My Life As A Baby Whisperer

I don't think I've ever shared with you guys, but one of the things I most obsessed over when I became a first-time mom was my baby's sleep schedule.  Sleep patterns, sleep techniques, hours of sleep, type of sleep.  You name it, I thought about it.  Endlessly.  I read just about every well known book on the market including Ferber, Weissbluth, Baby Wise, Baby Whisperer Vol. 1 & 2, and Happiest Baby On the Block.  My knowledge was as vast as the Sahara.

So vast in fact that when Taylor was about 9 months old and I had "nailed" her sleep patterns, I volunteered to be a Nap Forum Moderator (very official title yes) on the Baby Whisperer forums.  I'd say this was my first entre into the world of online chat rooms.  You see at 3 months, due to go back to work and not being able to make heads or tails of my baby's cues and schedule, I was in a panic. I had read both of Tracy Hogg's books (the Baby Whisperer) and knew she lived in Los Angeles and had originally started out by giving private sleep sessions to her clients.  I was prepared to look Tracy up, contact her and give her 10 MILLION DOLLARS to help me get my baby to sleep.

I logged on, hands shaking with excitement.  Why hadn't I thought of this before?  Of course I'll just contact her office and get her right down to my house!  I visited the site and what did I find?  A memorial dedication for Tracy Hogg.

You guys, Tracy was dead.  What was I gonna do?!?!?  And as a side note, this is how crazed and consumed I was by the thought of getting my baby to sleep; I didn't even give thought to the fact that this woman had died before her time of cancer.  No, all I cared about was now who in the hell was going to help me get my baby to sleep?

By doing some further research, I discovered that there was a whole online forum dedicated to people following and teaching Tracy's methods she wrote about in her books.  I visited and I was hooked.  I quickly shot up to Veteran commenter in the forums session, and joined a little support group with babies born in the same 2 month window as my Taylor.  We had weekly chat sessions, we asked each other questions, gave advice, and just listened.  All of us were first time moms and all of us could sympathize with how lonely and scary being a first time mom could be.  Those ladies were like my lifeline for a long time and we all still keep in touch now.  We exchange Christmas cards every year and some I have even met in person.  I often tell people it's why I have no fear now when I meet up with blogging friends I only know online; it's because I've gone to amusement parks (Michelle!) with a woman and her family that I'd never met either and we spent 2 days together!  To me it's totally natural in a weird unnatural sort of way.  We are located all over the world, from US to Canada to New Zealand.

Besides joining the little support group, I was a boss in the Naps forum and could answer questions from any harried mom trying to get her baby to nap like it was my job (a volunteer job that is).  For years after I had resigned as a moderator, I still got emails from desperate moms whose babies wouldn't nap, asking for advice.

I came to know a lot about infant sleep patterns and schedules, more than any layperson should know.  But it turns out I put that knowledge to good use with my first post for Disney Baby!  Yes, all that to introduce my first post on the Disney Baby site.  I figured a little back story would help you understand why of all things I decided to write about babies napping when I could have written about anything, yes anything.  I've been given pretty free reign on topics to discuss as long as they are overall positive, so when I sat down to write, it seemed natural that I talk about sleep, and naps in particular.  I have a feeling that I'll be thinking and talking about babies sleeping a lot in the following months.

So if you have any interest in reading about how to get out and about, working around your baby's nap schedule, please go visit my first post.  I'll be writing over there 3 times a week and will just do a weekly recap post here linking to my articles, so no more Disney Baby sponsored posts.  I hope you'll visit!  It is a job and they monitor stats and all that official stuff, so it would be nice if my stats were good so I don't get fired ;)  So please go on over and say hi!  I'd say I'd pay each person per click but I think that's actually illegal.  Kidding Disney, kidding!  Have a great day y'all!

The Beauty of Boredom

I've been trying to figure out a way to write this post without sounding all judgmental or high and mighty, because I have no desire to be either of those things.  I guess I worry because I've seen posts like this written before and they always cause me to stop and take a step back and analyze the time I'm spending online and on social media.  I'm not trying to make any philosophical statements about social media here, so know that up front.  I'm running two blogs for goodness sake, so I'm hardly one to preach about stepping back and spending less time online.  But I thought I'd just share something I recently did and how it's helped ground me a bit more, so I guess take what you will from it.

About two weeks ago I removed Twitter and Facebook from my phone.  It's no huge statement like cancelling my accounts or shutting down my blogs, but it was a small step that has helped tremendously.  While I'd love to say that my sole purpose was to be a more connected, present mom and wife, I'd be lying if I said I did have some selfish ulterior motives.  The bottom line?  I noticed that I was getting more and more ADD having these social media time sucks on my phone.

I've always been a pretty focused person, good at multi-tasking and also efficient at focusing on one project at a time.  But I'm convinced that the more and more time I spend online, the more attention deficit I become, and the mobile device just adds to the problem.  While I know theoretically I couldn't or didn't want to make a rash decision and cancel my accounts, I figured by at least removing these things from my phone would hopefully help me stay a little more focused when away from the computer, and it would in turn help me when I sit down to work at the computer.  It had gotten to the point where I'd walk into the office to do something legitimate like email a teacher or pay a bill and I'd get distracted by Facebook or Twitter, spend 5 minutes scrolling through the feed, get up and walk away, completely forgetting why I had sat down at my desk in the first place.  There's just so many shiny things to see when I jump on here.  Fess up, I know I'm not the only one ;)

This same type of distracted pattern was emerging when out and about as well.  I was picking up my phone for no good reason at all, other than out of pure habit.  Refreshing my feed every few minutes just to see if anyone had posted anything earth shattering.  No one I was with ever really complained about it, and I could leave my phone at home or in the car if need be and not suffer from severe withdrawals.  But it just started to get to me.  I started to feel guilty having the kids see me constantly pick up my phone, and I got irritated with myself that I couldn't sit through a stop light without checking my phone.

So I deleted my accounts off my phone.  At first just for summer, but I am enjoying this new way of life so much that I think it will become my new normal.

A couple of days ago I had a moment alone at a family function, and usually I'd use that time to scroll through my phone and make sure I was all up to date.  But I sat there just looking around with nothing to preoccupy me.  For a split second I thought to myself "Well this is kinda boring", and if I could've slapped myself I would have.  As quick as the thought came in, I counteracted it with the statement "This is your life", and I looked around and observed my life and the people I was with and what they were doing and I realized it wasn't boring at all.  There was plenty to look at, to soak up and sink in, to appreciate, to feel grateful for, to laugh at and even smirk at.  This was, and is my life, before smart phones and the constant invasion of other people's lives into mine.  This is the only life I have to live and I better enjoy it, the fun times, the bad times, and even the simple everyday times that may seem boring and very ordinary.  All these times are ones I am grateful for.  I forgot how beautiful and simple life could be without all those other distractions. 

We went to the beach the other day.  Crystal Cove to be exact.  I held my Taylor's hands as she jumped in and out of waves, begging me not to let go.  I watched my Syd play chicken with the waves over and over and over again, trying to see how close he could let them get to his toes before he could safely outrun them.  He giggled and laughed something fierce and I saw it all.  I stopped a couple of times to take some pictures via Instagram, but there was no pausing to write 140 characters or update my status alerting everyone that I was having a good time at the beach.  I just had a good time, with only myself and my family to witness it.  And my God it felt good.  Downright glorious in fact.  I can't remember the last time I had felt so happy and energetic and even if it is a cliche of a word, present.

Perhaps something like this wouldn't work for you, or you don't find it necessary to do.  But if you've been feeling a pull to disconnect a bit more, even if just for summer when you're supposed to be soaking up life by the bucket fulls, this might just be the thing for you.  Either way, it is definitely working for me and so I thought I'd share.  Have you ever done a social media cleanse of some sort?  If so, what were your results and how did you do it?       

P.S. I just so happened to come across this post tonight that touches on this compulsory need to check in and see what's going on.

Happy Day!

You guys!  It's the last day of school and I'm so excited for my little girl to be moving on from 1st grade!  All you ladies out there that are all "don't ever grow up!"  Yeah, I'm not one of them ;)  It's been a fun and challenging year but I'm ready for us to move on and we're celebrating with a pool party.  Tomorrow my best friend from Arizona flies in but before she does I'm going to Jules' house for a little lunch and playdate - our kids finally get to meet!  Can you tell I'm in a good mood and excited?  Because I AM!!!  :) 

So it was a busy busy week for me and I also got a lot of projects done.  I wanted to share 2 in particular with you really quick before I go wake up Taylor.

Yesterday I posted a patriotic tablescape over at For the Love Of...so in case you need any 4th of July party ideas, here you go.  Included are directions for a fun craft.

Also, my contributor's post went live over at Making It Lovely and I show you how to make this darling polka dot tray!

Don't forget about the giveaway!  I've used Mod Podge all week and the possibilities are seriously endless!

 See you back tomorrow friends!  Have a great day, I know I willllllll!!!!!

Ginger Ale, Cranberry & Limeade Spritzer

I have to say that this is the most enjoyable pregnancy I've had by far. I feel more relaxed, beautiful and comfortable than I have in the past. As I've said before, just about the only thing I do miss is being able to relax at the end of the day with a glass of wine or a cocktail, especially on the weekends when everyone is hanging out by the pool. But never wanting to feel left out, I have been playing around with making myself some fun and festive drinks to enjoy, especially as the weather heats up, and this spritzer is one of my favorites so far. The kids are obsessed with it too. It's simple to make and you can customize it to your specific juice preferences, but I've gotta say it doesn't get much better than the limeade and cranberry mix, with a large splash of ginger ale. Making this drink makes me feel like I'm not missing out on anything.

To mix your spritzer, start with a cup filled with ice. Fill the glass half full with the limeade, then add the cranberry juice till the glass is 3/4 of the way full. Top off with a heavy splash of Seagram's Ginger Ale and a squeeze of lime. Stir if you like, and enjoy! Ridiculously easy, right?

During the rough weeks of the first trimester I drank ginger ale nonstop. Ginger ale and iced cold water were about the only things that sounded good to me and were the only drinks that didn't make me even more nauseous. My taste for it continued even after my morning sickness stopped, and so I've been drinking it on its own or mixed in with juices throughout the whole pregnancy. I love the crispness of Seagram's Ginger Ale, and that it has a lighter ginger taste than some other brands. Using it in the spritzer allows for the flavors of the juices to really shine through and not compete with really heavy ginger flavors.

With this spritzer in hand I'm ready to enjoy summer, spending time by the pool and eating outdoors, relishing in this very special time in my life. I truly feel very peaceful and blessed to be enjoying this pregnancy so much, surrounded by loving and supportive friends and family. Life doesn't get much better than this right now. I'm the perfect candidate for the cool Seagram's Facebook App they just launched, called "Good To Be You." Slap a big GTBU stamp on my face, because I really do feel happy and good being me right now.

This post was sponsored by BlogHer and Seagram's Ginger Ale, but the opinions and recipe are all my own.

Personalized Summer Journals

It's been fun reading everyone's responses to their favorite thing they love about Mod Podge in the giveaway, and I was even surprised to hear that some of you have never tried working with it before.  For those of you that are brand new to Mod Podge, I wanted to share an easy tutorial to get your feet wet; these personalized summer journals.  Taylor and a friend will soon be starting a fun week at the beach for Under The Sea camp, so I thought it would be great for them to each have a special journal to keep track of memories of the week, and for the rest of summer for that matter.

The journals I found at Michael's in the dollar bin were cute on their own, but since I wanted them to be a bit more personalized, I gathered up a few supplies to make it happen.  You'll need a journal (the harder the cover the better, these are a really thick cardboard), some cute paper (mine is from Paper Source), Mod Podge in Matte, Mod Podge Podgeable Shapes, an applicator brush, letter stickers, and optional if you'd like to stencil on a shape, a stencil and paint.

Begin by tracing and cutting out your piece of paper, 1 for each side.  I liked the red binding so I cut accordingly to keep that in the design.

Cut out the corners of your paper so they fit around each corner nice and neat and fold over paper.

Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge all over the cover of the journal.  It's very important that you apply the Mod Podge first before applying your paper.  I did a trial run and forgot this since it had been a while since working with Mod Podge in this way, and I spread the Mod Podge over the paper and it just created a bubbly, wrinkly mess.

Lay your paper in place over the cover and smooth out any slight wrinkles or bubbles.  This is cimpletely normal so don't fret, just get a straight edge ruler or soemthing and gently work out the bubbles and wrinkles.  Lay a thin layer of Mod Podge over the wrapped paper to secure in place as well.

Next to personalize the podgeable name plate.  Apply your stickers, then if you wish, you can add a cute paper backing to have peek through.  Spread a thin layer of Mod Podge on the back of the podgeable, and then lay your cut piece of printed paper right side down.  Spread another thin layer of Mod Podge on back of the podgeable and stick in place on your journal.

Add a final thin layer of Mod Podge on the binding of the book where the paper meets the binding just to make sure to secure in place and let dry.  Once your journal is dry, you can add on your stencil if you wish.

The final result is a sweet personalized journal to give as a gift or keep for yourself.  Total project time was less than 30 minutes, not counting drying time, which is minimal.  If your layers are thin, Mod Podge usually dries enough to be handled in under an hour, but allow more time before fully using.  Let me know if you have any questions and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

For more fun ideas, visit Mod Podge on Pinterest, on Facebook and on Twitter. 

I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social, but the opinions and ideas in this post are my own.

Mod Podge Gift Bundle & Book Giveaway

*If you're new to Mod Podge, and I see that some of you are, then check out my latest project using Mod Podge to get some ideas and creative inspiration - Personalized Summer Notebooks!

Are you ready for a little Mod Podge awesomeness?  Oh Yeah!!

Ready to Mod Podge till your heart's content?  Well here's some goodies to get you started and going well into Christmas time!  The folks at Plaid Crafts were kind enough to send me a box full of the newest Mod Podge goodies, and because I can't possibly use these all myself, I'm sharing many of them with you.  Here's a shot of all the goods to be had by one lucky winner...

And in addition to the supplies, I'm also giving away a copy of Mod Podge Queen Amy Anderson's new book Mod Podge Rocks, penned after her awesome blog. 

There's over 40 projects inside, categorized by holidays, decor ideas, just for fun, etc.

I love Mod Podge and am so excited and honored to be giving away this much awesomeness!  If you need some 4th of July inspiration on how to use Mod Podge, don't forget about my Patriotic Mason Jar luminaries.

To enter to win this gift bundle, leave your name and what you love most about Mod Podge in the comments section.  If you'd like additional entries, follow my Facebook page, and follow my blog via RSS or GFC.  3 chances to win.  Winners will be announced next week and giveaway closes on Friday 6/29 at 11:50 PST.

What's Going On Over There

This past week I was a little out of my groove over at my style site For the Love Of.  I try to get at least 2 outfit posts plus a DIY up per week, but an impromptu overnight trip to Legoland, and prepping for a lot of DIY's this week left me a little out of sorts.  Still, I did get a few fun posts up, so click on over if you feel so inclined ;)

No post on Monday since we were out of town, but on Tuesday I shared my tips on surviving a day at an amusement park in functional style. 

Wednesday I shared a little of this and that, including this picture of the cutest photo bomber ever!

Thursday I shared the wisdom of my friend Amber, a makeup pro, and posted her 5 makeup tips every woman should know.  One of them was something that makes so much sense, but I had never ever thought of.

Friday I asked for help in choosing a maternity dress for my upcoming maternity photo shoot.  I think this one was a favorite all around. 

Saturday I woke up and started daydreaming about hosting an intimate gathering after baby is born, centered around wine and cheese, and this would be the perfect invitation to get the festivities off on the right foot.

Today I posted my most recent daily style post, featuring this non-maternity Tucker for Target dress I've had for 2 years now.  I love that the current silhouettes allow me to get so much use out of my current wardrobe, even at 30 weeks!

And that is that!  I'll be sharing some fun DIY's here and over there this week, so stay tuned my friends!