My children have way too many toys. I just spent an hour in the room that Dawson and Owen share, sorting through toys. I went in there to put laundry away and nearly had a nervous breakdown over the amount of CRAP they have.
Sure there are favorite toys like Legos and the little Star Wars action figures Dawson loves to play with, and Owen is mesmerized by the Mega Blocks, but still there are McDonald’s Happy Meal toys that are crammed in every corner, played with for 5 minutes and tossed aside.
We don’t go to the Arches that often, but we’ve acquired enough of those plastic pieces of junk and I’m sick of looking at them. I threw them all in an empty box and didn’t stop there. Things my kids haven’t touched in months also went into that box and I’m determined to take it to Goodwill. I think I’m going to have Dawson come along so that he can be the one to make the donation.
I just don’t understand how my kids got so spoiled. I don’t buy them toys unless it’s for a birthday or Christmas present. In years past I’ve gone a bit overboard, but I quickly learned my lesson when I was the one picking up the damn things.
Tonight I found toys I haven’t seen before and when I asked Dawson where they came from he replied, “Grandma bought me those when we went to Goodwill.”
I flipped my lid.
“Does anyone NOT see the irony of this situation? We should be DONATING toys to Goodwill, NOT buying more crap to fill this house!”
My husband just chuckled. He quickly shut up when I gave him the death stare.
I’m just at a loss. I hate giving away toys they love, but they can’t LOVE them all can they? I am tired of tripping over Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars. And those damn Little People! I truly believe they procreate at night.
And the Legos! Oh dear, God, the Legos. If I were to count how many tiny-choking-hazards-waiting-to-happen-pieces I find on the floor each day, I could retire tomorrow. It’s insane.
Is it cruel to just pack stuff up and drag to the curb? What do you do about the toy situation in your house?
Baby Food: Making It Easy with Annabel Karmel & Infantino
A few weeks ago I received Annabel Karmel food making products from Infantino as part of a Mom Central Consulting blog tour. I have to say, this stuff is pretty darn awesome:
As mom to a 13 month old who never really cared for processed baby food, I always wanted to make my own baby food but never really knew how to begin or what products to try. I’m grateful to be able to try these products. So, let me share my thoughts!
First things first, the Fresh Food Mill is fantastic. Owen loves fresh fruits and vegetables but with only so many teeth it’s hard for me to serve some of them without spending hours in the kitchen steaming and mashing or cutting them into bite-sized pieces. This food mill allows me to make purees that are fresh tasting and easy for Owen to eat.
The Steam Release Micro Dish is a wonderful complement to the Fresh Food Mill because it is the ideal size container for cooking single-serve portions. After steaming carrots I can then use the food mill to make a puree. So far I’ve steamed potatoes, peas, beans and broccoli and have used the food mill to grind them up and Owen loves them! The great part about these products is that recipes are included inside the packaging as well as on the outside of the box.
Next up, the Mash & Serve Bowl is great for smashing sweet potatoes and steamed cauliflower. I even use it to trick Dawson into eating “mashed potatoes” which are half potatoes and half cauliflower. These products are BPA free, so I don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals going into our foods.
For food storage, we received 6 Stackable Food Pots with easy-to-seal lids in three great colors; pink, green and blue. These containers are dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe, too. The down right perfect! We also received a Freeze Tray with nine 1 oz. sections, or food cubes, that make it easy to freeze and store the freshly prepared baby food for later consumption.
Then we’ve got the Fill & Freeze Puree Pops which remind me of those Tupperware freezer pop makers that my mother used to make Kool-Aid pops when we were kids. I like diluting fruit juice with water to make perfect pops when the boys have colds. They still get some nutrients and stay hydrated, too. These are also perfect for babies who are teething. Freeze a puree and use a pop to soothe tender gums. This product is also freezer and dishwasher safe and so easy to clean.
Last but not least we got a Double Decker Meal box which has 2 single-serve microwavable dishes, 2 large compartment storage containers and 2 plastic spoons (one is really a spork). I like that I can store either small or large portions and take them on the go. Being so busy, this is one item that is easy to use and fits great in our diaper bag.
I really like the products because of they are easy to use, BPA free, most items are freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe, and let’s face it, they are so cute to look at. Annabel Karmel designed fabulous products and I’m so glad that Mom Central sent them to us to try on behalf of Infantino.
Stay tuned for another post with recipes and photos of our creations!
My friend Carla shared this on Facebook. This video made me cry. It’s so hard to watch and realize that this young man knows he made a mistake. I feel sad that men and women endure such pain, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that abortion is so horrible and so devastating. We must protect the unborn, now more than ever.
I was out bumming with Owen today, while Dawson was at a birthday party (at Chuck E. Cheese’s…so glad I did NOT have to go along), and decided to buy Glenn Beck’s new book, Broke.
Dana began her Mom career in 2004 with the birth of her first son, Dawson, aka The Doodlebug, and little brother, Owen, was born in 2009. She spends her days putting out fires, climbing mountains and chasing monsters. More About Dana.
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