I had a long day at work and when 5 o’clock hit I was eager to get out of the office. Things are busy for our family during the summer months. Dawson begs for long days at the beach and Owen just loves riding in the stroller on long walks. I’m just happy to spend time with my boys as they are growing so fast.
Dawson had T-ball right at 5 p.m. and thankfully my parents picked up the boys from daycare and I met them on the field for the game. Dawson had one fabulous hit at bat. He also played first base and caught a ball that was thrown to him. He was super excited.
After the game I took the boys to a concert at a local park. Tom Pease was playing at the band shell and what looked like hundreds of kids were eager to sing and dance to their favorite folk tunes. Tom is a wonderful entertainer. He sings, he has actions for his dances, he makes the most outrageous noises, and he can make up lyrics for a song in minutes. (And here’s a secret: he’s been performing since I was in elementary school. I still remember a concert he gave at Roosevelt School when I was in 3rd grade. You do the math!)
Owen was mesmerized by the music. The last Tom Pease concert we went to when he was just a few weeks old. This time he was able to dance, and it was so cute. I hope you enjoy the video.
Have you tried Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta? You should. It’s delicious. And it’s good for you.
The best thing about Ronzoni is that it’s the first “white” pasta to be enriched with Fiber, Calcium and Vitamin D, so I can feed my family something healthy as well as tasty. Ronzoni Smart taste has the Calcium and Vitamin D equivalent to one 8-ounce glass of milk.
While I’d never replace any food for milk, I do love that we’re getting enough calcium in our bodies to prevent brittle bones and osteoporosis. This pasta is lower in calories and fat, too, which I think will keep those extra pounds off my middle.My husband was skeptical at first, but I pleaded with him to just try it. Here’s the dish we made:
Looks delish, doesn’t it? Check this view out:
Yes, we really did garnish our pasta with green onions — it was fabulous.
Ronzoni Smart Taste isn’t a whole-grain pasta, but it is super nutritious and everyone in my family loved. Even little Owen had a few noodles. He loved playing with the box, too:
While I’ve always been a fan of whole-wheat pasta (I blame it on my obsession with carbs and not eating many of them), this brand really does taste just like the plain old semolina our mothers and grandmothers bought. I can’t tell the difference between the two.
Getting our kids to eat better quality and healthier foods can be a major challenge. Our lives are busy and it’s easier to pick whatever is available, but switching to Ronzoni is a small step to better health.
If you’d like to try Ronzoni Smart Taste, click here to get a coupon for 75 cents off.
“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Ronzoni and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review and photo contest entry. In addition, I received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
I think it’s time I finally tell you all some very big news. I’ve got a job. After several long months of unemployment (post BlogHer Ad Network), I started working as a temp in the IT department for a local company that manufactures hospital beds and other medical equipment, furniture and accessories (for privacy purposes I’m leaving out the company name. Local readers: I ask that you not post personal info in the comments, please. Thank you!).
I loved my work. The hours were part time, allowing me to still be home with my boys, and I enjoyed getting out of the house to talk to other adults. So much of my identity comes from motherhood, even though I’ve always worked; being mom to Dawson and Owen seemed to define who I am.
Recently, the company offered me a position in their customer service department. It’s a full time, temp-to-hire position and if I do well they may hire me permanently (which is so awesome because we still have medical bills to pay from Owen’s birth).
This week has been busy. I’ve been training for the new position and learning so much about the products the company manufactures, the history of the organization and so much more. I’m having a lot of fun and I’ve met so many wonderful people.
There’s just one thing… I’m feeling tired! Going back to the 40 hour work week is not as easy as I thought it would be. I’m grateful to be employed so I’m not complaining.
Okay, there’s just two little things… I miss my babies. I can’t help it. Stay-at-home motherhood was quite an experience for me. I had good days. I had some bad days. I enjoyed every moment I had with my kids. I know that with the economy still a bit shaky it’s necessary for me to bring in an income to support my family, but I also realize how important it is to be with my children. It’s a tough situation.
Truth be told, I didn’t want to be a SAHM forever. In the back of my mind I knew I’d return to work some day. Now that I’m back full swing, I’m excited about the new opportunities, but sad that I’m missing some precious moments while my kids are at daycare. It’s bittersweet.
The good news is I’m working and I love it. My kids are happy and healthy. What more can I ask for?
I’ve been working with the fabulous consultants at Mom Central for quite some time and was offered the opportunity to test drive some awesome baby products from Infantino. I’m on my second go-round of motherhood and while I saved most of the gear I used with Dawson, I realized how worn out it had become because he played hard with his toys.
Infantino sent three products for us to try: the Twist & Fold Activity Gym, the Fold & Go Bouncer, and the Jumbo Wheel Play Space. When the box arrived I was very excited to rip it open and see what was inside. My first impression was very positive. These products are bright and colorful without being too busy and over-stimulating. I love the jungle themed activity mat with the lion, monkey and elephant hanging down from the crossbars. Owen loves the activity gym as evidenced here:
Infantino Fold & Go Activity Gym
The Jumbo Wheel Play Space is so much fun! There are so many things that grab his attention, from the rings to the squeaker in the elephant’s hat, to the crinkly ears on the elephant and monkey. Check out this happy baby:
He is fascinated with mirrors and both these toys include them in the fun. My little loves to look at “the baby” in the mirror. It’s even more fun when he catches a glimpse of Mommy, Daddy or Big Brother Dawson in it, too. We took this wheel mat to the park with us and five other moms commented on how big the play space is and how much they love the colors.
Lastly, we received the bouncer. Owen is just growing too quickly; the chunky monkey barely fits in the seat, but he still loves the toy bar and the vibrating chair:
I love that this bouncer can go anywhere! It folds flat and fits nicely in the trunk (along with the stroller and diaper bag and every other baby item imaginable!). It has soothing vibrations, and by pressing a button you get a heartbeat and 2 nature sounds as well as three different melodies and volume control. This bouncer is full of options for being so compact!
My best friend recently gave birth to her first child and I’ve recommended Infantino products to her because I truly believe that Infantino puts a lot of thought into their products. Not only do they care about our precious babies, but they come up with unique designs and features that appeal to us picky parents, too. Kudos to you, Infantino!
For more information about these products click the links above or visit www.infantino.com.
Dana began her Mom career in 2004 with the birth of her eldest son, Dawson, aka The Doodlebug. She spends her days catering to a 5-year-old, she denies her habit of compulsive vacuuming, and just recently gave birth to Owen, aka Monster Baby. She's definitely living La Vida Loca and wouldn't want it any other way. More About Dana.
Contact: thedanafilesblog [at] gmail [dot] com RSS Feed
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