March 12, 2010

Guilty Pleasures

So we are all guilty of enjoying the pleasures of life that should be left alone. Not necessarily bad things, but things we all know we'd probably be better off without. I'm going to share my top 10 guilty pleasures. They are all random, not in any specific order.

1. Folger's Chocolate Silk Coffee--What kind of world would I live in without this stuff?? I was never a huge coffee drinker. Winter is perfect for drinking the stuff though. And since I discovered the chocolate flavored coffee...I've been hooked!

2. Soap--Yeah I know, we all need some soap in our lives! But I truly am addicted to the stuff. I have to have at least 3 types of shampoo's/conditioners and body wash. Doesn't haven't to be different brands. Just different scents. I was cleaning out my bathroom the other night, seeing I have this addiction to all this soap. I filled up a cosmetic basket pretty quickly. My last count was 6 bottles of shampoo, 4 bottles of conditioner, 7 bottles of body wash, and 3 bars of soap. That was just in the master bathroom. There are rare instances in which I make myself shower in the main bath, so I have several bottles in there too. Kids don't mind. Oldest 3 are girls. Youngest 2, well they're just babies and really could care less, so long as they can splash the water with their feet.

3. Laundry Soap--Sorry this one fits in a different category from the above please. I absolutely LOVE the smell of clean clothes. My soap, liquid fabric softner and dryer sheets must have the same scent, or fairly close. Right now I'm in love with ALL's fresh rain. It makes me melt.

4. ChapStick--No particular brand. I just have to have the stuff. Every time we make a trip to the store I'm buying more. I don't use it often either. In fact, I just tossed out a tube of the stuff last night because it was a couple years old. I only apply it 3 or 4 times a week. But I must have some at all times. In the bathrooms, laundry room, my coat, my purse, the diaper bag...anywhere I'm going to be I must have some on hand.

5. World of Warcraft--I love this game! I can't live without it. What's even funnier is half the time I don't really play the game. I love to log in, select a character and just sit in Orgrimmar. I sit and read trade channel chat. Which is usually pretty immature topics, but better then Barrens chat (which is ALL about Chuck Norris). Sometimes I log in just to chat with friends. And sometimes I will actually play the game. Kinda sad I spend more time reading/talking then playing the game, I'm paying $15 a month for it.

6. Flip flops--Or thongs as some call them. Or flick flocks as I love to call them. I can't stand wearing tennis shoes. And heels are sooo not my thing. Snow, rain, sleet, doesn't matter, must have my flick flocks. I don't buy them a lot. Usually just one or 2 pair a year. I think I must have been a hippie in a previous life (no offense to anyone who may be one now). I'd much rather be bare foot and carefree about things.

7. Post-It Notes--My wall next to my desk is covered in the little things. I have addresses, phone numbers, appointments, schedules....every thing stuck to my wall next to my desk. I love being able to just turn and see what I'm looking for. I know, sticky notes aren't really anything to be guilty about. Maybe later I'll take a picture and show you all just how OCD I am about it though. (not that anyone is reading my blog)

8. Michale Jackson's song "The Way You Make Me Feel"--For anyone that knows me, this can be scary. I can't sing to save my life, nor can I really dance. So, if I'm around and that song is playing--make a quick run for it! I just have to sing and dance away to it. And I must hear it everyday or I go nuts. In fact, I've listened to it 3 times since starting this entry.

9. Having fun in the bathroom--This is not the typical "dress up" fun. I love to be able to instant message, test, shop online and talk on the phone all while....sitting on the toilet!! Most people like to read magazines or books. I just can't. They distract me too much from the job I'm working on. So, my cell phone stays in my pocket all day, and I leave my laptop on a shelf next to the toilet. I sometimes let me friends in on the secret with a simple "you're going to the bathroom with me".

10. Cookies--Not just any cookies. I'm talking the mini-sugar cookies with sprinkles that Walmart makes. Man I just love those things! I usually have the whole box gone by the end of the day. Which is why I generally don't buy them often. But man they are GOOD! I don't know why, seeing I'm really not a fan of sugar cookies lol.

Well, those are my top 10 "guilty pleasures". I can't say I really feel guilty about all of them. But most I do (like, eating a box of cookies in day! that means none for the next day hehe).

What are some of yours? Do we have any in common?

Signed,
Super Mom


March 11, 2010

University of Florida News - Breastfeeding offers variety of benefits for people in hard times

University of Florida News - Breastfeeding offers variety of benefits for people in hard times

Breastfeeding

I will openly admit, I am not up to date on all the fashions and laws of breastfeeding. So, this is all just going to be my own opinion.

Firstly, why is something so natural, bond to so many laws?? I will never understand this one. Woman were built to nourish their children. It's the reason we lactate. Um, hello, why the hell else do we have this liquid gold excreting from our breast?

Why must we cover ourselves in heavy blankets when out in public? My choice to plop out a boob to feed my hungry child shouldn't cause controversy. Now, I'm not saying we should be allowed to stripped down to bare chest to feed our children. I do believe some discretion is necessary. But not to the point that we should be forced to purchased specially made blankets to hide what our bodies were intended to do. If you do it right, you shouldn't need anything extra. It's seriously not that hard to just pull your shirt up just enough to allow your child to latch on.

Now the process of having your child latch on could be a little different. When they are still tiny, it's pretty simple, they don't flop around as much. They're more focused on eating then being aware of their surroundings. When the child is older, they do tend to unlatch to catch up on the world around them from time to time. Still, this shouldn't require a cover up. Best thing for this would be to excuse yourself to a restroom until the child has latched on. If you're not near a restroom then turn to a wall, have someone stand in front of you etc. If your child is one that likes to unlatch and look around during a feeding, then keep your hand close and be prepared. If he or she wants to roll their head around to see what's going on, then simply be ready to either cover the breast with your hand or pull your shirt down over the breast.

Simple. Easy. No effort needed.

For those of you who are offended at seeing a mother breastfeed her child, look away. There's nothing that says you must watch her do such a thing. If it makes you uncomfortable, move to another spot. Yeah I'm sure not many will agree with me there. After all, why should you be forced to move because you are in view of something you think is obscene? Again, this is where I bring up the point that it's a nature thing no mother should feel guilted into hiding.

Lately, breastfeeding has been receiving such a nasty name. Recently there was a news story about a women being charged with felony for hitting a guard with her breast milk. I didn't read the article. I heard all the glamor from various groups though. Apparently it started with her going to jail for something else, she was required to strip down. You know the drill. Then suddenly the woman squirted the guard. I find it funny. Yes, improper. But still, funny.

Then there's the story of a man making cheese from his wife's extra breast milk. Don't see the problem there. How do you think the other cheese starts?? Sure, cheese isn't made from a lactating woman. But it is made from a lactating animal. I'd choose the Mommy Milk Cheese first. It's full of yummy antibodies we could all use.

I'm not really sure where I was going with this. But it's been on my mind for a while now. I just don't get it. If breastfeeding is so much encouraged, then why must we work so hard at it? Why are we forced to be secretive about it? Why is it taboo to make healthy use of the extra?

Signed,
Super Mom

March 10, 2010

Starting Over

I seriously suck at this blogging thing. Good thing I call myself Super Mom and not Super Blogger.

Since it has been so long from my last post, I think it's only appropriate I give a short update on things and then start over. I'm going to stick with it this time. I'll attempt to post more then once a day. But my goal is at least once a day.

Not too much has happened in the past 2 months. Moose and Kermit are now 4 months old and growing great.

Using nicknames is hard...not sure I'll always remember them. So I think I'll just start using their real names. What does it matter if someone finds out who Super Mom really is?

Tori (formally known as Tadpole) turned 8 years old at the end of January. She's still missing her front teeth. Except now she's missing a couple on the bottom also.

Josie (formally known as Miss Sunshine) is still stubborn and spoiled. Every time we make a trip to the store she has to get a new toy or dress. I don't like it. It's $10-20 we could have saved. But I also don't want to listen to the fit she'll throw.

I seriously need to work on that girl. She's spoiled in everything. She doesn't have to eat what is made for dinner. Most times I'm cooking two meals...one for her and one for everyone else. She's stubborn to boot. She will starve herself before eating something new. We were doing good for a while there. She was actually trying new food. Then James (aka Stud) went and clutter our kitchen table and we were forced to eat elsewhere. Thus Josie wasn't seeing that we were all eating the same thing.

Emmit (aka Moose) is getting closer to rolling from back to tummy. He gets on his side and tries. But usually just lands on his back again. I think he's trying to hold his own bottle too. Which is rather annoying. He refuses to eat if I hold him. Which means propping a bottle for him. Since he doesn't have great hand control he usually knocks the bottle over...several times. Which ends in me getting annoyed. I know he can't help it, but seriously every other minute I'm getting up to fix it.

Miles has gone on a nursing strike. It took us 2 months to get him to latch on. And he was doing great. We even managed to no longer have to give him bottles of formula. Until last week. He just wants nothing to do with the boob juice maker. He arches away like it's some sort of mutinous monster waiting to infect him with a deadly disease.

Ok, so that was a bit extreme.

Nicole moved back in with us. She's 15 years old. I swear her fits are worse then Josie's...who will be 4 tomorrow.

I think that's about it for now. I have some more cleaning to pretend to be doing. I'll update again if I make it out alive.

Signed,
Super Mom