Works For Me Wednesday

Since I am busy with Vacation Bible School stuff this week I am leaving WFMW up to you guys...leave a comment with your tips, tricks and shortcuts that you think we all could use. Happy commenting!

To My Husband...

Matt, you are such a wonderful Daddy. It melts my heart to see you interact with Ava as you do. You never cease to amaze me. Ava is so lucky to have you as her father (accept maybe when she gets older and you are scaring off the boys...)! Thank you for striving to me a good role model for Ava and teaching her right from wrong. I love you so much!

Works For Me Wednesday

It's that time again...Works For Me Wednesday is here!!!

How about some helpful outdoor activities...since it's summer time and all.

*Side walk chalk-let your little one lay down on the ground and you trace them with a piece of chalk. Once your finished tell them to draw all their body parts...hands, feet, eyes etc.

*Wading pool-give your kiddo plastic kitchen toys and let them make you delicious meals.

*Bubbles-blow bubbles and let your little one try and pop as many as they can before they hit the ground.

*Clover flowers-you know, those little white flowers that grow in and around clover patches...we make necklaces and crowns and bracelets out of them.

*Picnic-nothing gets my little one more excited than eating somewhere out of the ordinary (the table). We take a blanket outside and eat our breakfast or lunch on it. She gets so excited!

Hope you all have a great and fun summer. Posting for the next week and a half will be kind of small...it's VBS time at our church next week. Take care!

We're Sad...

Have I mentioned that Ava has been battling a contact allergy? She continues to have the remnants of it and it all resorts back, sadly, to Lexie...our new puppy. We are so sad. We have found her a good new home (where hopefully her new kiddo playmates won't have an allergy to her). Pray that Ava continues to do well with her leaving. It breaks my heart. Maybe we are destined not to have pets any time soon...remember the fish?

Follow Friday

Welcome to the first ever "Follow Friday". I am joining my sister, Chickie, in this fabulous new series. Each week one of us will spotlight someone we follow in the bloggy world that we think is pretty spectacular and encourage everyone to share the bloggy love with them. Stop by their blog and say hello and maybe even start following them if you already aren't. Hope you all enjoy!

This week I am spotlighting my good friend Whitney at "It's All About Me". We have gone to church together for several years now. She is the nicest girl ever and has the sweetest heart. She recently started a series call "Hollywood Wednesday" in which she plans to share all the latest celebrity gossip. If you are anything like me you don't have time to site hop and find it all out...she is going to post the highlights!!! So looking forward to that!

Anyway, hop on over to Whitney's Blog and let her feel the love today! Leave her a comment and share the bloggy love!

Let me know by leaving a comment if you would like to perhaps participate next week. Maybe we can do a Mr. Linky and we can all share some bloggy love.

PS Check out Chickie's Blog next Friday for the next installment of "Follow Friday"!!!

Works For Me Wednesday

Here it is folks...Works For Me Wednesday!

This week I am spotlighting some of my favorite cleaning tips. Hope these help...

*My favorite cleaning supply is Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner. This stuff rocks! It has a spray option and a foam option. I love the foam option because it clings to the sides of the tub...thus breaking down the germs etc. and requires minimal effort in scrubbing...fabulous!

*Peroxide...it removes blood stains from your sheets. When you have a little one they are bound to have scrapes that can (and more than likely will) break open during the night. Peroxide will remove them in the early stages.

*Dryer sheets are the new air freshener. Do you have a hidden vent? Place a dryer sheet under the sides (in a dome shape over the vent) so that the air flows through the dryer sheet...instant air freshener.

*When I dust I use a Swiffer Duster with my favorite furniture polish (currently the Pledge Multi-surface). I spray my cleaning spray directly on my duster and go to town. Super easy people...super easy!!!

That's about all I have right now. Sorry it took me so long guys. We enjoyed our day at the pool. It was fabulous! Check back on Friday for a pretty cool series I hope to get off and running!

Works for Me Wednesday- Coming Soon!!!

Hey Guys! This weeks WFMW will be up tonight. I am taking a break and enjoying the sunshine.

Be sure and check back later tonight for some great tips!

Also, peak in on Friday for a little special series that I am going to try and start.

Hope y'all have a sunshine-filled day!!!

Check, Check, Check, Check It Out!

Have you checked out my Recipe Blog "Cooking Up A Storm"? (It's not pretty yet...still working on a layout...) Go check it out and try my newest recipe...Steamed Broccoli!!!

Who Am I?

Well, I am Karmen, of course!

Welcome to my blog! Chickie over at I Love You To Pieces is opening everyone up to introducing themselves so everyone can get to know us even better. Hop on over to her blog and check out the others participating....

Ok, so here goes my "more about me"...

I have brownish red hair and I so badly want to do something to it...but I am afraid since I have never done anything to it.

I have a new found love for Hummus.

I am a twin. Her name is Chickie (Kristen).

I like to decorate...and redecorate...and redecorate!

I enjoy blogging and reading blogs.

I don't like to be hot. I would love to move somewhere that never really exceeds 70 degrees.

I love a tomato sandwich. Yummy! I may have to go have one...maybe for lunch.

I have recently discovered the Reuben sandwich. Very good...very good!


Well, that's about all my excessively tired brain can think of. Go on over to Chickie's blog and participate.

A Few Random Pictures For Your Viewing Pleasure

Today is just a picture post day...ENJOY!

Like Her Mommy...
It Takes A Real Man To Wear A Woman's PINK Robe To Walk The Dog (Love you Babe!)

Ava and Lexie

Talk about Recycling...

Works For Me Wednesday

It's that time again...this week's WFMW is dedicated to Ashley...my cousin (by marriage) whom I've never met but feel like I know oh so well. She has two adorable little boys and I am sure Ava would have a blast with them WHEN (notice I said "when" Ashley...not if) we meet! She requested parenting/kiddo tips...since us moms can never get enough helpful hints...what works today for us might not work tomorrow.

So here are a few random tips to give a try when you have exhausted all other efforts. This is how we have done things with Ava and they may not work for every child. This is simply what we have chosen to do.

1) Crib to Big Kid Bed Transition-Ava climbed out of her crib incredibly early even though it was at the lowest possible point...we took her crib mattress out of the crib and placed it on the floor. Once she got used to and stayed on the mattress we moved the mattress to her toddler bed. It made it so much easier and we didn't have to worry quite so much about her falling out of bed.

2) Sippy Cups-When we switched Ava from bottle to sippy cups (at about 9 or 10 months for her) we went cold turkey and she did great! We just started putting her formula in the cup and let her have at it. We also used these Nuby cups:
I honestly believe that the soft spout helped the transition...kind of mimicked her bottle but not really.

3) Teeth Brushing-We brush Ava's teeth the same time we brush our teeth. When we began brushing her teeth we let her hold the tooth brush and "brush" her teeth and then we brushed them for her. Over time she picked up how to do it with little effort.

4) Feeding-When it was time for Ava to begin eating real food we let her begin feeding herself with a spoon or fork. We would finish up feeding her to make sure she ate enough. She made huge messes but let me tell you, she can work a spoon and fork like no 2 year old I know.

5) Potty Training-We started potty training when she showed interest. And when she was ready I took a hint from this fabulous Mama and let her run around bare bottomed. We went to the potty every 30 or so minutes and she drank TONS of water. Slowly we increased the time between potty breaks and now she will go when she feels the urge. Pooping was a little harder for her which I have gathered is for most kids. Once she over came the apprehension she was good.

6) Teething-We weren't big on Orajel or Teething Tablets. They were solely last resort items. We would wet wash cloths and put them in baggies and freeze them. Ava would gnaw on them and soothe her gums. We also would put her Sassy (her pacifier) in the freezer for just a few minutes to give her a little burst of coolness on her gums.

7) Patience (the most important)-This one is hard sometimes. So grin and enjoy these times!

Well, that's about all I have right now...I have a few other parenting tricks up my sleeve...maybe I will share them soon.

What are some of your parenting tips? Comments are open to any one. If you don't have a blogger account simply click to post as Anonymous and be sure to type your name in the box with your text. (Amanda? Ashely? Brandi? (by the way thanks for following along with our crazy life).)

Karmen's ABC's

I saw this over at Stafford Stories and thought it was pretty neat...

A - Age: 23...soon to be 24
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: dishes...my Hubby has graciosly taken over this one...Thanks babe!
D - Dog's name: Lexie
E - Essential start your day item: A shower...but having a 2-year old kind of doesn't let that happen sometimes...it's ok though, I would rather be shower-less than not get to spend this time with my wee one.
F - Favorite color: I used to love pink...but I think I am a grass green or a bright blue kind of girl.
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'6"
I - Instruments you play: I used to take piano lessons...but I wouldn't qualify myself as "able to play the piano"
J - Job title: Stay-At-Home-Mommy, Wife, Sister, Daughter...
K - Kid(s): Ava-2
L - Living arrangements: In Alabama in a house that even UPS can't find...oh but we love it!
M - Mom's name: Marie
N - Nicknames: Karmie, Mommy...
O - Overnight hospital stay: When I had Ava was my only over-night stay
P - Pet Peeve: People not listening...
Q - Quote from a movie: Oh gosh, those that actually know me know that I can't stay awake during movies...Hubby! Help me out here!
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 Sister-Chickie, we're twins...1 BIL-Jason
T - Time you wake up: random times...usually whenever Ava wakes up
U- Underwear: Always wear them...
V - Vegetable you dislike: Raw Broccoli
W - Ways/Reasons you run late: Hubby or Ava
X - X-rays you've had: teeth wrist...ultrasounds when I was pregnant with Ava
Y - Yummy food you make: oh there's too many...I really like my chicken parmesan...
Z - Zoo animals you like: Elephant's

I'm Calling Him Out

Hey sweetheart! I know you're reading this! I love you and I hope you are having a great day!

Grace us with your presence and leave a comment. Go on, click on and write your wifey a little note!

I love you!

Shabby Blogs...AGAIN!!!

Y'all remember how much I LOVE Shabby Blogs right? Well...Megan is doing a giveaway in honor of her now 500 followers! Hop on over and register to win some really cute custom designed pieces for your blog!

Where is Daddy?

Each day when Matt calls to say he's on his way home, Ava and I lounge in our red chair right by our front window. We gaze out and watch to see his truck come down the hill. We made up a song to sing while we wait. It's to the tune of Are You Sleeping? Here are the words:

Where is daddy?
Where is daddy?

Not home yet.
Not home yet.

He will be soon, though.
He will be soon, though.

To play with Ava.
To play with Ava.