Weekend from Hell

I live for my weekends.

Weekends are my go-to for rest, relaxation, fun and my babies.

Oh, my babies.

I don't get to spend nearly as much time as I want with them during the week because of this silly thing called a job.

This past weekend I had plans of bathing suits, giggles and ice cream but all of that nonsense was dashed when I snuck into my daughter's class room at the end of the day on Friday to get some kisses. I was surprised to find my girl tucked away in the corner, snoozing on a row of chairs.

This stopped me in my tracks. Girl never sleeps during the day unless something is wrong.

Upon inspection, I discovered she had a 103.7 fever!

I bundled her up and took her home to cuddle away the sickness but her fever just would not stop!

We headed to the doctors the next day where her cough developed into croup and they diagnosed her with bronchitis. We were sent home with antibiotics and told to get some rest.

When your kid is sick, you tend to be on heightened alert. You're looking for a clue as to what could make them feel better and what can you do to make them comfortable.

I hover when my kids are sick.

Do you need your pillow fluffed? Are you hungry? What do you want to watch?

I spoil the crap out of them.

When Roo woke up from a nap with a strange look on her face, I knew something was wrong. I pestered her to tell me what was wrong but she wouldn't.

I knew in my gut that something wasn't right.

Then she asked to go back to the doctors.

She was having trouble breathing, her airway was swelling shut.

I immediately went into a mode where I'd made the decision to take her to the hospital. I packed up a bag of stuffed animals, change for the vending machine, chargers for phones and tablets... everything but the poor girls shoes!

I left Turtle with Daddy and out the door we flew.

The whole way I was praying to God to make her better and to guide our drive to the hospital.

I just needed her better, fast.

Her breaths were so fast and so short.

We were able to get in right away and they got some medicine in her to stop the swelling and reduce it.

Thankfully, it worked. After a special breathing treatment, she was back to her normal self.

When can we go home?

They did an X-Ray of her chest, which came back normal, and we were able to spend some time snuggling together while we waited. 

Roo has a horrible track record with respiratory infections and the past three times she'd experienced them, we've ended up in the hospital.

They tell me that she will outgrow them and I'm hoping this is true.

No one wants to have to rush to the hospital because their child cannot breathe.

We spent the rest of the weekend doing absolutely nothing except fighting the fever that kept coming back and the one that decided to knock Turtle down. 

And getting very little sleep.

Today I'm praying for full recoveries because we all desperately need our sleep and my little ones desperately need to run and play.

Wish us luck. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, & Refill at Sea World

Sea World is opening up its newest attraction next week. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is a huge expansion and it combos up a state-of-the-art ride and an up-close encounter with four different types of penguins.

Cool, huh?

To go with the opening, Sea World is selling the cutest cups.

Check out the press release: 

"SEAWORLD DESIGNS NEW CONSERVATION-MINDED CUP TO INTERACT WITH COCA-COLA FREESTYLE

-- Custom Technology Engages Guests on a Personal Level --

 

Orlando, Fla., May 14, 2013 – This penguin-shaped cup may look cute and cuddly, but it has a noble purpose: encourage guests to help the planet, one refill at a time.

In conjunction with SeaWorld^® Orlando's epic new attraction and ride Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™ opening Memorial Day weekend, SeaWorld has created the Cup That Cares™ -- a new reusable cup program with a twist of technology. The innovative, interactive cup was designed specifically to connect with Coca-Cola Freestyle beverage dispensers in the new realm.

The new Cup That Cares engages guests in a personalized manner to reuse materials and reduce their carbon footprint.  An RFID chip embedded in each Cup That Cares interacts with software at Coca-Cola Freestyle^® dispensers to calculate and tell guests how they are being more environmentally responsible by choosing to reuse.

Plus, SeaWorld will donate $1 from each Cup That Cares purchase to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens^® Conservation Fund, a not-for-profit foundation that helps protect wildlife around the world. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Technology embedded in the Cup That Cares calculates the amount of CO2 each guest saves from entering the atmosphere when they choose to reuse the cup for refills at Coca-Cola Freestyle machines in Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. With each refill at the designated machines, exclusive software developed by Coca-Cola and SeaWorld serves up an onscreen message that is customized to that guest’s Cup That Cares history.  The message thanks the guest for choosing to reuse, tracks how many refills the Cup That Cares has been used for, and calculates the running total of CO2 the guest has saved from entering the atmosphere.

Each refill with a reusable cup prevents the emission of approximately 27 grams of CO2.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE:

There are two options, both available exclusively in the new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin attraction at SeaWorld Orlando:

• Cup That Cares souvenir reusable cup – available at the two beverage stations inside the attraction for $9.99 – is adorned with photos of Puck™ and his penguin family. Puck is  the hero penguin character featured throughout the new realm,

 

• Create A Cup That Cares – Guests may build their own personalized penguin-shaped character cup by choosing from more than 40 accessories such as eyes, hair, glasses, hats, bow tie, necklaces and even miniature Shamu ice cream bars and SeaWorld shopping bags. The Create A Cup That Cares will be sold in theAntarctica gift shop, and includes a free first fill at the nearby Antarctica beverage stations. Create A Cup That Cares experience starts at $15.95 with the option to add accessory items.

 

"Just as penguins do within their colonies, humans also can band together to make a big difference through small actions,” said Dan Brown, Chief Operating Officer of SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Parks. “We see great potential with this new program because it encourages guests to be more aware of their actions – and reduce their carbon footprint -- in an easy, fun and innovative way. Each step may be small, but it all adds up when we work together."

Refills throughout the park for both Cup That Cares options are $.99 each.

PLUS -- NEW custom Coca-Cola flavor served up only at Antarctica 

The Cup That Cares concept was developed in partnership with the park's beverage partner Coca-Cola, whose Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers offer guests more than 100 different beverage brands.  Also only in Antarctica, Coca-Cola Freestyle will offer an all-new, vanilla-infused choice -- South Pole Chill^™.

For more information, visit www.SeaWorldOrlando.com"

This post is purely informative. I was not compensation for posting this. 

Memories Made

This weekend has to go down as one of the best weekends I've had... in a really long time.

And the funny thing about this weekend, is that I didn't take any photos of our adventures. For me, this is odd.

I always have a camera or, at least, my iPhone on me so I can snap away and post on my blog or on Facebook to share with family and friends.

This weekend involved water and my beloved stayed in my center console where she wouldn't get ruined (because as much as I love her, I don't insure her).

So we set off to the beach on Saturday and hunted shells and jumped over waves. Today we canoed down the Wekiva and did cannonballs in the springs.

And I didn't take one picture to share.

But I took a million to keep for myself.

Roo's first alligator sighting and her shrieks of fear. Her awe at the river otter and her shouts for her sister to SIT DOWN! I remember Turtle's fingers trailing in the water as we glided along. The wonder of them seeing all the fishes below the boat and the gasps of surprise at just how beautiful the world around us is.

I didn't get a picture of the lovebug swarm that covered us from head to toe at the beach and had us dancing in circles while we flapped our towels in defense. The sandcastle that Turtle spent all her time on or the joy in Roo's face when she got tumbled by a wave.

And all those pictures I would've been focused on taking wouldn't have let me see all the special things that happened this weekend.

And I am so glad I don't have any photos to share because sometimes memories should only belong to those that witness them.

Review: Combat

Part of farm life is bugs.

Plain and simple.

It's just something you had to adapt to being out here. It's like horse poop, you learn to walk around it not through it. It's the same with bugs. You just grab something, smush it to death and move on.

Recently I was asked to check out some new Combat products and see if it helped.

And before I get any further, my house is NOT run over with bugs. But just like any house, and especially a farm house in Floridas, you will get bugs.

Especially when it pours for days.

I was sent the Combat ant killing stripes and the roach killing bait strips. 

Both have a nice new discreet design which I love because the old "roach motels" were big and screamed to the world you had a bug problem.

They boast that they have adhesive strips and while they do, I had the most annoying time trying to get them to stick to my surfaces.

I did see a difference in the bug pests that troop through my kitchen but I still saw one or two roaming the night shift.

No big deal, nothing a paper towel or an oven mitt can't solve.

Combat did a survey recently and that 52% of Americans admit to having a bug problem and that 20% of people don't invite people over because of their bug problem!

Shocking, huh?

Some great tips to keep those pests away are:

• Store all food in airtight containers
• Sweep your floors and vacuum regularly
• Keep vegetation trimmed around the outside of the house (best to keep it from touching the home)
• Clean all surfaces to erase any food residue left behind

For more tips on bug prevention check out their website 

Check your store shelves for the latest Combat products and check out their website for all the great products they offer. 

I received Combat products in exchange for this review. All opinions belong to me. Thanks!

Review: Princess Twilight Sparkle

Turtle seriously has an addiction to My Little Pony.

Every night when she goes to bed she is allowed to watch some TV and when I ask her what she wants to watch, it never fails, she tells me: TWILIGHT SPARKLE.

Code word: My Little Pony.

The latest DVD from MLP is: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle.

And can I say, it's about time Twilight Sparkle became a Princess. Girl does everything, she deserves it! 

From the press release:

"All hail the… Princess! My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle is coming to DVD April 30^th from Shout! Factory Kids in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. Princess Twilight Sparkle includes 5 episodes from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, focusing on Twilight’s adventures and the grand coronation event from Season 3 as well as a Sing-Along and Coloring Sheet, and is priced at $14.97 SRP.

Since arriving in Ponyville, Twilight has learned Princess Celestia’s most valuable lesson — the meaning of true friendship. But with every new adventure comes a new lesson and if anyone is up for more learning, it’s the studious Twilight Sparkle!

Now, after completing an important challenge, Twilight has earned her princess wings and has all new adventures and responsibilities as a princess! The 5 episodes on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle include Princess Twilight Sparkle’s royal coronation. For everyone who loves ponies and princesses, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle is a tale not to be missed!"

Seriously, this is a great DVD and the sing-along is Roo's favorite. I have no issue with her desire to watch it all the time. MLP always has a great message in the stories and I love that my kids adore a toy I grew up loving.

Get your own copy today!

I received a copy of this DVD for promotional purposes.

Review: Paper Culture

I am a total nerd for stationery.

Total nerd.

I have tons of paper all over the place. Some with my initials, some with cute fuzzy animals, thank you cards, birthday cards. You name it, I am in love with it.

Enter Paper Culture.

A piece of heaven for someone like me.

I was asked to check out their personalized stationery and I jumped all over it... And then promptly spent two and a half hours combing through every piece of paper they offer trying to pick the perfect one.

They had amazing options to choose from.

I love  the banner stripes graduation card and the cherry blossom announcement cards.

Beautiful, huh?

I ordered myself  the rustic paper stationery in pink chalk.

The cool thing is that you can customize it completely. Normally, the header says HI. I changed it to HOWDY just because it's my more style.

And another cool thing, when I placed my order they planted a tree in my name! Awesome!

Another great thing, how freaking fast the whole process was (once I made up my mind, of course). I placed my order, it shipped the next day and I received my cards within three days!

Best order, ever.

Seriously.

Check out Paper Culture for yourself and get you some sweet stationery.





Disclosure: I participated in a Global Influence program and received Paper Cultures product for my honest opinion. Thanks!

Iron Man 3 Review

Movies are a rare treat for me and the husband.

A rare, rare treat.

I think the last movie we went and saw together, that didn't involve children or cartoon characters, was Pirates of the Caribbean 4.

And that came out years ago.

When the Iron Man frenzy started, I honestly had no desire to get involved in it. I'm not usually one for action movies with big characters.

That was until one night I was flipping through the channels and stumbled upon Iron Man 2. I watched it and loved it. Then I hunted down the first one, and I loved that one too.

When we were invited to see Iron Man 3 early, we jumped at the chance.

Hello, Tony Stark! 

Not only did we get to have a date night, we got to see a movie together.

Score.

I don't want to give too much away, but I really enjoyed it. There's a new bad guy (Hello, Guy Pearce!) and lots of action.

Lots of action. 

There were times my hand flew to my mouth in shock too.

And the laughs, of course, were plenty.

Marvel is good like that.

The ending was satisfactory and although I'm curious about a possible Iron Man 4... but I don't want to spill it so I don't ruin it for you when you see it.

Iron Man 3 hits theaters today so GO SEE IT! 

Disclosure: I attended a media preview for this movie and for this review. All opinions are 100% my own.