Potty Progress!

We had a successful potty day yesterday again! Just once, but she tried a few times too. Today, we've tried a few times, but nothing yet. We did a little shopping yesterday for some big girl presents and we're going to try some other treats as reward, we'll see how it goes. She has a few "potty books" that she likes to read while she's practicing:) That's the big news around here. I'm on baby watch for one of my good friends who was due 2 days ago...hope this little boy comes soon!

OMG SHE DID IT!

Ok, I know I'm crazy (yes, I took a picture of the potty chair, no there's no pee in it!), but Riley peed in the big girl potty today!!! YEAH!!!! My little girl is growing up...hmmm, that might not be a good thing altogether, but YEAH she did it!!!

UPDATE: She did it again! Right before bed, we're on our way to potty trained! Let's hope it's not a super long process;)

One More Cute One

This is just a cute one of Riley watching Sesame Street. She's wearing my new favorite jammies that Linda gave her, she is so darn cute in a night dress! (my opinion of course, but I'm the mom, I can think she's cute in anything!) She's wearing shoes we got from the neighbor girl who's 9 months older than Riley and always seems to outgrow stuff just at the right time. (Thanks Brielle!) And Roo put them on all by herself! This is also one of her favorite bears right now that she likes to dance with. (She makes mommy dance with her monkey, George, or Raggedy Ann and Andy) Maybe there will be video someday?

Here's New Pics

I haven't posted pics for a while so here's some new pictures. The pic of Zack is his "new look" and the reason he is no longer wearing pants with snaps. He's decided they work well for a skirt...or as Darin calls them, Chaps! There's a picture of Riley doing her new favorite trick, climbing her toy box to turn the lights on. The picture of Jimmy was a self portrait in magna-doodle, the turtle had to be posed "smiling" for the shot, and the last one (if it comes up that way) is the new toy at Grandma and Grandpa C's house. Riley was over there on Friday when Josh and I went to the Swarm game and she LOVED this guy!

Last Pre-Walk AHS Post

WE DID IT!!!! We made our goal, we're over $2000! I won't post our final total yet because there's still time to donate. I need to thank all the last minute people that got us there! Thanks especially to RR for his company matched gift that really pushed us over the top. I'll announce the winner of the drawing for April on Thursday so check back!

TIGF

Today, I'm grateful for FREE STUFF:) Josh and I are going to the Swarm Game tonight for free! (well, except for paying for parking and food and all that, but still!) I know, you're thinking what's the Swarm game? The Swarm is Minnesota's professional lacrosse team. I wouldn't care if I got to go except they are playing the Chicago Shamrox! I just might be cheering for the wrong team! There's also a web site that Meg has posted on her site that has lots of freebies and good deals. It's been kinda fun to check that out too...who doesn't love free stuff?

More Green Recipes

This is a recipe for window cleaner that Sandra Bullock uses that she was showing on Oprah yesterday. She uses that Dr. Bronners soap (castile soap) I just bought so that's why I was interested. I need to invest in some spray bottles I think:)
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From Oprah 4/22/08
Though there are many "green" cleaners on the market, Sandra says you can get the same effect—and save money—by using items found in your cupboard. "An easy window cleaner is just a cabinet away," she says.

To get streak-free windows, Sandra mixes three tablespoons of vinegar, a third of a teaspoon of pure liquid vegetable soap, like castile soap, and two cups of water in a recycled spray bottle. "It cleans your windows like crazy," she says. "Oddly, the vinegar smell doesn't linger."

She also says to use lemon juice to clean counters and the restaurant she runs uses just regular baking soda and vinegar to clean their grill.
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Here's some more places to find recipes from the list provided at church this week too: The Green Guide - DIY Recipes
and
Care 2 Make a Difference

Busy Recap

I have been meaning to post a few things this week, but it's been busy, so here's a quick wrap up of where we've been. Maybe it's just felt busier because I've been working a little more this week, but nothing that qualifies as "really working". Monday Riley went to Josh's parents house for most of the day so I could get some Mother's Day shopping done, go to the nursing home to visit for our weekly visit and then some of my old neighbors got together for dinner. We had a great time at Granite City! Monday night was a stormy one and Roo doesn't like thunder, so we had a long sleepless night.

Tuesday was the busy day, really. We started at 9 a.m. at my parents house to watch Riley's cousin Zack while Katie and mom did their golf thing. This is the second year that I've watched Zack so Katie can golf in a women's league with mom, which is great because I love hanging with my little man and Katie gets a break...I don't golf, so I don't mind at all! This year Meg is helping, so I get to see Adrienne too! I wanted to get home in time to watch Oprah because it was Earth Day (I don't sit and watch Oprah all the time, I swear!) Then I had to work, and it was a late night there too. I'm sleep deprived, I don't think I fell asleep until 1:30 a.m., but not because I got home that late, I just don't sleep after work! I got home at 11 p.m. so I should have gotten almost 8 hours...bummer.

Today we have to run some errands, make some calls for my magazine thing and do some housework stuff, but we're going to get outside too...it's going to be the last nice day for a while!

Happy Earth Day!

It's Earth Day! Here's a link I found on yahoo today. 10 tips For a Greener World.

Also for those of you looking for info on safe plastic bottles, either baby bottles or water bottles, without BPA, here's two links. Z Report Or this article from the NY Times.

Pictures of a Good Day

Here's Riley helping daddy in the garden...she was picking up grass, handing it to mommy and calling it "ickies" which is her way of bringing us the garbage in the house, so the grass was garbage I guess? She's playing with her toy from my friend Vieve's kids that she loves and then we went to the park to play on the boingy boingy (kinda like a teeter totter with springs - hard to take pictures on it when you're doing the boingy thing) the "swimmin" (swings) and the slide.

Grrrrr.I don't know how it loaded that picture twice and out of order, sorry!

Riley the Dancing Machine

To make up for the Living Green heavy blogs this week, I'll try to offset with some video and pictures of Roo. Yesterday was 70+ degrees in Minnesota and just gorgeous. So we went outside to work in the yard, and play at the park...what an awesome day!In the background of the video if you hear the music, it's songs about Riley that Grandma Linda gave her. She loves to dance to them! She was having none of the Twins game on the radio! She wanted "dancin". I didn't catch her signature move yet, I'll try to get it...it's kinda like the beginning here, but more elbows and VERY funny!

Earth Friendly Electronics Recycling

Happy Earth Week.

I'm sure you'll notice a LOT of Green stuff out there this week, and it's not just the grass getting greener. Tomorrow is Earth Day, I think I heard McD's is giving away trees on Arbor Day (is that Friday?) And lots of places are giving away reusable tote bags this week. There are also some good sales on Earth Friendly products, like Walgreens has 2/$5 on Seventh Generation cleaning products. I think I officially have changed over most of my cleaning stuff now with non-toxic stuff.

If you're sick of hearing about Living Green, you might want to skip reading the blog this week, I have the feeling I'll be on my kick for a while. I'm even considering joining the Environment Stewardship Committee at church...Josh thinks I'm nuts:) Maybe you do too...tell me about it please...comments always welcome! (Yup, even you Mom! I can take it.)

Here's an article I found on EarthKARE about recycling things that you don't always think about: Light bulbs, batteries, thermometers, anything with lead, alkaline, lithium, etc. in them. I have been taking my batteries to the Maple Grove Library for recycling, but I think we need to make a trip to the Hennepin County Recycling Center. Don't forget those new energy efficient light bulbs have mercury in them so be careful when handling and definetly RECYCLE don't throw away! And if your TV is being replaced to accomodate the new HDTV world, you can recycle that too!

Here's a new program starting in Minnesota too:
Message in a Bottle
NEW! Our new "away from home" recycling program for plastic bottles, glass and cans. The only program of its kind in Minnesota and currently available only in McLeod, Carver, Wright and western parts of Hennepin county. We offer this service free of charge to gas stations, car wash facilities, and any other place that Minnesotans visit when they are away from home. It's hard to recycle when you are out and about in Minnesota. Our program makes it easy!

Quick AHS Update

Riley wants breakfast so this has to be fast. We're less than two weeks to go and we're at $1835...I think we're gonna make it!!! Click here to donate online.

Environmental Committee

In honor of Earth Day our church distributed 500 bottles of a non-toxic All Purpose Cleaner with a recipe for how to make it and a pledge to use it and other recipes they provided for household cleaners. I missed most of church with a melt-down of a kiddo, but I did pick up some of the cleaner and the recipes. (And then so did Josh cuz my mom made him get one for me, she didn't know I already got a bottle!) So as not to disappoint my mom who assumed I'd post this recipe... Here's the All- Purpose Cleaner recipe:

1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tsp borax
3 1/2 cups hot water
20 drops lemon or lavender oil
1/4 liquid dish soap

In a 32 oz. spray bottle, mix the vinegar, borax and water thoroughly. Add essential oil if desired. Add dish soap last.



P.S. If anyone wants the extra bottle, I'd be happy to share!

Perfect!

This is Riley trying to put pants on Adrienne. Notice, Adrienne already HAS pants on, but that's not stopping Roo. Also, she keeps saying "Perfect"... it's kinda cute without context, but if you can hear in the background Rachel Ray is talking. She had just said something was perfect, so Roo is being a Super Parot as usual:)

Riley Does Make-Up

Here's video number one if I can get it to load. This is Riley applying make-up for Adrienne. She kinda stole the powder compact from Auntie Meggie and goobered it up so bad, Meg left it behind for the garbage...it's amazing how two drooly kids can wreck a compact!

Making Up for Lack of Pics

I haven't posted kiddo pics in a while, so here's the pics and I'll post video today too. There's a pic of the kids watching Great Grandma's favorite polka dance show and dancing with GG. And there are two pictures of our lunch date yesterday. Meg brought Adrienne over and made me a fancy Rachel Ray lunch. The Apple Jack things on her blog are WAY yummy! We (who am i kidding, Meg, not we) just used a colby/jack shreded cheese a little different than the recipe, but it was still yummy! Anyway, this is Riley's favorite book Gossie, and we were reading it to A-dee (again, we? more like Meg...I had to take the pictures!)

Idealbite on Rachel Ray

Meg had me watching Rachel Ray today (yummy lunch included), but I learned about a fun "light green" eco friendly web site with fun facts and tips for how to be more green a little bit at a time, here's some of what I found in idealbite.com:


In 2002, Ireland introduced a 15-cent levy on plastic bags; the measure reduced use by 95%.

Paper or Plastic?

How 'bout neither. We use shopping bags for a few hours, but they can take lifetimes to decompose. New foldable nylon versions make it easy to BYOB wherever you go-whether it's clothes shopping, grocery shopping, or a drugstore impulse buy.

The Benefits

Oil and tree savings. In the United States, 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.

Discounts. Stores like Safeway and Whole Foods offer a five-penny discount if you bring your own.

Being a role model. Other shoppers'll watch and learn.

Safety for sea creatures. Plastic bags are the fifth most commonly found item in coastal cleanups.

I promise pictures later today or tomorrow. Maybe even a video;) I know it's been a while!

Crazy Crayons

Did I mention this before? I found a place that recycles crayons...you know the broken ones your toddler destroyed just to see what would happen, or the color you wore down to the bottom and can barely hold it anymore. This place will send you a free crazy crayon for every pound of crayons you send to them! It's also a great idea for nannys, schools, day cares, etc.!
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Crayon Recycling and Recycled Crayons
RAM is partnering with CRAYON RECYCLE PROGRAM™ to help Minnesotans recycle crayons.

The CRAYON RECYCLE PROGRAM™ recycles old, rejected, broken crayons into fresh, new CRAZY CRAYONS™! The new crayons are in all different shapes, colors, and styles.

Sorry, LAF Lines cannot reimburse for shipping. But for every pound of crayons sent to LAF Lines Ltd. for recycling, you will receive one CRAZY CRAYON™. For example, if you send in 50 pounds of unwanted crayons, you will get 50 CRAZY CRAYONS™ in return, as an effort to "close the loop".

For more information on ordering CRAZY CRAYONS™, visit their website. You can also be a collection point at your school or organization. Call for more information!

Big Girl in Training

Ok, today I did it, I broke down and put a pull-up type diaper on my baby girl. She had pulled her pants 1/2 way down and her diaper was coming with it so I figure she's ready for the big girl pants. We're kinda phasing slowly into toilet training here and getting close to starting for real. My mom thinks Riley is ready, but I'm working on some little things like being able to pull up her pants by herself before I start the real deal. When she says she wants to sit on the potty though, we go right there and sit for a while. We're working out the details;)

TIGF

It's officially SPRING in Minnesota. At least for now the snow has melted, robins are swarming my yard and ducks are landing on my roof. Riley loves to play "ow-side" and it's finally warm enough to put a light jacket on her instead of her winter jacket, boots and hat (she wasn't a fan of keeping mittens on!). So today I'm SUPER thankful for spring! Rain or shine, I don't care! I'm going to paint my toes this weekend and break out the sandals soon!!!!

One More Nothing:)

I love credit cards with points:) Then I don't have to feel guilty for ordering a steamer that I might never use, but it cost me nothing and it might mean my ironing pile gets done! At least while the novelty is still there:)

Nothing to Say

Ok, so I was trying not to blog so much but then I get yelled at by my 2 faithful readers, so here's the news of the day. We have a very boring week this week. I have to work tonight, and we had an unscheduled trip to play with Zack at Grandma and Grandpa's yesterday, but since it was so windy, that didn't even end up being what it was supposed to be. We were going to go feed the ducks, but the wind blew all the ducks away so we went to lunch. Thanks mom and dad! Other than that, we have NOTHING planned this week.

I figure today is starting kinda bad so it has to get better from here. I started the morning putting the wrong solution on my contacts so I have to wait a few hours before I can wear my contacts now...I hate wearing my glasses!

Here's some news. I'm on to the next issue of Minnesota Score and my baseball "Where are They Now" column will feature Frank Viola, Corey Koskie and Ila Borders (the first woman pitcher to play for NCAA and Minor League baseball). If I can track all these people down. Right now I know I have Frankie's contact info, but I don't know about the rest! Wish me luck!

Maybe now would be a good time to remind you that you can subscribe on the right to get an e-mail reminder when I update the page. And beg y'all to comment once and a while so I know you're out there;) Have a great week!

AHS Update, 2.5 weeks to go!

With just under 3 weeks to go, we're at $1530...still a long way from $2000. We have sent letters to the neighborhood and lots of e-mails, as you all know, so we're down to the wire. We'll see how it goes! If we don't quite make it, I'm still proud of that number. I think it's the most we've ever raised! Here's the link if you need it again. Thanks to all of you for putting up with us, it's almost over!

Kip-munch

Ok, so you may have heard Meg gush about how she loves baby talk. Riley has some good ones, but last night was particularly cute! We rented Alvin and the Chipmunks (yes, I'm 31, but I grew up roller skating to the chipmunks in my basement! In my defense, we did wait to RENT it!) We were teaching Riley to say Chipmunk...her best effort: Kip-munch!

Here are some other Riley-isms:
El-pheet (elephant) She is getting better at this one
Hippopatus (hippopotamus)
Oc-pus (octopus)
Where Riley go? (her version of Peek-a-boo)
Darn-it (Josh hates that she says this, but if there are no squirrels to look at, DARN it!)
Mommy, miss you
Daddy HOME (extra emphasis on home)
PLEASE! (always wither her pointer finger up with emphasis!)
Bye, later! (meaning Good-bye, see you later)
Waffles=Cheerios (my dad was feeding her both off the same plate and it stuck)
I like it, Milk...or I like it, Gossie (her fave book right now)...if she likes something it's always "I like it," then whatever it is that she likes:)
Riley do that...if she wants to do what you're doing
I do that, Bunny Ears (Meg taught her to tie shoes that way, no she can't tie shoes, but the bunny ears stuck)
Daddy, are you? (means Daddy, WHERE are you? but she leaves out the word.)

Recycling Information Source

Currently 37% of all paper fiber used in the United States is from recycled paper. If we threw everything away, paper mills would have to replace that pulp made from trees. The story is the same for plastic, aluminum, steel, and glass. Using recycled materials is less energy intensive, which is more efficient for the economy at large.

Got this from the Recycling Association of MN web site.

Also, Kare 11 is having a free electronics recycling event this weekend. Check out their EarthKARE link for info.

Multiple Personalities!

Yesterday was a roller coaster for Roo. In the morning, which is normally her less crabby time of day, we went to a consignment sale in Maple Grove and Riley was so crabby by the end of it, we had to turn down a lunch date to go home and nap. She is finding her independent streak...or her terrible two's at 18 months...big time!

But then we went to dinner with my friend Cheri at Red Lobster last night and she was a perfect angel. Cheri thinks Riley is always that way;) she seems to be on her best behavior every time we see her. Maybe she just likes Cheri! Anyway, we had a great dinner. I know Red Lobster isn't the best seafood on the planet, but since Josh doesn't like seafood, I'll take what I can get! It's not McCormicks or Oceanaire, but that's not really in the budget anyway! And really, the cheese biscuits are worth it!!! Oh, and the dessert...if anyone goes to RL soon, you HAVE to try the Chocolate Chip Cookie Lava "cake" thing...YUMMMMMMMMMY!!!!!

Ok, now that I can't fit into my clothes, Thanks for a fun dinner last night Cheri! And yes I was crazy enough to be on the road last night, but I think my friends are worth it;)

TIGF

Last weekend was a really good one for our little family. Josh stayed home from work on Saturday (he's been working most Saturdays because of the chaos at his office right now). And we took Riley to the Children's Museum, then we went for a couple walks and flew Riley's Nemo Kite. I know I've mentioned this already, but that's my thankful time of the week. I was so happy to have family time and Riley loved every minute:) Plus the weather was better last weekend...this weekend is kinda crappy, but there's a light at the end of the snowy tunnel! It's supposed to get close to 70 degrees this week! I guess you could say I'm thankful for Spring too;)

Play at the Mall

Today we went to Ridgedale to see my college roomies Maureen and Sarah. Maureen has a little guy, Owen that Riley likes to play with, he's about a year older than her (almost exactly, he's an October boy!) I wish I would have taken pics of Maureen and Sarah, too, but I kinda forgot. You see, I'm one of those moms who follows my kid around the playground so I took pics of Riley and Owen, but I was running around watching Riley climb the stairs to the slide 100 times. Sorry, M and S, I wasn't a very good talker today:( But Roo and Owen had lots of fun and Riley made it all the way home awake, but melted down before I could feed her lunch so I guess it's going to be like 2:00 lunch today:) Oh well, it was well worth it!

Riley's Hats Continue

This pic is a big Thank You to Great Auntie Pammy for the new hat:) No, Doug, this does not mean Riley is a Bronco's fan, but I couldn't resist another Riley hat picture:) GA-Pammy is a flight attendant and I'm guessing this came from a trip to Denver. Riley loves wearing hats, and she kept asking for "Riley Hat?" when it wasn't on last night...so thanks Pammy...and she LOVES the hopping bunny too;) There just might be video of that soon, Josh laughed for 20 minutes last night watching her hop along!

AHS Walk Update

We're at $1445 and off the ticker again. We have a long way to go in 3 weeks, but I still think we can do it! Click here to donate online. Oh, I should also say CONGRATS to Jenny (Gariano) Bauer for winning the Country Jam tix for the March incentive! Thanks to all who participated!

For the month of April, it's your choice if you win the incentive. Every year when we collect donations we get incentives from the AHS for certain levels. This year if you pledge in the month of April or you're one of my top donors in March, I'll put your name in a drawing and you can choose your prize from anything $750 or lower (sorry, I already promised the watch to someone before I decided to do this!) If you go to the link you can scroll over the dollar amount to see pictures of the prizes. (That's new this year, it's kinda cool!)

Sesame Street Favorite

Ok, I tried to load video of the kids and daddy's rockin in the music studio, but it didn't work, so here's my favorite pic of the day. "Riley, who's that?...BIG BIRD!!!"

Children's Museum Fun

Today is the first Saturday in a while that Josh hasn't worked, so we decided to take Riley to the Children's Museum with Jimmy and Ashley. The Sesame Street exhibit runs through April so I didn't want to miss it:) (Note: I said ,I didn't want to miss it, not Riley didn't want to miss it!). The first pics or of us at McD's before and the first exhibit which I think was exploring our world...different occupations, etc. Then we went to Sesame Street which I think mommy loved best and then to the toddler room, which I KNOW the daddy's liked best! Then everybody was tired...except Ashley:)

(Sorry, I loaded those pics a little goofy!)

I Drummin'

Riley is taking drumming lessons from Grandpa Mark. We were there for dinner early this week and this is her most recent recital (although she tipped her bubbles upside-down in the car today and used the wand to do her "drummin" on the way to my parents house).

TIGF

I've been waiting for today since last Fall!!! I know this is a silly thing to be thankful for, but today is the Canterbury Park Craft Sale and I've budgeted to buy two pieces of wooden furniture to make my living room/kitchen area look a little less like a college dorm. I hope to post pictures later, but I plan to buy a wooden garbage can thing where the garbage can is hidden inside a wooden box that pulls out (I kinda hope this makes it harder for Riley to get her hands in the garbage can!) and I'm hoping to get something to replace our "bar" area with something that has doors so Riley stops getting into the stuff we have stored there (not alcohol, we moved that once she could crawl, but we keep the tea, hot chocolate, coffee, etc. there now that her sippy cups have taken over the cupboard where those used to hide).

I love the Craft Sale anyway, but when you plan to buy something it's even more fun! I'll probably pick up more of my root beer that I buy there every year too:) And maybe something cute for Riley's room, I got most of the decorations for her room there in previous years. YEAH Shopping! That's what I'm thankful for today:) Oh, and I'm thankful that Dad and Meg are watching Zack and Roo so we don't have to bring strollers too!

P.S. It's supposed to be almost 60 degrees today. Hope you can get out and enjoy the day! Count robins or blow bubbles or something;) (Yes, I am the mother of a toddler!)

NOTE: So here's what I bought! I even talked the guy down on price and saved enough to buy a really cute quilted vest too! (Thanks for helping with that Mom!) Yeah Canterbury:) I had a good day.

Crazy Gas Prices

Ok, with gas at $3.29 most places I see today, I decided to add a link at the right WAY at the bottom of my page to Twin Cities Gas Prices. You'll find the cheapest locations to buy gas around town. Josh always makes fun of me cuz I watch gas prices like a hawk, but you have to when you are a stay-at-home, because I budget for every fill-up!

Dr. Bronners Soap for the Recipe

I was reading a blog I check pretty often (Cheap Chick link below). The recipe for facial cleanser I posted before uses Dr. Bronner's soap (Fair Trade Organic). Apparently Target is now selling small bottles for $1.99 in store and larger bottles online. Thought if you wanted to try out this recipe it would be a good way to start. If you go to the Cheap Chick link, read her April 1 post. (I really hope it wasn't an April Fool). Anyway, it links to Dr. Bronner's web site and some of the scents sound really yummy. And did I mention I LOVE this cleanser?

This brings me to something else I should mention. New to the blog, on the right hand side under our family picture is "Mo's Favorite Themes". This is a way to organize the past blogs into quick reference points. For example, if you want to see the recipe for the face cleanser, check out Fun Recipes or Living Green. A lot of people want to look back and see where you recycle light bulbs or plastic bags. Check Living Green. If you love watching videos of Roo, there's a section for that, etc. Some things are labeled with more than one theme too, so you might find a video of Roo wearing a hat under Riley's Many Hats AND under Riley Video. Thanks Meg, for teaching me how to do this, it's already helped me find stuff faster on my own site:)