Mimi's Birthday

My mom's birthday was on Wednesday and my sister and her family were in town, so of course we had to party!  

Stu and I

 Cascarones!

Joshua and his daddy

Kate

Homemade blackberry pie :)

Milky Way Cake, decorations

 Dinner. Yum.

She's adorable.

 My mom and I.

My sister and mom.

We love you Mimi!

Hope you had a fantastic birthday!

(and yes, we missed you George!)

Coco for Coconut

I love coconut. I mean it. I LOVE COCONUT. Not only do I adore the way it smells but I can totally take down some coconut cream pie or a pound of Mounds. Mmm. So, when I stumbled upon this article, I was more than intrigued. And then I felt like sharing it with all three of y'all that read my blog-ha!

80 Uses for Coconut

Personal Hygiene/Body

1.       Moisturizer – simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.
2.       Eye cream – apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags, and wrinkles. Use on the lids in the evening.
3.       Preshave – coconut oil will prep skin for the pending damage caused by shaving.
4.       Aftershave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores.
5.       Deodorant – coconut oil alone can be used as a deodorant, but even more effective in combination with cornstarch/arrowroot powder and baking soda!
6.       Hair Conditioner/Deep Treatment – use as a leave in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends. Put a shower cap on to prevent transfer onto bed linens and leave on overnight.
7.       Hair Gel/Defrizzer – rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).
8.       Toothpaste – there are numerous recipes out there but I just mix coconut oil and baking soda and dab a little of the mix on my toothbrush.
9.       Make up remover – use a cotton swab and a dab of coconut oil and you would be amazed at how well it works!
10.   Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!
11.   Massage Oil – pretty simple; grab some and rub!
12.   Lubricant – it is an all natural, perfectly safe personal lubricant. Not compatible with latex!
13.   Sunscreen – see my post on natural sunscreen for more detailed information.
14.   Stretch Mark Cream – coconut oil is great at nourishing damaged skin. It may not be the magic stretch mark cure but it will help.
15.   Nipple Cream – works great to nourish cracked, sore, or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.
16.   Diaper salve – very comforting on a rashy bum with no harsh chemicals. Also safe for cloth diapers.
17.   Cradle cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.
18.   Body scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.
19.   Healing – when applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues. Plus, it smells a heck-of-a-lot better than anything from the pharmacy.
20.   Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.
21.   Skin problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
22.   Swimmers Ear – mix garlic oil and coconut oil and put a few drops in affected ear for about 10 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day and it usually works within one or two days.

General Health and Wellness

23.   Stress Relief – relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.
24.   Digestion – the saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control, parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.
25.   Fitness – coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, all of which help decrease your unwanted fat, while increasing muscle.
26.   Nose bleeds – coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme hotness and extreme coldness. This condition happens when the nasal passages become dry because of cold or dry air resulting to burns and cracks in the mucus membranes so bleeding happens. To prevent this just put coconut oil in you nostrils. Coat your finger with coconut oil and then lie down and coat your finger inside your nose. Doing this will strengthen and protect the capillaries in the nasal passages. A Vitamin C supplement will also help prevent nose bleeding.
27.   For breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich your milk supply.
28.   Helps with weight loss & controlling cravings.
29.   Helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings in those with diabetes.

Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when taken internally)

30.   Eczema – in addition to taking it internally, many have success applying it externally, some don’t
31.   Skin problems
32.   Toenail fungus
33.   Hot flashes
34.   Bleeding hemorrhoids (can also be applied externally twice a day)
35.   HIV
36.   Head lice
37.   Improvements in menstruation regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow
38.   Migraines (with regular use)
39.   Mononucleosis
40.   Parasites
41.   Thrush
42.   Relieve gallbladder pain
43.   Has helped some people improve symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal
44.   Energy boost
45.   Flaky, dry skin
46.   May relieve acid reflux and indigestion when taken with each meal
47.   Adrenal fatigue
48.   Alzheimers
49.   H. pylori
50.   Candida albicans
51.   Asthma, even in children
52.   Autism
53.   Cholesterol – improves HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) to HDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol
54.   Chronic fatigue
55.   Circulation/feeling cold all the time
56.   Stronger immune system
57.   Mental Clarity
58.   Depression
59.   Helps with inflammation in Crohns

Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when applied topically)

60.   Athletes foot
61.   Back pain/sore muscles
62.   Canker sores
63.   Acne
64.   Cellulite
65.   Herpes (applied topically and taken internally)
66.   Genital warts (through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day depending on the location of the warts)
67.   Circumcision healing – although I am personally against circumcision, I have read that coconut oil is a really great healer for this.

Cooking

68.   Use 1 cup to 1 cup ratio when replacing other oils/butter in recipes with coconut oil.
69.   Replacement for butter/lard/Crisco/PAM in it’s solid form – greasing pans, pie crusts, etc.
70.   Replacement for various oils in liquid form – baking, cooking, sautéing, etc.
71.   Nutritional supplement – melt and add to smoothies.

Other Uses

72.   Insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything with Deet! Tons safer too.
73.   Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon to their water bowl daily.
74.   Goo Gone – just mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the “sticky” area and let it set for a minute. Then scrub off with an old toothbrush or the scrubby side of a sponge.
75.   Chewing Gum in Hair Remover – just rub some coconut oil over the stuck chewing gum, leave in for about 30 minutes, then roll the gum between your fingertip. Voila! It’s out!
76.   Polish Furniture – coconut oil with a little bit of lemon juice to polish wood furniture. However, I recommend you test it first on a very small, unobtrusive part of your furniture to make sure it works the way you’d like.
77.   Polishing Bronze – all you have to do is rub a little oil into a cotton towel and then wipe down the statue. It cleans and helps deepen the color of your bronze.
78.   Seasoning animal hide drums
79.   Seasoning cookware
80.   Moisturizing and cleaning leather products

Article found here.

Pet Peeves

Ok, y'all, I literally spent 2 hours and 39 minutes on the phone with the IRS. Actually, that's incorrect. I spent 26 minutes physically talking to a person and 2 hours and 13 minutes on hold. ON HOLD. Y'all, I will NEVER that have time back. Ever. It's gone. So, while I was fuming listening to the same 3 elevator songs, I compiled a list of pet peeves that I have.

1. When people walk down the middle of the lane in the parking lot. Pick.A.Side.
2. When people just leave their shopping carts wherever the winds desires. Is it really that difficult to walk 10 feet to the cart return?
3. When people say, "I could care less." By definition, you would in fact, still be caring. Just less. The appropriate  saying is, "I couldn't care less."
4. When you've been on hold for 55 minutes. 
5. When you've been on hold for 55 minutes and then you are hung up on.
6. When you get an angry female customer representative to aid you in making your problems worse.
7. When people borrow things and don't return them.
8. Being late.
9. When a partial explanation is given for something, thus taking three of four separate attempts to receive all the information.
10. When people use hash tags when not on Twitter. Seriously, that drives me bonkers.

And for the record, I was calling the IRS because we filed our taxes at the end of January (yeah for being on the ball) and still have not received our approved return.

Doggie Doo..?

Y'all, I have officially found the most offensive game/toy. Seriously.
Let me introduce you to Doggie Doo.
Yes, you read that correctly. Doggie Doo.
Not only can you practice walking your miniature dog, but you can also practice picking up his play-dough doo.

I mean, REALLY?!

No More Kiwi

So this past week I made this

Then my eyes did this

I concluded that I had pink eye.

Yummy poo-in-the-eye, pink eye.

But my doctor concluded that I can no longer have kiwi.

At least I didn't have poo in my eyes.

And then the boys got to make these with the left over fruit.

But no more kiwi.

Growing

So you knew that this was coming sooner or later right?
Weight and Height Comparisons that is.

Tucker recently had his 4 year vaccinations (I know! I'm just a year late on those. Bad mom.) So I know his weight and height are spot on. Tyson was weighed with our own scale and measured on the closet door. Everyone has that too right? A door with ticks and names/dates showing each child's height. No? Alrighty then.

Height Comparison in inches

Weight Comparison in pounds

There are several things I find so interesting:

1. Tucker is still bigger than Tyson (at the same age). I am pretty sure Tucker will be taller and heavier than Tyson in the not-so-distant future.
2. Tucker officially weighs more than Tyson. Amazing.
3. Do you see the difference in weight for the same age between the two? Crazy!
4. I slacked and have not figured out the median weight for boys in awhile and obviously never researched it for height. Oh well.

KONY 2012

Please take some time and watch this empowering film. Wow. Just wow.

KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.




kony2012.com

Tyson's Kinder Rodeo

Tucker's Birthday Party

These just made me smile

The happiest, most enthusiastic cheerleader ever


This video was made with 12,000 pieces of construction paper


This, well, this video is just funny.

Five Things Friday

1. Yesterday we said a tearful goodbye to Scout. I really didn't expect to get as emotional as I did, but oh my gracious, I was a weeping mess all day long. When we first got Scout in February of 2009, she weighed 36 pounds at 8 months old. She had been tied up outside, left to fight another dog for food. She was emaciated, "beaten" up, sad, and in need of TLC. Scout quickly gained weight, her wounds healed and she became a full-fledged member of our family. Recently though, Scout began attacking our older lab, Turbo. None of the attacks every drew blood and seriously hurt him, but they were becoming more frequent and over seemingly nothing. I was having a really hard time dealing with the attacks and so we made the decision to find a new home for Scout. We were amazed at how quickly she was placed and I truly believe her new family is a good fit for her: they have 4 kids, no other dogs and previously owned a Great Dane. I can't tell you how many times I told Stuart that I wanted to get rid of Scout for one reason or another, but when it came down to actually letting her go, it was really, really hard. 
2. Stu and I going on a date tonight. Hallelujah!
3. The boys are spending the night at their cousin's house tonight. Why in the world it has taken us this long to swap overnight-date-childcare, I'll never know. But we are all so excited!
4. Y'all there are now white chocolate m&ms. Oh my gracious.
5. The high today is 83*. It's March 2nd. This can't be good.

Party Preview

yup, Tucker's party was a rip-roaring success

Tyson Q & A

same Q & A as Tucker but now with Tyson. Fun, fun!

C: What is something Mommy always says to you?
T: Ummm, I love you? Maybe I love you.

C: What makes me happy?
T: When we be good.

C: That does make me happy.

C: What makes me sad?
T: When we are not very nice to each other.

C: How does Mommy make you laugh? 
T: When you say jokes and things.

C: Like what kind of jokes?

T: Like, “Why did the goose kiss a moose?” And then you say, “because it’s alive!” Hahahahaha!

C: That is a silly joke, but I think that one’s from your daddy.

T: Yeah…

C: What was Mommy like as a child?
T: Kid? A child? MY age?

C: Yes, a child. Yes, your age.

T: You were MY age?

C: Yes. Mommy used to be a little girl just like you are a little boy.

T: But mommy, I am not little.

C: Well I know you aren’t little anymore. I mean that you are young.

T: Mom-my, I am SIX.

C: Ok, I get it. You are not little nor are you young.

T: Thank you.

C: How old am I?
T: I don’t know.

C: Mommy’s 31.

T: 31. 31?

C: How tall am I? 
T: I don’t know. About medium size feet maybe.

C: You mean feet and inches?

T: Yes.

C: What is my favorite thing to do? 
T: Stay home.

C: And do what?

T: And maybe work in the house? That’s what daddy does.

C: What does Mom do when you’re not around? 
T: Do whatever you want. Like you can go to the grocery store by yourself.

C: If I become famous, what will it be for?
T: What does famous mean?

C: Everybody knows you.

T: So everyone would know your name and say hi the correct way?

C: Kinda.

C: What am I really good at?
T: Folding laundry.

C: [ouch]

C: What am I not very good at?
T: Um, riding bikes.

C: What does Mommy do for my job?
T: Clean the house and fold the laundry and do what you need to do.

C: What is my favorite food?
T: Toast.

C: What makes you proud of me?
T: When you buy me Legos. That makes me very happy because I love Legos.

C: You do love Legos.

C: If I were a cartoon character, who would I be?
T: That’s a silly thing to ask.

C: I know!

T: Probably you would be Jerry if he was a girl.

C: From Tom and Jerry?

T: Yes!

C: What do you and I do together?
T: Go get ice cream!

C: How are you and I the same?
T: Hehe, why? We’re not the same!

C: Well, you are my son.

T: And you’re my mom. J

C: How are you and I different?
T: Because you’re a grown-up and I’m a kid.

C: How do you know I love you?
T: Because I’m your son.

C: Where is my favorite place to go?
T: Walmart. Or no, do you like to go to Walmart?

C: Well, I wouldn’t say that I like to go there but I do have to go a lot.

C: Thanks for answering my questions. Is there anything else you want to say?

T: No, am I done?

C: Yup.

T: Good. That was a funny questions.

Cousin Time

Last weekend we made the trek to Coppell to have some cousin time; really Stuart was going hunting and I took advantage of his proximity to Dallas to make it into a fun trip for us all. :) The boys had a grand time playing with baby Kate and Joshua and baby Kate and Joshua were just as cute as ever. Oh and I got to visit with my middle sister!

The boys packed their own bags. Each had a pair of underwear, pair of pajamas, mooses and blankets. Ya' know, the essentials.

 Joshua eating a cookie from Mimi

 Kate and Aunt Kika playing (Kate has her Mimi lipstick on)

 The boys were fascinated with Kate's doctor kit

 Buds :)

 We headed to the mall for lunch and some indoor play; it was freezing outside!

 While Kate and Joshua napped, the boys got to play with their new Legos.

 After naps, Aunt Marci busted out some arts and crafts.

Time to make heart crayons!

 Waiting while the crayons melt...

 Isn't this adorable?!

 Coloring with our new creations.

 The reason behinde the trip-quail.

Yum (I hope).

*since I don't have an iphone (which I'm totally ok with), I don't have instragram (which I'm kinda bummed about). BUT I did download this fun picture app called picplz. I'm kinda diggin' it.

Love

Tyson: I'm in love with (fill in the blank with a girl's name from school).
Me: That's really nice that you like (so and so) so much but you aren't "in love" with her.
Tucker: I love YOU!
Me: Thank you booger. I love you too. Tyson, mommy's in love with daddy and mommy and daddy love you and Tucker. You love us and Mimi and Peepaw and Kate and Joshua but that's a different kind of love. You aren't quite old enough to be loving your friends.
Tucker: But MOMMY, God says to love our friends. That's what GOD says.
Tyson: Yeah, God says to love even our bad friends.
Stuart: Yeah MOMMY.
Me: Well...alright then.