Blog - Painter Mommy

REVIEW – Fisher Price Take Along Swing

December 29, 2008 by Painter Mommy 3 Comments

Thanks so much to everyone who shared their thoughts on my post about using a nose aspirator on a baby.? It really helped me so much!? Jaden is doing much better today, though he still has a bad cough.? We are actually going to take him to the doctor in the morning to make sure all is well.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this picture that I took of the baby tonight in his swing.? The baby spends most of his time there.

I bought this swing back in 2004 when I had my first child.? I am now using it with child #3 and it is holding up wonderfully.? It still looks brand new!? I think I bought it for around $60 back then.

The seat has a soft removable cushion that is machine washable.? I have washed it quite a few times and the colors are still just as vibrant as when I bought it.? It has a music feature that you can turn on or can actually be activated by the baby’s movement.? I love the volume adjustment knob, because I often get tired of hearing the music while I am working, so I can turn it all the way down.? It also has lights that work with the music.?? Jaden get mesmerized by the 4 primary colored lights – it is cute.

The swing feature has 8 different speeds.?? As the baby grows and puts on weight you need to turn the swing to a higher setting so it can swing faster.? My boy is a chunker already, so I almost have to turn it up all the way.? LOL

But my favorite part about the swing is that it is portable.? It has a handle on the top so you can transport the baby from room to room.?? It is probably not recommendable to do this while the baby is in the swing, but I actually do (don’t tell anyone – LOL) Another great portability feature, is that It folds up flat so you can just pop it in your car and take it with you wherever you go.?I do this when we go to my mothers or visit friends.

I did some research and found that my particular swing is no longer being sold, but there is an even better replacement called the Fisher-Price Aquarium Take-Along Swing.? It has even more features than mine does, so I am a bit jealous… but I am not going to go out and buy another one, because mine still works great!

So, mama’s, if you or anyone you know is about to have a baby, make sure you purchase this wonderful baby swing – theFisher-Price Aquarium Take-Along Swing !!

Is it OK to use a Nose Aspirator on a Baby?

December 28, 2008 by Painter Mommy 10 Comments

I have three children who have all been sick over the past several days.? It started with my son who is 4, then passed to my daughter who is 3 and now both me and my baby boy (2 1/2 months old) are fighting it.

It kinda made me laugh in the hospital, after I had the baby, and the doctor said to try and keep my other children away from the baby when they are sick.? I honestly tried over this past week to keep everyone separate, but the more I tried – the more my other 2 wanted to touch and kiss the baby – runny noses and all.? Every hour I would catch my son leaning into the baby’s swing rubbing his yucky nose against the baby’s face.?? I mean it was inevitable that the baby would get sick!

It is really horrible though.? My baby is sooo congested, he can hardly breath.? He is coughing & sneezing and it just about kills me to see such a tiny human being suffer.

My mom has been putting her 2 cents in (2 hours away – by phone) that I need to call the doctor and find out what to do.? She always makes a big deal about stuff and says that I am too lax when it comes to stuff like this.? I promised her that if the baby wasn’t better by Monday I would bring him to the doctor.

When I had my first child, the hospital sent us home with this bulb like thing that I found out later was called a “nose aspirator”.? I had no intentions of ever using it (just like the anal thermometer, but that is another story) until my little one got so sick at 4 months old and needed help getting the snot out of his nose.

Ziek Plezier

So, I have to admit, that YES I have used “The Bulb” on my children on more than one occasion.? Now that my 2 older ones can blow their own noses, it has been nice not having to worry about “The Bulb”.? I put it away quite a while ago until my husband told me that I needed to get it out yesterday and use it on our new baby.

Boy do I hate that thing!

How the heck do you use it?? How far do you stick it in their nose?? What direction should it be pointing – back?? up?? I never can get the thing to work right!? After much struggle yesterday afternoon, as my husband looked on and the baby was screaming bloody murder – finally – frustrated and at the end of my rope, I tossed “the bulb” to my husband and told HIM to do it.? And of course, he cleared the baby’s nose without a problem.? Go figure!

So, the reason I am bringing this up, is because I am wondering how you all feel about this torturous tool – the Nose Aspirator.? Are you FOR it?? or AGAINST it?

Please take some time to comment on your own experiences.? Maybe I won’t feel so bad if you all feel the same as I do!? LOL

Oh and please vote!

[poll id=”1″]

Is it Possible to Keep all the Toys Organized?

December 26, 2008 by Painter Mommy 3 Comments

I was inspired today by a post that I read on www.pinklikethecolor.org written by Laura (@MomPink).? She was asking for organizing tips for her home, one being how to organize all the toys after Christmas.

I can definitely relate with this issue.? I WISH we had a separate playroom for all the kid’s toys, but unfortunately we have to use part of our living room as a playroom.? So, I have had to get pretty creative when it comes to keeping things organized.? And with three small children the abundance of toys is endless.

In response to Laura’s request for ideas, I would like to answer her by sharing how I have used plastic bins as a means to keep everything in order within my home.

I bought around 20 plastic storage bins from the Dollar Store and I use them to keep each toy category in one place.? The trucks go in the truck bin.? The trains go in the train bin.?? The small stuffed animals go in one bin – and so on.? And at Christmas, I go through the toys and get rid of the ones the kids don’t use to make room for the new ones.

TIP – Sometimes, I just put the toys away in a closet and pull them out several weeks later after the kids forget about them.? When I pull them out, the kids get excited all over again as if they were new.

Here are a few pictures of my “playroom corner” in the living room. (Don’t mind the UGLY mauve carpet)? LOL

It may look a bit busy to you, but it functions beautifully.? I only allow my children to take one thing out at a time (sometimes 2 or 3 depending on what it is) and when they are done with whatever they are playing with – I have them put it away and then they can take something else out.? Everything has a place.? My kids know exactly where each thing goes and when I ask them to clean up – they (usually) put the toys back in the right spots.

The bins are very helpful with this.? I use both the stackable storage bins, which I had gotten from a local pharmacy store called CVS.? That was a couple years ago and I have not been able to find them since.? So if anyone happens to see these anywhere, please let me know!

I also use the dollar store bins to keep the smaller items in.? This way the kids can take the bin and bring it onto the floor to play with whatever is in it.? It also makes it easier to clean up.

I would love to hear your tips and ideas as well.? Be sure to comment!

Organizing Your Home: Decluttering Solutions and Storage Idea

The Blogger’s Survey RESULTS are in!!

December 25, 2008 by Painter Mommy 5 Comments

Thank you to those of you who took part in the “Blogger’s Survey”.?? I had 45 people participate and I am very excited to share the results with you.

I did jump the gun though on this one though.? I should’ve researched first to find the best way to offer a survey.? Instead I used a Google Docs “Form”.? It is definitely a great tool to use.? I often use them as Contact Forms for my various sites.? But in this case, I would’ve rather found something that would do the survey calculating for me.? I printed out all the results and calculated everything by hand.? Maybe you can better appreciate my efforts now that you know this.? LOL

I did find a program (after the fact) that I will most likely use for future polls or surveys.? It is called PollDaddy.com.? If any of you “blogger’s” out there have any other suggestions for good survey or polling sites, please leave me a comment!? I could use your help!!

Anyway, (drum roll please), here are the results of the survey!? I will post the number of people who checked on each particular one.

Illustration by Carlos Castellanos ? 2008

What is your favorite thing to blog about?

18 – Business
19 – Family
7?? – Giveaways
2?? – Holidays
10 – Technical Stuff
11 – Baby / Children
5?? – DIY
19 – Everyday Life
12 – Creative Stuff

Other: (These are things that people came up with)

Saving money
Health advocacy
Humor
Politics
Human behavior, personalities
Work (but not business)
Sexuality
Reviews
Nutrition

Why do you subscribe to a blog?

41 – The subject interests me
13 – Business networking
23 – Building virtual relationships
8?? – Signing up for Giveaways

Other:

Make it easier to see new posts

Do you visit the blogs / sites of those who comment on your blog?

42 – Yes
0?? – No

Other: maybe, usually, sometimes

Do you answer your comments?

27 – Yes
2?? – No
12 – Only when people write something directed to me

Other:

If the comment inspires me
I try to
Sometimes
I try to do so regularly but it doesn’t always happen
I would like to

What is your favorite means of social networking?

42 – Twitter
5?? – Ning Groups
8?? – Forum
18 – Facebook

Other:

ETSY
Blogging
Blog following & commenting

____________________________________________________________________________

Well folks, so there you have it!

Here are the WINNERS under each category:

Favorite thing to blog about – Everyday Life, Family, & Business (they are very close in numbers)

Why do you subscribe – The subject matter interests me

Do you visit blogs of those who comment – Yes (wins by a landslide)

Do you answer comments – Yes

Favorite social network – Twitter!!!!? (Of course, how could it not be??)? LOL

Were the results what you expected??? Please share your thoughts with us!

Where is Santa on Christmas Eve?

December 24, 2008 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

I found this fun website through my Twitter friend @naomadoriguzzi.? Santa and his reindeer are being? virtually tracked on Christmas Eve as he travels the world giving gifts to all the children.? You can even watch short news clips of him as he flies over the pyramids in Egypt, through the Alps in Germany, past the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and much more.? When I last checked he was in Guinea.? Find out where he is now!

“Child Safety Pack” from MY PRECIOUS KID

December 23, 2008 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Children need to be protected and Kay Green the creator of My Precious Kid has come up with an innovative solution that every parent should invest in. It is called the Child Safety Pack.

The Child Safety Pack was designed to help protect children when in situations such as car accidents, getting lost, traveling, or even just being alone with a babysitter.

It includes the following:

Child ID Card with Self Seal Pouch (for parent’s wallet)

Child Car Seat ID Card with Self Seal Pouch and Velcro (for child’s car seat or toddler booster seat)
Medical Release Form with Self Seal Pouch (for day care or grandma)
Child Luggage Tag ID card with Self Seal Pouch (for diaper bag/back pack or toddler booster seat)
Shoe ID Stickers
Disposible Child ID bracelet/anklet plus

FREE Child DNA Fingerprint Kit:

Fingerprint Card
FBI approved Ink strip
DNA Sample Bag with Instructions
Child profile card in protective sleeve

This entire kit is only $15.99.? They also offer a Child Safety Pack Plus which includes everything listed above as well as a Toothprint Dental Impression Kit for only $24.99.

It is interesting to think that 90% of our pets have identification on them at all times, but only 2% of children have identification on them.? This is scary, especially in this day and age.

Kay’s mission is to provide ?A Gift of Safety – child safety and baby gear products for your precious child.?

I was so blessed to receive a complimentary Child ID Card in the mail from My Precious Kid and I love how on the card itself it has a place to put a photo of your child, emergency numbers, allergies, and even doctor’s name & info.? There is also a place for the parent to sign authorizing medical treatment for the child in case the parent is absent.

I was amazed to see all the great products they are offering on their site – car seats, potty training pants, craft kits, drinking bottles, and much much more.? So be sure to check out the My Precious Kid website as well as their Child Safety Blog and make the decision to keep your child safe no matter what the cost.

They have offered my readers a 10% discount on any purchases!? YAY!

Use this coupon code: #112081208

Professional Blog Organizer

December 21, 2008 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Is this how you feel when you think about your blog?

Do you suffer with any one of these blog issues?

Colors just aren’t right
Sidebar is cluttered
Too many widgets, not enough space
Categories and tags are not set
Need a new or updated header graphic
In desperate need of a 125×125 button logo
Posts are boring – no pictures
Need more internet exposure

Then you need a PROFESSIONAL BLOG ORGANIZER!!

I have been mulling over this idea in my head for the past few weeks.? One of my virtual assistant jobs is to help my clients clean up their blogs and make them look pretty.? I love doing this and I think I would like to take this show on the road!

Do you need a BLOG MAKEOVER??

Then contact me now!

Are you a Blogger? Please fill out this Survey!

December 21, 2008 by Painter Mommy 3 Comments

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Working on a Saturday

December 20, 2008 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

My 4 year old son took this shot of me.? We had a nice morning outside in the snow shoveling, sledding, and making a snow man.? (Can you see the snow on the trees in the background?)? Here I am sitting at my desk, checking my emails, and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.

As you can see, my office space in actually in our dining room (which isn’t really a dining room at all).? My favorite part about my “so called” office is the big sliding glass door.? I love to sit and watch the birds outside.? At Christmas time, I share my space with our Christmas tree, but I don’t mind…

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Your Very Own Personalized Santa

December 19, 2008 by Painter Mommy 1 Comment

This is sooooo cool!? Your kids will love it, I know mine did!

All you have to do is input your child’s info, like name, age, what they want for Christmas, etc.

You can also upload a picture of your child

And after you are all done, Santa comes on with a video clip directed to your child as if he were talking right to them.

My kids were a bit confused at first because they are only 3 & 4, but they loved seeing their picture in his book.? Below is a shot of my daughter in Santa’s book.