Happy Birthday to my Princess.

Five years ago my little princess was born, Alayna Danielle.  She was born prematurely at almost 35 weeks and had digestion problems and her sucking instinct was not developed at that time.  My little baby had reflux and was in the hospital for a month after she was born.  She had gone through so many test, she was misdiagnosed a few times and had to be finally fed through a gastro tube because she couldn't hold down formula from a bottle and in the beginning, she couldn't even suck on the bottle. That was the worst month of my entire life because my little girl wasn't home with me.

She finally came home a month later and was the best little baby that anyone could ever ask for.  Since then, she's grown so much and has become the smartest and best little girl that anyone could ever ask for. (When she behaves! lol)  I can't believe she's already 5 years old.  She started pre school this past September and loves her friends. 

That's Alayna's 1st birthday picture

And here she is at age 5... Such a big girl who's grown so much.

I really got emotional this morning when I realized my little baby was already 5 years old! It's so hard to believe.  She's gonna have a great birthday party on Friday with her friends from school!

Happy Birthday, Alayna Danielle!!

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Why do you write?

I think this is a pretty cliche post for any blogger to publish, but I also think it's important.  It isn't like we have to justify our thoughts, opinions and passions, but I think that so much can be learned by answering this simple question.  I also believe that every blogger has their own reasons for blogging, reviewing, writing about parenting and other issues close to their heart.  Why not learn about those reasons?

When I was young, I used to want to write a book.  I would write and illustrate "stories" when I was a kid and throughout my life.  Of course, they all started out being short stories with stick illustrations written on a few pieces of construction paper and tacked together with those gold swing tacks. The stories usually consisted of flying dogs and dolphins that could talk.  They all ended with, "And they lived happily ever after..." as well!  The most important thing, looking back, was that I had two passions and ambitions: Art and Writing.

At age 10 I was in fifth grade and when I transferred schools we really got into writing.  They encouraged us to share what we would write in class, and I had found that I had a talent in writing.  I now had even more motivation for writing.  It was now my inspiration to do something with my new found talent.  I wanted to be a writer and had dreams of publishing a novel.  (Which I did start and just never finished.)

There are many reasons why I write:

• I believe mommy bloggers have a few different (but important) purposes.  One is to spread the positive/negative opinions about products.

I've always loved to review products I purchased and loved to spread the word if I loved an item.  I would really promote it to death to my friends and family.  I feel that word of mouth is really better promotion/publicity than a company spending so much money on advertising.  If someone you know loves an item, wouldn't you want to purchase something that is tried and true?  I would!  I'd be more inclined to buy something that I know works!  That's why we usually check the reviews on products before we purchase them!

• Maybe, through my blog posts and obstacles and successes, someone can learn something from a post of mine.

This one delves deeper into my reasons for blogging.  I feel that maybe some of my difficulties or mistakes could possibly help someone.  If I impact at least one person, I feel like I have done my job.  Honestly, I feel like I am a very strong person for situations that I have been through.  I post so openly about them because I am proud that I have overcome so many obstacles in life, obstacles that I'm sure are very common amongst others.  Things that I'm sure I can help someone prevent or repair if they were in some of the same past situations as myself.  I feel very strongly about this, and I hope this is something that I can eventually do.

• To blog about their children and just brag!

Every mommy loves to brag about their kids!  Friends and family get tired of hearing about it, but I'm sure the blogosphere loves to hear about it!  :)  Even if they don't, I still brag!  

Most importantly, I write because I want to and because I love to... That's all that counts.

So, why do YOU write?

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Dear Krissy...

One day I had a writers block and started looking through Mama Kat's blogging prompts.  This was one that jumped out at me.  Of course, it's a few months old, but I don't care! I still wanted to write it!

The prompt was, "Write a letter to the 10 year old you were..."

Dear Ten Year Old Krissy,

As much as you think you have to try to impress others and as much as you think you have to be someone you're not, YOU DON'T!  If people are your friend when you are completely yourself, they're worth your time and they are actually your friend.  If you feel you have to change or impress them, and if they don't like you for who you really are, forget them.  It's not worth your time!

Having low self confidence will scar you for life.  Trust me, I know.  Forget about the "Kick Me" sign on your back and the kid who tried to tie your shoe laces to the desk, that stuff is just a temporary humiliation.  As much as you think your life is going to end when the entire class laughs at you, it won't.  The moment will pass, the day will go on, and when the next day comes there will be something else for them to laugh at.  Kids. Are. Cruel.  You can't let that stuff get to you.  Letting it impact you will make you even more of an easy target.  They bully kids that they know they can get a reaction out of.  It gives them some sort of sick satisfaction to see someone cry.  Be strong, stand up for yourself, and keep your head held high over every bully who tries to put you down.  Bullies are like wild animals, they can smell/sense your fear.

The most important thing is concentrating on school and studying.  Image and how you are perceived to others is the least of your worries.  Dwelling on the negative and thinking of how you can impress people instead of being a dork will just make you slack in class and make your grades go down.  It will also cause you to be depressed.  It's not worth it.  

You're a strong person, even if you don't realize it.  You can overcome the feelings of vulnerability.  You can change your priorities before it's too late.  

Love,

The older, smarter, 25 year old you.

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Coffee is needed!

This is how I feel lately!  When I was a sophomore in High School and my English teacher suggested I become a writer, I was excited at the thought of maybe being able to do something exciting for a living. Something that I loved to do and something that I actually wanted to do.  For years that was my aspiration until real life came to bite me in the butt.  Hitting reality, having children and knowing I needed a full time job, I did what I had to do and put writing completely on the back burner.  It wasn't until about a year or so ago, when I started my blog, that I thought about writing again for a side job.  

I recently became a freelance writer for a few different companies and I do love it, don't get me wrong.  It's just not the great exciting job I always fantasized it to be.  It's very time consuming, it's stressful when you get assigned topics that you have to do research on and have to actually write handwritten notes for.  It's hard to write with the distractions of kids, my mom and the background noise and the lack of concentration really puts me on edge.  There are times when I go off like a rocket at anything because I can't think enough to finish writing as quickly as I want to.  I get assigned 4 articles per 48 hour period, which isn't difficult.  I can finish them as quickly as I'd like and get assigned more or I can wait until the past moment to submit them.  Working on a deadline is something that is completely new to me as well.  

It is true that freelance writers work for almost nothing.  The most that I get paid per article is $8 and the least is $5.  Again, it's not that bad.  I make, right now, about $100 extra per week and that helps a lot.  I would ideally love to get more, but I don't know how possible that is with the hecticness of my house and my full time job starting on Monday.  I am, however, determined to keep it at $100 extra per week even when I do start my FT job.

Don't get me wrong, I love writing.  It's important to me and it really helps me when I need something therapeutic, but it can also be a real pain in the ass when I want to sleep and have to reach a deadline! lol

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Get Your Family Moving with PlayStation Move!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PlayStation(R) Move. All opinions are 100% mine.

PlayStation Move is the latest gaming system in the PlayStation family.  It gives you the most realistic gaming experience with it's ergonomic controller that captures full motion!  PlayStation is known for family fun and it's wide variety of games, which will be no different for this system! 

Now, what would you do if a little genie decided to drop off a PlayStation move at your doorstep?  What would it do to your family and how would it bring you closer?

For myself, I have to say that the PlayStation Move would do wonders for my family.  We have hectic schedules, as I work, my daughter goes to school, we're back and forth with family issues...  Having a gaming system that my family and I can sit down once or twice a week and have a family night with a gaming system that is incredible and so realistic, it would be a welcome relaxation!  Since PlayStation Move is great for the whole family, my girls, my mom and myself can all play it together having fun and BEING ACTIVE!

A lot of kids don't get exercise and love to play video games.  You hear about parents having arguments with their children to get off the gaming systems and go outside to get exercise.  Of course, nothing can replace outside exercise and getting fresh air, but now you won't have to beg your kids to get off the system TO go outside.  Your kids can get exercise by playing the great realistic games that go with PlayStation Move!  Imagine exercising AND having fun?  It's now going to be possible with this great gaming system!

Personally, my kids and I love sports games and the fun games that really make their minds work.  We're excited to see if they will have a tennis, bowling, soccer and baseball game for the Playstation Move, which we know they probably will!  We're very excited about this new gaming system and cannot wait to play it!

What's the BEST part? You can bring motion gaming exclusively to your existing PlayStation®3 for only $99 with the MOVE bundle package!

Check out the PlayStation(R)MOVE website!

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Rid Diaper Rash with BUTT PASTE!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Has anyone else used Boudreaux Butt Paste and loved it for their kids?  Olivia is almost out of diapers and goes to the potty most of the day, but at night we still use diapers and she still gets diaper rash even though she knows when she goes and we frequently change her.  She has had it since she was a baby and we had tried pretty much every diaper rash cream known to man!  I remember when she was a few months old, one of our neighbors gave us some Butt Paste to try, saying it was the BEST diaper rash cream she had ever used.  So we did.

Butt Paste is incredible.  We used it for Olivia ever since and it really is the best.  It eliminates the pain associated with diaper rash and heals it up fairly quickly, more quickly than any other diaper rash cream we have ever tried!

Boudreaux's Butt Paste was specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care.  Which is definietly a plus and this is why it's so effective and so great for parents to use!  It's not a more firm cream like a lot of the others that when it goes on an already painful diaper rash, rubbing it in hurts.  It's a soft cream with a soothing feel for your baby.  It's able to be rubbed in very easily and cleaned off just the same.  Easily with a baby wipe!

Check out the Boudreaux's Butt Paste website for a free sample for your baby!

Contains:  16% Zinc Oxide & Peruvian Balsam

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Sometimes I wish I was "The Bachelorette" material!

I absolutely love The Bachelorette.  That show is one of the best reality shows on TV!  Now, I'm a single mom and there are times where I really think being on that show would be beneficial.  (Despite the staged heart breaks, cheaters they throw in there and people who are just plain kooks!!)  Oh, and I'm also not skinny, beautiful and model material; which all of the Bachelorettes are..  I guess I'll just have to stick to the traditional way of finding a man...  Though it's nice to dream!

Since I love to dream and love to think about what my perfect man would be like, when I saw Mama Kat's blogging prompt of "50 things in a perfect man", I couldn't help but blog about it! (Even though it's a few weeks late!! lol)

1. Someone who loves me
2. ...And my children
3. Someone who wants at least 1 more child. (I want to try for a boy!)\
4. Someone who has a hot car. (No broken down old cars..) 
5. Someone who cooks (I may burn the house down someday with my cooking.)
6. Someone who cleans (God knows, I hate cleaning!)
7. Having money would be a total plus. (SAHM and SAHD?)
8. Look like Tom Cruise (or Justin from the Bachelorette)
9. Must not be a jerk like Justin from Bachelorette
10. Must not cheat on me. (That's asking for castration!)
11. Must play an instrument (Guitars or drums are hot)
12. + / or sing
13. Must tell me I don't look fat. (That's always the right answer to that question!)
14. Must like Guitar Hero & is good enough to play against me!
15. ..or Dance Dance Revolution
16. Must like to eat out (and pay)
17. Must like Broadway shows.
18. Must like to text or BBM
19. Someone who doesn't care that my musical interests include some very geeky and old artists that people make fun of.
20. Someone who will go to those concerts with me.
21. Loves to travel is a plus.  I love road trips...especially to those concerts.
22. A family man.
23. Must love putting kids to sleep, because I sure don't.
24. Must love shopping.
25. Must buy me at least ONE purse per year for Holidays. (Coach purses are a plus.)
26. Must be impulsive.
27. Must love roller coasters.
28. ... & water parks
29. Must have a good body
30. Must put up with my blogging addiction.
31. Must love to entertain guests!
32. Loving going to kids shows and concerts is a plus. (I promise, Imagination Movers is very catchy and addicting.)
33. Be romantic - Flowers, surprise candlight dinners, you get the picture..)
34. Must be handy -- I can't repair shit!
35. Has to want to buy a house & have good credit to do so.  God knows I can't get a mortgage.  (Thanks student loans!)
36. You have to like the Bachelor & Bachelorette AND watch the shows without making snide remarks.
37. You have to love animals.
38. Love letters - Enough said.
39. Must not want to live in New Jersey your entire life!
40. Must have good arms --I'm a sucker for arms.
41. Must accept that I use my Blackberry a lot.  You never know when a blogging opportunity may come my way!
42. Must uderstand that at any given moment, my friends may call and I may impulsively head to NYC.
43. Must understand that we may frequent the same Broaway show more than once...or more than 10 times.
44. ....And stand outside the stage door after the performance. (Even if it's 20 below or 100 degrees.  I've done it!)
45. Must love my friends
46. Mus have a steady job
47. Must love to take pictures and be in pictures!
48. Must support my dream of opening a brick and mortar store.
49. ...Someone who can help that dream come true
50. Someone who loves my family.
    

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Busy Busy Busy

Ever since Alayna started pre school, she got involved in activities and I started two jobs (yes TWO) life has been so hectic and I haven't had the chance to blog.  I promise you guys that I have many great giveaways coming up!  I've been working with many companies to bring you only the best product reviews and giveaways.  That will start on Monday! :)  I want to start blogging daily again and I will!  It's just been so hard.  I started a job with BlueFly.com from home as well as a freelance writing job that is proving to be a $100 a week income. (Which is really useful on top of my full time online job!)  I'm really enjoying having jobs and being able to do what I want to do with my kids and not be late on bills!  

Starting tomorrow I will be posting daily again! Sorry about leaving you guys hanging!

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Five Simple Things You Can Do for Your Child to Help Keep Their Smiles Healthy and Bright

It is a constant struggle to get my children to brush their teeth. I want to say that I'm not exactly sure what the big deal is, but I remember fighting my mother on it when I was younger. It seems to be a common struggle among all parents and something all children dread.

Even though it's something we all hate doing or making our children do, it is very necessary. Cavities, tooth decay or other dental diseases are definitely no laughing matter. Especially when we realize, later in life, just how important a white sparkling smile actually is.

So how do we get our children to brush our teeth? How do we get this to be less of a fight three times a day?

1. 
   
   Let your children pick out their toothbrushes and toothpaste! I find that when my girls go to the store to decide upon their own design/characters, they're more inclined to be excited about brushing their teeth. Toothpaste for children comes in many different flavors, colors and have many of their favorite characters on the packaging. It can be as simple as letting them make their own decision and getting them hyped up about using their favorite products while brushing their teeth!
   
   
2. 
   
   You have to make it fun! There are many ways to do this. Many toothbrushes, these days, have music that you can press on the brush. For the duration of that song is how long you must keep brushing your teeth! My daughter had a Hannah Montana toothbrush that played a song. I have also seen Disney Characters, Nickelodeon Characters and some others! Another way to do this is to make up a song to sing for the 3 minutes your child should be brushing. You can make up some funny and kooky songs to sing to your children while they're brushing their teeth! Who knows, they may actually just catch on and start singing it to you when you're brushing your teeth!
   
   
3. 
   
   If your children are young, like mine are, you must brush their teeth for them. However, before you do help, let them take a crack at it by themselves! Tell them that they can brush their own teeth and be a big girl/boy and afterward, you'll touch up to make sure they're as sparkly and shiny as they can be! It's important that children know the importance of a sparkly pearly white smile.
   
   
4. 
   
   Limit the sugary drinks, junk food and sugary foods. These foods cause tooth decay and cause the enamel on your teeth to thin and sometimes dissipate! You don't want that, you want teeth to be as strong as they can be! Try out some healthy foods and dress them up to your liking. There are many ways to do this! Sugary foods and drinks can be an occasional treat.
   
   
5. 
   
   There are various types of gum that are great for teeth and that do prevent cavities! I'm a strong believer in this! If your child is old enough to chew gum and understand how to chew gum safely, give them their favorite flavor of gum after snacks and meals – between brushing. It will help eliminate the food and plaque build up! My kids love this step just as much as they enjoy blowing bubbles with their gum!

Fighting about keeping teeth and gums healthy shouldn't be a hard fight. Maybe using some of these steps into your every day routine will lessen or eliminate the fight all together! Your children will thank you in the future when they have a great smile.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

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I caved. I'm now a Droid Girl...

I have been a loyal Blackberry user since 2006 and I have never strayed. (Except for signing up for AT&T and also getting the iPhone, but I still had my Blackberry! lol)  My loyalty to Blackberry was for many reasons and even though it's many flaws and many bugs, I loved my phones.  My last Blackberry was the first Blackberry Storm.  That was one of my favorite phones until the normal wear and tear and age got to it.  Lagging, freezing up, rebooting on me, saying the memory was full and frustrating me beyond belief.  That's when I knew it was time for a change.

With researching and going to the Verizon store frequently to speak to it's agents, I came to the conclusion that the Droid X was the phone to switch to.  I wasn't sure, as much as I loved the Storm, if I could use the Storm2 and have to deal with pressing the screen to type and all of the Blackberry bugs.  The reviews on the Droid X were amazing as well as the design, the graphics and everything about it.  I was in love.  So last Tuesday, I switched.

My Droid X (as pictured above) is the best.  I'm in love with it now that I have had it for a week.  The ease to type, the Swype feature, the apps, the widgets... Everything about it is just amazing.  I really thought the transition from Blackberry Storm to Droid X would be terrible and oh-so-difficult, but it really wasn't.  It was a smooth and very well deserved transition.  It is now my little trusty sidekick. :)  (Not to mention the great deal Best Buy Mobile gave me!  $199 + $30 for the Shield screen protector AND a hard gel case.  That alone is over $55!)  My phone is my new love and I do highly suggest it to anyone who is looking for a new upgrade with Verizon Wireless. :)

I really want to write a post within the next few weeks with some tips that I have learned and some great apps that I have found.  I will hopefully get that up next week but with my daughter and school and activities, things are all busy and hectic here! Ha.

All opinions noted in this post are mine and mine alone.  I was not compensated at all for this post and paid for the phone, accessories & contract all on my own.  I was not asked by Verizon Wireless or Motorola to post this review.  I decided to do it out of the goodness of my heart and love for my phone.

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