Naptime Blog

It’s OFFICIAL, my oldest son is a 6^th grader L. I swear it feels like he just got here. I was a nervous wreck at his school open house. Not that guy, he walked around with all the confidence in the world. He has 6 teachers, he switches classes, has new friends from the other schools & the little young ladies and really after him.

He has turned into such the helper around the house with his brothers, I have seen so much growth in him over this past summer.

I thought I was ready for this transiton, and even though there are 2 younger siblings in the house he is still “”My Baby”.

~Shanta

Mommy o 3 BOYS

Tracking your money is has proven to be a very powerful tool for saving in our family. When we weren’t tracking, we were spending freely and not even remembering where the money went. There are tons of programs & spreadsheets out there for you to use to help make it easy.

There are tons of FREE online tools like Mint and Wesabe. But if you don’t feel comfortable using the online programs, the easiest method is to track your expenses yourself. You can get all the information you need from a basic spreadsheet that you can store on your computer.

Starting out will seem a little odd to you. I mean who really wants to write down every time you get a cup of coffee or use a vending machine? But once you have been doing it for a few weeks and you look back, you can see trends & habits that you can cut back on and in the end help you save.

~Shanta

Mommy of 3 BOYS!

More and more doctors are refusing to treat unvaccinated children. They feel that they put other patients, especially newborns, at greater risk. Many are shocked that doctors would turn away patients, but others understand, and welcome, the decision.

Many parents choose not to vaccinate for a number of reasons. One major reason parents opted out was the risk of Autism. Researchers have proven that there is no link between vaccinations and Autism. While some parents are afraid of the risks, others just don’t like the idea of vaccinations and feel their children will naturally build up immunity.

I have mixed emotions about this topic. I think we need to keep everyone safe by vaccinating, but I have concerns about the number given at on time & how it is given.

Would love for you to share your thoughts..

~Shanta

Mommy of 3 BOYS!

If you were to visit our home you would think I was a Parent’s Choice sales rep. or something?! We literally have 90% of their baby products on hand. I recently fell in love with the baby wash & lotion, smells delicious.  I use the formula, diapers, wipes (love), toddler snacks, uuummmmmm I know there is more! Lol

Now that there is ANOTHER new guy in the house, I would love to see Stage I/First food, I know they have great Stage II foods, etc. I am a fan of the quality first, then the price second.

I have to admit a family member introduced me to the formula about 3 years ago, her little girl drank it and she said “ It’s the same stuff as the fancy/expensive name brand stuff”

After consulting with our pediatrician, we’ve been hooked ever since.

BIG can means extra savings!

Mommy of 3!

Shanta

I have a family member who is a true naturalist.  Grows his own herbs & veggies, supports the local farmers market, and rarely eats any type of processed foods.  When visiting with him recently, he noticed the baby (who is now 5 months) 2 bottom teeth are coming in. They have really been giving my baby a time

Our uncle suggested we try our local organic market and check out the Teething Tablets by Hylands.  I am usually pretty skeptical about trying things when they are so young, but after learning about the Orajel scare, I was more willing to try something natural.

Have you had any experience with this remedy working for your teething baby?

They cost between $7-$8

Mommy of 3 Boys!

Shanta

If you have followed my blog any, you know that my family loves a good road trip. With the downturn of the economy, we also love a good staycation too 

A family member recently told us to check out Massanutten Resort. I had NEVER heard of it, but she went on to share how great it was for families. It’s located outside of Richmond off of Hwy 81 in Harrisonburg, VA. They have a little bit of everything, for the more adventurous families to the families who just want to relax and chill.

Because we have never visited, they (the resort) invited us down to tour and learn more about the property, we basically visited for FREE! Now that’s what I call a vacation

I’m going to share with you the SHORT list of things we did while we were there:

Swimming

Bungee Dome

Go-Karts

Basketball

Volleyball

Good Eating

Indoor Water park

Petting Zoo

There was so much more to see, but our 4 day trip was not long enough. Check out there website, see for your self. www.massanutten.com

Also, check out the pictures of my boys having the time of their lives!!

In today’s world, many people are trying to find their nitch. Many people are making crafts, hair bows, floral arrangements, knitting, crocheting etc.

I love handmade items; I admire the one of a kind uniqueness. While I have never really been the crafty type, I am inspired!!  While my photography is my passion & I am always searching for new ways to showcase my baby/toddler models, I found that there is not much out there for boys, little girls have all kinds of cutesie props: tutus, fancy bows & flowers for their hair etc…

I have decided to TRY and make my own cute little props & costumes for little boys and some girl stuff. Have you checked out this site http://www.etsy.com/

Take a look at my 1^st project.

Mommy of 3

Shanta

This summer has been one of the hottest summers I’ve seen in a while. I normally get up with the kids around 8, and its already HOT outside! I wanted to share a few tips to help you and your family beat the heat.

Please feel free to share yours as well!

1. Stay inside, as simple as it may sound, try to stay in as much as possible. Stock up on your groceries, Redbox favorites & chill.
2. Try to keep your thermostat on a consistent set temperature, increasing/decreasing makes it work harder to cool your home (my Daddy taught me that)
3. Keep everyone in the home hydrated, and don’t forget about the family pets. If you do have outdoor pets you may want to get them inside to a cooler area.
4. My kids love frozen treats, cut up watermelon, strawberries, grapes, whatever your favorite fruit is and place them on sticks & freeze for about 30 minutes, it’s the BEST cool down snack.
5. Most importantly, if you do have to go out, limit your time outside. Make sure you apply sunscreens, drink plenty of water and make your outside time as limited as possible.

Enjoy the rest of your summer & be careful in this heat!

Mommy of 3

Shanta

Finally, a mini iPad type toy for kids! My 2 year old thinks that our iPad is his, NOT. He can get around really well on it; he knows how to get to his apps with no assistance and plays his educational games surprisingly well to be 2 years old.

Well his generous Auntie decided to get her nephew his own little gadget; she bought him the Leapster Explorer. It’s a handheld that you can load stories, games and has a stylus. When I went online to register my warranty information, I learned that coming soon (August) LeapFrog will release the LeapPad.

I was blown away by its features. It is really like a kid iPad, priced around $99.

Because Jayce is really comfortable with our iPad, I know this would be ideal for him, I hope I can do some type of trade in. Check it out below, what do you think?

http://www.leapfrog.com/leappad/meet.html

Did you know that many national manufacturers also produce store brand products? Some of these big name brands products are sitting on the shelf right beside its lesser expensive twin. Every day items like aluminum foil, spices, and even frozen vegetables; It might surprise you to know that Reynolds, McCormick, and Birds Eye are also churning out goods for the same stores they sell their name brand lines to.

Many consumers want to know when should one shy away from store brands? Well, I say that a question is a matter of preference for your household and budget.

Read the ingredients list, compare the labels on the name brand vs. the store brand, see for yourself.

What is your experience with switching to store brand food versions? Which name brand foods were you able to substitute with store brand? I have had great success with using store brands and saving a lot of money on my shopping which is always good.

Just call me a savvy shopper

Shanta