Weavers Wobble is now on Facebook!

Because who isn't?  You can now find Weavers Wobble on Facebook!  I have to figure out the feed stuff all over again and hope it doesn't do what it did to me before.  I have another blog and now in addition to my blog posts going to my Facebook Fan Page it posts to MY profile TWICE and I can't figure out how to fix it!  I hope that doesn't happen again.  Similar thing happened over at Twitter.  Confusing!! 


In addition to being on Facebook you can find me on the following:
Twitter
Email Subscription 
Weavers Wobble Youtube Channel
Flickr


Also, my oldest son Zachary sometimes posts to his own blog at Strawberry Zachary (he even does reviews!) and if you live in York, Pennsylvania or nearby you can check out my other blog, York, PA Families which is a blog devoted strictly to local, affordable family fun! 

Henry's First Birthday Bash

I've been browsing the web drooling over amazingly adorable baby boy clothing that I want Henry to wear on his first birthday.  I've pictured him in dozens of awesome (and expensive) outfits that he would wear as he smashes his first cake and enjoys opening 1st birthday presents.  And of course we'd get a few oh-so adorable and eco-friendly diapers from gDiaper, Kushies or the likes for his chubby baby belly and legs shots.  (He outgrew his old CDs, which we used part-time and I miss using them!)


gDiapers





gDiapers and oh-so chubby legs!




Not-so-little Guy in Kushies



Alas, I'm broke and hoping the thrift store has something great that shows off those gorgeous dark blue eyes.  The diapers are a must- I need to start shopping around asap!   



    

I've heard that some stores offer a FREE baby's 1st cake (but I don't like the cake and the icing- yuck).  Again, I've dreamed of a gorgeous, custom-made fondant-covered blue, green (the colors in his outfit) and white cake but I can settle, right? 

Lastly, I wish I could do all of this under the supervision of an amazing photographer (like my mom!) in a gorgeous location.  But again that money thing.  And mom's flash is broken.  Boo!

This is my LAST baby.  My last First Birthday.  My last chance.  And I want to make it special.  Now...how to do that on a budget of...well, let's just say that free cake is looking better every minute. 

Suggestions on how to make this extra special without selling my soul?! 

CSN Stores Giveaway CLOSED

I'm very excited to announce my very first giveaway, courtesy of CSN Stores!! 

The day I was contacted by CSN Stores I was driving around town doing errands.  It was absolutely gorgeous outside- one of those idyllic days that you only get a few times per year (at least here in the Susquehanna Valley).  Kids were outside playing and people were riding their bikes.  I couldn't help but feel a little envious as I passed a home where some kids were playing on a huge swing set.  Our house is too small for one but I love them so much.  I've always dreamed of a home with a big swing set where all the neighborhood kids come to play, inevitably running through your house with muddy shoes to the kitchen to snag a snack before heading back out for another few hours.  

Imagine my surprise when I got home to the email from CSN with an offer to do a review or giveaway.  I've ogled checked out their website plenty of times- making enormous shopping lists of things I want in my home someday- but on this visit to their site I found the same swing set (on sale for under $1,000!!!!) I was drooling over during my drive!!  

I already knew that CSN Stores had a lot of products, but it seems they really do have everything!  CSN Stores has over 200 online stores to shop from and since they are under the CSN name they are all backed by the same customer service.  Where else can you have a big selection of furniture, lighting, decor, toys AND clothing all from one place?  Every time I visit the site I add a new thing to my wish list.

Well, I decided that as much as I want that swing set that won't fit in my yard, or 20 dozen OTHER things from the site, a giveaway would be more fun for readers!  So here we go...      

WIN IT: I'll be giving one lucky reader a $20 gift code to purchase ANYTHING from CSN Stores.     

1. (Required entry) Visit the CSN Stores Swing Sets and More and tell me which swing set is your favorite (or what other item from the store you long for).

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each):
2. Become a follower of Weavers Wobble on Google Friend Connect (if you're already a follower let me know). (1 entry)
3. Leave a comment on another one of my blog posts and let me know which post and comment is yours.   (1 entry)
4. Blog about this giveaway and link to this post.  (2 entries- leave 2 comments)


RULES and disclosure:
-Open to US and Canadian residents.
-Please leave your email address on each comment so I may contact you if you've won.
-Contest is open until March 6, 2011 at11:59PM EST.  A random winner will be selected from qualified entries and they will have 48 hours to respond to the winner notification email before a new winner will be selected.  
-CSN provided the gift code for the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post or giveaway.  Opinions and viewpoints are my own.  

GOOD LUCK! 

Progresso Giveaway at The Frozen Coupon- LOW Entries!!

My friend Kristen at The Frozen Coupon is hosting a giveaway with almost no entries as of right now! 
The Progresso Souper You Debut Gift Pack giveaway includes a coupon for a free can of Progresso Soup, yoga mat, BPA-free water bottle, set of aerobic bands, sport headband and a pair of sport wristbands to encourage the winner to start living a healthier lifestyle.  Awesome prize package!!

You can enter this giveaway at The Frozen Coupon: Progresso Souper You Debut Giveaway

Good luck!   

10 Month Milestones: This is That and That is This

Henry turned 10 months old on January 30, 2011.  Boy has time gone fast!  Even though he was never small (born at almost 9 and a half pounds) he is still my tiny little baby boy.  I'm only really hit with the reality of how much he's grown when I see younger babies. 


Henry is 10 months old (photo courtesy Grandma Weaver)

 He picked up some new skills during month 9, like stacking blocks, walking (looks like Yoda!), and talking.   Some of his first words were "hot" (we had to teach our kids this word early because we have a gravity furnace that uses a huge grate in the middle of the floor between the living room and dining room.  There isn't much room to go around it to get from one room to the other and there is no way to put a safety up so we had to be proactive!), "dog", "mama", "dada".  He loves to walk up to the heater and yell "oooott!!!". 

His loves: phones, "driving" his toys, balls, balloons, pots and pans, books, the dog's water bowl (he also drives the water bowl!).  He started to understand the word "drink" and shakes his head "no" when he knew he was doing something he wasn't supposed to, like racing to the stairs!

Since he was born he has hated- with a passion- a dirty diaper.  Sometimes brings me a diaper when he has a dirty diaper!  It bothers him a lot.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that he is an early potty trainer (much like his big sis, very UNlike his big brothers!). 

Now at 10 months old he is learning even more words.  His newest favorites are "that" and "this".  He loves to show us something and say "dis" or "dat".  I'll tell him what it is and sometimes he'll try to repeat me, sometimes it is still "dis" or "dat"!  He has started blowing raspberries again- something he picked up a while ago then dropped.

Henry still loves clapping, singing, dancing (especially when his siblings are watching Yo Gabba Gabba) and cuddling.  Mommy is still his favorite person though recently he has started engaging in other people and has become quite friendly to complete strangers!    

One of my most favorite things about him is that when I ask him to bring something to me he does it with enthusiasm.  And he gets VERY upset if you just take that something without asking.  He still loves all the toys I've mentioned earlier but now he also plays fetch.  He will throw a ball and chase after it.  Sometimes he brings the ball to us and if we don't throw it he takes it back and throws it himself! 

  

He has 7 teeth right now and another one on the bottom looks like it will be popping up soon.  And those EYES!  I love his expressions- you can see so much feeling in his eyes.  And gotta love that deep blue!  I have green eyes, dad has hazel.  My older two boys have hazel and it looks like my daughter's change from green to hazel depending on circumstances.  He also has the best "I'm getting into something" look! 

Happy (belated) 10 months to you, Henry Sebastian!  We love you so much!! 

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

My daughter Amara took ballet and tap last year, when she was 4-5.  Over the Summer they had the opportunity to perform their Spring recital dances again. It was very hot and the sun was right behind them so video quality was poor. Doesn't help that I'm no good at video-taping!


This is a video of Amara's tap dance, to "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes". At the beginning they do some sign language. They were a little rusty so you can see them looking toward the teacher, lol! These dances were Mara's first ever (2nd time performing them) and I am so proud at how well she did.  Mara is the short one that is, for the most part, in the center of the video.  

Cover Girl's 50th Anniversary

Cover Girl is celebrating their 50th anniversary and they are doing it in style!  You can join in on the celebration by participating in a few fun activities.  Visit Cover Girl's Facebook page to get started. 
Once you're there you can send friends a Valentine's Day heart "candy" with personalized messages and be entered to win FREE makeup, upload a photo of yourself (or one of your kids, family or friends with permission) and be "featured" in an interactive Cover Girl magazine and you even have a chance to win VIP tickets to see the Ellen DeGeneres Show!!  Upcoming giveaways include monthly makeup giveaways and the chance to meet Taylor Swift and see her in concert. 

Come back all year long as the celebration is ongoing.  The party is just getting started!

A big thanks to Bzz Agent for inviting me to the party- and now I'm inviting YOU!

Bzz: Thomas Bagel Thins a Breakfast Saver

I love to experiment with breakfast.  One of my many favorites is a fried or scrambled egg with cheddar cheese on top, placed on top of half a bagel with cream cheese (shut up- it's not THAT fattening!! ;P).  Sometimes I also like to add veggies to my egg sandwiches.  This gets to be seriously huge- huge in size AND calories.  I can't open my mouth wide enough to bite it and I can feel myself gain weight when I eat one.  But they are SOOO good!

Enter Thomas Bagel Thins.  I was buying these before the Bzz campaign and jumped at the chance to share this awesomeness with anyone that would listen  my friends and online readers.  With Thomas Bagel Thins I can eat my yummy egg sandwich without giving myself a jawache, there is not nearly as big a mess AND I can add my veggies!  There is no collapsing issue with a thinner bagel and I'm still full when I finish half of a Bagel Thin.  Plus I'm getting way less calories in a 110 calorie Bagel Thin.  So far I've only had the whole wheat Bagel Thins and I think they are great.  I can't wait to try the Plain and Everything Bagel Thins!  I'll skip the Cinnamon Raisin- not a fan of raisins here. 

The biggest test was my kids.  They are oh-so picky about everything.  But they loved these!  They (the older three- ages 9, 5 and 3) dove in and devoured them.  Past experience with regular bagels was never so positive!  One had regular cream cheese, one had their bagel with strawberry cream cheese and the other ate his plain (toasted).  They all asked when I was buying more!! 

I'll still buy regular bagels but Thomas Bagel Thins will become a regular on my shopping list for sure. 

I'm a Bzz Agent and I received a free product in exchange for my opinion (Word of Mouth).  Receiving a free product doesn't affect my opinion in any way- my opinion is my own.

Go Go Power Rangers (Samurai)!

In the 90's when the first Power Rangers emerged I was a huge fan (hey, I was 11).  I loved that they were a super close-knit group of friends, that they fought bad guys, that they wore "their" color all the time and that they had cool transformer-like creatures that helped them.  My favorite was the Pink Ranger, Kimberly.  I always adored female super heroes but this one was a gymnast too.  I was a gymnast (not saying I was good...lol)!!!  There was a super hero that was JUST like me!  I wasn't a dramatic kid or anything.  ;) 

Eventually I was "too old" for the Power Rangers though I knew they stayed around for quite a while.  But checking them out on Wikipedia I've learned that they never really went away- with MANY seasons and series plus some movies (we have one of those- a birthday present for my son 2 years ago). 
Thanks to One2One Network, I was made aware that this show is back with a new cast and a new look.   Now in their 18th (!!) season, they are ready again for action.  Power Rangers: Samurai premieres on the Nickelodeon network TONIGHT, February 7, 2011 at 8PM.  I'm not aware of many shows that have stuck around for so long.  It could be that the Power Rangers have always delivered a positive message to impressionable children who will eventually be teens (the age of the Rangers).  Really...do you want an upbeat, energetic and happy teen like the ones from Power Rangers or one of the melancholy My So Called Life teens?  How can you NOT love the Power Rangers and what they represent? 

And speaking of that, the Power Rangers are still being good role models.  Along with the new show will be the emPOWER Movement.  From the One2One Network site: The emPOWER Movement "provides parents and kids the tools they need to work together to grow healthy kids and support healthy communities."



"emPOWER inspires participation in schools, online and in local communities to demonstrate the Power Rangers values:

 * Standing for What's Right
 * Teamwork and Cooperation
 * Confidence
 * Health and Physical Fitness
 * Caring and Friendship"

We (my three older kids- ages 9, 5 and 3 and I) are definitely going to watch this tonight!  I look forward to spending family time watching a positive show with good values.  Who else is using their kids as an excuse to watch an old favorite reemerge?! 



*UPDATE*
We watched this together tonight and really enjoyed it!  My 3 year old and I ran around the house during the commercials fighting bad guys.  My 9 year old son seemed interested (he isn't a boy of many words!) and my 5 year old daughter was disappointed that it was only half an hour long.  I was pleased to see that it hasn't changed much from the original, except it's more martial arts-focused and of course the special effects are better!  I think it's a great family show that will appeal to all age groups.  If you have a family that opposes fighting, swords...things like that, then this isn't a show for you.  But the positive messages are still there and the lessons are valuable!  We will be setting the reminder for next week. 

Anyone else out there watch this tonight with their kids?  What did you think? 

Amazon: Free Valentine's Day Playlist

Amazon.com is offering FREE Valentine's Day music!


Visit Amazon.com (that's a direct link to the free music) to get your free Valentine's Day playlist with 14 songs to get you in the mood for love! I am not familiar with any of the songs and only know one artist (Ginuwine) but I do love free and I love discovering new music.




Thank you to Coupon Cravings for this discovery! 

Super Easy Meal when You're in a Pickle

In the past few months I have had so much trouble getting to the grocery store.  I'm always loaded with kids or too exhausted or busy with...better things to do.  I'm also a terrible planner.  Sometimes I come home with dip but no chips or crackers.  Or I'll buy food for spaghetti only to get home and realize I forgot the sauce.  Lists don't really help all that much when you're as scatter-brained as I am. 
With that being said, sometimes I have to be super creative at meal time, like breakfast for dinner.  Other times it's MUCH more creative but also really easy (easy is a must)...

There is one thing I remember well from childhood.  When we were in this situation my mom would make spaghetti with pickle juice.  YES, you read that correctly!  She would make spaghetti noodles then pour pickle juice sweetened with sugar on top.  It was SOOO good.  I guess you could also use bread and butter pickles for the sweet kick, but dill with sugar is my favorite way.  I always have sugar and pickles and usually save a jar of pickle juice in my fridge and I often buy pasta (and forget the sauce) so this is always a good totally-out-of-ideas meal for my family (it's pretty rare that we have it but I was just getting a craving the other day).  Our sides are whatever veggies are in the house. 

So if you're totally out of ideas and you happen to have the ingredients, give it a try!  I know it sounds totally weird but as my son's favorite Yo Gabba Gabba song goes, "Try it, you'll like it!".