Saucy Designs

Lithuanian Easter Egg Fun

2009-04-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

Lithuanian Easter Eggs - Funny video clips are a click away

Dyed Easter Eggs

2009-04-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

PVC Free Yoga mats for your toddler

2009-03-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking about practicing yoga with your child, consider purchasing a PVC free yoga mat from lotuspad. They even come in children's sizes (scroll down in the "shop" section to find them).

I entered discount code Fbook1 and received 10% off my purchase. They are currently offering free shipping for orders over $75.

Many yoga studios offer family yoga classes. If you are lucky enough to live in Austin, Texas, Ruta Maya offers free (with purchase) family yoga on Saturday mornings.

Homemade Guitar

2009-02-14T20:47:00.001-08:00

This homemade guitar was inspired by a "Curious George" episode on PBS... seriously! We used 2 rubber bands to make different sounds!

Cardboard Castle

2009-02-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

We're trying to make toys from trash. I cannot think of a better way to teach your kids about recycling than to make new things with your recyclables.

We have made other trash toys in the past.

Weapon X saw a need to paint inside his castle, so I had to make sure to get a good view!

Blue Cereal Milk

2008-12-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

We've never been intimidated by the blueberry-toddler combination. Weapon X loved frozen blueberries when he was teething (use small ones as large blueberries can be a choking hazard), so we just gave them to him before bath time.

Now X finds joy in pouring frozen blueberries (thawed) into his cereal. The freezing process makes berries soft and releases the juices, so what you end up with is purple milk! I also slice up frozen strawberries to put in his cereal.

Buying berries frozen is one way to get these antioxidant filled foods organic all year round without breaking the bank.

Awesome kids music!

2008-11-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I haven't been around lately.... but here's a little treat! Enjoy!

Splurge! Solia Flat Iron

2008-08-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, I finally did it. I bought a flat iron for my crazy hair. For those of you who know me, this is a HUGE splurge, as I really don't like speding money on girly things.

I have been hearing really good things about the reliability and function of this iron. It has tourmaline plates, adjustable temperature, and can be used on damp or dry hair.

This is a big step for me ladies! Once in a while we have to splurge!

Greenling Local Only Box

2008-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

We recently decided to take a culinary adventure and get the Greenling Local box delivered. It is a giant box of organic, local produce. The great part is they pick everything for you. The bad part is if you are a picky eater you may get some items (like mushrooms!) that nobody in your house will eat.

This, our first box, came with items that made me realize how picky we are! The scary items were: eggplant (stewed it), asian eggplant (fried it), fresh black eyed peas (stewed it), mushrooms (gifted it to a neighbor), and sorrel...

I was a little frightened of the sorrel. I responded by immediately pureeing the whole bunch in my blender with some olive oil and putting it in the freezer with more olive oil on top.

On saturday, I made a stew with a lot of the random veggies. Big eggplant, sauteed onion, blackeyed peas, tomatoes, 2 potatoes, some left-over kabocha squash, salt, garlic powder and water all went into my crock pot for 20 hours. At that point, I added masala to taste and 1/3 of my pureed sorrel. In the future, I may add less. The sorrel has an incredibly intense flavor!

I don't know what I will do with the rest of the sorrel. This blog lists the items of the week and says I'm not getting any sorrel this week (whew!) I don't really want a back-log of frozen sorrel :)

Health Nut - Gelatin Shapes

2008-08-09T11:07:00.001-07:00

This is easy and fun to do with your kids. And these jigglers are much more healthy when you sweeten the gelatin with fruit juice instead of sugar!

Recipe:
4 Envelopes Knox Gelatin
3 c Fruit juice heated to
1 c Cold fruit juice

Instructions:

In a bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold juice; let stand 1 minute.

Add hot juice and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved.

Pour into 9x13-inch pan; chill until firm.

Cut into1-inch squares or cut out special shapes with cookie cutters.

Makes about 9 dozen squares

If you make shapes with cookie cutters, line them up in a row. As shown below, each row should be as wide as your spatula. Cut the width of each row with your knife so each row comes out cleanly. If you try to get your shapes as close as you can, you will lose quite a few to tearing :(

You can throw all your left-overs into a container and use your imagination to find shapes!

Toddler Tips: Tooth Brushing

2008-08-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

My son is too smart for me!

Any tooth brushing trick works for a week (MAX!) and then we're at square 1.

The only thing that works for us with tooth brushing is to let him chew on the brush until he is done. Then when he is finished I "clean his mouth" with a thin cloth (Especially For Baby washcloths are perfect). I'm not sure why this works, but it does. He opens wide "like an alligator" and is full of cooperation.

I think brushing is an activity that he wants to be in control of. He does not like being dirty, so "cleaning his mouth" is separate from brushing, and is very important to him. He talks about his mouth being dirty with great concern.

I hope this helps some of you! Tooth brushing had been a nightmare for us!

Storage - Black Cabinet

2008-07-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Where did I get that great black cabinet in my post post a few weeks ago?

I got it at Home Decorators Collection. Beware! If you order from them, you will get catalogs for the rest of your life :p

Beyond Sesame Workshop - Programs for toddlers

2008-07-23T15:25:00.001-07:00

Weapon X loves Sesame Street Workshop, but I would like him to be able to be more interactive with the computer. He always manages to hit function buttons which lock up the fun and frustrate all of us.

We have not tried any of the following, so we cannot endorse them, but we are interested in trying the following highly-rated, virus screened programs from CNet's download.com.

All of these programs have free trials, and some of them are completely free.

Key lock programs
Maddie - Customizable key lock
Toddler Keys 0.97 - Keys pop-up your pre-loaded pictures and sounds

Other fun options

Primitive Painter - Learn to use the mouse to color pictures
Kids Abacus - Count objects like bunnies and cakes.

ABC 4 Kids Workshop - Learn letters and basic spelling
Sebran’s ABC - Learn basic math, spelling and ABC's
My Reward Board 1.61 - A glorified sticker chart
Ten Amazing Fruits 2.2 - CNet called it Mr. Potato Head with fruit

Hello Dolly!

2008-07-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

My parents live in Harlingen, Texas. Hurricane Dolly is quickly approaching!!! The eye of the hurricane should hit the coast Wednesday morning bringing lots of wind, rain and possible tornados. Batten down the hatches people!

Austin Weekend, Kiddie Style

2008-06-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

Saturday 6/28: Build a mini baseball game at Lowes - Free

Saturday & Sunday 6/28-29: Luling Watermelon Thump - $3. Kids under 11 free!

There are so many other fun things happening this weekend!

My kid is so smart!

2008-06-27T07:15:00.001-07:00

Ok. I know I'm biased :) But my kid just blows me away!!!

Yesterday he was playing with the homemade caterpillars in the post below. He was having lots of fun making them go "Boing! Boing!" And then he turned one over and said, "egg mommy." It just blew me away that he made that connection between the caterpillars and the egg carton when we have never played with egg cartons before.

Another thing that surprised me is his understanding of the concept zero. I asked him, "do you want Mommy to brush your teeth for 5 seconds, or 10 seconds?" He replied, "zero seconds, Mommy!" I couldn't help getting excited about that one!

Free Toys - Egg Carton Caterpillars

2008-06-24T18:51:00.001-07:00

Weapon X turns 2 soon and we're throwing a fun party at his grandma's house. I was talking with a friend about it today and he was wondering how many toys we had already bought him.

Uuuuuummmm... none! And I'll tell you why! We really can't fit a mountain of new toys in our 860 sqft condo! Plus, we get him new toys all year round. He went on to joke that X is pretty spoiled (yep!), but I forgot to mention that most of the toys he gets from us are used or homemade.

That's where these lovlies come in! Tonight I took a few cardboard egg cartons (insert save the earth plug here) and made some fugly caterpillars for X. It was fun for me, and I did it while Moss was putting X down to sleep (after I cooked dinner and put away all the dishes...whew!).

First I cut a cardboard egg carton into 2 pieces.

Then I dipped them in a pitcher full of water. I added food coloring to the water, thinking the cardboard would absorb the color, but it didn't. So, just soak the carboard in regular, old water.

I put parchment paper on the counter, and some paper towels on top of that. Then laid out the caterpillars and put a drop of food coloring on top of 1 hump. I spread it around immediately with a pastry brush. A paint brush would have been nice, but I didn't have a small one around, so I improvised! The green caterpillar took many drops per hump, but the blue went a lot further.

Then I painted eyes and decorations on each caterpillar and left them to dry. You can add pipe cleaners for tentacles, but I left them off for safety reasons... and I didn't have any ;)

I did this after X went to sleep because he is in the, "NO Mommy! MY DO IT!" stage, and it is best to do activities with him that are good for complete involvement.

Happy crafting!

Designing a Wall Box

2008-06-23T20:06:00.001-07:00

Yesterday at 5pm I decided I was finally going to make that shelf that I always knew I wanted to be above the black cabinet in my kitchen. Weapon X had been a sick crankypants all weekend long, so I think I really needed an outlet.

In anycase, sometime after 5pm I left for Lowes. I had my dimensions planned out, so I had them cut my pieces. It was ready to hang at midnight, but I decided to give the paint a little more time to dry. Now it is hung in my kitchen, and I have to wonder why I didn't do it sooner.

It is 36" wide, 13.5" tall, and 16" deep. It is the perfect palce to display/store my stemware and wine bottles... away from grubby little toddler hands! When I planned the size and placement, I made sure I had room to store my sewing machine and beloved stand mixer underneath for easy access!

What I learned from this process is that when you want to finish a piece fast, having Lowes cut your pieces is great. You just have to deal with the inaccuracies in the cuts and move forward. It kept me from being a perfectionist! Also, I went on Sunday evening, so there wasn't a line of people behind me giving me dirty looks for making so many cuts :) I definitely would not try this on a Saturday morning!

Cost = $43. And I have some paint left over for another project!

I will post a tutorial another day.

Instead of a specialty non-slip pastry pad

2008-06-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

Instead of buying a specialty non-slip baking liner, $20, to roll out your pastries (I use mine for pizza dough)
consider buying a roll of non-adhesive, reusable shelf liner for $6. From this slip-resistant, 5 foot roll, I cut 3 mats that I can use for rolling out pastries or playdough.

I do not assume this material is food or oven-safe, but it will keep my parchment paper from sliding around when I roll out pastries!

The label even says it is washable!

Texas Music - Sarah Sharp

2008-06-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Today I heard a really great artist on the University of Texas radio station, KUT, (that's 90.5 in Austin). Sarah Sharp has some great lyrics and her voice is genuine. I heard her sing live, in-studio, and I was really intrigued. You can get a pre-release of her latest album on iTunes.

Austin Weekend, Kiddie Style

2008-06-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

When it comes to weekend activities, we always aim for free.

We comb the events pages for things like bell choir and music shows so Logan will have unique experiences without the price tag that comes along with the children's museum.

This weekend, we will probably hit some of the following free shows:

Every Sunday Ruta Maya from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Laura Freeman with special guest Heather Jarry

Laura Freeman sings about colors, the environment and being outside with songs that involve children’s imaginations!

Thanks to Mr Johnny's for some great ideas.

Tools In My Kitchen - KitchenAid Stand Mixer

2008-06-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

My KitchenAid stand mixer is certainly a luxury. I can never imagine dropping $300 on a brand new one, but it really is my favorite kitchen tool. Luckily for me, I received this beauty as a gift!

I can make whipped cream incredibly fast. I can make cookies without breaking my arm. I whip out the dough hook without hesitation to make a batch of pizza dough. I admit it. Having this fabulous machine makes me fearless in the kitchen!

I was also gifted the attachments above. This is, by far, the best value for attachments. Some other attachment options are a meat grinder, or a pasta roller.

With this set, I can grate cheese, or any vegetable for that matter, so quick that I have no excuses to buy the pre-grated stuff.

I use the slicers to slice sweet potatoes extra thin. I toss them in olive oil and salt. Then I throw them on a baking sheet to make sweet potato chips that even my 2 year old won't deny.

This is what the attachment looks like when it is all hooked up.

If you love to cook, the KitchenAid stand mixer will only make you love it more.

Tour De Cure - 110 miles!

2008-05-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Tour de Cure was a success! I rode 110 miles from San Antonio to Austin over 2 days. The weather was GREAT! And the company was even better!

Christine and I are pretty evenly matched on speed and endurance, so we rode together both days.

This is my team in its entirety. Bobby and Wayne did the 77 mile ride on Sunday and Tyler did the 55 mile Sunday ride. Notice that we (the girls) were the only ones who braved 2 days on the road!

San Marcos was the overnight stop, so Logan and Moss spent the night with me in the dorms at Texas State. This picture was taken while we were waiting in line to get pasta!

Tour De Cure

2008-04-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

I am participating in a ride from San Antonio to Austin to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Click on the picture to go to my fundraising site! Even $5 makes a difference!

Greenie Meanie - Library Books

2008-04-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

Instead of buying a new book and wasting paper (and space in your house), walk to your local library and check it out.

Austin has a great online system to find the book you are looking for. You can even put it on hold so it will be waiting for you when you are ready to go pick it up!

Check your local libary system to see if they have a similar system.

Sleep Success!!!

2008-04-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

For all of you battling with sleep issues, I want to tell you that there is hope!!!

At 21 mo, Weapon X has been an all night nurser until a few weeks ago when he just stopped waking up at night. I had been sleeping with him on a futon matress on the floor in his room. because there just wasn't room for the 3 of us in our double bed!

The first step to getting him to sleep through the night was to leave after I nursed him. I found that he slept for longer stretches when I wasn't right there next to him. One morning I woke up at 6 and he had slept the whole night by himself!!!

The next step was getting him to go to sleep without the crazy crying fit! I knew it was time to really work on this when nursing was not enough to put him to sleep anymore.

We have been reading the “No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers” and it has helped a lot. X has gone to sleep himself, with no crying and for the past 2 nights!!! And he slept until 6:30 too!!! Amazing! I’m so proud of him!!!

You can get a lot of good information from articles on the website .

The big things that have been helping us are:

•Earlier bedtime. She suggests between 6:30 and 7:30 for the time they actually go to sleep.

•Making sure he is getting between 13 and 14 hours of sleep per day, including nap. She has a chart that lists sleep needs at different ages.

•Making room for wind down time before sleep. After jammies and potty time we go into his room and instead of me trying to get him to sleep right away I close the door and we read a few books. And then I touch his toes and talk about how his toes worked so hard for him today. They walked and ran and now they are tired. They need to go to sleep. I go through each body part. The second time I ask him to say “night night” to each part after I say how tired it is. Then I ask him for a kiss and tell him I’m going to be right out side his room. I give him a board book (The napping house) I turn off the light and leave. He complains for 30 seconds and then he is OUT! Amazing. I never thought it would happen!!!

•I put blackout fabric (very cheap at Jo Ann's Fabric) on his window because it is just too bright outside at 7pm!

She has a little chart that lists things that kids say when they are asked, “what do you do to try to go to sleep, and does it work?” All the kids had different answers like, “I stare at the ceiling” and all of them said their methods didn’t work. The bottom line is that kids have no clue how to go to sleep!

Good luck!

Killer Hamsters? What?

2008-04-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

You read that correctly. Your hamster could kill you. I don't write this to be alarmist, just to give you the information. Apparently hamsters can get a virus and give it to you. It is rare for this to happen, but according to this article it pays to ask your pet store about the health screening of their animals. What will they think of next!?!

Food colorings and preservatives

2008-04-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

It turns out that parent's instincts about food colorings and preservatives may be correct. A recent study showed a link between some food colorings and a reduction in the IQs of children. You can read an article about it here, but if you Google it, you will see this news has been published in many places, and these additives have been in question for some time.

According to the study, the food additives in question are:
Tartrazine (E102)
Ponceau 4R (E124) - Banned in the US
Sunset yellow (E110)
Carmoisine (E122) - Banned in the US
Quinoline yellow (E104)
Allura red AC (E129)
Sodium Benzoate (preservative)

Diapering

2008-04-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

I hope to be able to use cloth diapers at home with our second child. Most daycares don't accept cloth diapers, so that leaves disposables as the only option. We may consider switching to them for potty training, but we still have the daycare issue.

I ran across an interesting article about the politics of diapers. If you have the time, it is an interesting read. I will say that the article is strongly biased towards using cloth diapers!

If you are interested in using cloth diapers, but have no clue where to start, Jillian's Drawers has a 21 day trial pack of different cloth diapers. You only pay $10 if you send them all back after 21 days. You pay $100 if you keep them all.

Or you can read through the ZRecs Cloth Diaper Showdown which compares some of the more popular options!

Wash your eyes!

2008-04-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have been commuting to work on my bike these days. It has been great fun and a great stress relief! The weather is gorgeous in Austin right now, so riding is just such a pleasant experience. In 1 month I will probably be complaining about the sweltering heat, but right now it is heaven!

Unfortunately, Austin is an allergy city. We have pollens in the air all year round and this makes for irritated eyes. When I was riding long distances before Weapon X was born, I had some eye issues caused by sweat and other irritants in the air.

I want to make sure to avoid the eye issues, so I have been flushing my eyes with saline after every ride. I have not had any issues yet, so that says something.

There are MANY options for saline or artificial tears, so feel free to shop around. Some have thimerosal, a preservative ingredient with Mercury. If the idea of putting Mercury in your eyes makes you uncomfortable, read the labels. Also consider reading the labels of your contact solution and mascara, because many of these also contain thimerosal.

If you do end up with a stye, or chalazion my opthomologist recommended wetting a wash cloth with water as hot as is comfortable. Press it against your eye(s) for 10 minutes multiple times per day. This should help the stye heal on its own. This works, and it pays to do this as soon as you feel irritation coming on. I had a few really bad experiences, and that was enough to last a lifetime!

When you are frustrated, remember your kids think differently!

2008-04-02T07:32:00.001-07:00

Match Me and I Will Grow
by Dr. James MacDonald

Yes, I know you want me to change in many ways.

Well, if you want me to pay more attention, then pay attention to me.

If you want me to play more, then play more with me.

If you want me to do more, then show me something I can do.

If you want me to communicate, then communicate in any of the ways I can do.

If you want me to talk, then talk in ways I can do.

If you want me to learn your languange, then learn and speak my language first.

If you want me to talk about your ideas, then talk about mine first.

You and I live two worlds far apart. Mine is a world of actions, feelings, and sensations.

I am a feeler and a mover. Your world is mainly one of thought and language. You are a thinker and a talker.

I know you want me to think and talk like you, but it's taken you years to get where you are. Give me time, and I will get there.

I will get there best when you live with me in my world. When you act and move and communicate as I can.

Match what I do, and show me the possible next step; and I will grow with you.

I am learning. Please don't make me do it alone.

Join my natural path, and we will grow together.

My computer is very sick...

2008-04-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

My HD is on life support, and that makes me sad. But! It also gives me the opportunity to learn more about how to fix a sick computer!

This is where I am in the process, maybe you can help.

I hooked up my HD to my husband's laptop and retrieved the data (YAY!)
I tried to boot from the Windows disk to reinstall Windows.
Windows tried to "look for existing versions of Windows"
During its search, Windows gets confused, and I have to shutdown :(

I read that I should disconnect all peripherals (like my scanner) so I will do that and try again.

My old IT guy also suggested I run a diagnostic on the HD. I will also try that and see how it goes!

A few words from George Carlin

2008-03-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life .. . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling.

What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start
going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

You have to watch this video!!!

2008-03-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Estimating your Taxes

2008-03-19T01:24:00.000-07:00

If you would like to estimate your taxes or your tax rebate, you can head on over to the Turbo Tax Website where they have all kinds of fun calculators.

If you plan on buying Turbo Tax or Quicken to do your own taxes, remember the basic versions don't handle Alternative Minimum Tax very well (for those of you who play the stock market).

I'm a lucky ducky. My mother is an accountant!

Though magnets are cool, toys with magnets are not safe to play with.

2008-03-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

My favorite parent blog Z Recommends recently posted an article that reminds us that we, as parents, make the final call about what toys are safe for our children. Mega, a brand of toys that include magnets, recently had another in a string of recalls. Though Mega continues to say their remaining toys are safe, magnets continue to prove themselves unsafe for young children to play with. The CPSC site has a great article explaining the risks.

It is very sad, but we cannot trust that businesses have only our children's safety in mind. They have a commitment to their bottom line, and this creates a constant battle between inexpensive and safe toys. Many times these goals do not align and the company has to make decisions that result in risking the safety of our children.

Remember, a toy that has not been recalled is not necessarily safe. Use your best judgement when buying toys for your children, and do not assume a company has your child's best interest in mind.

For information about recalls, you can go to the government's recall reporting site or Healthy Toys.org.

Crib for sale $150

2008-03-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Head over here for more info!

A reason not to vote in the primary

2008-03-04T07:13:00.000-08:00

Everyone seems pretty excited about the primary here in Texas. We have an opportunity to really make a difference this time. So why wouldn't you want to vote in the primary? I can think of one pretty good reason.

If you are an independant, and by that I mean you do not associate yourself with either party, voting in the primary election prevents you from signing any petition to put independant candidates on the ballot for ANY elected office in this election year.

If this matters to you, you may want to abstain from voting in the primary.

Kite Festival!

2008-03-03T23:37:00.001-08:00

fish-again
Originally uploaded by saucydesigns

Go over to my Flickr page to see all the photos from the Kite Festival!

Instead of losing your baby socks and washcloths...

2008-03-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

try putting all those small items in a delicates bag instead of throwing them in the laundry basket. They are much easier to keep track of that way!

Weapon X

2008-02-07T19:39:00.001-08:00

Weapon X posted more pictures over here.

Food cooling technique

2008-02-07T19:01:00.001-08:00

When you heat up something for your little one, and it gets a little too hot, spread it out on a plate to let it cool. We have stoneware plates that suck the heat right out of anything, so it only takes about 30 seconds to cool some hot whatever the heck that is! Sorry for the bad picture, but you get the point.

The very best cupcakes ever!

2008-02-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

I got a great cupcake recipe from one of my favorite blogs. And I used the Fluffy Chocolate Frosting recipe from the Cake Mix Doctor. The evidence on my husband's face shows how good the frosting was!

Frosting:

1 stick of butter at room temperature

2/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

3 c confectioner's sugar, sifted

1/3 c whole milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt.

Mix the butter and cocoa until well blended and soft

Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well combined.

Add more sugar or milk to get desired thickness.

The books says to beat for 2 to 3 minutes, but I gave it a good 5 minutes so it would be ultra fluffy!

At room temperature, this frosting spreads really well!

Sometimes motherhood calls for a cocktail...

2008-01-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days. Weapon X seems to be learning so much! Today he took a 2D wooden bee and waved it in the air saying "Fly bee. Fly!" But with this higher awareness has come the need to test me. So today he did. We came home, filled with frustration, from a failed attempt to eat dinner out. He just refused to sit down at the table. Instead he jumped, giggled, and had a grand old time.

Having just watched Supernanny last night, I was primed and ready to go with my naughty chair technique. Now I feel so guilty for disciplining him when he was just trying to tell me something.

When I changed his diaper before bed, I felt like a horrible parent. He usually only poops once per day, but he had pooped for the third time! He already had a slight diaper rash from the unexpected second poop. Now he has a pretty nasty diaper rash, and it could have been prevented if I had only read his refusal to sit as a signal that he had pooped!

What's done is done. I will just have to slather his bottom with Dr. Smith's and hope he doesn't have 3 poops tomorrow :)

Update: One should never shop on Amazon after having a cocktail :) I found the following fabulous things.

All you need is Luvs...

2008-01-19T10:26:00.001-08:00

We have tried all the big brand diapers. We have tried the store brand diapers. In the end, we settled on Luvs. Pampers, HEB, Huggies, and Target diapers all leaked on us... especially at night. Seventh Generation diapers chafed X in the leg/hip crease.

Luvs have yet to give us a problem. Why? I think it is because we have a skinny kid. The luvs come up really high in the back to help Weapon X avoid selling crack. And that prevents leaks too. Surprisingly, the Luvs are not bulky at all. They feel very thin, but somehow they hold on to the liquid.

So thank you Luvs, for creating a diaper that works for the skinny kid. His bed and car seat, ad our washing machine thank you too!

Yo Yo! It's Potty Time!

2008-01-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

They say stressing out about potty training is a sure way to keep it from happening, so we plan to go with the flow... ok, I know that was a bad joke :) You can read an insightful article here.

But, it never hurts to be ready when your kid is ready. So we are going to get a potty. We haven't decided on one yet. Some people swear that you need to let your kid pick the potty, but I think you need to make sure your limit the choices to pottys you can live with!

Your two potty types are the toilet insert and the stand alone potty. Stand alone pottys can go anywhere in the house, which can be important! Inserts stay on the toilet, but they can go with you to restaurants and other public pottying places.

My choice is the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair. It only has 2 pieces, which makes for easier cleaning.

Moss wants to get something like the Padded Potty Seat with Step Stool, but I'm afraid that Weapon X will be wary of sitting on the big potty at first. He has shown much interest in flushing and rolling out large amounts of TP, but I tried to pick him up to put him on the potty once and it really freaked him out.

Here are some links to reviews of other potty options:

Weapon X

2008-01-13T18:27:00.001-08:00

Weapon X posted more pictures today over here.

Sold! Full Size Cherry Futon Frame

2008-01-10T18:25:00.001-08:00

Our fabulous futon has sold. We will post update pictures on what we do with the matress.

We are selling our full size, cherry futon frame to make room for toddler toys. We bought it for $500 5 years ago and it is in great shape. We are keeping the matress. If you are interested in buying it head over here.

Drinking Problem

2008-01-10T18:18:00.001-08:00

No, dear readers, it is not I who have a drinking problem. It is my printer. My printer is hooked on the sauce...bad. It guzzles ink like it's going out of style. Of course, I am the enabler. I push my printer to drink more and more. And then I just keep going back to the store for more, feeding my printer's addiction.

I think I need to go to design rehab people. The problem is that I like rich, blocky designs. I love simple blocks of color, and that takes ink! If that's wrong, I don't want to be right!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am submitting to the urge to make resolutions for 2008. I usually don't, but things are different now. 2007 has been a year of change, which I am not good at! But the changes have been for the better!

In the spirit of growth and (gasp!) change, here are some goals I am setting for myself:

1) Participate in the Stitch show this year with my pet project, Saucy Designs.
2) Stop using motherhood as an excuse for not starting a regular fitness routine.
3) Nix the sugar. At some point during the holiday madness I just gave in to the never ending wave of sweetness. More fruits and veggies for me, please!

Happy 2008 to everyone!

Thank You Card Giveaway!

2007-12-18T09:21:00.001-08:00

To celebrate my fledgling business and the holiday season, I am giving away 1 set of 10 Snowdrift Thank You Cards in your choice of color! I will choose the random winner at midnight on Friday, 12/21/07.

There are 3 simple steps to enter:
1) Pick your favorite stationery design from www.saucydesigns.com
2) Tell me what you would like to see on a thank you card, OR send me a link to a card you like from another source.
3) Email your choice of color, and answers to 1 & 2 to "moreinfo (AT) saucydesigns (DOT) com" with "Thank You Giveaway" in the subject line.

Get 2 bonus entries by adding a link to this giveaway on your blog! Make sure to include a link to your blog entry in your email to receive your bonus.

Good Luck!

Get Toy Info In A Text Message

2007-12-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

Moms Rising has put together an awesome free service (standard text message rates apply). While you are shopping for toys, you can text 41411. In the body of the message write "healthytoys toyname" where "toyname" is the name of the toy. If the database has information on that toy, you will get a text message back with that info. It is just AWESOME! See the website above for more specific search instructions by store or brand.

If you are shopping online, there is a web search as well.

Happy shopping!

Electricity Meters In The House

2007-12-17T14:17:00.001-08:00

I often think about how useful it would be to have electricity and water meters in the house. It would help me remember to turn off all kinds of appliances if I saw my meter spinning out of control.

The Energy Orb could give you a general idea of how much energy you are using.

This article at Green Options highlights how important this feature is for living off the grid. They suggest that if we all act like we are living off-the-grid we can save energy and reduce the total load on power plants, in turn reducing the size/number of power plants.

Things they suggest doing beyond turning off the lights are:
1) Run only one high-load appliance (like dishwashers and dryers) at a time. This reduces the total load on the grid.
2) Unplug items that pull "phantom" current when they are turned off. Computers and microwaves fit into this category.
3) Check the meter.

Things I need to turn off more often:
Home computer
Printer
Home stereo system
Lights

What kinds of things do you leave on when you shouldn't?

Wrap With Fabric!

2007-12-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

A while ago I wrote about wrapping with fabric. Better yet, wrap your gift with other gifts.

We went to a 1 year old's b-day party today and I decided to try it out. I filled a Dipees and Wipees diaper bag with feeding bowls and utensils. Then I wrapped it with a strip of grosgrain ribbon saved from a past gift. I made a tag from some card stock and marker and we were ready to go.

For baby showers, the gift can be wrapped in a receiving blanket.

I am definitely doing this for the next shower or party I throw!

2007-12-14T12:56:00.001-08:00

Angry Chicken is one of my new favorite blogs. Amy is a crafting diva, and she inspires me to create more fun in my life. Move over Martha...

These cakes in a jar are awesome. I don't need another reason to have sweets in my life right now, with the holidays and all, but this is darn cute!!!

Boycotting Fisher Price

2007-12-13T07:07:00.001-08:00

On the topic of boycotts. I do not think a sweeping boycott of chinese-made toys is necessarily in order. I do believe in boycotting the big offenders.

The big toy companies that refuse to demand lead-free materials from their Chinese manufacturers are really to blame. We put the safety of our children in the hands of companies like Fisher-Price. When I find them on the offenders list it worries me. But when information is released that they are being resistant to removing toys that are known to contain lead, I know I need to take action. How can I trust you to keep my child safe Fisher Price?

So this year, I will not be jumping on the bandwagon of boycotting all Chinese-made toys. Instead I will target the big offenders.

Check out this article by Consumer Reports which details the reasons for my action.

Nestle Boycott

2007-12-12T14:55:00.001-08:00

I did not know about this until today, so I thought I would pass it on. Apparently there has been an international boycott on Nestle products since the 70's. Advocates of breastfeeding and nutritional education claim that Nestle markets their products in unethical ways to new and expecting mothers. You can read a little more about it here.

I can attest to the large amount of formula samples, free babgs, and coupons that were thrown at me during pregnancy and in the early days after Weapon X was born. I had my mind set on nursing, so I was not swayed, but I can imagine how someone who was not educated on the importance of nursing exculsively for the first 6 months might be convinced that using formula is easier. It might very-well be easier, but it is certainly not cheaper. And nursing took off all of the 50 pounds I gained during the pregnancy. I don't think formula will do that for you!

*Note* The boycott is not against formula. It is against the unethical marketing of formula.

If you want to join the boycott, also be aware that Nestle owns the following brands:
Friskies
Kitkat
Nestea
Purina
Purina Dog Chow
Nido
Buitoni
Hot Pockets
NesCafe
Stouffer's
Dreyers
Milo
Poland Spring
Lean Cuisine
Nespresso
Coffee Mate
Nesquick
Nestle Carnation
Maggi
Pure Life

How To Make Room For Christmas!

2007-12-12T09:52:00.001-08:00

You could buy this awesome play table and store your toys more efficiently, but for $350, we wonder if your money can be better spent. As an alternative, we purchased our pre-loved Imaginarium train table on Craigslist for $45 and used baskets we already had around the house to store toys underneath. (reduce and reuse!)

We also took all toys that Weapon X has outgrown and set them aside for our niece who is 1 year younger.

We made the final decision to list our double size futon on Craig's List!
We will replace it with 2 twin futon matresses on top of eachother. This will allow us to make more space, but pull the extra futon matress out (trundle style) when we have guests. We also think it will make a great reading space for X when we pile it with the pillows we already had for the futon.

The crib will be the last thing to go.
After we sell that, we will have room for a tool bench or toy kitchen, but that may have to wait until X's 2nd birthday. He isn't climbing out of is crib yet, so we still think it is the safest place for him to sleep for now.

Oompa Farm Puzzle Giveaway

2007-12-12T09:47:00.001-08:00

Did You See That is giving away this super cute Farm Puzzle. Head over to see the entry details.

Think Before You Pink

2007-12-11T15:01:00.001-08:00

With all the talk about BPA in bottles and formula, I start to wonder about how much of what I put on my skin ends up in my breastmilk. I do not intend to be alarmist, I just thought I would share what I found.

Unfortunately, at least some of what we ingest, breathe and put on our skin ends up in our breastmilk. According to Think Before You Pink, 1/3 of cosmetics (including Avon, Estée Lauder, Revlon, Mary Kay) use "known, probable or possible human carcinogens."

"Toxic Bad Guys"
The Environmental Working Group created a great product database called Skin Deep which has ingredient lists and rates the safety of the products listed and gives reasons for the ratings. This has been a great resource for me. Not every product on the market is listed, but there is a feature on the site where you can enter in the ingredients from your product's label and Skin Deep will create a rating sheet based on the info you entered.

Trukid has a line of products (which we have not tried yet) that are free of a list (that they complied) of "Toxic Bad Guys." They list the big offenders on a handy printable shopping guide because there is no way the average person could remember all of those crazy names.

My Plan:
When it comes to products that touch the largest amount of skin on a regular basis (like foundation and body lotions), I am going to try to find brands that use no (or less) toxic chemicals. Lipsticks/gloss have a high chance of being ingested, so I will watch out for those too. Products like mascara have a lower chance of being absorbed because they are not touching skin so I won't worry too much about those. Also an area of concern is my son's eczema cream that we slather on twice daily. We will probably start using pure shea butter instead of the Aquaphor we have been using.

My Guides To Style

2007-12-11T10:39:00.001-08:00

I love Tim Gunn from Project Runway and Guide to Style.

He is just the most likeable man on the planet. He seems to truly care about everyone he meets and makes me want to throw all my embarassing clothes out of my closet! Of course, then I would have nothing :) Tim! I need your help!

Amy Butler is my other favorite love. Her fabrics are so gorgeous and inspirtational! Who wouldn't want a bag, skirt, or nursing cover made from one of her fabrics? Visit her website here.

Look forward to some blankets and nursing covers made in Amy Butler fabrics available on www.saucydesigns.com soon!

Buzz-Buzz!

2007-12-10T11:47:00.001-08:00

Buzz-Buzz, Busy Bees was a fast favorite.

Occasionally we like to take a trip to Half-Price Books. There really isn't ever a reason to buy full-price books. We like to flip through books in person, but if you have a specific book (or CD) you are looking for, you can almost always find it in the "New and Used" section of Amazon. We have found some amazing used deals on the Putamayo Kids CD series.

On our last trip to half-price books, we found Buzz-Buzz, Busy Bees. My son loves to read, but usually he picks one book after the next. He made me read it 4 times in the store, and a few more times on the way home. Each page has a barnyard animal asking the bees to hang out. Each time the bees reply, in a different way, that they are "Buzz-Buzz" too busy.

The illustrations are beautiful. They are much more complex and fluid than most children's books, but still draw in my 17 month old with 3D bees that disappear, one by one, as you turn the pages.

The real clincher is the last page has a buzzing sound chip. This drove my toddler wild and really got him riled up when we read the book again. Every time I read the "Buzz-Buzz" line he went insane in anticipation of the last page. His reaction was so great the lady next to us bought one too!

*Tip: Cleanse your book and magazine shelf by taking a pile into Half Price Books. They evaluate your stack while you shop and you can get a nice discount on your purchase.

Safety With Toddlers In The Bath Tub

2007-12-05T08:11:00.001-08:00

Bath time is not such a treacherous venture until babies can stand. When they can do that, the fun really begins. The following are a few tips to help create a safe, fun bath time environment.

Non-Slip Bath Mat
They come in all shapes and sizes and are pretty straight-forward. Make sure it covers a good portion of your tub so there are no slick spots. I suggest hanging it to dry every night to prevent mildew. If you allow mildew to collect, the mat may end up slippery.

You can consider the rough, stick-on tub appliqués. We have some and find they do the job for adults, but unless you put them very close together, they do not work for tiny baby feet.

Bath Spout Cover
We have the Boon Flo. It does an ok job, but its position needs to be adjusted at every bath time. If you consider an inflatable option, be aware they need to be re-inflated frequently to be effective. In any case, I think the spout cover is helpful, but I have one more trick up my sleeve.

Basket Of Toys
Of course you need bath toys. That is a given! But we use ours as a safety feature. We place the basket between the spout and our baby. In this configuration, your child has a much reduced chance of hitting his head on the spout if he does slip.

No Standing In The Bathtub
This is tricky and requires consistency. We instituted this rule because my husband is disabled and cannot catch Weapon X quickly if he slips. We have special circumstances, but I think this rule is a good one for all new standers.

We have relaxed on this rule now that X is stable on his feet, but we were very strict about it in the beginning, and he (mostly) respected the rules because we were consistent.

A Few Other Common Sense Bathing Tips
*Always test the water temperature before putting your baby in the bath.
*Keep the water level low.
*Never walk away from your baby, even for a moment.

Craig's List for Thrifty, Eco-Conscious Parents

2007-12-04T13:09:00.001-08:00

In the spirit of recycling and cheapskatiness, we recently bought a train table on Craig's List for half the price. It is pre-loved, but our 17 month old didn't notice this, or that Santa arrived 1 month early. Ok, let's not kid ourselves. Weapon X doesn't know who Santa is, but he is darn glad he finally showed up.

Craig's List is a free online classifieds website with special sections for specific cities. This is certainly the season to buy and sell gently-used children's items on Craig's list or other classifieds sites. Especially when your children are too young to know the difference.

Also consider Freecycle, or your local used children's stores.

Vitamins To Grow On

2007-12-01T09:51:00.001-08:00

Weapon X takes 2 vitamins everyday; DHA and a general multi vitamin. Why? X is picky… darn picky. He mainly eats flax waffles, O's, blueberries, whole wheat pasta, and the special sauce (apple). Sometimes he fits in some grapes (cut lengthwise), pears, cashews, and almond slices.

I grew up on veggies, so I do offer veggies daily. But I sadly dispose of every single piece because he refuses to eat them (though he does like to feed them to me!). The exceptions to his ban on veggies are sweet potato fries and veggie chips (fried squash, carrots, green beans, and taro). He loves them. He specifically searches out the zucchini pieces. I just don't want to feed him a steady diet of fried foods, so we limit our offerings of these awesome chips. We buy them at our local market in the bulk section.

DHA For Brain And Eye Development

Researchers tout the benefits of DHA for heart health in adults and for brain and eye development in children. Read a great report on NPR about DHA here.

The Nordic Natural soft gels that X takes can be swallowed whole or chewed. They are round, and about the size of a pea. X chews them and seems to like/tolerate them, which baffles me. They are flavored with a "Strawberry Essence." I am not sure what that means, but it does cover a large portion of the cod oil taste. I can still taste it, but as long as X doesn't care, that is what matters. We always offer these before the gummy bears, because he LOVES the bears and knows he has to get through these to get to the gummies :)

Weapon X takes 4 soft gels which equals 1 serving and provides:

Calories: 9

Fat: 1g

DHA: 125 mg

EPA: 82 mg

Other Omega-3s: 45 mg

Vitamin A: 130–300 IU

Vitamin D: 1–4 IU

Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol): 14 IU

Gummy Bear Multi-Vitamin For Picky Eaters

X takes 1 Rhino Gummy Bear (by Nutrition Now) per day (2 bears equals 1 serving). He has never once snubbed his nose at these yummy gummies, and I cannot tell the difference between these and regular gummy bears. Rhino has a wide variety of supplements for children. We have only tried the bears, but will definitely try some of the other offerings in the future.

My only issue with the Rhino bears is the sugar. They taste so great because they don’t skimp on the sweet stuff. Of course, he only eats one bear, so it's not like he has a whole bag.

2 gummy bears contain:

Calories: 15

Carbohydrates: 4 g

Sugars: 3 g

Vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate): 2,500 IU

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid): 18 mg

Vitamin D-3 (as cholecalciferol): 60 IU

Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl acetate): 15 IU

Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine HCL): 0.7 mg

Folate (as folic acid): 240 mcg

Vitamin B-12 (as cyanocobalamin): 4 mcg

Biotin: 60 mcg

Pantothenic acid (as calcium d-pantothenate): 5 mg

Iodine (as potassium iodide): 37 mcg

Zinc (as zinc citrate): 2.2 mg

Choline (as choline bitartrate): 10 mcg

Inositol: 10 mcg

*Note that the gummy bears do not have any iron, and we chose them partially for this reason. If you want to provide a supplement to your child that has iron, Nutrition Now also offers a supplement called Rhino Iron.

Only For Toddlers Who Have Mastered The Art of Chewing

Both the DHA and multi-vitamin should only be taken by toddlers who are good chewers, have molars, and are willing to take their vitamins while sitting down. They are labeled for ages 4 and up because of the potential choking hazard.

Keep Out Of Reach Of Children

X begs for the gummy bears. This reminds me that all vitamins should always be kept out of the reach of children, especially vitamins that taste like candy. Vitamins are good for you in the right amounts, but fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and iron build up in the system and can be toxic when taken in larger doses.

The Importance Of Rituals

2007-11-30T09:53:00.001-08:00

My sister thinks I am stuck on routine; that I force it on my child. She isn't judging, just observing. She has a child 1 year younger than Weapon X, so she often takes notes on the way we handle situations. I see how it can seem that way. The reality is Weapon X forces a routine on us.

Occasionally we try to depart from the ritual. We put X to bed late, or push his nap back an hour for special occasions. Sometimes we even skip bath time (and he ends up with sand in his crib :) We always pay a price for these indiscretions, usually in the form of a full day of a screaming, needy child.

So the reality is, X put US on a schedule. Not the other way around. For a 16 month old toddler, it helps him feel secure when he knows what is happening next. What happens between meals/naps is freeform, but naps and meals serve as landmarks that he can expect at the same time everyday. This is what our schedule looks like:

Between 6 and 7:30 am - Wake up, lounge if it is early, change diaper, wake up Daddy, take vitamins, make breakfast, eat with Daddy while Mommy gets dressed, brush teeth, moisturize (X has Eczema), get dressed, pack lunch, and walk to school.

Between 7:30 and 8 am - Get to school and play. On the weekends, we go to the park.
10:00 am on Saturdays - Go to the grocery store. X usually snacks while we shop.
11:00 am - Eat lunch.
11:30 am - Nap
1:00 pm - Wake up and play
2:30 pm - Snack
5:00 pm - Mommy or Daddy picks up X and we play on the school playground with friends
5:30 pm - Cook Dinner
6:00 pm - Eat Dinner
6:30 pm - Bath time, moisturize, brush teeth, jammies, story, kiss Daddy, pick stuffed animal to sleep with, lights off
7:00 pm - Nurse to sleep.

X is an erratic sleeper, and I do not subscribe to the Cry It Out method, so I usually go sleep with him on the futon in the nursery between 10:30 and 11 pm.

In the end, we try to be flexible to X's needs everyday. The schedule is really just a reflection of those needs. If X is tired, hungry, sick or hurt we respond no matter what time it is.

Does my Son Need To Be Trained?

2007-11-28T15:00:00.001-08:00

We are at a cross-road. It is time to do shopping for the first Christmas Weapon X will appreciate (he will be 1.5 years old). Our big plan was to buy a train table and train. <<train-table.jpg>> <<grandcentralstation.jpg>>

To make room, we need to sell the futon in the nursery. Whaa? Hold on a second! I'm getting a little nervous about that.

We won't be able to have overnight guests if we sell the futon. It also means Weapon X needs to sleep in his crib, which he most definitely does not do now. The other option is to also sell the crib and replace it with a twin matress. Then Mommy can still sleep with Weapon X.

The other option is for Weapon X to play with his train on the floor. I found this nifty train play mat that zips up into a box. www.zipbin.com

Should we make space for the table (which he will surely use for years to come) or should we go with the Zipbin?

Reduce Waste - Wrap With Fabric This Year!

2007-11-28T13:26:00.001-08:00

Links for November 9th

2007-11-09T14:12:00.001-08:00

Food Borne Germs
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/cyber/kidswrld/foodsafe/badbug/badbug.htm

Professional Organizer in Austin, Texas
http://www.theposhspace.com/

Printable items to make parenthood easier
http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/07/print-use-diaper-bag-tag.html
http://base.google.com/base/a/1512386/D12565724136208473260

Nitrate-free is the key: What to look for in lunch meat

2007-11-09T10:04:00.001-08:00

Weapon X is a picky eater. What toddler isn't?

Moss, also a picky eater, wants to offer him hotdogs. I'm not sure where this new fixation comes from. I don't think we have had hotdogs in our house more than a couple times in the 5 years we have been married. I guess he has fond memories of eating hotdogs as a kid and bachelor. Does he long for the college days when he didn't have a nutrition-freak preparing his meals? Maybe he is just giving in to the instinct to give your kid anything he wants, as long as he eats.

Now, the idea of hotdogs makes me cringe for 3 main reasons:
1) I have been a vegetarian for 12 years. If I was going to eat meat, I would want it to be as natural and chemical/hormone free as possible.

2) The few memories I have of throwing up as a youngster were following the consumption of hotdogs. I'm talking projectile vomit… like my stomach was just rejecting the idea entirely.

3) Preservatives and additives in foods have been linked to ADHD.

4) Feeding a child foods laden with preservatives and vague meaty "parts" instinctually just does not feel right.

Not wanting to deprive my husband of the joy of feeding his child nostalgic foods (within reason). I did my best to research good hotdog choices, and this is what I found:

Nitrates are the main no-no in hotdogs and other lunch meats. Nitrates convert to nitrites, known carcinogens, when ingested. Some of the cancer-causing effects can be negated by eating vitamin C (slice of tomato on your sandwich or an orange) with your nitrates. Cancer-causing effects are increased when nitrates are combined with sodium. I say just avoid the nitrates altogether.

Nitrate-free hotdogs and other lunch meats are the best option. Applegate Farms sells organic, nitrate-free lunch meats. Their website says we can buy their products at Whole Foods and Central Market.

In fact, I just realized that my husband has been eating Boar's Head meats on the assumption that they are nitrate free. Unfortunately, most varieties of their ham are not nitrate-free. Most varieties of their chicken and turkey are.

What are the negatives to avoiding nitrates? The shelf life of your nitrate-free lunch meat will be considerably shorter than lunch meat preserved with nitrates.

Credits:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=8671549&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/25996
http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/food/hotdogs.htm
http://www.thehealthcenter.info/adult-add-adhd/diet.htm

The New Look!

2007-11-07T20:06:00.000-08:00

I am taking the 80's out of Saucy Designs! The Miami Vice look was just a place holder. I'm surprised nobody gave me a hard time about it... except my sister! I can always count on her for an honest answer.

I still have major work to do on my catalog. I need to take photos of all my printed cards instead of just posting screen shots.

Also coming soon... Holiday Cards! While you are waiting for something kinder from me, you can send some fabulously horrible Hate Mail.

Comfy Easy PC Giveaway

2007-11-07T10:52:00.001-08:00

Contest For Moms is giving away a cool PC for toddlers! I am sure Weapon X would love to have one. He LOVES ours, and that is dangerous… very dangerous!

To see how to win, go here!
http://www.contestformoms.com/2007/10/its-contest-time-again-great-toddler_10.html

Thoughts On Marketing To Kids

2007-11-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

I know not everyone is as concerned about this as I am, but I thought I would pass this article on.

I prefer that Weapon X watch commercial-free programming when he does watch TV. Mostly I don't want to deal with begging for cocoa puffs at the grocery store because he saw the commercial 70 times during a 30 minute program. In the grand scheme, I would like him to make decisions for himself and not feel like he needs everything he sees on TV or online.

We are very wasteful in this country. I hope we can help him feel content even when he is conserving.

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/05/the-unbranded-kid-thoughts-on-marketing-to-children/

It is ok if you disagree. Every parent has their own style!

Did you quit your day job?

2007-10-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

No, sir (or madam)! I did not quit my day job, nor do I plan to. At least, not in the foreseeable future. I am still one heck of a mechanical engineer, if I do say so myself, and I LOVE product development. I just love designing stationary as well.

Do feel free to let me know if you see ways I can improve my wares. Or if you think I should not quit my day job, you can tell me that too :)

Stay tuned!

Goal!

2007-10-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

I have a goal to create something new every day. Hopefully this will help me load up my shop! Make me accountable by checking out my store everyday at www.saucydesigns.com!

What am I doing here?

2007-10-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

What am I doing here? Well, I cannot stop designing invitations, announcements, cards, and on and on. They say "do what you love," so here I am. I decided to create a space to sell my stationary and fabric designs. Please check out www.saucydesigns.com often to see what else I have made available. For now, this blog will serve as a place for me to update everyone.

Thanks for dropping by!