My Cup Runneth Over

LilyPadz Reusable Silicone Nursing Pads (Starter Kit)

I breastfed both of my children, each for one year. While breastfeeding is easier and more convenient than bottle feeding there are still a number of drawbacks and having a wet t-shirt contest in the middle of Target because you heard some baby crying is not an enjoyable experience. Most mothers who nursed their children can tell you that next to requiring oxygen to breathe, you probably need some sort of pad to absorb leakage.

With my first child I tried a number of disposable nursing pads and really liked the Lansinoh pads the best. They were very absorbent, large and relatively inexpensive. Having said that, there were still times when I needed something discrete. Tight shirts over large, swollen, milk-filled breasts were not so attractive when the outline of your nursing pad is clearly visible. My cousin's wife (props to Alison!) told me about LilyPadz. These little babies are silicone, molded shells that gently adhere to the surface of your breast creating a seal that reduces leakage and appear invisible under clothing.

PROS: Reusable (just hand wash and let dry), easy on/easy off, invisible under clothing, can be worn without a bra if desired

CONS: The product claims to stop leakage by putting gentle pressure on the nipple BUT if you are a leaker like me, don't be surprised if you still have some leakage in the cup from time to time (however, when I would like in the cup it always stayed inside the silicone, it never leaked out onto my shirt)

Bat an Eye

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

My mom called me the other day and said, "OK, I have a product for you to try and blog about...CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara". I had to laugh because I actually told her about this product last year :) So, since she brought it up, I decided I should probably blog about it!

This is by far my favorite mascara for so many reasons. Here they are:

1. It does what it says...it volumizes, it lengthens
2. It doesn't flake
3. It doesn't clump
4. It comes in a variety of colors and a new waterproof formula
5. It's cheap (compared to department store brands)
6. It's easy to find (sold in all grocery and drug stores)

What more could you want? I honestly can't think of one negative about this mascara, you just have to try it for yourself!

A Penny Saved...

TIP: Baseball Card Holder as Coupon Organizer

I have been an on again, off again, on again 'coupon-er'. I love the idea of coupons but we buy so many fresh things (fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.) for which many circulating coupons don't apply. Recently I re-subscribed to the Sunday paper and have been saving coupons for beauty products, household supplies, cleaning products, etc. The way that I keep my coupons organized is in handy baseball card holder sleeves. I use a Sharpie marker to write the product on the sleeve "ex. Paper Towels" and stick my coupons in the appropriate slots. It has worked very well and I've gotten quite a few comments from fellow shoppers about how they have to try this method, too!

You can purchase the sleeves at hobby stores, online, Target or Wal-Mart (I believe Wal-Mart has a 35 pack for $5.77). Once you have your sleeves just stick them in a 3 ring binder, label each slot with a Sharpie marker and that's it. I keep my binder in the car and on Sunday or Monday I put my new coupons in it. It works for me...hope it will work for you!

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

Menage a Trois California Red Wine

About three years ago when we moved to North Carolina we went to a party at a friend's house. They had a number of bottles of Menage a Trois and, being the wine lover that I am, I couldn't resist trying a glass. It was so smooth and full and easy to drink and since that time it has become the 'house red' in our house. The price tag is great (less than $10/bottle) and it appeals to most crowds. My mom tried it while visiting us and she had my dad buy her a couple of cases when they returned home. When my mother-in-law (who, by the way, works in a winery) visited she tried it and enjoyed it enough to buy a bottle when she returned home. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!


Here is a little excerpt from the Menage a Trois website:

Even if red wine is not your speed, give our Ménage à Trois Red a try. This wine exposes the fresh, ripe, jam-like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Ménage à Trois Red brings together three strange bedfellows.

On top we've got Zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship. Merlot, with its generous mouth feel and red fruits, fits perfectly in the middle. The rich flavors and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal.

Eat Up!

Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron

My older sister told me about this book when our first child was 8 weeks old. We were visiting her and her family in Lubbock, Texas and I read her copy from cover to cover in 2 days. Upon returning home I immediately purchased a copy for myself and now, 4 years later, I still reference it when I need some food tips!

Super Baby Food is a wonderful tool to have when trying to figure out what foods to introduce to your baby and when to introduce them. It gives ideas for each month and is full of tips and recipes that are so handy. Both of my girls have been amazing eaters from their first bites of solid food and I truly credit this book for that. They eat a wide variety of healthy foods that most kids turn their noses up at...my oldest begs for broccoli and my youngest can't get enough avocado! If you or anyone you know has a newborn they need this book!

PROS: Very quick read, chapters are broken down by developmental age, great money-saving tips and tricks, variety of recipes, helpful hints for feeding toddlers and older children

CONS: No-one distributes a copy to you when your baby is born :)

Do Your Best and Forget the Rest

P90X

As I have mentioned before, I love a good workout. I used to teach spinning classes and was the manager of a gym in college and had since then always belonged to a gym. Running, weight lifting, power yoga, Bikram yoga, spinning and even water aerobics (while pregnant) were some of the activities I enjoyed doing almost daily...until I had my second child. With a toddler, a newborn and a husband working very long days and nights I just didn't have time to get to the gym. But, my postpartum body and overtired 'mommy' mind craved exercise...that's when we searched CraigsList and found a set of P90X videos for dirt cheap. It was worth a shot. Needless to say, we loved it, we saw results, we cancelled our gym memberships.

Heath and I started the videos in the evenings when Zoe was about 5 weeks old; we would get the girls down and head to the basement for an hour of torture. I had never been so sore in all my life. The great thing was, I continued to be sore week after week as I worked out different body parts each day. The workouts are fun, sometimes brutal, and always produced results.

P90X is a commitment. It is hard and, if you aren't accustomed to working out I strongly suggest you work up to these videos and modify, modify, modify. No-one that I know could start these videos and do them perfectly from day one...you will take breaks, you will skip sections, you will laugh (or cry!) at how hard it is but as you work your way through you will master the exercises and you will feel SO good and SO proud of yourself.

So, as 2012 is upon us, I thought it only appropriate to start the year with a workout video. We all have New Year's Resolutions that at some time or another focus around our health and wellness. This year, I am vowing to get more sleep, eat more healthfully, and start another round of P90X. Here's to a happy, healthy and wholesome 2012!