More Big Girl Room Updates

I finally had the chance to get her "new" dollhouse bookcase painted to match her new bedding!!  It turned out awesome!!

Sophia has been enjoying lots of "new" toys from cousin Lexi while I am organizing her new room .... she is getting so excited for the big move!

Shopping in her awesome Gymboree hat!  (It was only $3 on clearance!) Who said a 2 year old can't wear a size 5-7 hat?  MINE can ... can yours?  Ha!! :)

Walgreens

This is a compensated post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Walgreens contacted me to try out one of their products: Walgreens Brand Extra Strength Pain Reliever Fast Release Quick Gels.  For those of you that do not know, it is Walgreens version of Tylenol.  I had never tried this product before, and I was very pleased with the product.  I love the "GELCAP" formulation because I feel it works slightly faster than a standard tablet.   It is at least $3-5 cheaper than the brand medication!  With gas at $4.15/gallon, we need all the savings we can get, right?  I would highly encourage you to check out Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products!

Purchase of every Walgreens Brand Health and Wellness Products supports bringing preventive services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.   The Walgreens Way to Well Fund™ will provide free preventive health tests as well as other health and wellness services and education to local communities. Some of those services will include preventive health tests through the National Urban League Health & Wellness Tour and vouchers redeemable in select stores.  For details, visit walgreens.com/waytowell.

Sophia's New Big Girl Room

Slowly but surely we are getting Sophia's new big girl room ready for residence!  

We were blessed with this beautiful and amazing bed!

Isn't it awesome?

Her first time seeing the bed all "done up" 

I think she likes it ... what do you think?

Where's Sophia?  She kind of blends in with the new comforter huh?

There are still a few things that need to be done, but overall, this corner of the room is complete!

What have we been up to?

I honestly think I get the biggest slacker blogger award of the year!  So sorry!!! I am now 21 weeks along and STILL feeling sick at times, mostly in the evenings which cuts down on my blogging!!  I really am alive and Sophia is still growing and changing each and every day!  I wish I could get the energy to get back to my 2-3x/wk blogging!!  Maybe soon? 

Here are a few pictures of our past month ....

Playing at the park with Isaiah! :)  

Asking mommy and daddy to take my picture ... (Sometimes!)

Helping mommy prepare for Easter Brunch

Sitting on the Big Girl Potty all by myself ... We might be onto something ... she has FINALLY pooped in the toilet for 6 days in a row with clean/dry diapers at nap!!  Would would have thought it would take 5 months to get her to start going #2 on the pot?  Ahhhhh ... what a sigh of relief!!

Showing off the Easter eggs she colored with Mimi and Papa

Babysitting baby Hannah 

Listening for bowel sounds?  Ha!!  Most normal people would look and see this picture as a hug .. medical people think of bowel sounds! 

We had a very blessed Easter and celebrated with family!  What an awesome time to reflect on Christ's death, burial, and RESURRECTION!  He is Alive INDEED!!

I hope you had a very wonderful Easter!!

Toddler Apron by the Diaper Bag Wrangler REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!

I really love cooking!!  Over the past year I have been involved with a cooking club.  You might remember our first Iron Chef Blog Post.  One of the exciting things for me as a mother of a little girl is the fact I have some extra help around the kitchen, specifically a cooking buddy!!  If I am making something especially messy, I will put on an apron and Sophia always asks for one too.  I never had one that truly fit her until NOW thanks to my friend over at The Diaper Bag Wrangler!  (You might remember this name from this amazing blog review/giveaway!)

Head on over to her webpage of Kid's Aprons and check out all the awesome fabrics and styles!  Don't see anything you like in her examples?  Good news ... you can actually DESIGN YOUR OWN with ANY of her fabrics in stock!  Head over HERE to do so!

Here is the one that KC shipped for Sophia ... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!

Notice I actually got Sophia to smile ... couldn't figure out why until I loaded them on the computer ...
She got an egg out and was holding it!  Trying to be sneaky since I told her to leave the eggs alone for now! 

Putting the egg back ...

Really mama, I gotta put it back??

Her first cooking video:

Here is some info from her website about the aprons:


"Our personalized little kids/ toddler aprons are reversible and machine washable. Ideal for ages 2 - 6. 
Measures 21" W x 18" L, with 4 pockets on the front,  fabric tie waist and an adjustable d-ring neck. Machine wash cold /dry low. Iron if needed but DO NOT iron felt.Each apron is customized with a felt initial of your choice.  Each letter is 2" tall  and sewn to a coordinating felt patch. There is a "no letter" option if you would prefer to leave the apron blank."

She also makes a wipe clean laminated apron (top left picture/green with pink dots).  This is perfect for protecting those clothes during those famous art work sessions!

Here is some additional info about the laminated aprons:

Our wipe clean laminated apron is made with a designer cotton fabric with a PVC free laminated front. 
Perfect for arts and crafts or "helping" in the kitchen, this apron will keep your toddler clean(er). Ideal for ages 2-6. Measures 22" W x 19" L, with a tie neck and waist. Machine wash and LINE DRY or wipe down with a cloth. DO NOT put in a dryer, iron or dry clean.


Finally, I love the fact all of her items are handmade in the USA with premium 100% cotton fabrics and 
thoughtfully selected trims.  Each piece is unique due to pattern placement!!  This gives you a ONE OF A 
KIND product for your special child!

My Review:  I am extremely impressed with this handmade kids apron!  When I examine the seams and workmanship, it looks perfect ... like I purchased it at a high-end boutique!  The two layers of fabric comfort me in knowing the food spills won't seep through and end up on her clothes beneath!  The pockets are the perfect size to store cooking utensils while she is helping out!   Finally, it is quite comfortable to wear.  Sophia absolutely LOVED having it on and didn't want to take it off to sit down and eat dinner!  She points to hers and says, "Just like my mamas!"  However, hers is way better quality than my cheap old apron!!   Guess we need matching ones huh??  Hey Nate, Mother's Day gift hint?? :)  


FREE SHIPPING EVERY DAY ON YOUR ORDERS!!  


BUY IT: HERE or HERE


WIN IT: KC has graciously offered up one kids apron to  1 very lucky Go Long Go Green follower!!


Links you will find helpful for the giveaway:
Go Green Go Long on Facebook
SGsMama on Twitter
Diaper Bag Wrangler on Facebook
Diaper Bag Wrangler Website
Diaper Bag Wrangler on Etsy
Diaper Bag Wrangler on Twitter
Diaper Bag Wrangler Fabric Choices

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated for this review.


This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on Monday May 9, 2011 at midnight. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. Please, no PO Boxes.

Pier 1 - Spring Outdoor

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Who doesn't walk into Pier 1 and say, "I sure wish my house/patio was decorated like this showroom!"

Thank heavens SPRING HAS SPRUNG and that means it is time to dust off or purchase some new outdoor furniture for entertaining this season!!

A must have for me is a comfortable chair!  I saw this on Pier 1 and fell in love!  Don't you want to go grab your favorite book and curl up during naptime on the porch?  This isn't the only iconic Pier 1 Papasan, make sure to check out all the different selections ..... Ahhhhh .... 

 

Now I will need a comfortable pillow for back support ... this will do .... 

One of my favorite parts of Pier 1's furniture is it's WOW factor.  Most of the pieces are actually indoor/outdoor furniture!  This is necessary if you live in the Midwest (like I do) for sure.  You never know when it is going to pour down rain while you are at the grocery store!  They always say, if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes! Ha!  What a perk that even the pillows, rugs, seating, and wall decor is mostly indoor/outdoor!

As I was searching Pier 1's website, I came across some great bargains in their seasonal decor section ...

 

Wouldn't that look great on your table? 

March 20th marked the official start to spring!  What are some of your must haves from Pier 1?  I would have to say, I need a cute table and chair to do my weekly bible study assignments!  

If you are a Twitter follower ... make sure to check out the upcoming Pier 1 Tweetups

Atlanta: April 5th

NYC: April 20th

I Gotta Feeling ....

.... that tonight's gonna be a good-good night ... 

Who doesn't have this Black Eyed Peas song in their head today?

In addition to the BEP's song, this fight song has been going through my head all week long!  I get so fired up singing it!!

Butler War Song

We'll sing the Butler war song, 

We'll give a fighting cry; 

We'll fight the Butler battle-- 

Bulldogs ever do or die. 

And in the glow of the victory firelight, 

Hist'ry cannot deny 

To add a page or two 

For Butler's fighting crew 

Beneath the Hoosier sky. 

My friends over at Espn FINALLY figured it out ... well, most of them did!  Go Dawgs!

Butler-Connecticut: Who wins and why?

Brennan: First of all, I have no idea: After this NCAA tournament, editors should never be allowed to ask their writers for predictions again. But because that's less likely than a VCU Final Four run, I'll take Butler. I think Brad Stevens will have a coherent plan for stopping, or at least slowing, Kemba Walker and the Huskies, and I think that plan will be simple enough for the Bulldogs to carry it through with supreme confidence. It'll be a close one -- you'd better believe Kemba's not going out without a fight -- but in the end, Butler seals this magical two-year run with a Disney finish.

Forde: Butler wins 65-60. Because the Bulldogs will hit timely 3-pointers. Because they'll never lose their poise or get rattled. Because they'll battle inside to neutralize any disadvantage on the boards. Because they'll guard as though their lives depend on it. And because they're driven, determined and due to finish off a story for the ages.

Katz: Butler. Kentucky defended the Huskies well, but they made a few winning plays. Butler may do an even tougher job on the Huskies, even though the Bulldogs struggle to score at times. Their toughness, their ability to make winning plays and, let's face it, the unbelievable karma that is flowing toward them at this juncture make it hard to pick against this team. This is not a David versus Goliath situation; Butler is hardly an underdog. The Bulldogs have as many NBA-caliber players on their roster as the Huskies. They are also the more experienced team in this moment and won't be fazed. They have earned an incredible second chance to win a title with a collection of players who were one shot off a year ago. I don't think they'll let this moment pass.

Leung: Sorry, the underdogs will have to wait for at least another year. I think Connecticut, behind Kemba Walker's scoring and Alex Oriakhi's ability to control the paint, will win this one. The Huskies should have what it takes to contain Shelvin Mack and neutralize Matt Howard. That doesn't mean the game won't be close, but I think UConn will pull it out in the end.

O'Neil: Butler will win for the same reason it has won each of its past five games: its defense. Connecticut knows of tough thanks to playing in the brutal Big East, but the Huskies looked tired to me -- Kemba Walker admitted he was gassed waiting for the final media timeout against Kentucky -- and handling the relentless tenacity of the Bulldogs will be too much for the Huskies.

Anyone know what Charles Barkley is saying today?  Probably that UCONN will win b/c he ALWAYS roots against Butler then has to eat his words!  Oh well ... get ready to eat them again Charles!!

GO DAWGS!!  Tip 9:23pm EST!  Be there!!

Sophia's First Trip to the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Last Tuesday we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Children's Museum with friends from church, Erin and her little sweet Julia!  Sophia has been excited about the Dora exhibit since we first saw the ad in a magazine!  We had the best time and Sophia really enjoyed herself!  Although I think she was overstimulated with everything around her.  Once she reached something to play with, she was looking onward to the next place she would run to!

Probably the best picture I got of her all morning!

In the Spaceship

Going down her favorite slide!

Putting the flower shapes in the correct slot!

Planting flowers and then watering them! :)

She was too excited to stand still next to Dora so I had to take a pic of Dora by herself!

Playing water at Playscape!

Sandbox at Playscape!

Riding the Carousel!

Wow, doesn't our camera take awesome night vision pics? Dino exhibit!

Transformer in the front of the Children's Museum!

Thanks again Erin and Julia for a morning full of "firsts" and fun!!

Holy Mack! Butler's Back

GOTTA LOVE ME SOME GATOR-MEAT!! YUMMMMM!!!

Butler earns return trip to Final Four after beating Florida in OT

(associated press)

NEW ORLEANS -- Of course Butler erased a late deficit. Of course the Bulldogs hit a clutch 3-pointer late in overtime. Of course they're going back to the Final Four.

This is the Butler Way.

Shelvin Mack scored 27 points, including five in overtime, and Butler returned to the Final Four with a 74-71 victory over Florida on Saturday.

Matt Howard scored 14 and Khyle Marshall added 10 for the Bulldogs (27-9), who showed again they simply won't give in, climbing out of an 11-point hole in the second half.

Mack's 3-pointer with 1:21 left in overtime gave Butler the lead for good at 72-70.

Kenny Boynton missed a long 3 that could have given Florida (29-8) the lead with a little under 20 seconds left. Alex Tyus appeared to have the offensive rebound, but Howard tied him up and the possession arrow favored Butler.

Florida had to foul Mack with 10.6 seconds to go, and he hit both shots for the final margin.

Vernon Macklin had a career-high 25 points for second-seeded Florida, the third-straight higher seed from a major conference to be vanquished by the Bulldogs.

Boynton finished with 17 points and Tyus had his second-straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Butler had to overcome Florida's size advantage and a number of its own mistakes.

In regulation, the Bulldogs made 10 of 20 free throws and shot 39.6 percent (21 of 53), including 8 of 30 from 3-point range. Yet they somehow found a way to survive to overtime, when they hit all seven foul shots and three of their eight field goals.

Remarkably, Butler also outrebounded the Gators, 41-34.

Now the Bulldogs are one win away from a second straight appearance in the national championship game.

Florida appeared to be taking control when Tyus, the leading scorer and rebounder in Florida's overtime win over BYU, got loose for a pair of soaring dunks, then added two free throws and a driving floater during a 12-1 run that gave the Gators a 51-40 lead with 9:26 left.

Howard's basket inside as he was fouled snapped the run, then seldom-used reserve Chrishawn Hopkins, who'd just set up Howard's score, added a 3 as Butler slowly clawed its way back again, finally tying it at 57 with 3:03 to go on the second of consecutive driving layups by Mack.

Macklin, who'd been limited by foul trouble in the second half -- he committed his fourth with 9:02 left -- returned to hit a free throw and a layup on a strong move inside to make it 60-57. Mack's free throws cut it to one point and Howard had a chance to give Butler the lead after drawing a foul with 30.7 seconds left.

He missed his second free throw, then Florida's Irving Walker missed a long pull-up jumper -- his eighth straight miss to that point -- forcing overtime.

Butler initially took a 67-64 lead in the overtime on Ronald Nored's free throws, but Florida came back with a couple of clutch 3s. Boynton's tied it 67, then Walker finally hit his first field goal from 3 to put the Gators up 70-69.

That's when Mack responded with his big 3 that propelled Butler to its latest upset.

Butler had a couple of good omens early on. Mack hit his first 3 off the backboard, Chandler Parsons uncharacteristically missed a layup and Butler followed that by hustling for a long offensive rebound on the other end to set up Mack's second 3. After another jumper by Mack, Butler had an early 8-4 lead and the solid start they were looking for.

Soon after, though, the 6-foot-10 Macklin went to the one shot in his repertoire that Butler was bound to have trouble defending -- the jump hook.

Macklin made a six of them in the first half and added a strong, spinning baseline drive for a layup as he made seven of his first eight shots. One of his jump hooks over Howard gave Florida a 25-15 lead with about 7 minutes left in the first half.

Butler needed outside shots to start falling to stay in the game, and senior backup Zach Hahn was the answer. His first 3 ignited a 7-0 run and his second, an open look set up by Howard, pulled Butler to 27-25.

Florida maintained a small lead the remainder of the half, but Marshall's putback of a missed 3 in the final seconds got the Bulldogs to 33-32 at halftime.

Spring is ALMOST HERE!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

I am always partial to the Hilton!  We have always had a great experience, plus one of my favorite cousins is getting close to top management in the company!!  

 

Scenic Branson is the perfect spring break destination and what better place to stay than the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Enjoy being in the midst of all the action by booking your stay at either hotel today!

 

Spring is the perfect time to bring the whole family to Silver Dollar City. And both the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel offer tempting packages that include two adult tickets and two children’s tickets (ages 4 to 11) for two full days of fun at Silvery Dollar City. It also includes a $25 food and beverage voucher for Level 2 Steakhouse located on the second floor of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. This two-night, three-day package starts at $455.00 plus tax. It’s just another way Hilton is making family fun even more affordable.

 

Besides the excitement of Silver Dollar City, Branson has ongoing events for everyone’s enjoyment this spring like the exciting Charlie Daniels Band, 3rd Annual Missouri Food and Wine Festival, Bluegrass and BBQ, shows galore and much more. You can start planning a special trip for Mother’s Day! Both hotels are within easy driving distance of Branson’s championship golf courses, lakes, museums, theme parks and 49 live entertainment theaters. With so much to offer, this exciting vacation community is the social scene for spring!

 

Also, if you are looking for fun things to do around Branson when visiting, the Branson Theatre District is only 5 miles away!  The Tanger Outlet Mall is only 3 miles away and who doesn’t love great deals at the outlets?  (I LOVE SHOPPING!)  Table Rock Lake is about 6 miles away!

 

If you choose to visit Branson in the summer, check out some of the main events happening:

 

-National Kid’s Fest                                         -Parrot Head Party

-Father’s Day Salute                                        -Forsyth Fun Day

-HHRitage Nationals Chevy HHR show            -Annual Downtown Clown Around

-Colgate Country Showdown                           -Rods & Relics Rod Run

 

I would love to take a trip to Branson sometime in the near future, although, I think I would like to wait till after this pregnancy so I can hit up the Silver Dollar City Attractions!   I would also make sure to hit up a few shows in the Theatre District and finish up with some good shopping!!  Ahhhhhh …. thoughts of vacation make me smile!