Winter Weather Warning

While enjoying my Monday night shows, there was a constant winter weather warning running across the television screen. I was thinking it must be pretty intense given the amount of screen time it was getting!
Tuesday morning I wake up to this:

Um. Seriously? This is what all the fuss was about? Wimps! It wasn't even sticking to the roads! I'm sure all you friends and family in Utah and Nevada will join with me in saying that this is not snow. It barely qualifies as a "dusting". I really don't think these people could make it out west.
And to top it all off, today (friday) it hit the 60's.
Weather in the south, I've come to conclusion, can't make up it's mind. Or it has some serious mood swings!
But, just having the chance of 60 degree weather in January is pretty sweet!

FREEBIE ALERT

Get a set of 6 photo Valentine cards free at Stories by Everyone!! Even the shipping is free! Here is how you do it:
1. Click Here
2. Click "Create your valentines now" button
3. Choose the design you want (10 options)
4. Click "Build Now" button
5. Create an account
6. Upload photo
7. Add photo and text to card [front & back]
8. Click "Preview" button
9. Click "Order" button (then "continue to checkout" with "box of 6" selected)
10. Enter code "valentine" in coupon box
11. Click "recalculate" button
12. Click "checkout" button
13. You don't even have to enter credit card info, just leave it blank
14. Receive email confirmation shortly after

Yeah! I love free stuff!!
*Note: If you have trouble with the site being slow, it's probably got lots of people on it. This is a hot freebie right now. But just try back either early in the morning or late at night when not as many people might be doing it. This code doesn't expire until
Feb 1, 2009*

Haircut

Before

After

And a Popsicle reward for holding still (for the most part!)

"Mama. Pee pee." Uh, What?!!

For quite a while I've been able to put on a movie for Emery and slip away to shower. He'll usually come check on me several times but then go back while I finish getting ready (for the most part). Today I'm in the shower and hear the door open and Emery say, "Mama. Pee pee." I'm thinking, uh what?
So I stick my head out the curtain to find.....Emery standing there with no pants on and no diaper. Great. [Note: he still had on his socks and t-shirt, weird] So I ask him, "did you pee without your diaper on?" And he frankly replies, "yeah". Great.
What to do. What to do. I had just barely gotten into the shower and needed to wash my hair still. So I grab him, take off the socks and shirt and plop him in the shower with me. Wash him off. Wash hair. Wrap up kid. Wrap up me. Go find the pee.
It was in front of the tv, of coarse.
This better not become a regular occurrence.
I do not like cleaning up pee. Ik.

So much fun!!

It's a hit!

Blogs I Read

I've had some friends ask what blogs I read (besides friends and family) so I've made a new list on my sidebar. It's under Blogs I Read. I quickly added them so if the link doesn't work let me know so I can fix it. Most have to do with parenting, kids/babies, giveaways, coupons, saving money, deals and sales etc. And really that's not even all of them so I'll be continuing to add more!! Enjoy :)

New Contest!

Enter to win a beautiful double stroller HERE!!

A ray of JOY in grey January

Yesterday was Target's annual Toy 75% off clearance!! he he. It makes me so happy :) Here is a sampling of what I found. Every store is different (and some still have stuff at 30-50% that will go down next Wed or Thur). And it's only been one day. Go check out your store! And then come tell me all your great finds.

I got this Playskool musical sit and spin for 5.48 regular priced 21.99This Little People Carnival Set was 7.48 regular priced 29.99

This little tikes super soccer ball pit was 11.44 regular price 44.99

Emery really likes it! And I think all the boys coming for playdate next week might too :)Some dinosaurs for 2.50 regularly 10Vtech learning time clock for 3.74 regularly 14.99Vtech write & learn smartboard was 6.24 regularly 24.99

I also got a handful of stuff for 3.74 and 2.24 (reg 15 and 10) that will make good gifts this year. I admit I got more than I probably should have but I'm a sucker for a good deal (75% off baby!) And I do have a pile of returns of a few things I changed my mind on (with the help of hubby). So overall it was a FABULOUS day :)

Some Sewing

Want to know more? Head over to handmadebyjulie.blogspot.com

Friends

Last Saturday I went to Commerce, Ga. I haven't been back to Atlanta since we moved to South Carolina. It's only a 2 1/2 hour drive, but Emery has never really liked the car and so we just hadn't made the effort. But I did leave some great friends behind there! Commerce is about half way (and has the outlet mall :) and met up with my friend Allison and her son Jack.

We had lunch at Chick-fil-a and played in the playground. Then the boys took a few rides in quarter powered truck rides. We even got some good deals at KB toys (which is going out of business).

It was such a fun day and Emery is still wanting more!

Thanks for a fun playdate! Let's do it again soon :)

A little encouragement

Emery is a very determined little 2 year old! In addition to his refusal to nap, he has been increasingly more stubborn and independent. It's all about wanting control I think. Which isn't all bad but since I'm sort of a control freak too, we have some major struggles around here! In an effort to establish a routine and encourage Emery to do some things, I made him a "chore chart". It really isn't all chores, but also things he needs to do throughout the day. When he finishes the task, he gets a sticker on his chart.

So far (2 days in) he's really into it. If he doesn't want to get dressed in the morning I remind him he'll get a sticker when he does. It has been a lot easier than trying to hold him down while he's trying to wriggle away to dress him!

On his chart he has to: get dressed, make his bed, take a nap, pick up toys, take a bath, brush his teeth, say his prayers, wash his hands,(and then some actual "chores") help unload the dishwasher, vacuum (with the swivel sweeper), put his dishes in the sink after meals, and sit on the potty.

The first day he wanted to unload the dishwasher and vacuum over and over! He loves to help do those things!! It was really cute! And he isn't really potty training, but just sitting on the potty will help him get familiar with it and you never know when he's sitting up there if he'll get something out! I'm not sure how I'm doing the next part, but when he get X amount of stickers he'll get a prize. Wish me luck!

Nap or Not so much?

Oh my; what a time I've been having trying to get Emery to nap the past few days! He really still needs one {or he becomes a terror the remainder of the day and has even more trouble getting to be that night}. He 's been out of his crib for 8 months or so unfortunately so it's hard to make him stay in his bed! Anyone have this same trouble and any ideas for me? Please. Help. Me. Thanks...

Success!!

This probably isn't a big deal to many of you but I've had such trouble baking a loaf of bread! So basically I stayed away from trying again for quite some time.
But, after only 1 failed batch this morning, I finally made a loaf of bread :) Yum!

New Bags up in my Etsy shop

What are you waiting for? I have 2 in the floral with blue lining and 3 polka dot with tan lining!

handmadebyjulie.etsy.com

Super Emery!