How My Husband Ruined My Vacation

Guess what guys! Today I have the super awesome pleasure of guest posting at Masshole Mommy while she’s on vacation at Disney! I’m super excited because this is the first time I’ve done a guest post and I’m even more excited because I’m Masshole worthy – woohoo! Thanks Robin!

I’m pretty sure that she’s having a better vacation than I did so let’s show her some love and stop by her place and welcome her back from her vacation and while you’re there you can read all about my super amazing husband!

Irene

Coupon for Pillsbury Baguette Chips

Looking for ways to spice up your snacking routines? Pillsbury knows just how you feel and wants to awaken your taste buds with new Pillsbury Baguette Chips! These hearty chips are sliced from oven baked bread and topped with savory seasonings bringing flavors like Italian Cheese & Herb and Cheddar Sun-dried Tomato to gourmet snack chips.

Enjoy Pillsbury Baguette Chips alone, with your favorite dip, as a soup topping, or to add some crunch to your salad! With 130 calories per serving (21 baguette chips), and 50% less fat than regular potato chips*, Pillsbury Baguette Chips are delicious snack chips that you can feel good about eating! See for yourself by going to http://bit.ly/PBCcoupon to download a printable coupon to save $0.75 off one package.

*Pillsbury Baguette Chips (5g fat per 29g serving); regular potato chips (11g fat per 29g serving). See nutrition information for sodium content.

ENJOY!

Irene

Disclosure: I received this information and the coupon offer from Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark

Coupon for New Fiber One Chewy Bars

Are you tired of the same snacks accompanying your kids to the classroom, playground and beyond? New Fiber One Chewy bars in Chocolate and Strawberry PB&J varieties are the perfect packable snacks that are sure to get an A+ from your kids this back-to-school season. Complete with a peanut butter or chocolate-flavored bottom and yummy drizzle in every bite, parents can rest assured that their kids are getting more than great taste from Fiber One Chewy bars.

These 110 calories or less bars contain fiber* and calcium kids need , no high fructose corn syrup, and 8 grams or less of sugar

According to the results of a recent taste test**, kids prefer Fiber One Chewy Chocolate bars over Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

This fall, each box will feature the added bonus of Box Tops for Education coupons on-pack, making Fiber One Chewy bars an ideal snack for school-aged children
To help you make Fiber One Chewy bars a part of your back-to-school snack routine, you can visit http://bit.ly/FOCBCoupon to download a printable coupon for $.80 off the purchase of 1 box of Fiber One Chewy bars (available on a first come first serve basis).

* Contain 3.5g or less of total fat.
**Based upon independent taste tests, with kids aged 8-12, of Fiber One Chewy Chocolate versus Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars. Quaker is a registered trademark of the Quaker Oats Company. All trademarks property of their respective owners.

Disclosure: I received this information and the coupon offer from General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Enjoy!

Irene

Family Fun Day At Davis Farmland

Summer is winding down so we are trying to fit in as many outside events as we can. Yesterday was a wonderful family day at Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA. We were with my neighbor and her kids as well. This was our first trip there and we had a fabulous time. It’s about an hour ride for us but totally worth it.

This place was so much fun. They had a petting zoo, a water park and a playground area and that was just on one side. The other side held a mega maze and more playgrounds but we didn’t have a chance to go there.

There was so much to do at the farmland with the kids. They loved feeding the animals and I think petting and holding the baby goats was super awesome for them. Assisted by one of the employees, the kids are able to milk a real goat and for those that were afraid, there was a fake cow that you could “milk”. Buggy preferred the cow.

     
After hanging out at the farmland for a few hours feeding the animals and going on a hay ride the kids wanted to go to the water park. This provided hours of entertainment for the kids. The park wasn’t very big but they had a pretty cool suds machine, a small water slide, lots of sprinklers and a few other things for the smaller kids. It took a while for Buggy to actually want to venture into the water area and once she did, she was all over the place.

 









And then from there we had a little time in the play area before we headed home.
   
We spent the whole day there. If you live in New England you should definitely try and visit – we had a fantastic day!
Irene

The Oogieloves in the BIG Balloon Adventure Giveaway- Ends 8/30

I am super excited to see this movie. This will be Buggy’s first movie and I can’t wait to see her jumping around and dancing.

Kenn Viselman, the creator of The Oogieloves in the BIG Balloon Adventure (due out “Oogust” 29^th) believes in the The Power of Mom. So much so he and his team have been traveling around the country engaging bloggers in conversations about what constitutes quality G-rated entertainment. Other than a few wildlife documentaries and a re-release in a popular children’s movie in 3-D, Hollywood has completely ignored the youngest moviegoer. The best they give us for our kids – animated PG films – are loaded with aggression and bloodshed.

Moms listen up: You have the power to change what Hollywood pushes on your children. In fact, there is no voice more powerful than yours. You control the home, the family budget and your child’s welfare. Aren’t you tired of watching moms die in the first ten minutes of so many animated movies? Aren’t you tired of seeing your children confused by the aggression towards their beloved movie characters? There’s no place for such violence in a children’s movie. Enough is enough.

It’s this “enough is enough” attitude that got Kenn Viselman, the marketing genius who introduced us to Teletubbies, Thomas the Tank Engine, Noddy and Eloise, mad as h*ll. The end result: The Oogieloves in the BIG Balloon Adventure, a film that reinvents the movie-going experience. This film – basically a movie and a live show rolled into one - is the first-of-its-kind interactive family musical that encourages the audience to get out of their seats, dance, and sing. Visual and auditory cues invite the audience to “move” the action along, allowing parents and kids to interact not only with the characters, but also with one another.

The story follows the Oogieloves - Goobie, Zoozie and Toofie - as they prepare for a surprise birthday party for their friend, Schluufy. When their guardian, J. Edgar, loses the last five magical balloons in all of Lovelyloveville, the Oogieloves take action. Along the way, they meet Rosalie Rosebud (Toni Braxton), Dottie Rounder (Cloris Leachman), Lola and Lero Sombrero (Jaime Pressly and Christopher Lloyd), Milky Marvin (Chazz Palminteri), and Bobby Wobbly (Cary Elwes). The movie opens in theaters “Oogust” 29th.

And now for the giveaway: One lucky reader is going to win (1) Oogieloves kids prize pack worth $150.
The pack includes:
Tent
Mobile
Glitter Tattoos (2)
Stickers (2)
Beach Balls (2)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Irene

Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins: Friendship Is The Best Medicine Review And Giveaway- Ends 8/22

We recently started watching the Disney Junior channel. I’ve been trying to get Buggy to watch something other than Dora so when I was asked if I wanted to review Disney Junior’s newest hit animated TV series geared to kids ages 2-7, “Doc McStuffins,” which will be available for the first time ever on Disney DVD and Digital Copy, August 21, 2012, I absolutely jumped at the chance. I have to admit that I was not familiar with the animated series. So I did a search on my Disney Junior channel for Doc McStuffins and started recording it and I loved it. Buggy also loved it as well. She was hooked immediately and it's now our favorite so our DVR is set to record all the shows.

This week we took road trip to South Carolina and it took us two days to get there. On our second day I had to pull out the DVD since we were bordering on a meltdown. As soon as I asked Buggy if she wanted to watch Doc McStuffins everything changed. Our little Doc McStuffins saved us. Buggy watched this DVD from Baltimore, MD to Charleston, SC. She sang, she laughed and it was great.

The characters and themes featured in “Doc McStuffins” are all made to be relatable to young viewers and are designed to ease kids' trepidations about everything from a doctor's visit to removing a splinter.  Many of the stories directly address the kinds of issues that parents face with their young children when it comes to good health, hygiene and trips to the doctor’s office. It’s the perfect series to have on-hand and add to your home entertainment collection. Buggy loved wearing her Dr.’s coat and using her stethoscope. We practiced listening to her heart, checking her ears, eyes and saying “aaaahhh” just like her pediatrician does. She had fun practicing on her dogs and Dora as well. I think this will certainly help her next time we go to the Dr.’s office.

     

About “Doc McStuffins”:
"Doc McStuffins" is an imaginative animated series about Doc McStuffins, a six-year-old girl who communicates with and heals stuffed animals and broken toys out of her backyard playhouse clinic.  Assisting Doc with the day-to-day operations at the clinic are her much-loved friends: Stuffy, an overly proud dragon; Lambie, her  cuddly best friend; Hallie, a jolly and caring  hippo nurse; Squeakers, an alarmist squeaky toy fish; and Chilly, a snowman who spends a lot of time getting check-ups at the clinic.  Whether it's a case of loose stitching, low batteries or a blow-up toy who's sprung a leak, Doc and her pals are always there to lend a helping hand, while imparting to young viewers the importance of taking care of oneself and others.  Each episode features two 11-minute stories and an original song and showcases the hallmarks of great Disney storytelling – fantasy and wish fulfillment.

About The TV Series:
“Doc McStuffins” is an animated television series that airs daily on both the Disney Junior programming block on Disney Channel and the new 24-hour Disney Junior channel.  It is cable's #1 series among Kids 2-5, and 2012's #1 preschool cable TV series in Total Viewers and Women 18-49. You can also watch the videos online on the Disney site and if you love Doc McStuffins as much as we do how about a “Like” for their Facebook page.

One lucky reader is going to be able to win DISNEY JUNIOR DVD & DIGITAL COPY along with Doc McStuffins fun kit which includes:
Kids DR Coat, Name Tags, Clip Board and Stethoscope






a Rafflecopter giveaway


Irene 

Wordless Wednesday: South Carolina Sunset

   
Took these last minute pictures while on vacation here in Charleston, SC
Irene

My One Year Blogiversary And Giveaway–Ends 8/23

Yaaaay, I’m A Silly Mami turned one! Well, it was actually July 31 but it’s been super crazy around here. I really can’t believe that it’s been a year. When I started blogging I had no idea what to expect, what I was doing –still don’t sometimes, or where this was going to take me and I’m still not sure but I can say for certain, the ride has been amazing and I’m looking forward to whatever adventures are coming our way.

Before I was a SAHM I used to work in online advertising and worked with many publishers (bloggers) like so many of you but I was on the advertising side of it promoting campaigns and trying to get you to sign up with our network. I really had no idea how much work was involved when you decide to start a blog. This has been an incredible journey so far and I have met some wonderful online friends with some great blogs.

So what better way to celebrate my blogiversary than with a giveaway. I will be giving away two kids backpacks filled with school supplies (I will have you email me your school list). I will pick two winners via Rafflecopter and you can let me know which one you would like – boy or girl.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Toddler Is A Late Talker, So What!

Buggy has been in preschool for a month now and things have been going well. I blogged about my freak out of sending her to preschool back in June. She is only going a few days a week and I have seen some great changes when she is with other kids. She is more confident with other kids in her space. She comes home from school saying new words. Our first month there was a bit challenging during drop off. I would be there at least an hour before I was really able to leave her. While I was hanging out and talking with the kids I noticed that pretty much all the kids can speak in full sentences and carry full conversations. I expressed a bit of concern with one of her teachers and she told me not to worry about it too much. So each time during pick up I would ask how things went. It was usually that she had a good day but sometimes they would mention that she really didn’t engage with the other kids or that she wouldn’t say much but it could be the new environment. I would tell them that she is shy and she is more of an observer before she joins in.

Because Buggy is only there a couple days I make sure that when we are home I talk about her teachers, mention some of the kids name and talk about the activities and songs they sing just to keep things fresh in her mind. This was something the teachers suggested I do and I told them I was already doing that with her. At one specific pickup they mentioned the lack of communication again. I think they were frustrated that she is not talking at the same level as the other kids and although Buggy could understand them she would sometimes not respond to them when they talk to her. I told them that at home she talks all the time, not in full sentences but I can understand her and we used to sign when she was younger. She may not speak full sentences but she can understand everything you say/ask her and tell you what she wants in one form or another or she’ll just get it herself.  Most of this happens during lunch/nap time. By the time they eat lunch at school it is way past her nap time so she is tired, won’t eat and it may or may not include a meltdown.

Well last week daddy wasn’t travelling and worked from home all week and did drop off and pick up. Last Thursday one of the teachers expressed their concern to him about Buggy’s lack of communication and that when they mentioned it to me that I pretty much just brushed it under the rug. They said that she doesn’t really play with the other kids but more by herself and will sometimes stand in the corner away from everyone (that’s usually when she is pooping). So when my husband mentioned this to me I was really surprised and pissed. And then I got really pissed at them. I’ve seen her playing with kids when I’ve been in the observation room, I’ve seen her when I pick her up and hide so I can watch her for a few minutes. She may not play with the others all the time but she most certainly has. But give the kid a break. It’s a new place for her and it’s only been a few weeks. When they thought I was brushing things under the rug, I was letting them know that this is normal behavior for her or that that is how she is at home, etc. I thought I giving them a better understanding of who Buggy was and how she is. So now all of a sudden my daughter goes to school two days a week and her teachers are telling me that she has a speech problem. I had an issue with that. She says new words, phrases every single day, she repeats what you say to her, she tries to sing along with stupid Dora and Boots. My husband expressed concern about her not talking when she was like 15 months or so and when I spoke to her pediatrician numerous times about it HE had no concerns. Like I said, she can tell you exactly what she wants one way or another so the frustration of not understanding her was never there. Buggy has been ahead of schedule on some things like in height and weight, she started saying mama at 6 months, climbing the stairs and furniture at about 9 months, weaned herself off the bottle at 8 months yet she refused to walk until 16 months-whatever it happens. Every child is different.

Anyway, I called a meeting with the teacher and directors and we were able to meet that very afternoon. Hubby started talking first and he told them that he had concerns as well about her not talking and can you believe that dipsh*t threw me under the bus! Thanks a lot for having my back dumbass! I was so pissed. I was in that meeting feeling very defensive like it was my fault my kid doesn’t talk like the others. First of all, don’t compare my kid to yours and second of all if my kid doesn’t want to talk to you then you know what, she’s not going to talk to you. I’m not going to force her. There are many times she ignores her own father when he talks to her. She’s 2.5, if she doesn’t know you well enough or isn’t comfortable with you just yet then she is going to clam up-period. You can ask her whatever you want and she won’t talk to you. At first they thought it was because she is learning 3 languages. At home I speak to her in English and Spanish and when my dipsh*t husband takes her to see his dumbass family they speak portuguese to her.

As her mother, someone who spends 24/7 with her, I don’t see any concerns whatsoever. Buggy is learning new things every single day, I communicate with her, I teach her and work with her every single day and my gut tells me there is nothing wrong with her. But I did call Early Intervention and scheduled and appointment for them to come out and evaluate her because if there is just the slightest chance that there is something going on then I will do everything I can to help her. If my dumbass husband would put his damn iPhone down when he’s home (generally he’s only home on weekends because he travels for work) he would see that she is saying more things each week. Btw, nothing really came out of that meeting. Not once did they ask what could they do to help her, to make her transition a bit easier. It was me telling them everything that I do with her. Like I said, I felt like I had to defend myself.

So mama’s please tell me your thoughts. Were any of your little one’s late talkers? Was there anything differently that you did or would have done?

Irene

InfoTone Hydrating Mist Giveaway-ends 8/21

Mommy and Baby Reviews, Emptynester Reviews, Mom Does Reviews and Powered By Mom have teamed up with InfoTone to bring our readers an amazing chance to win. InfoTone is giving away 10 of their famous InfoTone Hydrating Mist to our readers!! That's right we are going to have 10 winners!

What is Infotone Hydrating Mist?

Who would have thought that spraying water on skin could clear blemishes, fade wrinkles, and even skin tone? Now it can with Infotone Hydrating Mist. Each mister contains a ceramic bead infused with AquaLiv's patented BioT™ technology. BioT™ allows simple spring water to activate skin's natural healing ability resulting in clear, youthful, and glowing skin. Infotone Hydrating Mist is also refillable for a full year making it one of the most economical and sustainable skincare products available today. 100% natural and hypoallergenic. No parabens, additives, chemicals, GMOs, fragrances or artificial ingredients.

"My top 5 beauty picks for summer." - Paige Padgett, Green Beauty Expert

Spray Infotone Hydrating Mist on your face and body after cleansing. Lightly mist right over makeup throughout the day to refresh and rejuvenate tired skin.

Infotone Hydrating Mist Benefits

• Eliminates Demodex folliculorum and brevis—skin mites found on 50% of all adults!
• Refreshes and rejuvenates tired skin
• Clears blemishes and fights acne
• Evens skin tone
• Reduces the effects of oxidation
• Fades wrinkles

ONE BOTTLE OF INFOTONE HYDRATING MIST MAKES AN UNLIMITED ONE-YEAR SUPPLY!

To Learn more about InfoTone or to purchase your own bottle please visit INFOTONE ONLINE HERE!

Are you excited yet? Are you ready for your chance to be one of 10 winners?? Enter on the Rafflecopter below. But hurry because the giveaway ends August 21, 2012 at 11:59 pm est.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Thank you to Infotone for providing our readers the chance to win. Winners will be selected on August 22, 2012 and contacted by email on how to claim their prize. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize and MUST be a fan of Infotone at the time the winners are drawn. After entries have been verified and prizes have been claimed please allow 6-8 for INFOTONE to ship the winners their prizes. I'm A Silly Mami is not responsible for shipping of prizes.

Irene

Fresh Produce Clothing Review

This summer has been incredibly hot. I am generally not one to wear a lot of dresses but there were so many pretty summer dresses that were out and I wanted to finally own some so when I was contacted by Fresh Produce Clothing I was super excited. 

I chose this gorgeous long maxi beach dress and I couldn’t wait to get it. I was a bit worried that it wouldn’t fit because I can still shop in the Junior’s section but I ordered a Small and it was a perfect fit .  When my dress finally arrived and I took it out of the package, I immediately fell in love with it. This was the first long dress that I own aside from my wedding dress. I’ve always been hesitant to buy a long dress because I thought I would feel claustrophobic in it. Turns out I was completely wrong and couldn’t believe I waited so long to get one. My dress was so soft and made of 92% rayon, 8% lycra. At first the dress felt a bit heavy but once I put it on it felt amazing. It definitely looks and feels well made. Again, I absolutely love my dress. You can wear it as every day casual or for an evening event. It has been so hot and humid lately but that doesn’t stop me from wearing my awesome dress. I still feel nice and cool in it.

    

If a maxi dress is not for you then you must check out their amazing selection of sun dresses, I bet there is one or two with your name on it. But if you think you have enough dresses and are looking for a new outfit then you should definitely check out their cruise clothing. Whether you are looking for some summer tops, skirts or Capri's, I think you will find just the thing for you here.  Fresh Produce ships to over 200 countries, so women outside the US can enjoy the colorful styles, too.

Irene

***FTC Disclosure: I received this product free of charge from Fresh Produce Clothing in order to conduct an honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner to review this product. The thoughts and opinions in this post are my own. Photos and images in this post are owned by me or provided by Fresh Produce Clothing.

Walmart’s Premium Choice Steaks Review & Giveaway - Ends 8/15

I’m sure you have all seen those Walmart commercials where they surprise restaurant patrons and tell them that they are eating Walmart steaks. Well I’m here to tell you that it’s totally true. Walmart now offers top quality USDA Choice steaks at a great price. Like many of you, we never considered buying steaks at Walmart. My husband loves to grill and he is very particular with the kind of steaks he buys but when I was asked if I was interested in trying them out we decided to give them a try.  Generally like my steaks cooked medium well and my husband likes his medium but I have to admit that medium was actually perfect! I don't eat steak very often but I have to admit that it was one of the best steaks I've eaten in a long time especially since my husband grilled it because he likes to charcoal everything!  We did purchase other cuts of meat that were not USDA CHOICE from Walmart to give it a fair comparison and they weren't as juicy or as tender as the CHOICE steaks. I can honestly agree with the people in the commercial when they say it was one of the best steaks they've had. It was the best BBQ on a budget. We purchased two packages of the choice steaks, corn on the cob and our sides.



Walmart selects the best USDA Choice cuts, tender-ages the steak to perfection, and makes sure it undergoes rigorous USDA inspections for quality and safety. In fact, only 1 in 5 steaks are good enough to be called Walmart Choice Premium Beef.

100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee

Ready to put your taste buds to the test? Walmart is so confident that you will love the top quality USDA Choice steaks that they offer a 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee. If you aren’t fully satisfied, you can just bring back the receipt for a complete refund.

Why Choose Steak at Walmart:

• High Quality. Walmart selects each and every steak. And, only 1 in 5 steaks qualify for the retailer’s USDA Choice Premium Beef label.
• Excellent Taste. Perfect marbling in these cuts makes them extra juicy and flavorful.
• Expertly Aged. All of Walmart’s steaks are aged for excellent flavor and tenderness.

Walmart is also giving one of my fabulous readers a chance to win a $25 gift card to try out the new USDA Choice steaks! Here's how: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure* I wrote this review for "I'm A Silly Mami" about Walmart's New USDA Choice Steaks‏. The product in this review was provided to me free of cost from a giftcard for the purpose of conducting my review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.