Two Under Two

My life with a newborn and a toddler under two years old has been quite the whirlwind this past month. I still can't quite believe that my Little Man is already a month old! Where does the time go?!

Having two under two is busy-that's no joke. Thank heavens for having Hubs home. I honestly don't know what I would do if he wasn't here...how do people manage? Between recovering from my c-section, to only being able to do the stairs once a day, to nursing pretty much around the clock, he's been a total lifesaver. I will never ever take for granted the fact that we were able to get him paternity leave. Especially since there is a WHOLE LOT more laundry. And it's nice having family time too of course. 

People have been asking how it's going. Honestly it hasn't been too bad. Of course we are tired and of course it's draining but thankfully our only job has been to be parents. So right now we have man to man coverage on the little ones so we aren't quite outnumbered. Clearly the fact that we don't really have any other responsibilities helps out too. Ask me how it's going in a month when Hubs goes back to work! 

There are of course some challenges. 

The laundry is insane. I don't quite understand how adding one more little human into the mix adds so much more laundry? I feel like we are doing loads every day. Thank goodness for the new high efficiency washer! Having two in diapers is rough, but even though we're washing every other day instead of every 3-4 days I still wouldn't change a thing. Having to do an extra load here and there still beats spending loads of money on disposables and also contributing that much more garbage to a landfill. When Little Man was in sposies for the first few weeks I was sick over the amount of extra garbage...and the cost! 

Keeping our little house organized and uncluttered has been a challenge too. Our house is only 1100 square feet with two bedrooms and a playroom. The kids share a closet, and we don't have much storage so we've had to be creative. We only keep out what we need and we are constantly rotating out toys and clothes. We have shelves and shelves of bins stacked in the basement that we're trying to now be very diligent about keeping organized. So far so good. My craft and creativity center has moved from the dining room table to the basement which I'm excited about. Hubs cleared out a corner just for me and my arts and crafts.  Once I can do stairs I can't wait to work down there in the evenings. We've created an extra living space in the basement as well with a tv corner and futon. I'm sure the tortoises are excited for the company! 

Keeping toys in the playroom only has been important to us as well. We want Little Miss to understand that everything has a place and she is very quick to pick up on where things go. She is learning young that it's important to put things in their proper place and every night we put everything away together so she learns the value of her things. I truly believe children can learn and accept responsibility even at such a young age!

How else has life changed with two? Well for starters Little Miss isn't the center of the world anymore. And for the most part she is ok with that, which is a good thing! She's very helpful, throwing things in the laundry, trash, or diaper pail. Or this morning when she was able to go get the boppy for me. She really likes being a helper and retrieving things or putting them away. Most of the time. She's really been patient with the fact that sometimes she has to wait for mommy's attention. Nursing a hungry newborn leaves me confined to the couch much of the day so we try to do things together from there like read stories or sing songs. Baby wearing Little Man has helped too, because it leaves me hands free to play with her. Don't get me wrong, sometimes she gets sad that mama is busy, but thankfully Hubs can usually distract her. They've been having tons of fun with all of their daddy-daughter time! 

I'll tell you though, I forgot how much I LOVE having a snuggly newborn! It is so amazing to hold that little baby and realize that you made him!! I love the smell, the snuggles, the nursing-and this time around it seems even more fleeting. Now that I know how fast it goes I appreciate it all even more! I love my toddler and seeing her grow and change into a little mini adult, but there's just something about the newborn stage that is so incredibly amazing. 

My favorite part of it all is watching Little Miss with her new brother. She can't quite say his name so she just calls him Baby. It's quite adorable. She brings him his blankies or his lovies and rattles and things. She points to his eyes and nose and names them. She was very concerned about his umbilical cord stump, and still checks to make sure it's gone. And she even gives him a tiny little kiss on the forehead every once in awhile...which melts my heart every time. I'm so excited for them to be so close and to grow up knowing one another and being buds. My siblings are my best friends, and I can't wait for my littles to have a built in best bud! It's so important to me for them to have each other. It's the little things every day and knowing they have each other that make all the craziness that much more worthwhile to me! 

Love and laughs,

Danielle

What do you REALLY need for baby?

I started this post weeks ago...forgive me for just finishing and publishing now!

The flu is never fun to begin with, but the flu at 36 weeks pregnant is truly miserable. I have been couch bound for two days. Today I am feeling better enough to sit up and eat some saltines, but still pretty stuck to the couch or bed. Thankfully the hubs has been taking care of Little Miss all weekend and took her to the aquarium today so I could rest and relax.

But of course, there is only so much Parenthood I can watch on netflix before I start to feel stir crazy. Bed rest would not do me well! Which got me thinking.

Since I had Little Miss I have always found it interesting how much "stuff" is marketed towards new parents. When hubs and I registered before she was born we left Babies R Us exhausted and with a registry full of stuff that I had no idea how to use or what it was for. With baby #2 coming along we have been getting out the stuff we need and there is remarkably less stuff this time around. Which I am quite thankful about. That got me thinking about what new moms really need for their babies? I decided to make a list of my favorite baby products that we couldn't live without and actually NEEDED.

So here are my top baby items:

1. Aden + Anais swaddle blankets-Receiving blankets are for the birds. These blankets are amazing. They're made of soft muslin that is breathable and cozy. Great for summer or winter and are made for swaddling the correct way. You can throw one over your car seat so your baby isn't exposed to the elements or the germs at the supermarket (no you don't need a car seat cover, just use a blanket!) They make good nursing covers too, and are big enough to spread out on the ground for some tummy time or a quick diaper change. These blankets got the most use in our house and will again for the next baby. I highly recommend these over any other blanket. They come in lots of fun patterns too!

2. Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper-Every time I mention co-sleeping people start squawking about how unsafe it is and how could I ever sleep with my baby and don't I worry about the safety, etc. etc. Co-sleeping does not necessarily mean that my baby is sleeping in my bed. That's bed-sharing (or family bed). Bed sharing is done all over the world and CAN be done safely. Co-sleeping can be a form of bed-sharing but can also involve the baby sleeping in the parents bedroom, either in a bassinet, co-sleeper, pack and play, etc. Research shows this is the safest place for baby during the first 6 months at least to decrease SIDS risks. Among other things, mom and dad are able to attend to baby's needs immediately, and it is best for the mother baby nursing relationship. Co-sleeping worked out for us for 18 months of my daughter's life. She started in the rock and play sleeper next to our bed (more on that later!) but I still felt like she was too far away from me to feel comfortable with knowing she was ok and breathing. We tried a pack and play and she didn't like how big, empty, and open it was. She has always been small and the transition from the womb, to rock and play to pack and play was a huge open space and she didn't like it at all. She's always been a snuggler. So I quickly found myself a co-sleeper and all of our sleep problems drifted away. It sidecars to the bed so that baby is in their own safe sleep space, but close enough to snuggle, and pull right into bed for nighttime feedings. As Little Miss got older and slept longer stretches it was still nice having her close, and when she woke up and wanted to nurse neither of us had to fully wake up. I loved having this and am so glad I can use it from the beginning this time!

3. Snuza Halo-This is my most favorite baby item of all time. Seriously. it saved my sanity and my sleep and gave me so much peace of mind. It's a little device that runs on a battery that attaches to the front of baby's diaper so the soft rubber part touches the baby's tummy. It works over a onesie too if you'd rather clip to pants. It monitors the baby's breathing and movement. Here's how it works:
"Superior Sensor: Placed next to baby's abdomen, detects even the slightest irregularity in breathing
Snuza Halo detects even the slightest movement and will alert you if your baby's movements are very weak or fall to less than 8 movements per minute.  If no movement at all is detected for a period of 15 seconds, Halo will vibrate gently. Often this vibration is enough to rouse the baby, and Halo will revert to monitoring mode. After three vibration/rouse incidents, the Rouse Warning will alert you to the fact that your baby's movements have stopped for 15 seconds on three occasions.
If no further movement is detected for another 5 seconds, an alarm will sound to alert you."
The alarm is LOUD. Even if baby was in another room you could hear it. We had it go off about 4 or 5 times. All of the times except one it was because I hadn't clipped it correctly and it had slipped off. There was at least one time though that the alarm sounded and it was on correctly. I picked my little one up and thankfully she was breathing. I will never ever know whether or not she actually stopped moving or breathing to have made it go off, but I am forever thankful that I had the alarm on her regardless. The best part about the snuza is that you can take it anywhere. We purchased the Angel Care Video Sound and Movement Monitor for the nursery, but since our nursery was downstairs Little Miss never slept there at night. There was no way I was having her on another floor from me, monitor or not! The angel care is great, and we use it now that she is in her own room. I can see and hear her at all times and it monitors that she is moving, the temperature in the room, etc. BUT it was set up in the crib. I couldn't sleep when she was sleeping at night because I was so worried she would stop breathing. I read somewhere that newborns forget to breathe in those first few weeks. Whether or not that's true I couldn't rest unless I had some peace of mind. So if she wasn't in her crib or my arms I was a wreck. When I discovered the snuza, I was up nursing one night and immediately ordered it from amazon. I couldn't wait for it to arrive! When I finally got to use it the first night I was super nervous because I was afraid to let my guard down. By the second night I was sleeping soundly. From then on, I slept like a tired mom (not like a baby...I don't know who came up with that!) each and every night. I highly recommend this for any new parents!

4. Rock 'n Play Sleeper-This thing is great. It's small enough to put by your bed or the couch, or really any room you are in, but lightweight and portable enough to move easily from room to room. We used this in the first few weeks for Little Miss to sleep in because I was unable to use the stairs after my c-section. What a life saver! I put it right next to the couch and she was an arm's length away from me. Once we moved upstairs and she was in the co-sleeper, it stayed downstairs. I could easily take it with me from room to room when I needed to put the baby down. It was small enough to fit in my tiny cubicle of a bathroom so I could put her in it while I showered. What a lifesaver! Little Miss never really cared for the swing so this was a great alternative. I also would put her in it when I was cooking (rare!) in the kitchen, folding laundry, or for naps during the day when she wasn't in my arms. This thing rocks and we have it ready and waiting for the new baby. Such a simple product that made our lives so much easier. And although we didn't deal with reflux, I hear that it is great for babies that have to sleep upright due to stomach issues. not to mention it's cozy and cocoon like as the womb is, so babies have an easier transition to being out in the world! We loved it especially when Little Miss got older too because when she had a stuffy nose or was congested sleeping upright really helped her get some sleep. A must for every baby registry!

5. Calma-For a nursing mom going back to work....or ever leaving the house this was essential! The Medela Calma nipple "allows them to suck, swallow and breathe, as learned on the breast. Whether you breastfeed or use Calma, the baby has to create a vacuum for breastmilk to flow. As soon as the baby pauses, the flow is stopped, this is also the way with breastfeeding." I was very concerned that once a bottle was introduced that Little Miss wouldn't want to nurse anymore (the wrong type of bottle can hinder a breastfeeding relationship) or if the bottle wasn't the right kind it would turn the baby off from the bottle and then she would ONLY want to nurse. I was very nervous about all of this because I was determined to be successful at breastfeeding even and especially once I went back to work! Cheri from The Care Connection was a great help and recommended the Calma. Everything I read and learned from breastfeeding class said to introduce a bottle between 3-5 weeks and dad should give the first bottle when mom isn't home. So at 4 weeks I went to visit my friend and her new baby in the hospital and left hubs alone with the baby and the bottle. She took to it beautifully, and still nursed just fine the same night. It very well could be that we have an easy going kid who goes with the flow (ha! no pun intended!) but I honestly believe the Calma was a huge help. I was able to successfully give Little Miss pumped breast milk for the duration of our nursing relationship when I couldn't be with her. Not to mention, I truly believe the Calma had a hand in helping her transition from a regular sippy cup to a straw sippy a lot quicker (9 months) because it has a similar feel to a straw. She actually preferred straw sippy cups pretty early on and I really think the fact that she didn't have a typical bottle nipple helped.

6. BOOKS-If there is one thing I want to stress to you as a teacher mom it's that there is one thing you can never ever have too many of in your house and it's books! This is the one thing I am ok with spoiling my kids with. Books are SO important.

6. A good soft structured ergonomically correct baby carrier! Baby wearing in and of itself is so important and amazing for bonding and helping parents get things done around the house! It also helps alleviate "flat head" syndrome because the baby is not always on its back in say a swing or sleeper. But I will stress the importance of getting a carrier that will not cause baby to be "crotch dangling."
 
Baby B'jorns are classic examples. This puts stress on baby's hip joints and can lead to hip dysplasia over time. Here's a good quick set of tips for successful and safe baby wearing.

I have three favorites. And trust me I tried out a few. I like different carriers for different reasons.

Shh, don't tell daddy I posted a pic of him! ;)

The Ergo-This carrier is great for being outside on long outings as it gives lots of support and does not put stress on parent's back or baby's hips.They are a little pricey, but you can watch sites like babysteals for good deals. I got mine for half price on Ergo's website! We have the standard, basic black one. I wanted the one with the stars or a purple one but wanted hubs to be willing to actually wear it...and I am glad I went with black because he does!

Using the Moby around the house!

The Moby Wrap-My cousin got me the Moby for my shower. At that point I was obviously not well-versed in baby wearing at ALL and was like "What the heck do I do with this looooong piece of fabric?! Well fast forward a few months later and I was wrapping like a BOSS. Hubs and I both LOVE the Moby wrap! It takes some practice, as does any carrier, to figure out proper adjustment, holds, and wrapping techniques, but it's perfect for quick trips or long ones, chores around the house, or even taking a nap with baby on your chest! (Making sure baby is safely and properly positioned of course!) It's very comfortable to wear, and is a great wrap for beginner baby wearers. And it can hold up to 35 pounds! I highly recommend the Moby, as it is one of the more affordable carriers out there and is great for anyone just starting out with baby wearing. I found it was easy to use for errands. I would wrap it and put it on myself before I got in the car, then when I arrived wherever I was going I would just pop Little Miss out of the car seat and into the wrap. Then I wouldn't have to re-wrap every time I got in and out of the car.

Rocking the K'Tan at the Farmer's Market!

The Baby K'Tan-This was a whim purchase! I loved my Moby wrap, but as I became more of an avid babywearer I did some more research and read about the K'Tan. It's essentially the same as a Moby except it's prewrapped for you. You just slide the two hoops around your shoulders, pop baby in, and tie the waist piece around you. SO easy peasy. Plus, there is a lot less fabric, so it keeps you cooler. I love love love my K'Tan and used it most of the time before Little Miss could walk or stand.


Now that Little Miss is bigger she is heavier so I tend to use the Ergo more for the support, but the K'Tan is still my favorite! The main thing to know is that you get more holds with the Ergo...you cannot use a soft structured carrier for a back carry, just front and side holds. If you want to use a wrap for a back carry then you need to get a strong linen wrap. You can check out this website for lots more useful info about baby wearing!

A word on clothing: Baby clothing is my vice. I can tell you that once I had Little Miss I pretty much never bought anything for myself ever again. (Ok that is a slight exaggeration, but I really couldn't tell you the last time I bought myself clothes!) Baby clothes are SO much fun to buy and receive because they are so damn cute! You will get tons of cute things before the baby is born (more so if you find out what you are having) and after too, people were SOOOOO generous to us! Who doesn't love buying cute little clothes for baby?! But I always tell new moms to keep in mind one important thing: Keep the tags on everything! You are going to want to wash and organize and put away all the cute little outfits immediately, (Yes, I did this! Learn from the error of my ways!) but DON'T! You don't know how big your baby is going to be...or in our case how small! Even without the receipts most stores will let you exchange sizes or outfits months or even years later! PJs and onesies are an exception, because you'll get use out of them no matter what, but definitely keep the tags on the other clothes until baby is here!

*****************

And honestly, that's it! You don't need lots of stuff for your baby! My child has a whole playroom full of toys which she does play with a lot! But she is also happy with boxes or baskets or pots and pans! We live in a society where everyone thinks they need to give their baby all sorts of STUFF. And don't get me wrong, we are very appreciative of everything that we have received as gifts and make good use of it all. But for those new moms out there who are stressing out about everything you think you need-don't! Just enjoy the time getting ready for baby. Before you know it he or she will be here and you will be perfectly content worrying about your little one. And baby will be ok with just your love. That's all the "stuff" that our littles need.

 Love and Laughs,

Danielle

Stop the Insanity!

Lately I have been seeing a lot of people sharing and talking about various blog posts by fellow mom bloggers. This is awesome. I got into blogging because I was inspired by all these other mamas who seemed to really have it together. After all, if they could handle blogging on top of parenting, jobs, housework, social lives...then we should be celebrating their efforts and accomplishments and sharing tips, tricks, and advice with one another.

I love reading mom blogs. On the left hand side of my blog you can see links to some of my favorite mommy blogs. I think it's SO important that moms support one another, and respect one another, despite what your parenting positions are, especially when there is so much negativity out there today regarding "The Mommy Wars."

Which brings me to my next point.

I have noticed a trend lately among mommy bloggers and just other mommies that I DON'T like.
Maybe you've noticed it too. Moms seem to be banning together to be telling like it is and talking about the harsh realities of parenthood in a very candid way. Sometimes too candid. And too abrasive.

Recently, I saw a blog post by a mom whose son was allegedly called an "a-hole" by another mom. Hold the phone, are you kidding? Who says that about a kid?! As I am reading I am really feeling for this mom. But then she does the unthinkable-SHE calls her son an "a-hole." WHAT? I am sorry but what? How can you ever use a word like that to describe your own child? The context was that a friend was calling her son too wild and in turn called her son an "a-hole." But then she responded with: "Well what the hell does she expect? He’s a 4-year-old BOY! Of course he’s a wild, crazy a-hole!"

I understand that she was "joking," but joking or not I cannot ever even imagine using such harsh words about my child. I don't care how frustrated I am or how tired or spread too thin. It's just not acceptable.

I think some moms (bloggers or not) feel that moms who don't yell or swear or say sarcastic things are out of touch or trying to put on a show or something. Every mom is spread thin. Every mom is tired. Every mom has her moments. I get frustrated when my daughter has a tantrum. A few weeks ago we were in Target and Little Miss had her very first public meltdown. She wanted to drink out of a sippy that I put in the cart to buy for my cousin's son, and of course it had nothing in it so she was MAD. She screamed and cried and wanted to get down and I could have yelled or spanked her or swore or hung my head in shame. But, as someone wise once told me, life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it. So I did the best I could. We visited the snack bar where a very nice Target worker gave us a cup full of water. Then I got what I needed quickly, all while talking calmly to her and eventually she calmed down and we went home. Not once did I EVER think to call her a name or scream. Not my style. And I am Italian with a capital I, so that's saying a lot. But I believe childhood is precious and regardless of how hard things are, I never want to look back and regret something I said or did to my baby.

My point is, why are moms acting like it's "cool" or "funny" to rally together to say how much parenting sucks sometimes? I have seen so many things online lately whether from blogs or e-cards or memes that say things about how parents can't wait until their kids go to bed, or talk about how their kids are such a burden. I know most of it is probably meant to be in jest, and maybe I am more sensitive to certain things because of my stuggle to get pregnant. But is it really necessary to talk about your kids using swear words?

I know that mom was defending her son. And I don't blame her at all. I am not trying to pick on this one mom. I don't know her and I certainly respect her mama bear attitude. I would be and feel the same way if someone said something bad about my kid. But maybe tone it down on the harsh words. What is he going to think someday when he grows up and reads her blog and sees that his mama called him such a name?

Another post that made the rounds awhile back got to me as well.
This post had a mom talking about parenting "teams." So many people on my friends list shared and liked and commented on how great this woman's post was. She was all up in arms because she doesn't want to be labeled as a specific type of parent or be lumped into a group. She doesn't want to be called an attachment parent and is proud of using lysol and disposable diapers and thinks that because she uses or does those things that other moms will judge her. And maybe some will, but that doesn't make it right. But it also isn't right to talk about the people who choose to do or not do certain things in the same negative way.

That's fine that you don't want to be labeled. No one does. But do you need to be so negative about those people that DO like to identify with a certain group? I know that  I personally love being able to identify with other like minded people. I have made a lot of friends this way and feel like I have a great network of resources of like minded mommies to go to for advice, support, or just to vent and talk! What's wrong with wanting to identify with others? That saying "It takes a village" has some truth to it!

I very proudly consider myself an attachment parent. You all know this. I am proud to nurse my babies anywhere and everywhere and ::gasp:: past the age of one. I baby wear. I co-sleep. We use cloth diapers. I did my best to make my own baby food. We spread out vaccines-but we DO get all of them!  And I am proud of those things.

Have we used disposables? Yes! My daughter is in one right now as a matter of fact since we are sans washing machine. I have no plans to wash diapers in the sink. And I am ok with that.

Has my daughter had pouches? And pizza? And french fries? Yes! Because we do our best to shop organic and non-GMO but we also live life. And if it's pizza Friday then Little Miss is having pizza. And if we are at Tim Horton's she gets a timbit. And she loves it! And I am ok with that.

Guess what? I DON'T believe in home birthing! If you do, more power to you! But for me and my family, I am a firm believer in a hospital birth. I had a c-section due to an emergency situation the first time around, and yes I have a scheduled one for this baby. And I am ok with those things too.

But do you see me feeling guilty or swearing or talking bad about others who disagree with me? NO! Because everyone's situation is different, and every family has to do what's best for them. And I guarantee you that doesn't make me any less of an "attachment parent." Or a parent for that matter.

Go ahead and call me AP. Go ahead and call me crunchy. Or "team green" because I am not finding out the sex of my babies. Put whatever label you want on me. I don't really care. I think people who get mad about that kind of thing are thinking way too much about it. Maybe they feel guilty for not being more like this way of parenting or that way and that's their way of coping with it. Who knows. But I honestly think everyone needs to settle down, stop fighting about how we choose to raise our kids and just respect one another. No one needs to be getting all up in arms and swearing because they feel like they are falling short of the expectations they put on themselves-or the expectations that they believe or perceive others/society to be putting on them.

What we all need to remember is what it all boils down to: our babies.

As long as your little ones are fed, clothed, have a roof over their heads, are paid attention to and LOVED then you are doing a good job.

I know I am doing a good job. Because my little one is happy and loved.

So go ahead and put a label on me.

The only label I care about is the one my babies give me: Mommy.

Love and Laughs,

Danielle

Social Experiment

Last weekend I went to dinner with my sister and her two friends for her one friend's birthday. While we were waiting (30 minutes, ugh....not good for a pregnant mama!) in the bar area shoveling in peanuts and popcorn (which easily could have accounted for dinner by the time we were done!) I noticed something.

Instead of truly conversing with one another we were all on our phones. I was scrolling through my newsfeed, and the three others were sending snaps and checking winks or whatever it is the youngin's are doing these days. Compared to all of them I feel old. Facebook is old news in the social media world. Or so they tell me.

Anyway, sure we were chatting here and there but we weren't truly THERE.

It made me think about my last post and one of the goals I have for myself.

Put.Down.The.Phone.

Ironically then,  I happened upon this meme as I scrolled through my feed:



  

I have seen before and am pretty sure I have it pinned too. My mom and brother and I tried it once last summer but we gave up (well, my brother and I did) and we didn't take it seriously.

Have you ever done this? I told the group I had an idea for a game we could play during dinner but wanted them to agree without knowing what it was. Andrea agreed right away, assuming we were going to act weird in public or something. My sis figured out what it was and agreed, and CJ was in as long he would win. I told them either one of us would lose, or all of us would win! I told them it just involves us and our willpower!

I showed them the picture above and Andrea, a self-admitted phone addict immediately said she knew she'd lose. I said, well since it's your birthday it's more incentive to not have to buy us dinner! We were all excited and also nervous. I was totally in, after all, I have to work on my goal of less phone time, but wanted to make sure my ringer was on with a special ringtone for Hubs in case he called with an emergency. But still, we were in! Andrea had to turn off her phone because it gave her such anxiety. But after a few minutes we all realized that she was defeating the purpose! So we turned it on and stacked our phones in the center of the table.

I wish I had a picture but I couldn't use my phone! Just shows how much we rely on our phones every minute.

For the first few minutes we giggled and laughed about how hard it was going to be and then the amazing happened.

We stopped talking about our phones and conversed.

Truly conversed with one another for almost three hours!!!

I got to know Andrea and CJ a lot better, which was really cool. I found out so much about them that I didn't know. I realized that my sister picks some pretty good people to be around. 

We talked about careers, schools, parenting, my little one, nieces and nephews, pregnancy, pedicures (we had all gotten them that afternoon) the weather in Buffalo, how delicious our food was, etc. etc. etc. It was the first time in (I'm embarrassed to admit) I can't even tell you how long that I truly sat down and was present with the people I was with and wasn't distracted by my phone. I think it was the same for the company I was with as well.

By the time the bill was delivered, we were all paying for our own meals. No one had touched their phones and we all agreed it needs to be something that people do much more often. For the betterment of society.

And then we all opened the iPhone calculator to figure out the tip.

Such is life! 

Try it sometime. You will feel as liberated as we did, I promise.

Love and Laughs,

Danielle

Living Simply and Living Well

Happy New Year!

It's 2014...by now our parents and grandparents thought we'd have flying cars and robot servants, yet here we are. Although we aren't too far off. I consider Siri a pretty important part of my day-she schedules things on my calendar, sets my alarm, looks up things for me, sends texts, calls people...so she's KIND of like Rosie! And Amazon is working on these little drones that fly your stuff to you and deliver it in less than 30 minutes...like a pizza! So I guess we are getting close.

We have technology that does everything for us. I can remember a time where I had to look up information in an encyclopedia or a phone book...now I can just "google it." We don't have to think for ourselves anymore! And while having so much information literally at our fingertips is often a good thing, I think it has also helped contribute to a disease that most everyone I know has these days...TMSD.

Too
Much
Stuff
Disorder.

Stay with me here.

In this world where we can facebook and pinterest to our hearts content, all we are seeing is STUFF. Stuff that advertisers want us to see, stuff that our friends have, stuff that complete strangers have. And we think, why can't I have that too? I want more STUFF. Because in our society these days, all we are bombarded with on a daily basis is commercialism.

I am guilty of this. But most likely, so are YOU.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately for two reasons.

First of all, the nesting is starting. I come home and freak out because I feel like WE ARE SO NOT READY FOR ANOTHER BABY IN THREE MONTHS. How can this be? I ask myself? I have everything I need from when Little Miss was a baby...and because we didn't find out what we were having, everything is gender neutral. We are set. So how can I feel we are not ready? Because it's ingrained in my mind that we need stuff to have a baby. Then I remind myself that babies need 3 things: Love, food, shelter, and more love. And if you're my kid then you need a binky too. THAT'S it! I have plenty of love to give, a roof over my head, and all the milk in the world that I produce myself. Kick ass. I am ready.

The second reason is of course the Christmas season. While we are TOTALLY and COMPLETELY grateful for everything we received for ourselves and Little Miss this year, the hubs and I came home last week completely overwhelmed. Where would we put all of the shiny new stuff?! We live in an 1100 square foot cape with two bedrooms. We have a living room/dining room and a tiny kitchen with one small counter. That's all folks. No playroom, no office, no attic for storage because we just turned it into a third bedroom for Little Miss because once the baby comes she needs to be in her own room. We have one small linen closet. Where to put everything? My house was built in '39, so I think to myself, how did they survive with such little space? Well, think about how our grandparents lived back in the day...the reason houses were small was because they only had what they truly NEEDED. Do my husband and I need 25 towels? Absolutely not. But that's about how many we have!

Then I stumbled across this blog post.

This woman took her kids' toys away! All of them!
At first I thought, "What a meanie, how can she do that to her kids?" Then I read more and realized she was echoing the same sentiments I mentioned above. When there are too many things around us, we can't truly focus on what's in front of us, and what is truly important.

Which leads me to my next point.

When I was in what I like to refer to as my "pre-adult" life (the years prior to turning 25). My mindset was still in the egotistical phase. I made resolutions like "This is the year I will get skinny" or "This year I will start eating better" or  "This year I won't take crap from anybody." Etc. etc. etc.

Here's what's wrong with those "resolutions." First, they don't contribute to making anyone better but YOU. Of course I think that people should focus on improving themselves and their lifestyle, after all that's what this blog is all about. But why do you need to wait until January 1st to do so? Anyone ever walk into a gym during the month of January? By March it's the same old clientele. What's wrong with making one small change at a time to better yourself? For example: "In January I am going to commit to drinking enough water every day." Followed by, "I am going to cut down to one cup of coffee or tea a day." Small goals are better on the road to success, that's what I have found in my "adult" (post age 25) life.
Secondly, I don't think people should make resolutions-I think people need to make goals that they can stick with. Make goals that will make your world and the world around you a better place for you, your family, friends, and others. My goal last year was to slowly start becoming more "green." It has been an ongoing goal though. Am I where I want to be yet? Not completely. Have I made HUGE gains that I am totally proud of? Heck yea! But I am not done. Because I don't believe you are ever done improving yourself or your world. I think it's something you do over time, not just on January 1st. That being said, if that is the natural "do over" time that works for you and your timetable, by all means, start today! But just remember to make more attainable small goals that will lead up to your overall goal!

Before I get into my goals, I want to share what I am proud of from last year. Here are some things I am really happy that I have worked on and maintained in 2013.

• Every night that we are all home, my family and I sit down for dinner around the table together. There's no TV, just the 3 of us spending quality time together.

• I have successfully kept my promise to myself that schoolwork stays at school, and have not brought anything home which might interfere with family time, which is #1!

•  As a family we have successfully kept our promise to recycle more than we throw away. Our recycling bin is always overflowing and we only have to put garbage out once every other week.

• I have really gotten better about starting to get rid of things we don't need. It's still a work in progress but I have gotten a lot better!

• On the whole, I have made many changes to "greenify" our house in almost every area, from cleaning products to toiletries, and while this too is a work in progress, we are much improved from a year ago.

That being said, I would like to share my "goals" for 2014. Partially because I want to write them down so it makes me more likely to work hard at them, and also because I'd like you to follow on my journey if you are so inclined! Together we can work to make our worlds better for ourselves and our families!

Goal 1: Three nights per week will be dedicated to turning off the TV/other screens and accomplishing things around the house.

I am making this goal, because at night, as soon as Little Miss is in bed, Hubs and I find ourselves in front of the TV and/or computer/iPad vegging out. We're tired from working all day and then coming home to spend what precious little time we have with the little one, and all we want to do is veg. But then on the weekends we find ourselves overwhelmed with the sheer amount of housework that has piled up. (I make it a rule to not do any work around the house when Little Miss is awake. They are only little for so long and I like to dedicate that time to to spending quality time with her.) Of course I do the things I have to do to get ready for the next day like pack her bag, pick out clothes, laundry, etc. but other than that we are plopped on the couch post 7 pm. Which is ironic, considering we don't believe in screen time for Little Miss! So, after bedtime for Little Miss, Monday and Friday are my designated veg out nights, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be dedicated to household chores, organization, blogging, or crafting. It's my hope that carving this time our for myself will really improve my ability to get things done that I might otherwise put off!

Goal 2: Try our first ever "spending freeze."

For 31 days starting this Sunday (we have to grocery shop first!) Hubs and I have decided to take a page from Ruth over at Living Well & Spending Less, and try out her plan for spending zero for one month. There are exceptions of course such as necessities, but you can read more about what the Ground Rules are at her blog. I am really excited to try this. I think it will be a huge challenge for both of us, but for me especially. While I don't have a Starbucks habit, I do tend to spend a little here, a little there (especially at Target!) which just leads to more STUFF. Precisely what I was talking about earlier, and what leads me to my next goal.

Goal 3: Cut the CLUTTER and SIMPLIFY!

We have too much stuff. And our house is overflowing with it. Our junk drawer has turned into a junk closet. Or that's what it seems like. We have good intentions, but it seems like we never get anywhere because more stuff keeps coming in but not enough goes out! So I am going to start the process one room at a time. (Actually, I started this past week, organizing and cleaning out all of our kitchen drawers....we had about 30 extra pieces of silverware that don't match our set. Where did they come from? But that proves my point about not waiting for the New Year to start on a goal!) Again, the blog I mentioned above has great ideas for this, including pretty checklists and everything. I plan to make it my own and do it a little at a time, because after all I need to start with small, attainable goals that I can actually reach! One closet, drawer, or  room at a time and I will get there! And no, I am not going to take all of my toddler's toys away and not give them back. But when she moves into her big girl room I am going to be very selective about what enters the room, how things are stored, and how we organize the new playroom/former nursery. Toys will be rotated in and won't all be readily available all the time. I am planning on this now in hopes that it just becomes the culture around here.

Goal 4: Put the cell phone down in one spot when I get home and don't pick it up unless it's an important call (or if my baby is doing something cute and I have to take a picture). ;)

Good Lord this is going to be the hardest one. I am addicted to my iPhone. Seriously. I know I have a problem. And it's rubbing off on my Little, who hands me my phone if I am not holding it. I find myself mindlessly scrolling through e-mails, pinterest, facebook, you name it, just because it's there. I just don't want it attached to me 24/7 at home like it is now. It's not healthy and I want to set a good example for my daughter before she's asking for an iPhone for her 2nd birthday!

Goal 5: Hang more pictures!

I have a 2 TB hardrive. That's a lot of storage. I take pictures like it's my job. Seriously, I have over 1,000 on my phone as we speak and another 11,000 on the computer. But I have maybe 5 hanging in my house. That needs to change! And it will this year.

So there you have it. My goals for the new year. I think all of them will be really important as we embark upon this new journey of having two under two in a few months, but I also think it will improve our quality of life as well.

I hope that you too will think about what the new year can bring in terms of change, but don't bog yourself down with one huge goal that in a few months will be long forgotten. Start small and see what you can accomplish that way. A year from now you never know how far you might have come!

Happy New Year!

Love and Laughs,

Danielle

Being a mom-The best and the worst

Being a mom is hard work. It's the hardest job I have ever had BUT it is also the most rewarding job in the world. I have never once complained about my new job. I wanted it so much and it's everything I expected and sometimes unexpected too. I never expected to love someone this much. I knew I would love my baby before she was here but I never could have imagined how much I would love her. I knew I would be more selfless once she arrived, but I continue to be in awe of how much I am happily willing to give up every day if it means she is happy. Do I miss sleeping in on the weekends? Sure. But I would never trade it for what I have now: unlimited snuggling on the weekends! Do I miss being able to hop in the car and run errands all by myself? Sometimes. But now I get to watch my daughter take in the world wherever we go and enjoy every minute of it. This kid LOVES Wegmans! The point is that for every thing I will miss about my old life, there are 100 more reasons I love my life as a mom.

The best part of being a mom is knowing you are needed always. 

Feeling that little hand creep up to find your finger and hold on tight. Seeing that little face search for you in a room and see it light up with joy. Hearing that little giggle because whatever you did was absolutely hilarious to that sweet little bundle of love.

But the worst part?

...is watching your child go through what we endured this weekend. There is nothing scarier and nothing that hurts more than when your baby is sick. Except when your baby is sick AND has to go through a ton of medical procedures.

Little miss was doing fine. Earlier in the week we had her at Children's for a GI to look at her tummy. She's been spitting up more than normal and has developed some eczema, so the doctors have been trying to rule out a few things. Thankfully she doesn't have reflux or any other terrible stomach condition! This summer  next week! we will see an allergist to rule out a possible food or environmental allergy...did you know that eczema is more often than not caused by an allergy or sensitivity? But otherwise she got a clean bill of health because other than the spitting up she is still gaining weight and is the happiest baby around.

Friday evening she went to sleep at her normal time and was fine. Around 2 am she woke up crying. Sometimes she does this and I usually help her find her binky or pull her out of her co-sleeper and in bed with me and she goes right to sleep. She will either stay there with me or I will put her back in her co-sleeper once she's out. Well as I held her I realized she was burning up (score +1 for co-sleeping!) so I used the temporal thermometer to take her temperature. If you don't have one of these, GET ONE! It's a lifesaver. Want to take your child's temperature while they are sleeping? No problem! Such a wonderful invention! Her temperature was 101. Not too high, but enough that she was uncomfortable. I chalked it up to teething, because let's face it, at ten months this kid really needs some teeth soon! She was still pretty fussy though, so I gave her some Motrin to help her get some rest. She eventually calmed down and slept in my arms all night.

I woke up around 7 am and realized she wasn't up yet...not like her at all. She usually wakes between 5:30 and 6 to eat. I took her temperature and it was 101 still. The Motrin hadn't brought it down. She was sleeping soundly though, so I just held her and waited for her to wake up. Around 7:30 she woke up and waned to nurse. After she ate she fell back asleep until 10:00 am! When she woke up she was really lethargic and fussy...not at all like herself. I changed her and took her temp and it was 102.5. High enough to call the doctor who sent us to urgent care. They didn't open until noon, but we wanted to be the first ones in so we got there around 11:45 and walked in as soon as they unlocked the doors.

I normally wouldn't be so freaked out by a fever...after all in the past little miss has had fevers and has played and laughed right through them. I knew this was different because she was NOT herself. She was clinging to me and crying for no reason. And was SO sleepy. Once they got her admitted they took her temperature and it was 105.8. Tell me that isn't the scariest thing you have ever heard. In a 17 pound infant that fever scared me more than I have ever been scared. In that moment I went into survival mode. Thankfully the nurses were extremely calm and kept me feeling that way too. A high dose of Tylenol was administered and then we were brought to a patient room. I will say that Pediatric Urgent Care is phenomenal. If you live in the Buffalo area and your child is sick I highly recommend there over an ER. Comfortable rooms to wait in with beds and cribs, TVs, books for the kids, coffee, and the staff is wonderful.

What came next was about two hours of attempting to get a pic line in to get a blood draw and give IV fluids, a catheter, and more attempts at getting a blood draw. It was awful. My poor baby just cried and cried and there was nothing I could do because they had to find out what was wrong. I felt like the absolute worst mom in the world knowing she was going through all that. I know it was necessary to find out what was wrong, but still it was heart-wrenching.

Finally we found out that what was bothering my little one was a bacterial infection. Her white blood cell count was extremely high. She received a high dose of antibiotics with the directive to return on Sunday to get another dose. Finally, finally after several hours we got to go home. I spent the rest of the day and evening on the couch holding my baby in my arms. She was exhausted and drained and was not having any part of being put down. And because I'm her mama I put everything else aside and held her all night because that's what she needed.

After a horrible weekend my little one is finally starting to feel better. She's playing and laughing but is still very clingy. She's still not back to normal but she is getting there. I have been on edge for three days watching her every move just praying that she will get better.

This has definitely been the worst part of being a mom. Knowing your little one is sick and in pain and there's literally nothing you can do. There is nothing else about this job that compares to the fear and pain you feel for your child in that moment. But I think it makes you a better mom. When you feel that way it shows you how strong you can be. In that horrifying and scary moment you become someone you never thought you could be-a strong and unwavering spirit for your child.

So I embrace the good and the bad, and as hard as it is, I accept the hard parts because it makes me the mom I want to be. I am learning to be strong and fight for whatever my child needs because of those fleeting moments of fear.

And I am thankful for that.

Love and Laughs (and lots of prayers too),

Danielle

 

"Green" thoughts for a Saturday night

I'm back! It feels like I have been gone forever!

That was a tough few weeks! I must apologize to my loyal readers for disappearing, but such is life sometimes!

I wasn't able to post at all in the past week and a half or so because our computer cord sparked and melted right before my eyes-so I was computer-less. $86.95 later I am back online and not too happy with apple for not recalling my faulty cord.  I am just thankful that it happened when we were home. I don't even want to think about what might have happened if we weren't here!

I know I missed Friday favorites so I will make it up to all of you next week with a really good one :) In the meantime here are some fun musings I feel like my readers can appreciate as much as I do!

Last night as we were cleaning the house (I know, what an exciting Friday night hubs and I had!) hubs came in the dining room where I was going through stacks of mail to recycle and he told me that we didn't even fill up one full bag of garbage this week! We didn't have to put the garbage out because we only had half a bag. Do you know how exciting that is for me? We have really been trying hard to reduce our waste in a lot of ways. We're not using paper towels anymore, I upcycled some old curtains into cloth napkins, we recycle everything we possibly can down to the toilet paper rolls and yogurt containers, and we even found biodegradable sponges! So I think we are doing pretty good at reducing our carbon footprint. That made me really happy! I also chuckled because our recycling bin is completely full every week, sometimes to the point where I have to set some aside for the following week. Now that is progress!

Speaking of reducing our carbon footprint, about a week ago I was talking to one of the parents of one of my first graders and she told me that they went to the beach the week before. She said that her son insisted on spending half the afternoon picking up trash on the beach! He said "Mrs. N. would be SO sad to see all this litter on the beach...what if it gets in the water?" I guess I may have made an impression! Another parent told me that her little girl was very concerned about recycling now, and insisted that they not throw out anything that could be recycled. Another little girl in my glass came to school all excited because her mom bought her reusable containers for her lunch box to use instead of ziploc bags. These are SIX YEAR OLDS!!! And on Friday at an assembly I was so proud because our school ran an essay contest for each grade level asking them to write about some way to help take care of our planet. A little boy from my class wrote an essay about recycling and he won first place for first grade! I was so proud of him! And what was even cooler for me was that two other students that won first place were in my class the past two years. I guess I must really drive home how important it is to take care of the earth with my little firsties! Not to mention they turn into such good writers under my tutelage apparently :) It just goes to show that whatever you say to kids REALLY gets taken to heart. They may not seem like it sometimes but they ARE listening! And how amazing is it that these kids care so much at such a young age. Think about all the good they will do throughout their lives if we keep teaching them about reducing their carbon footprint!

Farmer's Market season is really starting to get into full swing. My little miss and I headed out to the opening day of the Williamsville farmer's market today which was so much fun. I strapped her into the k'tan and we enjoyed sampling homemade organic cookies, fudge, cheeses, and more. We got some delicious, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, organic dog treats for my pups, and I even got some oatmeal and almond olive oil soap from bath & bliss, a local company that makes natural products. And I also was able to finally try out my new produce bags! I did as much shopping as I could at the market, then we headed over to Wegman's where we finished up. What a great way to reduce the use of plastics while still keeping your produce fresh! I got these at Target in the dollar section and am kicking myself for not grabbing more! Lord knows they will most likely be gone when I go back! I love love love reducing the amount of waste we bring into the house and these bags really help us accomplish that!

Finally, I have to say that I am so excited because some things are brewing over here at The Good Life. I don't want to give away too much before we are ready to unveil but I will tell you that you will love what is coming! So keep your eye on the blog and also on our facebook page for the latest news!

Love and Laughs,

Danielle

Reflection

Originally posted 10/18/12

On this beautiful fall day I was able to sit back and reflect on the blessings I have been given.

I took little miss to the memorial trail nearby to go for a nice long walk. The sidewalks near our house are so bumpy so it was nice to be on smooth pavement for once. I got myself a pumpkin spice latte and put the baby in the stroller to enjoy what may be one of the last nice days where we can be outside without being bundled. It was warm enough that I could wear a long sleeved shirt and yoga pants and still be quite comfortable. Little miss of course snuggled up in her new fuzzy hat!

The trees were nearly at peak and it was quiet. I was able to really reflect on the beauty around me as we walked the trail. Joggers, dog walkers, and even a lone cyclist passed us by and we shared hellos and small talk about the weather and the baby. It made me smile that every person that passed was so friendly. You don't often have that happen anymore in the world today.

 As I walked I was alone with my thoughts and I thought, wow, I am so fortunate to be able to have this day, this moment in time. A year ago around this time I was in a rough place and never thought I would be so lucky a year later. It gives me so much perspective. We all really only have today. I think it's important to remember that. Every day little miss gets a little bigger and changes a little bit more, and the day before is gone forever. I try to remind myself to cherish each moment as it happens but sometimes everyone forgets that. Sometimes it takes a beautiful day like today to help me remember that today is a gift-after all, isn't that why they call it the present?

I saw this picture yesterday on someone's facebook and it really made me think. It's such a simple statement, but it really is the truth. Ask yourself if you have what you really need. No life isn't perfect and yes we have troubles but in the grand scheme of things do we have a roof over our head? Do we have food to eat? Do we have a beautiful family and love to share? Having those things is what life is about. If you have those then you are richer than any of the 1% and you have everything to be thankful for.



Yesterday was a rough day. The baby was very fussy all day and for a normally happy and cheerful baby it's very obvious when something is wrong. It broke my heart to hear her crying and not to know how to help her. But I didn't get angry or frustrated. I kept it together and I just held her close and rocked her. Because that's what I would want if I were her. To be held close and reminded that someone is there even if it's been a bad day. I won't always be able to hold her close and snuggle her when she is sad, but I will always be there. I hope that by keeping her close to me and giving her that security now when she needs it the most, it will remind her that mama will always be there, even when she is too big to snuggle.

So while my baby girl slept in her stroller today I thanked God for every minute with her, even the tough ones. Because for every tough minute or hour or day or sleepless night, there are a million amazing moments to cherish, and how could we be so thankful for the good without a smattering of the bad to remind us that we only have today. After all, there is "No Day but Today."

Enjoy this moment. Because today is all we have. Tomorrow, she'll be a little bigger, a little older, and a little bit closer to growing up. And while I am so excited for every milestone and to watch her grow into an amazing young woman, I want to hold on to this precious time for as long as I can before the present becomes the past and in the blink of an eye my baby isn't so little anymore.

Love and Laughs,

Danielle

Why I Quit Facebook

Facebook and I have always had a love hate relationship. It's like a drug. It's literally addictive. But at the same time I hate it. I liken it to how junkies must feel. They hate what the drug does to them but they keep going back for more. Facebook has been my drug of choice for quite some time.

What is it about sharing everything about one's life with the world? Why do we feel the need to share so much of ourselves? What can we possibly gain from all this instant sharing? Social networks are supposed to bring people together but yet at the same time they become isolating. We hide behind our gadgets instead of spending actual face time with people. Now granted some of you might say that blogging is the same thing, but I don't think it is. I feel like my blog is a space to create and share in a way that Facebook doesn't allow. Ok so maybe it IS livejournal for the next generation. But unlike my old livejournal where I lamented about boyfriends and got all emo sometimes, I enjoy blogging because I like to write. And not being a "writer" by trade I feel that blogging gives me that outlet. And who knows, maybe blogging could turn into something more. And if not then at least I can share this blog with my children one day and show them who their mama was.

When Facebook was first around (and I suppose even before that it was MySpace), it was fun to connect with people from your past, share photos and music, and deck out your profile. Haha I remember the days of AOL profiles when I was first learning HTML script to change the colors on my page. Even back then it was all about what everyone thought of my page. Food for thought. Do we care more about how we project ourselves to be online, or who we are in person?

But recently (and maybe long ago, but I am just now realizing), Facebook has become such a negative place. There were times during the presidential election when I literally wanted to punch people. I was so annoyed over people's political posts that I installed social fixer to hide them. I myself was guilty of this for a time too but I quickly realized that if I was annoyed by others then others must be annoyed by me. So I tried to stick with just posts about my darling girl.

Suddenly Facebook has become one big commercial. Promoting statuses? Liking everything? I can't take it. Like this post if you hate cancer. Really?! Of course I hate cancer, who likes it?! But do I have to show that I hate it? Unreal.

Or how about the posts of abused animals? Good heavens I know it happens but I don't want to be reminded of it as I'm scrolling through my newsfeed! It's bad enough that every time I'm watching tv I have to run screaming from the room because of the ASPCA commercials. Damn you Sarah Mchlachlan.

I've considered this a few times. I thought about how I'd keep in touch with people. But then I realized that the people who really care about me are not going to stop talking to me without Facebook. So I guess it's the true test of friendship in this day and age. Not that I'm trying to test my friends I just hate the games Facebook makes me play.

Examples:

Wait this person unfriended me? Why? What did I do wrong?

Or

Omg I have unfriended this person before and they keep refriending me. Clearly you just want to see my stuff. Stalker.

Or

My friend list is way too long and I want to cut it down. I better not cut this person though because I might see him/her around and then they'll ask me why and it will be awkward.

Or even

Wow this person has never ever liked or commented on a picture of my baby yet they've commented on and liked pictures of my friend's baby. What the heck?


I guarantee every person reading this has experienced at least one if not all of those situations!

I am the first one to admit that I have/had a Facebook problem. Especially when I was on maternity leave. Armed with a smart phone or laptop there's not much else to do when baby is sleeping in your arms or nursing. You're planted in one spot so why not go on Facebook?

Since I went back to work I have to say I'm proud of myself for cutting way back on Facebook. I was testing myself and it worked. I can survive without checking it every hour. The world won't stop spinning if I don't post a status.

And the more I got to thinking the more I realized that Facebook has made me really annoyed with people I love at times. And that's not healthy. On the same token there are people that I will miss. I have made some friendships predominately through Facebook and those relationships are what Facebook is what all about. Connecting with people you may not have had the chance to otherwise, or in a different way because they are long distance. But with this experiment I have to just do it all at once-like pulling off a band aid.

So as part of my journey in 2013 I've made the courageous decision to deactivate. I think it will do me a lot of good. I want to strengthen friendships and relationships the old fashioned way: in person. And I want to be a good role model for my beautiful little girl. We don't believe in screen time for her, so what kind of mom would I be if I didn't give it up/cut it down myself?

I am not leaving the Internet behind. I will still be tweeting, and if you click the button on the top of this blog you can follow me on twitter. I like twitter because I feel like it embodies what Facebook used to be-social commentary that is witty (140 characters!) and doesn't leave too much room to be negative, critical, or judgmental. So follow me on twitter at @msbuffalove for my witty banter and social commentary and also the occasional picture of food.

I decided to also keep my Instagram account which is danijean5. I really like Instagram because like twitter it's not too crazy. Just pictures! So feel free to hop on there as well!

And for updates on our life and our adventures please follow this blog by email. On the side of the page there is a widget that allows you to get an email each time I post...which I hope I'll have more time for now that I'm not wasting away on Facebook.

And who knows, maybe I will be back.
I probably will be back. But for right now I have to just quit. It's like my old yahoo account. At one point it had so many emails to shift through that I had to just stop checking it and make a completely new account. That's how I feel about Facebook. Right now I have "liked" so many things, joined so many groups, and followed so many pages that my newsfeed is constantly cluttered with nonsense. So maybe in time I will be back and I will make a new one or go back to the old and take the time to sift through. But right now I just want to be with my little one and my husband and my dogs, and enjoy life without the Facebook monster consuming my free minutes.

So in 2013 I challenge you my fellow readers. Take the Facebook Challenge. Think you can go cold turkey? Wish me luck. I hope you are making positive changes to improve your quality of life as well.

Love and laughs,

Danielle