Red!

March 30, 2012

I just love this picture... we were at a birthday party at Little Monkey Bizness and I captured this brilliant smile!

Imitation

Funny fingers?

L was cracking herself up while J was fishing this weekend.

Seventh Generation Free and Clear Diaper Giveaway!

As you know, we primarily use cloth diapers in our home. However, we do use some disposables (like when we just haven't had a chance to wash diapers yet and L needs something to keep her dry for the night...) so when the folks at MyBlogSpark offered me the chance to review Seventh Generation Diapers again, I was pretty happy! We try, as a family, to stay on the greener side of things, and Seventh Generation really helps us do that. I am also a huge fan of their dish soap. It smells lovely. I also really, really like their laundry detergent, especially since it's available without fragrance. 

L getting in touch with her inner Barbaloot

The biggest difference I noticed is that, because Seventh Generation is partnering with the new Lorax movie, they have limited edition Lorax prints on the diapers! They are really cute, and still super absorbent. In addition, they now have *overnight* diapers! I really wish they'd had these when J was a toddler, because seriously? That kid could pee through nearly everything. I have to say, though, that the regular Free and Clear dipes are plenty absorbent for L overnight, which is saying something. I think we had one night where she shifted out of her diaper slightly and peed all over me and herself, but she's done that with cloth ones just as rarely. I was really, really impressed by how much pee those could hold! I swear, most mornings the diaper felt like there was much more capacity left.

Here is some more information about the changes made to the Seventh Generation Diapers:

• NEW Overnight Diapers are absorbent enough to keep your baby and bedding dry through the night or during prolonged travel

• Free & Clear diapers have improved more flexible tabs that provide even better fit

• Free & Clear training pants have an absorbent core made with more renewable, plant-based materials.  They also feature stretchy, tear away side panels for a better fit and added convenience, as well as inner leak barriers for superior leakage protection (I wish they had these when J was potty training!! We had some serious leakage issues.)
• Seventh Generation Free & Clear baby care products do not contain chlorine, fragrance, petroleum-based lotions or latex, and all Free & Clear products are also hypo-allergenic
• Starting March 2, you can register for a free The Lorax scrapbook with the purchase of any three Free & Clear diaper products, until supplies last

Did I mention that I was also sent a copy of The Lorax? and it was printed on RECYCLED MATERIALS? That made me super happy, and J LOVES that book. L is a little young, but J had us read it to him about a dozen times. I really wish that all Dr. Seuss books (or hell, all books...) would be printed using only recycled materials, but I guess it's a start.



Now, the fun (for you) part! Two of you will win something here!

I'm giving away one prize pack consisting of the new Seventh Generation Free and Clear diapers, as well as a copy of The Lorax! (This part is sponsored by MyBlogSpark in conjunction with Seventh Generation.)

I am also giving away one coupon good for $5 off a copy of The Lorax with purchase of 3 Seventh Generation products! (This part is all me.) Bonus is that if you are buying 3 packs of Free and Clear diapers, you can also get the scrapbook mentioned above! So lots of money-saving goodness is going on there!

How to enter:
Mandatory Entry:
Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Dr. Seuss book, and your favorite character in that book. You must include your email address in your comment, preferably in this format (to keep spammers from getting your info with their spambots): mamasmockingbird at gmail dot com

Optional/bonus entries (up to 6):
You may do one or all of these, just make sure you leave a comment each time to let me know you did so. You only have to include your email address with your first entry, but please leave your name with each comment so I can figure out who is who!

1. Follow my blog, or, if you already do, let me know you do. 
2. Tell me one way in which you have gone green, especially if this is a money saving way to go green!
3. Blog about this giveaway, and link directly to your blog post. 
4. Follow me on Twitter (@simplytena) and leave a comment with your Twitter name; if you already follow me, just let me know.
5. Tweet about this giveaway, and link directly to your tweet.
6. Share this on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so. For privacy's sake, you don't have to link to your FB post.

That's all! This giveaway will run until April 1, 2012, at 11:59pm MST.


Disclaimer: The Seventh Generation Diapers prize pack and information have been provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark. I was given these so that I could review and give away a prize pack, but opinions expressed here are my own and cannot be bought. 


The coupon was not provided by MyBlogSpark.

11 months!

I don't know how this happened, but my baby girl is 11 months old today. Wow. She has 6 teeth, loads of personality, and she's such a stinker that she crawled today for the first time-when nobody was looking. She says Mama, Dada, Brudda, no, tickle (iggle), duck, hat, and hi.

Length: about 30 inches (90th Percentile)
Weight: 17 pounds 3 ounces (7th Percentile)

Shockingly, she's long and skinny. Her weight is less than last time because I weighed her naked versus fully clothed.

March 26, 2012

One of L from yesterday's trip to the park.

March 25, 2012

J's First Fishing Trip

No fish were caught, but boy did he have fun.

Curls!

March 14, 2012

Lookie what I got in the mail today...

And a character is named after me! SQUEE!

I only circled it on the picture, I didn't defile my beautiful book.

And it's a signed limited edition hardcover!

Live webchat with Lisa Loeb on Creativity tonight!

I'm a big fan of crayons, coloring, and inspiring my kid to be creative (not that he needs much help at age 4, but sometimes he needs a nudge to actually go color). Tonight, Crayola is teaming up with Lisa Loeb to host a video chat on creativity! 


Creativity matters. It´s a skill that all children can learn and when it´s practiced every day, kids become the critical thinkers, problem solvers, and leaders in the classroom, and they´re better prepared for professions of the 21st century.

Crayola wants every child to be creatively alive, so they´re inviting parents "Inside the Crayon Box," for a special live chat with celebrities and trusted parenting experts that will inspire and spark ideas to expand your child´s creative thinking. If you find yourself looking for new ways to inspire your children to express their ideas and build their creativity, you´ll want to join us to learn and share!

The first "Inside the Crayon Box" live chat is TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Join Crayola and musician, children´s author and mom, Lisa Loeb for a 45-minute live streaming video chat on the Crayola Facebook Page. Lisa, best-known for her number one hit "Stay (I Missed You)," will share as personal stories, practical advice and ways she brings a little creative play into every day for her daughter. Participants can ask Lisa questions during the event, too!

Interested in the topics to be covered during the chat?

• Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.
• Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.
• Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.

"Creativity Matters"






"Inspire"







Just in case you miss the Crayola "Inside the Crayon Box" event, check out the Crayola YouTube Channel where the session will be posted.

To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!

Also, check out Lisa´s book Lisa Loeb´s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children´s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa's Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa!




This information was provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark.

Coffee Giveaway WINNER!

Random.org picked comment #5.

Amy said:

I love coffee! Have to gave a coffee pot with a timer so its ready when I get up in the morning. I usually mix in a little creamer. 

Congratulations, Amy!

Check your email! You have 48 hours to get back to me!

11 Things

I saw this on Melinda's blog and thought I'd join the fun. I wasn't tagged, but why not? I'm not tagging anyone; if you read this and have a blog, why not do it too?

 
The rules are simple:
-Post the rules
-Post a pic of yourself  & 11 random facts
-Create 11 new questions & tag new bloggers to answer to answer them
-Go to their blog/twitter/facebook & tell them they've been tagged

This is from my 1980s-themed 19th birthday a few weeks ago.

1. Both of my pinky fingers are crooked- if I line them up side by side they make a "Y". J thinks this is awesome. 


2. My favorite dinosaur is Brachiosaurus.


3. My husband and I have been together for longer than my mom and dad were married (to each other).


4. I have 7 siblings, but only one of them is actually my "whole" sibling. The rest are halves or adopted. The oldest is 20 years older than I am, and the youngest is 11 years younger.


5. My favorite color is dark green.


6. When I was 11, my stepdad gave me a satchel-style bag. At the time, I didn't appreciate it and returned it. I still wish I'd kept it, because I would totally use it now. 


7. I have a serious love of podcasts. My favorites are Escape Pod, PseudoPod, PodCastle, the Dunesteef, the Drabblecast, Science Friday, and Keith and the Girl. 


8. I'd rather have morning sickness or pneumonia than a head cold. I loathe having clogged sinuses. 


9. Everyone in my immediate family (household) has a birthday with a 7 in it but me. 


10. I love shopping. Of ANY kind. It's even better when I can use coupons, and it's almost a competition for myself every week to get the best deal I can. 


11. I had a "dream fairy" when I was very young- like 5. She used to hang out in the closet in our bathroom and fold things while she talked to me in my dreams. I haven't seen her since I was 15 or 16, but she was still in the same bathroom even though we no longer lived in that house. 


Now, 11 questions for you to answer!

1. What is your favorite color?
2. If you had to choose 1 person from history to spend a day with, who would it be?
3. Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book by them?
4. How many people are in your family?
5. What is the strangest thing a stranger has ever said to you or in your hearing?
6. Do you have any cool scars?
7. What is your least favorite flavor and why?
8. Name 3 irrational fears that you have (bugs, small children, etc).
9. What is your #1 hobby?
10. How many languages do you speak?
11. Are you superstitious? About what?


Have fun! Feel free to comment and link to your post!