WordLess Wednesday & such

This past weekend we had glorious weather! GLORIOUS! We were outside all day on Saturday! ALL DAY! This swing you see my daughter on, is a favorite swing . . . the children (well, not the little one) love this swing. The higher the better. My husband saved some of the leaves and made a wonderfully huge leaf pile for the children to frolic in. (also for this momma to get one good photo for Christmas cards-out of 47 photos-not one is card worthy) I had the brilliant idea to show my children how to swing and drop off this swing into the pile of leaves. Oh the joy! Oh, the giggles! Oh, the pushing I had to do! (my back has been aching for at least two days now)

On one particular push, I leaned in and down and my daughter leaned back and down. My face met her head. Ow ow ow ow owie!!!!!

This is the first black eye I have ever had! Isn't that unbelievable?

Anyway, my daughter was so upset she didn't even want to talk about it. She just felt horrible, even as I was laughing about it and telling her it was fine. (she would be quite horrified to find out I am now telling, like, hundreds of people) I told her how about we tell everyone Daddy socked me in the eye. Her eyes lit up and she states, "Oh, yes, momma, say that".

Needless to say, I am not saying that because I don't want to have to bail my husband out of jail.

Wordless Wednesday HQ!!

hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom

hosted by SevEn cLoWn CirCuS

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Skin MD Natural Review & Giveaway

I have really dry skin. Really dry, really sensitive and did I say really dry. This combination skin is also coupled with troublesome eczema. In the winter, my hands and feet crack in multiple places and sometimes my hands will even bleed. I've tried nearly every lotion on store counters in search of the perfect treatment for my dry, sensitive skin. As a child I was miserable and recall having my arms wrapped and bandaged to prevent me from itching my skin off.

My little one also has eczema, since she was a baby. Unfortunately for her, nothing over the counter seems to work. I currently use a prescription cream with steroids that works but I am not comfortable using it often. Skin MD responded to me and let me know about a recent press release Psoriasis Lotion lessons need for prescription steroid creams found HERE.

Over the years, I've found products that I like.......but never the perfect combination.

Skin MD comes close. Very close. I need a little more time using it to decide. The formulation I tried is the Shielding Lotion. It can be used on the face, hands and body. It is light, and more so, fragrance free, which is really import to me. It doesn't feel oily going on, and forms a protective shield on the outer layer of the skin. It really does leave my skin feeling hydrated without being weighed down. I also do not feel stickiness on my skin which sometimes happens with other products. I did not try this on my face as my face is super (SUPER) sensitive and I break out very easy and am currently using prescription creams,

Skin MD is made in the US and is specially formulated using high quality natural ingredients making it over 90% all natural with all ingredients being of food grade and on the FDA's most safe list. It is free of harmful fragrances, parabens, and colorants making it hypoallergenic. They do no participate in animal testing nor does the lotion contain any animal products.

A shielding lotion is unlike any other conventional, artificial moisturizers because it works with the skin to naturally moisturize and heal. Most conventional, artificial moisturizers only add moisture to the surface of the skin, but do little to repair the skin's natural barrier against moisture robbing irritants. Skin MD Natural breaks the dry skin cycle by working to help restore skin's natural protective abilities by bonding to the outer layer of skin, strengthening skins natural barrier against toxins and irritants that can dry the skin, while locking in the skin's natural oils.

If you'd like to give Skin MD a try (and I highly suggest you do), you can buy Skin MD lotions at skinMDNatural.com or click on the site to find a nearby pharmacy that carries it or you can order a free sample from their site.

Skin MD Natural brought to you by Skin MD.

One lucky Tiaras & Tantrums reader will win a full size bottle of Skin MD lotion.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY:

Please visit Skin MD and tell me something you discovered.

1 extra entry ~ Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
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1 extra entry ~ Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste – @Tiaras_Tantrums is giving away 1 bottle of Skin MD Natural! http://bit.ly/1pG0XK. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet and copy and paste that link in comments.
* 5 Extra Entries - Blog about giveaway - leave the link so I can visit you!

Contest ends November 25th, An email address is required to enter. Please leave it in your comment, or make sure one is visible for me to find in your blogger profile. If you qualify for additional entries please comment separately telling me which options you have used. A winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. U.S. entrants only.

Thanks to Skin MD Natural for providing me with the opportunity to review this product and offer this giveaway item.

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Sesame Street 40 Years of Sunny Days DVD Review

A couple of years after I was born, Sesame Street was introduced on public television. I remember watching Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and Grover. Did I even know I was learning at the time? Not likely.

Sesame Street's new season will begin on November 10^th. In honor of Sesame Street's 40th anniversary, a new DVD titled Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days will be released on November 10^th. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this to review with my daughter. I loved to watch the older shows which are basically what I recall the most. Funny enough, these are the shows that my other children recall as well. When we lived in China in 2005, the only childrens television show broadcast in English was Sesame Street and only the older shows.

For 40 years, sunny days have swept the clouds away and inspired preschoolers to learn, grow and achieve their highest potential. Relive the best-of-the-best when SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS debuts as a two-disc DVD set November 10 from Vivendi Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Premiering on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street is the longest running children’s series and “…arguably, the most important children’s program in the history of television” (Newsweek.com). Featuring nearly six hours of everyone’s favorite Sesame Street stories, songs, Muppets™ and celebrity segments, the SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS collectible set spans the renowned show’s four decades, includes never-before-seen archival footage and a limited-edition hard covered commemorative book.

The two-disc set, SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS, features a wide selection of iconic segments of past and present from Ernie’s bath-time song “Rubber Duckie” (Season One), which topped the Top-40 charts for seven weeks; to Kevin Clash’s first episode as Elmo (Season 17); to Maria and Luis’ wedding (Season 19); to Abby Cadabby’s arrival on Sesame Street (Season 37), and much more. Fans can also watch some of their favorite celebrity segments including James Taylor, Pattie Labelle, Smokey Robinson and Feist!

A limited edition, hard cover commemorative book compliments the set. An amazing anniversary celebration for fans young and old, the commemorative two-disc DVD set SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.93.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, I’m sharing a few of my favorite classic TV memories below.


Here’s my tribute to 40 years of Sesame Street! What’s your favorite memory?

I also have a sheet that you may download for your little ones to color or decorate.

Thanks to Bender/Helper Impact for providing me with the opportunity to review this DVD.

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Adventures in Co-Sleeping . . . My Destiny for a Family Bed

I co-sleep - I have with all three of my children - I started with my son almost 8 years ago.
And, I can't imagine my life any other way.

When I was a stay-at-home momma to one baby, everyone (MIL, SIL, brothers, even my own husband was against it) told me that I "could not" sleep with my baby. Let me just state that ferberizing DOES NOT WORK!!! I tired it and my son stayed awake with me following Dr Fever's book and sitting out in the hallway, heart aching, crying pools of tears over my anguished baby. This baby who clearly wanted and needed me! After that day, I told everyone to mind their own business and I would do what is best for MY child and I tossed that book in the trash bin!


In fact, by attempting to feberize my son, I instilled in him a sleep radar that was not like any other radar in the universe! My son slept ON TOP OF me for the first 9 months of his life. L.i.t.e.r.a.l.l.y. if his little toosh touched a sheet he was screaming. By 12 months he would sleep with my arm around him. And if my husband touched him, he howled.

Before his 2nd birthday he sort of had to adjust to sleeping only beside me as he had a new baby sister. I was tandem breast feeding and breast feeding on-demand and basically it was convenient for me to have both of the babies near me. And frankly, I was used to it by then and couldn't imagine my children in any other bed but mine. My new baby daughter slept with us, not 100% of the time, but definitely up to age 10-12 months (I can't really recall right now).

I moved her into a crib at around 12 months in her own bedroom and this only lasted a couple of months (we moved out of the county and the transition sucked). She was in our bed and so was our son. Purchasing toddler beds did not remedy the situation. I could sneak the children into the toddler beds after they had fallen asleep, but the second they realized what bed they were in, they were screaming. Amazingly, my son actually never once slept in that toddler bed. He would sit there and absolutely refuse to lay down. I would beg, plead, bargain, bribe, or barter with him and that child never once budged.

Both of the children slept with us until my son was 5 (almost 6). Once my son started Kindergarten we told him he had to sleep in his bed on school nights. My husband slept with him for over 6 months(no joke). By this time I had another baby to contend with and as long as my husband was sleeping with him in his room he was at least sleeping in his room. So in my Cal King bed was myself and my oldest daughter and the newest baby in the bassinet. She did so marvelous in this bassinet and I was so proud of myself that I actually was able to get a baby to sleep in a baby bed that I had (especially since all our bassinets, playpens and crib are basically brand new - never been used). My newest baby decided at 9 months that she wanted in on the King bed action and that was the end of that happy story.

I am all for co-sleeping and actually would tell any of my friends to try it. My husband or I rarely lost sleep because I was sleeping next to my baby and I utilized the instinctive response to the baby's first whimper, thus preventing the need for the hard crying that is so stressful to the baby and to all other members of the family. I personally think that co-sleeping with my children until they no longer need(ed) it means that I will never need to 'train' them to go to sleep. I also recognize a deeper sense of love and trust often develops between my children (who sleep near each other), lessening sibling rivalry during waking hours. I find that my children have a greater opportunity to build a deep and lasting relationship because they share the nights and the days. For me, co-sleeping is an unquestioned practice in my house.

My children, who are cared for during the night as well as the day, receive constant reassurance of love and support, instead of having to cope with feelings of fear, anger, and abandonment night after night. I believe my children feel safe through the night, as well as the day. with me close by, will become adults who cope better with the inevitable stresses life brings. As John Holt put it so eloquently, having feelings of love and safety in early life, far from "spoiling" a child, is like "money in the bank": a fund of trust, self-esteem and inner security which the child can draw on throughout life's challenges.

My youngest still sleeps with me (she is 3 years 5 months- I nursed her until she was 32 months). My son still comes in about 40-50% of the time half way through the night (in fact, he has already been down here at the computer telling me he is going to my bed). My daughter (6 years old now) still comes in about 50-75% of the time half way through the night.

I HAVE to say that after almost 8 years of sleeping with kids - I CAN'T sleep unless at least one of my kids are in bed with me! Hilariously, my son told me today on the way home from church that he wished he was an only child so he could still sleep with me every night!

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What Are You Wearing Today?

Here we go again this week for another fun way to start the weekend. What are you wearing is back in full swing for the fall! I have to say that I do love fall for the clothes. I love sweaters and layers and the boots, how I adore high boots! I have been wearing a pair (different) of knee high boots for the past two weeks. My husband thinks I'm absurd! It's cold here in the midwest . . . I have to wear a jacket everyday so I thought I would show what I look like outside and what I look like inside.

This jacket is more of a spring jacket, well the color anyway. But I love it . . . Burberry . . . I have had it for about 6 years now. Hubbie bought it for me. Nothing better than a Burberry trench coat! My pocketbook is a new one, well sort of, I purchased this as a birthday present to myself. I love it! I will likely carry this all the way through to spring. LV bag, everyone who reads this blog knows I have a serious addiction to fine handbags and this one is just that.

Burberry trench coat - gift
LV handbag - gift to myself
jeans - Old Navy Diva skinny
white long sleeved T-shirt - Forever 21
orange short sleeved sweater - Kohl's (seriously, I never find anything good there either)
belt - Michal Kors (a $5 find at Marshall's)
boots - seen here
I bought these boots seeing them online. I loved the look of the boots online and I still like the look of them on me. However, they are more narrow than I would normally purchase since I have some fat little feet. I also have a neuroma on my (left)foot that these boots are really aggravating. I will be going to the Dr next week for a cortisone injection that will hopefully alleviate this issue.

Why does my hair looks so much redder indoors than outdoors? Can someone please explain this to me? I'm just wearing simple silver hoop earrings and bangles on my wrist. I also have on a jade bracelet that you can't see. And I seriously need to work on my thighs! I'm getting a bit thick there! WOW & OUCH!

My son is wearing a Ruff Hewn shirt (super soft cotton) and pants from H&M (socks too). My little one has on clothes from Kohl's and her Geox sneakers (frankly the best kids sneakers out there!)

Really looking forward to some great weather this weekend. Likely the last of the season.

You can post or just comment . . . tell or don't tell . . . show or don't show (maybe soon you will show) . . . exactly what it is you've put on today!

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