Daylight Savings Are You Ready?

As an adult Daylight Savings has just always been just a minor nuisance and I would always get caught up with my sleep at some point.  But since having children it has taken on a whole new meaning.    Not only so you lose more sleep but it seems like kids have an even harder time adjusting to the time change.   Everyone is in a cranky mood, including mommy and it just isn’t much fun.

There is one good thing about the up coming time change and that is that daylight sticks around longer so the kids can be outside playing.   I can hardly wait for the warmer weather that comes along with it so we can be outside taking evening walks as a family.   The boys have always  slept a million times better when they can get out and have a huge energy release.   I have had enough of the freezing cold, dreary skies, and brown grass.

This weekend we Spring forward, so now what?   I have found one very good method to helping the boys adjust to the time change.  It seems like the week leading up to it their sleep gets out of whack.   Just last night they were up at 4 am, so it is pretty obvious that their sleep rhythms are already sort of shifting.  Its weird, but I swear that the upcoming time change is to blame for this.  My two are on a very regular schedule so a big change can just have drastic effects.  My husband and I in the light of losing and hour have developed a 10 min a day move back.  Every night the week leading up to the time change we move them forward or back 10 minutes each day (in this case back 10 min).  Not only has this worked great, it is such a gradual change that the boys don’t even notice the difference.  Then by the time Sunday evening rolls around we are already adjusted.

You may experience some mild crankiness the first day or two in the week of the time change, but it is nothing compared to just moving them an hour all at once.

So, get ready to move your clocks forward!  I have my favorites about moving back (the obvious extra hour of sleep!) and my favorites about moving forward (warmer weather is coming!).  Cmon Spring!

Did You Know?

Analyzing 20 years of data, scientists in Sweden found that the number of heart attacks typically rises 6 to 10 percent for the three days after clocks jump forward; the day after the clocks are set back each fall, heart attacks fall by 5 percent. A lack of sleep may be to blame for the danger. Other studies have shown that chronic sleep deprivation is hard on the heart. This year, hit the sack early after resetting your clock. But you may not have to fret about your bedtime forever. The Swedish statistics suggest that people over 65 are less apt to be harmed by the time change — perhaps because retired folks are less tied to the clock.

This is a convincing reason to sleep in!

Gossip On The Playground

I have always been the sort of person that has been a little on the reserved side and have always been a little picky on who I make friends with.   I guess it all goes back to the horrid childhood I had when I was the center of everyone’s ridicule.  I was affectionately named big birtha in my tender teen coming into puberty years, simply because I developed a little faster than everyone else.  It is one of those things you sort of never forget.

If you do make friends with me then I am one of those true blue types, and if you screw up once, maybe ill forgive you but do it again and you’re history.   I guess you could say it is a form of protection that sort of dates back to all those playground moments where everyone thought they were better than everyone else.

So this brings me to Wednesday where my husband and I took the boys to the firehouse to the playground.  It was a relatively warm day and when you have boys, they need all the energy release they can get.   My husband and I decided to divide and conquer, he kept tabs on one, while I the other.   There were these two women who seemed glued to each other and their mouths were non stop.  I had passed by several times chasing monkey, and helping him cross the jungle gym when I overheard them ranting and raving on about someone elses child.   They were hot and heavy into it and I was just really bothered by it.   What gives them the right to make someone’s kid the topic of their discussion where everyone can hear?  I mean seriously, are their children that perfect?

Then I am thinking to myself, these are going to be the people I may need to converse with. when my two finally do go to school?   And to make matters worse the discussion revolved around a kids learning disability!   Meanwhile, one of the women’s two year old was running around in a poopy diaper that you could smell for miles for the entire hour I was there.   Maybe she needs to spend a little more time focusing on her own!  I told my husband that I fear the day the boys go to school because I dont want to meet these people in the hallway.

Why on earth would you want to make matters worse by talking about a child who probably already has to deal with this sort of thing from their peers without a label from people who are supposedly adults?  And these people are mothers?

Carpet Fresh Just Say No To Odors

Since having children and pets there seems to always be something amiss in the air at any given time.  I am a bit particular about things smelling in my house.  If I walk in from grocery shopping and things don’t smell right then I will find its source.   Since having the boys, I have acquired the mommy nose for everything!

One of my big things is any odors related to our dog.  She is one big fur ball and even though I love her, we all know that dogs can stink.  When they lay on your carpet, the oils from their fur and skin just sort of stick like a magnet to your carpet and anything else, so  I thought I would give Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator a try.

Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator permanently neutralizes carpet odors and helps keep entire rooms smelling fresh by delivering odor-fighting agents deep into carpet fibers and reaching places air fresheners can’t and leaving a long lasting fragrance. Additionally, the Carpet Fresh Quick-Dry Foam format allows you to simply spray your carpets and walk away without scrubbing or vacuuming.  It dries in minutes, leaves no residue, and is safe for use around your family when used as directed.  Not only that, it can be used in your car and on the drapes.

I love the stuff because all you do is spray and walk away, there isnt anything you need to do other than that.  This is nice and it works!  I had the room smelling fresh and airy in a matter of minutes and it dries very quickly with no weird residue or sticky films.  This is perfect when you get those unexpected calls from guests that say they are stopping by in 30 min! And, the best part is that is comes in some really great scents like Country Potpourri, Morning Rain, Apple Cinnamon, Fresh Scent and Super Pet Neutralizer.

Thank you to Mom Central and Carpet Fresh for a wonderful opportunity to try new Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator!

Big G Kid Cereals and Giveaway

Being a first time parent, I am almost always concerned about my two little guys and their health.  From a very early age, I have tried to influence healthy food choices and make sure that they are getting a fairly balanced diet.   If I buy something at the grocery store, I am always reading the labels, to see what they are getting in their food.  We are a cereal loving family here, because it is something that is simple to make and the kids just love it.   It is a perfect snack too in the afternoon after naps, and it doesn’t have to be served with milk.  My two love to have their own bowl, their cup of juice, and watch one of their favorite shows.

Recently the importance of Vitamin D in the diet has been in the news, and the importance of calcium is so important in bone growth and development.  Vitamin D is also important in bone growth and is now suggested to be a key factor in healthy lung function.   Approximately 75% of kids today don’t even get the required amount of Calcium and Vitamin D in their diets, and that is an astounding figure!   The American Academy of Pediatrics has even upped the amount of Vitamin D your child should be getting to 400IU.

The good news is, that it isn’t that hard to incorporate these nutrients in your child’s diet.  Parents can easily get both vitamin D and Calcium in milk and many juices and now in fortified cereals.  All General Mills Big G kid cereals including Kix, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more.

This is great news for our family because we are huge Lucky Charms, and Cocoa Puffs fans.  The boys think they have gone to heaven when I give them these cereals in their snack bowls!  Additionally, a recent report in a leading consumer magazine ranked kid cereals by nutritional content, and all nine General Mills Big G kid cereals included in the report were ranked in the top half. All Big G kid cereals have at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams are recommended daily), and all have 12 grams or less of sugar per serving.  This is awesome, and you can feel good about giving them something they love and not worry about them getting a ton of sugar.

Cereal is one of the most nutritious breakfast options a kid can eat. Most cereals have about 100 – 130 calories per serving and provide at least 10 key nutrients. And, ready-to-eat cereal is the number one source of whole grain in American diets.  If there is one food that your child would eat than at least you know that it has nutritional value.

This Giveaway Is Now Closed

As part of a healthy diet and the love of  Big G cereal (especially Cocoa Puffs), DoubleBugs  is giving away these totally adorable and way cool Cocoa Puffs vintage ringer Ts (child’s sz large) to 9 lucky winners.

Here’s all you gotta do!

• Leave me a comment on what your child’s favorite Big G cereal is, and yours too.
• Please leave me an email so I can contact you if you win

• Winners are chosen at random via Random.org.
• If Winner Does Not Respond Within 2 Days the prize is forfeited and donated!

For Additional Entries (please leave as an additional comment):

• Tweet about this post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Blog about my contest and give me the link!
• Put my badge on your sidebar

That’s all you gotta do!

Contest Starts February 25, 2009 and Ends March 11, 2009

Good Luck!

Dole Fruit Parfaits Review

My two just love fresh fruit of just about any kind.   They are huge fans of anything that they can hold in their little hands, and sort of have their own personal snack because sharing with your twin brother is a difficult thing to do.

We received a few packages of Dole’s Fruit Parfaits to try, and let me just tell you, that there aren’t any left in the house! Dole Fruit Parfaits are a perfect combination of fresh fruit with a layer of light creme.  They are just the right size for a snack or to put in your child’s lunches, and offer a healthier alternative to sugary snacks.  If I am craving something sweet, this has just enough to satisfy that craving without overdoing it.  Dole Fruit Parfaits are also excellent in the winter months when some of the seasonal fruits are a little more scarce.   Both of my boys ate these with great relish and the Peaches and Creme Parfait was their absolute favorite flavor.

For me, I like the fact that they are convenient, and an easy snack when things are hectic.   It is always nice to just have something relatively quick and healthy on hand.  They are just the right size for little hands to hold on to, and a perfect treat for kids, because they think they are getting something special.  We will definitely be keeping a stash of these in the fridge.

You can find Dole Fruit Parfaits in your grocery store usually with all the canned fruits and jarred applesauce.  They don’t need to be refrigerated so you can store them in the pantry until you are ready to eat them.  We like ours really cold but you don’t have to refrigerate them.

Dole is also running a really great contest Called The Dole Fruit Parfait Sweet Retreat Contest!

Here is how the “DOLE Fruit Parfait Sweet Retreat Contest” works:

From now until March 14, 2009, take a picture of your DOLE Parfait Moment at home, at work, at play, with your friends or on-the-go.  Upload your photo and caption to www.DoleSweetRetreat.com.  A panel of judges will choose the best picture in each category.
The Grand Prize is a three day/ two night luxury Spa Retreat Getaway for two at the 27-acre Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ., set amidst flowering cactus and framed against the majestic McDowell Mountains.  Here, breathtaking desert vistas blend with intriguing Native American culture and pampering amenities. The prize includes airfare, accommodations, $500 gift certificate to the Avania Spa, a one-of-a-kind, holistic, total-immersion experience that is synchronized with the body’s changing rhythms and requirements. Also included in the prize is a $750 VISA gift card to cover your meals and other hotel amenities you feel like taking advantage of including, championship golf, water playground or tennis.

Five First Prize winners will receive a Homedics Personal Massage Lounger valued at $100 to have a relaxing moment anytime in their home.
It is just that simple, and best of all you get to enjoy a fruit parfait while dreaming of a luxury resort getaway.  Just picture yourself after a long stressful week relaxing to a massage with beautiful scenery, this every mom’s dream.

Potty Training

Potty training will be our next big hurdle. Both of the bubbas are just now showing some interest in the potty.  Since I have two of them to potty train, I am a little nervous about jumping right in.  It is hard to say if they will sort of watch and learn from each other or if each one will sort of move at their own pace.

It has been fun around the house lately with two boys running around.  Their newest thing is to take off their diapers and run naked as a jaybird through the house.  If you’re lucky and super fast.  you might catch one of them!  This is where being a mommy can get a little hairy.  One afternoon I was going to the bathroom and usually I have one or both in the bathroom with me, because we all know mommy can’t pee alone.  Anyway, I just went in the bathroom for a minute.  I hear the two of them laughing and playing and bubs goes driving by on his trike.  I think nothing of it because he had his shirt on.  I didn’t notice that the diaper was off till he came around the corner.  I’m thinking about grabbing the duct tape next.

I am thinking that they are getting close, but the pediatrician and my sister-in-law told us to look closer to three years of age before they are potty trained.  My husband and I aren’t really pushing the issue, but we have a potty chair in each bathroom.  If they ask to sit on it, we just say ok. and let them sit their with a book.  Sometimes we get lucky with the timing and raise a ruckus and clap and praise them if they do something.  I am praying for it all to be easy. But we shall see!  I will keep you updated as we move along, it is so hard when you have two at one time and you are a first time parent learning as you go.

Fever Fever, My Monkey is Sick

Well it is that time of the year, and we have been somewhat lucky on the sickness front.  But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.  Monkey is sick with a fever and runny nose and I have been sniffling all day.   I am praying that this is just a quick moving virus but I should be so lucky.   Usually with monkey, he will get the runny nose and fever and it rapidly turns into a situation where he is in need of a breathing treatment.

I hate to see my little bubs sick, you can just see it in their eyes.  They get that glassy look that my mom always told me I used to get when I was sick.  They rarely complain but you can just tell they are miserable.   After I gave him motrin his temp went down to about 100 and he was playing but not his boisterous self.  It is going to be a long night so I am off to bed because I know I will be up at least a few times to prop my little guy up so he can breathe!   Humidifier is going full blast, and the nose drops are on hand.  Off to do mommy high alert duty!

Snapily Fun 3D For All Occasions

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I always find myself looking for something different to give my husband. The traditional cards are fun but not unique and I am always wondering if I gave the same card to him the year before!

I just recently got to try out Snapily, an online photo service that uses special effects like animation and 3D to bring printed photos to life. They just recently came out with a great selection of Valentine’s for your special someone. How fun would it be to bring out a little vixen in you, and take a few sexy pics to create a Valentine’s Day Card he will want to hang on to? Grab your camera, set the self-timer, and take beautiful, and glamorous photos to add to any Snapily card. Choose the 3D effect to add depth to that pin-up pose, the morph effect to blend two romantic images together, or the flip effect to create your own strip-o-gram.

Besides Valentine’s Day you can also create fun announcements, birthday cards, business cards, and you will surely get noticed. My favorite feature is the flip effect because it allowed me to put a picture of both the boys on a card. This is such a cute idea to send out  cards for any occasion. You have so many options that you can let your imagination run wild. If you hurry you will be just in time for Valentine’s Day! You have until February 7th, for regular standard delivery and until February 11th for 2 day shipping.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED

The folks over at Snapily want you to be able to design your own fun greetings or special gift for someone so they are offering DoubleBugs readers $25 to use on your Snapily order!

So here’s what you gotta do!

* Visit Snapily and have a look around and come back and leave a comment and let me know what you would choose and what idea you have for your project.

* Leave me an email so I have a way to contact you if you win

* Winners are chosen at random via Random.org.

For Additional Entries (please leave as an additional comment):

* Tweet about this post
* Follow me on Twitter
* Blog about my contest and give me the link!
* Put my badge on your sidebar

That’s all you gotta do!

Contest starts Feb 6th, 2009, and Ends Feb. 23, 2009

Good Luck!!!!

Time Outs For Mom

Ever wonder what you did with your time before you had kids? Since having my two, I often wonder exactly that. It seems that there aren’t enough hours in my day anymore, and I find myself wishing for a spare eight on days like today.

You need a time out:

When you have a safety gate in place at the bottom of the stairs and your toddler has made it up the stairs (in spite of your preventative efforts) and has managed to climb on the outside spindles and is dangling at the top. In turn giving mom a heart attack.

When you are stuck in the bathroom with no toilet paper trying to describe to your toddlers exactly where to find it. They brought me a diaper instead. I suppose if it were my size it would do the trick! I later got a soggy roll, that had been dropped in the other toilet, but it made me smile.

But seriously, you need to take some “me” moments when you are at home with your children all day. It will make you a much better mom in the long run. I am slowly beginning to understand that it doesn’t make me a bad person for wanting or taking a moment for myself. I have also come to the conclusion that going to the grocery store, is not a time out for me. It is a chore to go to the store, but for some, that may be a good thing to do.

Tonight, when my dear husband got home, I let him play with the boys, and I went into our bedroom, locked the door, and watched 30 min of a tv show in the dark on my laptop, then I took a hot shower. That 45 min to myself made a huge difference in how I handled the rest of the evening. I was much less crabby, the boys weren’t crabby and both my husband and I got to enjoy their bath and bedtime because, I wasn’t running around to get a million things done plus my shower. Everything was done, and I got to enjoy our family time.

Sometimes I just close the door and sit in the dark and cry, but even crying has its benefits. The best time out I have ever had was in a dark room where I cried because I loved my boys so much and couldn’t imagine life without them, and how truly thankful I was for all the stress, all the laughs and how much they have changed my life. Hormonal I guess lol.

This is why time outs are so important. And what you do for a tim eout is strictly up to you. They make you a better mommy, they make you more thankful for your life and your family, and give you a chance to reconnect with yourself and motivate you to get through the next day. Take a deep breath and take a moment for you!

NetSmartz Teaching Your Teens to Stay Safe

In this day and age, everything is becoming so mainstreamed and it seems that our children are being introduced to the computer even sooner.   Being a mother to two very young children, it makes me a little nervous about introducing my kids to the internet.  Although, my boys are toddlers, I still hear about all the horror stories about how teenagers go missing after talking to and meeting with strangers they have talked to online.  I think computers and kids are basically inevitable with how fast technology changes, but  I also think it is very important that your children know what these dangers and are aware of the tactics a perpetrator  can use and how to be safe while being online.  It is such a scary scary thought, and I believe education is so important and as a parent you should use as many resources that are available to you and your children

NetSmartz, a leading online resource of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, used their expertise to develop NSTeens to educate, engage, and empower kids as Internet users, The website, NSTeens includes bios, comics, and videos of seven teen characters. Their comic How Much Is Too Much illustrates the consequences of improper Internet use and shows the impact teens can have when they use their network to empower people. Videos cover important topics such as social networking, cyberbullying, and offline consequences. Each cartoon video also portrays interviews with teens talking about their Internet use.

I think this is a terrific way to tell your teenagers about being safe on the internet.  It teaches then in a very non intimidating fun way so they might actually pay attention!  We know how powerful just hearing one sentence can be, because those are the things kids remember if they are in trouble or in a bad situation.   NSTeens is a wonderful resource and can help your teen to make smart decisions and avoid potentially harmful scenarios.

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