Standing Tall...

Max has become obsessed with doors. He is constantly wanting to open or close, which means I am constantly trying to keep his little fingers from getting crunched. Enjoy my latest batch of Max Photos...

Hey Ma', are you listening to me!

I told you I don't like vegetables!

I AM the king of the jungle!!

Sweeten The Deal...

I found the cooooolllllleeeeessssttttt website! It's called RedPlum.com and it's awesome. If any of you are like me and love to shop and save a buck at the same time this is the site for you. I could sit here and try and describe it but this may be a bit easier...here is an excerpt from the site...

"Redplum.com is a single destination for you to find special offers, great deals, valuable product information and coupons for products and services that are local and relevant to you. We search for the best offers, deals and products to feature in one place, so that you can easily enjoy the savings, splurge on the fun things and spend more time doing the things that matter.

You can quickly search through a wide variety of categories to find valued offers, expert advice, fun tips and recommendations that are relevant to you. As you find great offers, you can easily print them out, save them for later or even share them with family and friends!
We invite you to search our site to find grocery coupons, deals on dining out, offers for home improvements and furnishings, great gift ideas, new fashion tips and accessories, recommendations for new movies, travel and family vacations! New offers are added daily and we hope you visit often and share the magic of RedPlum with your friends and family!"

I was on this morning already and have printed out 7 coupons of stuff that I will ACTUALLY buy. You know sometimes you find coupons for things that you don't really use often or things that you might use but there were all items that I have bought often....I LOVE TO SAVE MONEY!

Easy Recipes....Happy Mommy!

It seems that deciding what to make for dinner is always a debacle. BUT last night we had a great dinner that was sooooo easy to make I didn't even feel like I made dinner at all.

I bought a seasoning packet by McCormick that is specifically made for slow cookers....it was for a pulled pork sandwich. Let me tell you it was so easy!!

You just toss in your boneless pork roast, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup of cider vinegar, and last but not least the seasoning packet. You cook it on low for at least 8 hours and then ka-baam. Nice, juicy, yummy, lip smacking pulled pork samitches! I also made homemade potato salad. It was a great combo!

Even had it again for dinner tonight. Got to love recipes that are great the 1st night and then even better the 2nd night!

A Weighty Issue....

I was in the spare room/office and was cleaning up and found our scale underneath the bed and decided to hop on....and I just about fell off!

I weigh the exact same as I did when I got pregnant with Max. Now before you all go crazy please realize that I was 10 lbs. over my regular weight at that time....BUT I am pretty darn pleased with myself that I have lost some baby weight. With that being said I still don't have the same body and I am pretty sure from all the "mom" conversations I have had with friends and family that my body is never going to be the same BUT again I am still pretty darn happy!

Now I am going to celebrate with a big fat yummy Klondike Bar!!

The Lord's Prayer

Here is an adorable video that Katrina had on her blog and I just couldn't resist!

Sicko!

No this is not referring to Micheal Moore!

This is what Karl and I have been for the last few days. Tuesday night at about 1 am in the morning Karl woke to a very nauseous stomach, from then on he was vomiting and other such fun things till about 2 pm the next day. He proceeded to lie in bed for the next 24 hours. We thought that he had a slight case of food poisoning. Well we were wrong.

Thursday at about 3 am I woke to the lovely feeling that I was going to lose my dinner and I was right. I was sick, every hour on the hour, until about 9:30 am the next morning. Luckily Mom-Mom and Opa were already on their way down to visit for the weekend and take the camper over to the campground. So while I lied in bed all day yesterday Max and Mom-Mom got to hang out and play.

I feel tremendously better today - almost human but now I am praying that Max does not get this little bug. It's scary to think about little babies becoming that dehydrated and I know that it's easy for them to become that way! So say a little prayer that Max stays nice and healthy. Just wanted you all to know why there hasn't been much on the blog lately!!

Broke Through....

Max has hit a HUGE milestone today....how ironic that it falls on his 9 month birthday! He has his first tooth!!!

It saw it this morning while he was eating his orange in his nifty little infant feeder...see the right side - (thanks Kristin for that one, he loves it!)

Anyway he was eating and was laughing and smiling and having a grand ole' time and I a tiny little snippet of something in his mouth...so I propped it open and there it was. It hasn't come through all the way but it's just peeking right out the top. It's on the very bottom on the right AND I think that the left one is getting ready to peak through any time!! I wish that I could have got a picture of it but I was not fast enough, but I did manage to snap a few cute ones when he was finished with his bottle and all happy!

Need A Color Boost...

In an effort to get my "Beauty Career" moving I have decided that
I will highlight one particular product every month as well as some fun little Beauty Bonuses! My very first one is a great one for the upcoming summer. I have this (it was part of my winning basket!) and I already love it.


Mary Kay Subtle Tanning Lotion...



When you use daily, you can build up gorgeous color in about a week and maintain it with limited reapplication. Plus, it fits seamlessly into your morning or nighttime routine. So it's easy to achieve supple, radiant skin that looks like it's been freshly soaked in the sun without ever leaving the house.



The lotion is very lightweight, non greasy and it glides on evenly and absorbs quickly (which means no stains on your clothes!). It's suitable for all skin types and tones. I have been using it just about every 2-3 three days and I am already noticing a change. Let me tell you I have the whitest legs out there right now, as most of you know I was pregnant at the beginning of summer so my little legs have not really seen the sun for quite a while. This is a great way to boost up some color without putting your body through some harmful Sunny Rays!



Anybody that orders $40 of product this weekend I will throw in a Tanning Lotion for free! Now you have one more reason for a sunny disposition! Don't forget to visit me online at my Mary Kay Personal Web Site or feel free to call me! The link is posted on the top right side of the page!

A New Beginning...

I am an entrepreneur. Please be patient as I explain...

I have been thinking for the last few months about going back to work. Nothing full time, nothing that would require me to leave Max with anyone, but I have been thinking about doing "at home" work.... Then life stepped in and presented me with a different idea.

About a month ago I was on a website for a magazine out here called "South Jersey Mom" and I just happened to enter a giveaway for a $100 basket from Mary Kay. As many of you know I am a bit of an addict when it comes to make up. To my surprise I won....I got a call from Lauren and we set up a time for her to come by and drop it off as well as for me to get a facial done. I have used Mary Kay products in the past and have always liked them and a few times have really considered the possibility of selling the product but have never been brave enough to do it.

Lauren and I instantly clicked, we had a ton of fun talking about children (she has two boys), make up, and the craziness of being a mom. When we got done I did order some make up and I knew she was going to ask me about becoming a consultant. It was like a light went off. I know it all sounds cheesy and silly and corny, but I thought what on earth do I have to lose. This is the perfect job for me. I CAN make my own hours, I CAN decide how much or how little I want to work, and best of all I GET to engulf myself in something I LOVE - make up! Yes I am 100% a girly-girl. When I was a teenager one of my deepest dreams was to move to New York and become a famous make up artist....well I almost got there. I married a man from New York but live in New Jersey and now I am dealing with make up but not as a famous artist - but there is always the future right!

Anyway....I am very excited and I can't wait to get started. I went to a monthly meeting with Lauren the other night and was astounded by these woman. These were woman of all ages, races, backgrounds, and the thing that connected them was truly amazing. Again I don't mean to sound corny and all of those other things but I felt so invigorated when I left, this is really crazy, but I felt valued...I felt esteemed...I felt the passion these woman had for their career. If anyone is interested I have already started My Very Own Website!! Feel free to check it out, and of course the offer stands that if anyone would like to order something feel free.... :)

Thank you for listening to my story of A New Beginning!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Here is Max just wearing himself right out!

Children See. Children Do.

This is an amazing video. This was posted on Val's nephews blog and I was mesmerized. This really is telling an incredible message.

Too Cute For Words...

I decided to go back and add some text to go along with these pics. They are just too funny not to give more info!

In this first pic Max had just demolished a teether biscuit. For anyone that has small children, or had small children you know what happens to these things as soon as they touch saliva. This little tiny cookie a.k.a biscuit, turned to mush as soon as Max got it even near his mouth. He had quite the grand time with it and as you can see he was none too thrilled when I finally had to take it away because there was really nothing more to chew on.

This next picture Max was exploring and I just happened to have one of the hats I crocheted for myself lying around so on Max it went. It was way to big for him and from some angles he looked like a little Rastafarian....LOL! On another note, check out spooky cat eyes from Trigger in the background....he is quickly becoming Max's favorite target! Much to his dismay I am sure!!

And finally here is Max sharing toys with Magoo. I know, I know, I am going to be hit with a barrage of "germ" comments but I tell you I am tired of trying to get every Magoo toy out of his mouth 5 million times a day. Those two, being Max & Magoo are a pair. Often they don't want anything to do with certain toys until they see the other one playing with it. It's like they are brother & sister. Max was playing with his real toys when I glanced over at him and here he was crawling around with this one hanging from his cute little mouth! I just about fell over laughing....I just didn't have the heart to take it away from him when he was having so much fun! Believe it or not he was smiling when I took this picture....take a close look at his mouth and you can see the edges are upturned....hilarious!!

NKOTB- Please don't go girl

I can't believe they are making a comeback!

This was my all time favorite song...I do have to admit that 2 years ago I went to see Jordan Knight in concert with a co-worker who is OBSESSED with New Kids....still.

A Great Perspective...

This article was found in the March issue of Oprah. I was laughing hysterically while reading and thought I would share with the rest of the world. The author is Lisa Kogan and her views are well said....

1. If you can't get a babysitter, for the love of God, stay home! I don't want to be sitting next to little Charlotte and Duncan as they fight over a Raisinet at the midnight screening of Atonement. You wanted kids, so suck it up, walk it off, subscribe to Netflix.

2. If your outgoing phone message is longer than, let's say, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Of the Year segment of the Oscars, it's time to rerecord.

3. Calling to let your friend know that you're running late does not excuse your constantly running late.

4. I'd like to say a few words to every crabby traveler who responds with disgust whenever a baby cries on an airplane. Perhaps you don't know how babies work, but there's been a study, and it turns out that giving a 4-month old the stink eye doesn't actually accomplish anything. Either have a little compassion or a little Ambien.

5. Here's something for any gentleman who may be reading this: If you look good in a Speedo, you will look even better in virtually any other kind of swimsuit.

6. I am a cynic. I am a pessimist. I came of age with the Watergate hearings playing on the tiny TV in our avocado green kitchen. But every four years I wrestle my apathy into submission, read up on the issues, and cast my ballot. You must vote. I don't care who you vote for (that's not really true - I think you should be penciling in my name), but you've gotta get in the game.

7. One word: Floss.

8. Any man who begins a conversation with "I don't want to hurt your feelings..." is about to hurt your feelings. It's the kind of phrase that's never followed by "but I just don't think you're eating enough. Please have more lasagna while I get you a brownie." Other opening gambits that pretty mush scream duck-and-cover include: "Don't take this the wrong way...", "You can feel free to say no...", and the always popular "Look...".

9. Enough with the celeb gossip. The problems of Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears should not be competing for the headline space in our brains. We have to be smarter than that, and if we're not, we have to pretend that we are.

10. Get so excellent at something (long division, friendship, Parcheesi, removing cranberry juice stains, decoupage - it doesn't matter what) that your genius will be impossible to ignore and your legendary expertise at removing cranberry juice stains while dividing sit digit numbers by 37 will either bring you glory beyond your wildest dreams or, at the very lest, help you feel vaguely competent as you make your way through the world.

11. Allow me to demystify the entire real estate market for you: Gracious means ridiculously small. Quaint means a total wreck and ridiculously small. Spacious, airy, luxurious, and grand all mean ridiculously small.

12. I like a plastic bag and a bottle of water as much as the next self-involved me monkey, but it takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100,000,000 grocery bags, and if I were capable of doing even the most basic arithmetic I'd say - well, who are we kidding? I'm not capable of doing even the most basic arithmetic - just know that we're in great danger of making Al Gore really, really mad.

13. Words matter. It's time to stop prettifying the ugly stuff. Spousal abuse means wife beating. Global warming means the Earth is toast. Enhanced interrogation means torture. And here's a bit of trivia for you: The Bush Administration did not coin the phrase enhanced interrogation. Nor did it come from Jack Bauer on 24. Nope, it was the Gestapo that originated that little bon mot back in 1937.

14. To quote Elmer Fudd, "Be bwave, widdoe wbbit." Take a chance, wear your heart on your sleeve, ask the most attractive man in the room to dance, say what you want, demand what you're entitled to. There's a pretty decent chance that you won't get it, but who will you be if you never even try? Note: Only attempt the dance invitation if there's actual music playing.

15. Sometimes I worry that we've all become workaholics - because getting through life can be really hard work. But (with apologies to the fine people who pay my salary every week here at the fabulous Hearst Corporation) we need to log off, go home, and remember what it is to have dinner, conversation, and sex...not necessarily in that order.

Long to read but worth it! My sentiments exactly!!!

Max and Friends....

Here is Max and The Cookie Monster....too cute!