Author Archives: Steph

Is the garden hose lead free? If not DON’T DRINK THE WATER!

Posted on by
Reply

Ahh summer time was made for kids! Remember running through the sprinkler, water fights, kiddie pools and drinking right out of the hose! Good times! I want my girls to have these great, around the house summer memories too. I also want them to be safe. I have carefully chosen toys that are free from toxic substances, they wear sunscreen without complaining, wearing a bike helmet is second nature to them, my home is free of lead paint, etc. I think I’ve covered it all, then I found this on the new garden hose I bought -

First off, why are California residents the only people included in the warning? Maybe I was aware of lead in garden hoses and overlooked it, but it really threw me when I saw the warning. I am certain the only hoses I owned up until now were garden hoses which are “made of polyvinyl chloride, which uses lead as a stabilizer” (Consumer Reports). Trying to find a garden hose that did not contain lead proved to be more difficult than I had expected it would be. The warning above was on the outside of the hose packaging. Other brands only stated to “read warnings” – which were on the other side of the packaging in small print. If you are not looking for the warning, my guess is you’ll never see it unless it is clearly printed on the outside. Out of all the large chain store in my city, my small locally owned Ace Hardware was the only store I was able to find a lead free hose.

Go HEREto view an article by Consumer Reports – they tested 16 hoses, labeled with lead warnings, lead free, or no label concerning lead. Bottom line “When you buy a hose, choose one labeled safe for drinking. With any hose, flush it by letting the water run for a minute or so before you drink.” (Consumer Reports). To read more about lead poisioning and prevention go HERE to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website.

Now go out there and enjoy summer – like a kid!

;

Blackout Shades

Posted on by
Reply

I am one of those people who cannot sleep in a room that has any light – well there were a few times in my life when I could.  When the girls were infants I could sleep anywhere given the opportunity.  As a former rotating day/night shift worker I really had a tough time with sleeping during the day.  At the suggestion of a fellow nurse I put blackout shades up in my bedroom.  Pretty helpful.  So I decided to put them in the twins room when they were babies.  Very helpful especially for my problem sleeper (you can read about her HERE).  Yes, I have and am still trying everything to make bedtime as enticing as possible for that little girl.

All children are different (Duh!  Did I really have to tell you that!), but once my girls were on a semi normal wake sleep cycle – when they were semi sleeping through the night and napping once a day – I decided to put blackout shades in their room, mainly to make it a more sleepy environment and also so they wouldn’t be up at the very first crack of daylight.  I am sure the twin who is a good sleeper would have done well without them, but for my not so great sleeper, I feel they have been helpful (Along with all the other black magic and voodoo I seem to come up with – who knows what one item has worked or if any really have.  In my mind they have all helped.  Possibly, if I would have just let her be I would have been in the same boat.  But you feel, well I feel, that I have to try something, anything.)  Plus I have the challenge of noise in the hallway from older siblings (for some reason teenage girls like to open and close their doors about 100 times before they go to bed and when they get up in the morning).  So providing the twins a sleepy environment at bedtime and in the early mornings in imperative in our house!

Maybe this is not a super rave review, but if you have the challenges of older children in you home and sleep issues, blackout shades may be worth a try.  I can tell you that when we our sitter forgets to pull the shades, the girls do not settle down as well (lots of chatting and getting up).  When she realizes that she forgot to put the shades down (after multiple trips getting them back to bed) they settle in and go to sleep.  So, take my advice anyway you’d like (Steph you are crazy!).  But as I have said I am an open book,  I’ll share all my failures and success.

The embedded links for Blackout Shades above will take you to Amazon.  I purchased my shades from smith+ noble.  Yes they are pricey!  However, two shades that I had purchased from them broke well after (at least a year) purchasing them and they sent me two new replacement shades at no charge.  They also offer cordless options for their shades.  Go HERE to read more about window covering cord safety.

Sarah Carey – the best thing to happen to Martha Stewart (and me)

Posted on by
Reply

As you know I am in constant search of quick and delicious meals.  I enjoy cooking, but I would also enjoy someone coming to my house and cooking for me.  Many recipes are just unreasonably impossible to prepare for a busy family at the end of a long day.  Lately I have been stalking the Everyday Food videos staring Sarah Carey.  She cooks everything in real-time (for the most part) with quick and easy to understand recipes.  These days she is my hero.

Most recently I prepared Broiled Chicken Thighs with Pineapple-Cucumber Salad.  I used store-bought fresh-cut up pineapple – I didn’t cut up a whole pineapple.  Another thing that is great about watching her videos, you can see exactly how to do it – what height to put the rack below the broiler (something I always have problems with) etc.

Can’t see the video?  Watch it HERE

Maternity Swimsuits up to 50% off | Zulily!

Posted on by
Reply

There was nothing I enjoyed more than taking my ever expanding belly to the pool the summer I was pregnant with the twins.  Just floating around, trying to displace some of the swelling from all the fluid in my legs.  Ah memories.  Well if you are looking for a maternity swimsuit you may want to check out Zulily today (sale ends 5/12).  Both of these super cute suits are $26.99 (normally $58)!  Use coupon code GAZU412 to get $5 off your order of $50 or more.  So go HERE check em out and float, float, float.

Making McDonald’s French Fries at home!

Posted on by
Reply

Let’s be honest, regardless about your feelings on fast food McDonald’s has the BEST french fries.  While we are being honest, I’ll also tell you I do let my twins eat an occational McDonald’s meal.  My thoughts – I grew up eating the stuff and I am not obese, I’m healthy, etc etc – everything in moderation.  Plus, road tips are difficult if your children won’t eat a fast food meal (I know this from experience).  While I do like to pack a lunch for trips, I also look forward to stopping at mom and pop restaurants that offer a “to die for” slice of pie and a good cup of coffee.  Keep the trip fun and interesting with something to look forward to en route.

Ok, back to french fries.  I enjoy making Oven Baked French Fries, everyone eats them, but the twins would prefer that I head over to “Old McDonald’s” instead of making them at home.  So, when I saw an article on Shine from Yahoo – How to Make Perfect McDonald’s – style French Fries at Home, I knew I had to read it and it was a must share.  If you are interested in checking out the nutritional value of McDonald’s French Fries (or their other foods) look HERE.  And if you are really interested, there was an interesting read about McDonald’s in the New York Times from 6 May 2012 - How McDonald’s Came Back Bigger Than Ever.

What are your rules on fast food?

Sleep Training Clock – The Clock that changed my life!

Posted on by
Reply

I had heard parents talk about sleep clocks – there are many types, but the main theme is they change some how to let the child know when it is ok to get out of bed and when they are suppose to stay in bed.  Initially my thoughts were “wow that’s seems a little harsh”.  But now my thoughts have changed, I feel that being awakened before 6 am for the past 3 years has been WAY too harsh.

Here’s the deal I have one really great sleeper.  She stays in bed at bedtime and doesn’t get up before 7 am.  The other has a difficult time staying in bed at bedtime and gets up at 5 am.  When I put her back to bed in the morning she usually gets back up repeatedly.  And let me tell you, my rule is only two people are allowed in my bed at once, so no bunking with mom and dad.  So my curiosity got the better of me and I did a search on sleep clocks.  The one I really wanted- Gro-Clock Sleep Trainer is only available in the UK (so if you live in the UK and buy my clock, let me know what you think about it).  The Gro-Clock is very basic, a moon is displayed when it is time for bed and the sun is displayed when it’s time to get up.  Pretty simple.

Gro-Clock Sleep Trainer

I felt that the most necessary component should be that my daughter should be able to easily understand the clock.  So I went with American Innovative Teach Me Time Talking Alarm Clock and Nightlight. I read the reviews on Amazon and decided to get this clock over OK to Wake! Children’s Alarm Clock and Nightlight  by Onaroo because of one review.  The reviewer has both clocks but felt the American Innovative Teach Me Time Talking Alarm Clock and Nightlight had more to offer.   The clock glows orange when she is to be in bed and glows green when it is ok to get out of bed.  She got it immediately.  I explained the “rules” and the next morning she came screaming into my room at 7 am so excited to tell me the clock was green!  It has been working ever since – going on day 7 and she has yet to get up and come in my room before the green light goes on!  The other nice feature the talking clock has is that it is a great teaching tool for learning to tell time.  The girls love to check the time – all they do is push a button on the clocks feet and it tells them the time.  Yes, I thought this might be a problem at night, but is has yet to be.  You can turn the volume completely off if this does become an issue.

American Innovative Teach Me Time Talking Alarm Clock and Nightlight

Onaroo OK to Wake! Children's Alarm Clock and Nightlight

My biggest concern was that the girls would take the clock too literally and not get up to the bathroom.  Rest assured, potty runs are still occurring when they need them.  And me you ask? – life changing, I get to actually get up on my own, after 6 am!  I think some children just don’t know when to get up, so as soon as their eyes open they bolt out of bed.  Other children wake up then roll over for a little more shut eye.  Do I feel blessed to have one of each?  I’ll let you answer that for me.  Oh, and my flight risk daughter is also staying in bed at bedtime!

50% OFF Lorex Video Baby Monitor!

Posted on by
Reply

I recently cut the cord on my baby monitor  addiction – that is, I packed it up and put it away.  I figured that I really didn’t need it any longer seeing as they have been getting up out of bed on their own for almost a year (yes I am a little slow about some things).

Well, Amazon has a smoking HOT Gold Box Deal today only (3/24)! Lorex LW2004 Video Baby Monitor for $99.99 – Originally $199.95!  This one has a feature I wish I would have had on my monitor – a Talk-to-baby intercom!  I think I would have really used an intercom  feature – but more as a talk to the other parent than to talk to the girls.  Conversations such as this:
Parent 1: “Can I bring you a glass of wine while you are up there”
Parent 2: “Yes please!”
Go HERE to check this super deal out!

Target Daily Deal – $9.00 Nursing Sleep Bra

Posted on by
Reply

Take care of the “girls” even when you are sleeping!  Wait a second, sleeping and nursing twins….BAHHHHHH!  Now that is funny!  Oh how glad I am that year of dairy production is behind me.  Any who one of Targets Daily Deal today (3/15) is Gilligan & OMalley® Womens Nursing Sleep Bra in assorted colors.  Normally $16.99 today only $9.00 and FREE shipping on Daily Deals (Sweeeet)!  Oh and if you use your Target card get another 5% off.  Go HERE to grab this deal – ends today at midnight CST.

Foldable BPA-Free Water Bottles!

Posted on by
Reply

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most difficult): how hard is it for a toddler to get a drink from a water fountain (aka bubbler – if you are from Wisconsin)?  No doubt it is a 10!  I was just telling my husband the other day that I was going to try and find some collapsible cups to keep in my purse and the girls bags for this very problem.  At Zulily you can grab these super cool BPA-free, foldable plastic bottles from Shark skinzz two 20 oz. bottles for $9.99 or three 7.5 oz for $9.99!  They have a bunch of different options to choose from!  I am grabbing a set for sure!  Use code GA3468 to get $5 off your order of $50 or more.  Go HERE to check them out!