Everyone makes mistakes...

After Emma was born, we got so many bills in the mail, I lost count. Our insurance covered a great deal, but there were small bills here and there for anything from $3.25 to $150. I just wrote the checks and put them in the mail.

Fast forward two years. There have been many less bills arriving after Hope's birth. So when I received a bill last week for $310 from my OB/GYN, I didn't think too much about it. However, it was for an amount much more than I'd seen in the past, I decided to call the office and ask about it.

Me: Hi, I just wanted to ask about a bill I received for $310.

Office assistant: Sure, let me pull up your account. Hmm...it looks like that was for a surgical procedure you received on November 13th.

Me: Can I ask what procedure that was? I wasn't admitted to the hospital until November 15th.

Office assistant: No problem. It says here that you had a laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Me: Hmm, well I had a baby two days later, so I don't think that was me.

Lesson learned. Everyone makes mistakes.

True story.

My mother-in-law told me about this Luvs commercial while I was nursing Hope in the middle of Chik-fil-a. She said it reminded her of me. When I got home, I looked it up and had a good laugh. That woman is totally me. So even if you're not a nursing mama, have a look - it'll make you chuckle.

Happy weekend!

It really is the little things that make me happy.

• Spending a girl's night in with pizza, ice cream and Breaking Dawn, Part 2.
• Waking up the next morning to realize that my baby has just slept 11 HOURS STRAIGHT.
• Lunch with an old friend, and totally agreeing to the 99 cent pastry up-sell.
• Enjoying the breezy Saturday afternoon with my family, picking out flowers and paint swatches.
• Helping watching my husband work in the vegetable garden.

Happy weekend everyone!

Toddlers and French Braids

If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen these photos. I had a few people ask me how I managed to braid E's hair and have her sit still long enough to finish. To be honest, I don't really know. Growing up, my sisters and I had our hair braided countless times by our mom - for as long as I can remember. Even in high school on the bus rides to soccer games, we'd be the ones french braiding the team's hair.

One morning last week, I decided that E's hair had reached the perfect length to braid. I sat her on the floor, stood above her and just got started. She moved a lot, but I moved with her. I would pause in the braid if she started shaking her head, and then begin again when she found a moment to pause. My sister reminded me that Mom used to have us count as high as we could (a great distraction!). I just kept telling E that she'd look like Rapunzel when I was done (her new favorite princess).

I braided it while it was still kind of damp, so that it wasn't so slippery. I don't have a step-by-step tutorial to offer, other than give it a try - if it's a bust, you can always start over! Plus it's super crimpy and reminiscent of the 80s when you take it out at the end of the day.

What's your go-to hair style for your little ones?

Muffin Tin Meals

Emmalyn has always been a fantastic eater - from the time she was nursing through the introduction of solid foods. She's eaten things I never thought she would - pickles, olives, tuna, cottage cheese, the list goes on...she would try just about everything.

These last few weeks have been difficult in the food area. She sometimes flat out refuses to eat her meals and may only have one full meal in a day. But, I was putting options out there. If she was hungry, she would eat - that was my philosophy.

A while back I had run across a blog and added it to my Google Reader. I don't think Emma was even eating solids at the time, but I knew I had to save it for the future. Enter Muffin Tin Mom. Genius. Meals in cute muffin cups? Even I would eat that, no matter what was served! Michelle has a ton of great ideas and recipes on her blog.

I didn't have any cute shaped tins, but this week I pulled out my old muffin tin and started filling it with different things. Sometimes was just a matter of just cutting things differently. Example: Emmalyn has not been into string cheese lately (one of her prior favorites). I cut up the cheese in small squares and BOOM - empty cup and she was asking for more. The first night I filled the tins, she ate EVERY LAST THING. Amazing.

 

Now, I don't know how long the newness of the muffin cups will last. Just when you think you have toddlers figured out, they go and change things up. In the meantime, I'll be slicing and dicing to fill those cups. What tips and tricks do you use to get your toddler to eat?

DIY Body Scrub

After I had Emma, I started getting red bumps all over the back of my arms. I chalked it up to post-postpartum hormones. When she had weaned herself from nursing at around 13 months, they pretty much went away. Fast forward two years and I have a nursing 2-month old...and the bumps are back. They don't itch, but it looks like I have a constant rash and living in Florida, I want my arms to look good in a tank top.

After catching an episode of The Doctors, I self-diagnosed myself with Keratosis Pilaris. The doctors recommended a DIY body scrub made from sugar and olive oil to help get rid of the bumps. Since all of the lotions, creams and soaps I had tried in the past didn't do a thing, I decided to give the homemade concoction a try.

I added a few ingredients to make it even better (lemon and honey are really good for your skin!). The good news is, most people have these things in their pantry/fridge- so no running out to the store to buy things you won't use again. I've been using it for the past few weeks and have noticed a huge decrease in the amount of bumps and redness on my arms. Even if you don't have any problems with bumpy skin, this is an amazing body exfoliator.

Olive Oil Body Scrub

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 teaspoons honey

• Juice from 1/2 lemon

• Olive oil (amount depends on preference of texture)

Mix sugar, honey and lemon juice. Drizzle olive oil while mixing, until desired consistency is reached. Keep in an airtight jar, or make less for a one-time use. I use it every 2-3 days or as needed.

DIY Baby Leg Warmers

I love baby legs. Seriously. Those chubby little rolls and super soft skin - I can't get enough. After running across DIY baby leg warmer tutorials all over the interwebs, I decided to make Hope a few of her own. Super cute, super easy - and from a pair of $2.50 socks!

You can find plenty of instructions online, but here's a few with great photos of each step.

Jen Loves Kev | DIY Baby Legwarmers

Sugar Crumbs | Baby Leg Warmers

Lady by the Bay | DIY Bay Holiday Leg Warmers

Now get crafting!