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He’s Definitely My Son

April 12, 2013 By 3 Comments

Yesterday my son came up the stairs singing a song…that prompted the following post on Facebook: (Every good parent’s job is to embarrass their teenager on Facebook…right?)

“My son just came up the stairs singing Justin Bieber’s “Baby”. I’m not sure if I should take away his Pandora or his vocal chords.”

With a “slightly” hormonal teenager this could have ended in 2 ways.

  • Him asking why I posted that and trying his best to shun me…even though we both know that won’t happen because I wouldn’t allow it.
  • Him joining in on the fun and showing off his amazing humor that he obviously gets from me.

Based upon the Facebook conversation that followed…you decide:

  • Josh - :-P
  • Me – Josh dude. Why are you Facebooking in the bathroom??? Remind me to never touch your phone.
  • Josh – :-(
  • Me – Josh so you FB again from the potty. You realize that’s not a lazy boy in there…right?
  • Josh – Don’t try to change who I am. I am a mystical creature who works in mysterious ways. Much like the unicorn that prances through the gumdrop forest.
  • Me – Josh I didn’t realize that using Facebook while pooping was so much a part of who you are. I guess it’s my fault for giving you all that fiber…and a cell phone.
  • Josh – Hate the game don’t hate me.
  • Me – Josh I just ask that you practice safe bathroom text and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Josh – I ain’t no fool mom. You know how I do.
  • Josh –  A unicorn once said to me, “If you FB and use the potty. All your dreams will come true.” You know what happened? They all did. The mystical Unicorn gods are upon me mom. I am like the Unicorn prophet. I ride into the sunset shirtless with my hair blowing in the wind. (queue cheesy music)

See… He’s definitely my son.

I think this post needs a not so random unicorn…

Unicorn coloring page

Filed Under: family, just for fun, unicorns Tagged With: , , , ,

Silence…The Ultimate Sweet Escape #DoleParfaitEscape

April 11, 2013 By 1 Comment

As a parent we all know that taking 5 minutes to ourselves each day can be challenging.  But a break now and then is necessary to hold on to that last bit of pre-parenting sanity we have left…right?  Have you ever thought of taking that mad afterschool rush and turning it into a few moments of precious silence?  I know what you are thinking…”Steph’s lost her mind.  Afterschool is complete CRAZY.  Snacks, homework, activities.  Silence is never an option.”  But I am here to tell you that with DOLE® Fruit Parfaits…that sweet sweet quiet is within your reach.

dole fruit parfaits

I put DOLE® Fruit Parfaits to the ultimate afterschool challenge…teenager snack time.  These words could send shivers down the back of any parent.  We are all imagining lunch meat stuck to the ceiling, open bread bags left to dry out, and even worse…mustard mixed into the mayonnaise jar.  But thanks to DOLE® teenager snack time was a breeze… and I even got a several minutes of quiet.  It’s literally a fruity miracle.

xander eating parfait

Xander enjoying his afternoon snack.  Well his first of many…teenagers are bottomless pits.

Josh eating parfait

Josh is extremely focused on his snacking.  He doesn’t want to miss a bite.

But do you see how the peace and quiet happens?  Kids can’t make noises when the constantly have a spoon in their mouth.  It’s also a sign of how much they enjoyed the  DOLE® Fruit Parfaits.  But really who wouldn’t like them after tasting them and getting to know a little more about them:

  • DOLE Fruit Parfaits offers a cool, refreshing taste of real fruit with a smooth layer of deliciously light-tasting crème
  • DOLE Fruit Parfaits are available in three flavors:
    • Pineapple and Crème
    • Apples and Crème
    • Peaches and Crème
  • DOLE Fruit Parfaits contain all natural fruit and are rich in Vitamin C
  • DOLE Fruit Parfaits are naturally low fat, cholesterol free and very low in sodium
  • DOLE Fruit Parfaits are available in the canned fruit section at select grocery retailers and online
  • Suggested retail price is $2.79/per package of four
  • Please visit http://www.dole.com for more information

And don’t take my word for it…here’s what the boys said in their “official review”:

Josh – “They are mmm mmm good. ” (I am pretty sure he stole that from somewhere…but whatever.)
Xander - “Tastes like pineapple yogurt! It’s a new kind of fruit cup.”

They were even silent when giving me the quotes…they emailed them to me.  But don’t worry…the brother-like “banter” has already returned.  I wish they were hungry.

Don’t forget to visit with DOLE® online and get social with them.  Maybe you can even share a sweet escape or two:

Disclaimer: I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and DOLE partnered in support of this campaign. DOLE compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Filed Under: family, reviews Tagged With: , ,

Gone… Vacationing.

March 26, 2013 By 2 Comments

If you need me… I will be soaking up the California sun for Spring Break with the family.  Be back soon!

California beach sunset

Filed Under: blarg, family, Travel Tagged With: , , ,

He Said/She Said – A Real Life 2013 Honda Accord Review

March 6, 2013 By 8 Comments

I fondly remember my very first brand new car, don’t you?  It was a 2002 Honda Accord and I was in love.  That is why I couldn’t turn down the luxury of test driving a brand new 2013 Honda Accord EX-L from Ken Garff Honda of Orem…for 10 fabulous days.  You may have seen us using the #HondaTestDrive (hashtag) on Twitter and Instagram documenting our (okay… MY) hijinks.  Which may or may not have included adorning the car with unicorn-a-plenty.

 

2013 honda accord unicorns

We are currently owners of one mid-size SUV, that is my primary mode of transportation, and a mid-size sedan that my husband drives for his daily commute.  For me to switch over to a sedan for 10 days was a bit of a change.  And while I only have 2 kids… I may not be ready to switch over to a sedan quite yet, even if it is as sweet of a ride as an Accord.  It may be a mental block but I like the extra space in an SUV.  However, my husband definitely has the Accord in his vision for our next commuter car purchase.  And trust me…that says a lot.  He’s pretty loyal to his current brand and for him to have second thoughts means the 2013 Honda Accord EX-L really made an impression.

2013 Honda Accord EXL

Isn’t she pretty?  I didn’t name her because she wasn’t mine to keep.  I hope her forever home gives her an awesome name like “Candy”.

And hopefully “the car possibly known as Candy” will remember the time we took an epically awesome day trip and captured it on video.

And we not only went a little video crazy…I got pretty snap happy with the camera when documenting how gorgeous the interior and exterior features are.

Pretty Interior

2013 Honda Accord Interior Features

Pretty Exterior

2013 honda accord exterior features

And while this is shaping up to be the world’s longest post…I just can’t stop without telling you about the things we truly enjoyed while driving the 2013 Accord.  Because we drove it as real people…not mechanics…or professionals…just a family using a car.  And I know when I am looking for a car that’s who I want advice from.

2013 Honda Accord Features

These are all the features that we loved… and possibly not their technical names.  Granted my husband wishes he were a MotorTrend car reviewer… As you will see in the video.  And it has many more features that I haven’t listed but I am sure that Ken Garff Honda of Orem would be happy to fill you in on those details.

  • Push start ignition (No more digging for keys in your purse or pocket…you just have to have them with you.)
  • Dual memory driver’s seat (Perfect for the tall and the small.)
  • 8 inch information display (It’s really big.  Bigger is better.)
  • Cup holders (We all know I am addicted to Diet Coke.)
  • XM Radio (I am a radio snob… No commercials up in here.)
  • Pandora interface  (This gets a big Thumbs Up.)
  • Bluetooth (Safety first.  Safety first.)
  • USB and auxiliary connections (I love being able to charge my iPhone without a 12-volt adapter.)
  • Backup camera with different view options (Maybe even I could back into the garage…or maybe not.)
  • Blind spot camera (It’s awesome.  I sometimes turned on my right blinker just to see it.)
  • Heated leather seats (Sometimes your “seat” needs a little heat in these cold Utah winters.)
  • Real time gas mileage tracking (My hubby tracks every tank of gas and mileage…this was seriously one of his FAVORITE things about the car.)
  • Leg and head room (Surprisingly my teenage boys fit comfortably in the backseat.  Which is not common for all sedans.)
  • Steering wheel audio controls (Sometimes you just need to drown out the background noise.  Or the sound of your own voice singing along to Taylor Swift music.)
  • Large trunk (We were able to fit an entire cart load of Costco goodies into the trunk… granted there was no more space for my Wal-Mart run.)
  • V6 engine with “eco” mode (Power when you want it…gas savings when you don’t.)
  • LED Headlights (The husband found this to be so cool.)
  • Plenty of room for unicorn displays (I found this to be so cool.)

In the end if I could make one suggestion to Honda or Ken Garff Honda of Orem…maybe it’s time for a little logo change.

2013 honda accord unicorn emblem

***I was given a 2013 Honda Accord to test drive for 10 days.  All opinions are my own. 

Filed Under: family, reviews, Utah Tagged With: , , , ,

Say BUBBLES!!!

March 4, 2013 By 2 Comments

Grumpy Kitten Bubbles graphic

Sometimes the truth is adorable.

Filed Under: just for fun Tagged With: , , ,

Air Quality… It’s Not The Unicorns Fault

February 14, 2013 By 2 Comments

If you’ve live in or have visited Utah (most specifically the Wasatch Front) in our coldest winter months you may have noticed something.  The INVERSION.  It’s a not-so-lovely sheet of pollution that blankets some of our most populated cities.  The air being colder in the valley (you may have noticed we are surrounded by mountains) than it is above the mountains above creates the inversion.  It’s like an epic battle between temperatures and the smoggy pollution gets trapped in the middle.

Photo from Kennecott

Photo from Kennecott

It looks awful doesn’t it?  It can cause issues for people with breathing problems… It can actually contribute to breathing problems.  Allergies, bronchitis, asthma, and a list of other ailments can be affected by the inversion.  This year has been particularly bad.  Especially in my household.  My normally healthy kids (I’m talking 1 sick day per year kind of healthy) both have been riddled with sinus issues, coughs, and colds.  It’s been miserable.  So naturally, when I was asked to participate in a conversation about Utah’s air quality with Kennecott, I jumped at the chance.  Because really… Something’s gotta give.

kennecott copper mines

Photo from Kennecott

You’ve probably heard of Kennecott… And if you are like me you know them for:

  • Copper
  • Copper
  • Copper
  • Daybreak
  • Driving herds of field mice into my neighborhood when Daybreak was first being developed.
  • Oh… And Copper.

So you are probably wondering why a company like Kennecott wants to spread the word about air quality?  I’ll be honest, I was a little curious too.  I had questions about their contribution to the poor air quality.  Because really… That’s what was on my mind.  (I know some people have issues with mining and refining of minerals and their effect on the land.  But I am a loud and proud Ziploc and bleach user… I’ll just tackle the air quality first before I move on to “greener” pastures.)

ziploc

I had heard so many different numbers about how much pollution Kennecott actually produces each year from it’s operations.  I was surprised to learn that their PM2.5 + precursors (not to get too technical but that is the crappy pollution type stuff… If you want an actually technical explanation on particulate matter… Here you go. )= 5.8% annually… And during the winter they average 3.8%. Not too mention they are constantly coming up with innovations to reduce their emissions.  They even go above and beyond in a lot of cases.  So that leaves about 94% of the nasty stuff left in our air.  Where exactly does that excess 90 some percent come from?  Well a good chunk of it comes from US… You know the people who live along the Wasatch front.  Makes you feel a little squirmy huh?  So now that I have you all queasy about how much you are polluting our air and stuff… Let’s talk about what we can do.

  • Carpool… Going to lunch with a friend?  Why not pick them up on the way?
  • Public Transportation… Taking TRAX is actually the BEST way to get downtown.  Parking is a nightmare.
  • Drive less… Get all your shopping done in one trip instead of eleventybillion.
  • Car maintenance… Not only will it keep your car running longer it helps keep the air clean.
  • Use a shovel… Or even better have you kids use the shovel.  Keep the snow blower off.
  • Maintain your furnace… I mean who would ever go like a year without changing their filter??? (cough cough cough… oopsie)
  • Get more tips on the Utah Clean Air website.

In the end we can get rid of industry… Lose all the pretty copper and precious metals and oil and gas and all the things that make life awesome.  And we would still have pollution and an inversion.  So it starts with us… The PEOPLE of UTAH.  Let’s get this clean air party started.  And of course we will all carpool, walk, or ride our unicorns to the party.  Just a side note… Unicorn glitter is a non-pollutant.

***I was compensated for my time… But all thoughts, feelings, and opinions are my own.  Trust me.  Unicorns HATE liars.

Filed Under: unicorns, Utah Tagged With: , , , ,

Valentines That Suck

February 11, 2013 By 2 Comments

I am a hopeless romantic.  Hopeless being the operative word.  Valentines day doesn’t mean much to me.  Chocolates?  Blah… Give me a Diet Coke.  Flowers?  They just die.  Fancy expensive meals?  I can make those at home.  See… HOPELESS.  Plus, I think love should be celebrated all year long.  Little notes.  Surprise dates.  Never ever ever EVER having to bring in groceries or do any heavy lifting.  You know the little things.  That being said… Most people still need some way to celebrate Valentines Day.  That is why I created these FREE Printable Valentines Day Cards… And they suck… LITERALLY.  They are perfect for a giggle with the one you love.

FREE printable valentines day cards

You can download, print on your favorite card stock (shiny or matte), and then attach a sucker… Voila!  Valentines Day Cards that truly suck.  You KNOW you want them.

valentines day card printables.

How can you get these masterpieces for your Valentines Day celebrations???

free valentines day card printables

It’s super EASY.  Just click below and you can download.

click here to download

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Filed Under: holidays, printables Tagged With: , , ,
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