Vincent Shoes heads back to school

Here we have it! Another amazing collection from Vincent children shoes. Fashionable with an edge of funkiness. We love them! You know I have a thing for children shoes. Especially for my boys (LA: 3yrs / Boatboy: 16mos.). If you don't remember Vincent from my last feature in the Spring, you will once you see LA's super cool shiny silver rock star Leo shoes.

Vincent has come out with an amazing back-2-school collection. We selected the Liam in black for LA. With the winter months fast approaching I wanted a low-cut boot for him to run around in. They look adorable on LA. Flexible and easy to put on. They have a velcro fastener and stretchy laces. What else can you ask for in a toddler shoe?

If or when I have a little girl she MUST have these Matilda boots! I don't think they could get any cuter! Vincent continues to design unique fashion forward children's shoes.

More about Vincent Shoes: Two Swedes, who have been in various areas of the fashion world, Patrick at H&M and Thomas a model, couldn’t find anything to suit their tastes for a little guy in their life. Soon, they were designing a collection of kids’ shoes. Patrick and Thomas derive their inspiration from global trends and runway fashions of Paris, Milan, London and New York.

Fall/winter and spring/summer collections both range from soft pre-walkers and comfortable indoor shoes to day and dress shoes as well as boots for girls and boys up to about age 8.

Go and buy a pair of back-2-school children shoes from Vincent Shoes.

It's Friday! SWEET(s)

Why have just one when you can have two? At least that's how it works when Papa's (Mrs. Blonde's Dad) in charge of dessert.

Giveaway: Zhu Zhu Pets hampsters & play set

If you're like Mr. Blonde and I, you asked your parents for some at some point in life. Or multiple points in life.

"Can I have a hamster?!"

I'm sure my Dad would have like to have responded with "Why, yes. Yes you can have a rodent you'll think is fun for two weeks, urinates all over it's cedar chips every other day and runs in a squeeky wheel every night from 3 to 4am that your mother will end up caring for instead of you. Great idea, beautiful smart daughter! In fact, let's get a dozen of them so by this time next year, we have 186 of them!"

You know that part about us at Blondes, Poop & Mascara enjoying things that simplify and enhance family life? This is precisely the point.

If fake hamsters make kids happy then you won't ever have to get your children real ones!

It is true! ZhuZhuPets and Playset come with very fun and loveable little hampsters of all different colors. They chitter and chatter and scurry all over your floor.

We had a blast for hours with our new playset and furry friends. And, the little rascals never bit anyone! We had a Zhu Zhu Pets Hampster Party with some little friends. Thanks to Mom Select and ZhuZhuPets we had a hampster for everyone. We were sent 10 Zhu Zhu Pets along with an exercise room/wheel, surfboard/dome, skateboard/uturn, car/garage and a slide/ramp. It was fun for LA (3+ years of age) to let he and his brother's (15mos of age) hampster run through the playset. But, oh my was it fun to see 10 little hampsters all running through the playset together. They would bump into each other and just keep going. I have to be honest...I didn't think it would work. A bunch of robot hamsters running around in this thing? Come on! But, they did. It really fun. And all of the kids are still playing with the hampsters. One of the little girls is still insisting her mom let her sleep with it each night!

The only thing that could have been easier was assembly of the playset. The parts didn't fit together perfectly. However, with a little time and patience it did ultimately work just fine. And, it's fun for a wide age range. My 15-month-old Boatboy loved his hamster and a 10-year-old friend of ours wants the entire set for herself.

And, because they're fake there's no pellet poop to clean up either!


Buy it: Find ZhuZhuPets in your neck of the wood by clicking here. Visit the ZhuZhuPets blog too.

Win it: ZhuZhuPets is giving one Blondes, Poop & Mascara winner a hampster in white or yellow with extra batteries. Leave a comment telling me which color you would choose and your favorite thing about ZhuZhuPets!

Extra Entries:
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5. Tweet about this giveaway.
6. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
7. Grab my Less Naughty. More Nice. button and post it to your cyber space.
8. Blog about this contest and leave the link in your comment.
9. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

I will select a winner on September 22nd.

Thanks to Mom Select for the opportunity to review this product and offer my readers a giveaway!

THE WINNER IS RANDOM NUMBER 56. THANKS FOR ENTERING.

stuff

Stumbled across a fantastic little video and website called The Story of Stuff that speaks to our stuff and its effects in our lives. Not only do the facts seem pretty accurate, but the video is produced and scripted in a very clean very organized manner.
The piece is twenty minutes in length so don't get started watching it unless you have time to watch it all the way through. It's best when viewed in all its intended context.
Lastly, the video doesn't leave you with a "Things are jacked up (PERIOD)." notion. There are several leave behinds for activism called Another Way.''
Here's a short teaser video for the full video...

Giveaway: Less Naughty. More Nice. - 1st ever BPM blog event

Less Naughty. More Nice. is a way to promote amazing products with reviews and giveaways! I am sharing ethically produced products in advance of the Christmas buying season. I have a heart for fair trade, eco-friendly and U.S. made companies. It starts this Wednesday and will continue through November 11th.

I am sharing only some of the amazing companies that will be featured during this event.

Body Systems
Boon
Fair Trade Sports
Fashionthropic
Jessie Steele Living
Lauren Nicole Gifts
LUSH
Sleepy Wrap
Smart Mom
Sugar Apple Designs
The Rocking Pony
ReUsies
Warner Brothers' Eating Right Kids
and more!

Win an amazing prize right now! Support this event by posting the Less Naughty. More Nice. button in your cyber space. Blog it. Facebook it. Tweet about the event. Spraypaint your car. Shave it on your cat. Just do the right thing and promote it. Do so and leave me a comment for each effort. Then you get a chance to win a very special prize. The only clue that I'll give you about what I'm giving away is to remind you that I'm a make-up artist.

I will select a winner on September 16th.

Thanks for your support and be sure to enter all of the amazing giveaways coming up in Blondes, Poop & Mascara's Less Naughty. More Nice!

RANDOM NUMBER 3 IS THE WINNER!THANKS FOR ENTERING!

Giveaway: Temple Touch thermometer

Great timing for my new noninvasive thermometer. I am thankful I've only had to use it while Boatboy (16mos.) has been teething the last couple weeks. I was excited to try it out on our eldest, LA (3yrs), just for fun and not for some unknown bug which is likely learking around winter's corner. Not only did he not mind it, he thinks it's fun and wants me to take his temp often.

The ReliOn Temple Thermometer uses R.A.T.E. technology that measures the heat radiating from your little one's body. I know...crazy! Unlike other forehead-type thermometers, the ReliOn Temple Touch is unaffected by local conditions for more accurate readings. It only takes 6 seconds! Did you hear that? SIX seconds! Very easy to take a temp while baby is sleeping.

I was expecting lots of details to set it up and turn it on. Not the case. Simply hit the only button twice, wait for 2 beeps and apply to the temple. Six seconds later...whala! You have a temp.

LA was happy to smile for you while I took his temp tonight during pooping time. I have been very impressed with this thermometer. It is so simple and as I mentioned before so noninvasive!

Buy it: It's only $9.95 at retail and ReliOn.com

Win it: ReliOn has giving away a Temple Touch for a Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Leave me a comment telling me why you must have this therometer.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog publicly through Google's easy reader tool.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email (and except the confirmation email).
3. Tell me your favorite thing about my blog that isn't a review or giveaway.
4. Follow me on twitter... mrsblonde1
5. Tweet about this giveaway.
6. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
7. Grab my Less Naughty. More Nice. button and post it to your cyber space.
8. Blog about this contest and leave the link in your comment.
9. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

Thanks to Mom Select for the opportunity to review this product
and offer my readers a giveaway!

Run my first 5K (check)

So...I did it. "I" meaning the husband and myself. My first ever 5K run. I've been talking about it for 2.5 months. It was a beautiful autumnish morning for a trail run. It was harder than expected due to the terrain, but it was SO much fun.

It was a lot of fun to talk to the other runners and be inspired by their inspirations. Let's profile them shall we...

* All in the family: We briefly got to know an adorable and sweet running family of four. Dad, Mom, 11-yr-old girl and 8-yr-old girl. The 8-year-old is leading her age group in the series of these runs. And, she finished ahead of Amos (only by 40-some seconds he says)!

* The mature: An 80-year-old woman that started the race directly behind Amos. Yeah, you read that age right. 80! Are you kidding me?!

* The big ones: There were a select few number of big dogs. We're talking 50ish guys weighing 250 or so. Girls in their 20s well over 200. Amazingly inspirational!

* Greased lightening: There was a 15K that started 10 minutes before our 5K. One of them lapped Amos around the 2 mile mark. He went on to win the 15K. This guy was blazing through this hilly/rocky 7+ miles in less than 7 minute miles. Then, he and his buddy (15K Men's 2nd place) went running after the race. I guess they weren't tired yet!

* The logger: Maybe it was a Friday Lunch special at White Castle. Maybe it was the 19 Pabst Blur Ribbons you sucked down with your buddies last night. I am uncertain. But, I have it on pretty good authority (the assault on my olfactory senses) that fecal matter should never under any circumstances be that color, carry that scent or be left in a public port-o-let prior to a racing event. -Mr. Blonde In regard to the girl that used the bathroom prior to him. Btw, he only pee'd.

A few thank yous of note...

1) A huge thank you to my friend and running partner Maureen. There is NO chance I would have done what I did this morning had I not been training with you. And, sorry for asking How much longer so often. You're my fav flapper!

2) To my amazing hubby who thought of this cool idea as a part of our "5" celebration (5yr anniversary). Thanks for letting me run with Maureen in the evening during our time. And supporting me! Love you!

3) Huge thanks to Ahnu for my awesome shoes. Eco-friendly, fair trade, super cute and they have been fantastic for my little doggies during this time of training.

We'll be doing it again for sure. And, before that time, I'll be investing in some high quality running socks. Do NOT need another one of these...

For all you time people out there, Mr. notched a heavy 31min and I crossed the line at 37min. I will get faster!

Giveaway: ChicBuds earphones

Why settle for plain-looking earbuds when you have a stylish pair by ChicBuds that has a built-in retrator? Good looks meets functionality. The retractor allows the cord length to expand to five stopping points while the clip prevents the cord from bouncing around. Now, if my window blinds would be so kind.

As most of you know I have been training for my first 5K. Which is tomorrow morning. I used to start my run off by trying very hard to untangle my husband earbuds for the first 5 minutes of my run and then find a way to stop the cord from hitting me while I blazed through the sideroads of our neighborhood not unlike a graceful gazelle in the cool morning sun. Quite a sight to see, I know. These earbuds truly retract to the length I need them and the cord does NOT bounce. Very nice. And, ChicBuds are very pretty with Swarovski crystals on them.

Chic Buds offers many earbud designs. Another nice thing is their support of many causes including breast cancer awareness, AIDS research and ChicBlvd Fitness partners with the American Heart Association.

ChicBuds earphones are compatible with the iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, CD player, airplane connectors…basically any listening device.

ChicBuds retailers and partners include Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fred Segal, Intuition, Ceasar’s Palace, Wynn Hotels, Fairmont Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Dillards, Fred Meyer, Regis, Nordstrom, Radioshack.com, BestBuy.com, Buy.com, KMart.com and hundreds of boutiques nationwide. ChicBuds are also distributed in Japan and Australia and are sold in over 10 countries.

Buy a pair: Pick up a pair of ChicBuds for yourself or as a gift starting at $29.99. Be sure to check out all of ChicBuds other products.

Win a pair: ChicBuds is giving away a pair of ROCKBUDS to one Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Just leave a comment telling me your favorite earbuds with your email address. Let me know your favorite track to workout to as well if you would. I need to update my workout playlist!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog publicly through Google's easy reader tool.
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4. Follow me on twitter... mrsblonde1
5. Tweet about this giveaway.
6. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
7. Grab my Less Naughty. More Nice. button and post it to your cyber space.
8. Blog about this contest and leave the link in your comment.
9. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

I will select a winner September 10. Thanks for entering!

Rise by Fashionthropic

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2006) believes that the number of children trafficked annually
is around 1.2 million.

It is estimated that two children per minute are trafficked for sexual exploitation.

About $28 billion of this is generated from commercial sexual exploitation. (International Labor Organization)

Learn more about The Problem in this handy pdf.

Love146's vision is "The abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Nothing less." They were founded in 2002 and are a Better Business Bureau certified 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Amos and a friend of his have been working together for a few months now on a Fashionthropic shirt to benefit Love146. They just completed Rise last night. It features a little girl both before and after she was rescued from sex trafficking. While in the depths of the pit, she's scared. Dirty. Malnourished. Abused. Discarded. Once she rises, she smiles. She's nurtured. She's healed.

Twenty-four hours after it was posted, an administrator at Skreened found it and listed it on the homepage as one of her favorites! Thanks, Michelle!

Check out the shirt. Make others aware of the problem of child sex trafficking. Talk about Love146. Follow their blog. Let's work together to end this hell.

I'm gonna getcho

machine wash; tumble dry?

Giveaway: See Kai Run shoes

Are you ready to see some the greatest funkiest little urban footwear for your child's first steps? See Kai Run has come out with yet another amazing fall line of boys and girls shoes.

Why are these shoes amazing? Soft flexible leather, but VERY supportive. They are not heavy. They are extremely breathable. And, they are super easy to take on and off with the dual velcro. As soon as I put them on Boatboy (15mos.) he starting running around the house. And, when he's barefoot, he'll go find them by the back door and try and put them on himself. He has actually brought them to me to put them on.

See Kai Run graciously agreed to let us review the Jason. These shoes have been fantastic. I mentioned breathable already, but seriously...Boatboy can wear them without socks and his feet are perfectly fine. That's some supple leather, folks. His feet are never sweaty or stinky (can a 15 month foot be stinky?).

We have gotten so many compliments on these adorable shoes. They are amazing for the wobbly ankles while your child is learning to walk. Once he (or she, I'm just in boyland at BPM) becomes a little mobile pro then it's time to move on to Eleven shoes.

Oh, and if I had a girl these would be my pick!!

Buy a pair: Head over to See Kai Run to pick up a pair. Or zappos.com, amazon.com or several other brick & mortar retail options.

Win a pair: See Kai Run is giving away any pair of shoes from the smaller or See Kai Run line to one Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader. Just leave a comment telling me your favorite pair in what size with your email address.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog publicly through Google's easy reader tool.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email (and except the confirmation email).
3. Tell me your favorite thing about my blog that isn't a review or giveaway.
4. Follow me on twitter... mrsblonde1
5. Tweet about this giveaway.
6. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
7. Grab my Less Naughty. More Nice. button and post it to your cyber space.
8. Blog about this contest and leave the link in your comment.
9. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.
10. Friend See Kai Run on their Facebook page.
11. Sign up for See Kai Run's mailing list (bottom of their homepage).

I'll pick a winner on September 3rd. Good luck! Thanks for stopping by.

The winner is

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: 228 Result: 153

Wordless Wednesday

How much of a dirtball are you?

I work in an office. It's not too large. Not too small. More males than females. Fairly standard corporate sort of feel as far as the actual building is concerned. We have bathrooms. Your office likely does too. Maybe more than one.

As you know, once your done doing what it is you need to do in the men's / women's room, it is in the best interest of your health and those around you to wash your hands. I continue to be absolutely atonished at the number of men I work with who pay this procedure no mind whatsoever. It gets worse. I'm not talking about just not washing after taking a spray. I'm talking about exiting the stull after logging out and just trapsing right out the door as if in the woods. For real?! That really just happened?! And, I'm standing here to see that you just did(n't) wash?! Unfreakin' believeable!

So, how hethen are you dear Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader? My sneaking suspicion is that most of the readers here are female. Which leads me to sneaking suspicion number 2 - you all are cleaner and just a more respectable sex in general. We shall see.

I present you...two polls...(input away) >>>

What is your gender?



How often do you wash your hands after using the bathroom?


-Mr. Blonde

There's what in my hamburger?!

We saw our first movie at a theatre in about a year and a half on Friday night with a group of friends. With all that time having passed since we last saw a film, we no doubt held out for a really good bigscreen adaptation, right? Something that just could NOT wait until it made its way to Redbox (the only way we really ever watch movies...which is about twice a month).

"Hey, look over there! A neat shiny new action adventure romantic comedy dramatic documentary everybody!"

That's right. It might have been since 2008 that we'd seen a movie together, but it's the first time in either of our lives that we went to see a documentary on the bigscreen.

Food, Inc.

It was worth it. Why?

Because it was awakening. We at Blondes, Poop & Mascara like to be in the know. And, when it comes to food, we really weren't. The basics, yeah...caloric intake, clean your veggies before you eat them, stuff out of cans isn't as fresh, balanced food pyramid, candy is bad, etc, etc. But, we find ourselves three days later left in this wake of knowledge inspiring us to take control of the food in our lives. The American consumer often feels weak. "My choices are only the ones available at the grocer." When, that's not the case at all. Money drives business. And, consumers have the money. Even Wal-Mart was in Food, Inc. as an example of a massive buyer of food who has shifted the way they do business (for the better) because their customers said to do so.

We don't blame you if you don't go pay to see the flick at the theatre, but please watch it once it comes out on DVD / makes its way to Hulu / becomes downloadable on iTunes, etc.

Watch the trailer here and check out the website. It's fantastic!



10 Easy Tips to healthier eating from the Food, Inc. website...

* Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages. You can lose 25 lbs in a year by replacing one 20 oz soda a day with a no calorie beverage (preferably water).

* Eat at home instead of eating out. Children consume almost twice (1.8 times) as many calories when eating food prepared outside the home.

* Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards. Half of the leading chain restaurants provide no nutritional information to their customers.

* Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks. Over the last two decades, rates of obesity have tripled in children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years.

* Meatless Mondays—Go without meat one day a week. An estimated 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are given to farm animals.

* Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides. According to the EPA, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S.

* Protect family farms; visit your local farmer's market. Farmer's markets allow farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.

* Make a point to know where your food comes from—READ LABELS. The average meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to your dinner plate.

* Tell Congress that food safety is important to you. Each year, contaminated food causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the U.S.

* Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections. Poverty among farm workers is more than twice that of all wage and salary employees.

Be informed. Be healthy. Act.

Giveaway: Pediped shoes

The wonderful line Pediped has introduced their new fall collection. You probably remember me reviewing Pediped a while back and loved them. But, I didn't know how much I really loved them until now.

LA (my 3-year-old) really enjoyed the flexible sole and velcro fasteners last time. But the true test of soft flexible leather was up to my super sweet super active little 1-year-old, Boatboy.

Boatboy seems to be quite comfy in his adorable Pedipeds. They are so easy to put on. They stay on! And, the leather is so soft! It allows Boatboy to crawl, fall and get up again with out leaving indentations on his soft, tiny feet. Or, our floors. Pediped vouch themselves as the next best thing to bare feet and that is so true!

I really like to coordinate Boatboy's outfits and my choice of shoes last time really made it tough even though they were stinkin' cute! So, I am thankful for the fall collection. I got a pair of Ethans, a classic brown shoe, that will match almost everything!

Head over to check out their new fall collection. If you have a girl you must have these. If I had a girl she would live in these shoes. I just adore them!

Win a pair: Head over to Pedipeds and leave me a comment with which "Originals" pair you must have and the size. Depending on stock they could be yours. If not, you might have to pick a 2nd choice, but regardless a Blondes, Poop & Mascara winner is scoring a pair of shoes!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog publicly through Google's easy reader tool.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email (and except the confirmation email).
3. Follow me on twitter... mrsblonde1
4. Tweet about this giveaway. Please tweet once. No follower of yours wants bombarded with the same tweet over and over.
5. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
6. Blog about this contest and leave the link in your comment.
7. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

8. NEW - Grab my Less Naughty. More Nice. button to promote my upcoming event! More details coming soon.

I will select a winner August 18th. Thanks for entering!

True Random Number Generator Result: 77

LA: 3 looks good on ya!

Happy birthday to our big boy LA!



Day 1



Day 365



Day 730



Day 1095

dog days of summer

It's just this hot here...

Photographic Phriday

A friend of Mrs. Blonde's for the better part of a decade, Katelin Carter, is a professional photographer in the making. While still in her undergraduate program, she has started Full Pockets Photography. As you'll see from our shoot, her eye for a good photo is already much more mature than her education would suggest. Here are some of our favorites...















Make sure to check out more shots from our shoot and the rest of Katelin's work at Full Pockets.

LA unplugged: depacifying a toddler

LA was about 5 days old and wailing in the middle of the night (infants actually do that, make a note of it) we discovered the beautiful glorious allow-mama-and-dadda-to-sleep-for-just-a-bit wonders of the pacifier. We got one out of the package, plopped it in his mouth...and, wait for it...shhh...hear that...SILENCE!

And, so began the age of the paci. Jump ahead two years (this time last year) and you have a happy little boy who's eloquent in every feasible way except for one thing. The addiction we gave him. The dreaded paci!

"I'm tired I need my paci."

"I need my paci so I can calm down."

"I need my paci so I can relax."

Back when we were first thinking toward depacification, you had a few pieces of advice for us. We were most amused by what designHER Momma did when PK was at this stage. "oh, we were mean over here. We just started cutting the tip of the paci little by little over the course of a month or two until there was nothing to suck on but the plastic part. but it worked..."

We tried that a year ago and it wasn't working out too well with LA having recently adjusted to his toddler bed at age 18 months and getting used to his brother being around when he was 21 months. So, we gave up. Shortly after that he showed interest in potty training. We rolled with that and got that notched off the list. But, still needing omission...the paci.

In the middle of last winter, Mr. Blonde spontaneously told LA when he asked for his paci that we were going to give Baby Matthew (a friend's then infant) LA's paci when he turned 3. Much to our surprise, LA was into it and thought a baby SHOULD have a paci. Big boys don't need pacis. Ah hah! We had a plan.

Jump ahead to yesterday. August 4, 2009. As a prelude to going cold turkey at his birthday party this weekend, Mrs. Blonde cut a very very tiny slit in the end of the paci. Simple physics really. Kid sucks on paci, it goes in and out of mouth as desired. Kid sucks on paci with slit in it, it stays put. No in. No out. Nothing. LA didn't say anything about it until bedtime last night...

"Dadda, my paci has air in it. I don't want it. Get me a new one."

"It's the only one we have (outright lie), buddy. How about I just sit it here on the floor next to your bed and you can get it if you want it?"

"Uh huh."

He wasn't upset in any way whatsoever. Until about an hour later and he still hadn't fallen asleep. Now, in our house, we have a schedule. That schedule has been in plan since the dawn of time (dawn of time = when we had kids). It dictates a fairly strict eating and sleeping schedule. The boys like it. We like it. Don't screw with it. It works. So, when LA comes strolling out of his bedroom at 9PM, it's unusual to say the least. That's when the byproduct of a lack of ability to self-soothe took over.

"Dadda, I have to go poo poo."

"I'm thirsty. Please can I have some milk?"

"My belly hurts."

"I'm hungry"

"I have to go pee."

Oh, did we mention we had dinner guests over last night too? Yeah. We did. Ryan & Stephanie, we love your patience. Thank you.

Anyway, by 9:45, Mr. Blonde just went in there and laid with the little man. There isn't that much space in a toddler bed for a 200 pound 31-year-old and a soon-to-be-3-year-old. But, evidentally, there is enough. Because for the first time since we has a newborn in the hospital, LA fell asleep without a paci!

Did you hear that? WITHOUT A PACI! We're not out of the woods just yet. He has an overnight trip to Grandpa and Grandma's tonight and a couple nights until his birthday party at a local fire station this weekend where we'll give the paci to Baby Matthew. But, we've never been closer. We need a strong finish. Ready...Break! Go team! Wish us luck.

happy monster

For the past couple weeks my little Boatboy (age: 14months) has really become the little monster when he doesn't get his way. He is often the most easy-going (not to be confused with stationary, he's VERY active) happiest outoing baby. Think: laughs and says "Boom!" at loud noises, smiles at strangers, etc. At this age LA wouldn't let hardly anyone hold him without screaming and crying. His little brother will go to anyone. Very different children in several ways. That's part of the extreme beauty of parenting.

Watching them relate to one another has gone from 90% playing intervention / 10% having fun to 25% playing intervention / 75% having fun. Boatboy adores his older (21 months his senior) brother...until he doesn't get his way. Which leads us to yesterday afternoon's quick little shopping venture at Target.

It's about a half mile away. We needed my favorite generic brand diapers. Easy little jaunt, right?

I put them in the little 2-seater for the first time where they face each other. They were laughing and LA was tickling Boatboy and all was well. Then, Boatboy started taking everthing out of LA's hands. When LA clung to the item, Boatboy screamed and cried. I had to stop multiple times and squat down to try to calm him. He would calm down until he wanted something else. Now for the hidden jewel in this scene (and it WAS a scene), LA kept giving his little brother anything he wanted and telling him "It's ok. It's ok" in a really sweet little voice. He was also shoving his fingers in his ears because of the pitch level of the little monster's scream. I almost left a full basket (Mr. Blonde refuses to call it a "basket." He calls it a "cart.") in the center aisle and just bolted. Luckily removing Boatboy from the seating arrangement worked and I was able to hurry it up and scramble out.

It is interesting writing this. The first couple of years with LA I really struggled because he would not stay with many people. Major heaps of stranger anxiety didn't make for much flexibility in our lives. Now I am very thankful for his sensitive side. He is such an amazing big brother to Boatboy. Now, they have their moments (see previouisly cited 25% playing intervention), but he really does want to make him happy the best he knows how.

I am truly blessed to watch my sensitive LA interact with my happy Boatboy monster any day. I just won't be watching it occur in a 2-seated shopping "cart" anytime soon.

"Hey you...

...weekend's over. Get back to work!"

in the words of Tom Petty

"It's good to be king...if just for a day."

lookin' LUSHciously Marilyn

I am sure you remember me ranting and raving over a line called LUSH. That is fresh, handmade, green and good for you. I love their products!

So I am blonde (Mrs. Blonde) and my hair gets really dry (scalp and hair) in the summer sun. So this product called the Marilyn Hair Treatment is perfect for me. It smells so yummy. All of their products do! And it has seriously made my hair softer and brighter. I am a natural blonde. I would like to blonder...but it costs too much. So, I'm on the every-four-months-get-my-hair-done plan. From the picture you can probably tell it is about time. (By the way, this picture was taken after a 30 minute run. I'm glad picture posting don't have scents).

It smells so amazing. I don't ever want to wash it out when I have it on. It has chamomile, lemon and saffron to brighten. Linseed mucilage for softer tresses. And fresh organic lemon juice for shine.

This product would be amazing for heavily sun damaged hair and styling/bleaching abuse. Or, if you just want to be a healthier natural blonde.

It is only $18.55. That is absolutely unheard of for a treatment mask. I have used mine 4 times and I think I will get 2 more treatments. They do say if you are really damaged to use more product.

Check out other's reviews on the product page as well.

Go buy your new hair mask and check out all of the LUSH products. And, sign up for LUSH e-news and receive exclusive offers at the bottom of their homepage. They are definitley becoming my favorite bath/body products!

reconcili(ache)tion

I just stuck my toothbrush under the water cooler spicket at work in order to fill up the bottle in my opposite hand. Other than completely ineffective, do you know what that is? It's called preoccupation.

My mind and heart are incredibly full with the notion of reconciliation right now. Reconciliation has such extreme power in this world. I believe that to be because it's not of this world. In fact, it completely opposes things of the world. The world says..."Get yours." "Get even." Rarely does the world say "I forgive you. Let's decide to grow stronger in our relationship and use this damage for good."

It's been a bit of a theme in 2009 for Mrs. Blonde and I. Not the need for reconciliation between us. But, around us. (Not that we're immune from selfishly causing the other harm by putting ourselves above the other. It happens from time to time. But, it's not all too common. And, when it does happen, we have an understanding that it's to be dealt with immediately and put to rest. -- I digress.)

This week we found out that a dear friend was welcomed back home with his wife and kids after having been kicked out for almost three months. Things aren't perfect yet. Hearts still ache. But reconciliation is active. It's alive. It's well. Hope and Love are abound. That is beautiful. And, it's other-worldly.

Right now, Mrs. Blonde is at a court preceding as a character witness for a friend who is seeking justice for herself and her baby boy. To say it's an anxious time for them is a bit of an understatement. We have little control over how the situation will play out. But, we choose reconciliation in the form of justice. Time will tell.

When you choose to reconcile with another or seek to reconcile with another, you are, in effect, bringing more of Heaven here on earth. Of course the opposing decision (not choosing to reconcile) brings more hell here on earth. Hopefully, you're not in a position to consider such things right now and everything is all rainbows and bunny rabbits in your life. But, there will come a time when conflict occurs. When you hurt someone. When someone hurts you. When it does, what will you do?

Bring more Heaven to this place?...

or more hell?

I hope you choose humility. I hope you choose the most difficult thing. I hope you choose to forgive. I hope you choose to reconcile.