Helping Out - The Bottlecap Factory

I just came across this adorable Blog called "The BottleCap Factory." It's a small business run by a mother/daughter team. They make these beautiful custom bottle cap necklaces that are all the rage. All proceeds from their sales go to their house fund (see their blog for more info). I'm thinking of getting a few of these for Isabella for Back to School.

Please check it out! http://www.thebottlecapfactory.blogspot.com/

Where did I leave off?

Oh yeah, party planning. I spent so much time planning AJ's party but of course nothing ever goes as planned. Rick and I saved what we could so we didn't have to worry about budgeting for the party. We spent WAAAYYY to much at the Supermarket and then WAAAAYY to much at BJ's and then WWWWAAAAYYYY to much at the party supply and toy stores. Catching on to the theme yet??? LOL, but I digress.

It had me thinking back to Isabella's first birthday. Rick and I didn't have much money so all we did was a few balloons, a birthday banner and a yummy cake. And of course presents. But there wasn't anything else. Just family and Bella. Made me realize how little we had and how far we've come. However we did give her all the love she would/could ever want and ask for. Sometimes I think that is way more important than material things. I don't like spoiling the kids too much, but every now and then, they deserve it.

Okay, and back to the party. I decided to take off the 15th and 16th of July as vacation days so that I could spend time with the kids and go into the party relaxed. Wrong...so wrong on both counts. Those days consisted of us running all over the place pick things up and drop things off and buy this and buy that. In the end, I was lucky that on Friday, my friend took Bella to the spray park so I could finish the last of the errands. Unfortunately the truck had other plans for us. What was it that happened next??? Well, I'll save that for my next installment!

July & the Big "1"

Well, it's July and if you can already believe it, it's July 13th! We are almost halfway through this month and with that brings something that I have been partially dreading and yet so excited about. My peanut's 1st birthday!! It's hard to believe that only a year ago I was in the home stretch, counting the days down to his due date when my OB decided that he was getting to big and it was time to discuss induction. Ha ha! That little boy had a mind of his own because I SWEAR, he heard induction and he was like, "I'm outta here..."

And with that, just like with his sister, I went into labor on my own and my precious little bundle was born on July 16th. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it's only been a year and while I'm sad that he's already past the infant stage, I can't help but smile when I think of all the things to come. Before I know it, he'll be like his big sister and running all over the place and talking up a storm and fighting with me to get dressed and take a bath, etc.

My husband and I made a silly realization the other day. We are now officially a family of four. I mean, we've been a family of four since he was born, but for some reason it's a little different when they are in an infant seat or being carried all the time. Now that peanut is wanting to get up and start walking a bit, it seems more real. I can't believe he's almost one! So now as I count down to his first birthday on Friday and his party on Saturday, I can't help but smile and think of how much life has changed and how much he will grow as he reaches this milestone and goes onto the next one. For now, I'll just enjoy the fact that he's still little and that both he and Bella allow me to kiss and cuddle them. Who knows when they will grow out of it and find it embarrassing. I shudder to think!

Next up: Party Planning at its finest!

My Etsy Shop is FINALLY up and running!

I've done it! I have finally gotten to post items onto my Etsy Shop. I've created another blog that follows my crafting and Etsy Shop so that I don't take away from this one. I'll continue to post about my life and my kids on this one. If you want to follow my Crafting and Etsy Shop adventures, follow me at www.bellabooandajtoo.blogspot.com. I'm going to update this blog shortly with our latest adventures.

...Stay Tuned!

Me time...

It's painfully obvious that I have way to much going on in my life right now. Between work, the hubs, the kids and activities, I can never seem to find time anymore to indulge in my own happiness. I haven't scrapbooked in ages. Let's put it this way, I have completed about 4 pages of AJ's baby book and he's almost 11 months old!!! I'm trying to get my crochet business off the ground. I am trying to build my stock up, but let's face it...there is only so much I can churn out a day without totally ignoring my family and responsibilities. I've decided to take a step back and begin fresh this weekend. I have vowed to do all my "adult responsibilities" (grocery shopping, laundry, vaccuuming/cleaning and bill paying) on Friday evening. That way I can start my Saturday off fresh with an hour of working out/stretching, a quick shower and then an hour or so of crafting before waking the kids up preparing breakfast. I figure since I'm normally an early riser on the weekends (need to maximize the day so I'm up by 6:30), it makes the most sense to use that time for me.

I'm trying to organize my life as well. Now that AJ has his crib, the carpet has been installed and my father is settled in his new space, I think it's time to discuss paint options for the hallway, kitchen and living room (trip to Home Depot anyone??) and maybe a new desk for me. I'm thinking of stripping the one I already have and repainting it to give it a fresh look and then pass it on to my daughter and I will go out and get a new one. The thing is I need one that's functional. One that will allow me the space I need but that won't take up a huge amount of space in our room. I wonder if something like that even exists! Saturday afternoon, after a quick trip to the park, will be the best time to search out my favorite stores in search of something. Saturday night is movie night...not sure what we will be watching and then off to bed. Leading us to Sunday...

I think on Sunday I will let the kids sleep in while I take advantage of the quiet and bring my crafting/crochet supplies outside (weather permitting) with a nice cup of tea. I think this plan sounds good in theory...the question is will it work in practice? I guess we'll see this weekend. With the week half over and the weekend in sight, I am hoping for good things. Only time will tell...

Happy Hump Day!!

My Review of Delta Venetian Sleigh Crib - Natural

Originally submitted at Toys R Us

The elegant, sturdy, and versatile Venetian Sleigh Crib from Delta is a comprehensive centerpiece to your child's nursery decor. Once your child outgrows the crib, it easily converts into a toddler bed. The crib has a five-position mattress support. Its made for infants up to two years-old and ...

Delta Venetian Sleigh Crib - Natural

Exactly what we wanted!!

By Bella & Ajs Mom from Massachusetts on 5/8/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Easily Assembled, Durable, Stable

Best Uses: Infants, Preemies, Newborn

Describe Yourself: Parent of Two or More Children

Since my husband and I were unable to reuse the original crib from when my daughter was a baby (she's almost seven now), we were forced to find a new crib. As we weren't looking to spend a fortune, we decided on this one and fell in love as soon as we saw it. It matches our decor and was a cinch to put together (in less than 40 minutes). The instructions are clear and concise and there aren't a billion little pieces to worry about. Definitely a good buy for us!

(legalese)

Hello and Good-bye April - a quick recap

Well, April came and went and according to my blog, it was just a passing thought. I went back to work on Wednesday after a week in Florida and these last four weeks have passed by in the blink of an eye!

Nothing major happened during the beginning of the month. Babies R' Us has officially abandoned us as after several phone calls and visits, they have refused to contact us regarding the out of stock crib. AJ has been sleeping well in his cradle and we'll hopefully solve the crib dilemna soon. Our Disney trip came and went and though the initial anticipation had us rearing to go, I felt it went by all too quickly and here I am, back to work and waiting for the weekend. Almost as if the trip didn't happen.

We left on Wednesday, April 21st and had a fabulous week at the Pop Century Resort. We had so much fun and AJ's first trip was a success. He rode a few rides, got some sun and was smiling ear to ear. I couldn't have asked for a better vacation. I'm planning on taking Bella and AJ next August/September although I would like to do separate trips for them so I can enjoy it with each of them. Isabella and I are already planning on going back to Disney in August with my sister and nephew.

Yes, and of course my AJ turned 9 months old on the 16th (seriously where did the last 9 months go???). It was a little sad, but he's getting so big and so much more animated. It's fun to watch. It makes me really appreciate the little things in life. While in Disney I got the sad news that a fellow Bumpie (http://www.thebump.com/) had given birth to her son. So as not to invade her privacy, I won't divulge to much info, but the long and the short of it is that she carried this precious baby to term knowing that the likelyhood of survival was slim. She did have a few precious hours with her little one and he passed on, as expected. It really got me thinking, you know. It's amazing how we can get worked up over the littlest things. It made me realize that I needed to appreciate every single day/moment/hour/hug/kiss/laugh/smile that I get withy my children. They are my world and I couldn't imagine the heartbreak of losing one or both. And as Mother's Day approaches, I appreciate that sentiment more and more. My kids really are my life and my world and most of all, they are my heart and soul.

Trying to undo what has already been done? An attempt at stopping the co-sleeping

So we are at a crossroads. As the hubs and I await the call to let us know that the crib we want is in stock, we are noticing that our attempt to eliminate co-sleeping is failing...and failing miserably at that. Unfortunately for us, AJ has taken to sleeping in the big bed, our bed. Ordinarily I would just shrug it off, but as of late it's becoming a more frequent occurrence. Sure, he does great in his cradle (or as he sees it, a box/prison) but at some point he realizes that he's alone and wants to be cuddled. Now I would normally put my foot down...after all I'm the mother and he's the baby, right? But when you haven't had a solid night's sleep since the day/night that the two little lines beemed triumphantly on the test stick, your bleery-eyed self would do anything (and yes, I do mean ANYTHING) to go back to bed...even bringing your 8 month to sleep in between you and the hubs.

I know, I know...no one else is to blame, but if the hubs were to get up even once in a while, it would help me out tremendously. Alas, since I am the mother, the responsibility falls mainly on me. Of course it doesn't help that the baby's cradle is on my side. As he has just passed the 8 month mark, I know that breaking him of this habit is going to be far more difficult in the future. At his age Isabella was already sleeping through the night in a crib. We are unable to find the hardware for the crib we had saved from Isabella, and unfortunately our upcoming trip and the need for new carpet have put a serious dent in the family budget so we had to compromise and find a less expensive crib for AJ. And of course, it was out of stock...for the last two weeks...which leads me to scream: "ARE THESE BABIES R' US EMPLOYEES AWARE THAT I NEEDED THIS CRIB LIKE YESTERDAY???"

And so with another evening approaching so begins another attempt at getting the little bugger to sleep in his cradle. I just have to wonder if our having delayed this transition will cause a bigger problem down the line. For now I guess we shall wait and see.

I did it! Airfare to Florida has been booked!

Three weeks of constant price watching has FINALLY paid off! I have been watching ever kind of website imaginable in the hopes of finding decent airfare. Unfortunately I discovered that the much loved direct flights were almost impossible to get, especially around April vacation. With 34 days to go, I wasn't expecting to get down to Orlando for less than $350 per person/roundtrip. Excuse me for saying this, but that is a CRAZY price to pay for roundtrip tickets to Orlando, I don't care who you are! The last three trips I took had me and my travelmates flying from Boston to Orlando for less than $200 per person/roundtrip and in the case of our last Disney vacation in 2008, Rick and I flew for less than $170.00r/t while Bella and I flew for less than $145.00 r/t. Now to have to pay almost $200 more per person was INSANE!

I have been keeping up with all the sites and religiously checking Jetblue, Airtran, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines, United and Continental to see about scoring a deal. Unfortunately there were no deals to be had. Even a one way trip to Orlando was running more than $169.00 and that wasn't even a direct flight or early in the morning, two things that I would have preferred. My favorite time to log on was right after waking up. Rick had just left for work and the baby was already up, singing to himself and progressively getting louder until I got up (I know his wiley ways!). Anywho, I would grab the laptop and run a few searches and found myself disappointed as there had been no changes since the day before. This has been happening over the last few weeks, and when the price did change it went up, not down. Grrrrrr!

Well this morning I wasn't as excited to jump on but did it anyway. Imagine my surprise when I logged onto Airtran (after having received no good fares on Jetblue) and saw that almost immediately there were a few flights that were departing Boston between 6am and 9am and they were under $100! $84.00 to be exact. I had to take my glasses off, clean them and then put them back on as I was CERTAIN that my eyes were playing tricks on me. Except no, there were no tricks to be played. As clear as day there was an early am flight departing Boston and although not direct, it got us there at a decent time to check in and enjoy the rest of the day...Woo Hoo! Without hesitation I booked four tickets and confirmation was received. We are FINALLY set to go!!

Now hopefully return airfare will be just as easy.

Did that really just happen? R.I.P Corey Haim

I woke yesterday as if it were any other day and just as I was leaving for work, I saw on the news that Corey Haim had died. I dropped my purse and my phone of the floor as I sat for a minute to watch the short news blurb on his death. Drug overdose, apparently. It's actually quite sad. I grew up with the "two Coreys." They were part of my youth. I had a the BIGGEST crush on Corey Haim...so much so that I dreamed that one day we would meet and get married.

Ah, the dreams and fantasies of an 11 year old. My my how time has flown. Anyway...during my drive to work I was a bit thoughtful over the fact that he was now dead. Not because I still harboured my 11 year old thoughts and dreams, but more so because it was quite sad at how he never really found peace. He seemed so messed up and confused and was never able to find the right path for himself. As the lights in Hollywood shine a little less bright today, I am hopeful that others will learn from Mr. Haim's death.

Rest in Peace Corey Haim. May you finally find the peace that eluded you in Life.

March - I know, I know

It's been a while and there is a reason for it. Okay, no there really isn't a reason for it. I've been lazy. Well, that's all about to change. AJ is now almost 7 and a half months old and my little princess isn't so little anymore! She's blossoming into a lovely 6.5 year old. My how time flies!

Disney is now a mere 46 days away. How exciting! Now if I could just find airfare, things would be even better. Since this trip was sort of a last minute deal, we have yet to secure our airfare and as the time draws closer, it's a bit scary that we may end up paying more than $250 per person. I'd rather not do that, but we may not have a choice. I've started making our Dining Reservations and putting together some basic essentials that we'll need for AJ. I've never travelled to Disney with an infant, so this should prove to be quite a learning experience.

I took last Friday off (2/26) and my initial plan was to go out and celebrate the hubs 35th birthday, but we decided to have carpet installed and that's the day they were coming. We had a WONDERFUL experience and I highly recommend Empire to anyone who needs new carpet. They did a fantastic job and it has made a huge improvement to our home. We are very excited. Right now, we are trying to finish putting the kid's room together so we can restore some order. LOL, hopefully we'll finish it this weekend. We shall see!

A new month, new plans and changes

Well we've made it to February! As we close the books on January 2010, the only real milestones are related to the kids. AJ turned 6 months old on the 16th (and such a big boy he is now!!) and I can't help but remember how quickly these last six months have gone by. It really does seem like I was JUST pregnant and just had him and now he's sitting on his own, smiling, giggling and eating baby food, not just formula. It's a bit sobering to realize that kids really are only kids for so long and before you know it, they are off having families of their own. My dad reminds me of it everyday. I still can't believe that my nephew is 7 years old (where did those 7 years go???) and Bella will turn 7 in September. And my step-son...Let's not even GO THERE! He'll be 14 years old in a few weeks. 14!!! It's made me realize that in the grand scheme of things, nothing makes me happier than to see the smile on their faces.

Since our Disney trip last month was a bust (a long, LONG, L-O-N-G story in itself), we are starting to plan (and will actually follow through) with a trip to Disney in late April (about six days so it coincides with part of Bella's school vacation). I'm hoping that third times a charm!! I will breaking out my new Passporter Guide to Walt Disney World and begin planning out our days, meals and accomodations. I definitely think we're staying at Pop Century, but we'll see how our plans shape up.

Right now the mission is finalizing our loan refinance so that we get our payments squared away. very exciting time as I think this will be beneficial to our finances not just now, but in the future!

Happy New Year & my Biggest New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year everyone! Well, we've made it to 2010. A new year that is full of promise and possibility. I was reflecting on where I was a year ago and the one word I could come up with was Pregnant! I was in the early stages of my pregnancy last New Year's. Amazing how fast time really flies. However 2010 is here and I'm hoping to make it the best one yet!

As for resolutions, my first one is by far the biggest and I'm hoping one that I'll be able to stick to. I made a resolution to join a gym, actually attend said gym and lose about 60 lbs. I'm actually really excited about this! I am happy to report that as of last night, Rick and I have become members of our local Sports Club! We now have access to pools, gym equipment, indoor track and countless classes (including dance and spinning) to help us achieve our weight loss goals. As I mentioned, I am EXTREMELY excited about this! I've wanted to join this club for a while and finally got the motivation to do it. Isabella is extremely excited too, as this club offers swimming lessons and she's been asking for swimming lessons for several weeks now. Yay for fitness!

My next resolution is another big one, but moreso because it's expensive! Rick and I have made a resolution to take the kids (and my dad) to Disney World. We were slated to go in two weeks, but due to financial restrictions and the holidays, we were forced to rethink that idea. We're hoping that it will only be a few months away and not another year. Things are looking good. We may be able to go as early as March! I'll keep my fingers crossed. For now, we'll just dream of Disney and all its wonders!

So of course, this post got me thinking...I wonder what other resolutions people make...I mean besides the obvious ones like losing weight and saving money?