Grab my Icon & Share YOUR "Toddler Tuesdays" ♥

Welcome! My new weekly segment called Toddler Tuesdays!

I spend a lot of time with toddlers! My son is nearly 3, and I work at a foreign language center for kids, so I’m around 3-5 year olds all day!

I really don’t think I have an artistic bone in my body, I’m good with desktop publishing and whatnot, but I couldn’t even draw a decent stick figure to save my life!

My son, on the other hand has inherited (through DH obviously) a glorious artistic ability! He loves doodling, coloring, painting and taking pictures!

(the one thing he got from me! oh, and yes my 2 year old is a budding photographer!)

Seeing his art gives me so much joy! And it’s such an interesting perspective of his view of the world.

I love writing, as a kid my parents taught me that writing, drawing and all the arts are a way for your inner-self to present itself in a tangible way.

So, here’s my ode to my “Super Toddler” and to all of them! I hope you’ll add “Toddler Tuesdays” to your blog someday!

This is my first week, so I thought I’d start off by posting a picture he took recently.

...photography by "BooBoo"™...

This picture is of my hubby and I on Thanksgiving this year. As you can see, I saw Benjamin out of the corner of my eye!

I love candid photos, and especially this one! “Mommy & Daddy”

16 years from now when he’s 18 he’ll look at is and say:

“Oh my gosh you look so young mom!” (haha)

<3

The Saturday 9

Yay! My first MeMe! Thanks again to Sam & the Saturday 9!

1. Tell us about a night that you spent with someone who was a stranger, yet by the end of the night you were very close.

When I was in high school, a girl I knew very little offered to give me a ride to a friend’s house for a birthday party. I went with her, and we ended up leaving because I was sick and we spent the whole night hanging out and talking and we ended up best friends!
2. When is the last time you rode the bus?
When my son was an infant. I started taking the bus a lot because he hated his car seat so much! Plus, everywhere I needed to go was local, so it was nice.

3. Describe the last time you stood up for a cause.

I feel like I have to constantly demand good customer service! I’ve worked in that field and I was always very professional. Why do I have to make a stink just for some service?!

4. What is something you would like to do, but you’re afraid of the risk(s)?

Go back to school! I worry that I won’t be able to juggle my schooling & work and my family!
5. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over?

Get myself on a new path emotionally & physically! I have so many personal goals!

6. Name something you’ll miss about 2009.

At the end of January 2010 my son will be 3! As crazy as it sounds….i’ll miss his terrible two’s!

7. If you could invent something, what would it be?

Something that would automatically organize my thoughts and priorities into a perfect list.

8. What first got you started blogging?

I wanted a creative outlet! After 2.5 years of being a SAHM and then going back to work, I needed a venue to express myself & meet other like minded people!

9. How did you find this meme?

From a link on the MEME page or profitablemommyblogging.com

ABC Family & Houseparty.com

I love throwing parties & having friends over to get together.

I stumbled on Houseparty.com the other day while pirusing the internet!

The site allows you to apply to a host brand-sponsored party in your house & invite your friends!

The brand partners range from TV channels like ABC to food products like Jell-O and pruducts like Pampers!

I’ve applied for almost all of them! I am so excited! Click the link to check out my party page! My first party is sponsored by ABC Family & we’ll be watching sneek peak episodes of My Life as an American Teenager and Make it or Break It.

House Party My Party.

Two Fabulous Mamas!

Being a mommy to a constantly energized toddler means anything I do by  myself has to take 15 minutes MAX!

I work full-time, and let me just say…mornings are hectic!

I have become the guru of getting myself together fast.

I look for products that are effective, reasonably priced and long-lasting!

Here are my 5 ESSENTIALS!

Shine be Gone!

I have oily skin. There, I said it. Before using Avon’s Magix Face Perfector, I had tried oil blotting sheets & oil free makeup but my skin would still get oily again.

This products is a lifesaver! It’s a cream that you apply to your face and as you put it on you can feel your skin softening and it reduces the visibility of your pores!

I use it as a primer after my moisturizer, before my foundation. If you have oily skin…..I HIGHLY recommend that you give it a try!

Quick Tip: If you have oily skin, use only pressed and loose powder foundation! Liquid foundation will only make oily skin worse.

Get Lippy

I’m not much of a lipstick kinda gal; not on a daily basis anyhow. My favorite lip product is Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith’s Rosebud Salve. It smells so sweet! (Just like roses.) It makes my lips so soft and the tin lasts forever! I use it constantly & Ive had it for months!

Foundation is the Key!

I loooove my MAC Studio Fix, but at less than half the price, Mark. Powder Buff Natural Face Foundation is giving MAC a run for their money!

I adore this foundation! As I mentioned before, those of us with oily skin need powder foundation! The Powder Buff foundation is pressed powder & gives great coverage! I use it everyday and I like it better than anything I’ve bought from the drug store.

Deliciously Scented!

I’m a big fan of body mists…I like lightweight fragrances for everyday. The Bath & Body Works Brown Sugar & Fig scent is divine! It smells so good and it’s not overwhelming or overpowering.

The Eye’s Have it!

Mascara is my #1 beauty essential! I feel naked without my mascara! I’ve tried them ALL! I finally found my ultimate favorite! The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara from Maybelline. It gives great definition to the lashes without the clumps! I love the brush because it grabs every lash! I will not go anywhere without this stuff!

What are your favorites? I’d love to hear from you! I love hearing about and trying new products!

He got the shot!*

That is the question! I wasn’t raised in a family that did big things for Christmas. My mom isn’t now, and never was a big fan of the commercialism that takes over the Holiday season.

I have always agreed with my mom’s way of thinking, and especially now that I’m a parent I just hate commercials in general! Since when do we all need so much “stuff”?

Everything about the Winter season brings people together and in today’s unstable economy, that’s is happening a lot more in general!

If these trouble times have done anything, they’ve made people connect! We are helping each other now, volunteering, learning to live with less stuff and dealing with our lives (and each other) in  whole new way!

But why has it taken so much suffering for us to behave humanely to our fellow-men?! (and moms!)

With ALL that said… I wanted our family to decorate the tree together this year! In the true spirit of togetherness and love that the Holidays should embody!

What did I get?

ME, decorating the tree while my husband watched football and my son ran around with the tinsel making a mess!

(It wasn’t exactly what I’d envisioned.)

I will give him credit for this; he did snap this fabulous photo of Benjamin and I during the 15 seconds he helped me put an ornament on the tree (before running off to be the ”super toddler’ that he is).

He got the shot!

Happy Holidays!

"It's like pizza in New York!"

I am NOT by any means a “foodie”, nor do I really eat much pizza & fast food.

I AM however, a big believer of giving credit where credit is due!

Flippin’ Pizza in Encinitas, CA is absolutely amazing!

They have 4 locations in the North County, San Diego area.

I have eaten at both the Encinitas and Carlsbad Village locations, and what I can say is that not only is the food delicious, but the prices and atmosphere make it a ‘must go’ place when you want some great pizza!

Flippin’ Pizza has a great mellow, family friendly atmosphere that I love! It’s casual and you can even order by the slice!

I know you’re wondering…YES! They deliver!

I love their selection of toppings! They range from delicious artichoke and basil to pepperoni sausage!

Check it out when you get the chance! My family is definitely a fan!

THIS POST IS BASED ON MY OPINION & REVIEW. NO COMPENSATION WAS GIVEN, NOR AM I AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY IN ANY WAY.