It's a Fiesta!

It's official.  

Isla June thinks her birthday is actually an entire month and not just one day.  

I guess with all the talking about it happening, the actually day of, and then the party a week later, plus, the mounds of gifts that showed up at our door throughout the month ("Is that one for little girl?!?"), well, i can see why she sees it that way.

A week after her actually birthday, Isla June's Nana, Boppa, Aunt Abbie and 5 cousins came careening down to the Carolina's in a rented RV.  Just to celebrate with us.  

What troopers.

We showed them a good time at our favorite pool,

took them to putt putt,

and they even managed a beach day in between the rains.  

I was so crazy hectic, but so so fun.

We threw her party on a Sunday.  She requested a Fiesta like Dora.  

So, that's what she got.

All of the decorations are from Target.  Serving-ware is our own stash.  

Party favors: Maracas (HUGE hit!)

Our new neighborhood's clubhouse was the perfect spot.  

Facilities that are already party ready and a pool. yes, ma'am. 

Great friends, loving family and....

A Pinata!  

Now, if you've ever had a kid party and didn't have a pinata, I would say, get one.  

Well worth it to see the kids excitement.

Everyone got a turn whacking.

But, cousin Aidan had to come in for the kill.

We found a local bakery to make gluten free cupcakes.  

With all the chaos of company, I wasn't about to attempt another homemade version.

Thankful I had somewhere local I could call.

Oh, that face.  Love.Her.Up.

The night before, during some crazy cousin dancing, Isla June fell and busted her lip.

That's not lipstick, ya'll.

As a southern lady, I'm a bit opposed to opening gifts at parties.  

Sounds silly, I know.  

But, all the cousins insisted and since they pretty much took over the experience, I just sat back and photographed.  

She's one blessed little girl.  

Oh, sweet cousins.

Not sure if I'm going to be able to top this birthday!  

Atleast I've got a whole year to start planning.....

Living in a Miniature World

A year ago, I saw my favorite blogging family reveal an amazing gift for their little girl.
A handmade doll house.  Constructed by her father. 
I was in awe.  It was everything I ever wanted in a doll house. 

I asked Jeremy if he could somehow manage to pull this off for Isla June's 2nd Birthday.  But, alas, all of his tools are still in storage.  I figured I would have to wait months/years before I could get this coveted item for my little lady. 
I even checked the always wonderful but tricky craigslist.  No dice. (or very, very expensive dice)

Thankfully, Isla June's Boppa came in to save the day.  I emailed him the plans and he whipped this up in time to deliver it a few weeks before Christmas.

It.was.perfect.

One of my favorite things about it is the removable board on the bottom.  When Isla June outgrows this piece, it can be hung on her wall as a book shelf. 
Multipurpose items.  Gotta love that.

As luck would have it, we picked up an entire doll house furniture set from a local consignment store for a total out of pocket expense of $12.00.  I knew that this was a steal.  Most doll house furniture costs $10-$20 per room. 
Score one for me.
(this is similar furniture- same company)

Then, at another local consignment sale, my mother was able to find a Plan Toys family of 4 collection practically brand new for only $10. 
It was meant to be.

Many days are spent rearranging the furniture and pretending with the mommy and daddy.  (we have since added a baby to the mix)  I can definitely see this as a toy that will grow with her.

Thank you, Boppa!

What I Learned From Potty Training {Review}

There are so many important life lessons that I learned from potty training a toddler: never push someone into something they don't want to do, wait until they're ready, have lots and lots and lots of paper towels on hand at all times and bribery works!

Well, at least it did for us.  When I found the right things to entice her.  See, we don't do candy in our household.  We rarely do sugary treats.  For us, fruit is our after diner dessert.  Isla June has gotten 2 lollipops in her whole life and those were from the tellers at the bank (she thinks that's why I give them my money). 
When it came to this huge milestone in her life, I knew I was going to need a little bit extra incentive to keep this potty ball rolling but, I didn't want to just throw out all my hesitations about high sugar candy.......

Enter the Fruit Sparx Xlear Candy.  It's made with natural color and flavoring and is sweetened with xylitol which has been shown to not promote tooth decay (which sugar can do).  And thanks to Mom's Meet we were able to sample the product during this pivotal time in my toddler's life. I have to say, for us, it worked!

It was the perfect sweet treat that reinforced what a great job Isla June was doing and how proud of her I was for working hard at something that isn't always easy.  She only received 2 candy pellets after each potty success, but those special treats were so savored by my little lady.  And I wasn't fretting over the impact the candy would be having on her beautiful teeth!

About Xlear

Xlear, Inc. is committed to providing consumers with the health benefits of xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener, by manufacturing all-natural, health-enhancing products. Xlear® Nasal Spray is an award-winning, patented saline and xylitol solution; a complete line of dental health products under the Spry Dental Defense System® brand; XyloSweet®, raw xylitol crystals used as a sugar substitute in cooking, baking and general consumption; and SparX® Candy, a growing line of healthy, xylitol based candies. ®, SM, © 2012 May Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

•  Xlear SparX is sweetened naturally with xylitol, a plant-based, dentist-recommended sweetener that’s been proven to improve dental health and strengthen tooth enamel.
•  Xylitol doesn’t interfere with the body’s blood sugar levels or insulin production, making it safe for kids and adults on a sugar-controlled diet.
•  Xlear SparX Candy is available in Berry, Citrus, and Fruit varieties; all are free of artificial colors and flavors.
•  Xlear SparX Candy retails for $1.49 for one tube.

Xlear has also saved our toothbrushing routine.  Thanks to the samples we recieved of Kid's Spry Tooth Gel with Xylitol.  Isla June and I are no longer battling multiple times a day in order to get her teeth brushed. She loves both the flavors and actually asks me to brush her teeth.  It's a miracle if you ask me! This toothpaste will now be a regular part of our toothbrushing routine. And I love that it's floride free.

Find Xlear on Facebook

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it

directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions

do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

For the Love of Reading {Review and Giveaway}

I remember sitting in the back corner of my family's living room, tucked behind the recliner, pouring over our  collection of National Geographic that spanned over a 10 year time frame.

When Moms Meet gave me the opportunity to review the National Geographic Kids Super Readers, my mind immediately flashed back to those memories.  Memories that I wanted to share with Isla June. 

website

Just hearing the words, "National Geographic" brings to mind a quality magazine full of powerful pictures and meaningful content.  I had my fingers crossed that these qualities would carry over to the Kids version.

I was so pleasantly surprised when I opened up my package to find the vibrantly colored, picture filled, easy reading material.  I couldn't wait to show Isla June.

About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books,apps, games, toys, videos, events, and a website. 

It is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. 

National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with as many as 100 nonfiction titles each year, including the New York Times best seller National Geographic Kids Almanac and our best selling series National Geographic Super Readers. 

Isla June loved the stickers (of course) and the fun characters on the pages.  She seemed to really enjoy looking at the pictures, especially the ones that featured any type of animal.  Some of the material was more focused towards older children who could really take the opportunity to explore the books independently or sit for longer reading times.  

My absolute favorite part was the Ultimate Weird but True book that featured "1,000 wild and wacky facts and photos!"  I can see this book being a part of our library for a very long time.  It's something I would love to gift to all of my nieces and nephews as well!  A definite family favorite and amazing resource guide for the inquisitive mind.

I think we all want to give our children the absolute best, even a head start, especially when it comes to academics.  Fostering a love of reading, science and exploration are skills I hope to instill in Isla June.  And I truly believe that the Super Readers program and National Geographic Kids books can be a part of that.

The National Geographic Super Readers program for Kids:

• Was developed in consultation with literacy education experts, each National Geographic Super Reader is filled with cool information about nonfiction topics kids love such as dinosaurs, tigers, planes and trains, plus big, colorful photographs, all in an easy-to-read and kid-friendly design.
• Filled with fun incentives to keep reading, an interactive website, and fun characters to get to know, the National Geographic Super Readers program has everything you need to get kids SUPER excited about reading.
• At kids.nationalgeographic.com/superreader, kids can sign up to become Super Readers, download the Super Readers poster, and start reading! Once they finish their book, they can cross it off on their poster and start getting fun rewards and prizes.

Any of the National Geographic Kids books or the Super Readers Program would be an amazing gift for any child in your life.

Want to introduce this amazing Reading Program to your family?  Enter Here:

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Find National Geographic on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from themanufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

What We're Doing Differently When it Comes to Supplementing

Many who have followed this blog from it's inception know that I am a big fan of supplements.  I actually tried to attempt to be a non veggie eating vegetarian throughout college by supplementing my diet with, well, supplements.
Let's just say that didn't really go well.

All of my research lately has led me to conclude that supplements have a place in our food regimen, but shouldn't be the center of the show.  It all starts with a clean, healthy diet and then adding what's needed from there.
I've also really started working on simplifying our supplements.
So, without further ado.......here's Isla June's vitamin regimen

1. Cod Liver Oil-  Full of DHA, EPA and Omega's.  Plus it's packed with Vitamin A and D.  Much more of a "whole" supplement instead of just using an Omega 3,6,9.  Having a diet high in animal soluble oils (Omega 3's) is vitally important to balancing out the high amount of  plant based Omega 6's that are running rampant throughout our food system. The proper balance of Omega's in our system is vital for healthy teeth and gums and bringing down the inflammation in the body (among many other things!)
2. Children's Multi Vitamin- I can't bear to stop giving Isla June a multi vitamin, but I only give her a half dose.  This is a new vitamin for her as I discovered her last multi contained Fructose.  Not the worst thing, but I wanted to find something better.   This one is full of the B vitamins and C.  I'm a big believer in liquid vitamins as well.  Better absorption into the system.
3. Kefir- One of the best things I have ever introduced into our supplement regimen has been this Coconut Kefir.  I'm not even sure I can call it a supplement because Kefir is kind of just a food source.  Kefir is filled with hundreds of thousands of good bacteria.  Even more than most probiotic supplement in pill form.  A regimen of fermented foods (like Kefir) are a huge part of healing the gut.  Since including this in our daily routine, Isla June is more able to handle any gluten, or dairy that creeps into her diet.  
4. Vitamin D-  This is my travel vitamin.  All three items above live in our fridge, so when we are on the road, I take the travel size Vitamin D with me.  And on exceptionally rainy weeks, we take this along with the Cod Liver Oil.  *Vitamin D is a vitamin you can overdose on, but we are all chronically low in it.*

And that's it!  Really.  That's all there is to Isla June's vitamin routine.  

She gets all three of these in the morning and then we are done for the day!  

Well, not really because the rest of her nutrients come from the food she eats (I don't want to leave that important part of this equation out)

Want more information on these supplements?  

Great reading about this topic can be found here and here and here

Our Favorite Teething Remedies: Getting Teeth Stinks

                        

We've been through a lot with this little lady.  First the bouts of colic, the all night pacing of the halls. 

Then, the food allergies.  The diapers that involved were almost as bad as the midnight zombie walks.  Both issues were solved with natural remedies (PROBIOTICS! and eliminating dairy, soy and gluten).

So, when we started the dreaded teething, I didn't reach for the Tylenol.  I had been through enough to realize that over the counter medications aren't going to be the best choice and that there may be a better, more natural way for her body to handle these milestones. 

After all, God gives us this stage for a reason.

Now that Isla June has 20 pearly chompers, including the dreaded Incisors, Molars and front Bugs Bunny teeth, we've been through the storm and can live to tell about it.

This is what worked for us (and what didn't):

•  Amber Teething Necklace - My first go-to for any teething baby.  We absolutely swear by ours.  I ordered it for Isla June when she was 7 months old and she's yet to take it off (because when we did she would start the fussing).   

Amber works by acting as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic.  The oil from the Amber is absorbed through the skin, which is why most children wear the stone around their necks- closer to the teeth.  If you're going to order one (because you should!), make sure it is from a reliable source and it is light Amber.  Buttery in color is best.  The lighter the Amber, the more potent.  Also, make sure it is from a reputable dealer.  You want the real thing.

• Razbaby Teether- We were fans of the Sophie in our house.  She was fun and pretty, but she wasn't so super great for the teeth.  Maybe Isla June just didn't like chewing on her cute face. 

Surprisingly, Little Girl was able to get by with just hugs for most of her teeth, but when those two year old molars came in, she needed something.  While digging around in her drawers one day, she found an old medicine pacifier.  And she loved it.  We called it her "Plug" and I laughed about the fact that she hadn't used a pacifier in over a year and a half, but now she wanted one.  I thought it was a phase.  But then, she kept asking for it.  So I decided to find a suitable replacement: enter the Razberry Teether.  It's BPA free, non-toxic and made from medical grade silicone.  You can even put it in the freezer.

•  Humphrey's Teething Tablets- I know a lot of people swear by the Hyland's teething tablets, but they just didn't work for us.  With Homeopathy, you have to remember that every one's body chemistry is different.  What works for someone elses baby won't necessarily work for yours. 

The Humphrey's were a life saver for us, though.  I'm not exactly sure about the difference between Humphrey's and Hyland's, but they did the trick.  Plus, they have less sugar in them.
 *tip: get them at your local CVS*

• Chamomilla-  I keep Chamomile on hand all the time.  It's my go to for fussy baby, teething baby, won't sleep baby, every time.  We've used the pellets from Boiron, but these Camilia droppers are the best.  And, Amazon has them one Subscribe and Save. 

What about Teething Gel? We never used any kind of teething gel because there can be very adverse reactions to it, epsecially for children under 2.  As well, it can impair other functions of the mouth if you accidentally get it on your baby's tongue. 

But, there's a natural way to make your own!

*I'd love it if you would share what worked for your baby or toddler in the comments.  We've all been through this stage and sharing how we got out of it is the best way to help!*

Another great resource for teething information- The Mommypotamus