Written By Mama

Archive for March, 2012

SaraLee’s Steals and Deals has been generous enough to allow me to bring you all an awesome giveaway for “The Dawn of Saudi: In Search for Freedom” written by Homa Pourasgari.

You can read SaraLee’s review on “The Dawn of Saudi: In Search for Freedom Review”

Enter via Rafflecopter, GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For about 2 weeks now Landon hasn’t eaten more than 1 meal a day.
It’s not all at once, he spreads it out throughout the day.

Now, I’m starting to get worried and frustrated.
Worried because I don’t think he’s getting enough to eat.
Frustrated because I make each meal, every day.

I know what some of you are thinking, he will eat when he’s hungry.
I really just don’t know though! It’s been going on for 2 weeks, give or take a day or so.

I want to say he’s a picky eater, but really he’s not being picky. He equally dislikes everything.

I have tried different things. Hiding it in something I know he likes, such as ketchup.
But he knows now.
I have tried giving him sugar free fruit snacks, organic snacks and other toddler friendly snacks. But I feel like he’s getting too many snacks. Even though he doesn’t really eat those anymore either.

I worry about giving him sugar. I have tried to eat healthier this year.
Both Cody and I are over weight, I want to be a good example for Landon. I have lost a lot of weight already.

Bottom line is, he’s not eating as much as I think he should be. I don’t know how to get him to eat more, and I hate, HATE going to the pediatrician. They’re all stupid.

Did you have a picky eater? How did you make it over that mountain? Any tricks I should know about?

I was given the opportunity to review Gube: Kid-Safe YouTube by Shacked Software.

Let me first tell you what Gube is.
Gube is an iPhone/iPad app that provides parents with a pre-screened catalogue of over 3,000 fun and educational YouTube videos. Videos can be sorted according to age and saved to favorites. Parents have peace of mind that their child can safely and independently browse without stumbling on something inappropriate.
View the full iTunes description.

Now that you know what Gube is, I’m sure you understand why I was happy to review it!

1. Landon loves my iPad & iPhone. He knows how to work both better than I do!
2. Landon has a speech delay that can easily be fixed with some educational videos.
3. I was about to get on an airplane for 2.5 hours with Landon.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to use Gube on the plane going to Arizona because I didn’t think there was any internet connection. But on the way back, I found out for only $5 I could use the plane’s internet and watch videos!

So Landon learned quickly how to find Gube on the iPad. He will flip through cartoons until he finds something interesting.

One of the best things about Gube, is the tool bar. With the tool bar you have the option to
-add your favorites
-view recently watched
-view all videos
-view featured videos
-change settings

See how I changed the settings so it only shows videos appropriate for babies and toddlers?
There, you can also share the app on social media sites, rate the app and send feedback!

I know Landon is still young and wouldn’t even know if he viewed anything inappropriate, but I feel it’s best to keep anything from starting.
Using Gube, I don’t even have to worry about checking previously viewed because I know he didn’t see anything he shouldn’t have.

Did you know, you can also request favorites on Gube’s Facebook?

I seriously don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want this app for their children, and for the price it would even be a good idea for grandparents to buy it and have it ready for when they have the grandchildren for the day.

You can use Gube on your iPhone using 3G or 4G!! You don’t even have to be somewhere that has a wireless internet connection!

I strongly give Gube 5 out of 5 stars.

For your chance to win a free download of Gube: Kid Safe YouTube you can enter the giveaway.

I received one or more of the following products, payments or services mentioned above. The product, payment or service was given to me for review purposes only. I was not required to write a positive or negative review on that product, payment or service. All opinions are 100% my own unless otherwise stated. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I personally use and think others would benefit from.

Please read all the rules before entering.
You must be 18+ at the time of entry. You must use the Rafflecopter form to enter. You must complete the first 3 tasks or you will be disqualified. Any false entries will result in automatic disqualification.
The winner will have 24 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen.
The giveaway will run from 12 (noon) EST March 27th until 12 (noon) EST April 3rd, 2012.
You can see my full review on Gube: Kid Safe YouTube.

Here’s the Rafflecopter form, GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I don’t normally have a problem with people voicing their opinion. After all, I do it.
But when it turns into pointless, inconsiderate and inappropriate words, I get offended.

I am in no way perfect. I do curse (behind my own doors), I do have times when I’m angry (behind my own doors and on my blog) and I do say things that aren’t nice (behind my own doors).
However, I don’t post it on FB, Twitter, Google+ or my blog. And if for some reason I did write it up, I certainly wouldn’t tag friends in it. How embarrassing to be associated with something like that, without even knowing!

I love getting to know people, especially my readers, and I love when they can express themselves with words. But I won’t support you share your inappropriate words with my family, friends or other readers.
I love sharing posts, reviews and giveaways on my blog, FB, Twitter and other social media accounts.

Please, if you tag me or post something onto my wall, blog etc…make sure it it family friendly.
If you are interested in guest posting, email me! I don’t pay you to post because I’m not paid to blog.
I won’t charge you to post on my page though, because you could easily make your own free blog.
If you’re interested in a guest post you can email me at [email protected]

Well, I guess that’s it. I just wanted to rant about the lack of consideration some people have.

So we had a BBQ on Sunday with some friends.

Everything was going well until I saw there was a ton of smoke coming from the grill.
I told Cody to turn down the flame, he likes to grill everything on high lol.
Well, it was too late. Everything caught fire. When I say everything, I mean everything.
The hotdogs, hamburgers and the grill.

So after waiting [impatiently] until 3pm to start cooking lunch/dinner, everything got burnt. So we ordered pizza.
I am so sad, the grill is ruined. We are lucky though that it didn’t catch the grass on fire or anything.

So then Cody brought out his Pogs. Yeah, I’m sure you remember pogs!
(side note, but the word pogs isn’t a recognized word in my computer’s dictionary! lol)

Anyways, the little boy that was over Jr, he had never seen a pog.
He asked his parents if they could order some so he could play with them! HAHAHAHA!

They were like, “honey you can’t just order pogs anymore.”
I don’t think he understood that Nintendo and XBox don’t make pogs.

Overall, we had a good time. It was nice to have someone with kids that doesn’t beat up Landon or exclude him because he’s still little.

What did you do this weekend?

This is one of my favorite dips.
Only 3 ingredients are needed.

1. Avocados
2. Can of re-fried beans
3. Ranch dressing

Cut the avocado in half and remove the seed.
Scoop all the “meat” out of the skin and put it into a bowl.
Add your beans and ranch dressing.
Use a potato masher to mash the avocados and mix at the same time.

I don’t measure when it comes to this dip.
I just add to taste. However, I don’t recommend using a whole can of beans. Your dip will be too beany.
Also, I like to use Bacon Ranch Dressing because it adds a bit of bacony taste to it, but remember I LOVE bacon.

Serve with tortilla chips.

I’m not sure if you remember the numerous times I have mentioned my leaky roof, or not, but I am bringing it up AGAIN. I seem to bring it up about twice a month, which is how often we have rain.

Let me start from the beginning. Again. That way those of you that are new will be up to date.

We moved in 5 days before Christmas.
About a week after Christmas we had rain. Lots of rain. Our roof leaked.
No biggie, just let the landlord know!

She came and looked at the ceiling (inside the house) and the roof (outside the house).
She told us she found nothing wrong with the shingles.

It didn’t make any sense to me, until she mentioned that the water pipes in that room are in the ceiling and NOT under the house. So I thought there was a leaky pipe.

Nope.

Another storm hit and again my room started to flood. Okay I exaggerated there, it didn’t flood. But it does make a puddle and it’s very slippery and dangerous.
Finally, the ceiling started breaking. Yes, my ceiling was collapsing.

Finally, after Landon slipped in the puddle AND FELL, the landlord came and “fixed” the roof.
Well, again she didn’t fix it. They couldn’t figure out where the leak was on the roof, so the just cut out the ceiling then re-patched it.

This picture shows the spot that was patched, not the 2 other leaking spots in my room.
So we had a HORRIBLE storm the Monday I got back from Arizona. The creek across the street rose to the neighbors driveway (the lady I have previously mentioned).
Our floor had about an inch of water.

So again, the landlord sent someone out to fix it. The roofer was here for about 10 minutes and left. I thought he was getting more supplies. After 3 hours of not coming back, Cody told me that the landlord is going to do it after she gets back from “the funeral.”
1. I don’t even know what funeral she’s talking about.
2. She seems to go to a ton of funerals at the end of every month.
3. She has been home since yesterday and still no word on my ceiling being fixed.

I am getting really angry now. I was super angry when Landon slipped on the floor and fell, but now I am super duper angry because it seems to be one excuse after another.

I am going to write her a letter and send it via certified snail mail (that’s the law for requests). If nothing is done, I will report her for not fixing a hazard in my house.
It’s leaking by 2 power outlets. My TV, PS3 and DVD player are all plugged into one of those outlets.

So, here’s an instant update. The landlord must know when I am about to say stuff about her lol.

She is waiting on a quote from a roofer in another town (:
So now we wait. I really can’t wait until this is over with.

So in 11 short days I am going to be 23!
Wow!

My mom just called me and asked me what I would want for my birthday. As always I respond with “UHM”
I really don’t like when people get me gifts, don’t get me wrong I love gifts, but I always feel weird opening them.
I think gifts are meant for kids. However, I would never give up the one’s that I have already been given from previous birthdays lol.

My mom knows how I feel about gifts. So she asked me if I would be willing to take a cooking class with her at Le Cordon Bleu in Austin!
I told her absolutely! How cool would it be to learn to cook some awesome food from a cooking school?!

The only problem now is choosing which class to take!

Have you ever taken a cooking class? What class did you take?
Do you still celebrate you birthday? Whew many questions! I love learning more about my readers though (:

I was given the opportunity to review Ultimate Omega-D3 from Nordic Naturals.

First off, I want to let you all know why I wanted to do this review.
Since I had Landon I have become more aware of my health and his health.
I want to be a good role model for Landon. I want to be able to “keep up with him” and I want him to be proud of his family. Mostly, I want him to be proud of himself and I want him to be healthy. I want him to understand the importance of his health.
The opportunity to review Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega-D3 has helped me take one step closer to being a healthier mama. Being able to give Landon fresh fruit as a snack instead of a candy bar is essential to me. Being a healthy role model for my family and myself is essential to me. I will be honest though, it is essential that I have chocolate at least twice a month (:

I always think of vitamins as these huge, dry horse pills.
But Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega D-3 is far from what I imagined.
They aren’t pills, they’re these lemony fresh soft gels. Very fresh.

They are easy to swallow and don’t have a nasty after taste. I can’t stress enough how lemony they taste!
I don’t try to stuff them down my throat as quickly as possible to avoid my tongue from touching them-I know what kind of adult am I? One that doesn’t like nasty chalky pills!
Ultimate Omega-D3 is purified fish oil with vitamin D3 for immune function and bone health*

Nordic Naturals has a contest going on right now with LOTS of winners and prizes!

The prizes:
Grand Prize Winner:
One winner will receive a trip for two to Santa Cruz, California with
all the trimmings.
• Round-trip airfare for two to California
• Hotel accommodations (4 days, 3 nights)
• Car rental or equivalent transportation reimbursement
• One $500 VISA debit card = Spending Money!!
• 2 tickets to Monterey Bay Aquarium
• 2 tickets to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
• One-year supply of Nordic Naturals award winning omega-3 oils
Travel must occur between July 2012 and October 2012

Second Prize Winners:
Each of the six Second Prize winners will receive one Canon® Vixia HF M400
camcorder and a one-year supply of Nordic Naturals award winning
omega-3 oils.

Third Prize Winners:
Each of the twelve Third Prize winners will receive a one-year supply
of Nordic Naturals award winning omega-3 oils.

For more information see the Official Rules
The What’s Essential Contest will run January 1st through April 30th, 2012, and
is open to residents of the USA and Canada, excluding Quebec province. Winning entries will be announced in June 2012 on Facebook and whatsessential.com

To enter:
Go to What’s Essential click on the box at the bottom “to get started” the page will be redirected to a similar looking page. Then click on the tab that says ENTER NOW.
You will then fill out the contest form & tell us what is essential to you!

The prizes don’t end there though! If you are a blogger, feel free to check out the Nordic Naturals What’s Essential Blogger’s Contest.

You can find Nordic Naturals on:
Facebook
Twitter
and at Nordic Naturals
I have seen many tweets from Nordic Naturals offering free samples of their family and pet vitamins.
So you really should “like” & “follow” Nordic Naturals!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

I received one or more of the following products, payments or services mentioned above from Nordic Naturals. The product, payment or service was given to me for review purposes only. I was not required to write a positive or negative review on that product, payment or service. All opinions are 100% my own unless otherwise stated. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I personally use and think others would benefit from.