one-sided, and that means it's time to move on to someone else who wants to reciprocate in "card-world." Ha.
I have had LOTS of chocolate cravings lately. LOTS. Today I ate 4 PB Cups and a package of Peanut M&M's and tonight I am pretty sure I will have to have Oreo Cookie Ice Cream.
Ardyn spent an hour tonight "snorkeling" around the living room with a juice box straw in her mouth. She can entertain herself with ANYTHING. I have to keep her out of the nursery at all times now because she loves to unload drawers. Shoes, clothes, diapers, socks.... everything. It frustrates the hell out of me, so I just shut the door, but it seems to get COOL in there, so I have to remember to open if before she goes to bed, and when we go in to change a diaper she says "Brrrr! Cold!" She has been in her timeout chair twice tonight, and that was amongst many warnings and redirections on my part. Now that she figured out how to get back in the corner between the couches, she is always going back there and unraveling my crochet or trying to get in the garbage. I am back to running the Roomba everyday as she has rediscovered the shredding of paper and there also seems to be an abundance of KIX and Cheerios around. She won't leave it alone, so I have to put the gate up and corral her in her bedroom to play while the Roomba vacuums the living room and dining room.
Well, now It's Ardyn's bedtime. Goodnight!
Outsmarting the Cricut....
This is just a quick post to let you know that I am viciously cricut-ing away. And that I have discovered that even though the cricut is a WONDERFUL machine, it still needs some outsmarting here and there.
I wanted to try the "Paper Saver" and the "Quantity" Features today. I am working on a project that requires 48 owls, with 48 shadows, to then be nicely perched on 48 branches. No big deal, right?
Cutting the owls wasn't terrible. I had enough Cricut experience to know to turn down the pressure, speed, and the actual knife when cutting with regular paper instead of cardstock. Getting the balance just right so that the owl is cut through without tearing the paper can be difficult, but I had no issues. It took me a while to punch out the intricately cut details of 48 owls and mount them on their coordinating blue shadows.
I was frustrated because when I wanted the owls to cut as many on a page as possible, I figured that I could fit about 24 owls to a page. I figured correctly, but whenever I would get to 16, the cricut would tell me my quantity was too large. I would have to cut 16, and the starting right where the cricut left off, I would add the remaining eight owls and it would cut them, easy as pie. But it couldn't handle more than 16 at once. I thought that odd.
So I thought I would try the Quantity feature. Next I would be cutting sticks, which I felt could be rearranged and crammed together nicely on a page and I should be able to get AT LEAST 24 branches per page. So I tried both the Quantity and the Paper Saver features Together (feeling bold) and on my ACTUAL paper that I would be using for the project (feeling reckless and stupid.) Well, to my shock, paper saver told me that I could only fir FOUR branches on a 12x12 piece of cardstock, even though my eyes were smarter than that.
Stupid machine. So I cut another 8 from a different piece of brown cardstock, and then lined up the second cardstock over the first to see if more would fit and how and where, and cut a strip (about an inch) off the side of one of the cut sheets. Then I mounted it to the mat and ran it through again on papersaver, with the cricut only cutting the "8" that would fit. Then I rotated the paper and was able to get another two branches, for a grand total of 18 branches
(and I am sure I could get at least two more if I wanted to be completely anal) out of one piece of cardstock, when the cricut's "paper saver" feature tells me that only 8 will fit on a piece of 12x12.
So now I have 36 of my 48 branches cut from two pieces of cardstock. I am frustrated because I know that if the cricut's brain could ROTATE the branches, there would be even MORE that would fit on the cardstock. It's like when you put pieces of pizza on your plate, one goes this way, one goes that way, one goes this way, and before you know it you have more pizza on your plate. (yum) I know that in the software you have the capabilities to rotate and plan out your cutting. I have the software but haven't installed and played with it yet.... so I was just a little disappointed in the paper saver feature. It really doesn't seem to save much paper!
I wanted to try the "Paper Saver" and the "Quantity" Features today. I am working on a project that requires 48 owls, with 48 shadows, to then be nicely perched on 48 branches. No big deal, right?
Cutting the owls wasn't terrible. I had enough Cricut experience to know to turn down the pressure, speed, and the actual knife when cutting with regular paper instead of cardstock. Getting the balance just right so that the owl is cut through without tearing the paper can be difficult, but I had no issues. It took me a while to punch out the intricately cut details of 48 owls and mount them on their coordinating blue shadows.
I was frustrated because when I wanted the owls to cut as many on a page as possible, I figured that I could fit about 24 owls to a page. I figured correctly, but whenever I would get to 16, the cricut would tell me my quantity was too large. I would have to cut 16, and the starting right where the cricut left off, I would add the remaining eight owls and it would cut them, easy as pie. But it couldn't handle more than 16 at once. I thought that odd.
So I thought I would try the Quantity feature. Next I would be cutting sticks, which I felt could be rearranged and crammed together nicely on a page and I should be able to get AT LEAST 24 branches per page. So I tried both the Quantity and the Paper Saver features Together (feeling bold) and on my ACTUAL paper that I would be using for the project (feeling reckless and stupid.) Well, to my shock, paper saver told me that I could only fir FOUR branches on a 12x12 piece of cardstock, even though my eyes were smarter than that.
Stupid machine. So I cut another 8 from a different piece of brown cardstock, and then lined up the second cardstock over the first to see if more would fit and how and where, and cut a strip (about an inch) off the side of one of the cut sheets. Then I mounted it to the mat and ran it through again on papersaver, with the cricut only cutting the "8" that would fit. Then I rotated the paper and was able to get another two branches, for a grand total of 18 branches
(and I am sure I could get at least two more if I wanted to be completely anal) out of one piece of cardstock, when the cricut's "paper saver" feature tells me that only 8 will fit on a piece of 12x12.So now I have 36 of my 48 branches cut from two pieces of cardstock. I am frustrated because I know that if the cricut's brain could ROTATE the branches, there would be even MORE that would fit on the cardstock. It's like when you put pieces of pizza on your plate, one goes this way, one goes that way, one goes this way, and before you know it you have more pizza on your plate. (yum) I know that in the software you have the capabilities to rotate and plan out your cutting. I have the software but haven't installed and played with it yet.... so I was just a little disappointed in the paper saver feature. It really doesn't seem to save much paper!
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