My darling Kinley just turned two. Seriously, I swear it is going by faster with the second than it did with my son. She is a strong-willed cookie who loves babies, dogs, and keeping up with her big brother.

As a mom, I’m always on the hunt for toys they would enjoy, but also are educational. And so when my grandma sent some “toy money” for her birthday {and some for Aiden, my son as well} we headed to every kids dream – TOYS’R’US!

After a lot of roaming, selections were made!

{Isn’t she the cutest?! I’m totally bias!}

Kinley snatched up another baby {I mean really we needed another one!} along with a bath tub and the game “Backyard Bingo,” which I will actually review after I show off my babes!

Aiden added some cars to his Thomas set, “little Legos” as we call them, and batteries! I just realized the batteries made it in the picture – they were for his Read With Me DVD! { http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Learning-System-Little/dp/B0009WLRNS}.

We have all been really enjoying Barnyard Bingo! This is the first game that we can really play together, I guess you could include Hungry, Hungry Hippos – educational in the fact the more those Hippos eat… the more likely you are to win {okay, yes and counting the balls!}. Anyways, it’s a fantastic game and I highly recommend for the early preschool crowd.

The game comes with four cards {a lot of stickers that are easy to place}, 12 chips, and the barn. There are three different ways to play, which I love since Kinley is still young.

1. Matching the colors. You can flip the cards over and then just simply match each color. First one to do so yells, “Bingo!”

2. Matching the color and animal. In the picture above this is exactly how you play. Again, first one to do so yells, “Bingo!”

3. If you are just playing with you and your child, then it suggest just pulling out a chip and talking about the color or the animal. Asking questions like “What sounds does the pig make?” It’s more of a fun educational tie.

AND what I love best is you can have one child playing one way and the other playing another. My son Aiden will match the animals, where Kinley is simply matching the colors until she gets the hang of the game. It encourages lots of discussion, especially about taking turns!

One thing that is tough about the game is actually opening the barn for the chip to come out. I don’t know if we just need to wear ours in a little, but Kinley cannot do this independently. Aiden can most the time, but really struggles.

Overall, this has become a favorite toy in our house!

Kinley winning her first game!

When you have kids you naturally assume that you are going to be dealing with grownups, right? I thought that when I became a mom I entered a very mature and supportive community…and yet I was shocked when the mama drama started early on. No matter how much you hear about the mommy wars or women not supporting each other, you will always be shocked the first time it happens.

We all know how it starts and that’s with the natural competition about milestones. Sure you think that your baby is doing great, crawling and babbling sweet little words—and then you see Jack. Wow this kid is only 9 months, how can that be? The mom proceeds to brag about how he was pulling himself up at 6 months and is uttering full words now at this tender age. While you smile on the outside, you kind of want to barf a little too.

Mama Drama Happens At All Ages and Stages

This is the earliest and perhaps the most innocent form of mama drama, but it continues on from there. The common areas for debate are usually the type that you find yourself avoiding. The breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding moms, the stay at home vs. the working moms, the attachment parenting vs. letting them cry it out moms—there seems no end to the platforms for which we all work against each other rather than respect and support each other.

As your child gets older the drama continues as you deal with some downright insecure and crazy moms. Sad but true the competition is alive and well with academics and activities. Are these moms trying to live out their life dream to be a ballet dancer? Did they do poorly in school and therefore they want their kid to be valedictorian? I personally have always helped to support my kids in doing well, but also placed realistic expectations on them too. Novel concept, huh?

So as I sit here and think about this with young children, I recognize that the mama drama will always be around. I find that being confident in who you are as a mother is the best anecdote. I also find that surrounding yourself with the normal ones and tuning out the super crazy ones works well. Sometimes you just have to recognize that you can’t keep up with the Joneses—and that maybe you don’t even want to!

Think About What Really Matters and Ignore The Rest

When you can say that your kids are healthy and happy, and that you are doing the best job that you can as mom then that’s a success. Forget the other stuff—there will always be something to worry about or some drama to get involved in if you seek it out. I have learned through trials and tribulations this to be true, and now I feel like I have grown as a mother because I can tune out the unnecessary drama. No time for it, and wow look how I’ve grown as a person!

I have such a wish that moms would unite and support each other. Rather than bashing each other for choices such as working or breastfeeding, that we would instead understand and appreciate each other’s differences. Moms are a very cool and unique niche and if we allowed ourselves we could be truly supportive. Don’t get me wrong—there are some truly amazing moms out there and they make for some of the best friends! You just have to know how to tune out the noise and never let yourself get sucked into the things that don’t matter in the end.

So why do I write this? For awareness, for new moms who can go in with their eyes wide open, and for those of us moms who are still trying to figure it out and hoping for a good support network. The next time that you feel judgmental about a mom who is sweating as she tries to wrangle her kids into the cart at Target, feel for her instead. Yes that may have happened to me, but that’s really not important here.

The next time you judge a working mom, consider that she may have to work. The point is that mama drama is so unnecessary and YOU can control how much of it you allow into your life. Be the exception to the rule and be the super cool mom that the other down to earth mamas can dig—your kids and you will be so much happier that you did!

When I became a mom I knew pennies would be pinched. So we did as most new/parent’s to be do and shopped around for best diaper and wipes prices. Little did I know that not even 2 months into mommy hood we found out that our sweet little Babycakes was allergic to disposable diapers :0/ What’s a {new} mom to do?! Cloth Diapers here we come!

Budget wise it was it actually made more sense, 1 upfront cost and then diapers for life! Only problem now was cost of special detergents to wash said super economical cloth diapers. The new style cloth diapers need to be washed in special detergents with no whiteners, scents, no fuss no muss and low suds! Oh and I have an HE washing machine!

After about 2 months of buying special and expensive detergents for just the diapers and wipes. I started doing some research and that’s when I found my fist recipe for homemade laundry detergent. Well the Hubster thought it was a waste of time, too much of hassle and not cost effective. But me being me I had to prove him wrong. After all he did quickly jump on board the breastfeeding, cloth diapering, & homemade baby food wagons!!

So there I was on the hunt for washing soda, borax and Fels Naptha {yeah what’s that?!}

First recipe I tried was for liquid {almost gel} detergent and honestly was a little time consuming. Then I found a powder version and fell in LOVE!

Now over the years and as my needs have changed I have tweaked the recipe and made it work for us. With 2 very messy little’s and stinky sweaty clothes from Hubster and I, I’ve added an oxy cleaner and  baking POWDER to help eliminate stains and odors!!

I hope you enjoy and also find your perfect blend! Here’s mine for you to give a whirl, recipe and tutorial!

Brandi’s Laundry Detergent Blend

takes approx. 15mins to make (with hand grating the soap)

Makes approx. 160 Loads.

 2 Cups Borax

2 Cups Washing Soda {different from baking soda}

2 cups SunOxy or Oxyclean {optional}

2 cups Baking Soda {also optional}

1 bar Zote {originally used pink one, now use half pink and half whitening}

First in a very large bowl shred your Zote (or Zote blends); I use the super fine side on my hand grater. I have found that it dissolves easier and less sudsy that way.

Now add each of the other ingredients one at a time mixing very well in between each. You want to make sure it is as evenly distributed as possible.

Guess what…YOU’RE DONE!

That was it!

I use 1 TBSP per load, I do adjust with dirtiness and smelliness of loads also.

Price breakdown per load

Borax – $3.97/ 76oz = $0.052/oz   x 16oz = $0.83

Washing Soda- $3.97/55oz = $0.72/oz   x 16oz = $1.12

Sun Oxy- $5.94/96oz = $0.063/oz x16oz = $1.28

Baking Soda- $3.47/40oz = $0.084/oz x16oz = $0.99

Zote – $0.97/bar

Total per batch is $5.19 divided by 160 loads

Is……. $0.03 per load!!!

I really hope you enjoy this recipe and have fun making your own detergent!

For those who like added scents to their laundry stay tuned for my scent booster hacks! How to make your own or make your store bought last 2-4x as long!

Farewell my Frugal friends!

My day was spent bee-bopping around the neighborhood entertaining my kids with garage sales. I got a sweet deal on an out beach chair to lounge in this summer while my kids ran free after a winter confined to the house. {I wanted to add a side-note… Do not take your kids garage sale shopping where there are many older people because you WILL come up with more junk than you were selling at your garage sale}.

It had been a busy week and then after slamming my thumb in the car door {seriously, who does that at 29 years-old?!} and then the reality that I haven’t been on a date in… wait I’m not calculating that might be too depressing for some of you to handle. I’m playing – I am soooo content with being single!! A text from Elizabeth Lewis, Owner of DMB, was just what the doctor ordered.

She suggested Sushi at The Sushi House in Farmington. So I swallowed my pride, since I know nothing about Sushi, and said absolutely!

I have to say we had a blast. Chatting about the future, kids, and business. I never knew how much we really had in common until our date night. It was a sweet time to realize, I’m not insane and not the only one who has struggled with XYZ, and not alone in this journey of being a mom. We were able to just sit and laugh without any child pulling on us or demanding our attention. Plus, Elizabeth was able to give me hope my thumb nail wouldn’t fall off {and to update – it hasn’t!}.

And then we ate. She ordered for me {what a date!} and everything was going great until… The forgotten Las Vegas roll appears.

Elizabeth says, “It’s not that hot – you have to try it.” Trusting my friend I shove the whole thing in my mouth and at first it was delicious until… my mouth began to burn and my water cup was low. As we laugh and my ears begin to emit smoke, she says “Oh that may have had a few extra seeds on the jalapeno.” Thanks friend.

The moral of this story is to not eat the Las Vegas roll unless you enjoy your mouth being on fire, but more importantly make sure you go out with your mom friends every once and awhile to enjoy some Mom Time. It’s essential to feel renewed in order to be a mom full of patience and love! And I highly recommend The Sushi House and a Mom Date ANY time with Elizabeth Lewis!

If I received a dollar for every time I heard the word “mom” called out to me, I think I would be a millionaire. Ha!

While this is definitely an exaggeration on my part, doesn’t it feel like all you hear all day, every day is Mom? Momma? Mommy? My mom used to say…”Just call me Diane.” I totally didn’t get it then, but boy do I get it now.  Even though she was joking, I am sure at times there was a glimpse of truth behind those words.  My mom used to say that I would say over and over again….”momma, momma, momma.”  Did I potentially exhaust the word as a child? Maybe just a little.  Love you mom!

While the word “mom” is definitely a sacred word in my book, it can be overused to the point of mental exhaustion.  Who is with me so far? LOL!  Sure, I love being a mother and I love hearing the word at times, it also can become stressful and draining.  How can one word be so bittersweet at times?  If I had to weigh the pros and cons though of being a mom, I’d say the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.  I mean they have to, right?  They are only little for so long and they will grow up and eventually not need us as much anymore. {Inserting a deep…sigh.}

Mom is definitely the word of the day every day in our house.  How about yours?  Feel free to share any fun mom moments with us.  We would love to read them.