Homemade baby wipes!

So awesome. The homemade baby wipes were a success. Here is what you need:

1 bread knife
1 roll bounty paper towels select-a-size.
1tbsp baby soap
1/2 tsp of olive oil
1 cup hot water
1 container big enough to hold 1/2 of paper towel roll

I think it yellowed from the baby wash I used!

Directions:
1. Cut paper towel roll in half. Width wise.
2. Place 1/2 roll in container.
3. Mix water, olive oil, and baby wash together.
4. Pour water over paper towel roll.
5. Close lid and set timer for 10 min.
6. Flip container over on other side and set timer for 10 minutes.
7. After timer goes off open lid and remove cardboard center.
8. Pull first wipe from center of roll.

Always replace the lid after each use. Wipes will dry out if you don't. You can use all organic ingredients if you want too. It's better on your baby's rump. :)

Post Grammy Rant

I'm all for freedom of expression. I love art, and singing. I love artistry. I however take offense when people think its artistic to spit in the face of an individual's religion.

Regardless if you are a Christian or not... you should respect other people's religion.

The night was going well. It was a little somber following the news of Whitney Houston's death, but it was still going well.

When they announced Nikki Minaj was coming to the stage I was excited to see what she was going to do. I didn't see the red carpet entrance so I was unaware of her guest dressed as the pope.

She comes to the stage and does something very similar to Sinead O'Connor. If you aren't aware of what that singer did, you can google it. She ripped a picture of the pope in half during a performance on SNL.

The part I find the most offensive, was the stripper looking girl rubbing up against an either newly made priest or alter boy. I'm not Catholic per say. I haven't been to mass in a very long time and identify myself as more Protestant now.

I didn't understand the point. It made no artistic sense. The moment she did it I was like, "Wow. Nothing can shock me enough to ignore her terrible singing." She sounded like a goat was dying in her throat and was trying to escape.

Moral of the story, respect people. This performance was an embarrassment to artists everywhere. Even Lady Gaga would have never crossed that line. Geesh.

Breaking Dawn

My family used to have what we called, "Fun Fridays." Every Friday the kids get to choose what they eat, what we watch, and they don't have a bedtime. The only rule is, regardless of how late you stay up, you still have to get up the next morning. As a family, we made the decision to move our day of fun to Saturday. We like to call it, "Super Saturdays."

This Saturday, last night, we ordered our free Papa Johns pizza, and 2 liter Pepsi Max. If you didn't hear about Papa John's newest advertising genius I would google,"Papa Johns coin toss." We headed to Redbox and rented a few DVDs. The kids chose Scorpion King 3 (nothing like 1 or 2), and I rented Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. With the kids in bed, they didn't make it past 10 pm, I hunkered down under my blankets (it's freaking cold in Texas), plugged in the movie, and thought, "Hey, I read the series. I Watched the movies. I am way too invested to not finish this train wreck." The beginning was standard romance novel; cliche blood/body lust stuff. It got interesting after they went home after discovering Bella was the big "P." That is when I screamed for my kid to come and watch. He's a teenager I should say before you all go crazy about it being inappropriate. I mean how could I not? CGI wolves were communicating telepathically.

So, you're probably wondering, "Why is this interesting?" Well I'm about to tell you. We get to the birthing scene. Not much is shown. It's from the hazy perspective of Bella. Just squint, that's about all you see. Bella is emaciated; which is actually a really awesome sight, very well done effects. They are at the point where they need to remove the baby. Rosalie makes a cut. The scalpel doesn't do the job... Here is where it gets interesting.

My kid never read the series. Surprise, surprise. He never really wanted to. He didn't know what to expect. So when Edward has to use his teeth during the c-section, he took it in a way different direction. Edward goes down to bite. It went a little like this:

Ilinnuc: He's biting her vagina!? (uncontrollable laughter)
Me: OMG! No. He's not biting her vag.
Ilinnuc: He is. He's biting her vagina! hahahaha!
Me: No he isn't. (laughing so hard I might pee)
Ilinnuc: What do you have me watching!? Num num num! Hahahaha

I had to pause, rewind, and replay it after explaining it to him and once the uncontrollable fit of giggles stopped.

It was hilarious. And now I've realized this is the second post where my story includes vaginas. Well that's my life. Lol

What is Wrong with Teachers Today!?

A few days ago I received a FRANTIC phone call from Girly's mom. She informed me that Girly had been SLAPPED in the face by another girl. It was so hard that Girly had to go to the nurse's office and have an ice pack put on her face. Typically, if children have to go to the nurse's office... the nurse sends home a note. However for the last couple of days, they "forgot." We quizzed Girly, asked her what happened... only to find out she was talking while sitting on the carpet and the little girl who slapped her turned around and told her to shut up, then slapped her in the face.

We asked the common questions, "Where was the teacher?" "Did you tell her what happened?" "Did she get into trouble?" "Did you say something to upset her?" Her answers were: "She was on the phone." "Yes, I did." "No, she told her to behave or she would have a parent-teacher meeting." That was it? My niece was slapped in the face and that is all that happened? Phone calls were made, a meeting with the principal was demanded, and an angry email was sent to the teacher.

What came out of all this? The principal refused to return my sister's calls. The teacher phoned her, only to notify her that Girly has a problem shoving people. Which my sister PROMPTLY dismissed (never would happen. Girly would NEVER hit. I would say if she would... I'm that kind of aunt... the non-delusional kind)--and notified her that that wasn't the problem they were addressing. They were discussing why the teacher was taking a phone call in the morning while leaving her class to themselves long enough for her daughter, my niece, to get slapped in the face. The biggest concern was why her mother wasn't called, or a note wasn't sent home. ANOTHER concern was this has happened before with another child--a boy--who was placed in ISS for 3 days. Something I think would have been a very appropriate form of punishment. This child is out of hand.

A major teaching opportunity was missed by this educator. The educator informed my sister, Girly's mom, that the little girl was spanked by her father, forced to buy a necklace for girly, and forced to make an apology in front of the class. I agree with 1 out of the 3 punishments. Can you guess which one?

First, you never teach a child not to hit... by hitting them. I am NOT against spankings. I think they should be used in very specific circumstances. Second, teaching my niece that as long as someone buys you something... hitting is okay... is just the WRONG message. Also, teaching the little girl she can hit as long as gifts come later is also the wrong message. Third... The apology was a GREAT idea. It was unfortunate it came almost 3 days after the incident and followed act 1 and 2. She should have been sitting in ISS for the last 3 days. The apology should have come after and as a condition of her returning to the classroom.

Here is what I have to say in closing. It is time educators put on their thinking caps and use their brains. Bullying and violence is a horrible problem in the school system. The younger we start kids out knowing actions have real consequences... the better. Shame on Ms. B. She missed the mark on this one.

Coupon MAMA!

Yesterday my family and I headed out to the grocery store. We were armed with 5 baggies of coupons all separated into categories. The week prior we scoured the sales ads, made a coupon spreadsheet, and designed a plan of attack. We wanted to get food enough for the week without spending more than 100 bucks. For a family of 7, it's a very big task. I am not an extreme couponer... truth be told, those people featured on TLC's extreme couponing aren't extreme couponers. If you pay for a coupon clipping service... each coupon costs anywhere from 4-12 cents a coupon. I consider that cheating and should be entered into the over all total. Anyway, rant aside, I am excited to announce I received my very first MONEY MAKER deal!

As you can see by the beautiful picture I bought Sweet-n-low. Something that is hugely popular in my house. The store had a deal buy one with a store coupon, and pay only 70 cents. When combined with the manufacturers coupon of 50 cents which doubled... I got paid roughly 30 cents to take the product home! I was so excited. I am relatively new to couponing... but this was a momentous occasion. 

We were also able to pick up 30 pounds of  boneless, skinless chicken breast, 2 boxes of Wheat Thins, 2 boxes of Cheez-Its, 2 boxes of Lipton soup mix, 4 bags of Knorr cheddar and brocolli rice meals, 2 bags of Knorr hollandaise sauce mix, a carton of eggs, pasta, Jimmy Dean Sausage, El Monterrey Taquitos, and 2-1 liter bottles of Ozarka water for less than 80 dollars. YUP! I think that is FABULOUS! 

Super Bowl madness

We ventured out today. I figured it would be a good day for vlogging. With my camera mounted, kid strapped in next to me, we headed to Walmart. Mistake number one, going anywhere on Super Bowl Sunday; mistake number two, going to Walmart on Super Bowl Sunday. It was madness. It was as if everyone decided to wait until last minute to buy what they needed for tonight. We only needed buns, and to look for beyblades. Lesson learned... But hey... We got cute pics out of it!!! I just <3 my kiddo. :)

One Week

What would you do if you had one hour, one week, one month? Would you run? Would you stay? Would you scream at God and beg for answers as to why? Or, would you live? I like to think I would live. I would stay. I would love with everything left in me.

Sometimes there are questions put out in the universe that makes everything slow down, like one of those hi-speed action packed movies that all of the sudden cut the timing to a quarter of what it was to show the audience the water droplets spraying out from tires skidding on the surface, or the disturbance of air as a knife slices through space.

Sometimes I wish that life would slow down--so that I could focus on the small moments. So I could see the water droplets and disturbed air.  Sometimes I get lost in the shuffle of existence. The schedules, the appointments, the to-do lists... Sometimes I look at back at my life and think of everything I haven't done yet. What a grand adventure it would be to achieve, or try to, everything you want to do. No, I'm not talking about a bucket list per-say. I am talking about living life in the moment... right now. Slowing down time to observe the molecules of life.

I think I am going to start today... Want to try it with me? Try to notice the world around you. Before you speak... listen. Before you act... watch. I want you to try to FEEL the moments... I'm not saying sit back and let life pass slowly by. I am talking about opening yourself up... and becoming a part of the world around you.

Maybe I'm too philosophical today. Who knows? The brownies did taste a little funny.

LOL... I am kidding... I don't eat brownies. ;)