Kindle Fire + $40 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Nov 262012
 
 26 November, 2012  Posted by at 12:01 am GIVEAWAYS, Giveaways Tagged with: , , ,  3 Responses »

While I’ve been busy brainstorming what to buy for my boys to put under our tree, and thinking up amazing gifts to give to all of my friends and loved ones this year, I have also been keeping an eye out for some of the things that are on my personal wish list. The Kindle Fire just happens to be at the very top of that list. I want one so bad!! I’m happy to share with all of you that The Laughing Gal is part of an awesome giveaway event with a group of fabulous bloggers! All of my readers will have the opportunity to win their very own Kindle Fire along with a $40 Amazon gift card, and it’s just in time for the holidays!

Delightfully has teamed up with Happy Mothering and Green Moms Media to bring you a giveaway of a Kindle Fire and $40 Amazon Gift Card to spread the word about their new virtual gift-wrap service! Think about how many gifts are given online now, between music, gift cards, subscriptions, e-books… I’m sure you’ve sent at least one online gift – and likely will again before Christmas. Delightfully is a new service that allows you to hand-wrap your online gift! With Delightfully, you can create the perfect ‘unwrapping’ moment for any gift occasion. Say goodbye to wasteful paper and tape and say hello to this eco-friendly gift-wrap alternative!

Delightfully is ideal for sending a personalized message to friends and family who you can’t spend the holidays with in person. You can check out an example of the Delightfully gift-wrap here. At only $3, it’s a very nice way to personalize the otherwise impersonal online gift!

To thank you for taking the time to consider their virtual gift-wrapping service, Delightfully is offering our readers a chance to win a Kindle Fire & $40 Amazon.com gift card!

The Kindle Fire is thin, light and durable. It features:

  • 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM
  • 8GB on-device storage with free unlimited cloud storage for all your Amazon content
  • Apps such as Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, HBO GO and Pandora
  • Ultra-fast web browsing over built-in Wi-Fi
  • The ability to stream instant videos and access the lending library for Amazon Prime Members
  • Kindle FreeTime – a free, personalized tablet experience just for kids that allows you to set daily screen limits and give access to appropriate content for each child
  • Up to 9 hours of reading, surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music.

And, with a $40 Amazon gift card, you can load up your new Kindle Fire with some new books and movies, or use the Delightfully service to send a gift to a loved one! For your chance to win, please use the Rafflecopter form below. This contest runs through December 17, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST and is open to US & Canadian residents ages 18 and older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:

The Laughing Gal received no compensation in exchange for this post and is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Twitt

Finally caught up on the Vampire Diaries

Nov 242012
 
 24 November, 2012  Posted by at 11:25 pm GUILTY PLEASURES, Watchables Tagged with: ,  No Responses »

I recently mentioned being obsessed with the Vampire Diaries in this post.

I have spent the last 3 weeks or so obsessively checking my public library’s website to see if the next DVD of the Vampire Diaries was available for me to pick up. I have watched 3 full seasons in those three weeks, and then caught up on the current season online. I’m sure my library thinks I’m a huge loser with nothing better to do than watch vampire shows after my kids are in bed for the night, but I don’t care! I am obsessed with this show, and I am so glad to finally be able to watch it in real-time.

I started out being a huge fan of Stefan. I liked Damon, but didn’t want to. Then once Stefan was “the Ripper”, I freaking hated him. I kept trying to root for him, and hoped that he would just say it was all an act, but he just kept pushing Elena right into Damon’s arms. That’s when I started really liking Damon for Elena.

I seriously love the way this show has me going back and forth between these brothers! I’m now at the point where even though I wish it would workout between Elena and Stefan, I’m cheering for Damon and her to get together. Obviously I can see the direction that the show is taking and let’s face it, Damon would be better for Elena now that she’s a vampire. I love watching the dynamic between them get deeper, even though it breaks my heart a little that I don’t think her and Stefan can make it through this.

I can’t wait for the newest episode!

For those of you who are also fans of the show, who do you prefer? Stefan or Damon? I am so torn!

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Adventures with Cal

Nov 202012
 
 20 November, 2012  Posted by at 11:34 pm Kids and Parenting, LIFE & LOVE Tagged with: ,  7 Responses »

Callan has been getting into many adventures since his second birthday. We’ve had the pleasure to experience moments such as:

  • Chipping his front tooth on the kitchen floor.
  • Having meltdowns of epic proportion, aka “Hulking out”
  • Falling down the stairs

I’m pretty sure I’ll be passed up for Mother of the Year nominations. I knew to expect somewhat of a battle of wills with a 2-year-old, but I’m not sure that I was prepared to deal with his intense emotional connection to hand puppets and their feelings. You read that right. He is very concerned about the treatment of the hand puppets featured in the Baby Einstein DVDs.

He completely lost his shiz because of a pig puppet that was afraid to go down the slide. He just kept yelling “He’s scared! He’s scared!” while running around like a banshee and destroying everything within his reach. He was waking up in the middle of the night talking about and worrying about this damn pig puppet. That’s when we took a little break from allowing him to watch that DVD.

He imitates everything that Chase does, says everything that Chase says, and pretty much is obsessed with playing with and/or annoying the crap out of Chase. This wouldn’t be such a bad thing if Chase wasn’t like every other typical 5-year-old boy. Chase has a “potty talk” problem, and now  so does Cal. Chase becomes easily frustrated and yells things such as: “it’s not fair!”, Callan is now saying the same thing. It’s like their behavior is tethered to one another, if one is giving me a hard time, so is the other one. If one is behaving, the other one is usually (but not always) also behaving.

The chaotic atmosphere of our home right now has pushed me to read the book 1-2-3 Magic. It’s a highly recommended book on an effective and appropriate form of discipline for kids between the ages of 2 and 12. I am really hoping that it helps. I don’t expect it to work any miracles, but I really want to get back to some sort of discipline system before squish comes. We’ve used an awesome responsibility chart for Chase in the past and had wonderful results, but Cal is just too little for that right now. I feel like I have no skills that I’m supposed to have to be a good parent, and that scares me. Things have got to change, they have to get better. They just have to.

Even though I feel stressed to the max sometimes with all of his shenanigans, that little boy just melts my heart. I love him so very much.

His 2 year well-checkup with his pediatrician went really well. He was more worked up about getting undressed to be weighed and measured than he was to get his shot and flu-mist. Everything is right on track, and I can’t help but think he is a bit ahead of the game verbally. I just don’t remember Chase having this many words at Callan’s age. The pediatrician only asks that he have at least 20 words at this point, but he has well over 200. He will pretty much say or repeat anything that you ask him to say.

We are testing the waters of another adventure right now. We’re very slowly trying to transition him into his big boy bed. I’m not pushing it at this point. I just want my sleep right now. I’m not willing to sacrifice the small amount of sleep that I do get before this baby comes (and then I’ll get even less sleep). He’ll be sleeping in his bed sooner or later. No rush. He does think his bed is super cool though! I think I’ll just keep enjoying him as my baby while I have the chance.

 

 
 

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My thoughts on Breaking Dawn Part 2

Nov 192012
 
 19 November, 2012  Posted by at 2:18 pm GUILTY PLEASURES, Watchables Tagged with:  5 Responses »

This past Friday I was beyond thrilled for my long-awaited girls night out that included the final movie in the Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn Part 2. We spent a good 2.5 hours before hand at The Wine Bistro just catching up, stuffing our faces, and drinking good wine (well, minus the wine for me). We headed over to the theater with our pre-purchased tickets much later than we had originally planned, and were thinking we’d probably have a hard time finding four seats together.

We were wrong. The theater was surprisingly not packed. There were a ton of seats left. I think this was probably the first indication that the movie was not going to be what I was hoping for.

**Disclaimer** Obviously I am not a professional critic, but I am a fan of the series. Therefore you should take everything I say about this movie very, very seriously :)

 

 

It started out with quite possibly some of the worst computer animation that I have ever seen. I realize that these computer graphics or whatever have been a part of this saga from the beginning, but they were really bad. Maybe it was because there was so much of it? I don’t know, but I couldn’t get passed it. It was that terrible. The running scenes in the beginning, Bella’s first hunting experience, it was just too much. I thought the worst of it was over. I was wrong. Renesme. That’s right, Edward and Bella’s little miracle baby was horribly computer animated as well (who would’ve thought?). You think Jacob would’ve protected her from such embarrassment, but no.

The cheesiness just kept on coming. I was happy when they started to introduce all of the new characters to be witnesses, it was interesting to see who was cast in those roles. I could not contain my laughter when two of the vampire witnesses spoke. They sounded exactly like the Count from Sesame Street. I felt like maybe someone had given me a “special brownie” before seeing this movie because I was just a giggling mess.

I did like the fight scenes, which was a vast majority of the movie. I also really liked Robert Pattinson’s sexiness…that was probably my favorite part. All in all I left the theater being very underwhelmed. I liked it, but I thought it was the cheesiest of all of the movies in the saga because of the special effects. It was just way over-done. I won’t be purchasing it when it comes out on DVD.

The best part of my night by far, was that I had a wonderful time with my favorite girlfriends ever!

 

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My current TV series obsessions

Nov 152012
 
 15 November, 2012  Posted by at 3:25 pm GUILTY PLEASURES, Watchables Tagged with: ,  3 Responses »

Oh the joys of pregnancy and the insomnia it bestows upon me. I have been filling my late nights with several different shows that I just never really got around to watching. I’m sure the people who work at the local library are tired of seeing me and filling my drive-up reserve requests. I have very quickly been sucked in by the following:

  • Pretty Little Liars
  • Gossip Girl
  • Vampire Diaries

These are not the typical type of shows that I would get into, but I seriously can’t get enough of them. I am so intensely obsessed with them that I have given up sleep for them. If I give up sleep for a show, you know it has to be good.

Tracy came home last night to me watching the end of season 2 of the Vampire Diaries, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I think the combo of vampires, werewolves, witches, hybrids, and humans in one series was a bit much for him :)

It’s just helping me gear up for tomorrow night when my girlfriends and I go to see the last movie in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn Part 2. I love me some vampire stories and I’m not ashamed. I won’t be wearing a “Team Edward” shirt or anything, but I will be with a great group of women who may, or may not, be slightly drunk from the wine they will consume prior to the showing. Don’t fret, no wine for me. I’ll still be sure to enjoy myself though!

Will you be going to see the last Twilight movie? If you’re not planning on it, what are some of your current TV obsessions?

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Week 22 and 23

Nov 132012
 
 13 November, 2012  Posted by at 1:31 am PREGNANCY, Week by week Tagged with: ,  16 Responses »

By the time I post this I will be 24 weeks. In pregnancy world this is a big deal. 24 weeks gestation is considered the point in which your baby actually has a good chance of surviving outside of the womb. The term viability is what is used in the medical profession. Though there are some babies who have been born slightly earlier than 24 weeks and survived, 24 weeks is still the standard for viability.

I am so grateful to have made it to this point in my pregnancy. I want nothing more than for my sweet little squish to stay inside where he is safe (and easiest to care for), and finish growing.

I’ve been incredibly emotional these last couple of weeks. I’m just all over the place. I’ve also been feeling much more overwhelmed taking care of the boys, which hasn’t helped my emotions at all. I’m starting to panic about the things that we still need to do and buy before baby #3 comes. I feel like we have no time. With the holidays and Tracy’s work schedule, and then his up coming hip surgery, I just can’t imagine when we will get all of this stuff done.

I know to some it may seem weird that we even need anything else for this baby, but we do. There were quite a bit of years between Chase and Cal. That means that we didn’t need a double stroller until now, and that we also need a new infant carseat because ours has expired. Our crib has been recalled. We need a cosleeper or a basinet, I had one that I lent to a friend and she has moved. I absolutely don’t expect or want her to send it back to me in the mail. I can get a basinet for $40 if I need to. Either Cal or the new baby is going to need new furniture. We already bought Cal a toddler bed, but he’s going to need a dresser of some sort at the very least.

There are other things on my list that I didn’t know would be such a big deal when I had Cal. I need a new rocker or glider to nurse in. I nursed Cal for over a year, I need a comfortable chair that isn’t going to make me miserable. I’ll be spending a lot of time in it, so I’d like something that isn’t going to contribute to my back problems like my cheap ass Wal-Mart rocker that I currently own. I’d like a video baby monitor this time around. With the PPA, PPD, and PPOCD  that I dealt with after having Callan, I know this is a must for me to survive this time around.

 

I also would like to repaint our nursery grey, and buy new curtains, and redecorate a little. I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get all of this stuff, but I know I really need to be getting the carseat and new rocker/glider first since they will be getting the most use. I swear I will throat punch anyone who tells me that I don’t need a new rocker to nurse in. If I’m going to be spending 10 hours a day in a damn chair, it has to be better than what I used with Callan.

I had another appointment today and everything went just fine. I’m measuring right on track and it was just a typical boring appointment.

STATS:

How far along: 24 weeks

Weight gain: Up 14lbs

Size of baby: Squish is about the size of a cantaloupe.

Symptoms: Lots of pressure. Braxton hicks contractions. Exhaustion. My face is still breaking out. Insomnia. I’m super emotional and cry very easily.

Cravings: PB&J sandwiches

Next appointment: December 10th. I’ll be doing my 1 hour glucose screening test for gestational diabetes. I hate this test. I have failed the first one with each pregnancy. I then have had to take the three hour glucose test, and luckily have always had my blood sugar be totally fine. I just hate the way that this drink tastes, it’s very hard to keep down.

Gender: It’s a Boy! He is still nameless :)

 

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Cal turns 2!

Nov 052012
 
 5 November, 2012  Posted by at 3:05 pm Kids and Parenting, LIFE & LOVE 2 Responses »

My little baby is becoming a big boy. It’s happening so incredibly fast and it’s making me a little emotional. I can not believe this much time has passed. It just doesn’t seem possible.

We had a “small” Mickey Mouse themed family party here at the house for him. I didn’t really have any interest in spending $300 on a kids party this year, so we didn’t. All that matters is that my sweet little boy had a wonderful time, and he did! We had pizza and cake and opened gifts from all of his loved ones. Cal isn’t really a pro at opening the gifts yet. He just wants to play with what he opens first and ignore everything else :)

He seemed to really love being the center of attention and was just such a little sweet heart the entire party. I credit this to us making sure to have his party later in the day so that he would be able to nap. It worked out great!

We are so blessed to have so many people who care about us and our children. A BIG thank you to all of you who came to celebrate our little man.

 

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Overheard at The Laughing Gal’s house

Oct 292012
 
 29 October, 2012  Posted by at 7:00 am Kids and Parenting, LIFE & LOVE Tagged with: , ,  11 Responses »

During dinner time this week my five-year old had this to say:

“I may have to give up my dream of being a pop star to become a scientist.”

 

Damn, I was really counting on him being a pop star.

I am not kidding when I say that my child wakes up singing and dancing, and it continues all. day. long.

I know some people are sitting there reading this thinking, “AWE!!!”…..NO. It is never-ending loudness that he really needs to get under control.

If you’re here in our home, you’ll never have a hard time knowing what Chase is up to. Not only will you see with your eyes whatever adventure he is part taking in, you will also have the great pleasure of hearing his musical commentary of said adventures.

Is Chase going to the bathroom?

You bet ya!!! And how do you know?? Because you’ll surely hear him no matter your location in the house as he’s loudly singing about it in the smallest bathroom ever.

Is that Chase I hear singing about what toys he’ll be playing with after he eats lunch?

Uh huh.

Oh did you know that Chase doesn’t like what I’m making for dinner?

Of course you did, because he’s most likely written a ballad about his favorite foods which purposefully does not include whatever is about to come out of the oven.

 

Take any task and he will turn it into a song. When I type it out it is funny. When I’m living it everyday, I just want some mother effing ear plugs.

He would like a guitar for Christmas, and I definitely think his Pop Pop Jim would totally be down for calling dibs on that gift.

His interest in music, singing, and dancing is absolutely something that I adore about him, and want him to pursue. He obviously loves it.

This just proves the point that we need more space…or a sound proof room. Mark this down as another reason to move soon :)

 

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Burnt out

Oct 282012
 
 28 October, 2012  Posted by at 12:10 pm Family, LIFE & LOVE 2 Responses »

I have been AWOL for a while now, and I feel slightly bad, but I have just been so burnt out from blogging. I was really using every bit of spare time and energy to work on my blog. I just couldn’t do it any more. I wasn’t enjoying blogging. Please remember that I have 2 little boys and another on the way, so I was definitely wearing myself thin.

I’m really thinking that me doing the 31 day challenge on such short notice is a BIG factor in why I was becoming so stressed out with my blog. I mean, I love cloth diapering, don’t get me wrong, but not having time to prepare any posts in advance was just setting myself up for failure. So, my genuine apologies to anyone who was following the challenge and has felt let down or abandoned by me in your quest to find out all that you can about cloth diapering.

I’ll try to catch up and add a few cloth diaper posts where I can, but I’m sure I’ll have them much more spread out, and obviously they won’t all occur within the month of October.

I feel like I have so much to catch everyone up on! Our trip to Leed’s Farm, Cal’s 2nd birthday, and carving pumpkins. Not to mention catching up on my pregnancy posts. I think I should be able to get a few of those written up today. I need to get back on my game!

 

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