NewYearsEve Then and Now

A long, long time ago (1996), I became engaged on this date (to be more accurate, actually on the 1st)  to the man that would eventually become my husband.  Here's the story of how I became engaged.  We went to our friends' apartment in lovely Oak Park, Illinois for a New Years Eve party.   As we entered the party, we found out that those same friends had become engaged over Christmas.  The party went on, drinks were consumed, dancing was initiated and soon it was time for the New Years Countdown.  After we hit one and kissing and hugs commenced, my love shows me a box.  I then promptly told him to "put that back into your pocket!"  Nice, huh?  It wasn't like I didn't want him to propose...more like I didn't want him to propose in front of the drunken audience.  So I then told him that we should go outside (in the cold!) and he could try again, if you will.  So out in the freezing cold, he proposed.  I think there were even people out there but they didn't pay any attention to us.  He started to get down on one knee and I told him he didn't need to do that!  I said "Yes!" (of course).  We then went back inside and told the good news to our friends.  They were a bit shocked, but also happy and excited for us.  

But today...how do we celebrate the coming of the new year?  By doing this:

But wait... you must see what fine vintage we are consuming..

That's right ...Welch's of the Sparkling Grape Juice variety of "wines."  At 8 pm we had a toast to "Poop!" Can you guess who the third glass belonged to and who thought of the toast?   Miss M!

Here's to a 2011 that is all that you need it to be and more. And also, Poop!

Don't forget to enter my Eco Sprout Laundry Detergent giveaway found below!

Eco Sprout Laundry Soap - Review & GIVEAWAY!! CLOSED!

What (or who) is Eco Sprout? It was started by a WAHD (that's right, a work at home dad!) who wanted to find a detergent that would not just clean cloth diapers, but also his family's laundry.  Jared wanted a soap that was "free from enzymes, phosphates and is 100% biodegradable" and set out to make that happen himself.  He takes great care in his product and even manufactures it himself. 

Eco Sprout detergent is available in the following scents: Lavender Chamomile, Warm Vanilla Sugar, Fresh Linen, Vanilla Sandalwood, In the Buff (unscented) and a seasonal scent, which is currently Cinnamon Sticks.  Eco Sprout promises that the scent is purely for your enjoyment and will not transfer into the smell of your clothes.  I was sent a large sample bag of the Lavender Chamomile laundry detergent.

What did I think? First thing I noticed was the scent!  So pleasant.  Just having the bag sit on the shelf gave my laundry room a great aroma.  It definitely made dumping those dirty diapers into the washer a slightly more tolerable experience!  After I washed and dried my diapers and cloth wipes, I did notice a slight scent linger on the wipes.  No scent was detected on the diapers and the scent on the wipes was not strong and did not last into the next day.  I also used the detergent on my regular clothes using both a warm and cold wash.  The clothes came out clean and had no underlying scent or odor.  One thing I especially noticed was that with my regular laundry soap, the undershirts would sometimes hold their odor even after a wash.  This was NOT the case with Eco Sprout.  It worked GREAT!

After my daughter peed on her diaper, I did notice that it had a slight ammonia smell.  I quickly went on Eco Sprout's Facebook page and noticed that I had not followed their instructions fully.  They advise that whenever you start a new detergent you should first soak them in hot water with 3 tablespoons of their detergent  and soak for at least 3 hours or overnight if possible.  Then after draining the tub, wash again with 2 full hot washes/cold water rinses but do not use any more detergent.  Upon reading this, I washed all of my diapers as they instructed and did not encounter any more ammonia scent nor was the scent of the detergent found on my wipes any more.

I give this detergent a THUMBS UP!  It worked as it said it would and made my laundry room smell great, too!  I was especially impressed to find a detergent that would work for ALL my laundry needs!

BUY IT: You can buy your own bag of Eco Sprout detergent in your choice of scent for only $13.98 and right now shipping is just $3.00! 

WIN IT: You can win your very own large sample bag (cleans about 6 loads) in the Sandalwood Vanilla scent shown here!  (Cute toddler not included). 

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit EcoSprout's website and come back and leave me a comment on what your favorite scent is.  You must do this first or no entries will count!  Please leave your email address with this entry.

Extra Entries:

1. Like Eco Sprout on Facebook (leave your Facebook name).
2. Follow Queen of the Snot Princesses on Google Friend Connect (side bar -- click Follow)  (leave GFC name).
3. Follow me on twitter (leave your Twitter name)

This giveaway is offered to US residents 18+ and will end on January 13th 11:59pmCST.  Winner will be chosen through random.org.  Winner will be notified via e-mail.  If they fail to respond within 48 hours then a new winner will be picked.  Please leave your e-mail address in all your comments so that I can contact you.  I will not share your e-mail with anyone, it is strictly for me to notify you if you win.  GOOD LUCK!
Full Disclosure:  I was given this product by the supplier at no cost to me but the opinion here within is entirely my own.  You may experience a different result upon using this product.

Christmas 2010 Wrap-Up or Un-Wrap...

 

Daddy and Miss M with Boba Fett Helmet

The Girls and Grandma opening presents

Tracking Santa on NORAD with cousins

Reading the Night Before Christmas with Pop

Stockings handmade by MaGa

Fun Times with Cousins

P.S. Come back tomorrow for a giveaway....

C and the elevator

Here's what happened today.  While I was checking out our library books, Miss M and C were playing with some toys within eyesight but are also close to the elevators.  I usually bring C in our stroller but today it wasn't in our car for some reason.  Anyway, as I was checking out the books, a boy probably about 10 years old or so went to get onto the elevator.  The elevator doors open, he goes on and...so does C!  I heard Miss M say "No C!" which made me run to the elevator quick.  I got there just as the doors were starting to close and see C standing next to this strange boy with a big smile on her face!  I managed to stick my foot in between the closing doors but the doors did not reopen!  I then asked the boy to press 1 (the floor we were on) and he did.  The doors then opened completely and I grabbed C.  She didn't cry at all.

Crazy!  How was your day?

Meat Tenderizer?

Check. 

Purse Around the Neck?

Check.

Ready to get down to some business?  Always.

Sometimes I think they plan these things...

"OK, first I'll smile.."

"then you smile."

Plus a visit with the Big Man of the Hour himself!

Note no picture with Miss C.  She cried when even Mommy 

was holding her and standing next to Santa!

Randomness

a new style trend

sightseeing

Once Upon a Mattress (a review)

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Princess Miss M who had to sleep on a crib mattress that had belonged to her lovely cousin, Princess Caley and her siblings.  Now the mattress was fine and sturdy since it had lasted for many many MANY years.  But it was beginning to show its age.  You see, Princess Caley is fifteen years older than Princess Miss M.  Nevertheless, Miss M slumbered with no problems for three years on said mattress.  Then her sister was born.  Princess Baby C also acquired the slumbering aid.  By this time, their mother, the Queen, had discovered the wonders of the internet and all that it can behold.  She found a website, Go Green Street,  that was having a giveaway for a crib mattress.  Oh, what joy it would be if she would win this.  Perhaps Baby C would sleep longer and more restful if this dream would come true!  So the Queen entered said contest and crossed her fingers and waited.

Then, one day, she was checking her email and behold...she had won!  Fanfare and trumpets were heard throughout the land as the good word was heard.  After a bit of a wait, the magical mattress finally appeared at the Queen's doorstep!  Hooray!  The Queen quickly set to work at placing the new mattress into the crib and taking out the old.  She immediately could see a difference.  There were no spaces from the mattress to the crib railings.  It was a solid well-made mattress that was constructed out of coconut husks and wrapped in lambswool.  Sweet slumber would quickly come to the Princess Baby C!

Alas, many slumber filled nights have be felled the land since that joyful day and although Princess C is definitely now a fine sleeper, one can not be confident that it is because of the fine mattress.  Do not get me wrong, my lovely reader, it is a top of the line mattress and full of organic natural goodness.  High recommendations abound, but be forewarned of the cost of this piece of wonder.  That is the sad part of this tale but one the Queen did not have to pay. Hip Hip Hooray!

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Side Note: When Miss M saw me downloading these pictures, she said, "Those are just pictures of a mattress.  No one is going to want to read about that!"  Is she right?...

Our Cooking Stars