must-haves when venturing into toddlerhood

Adeline is just about to turn...gulp...15 months.  I still refer to her as my baby...but I know that in all reality she is my "toddler" now.  Baby just sounds better.... ;)

Lately I've found some things that are some must-have when venturing into the land of toddlerhood!

One- Silicone skid-proof reusable placemat

This has been so amazing for all of our eating out trips! It grips and has suction cups to cup to the table and the catcher actually catches food! Adeline even snacks out of the area that catches the food! ;) It is reusable (about $10) and is dishwasher safe! I simply wipe it clean with a wipey after a meal and roll it up and throw it back into the diaper bag.  It's amazing! They come in many colors-both for girls and boys.  I found ours at Babies-R-Us.

Two- Silicone bib

Same idea as the placemat...dishwasher safe and reusable! We love to just throw this in the dishwasher after a meal with all the other dishes! We found Adeline's at JC Penney's.

Three-Night lights

We have never depended too much on night lights with Adeline, but we are really liking them at this stage! We love her owl night light from Target that is a silicone outside and has an easy on/off button that she can easily control.  Plus, just the fact that you can turn it off and on so easily is nice! We also like her twinkly ladybug night light that projects colors and stars around her room- the perfect calming technique for when we walk out of her room each night.  She loves it and it goes off on its own after a little while.

Four-Doll (or other make-believe/pretend toy)

We got Adeline her first Cabbage Patch Doll named "Madeline" for her birthday and she loves it.  Any doll has been so fun for her...she loves them all and it is so sweet to see her so nurturing already!

Five- Nice, supportive shoes

When Adeline was still crawling and just pulling up it was still warm outside and we hardly ever put shoes on the girl! But now that she's walking, nice shoes that stay on her feet are a must! We love the squeaky shoes I ordered from ebay and the fun boots I have found at Target, but her grandma ("Gee") insisted on buying her a pair of Stride Rite shoes and those have been fabulous! We are so thankful for them.  They have a stretch hook and loop type closure that velcrows and the rubber soles have been perfect.  They have given her just the support she needs, she walks great in them, they fit her feet perfectly, and they are so easy to get on! The best part of Stride Rite, is they measure their feet before trying on and once in the shoes to make sure the child will be able to ideally wear them for 3 months! (Hint: Stride Rite outlets! ;)

Six-Crayola color wonder markers and paper

Adeline has loved to color for months and months now! She is crazy impressive with her fine motor skills and being able to hold marker and pencils and utensils.  The toddler grip art supplies just aren't her cup of tea and are too large.  However, I don't really want marker all over my walls and our furniture. ;) The color wonder markers are clear and only color on the "magic" color wonder paper! This has been fabulous!

I could keep going with my list...

-water cups

-snack bins

-toys, toys, and more toys

-drawers to get into

-dogs to love on

-Momma's french fries

-Daddy's dill pickles

-books, books, and more books

-laundry baskets for pretend car playing

-toothbrush and endless amounts of water to place it under

;)

...but those are my top 6 as of right now as Adeline approaches 15 months!

What are your toddlerhood must-haves?

greening the home

Moving into the "green" mindset has been a choice of my family being healthier and our habits being more budget-friendly.  I know a lot of people feel like it's "jumping on the bandwagon" or it's just "a fad", but really, it's just like anything else.  There are pros and cons of the changes.  I also firmly believe in helping to sustain this amazing world that God blessed us with and placed us on to take care of and be good stewards of. 

He calls us to do so. (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15)

Moving on from the soapbox....I wanted to share some of my favorite "green" items we've been using around our home lately.

Scotch Brite Greener Scrubbers

(Six of these are made from just one recycled 12 oz. plastic bottle, the soap in them is biodegradable and phosphorus free, they clean pots and pans without any hard scrubbing, and they don't scratch the surface of my pots and pans at all.  Love them.)

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner

(Cleans germs botanically instead of with nasty chemicals that I can't pronounce.  Odds are if I can't pronounce what's in it...I don't want it in my home.  Love how this stuff suds up!)

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner

(I can use this on the same counter surface I make a sandwich on.  Cleans botanically just like the bathroom cleaner.  It's a multi-surface spray and replaces the other nasty chemical-ridden options at the stores.  Be prepared for a different smell--it is natural and not induced with chemicals to smelly perfectly lovely--but I have gotten so used to the natural plant smell, I love it.)

BioFresh Produce Storage Bags

(We found these at a local store that sells all things green.  These gallon-size bags keep fruits and veggies so fresh, plus they are reusable! Just wash them with a little soap and water and turn them upside down to dry.)

Skoy Eco Friendly Cleaning Cloths

(Also found these at our local green store.  Oh my goodness.  They're amazing! I have cut down on the number of paper towel rolls I buy tremendously.  You just wet the cloth and use it as a paper towel. So absorbent, fights tough stains, and is completely reusable.  I have used the same one for months now since the cool little cloths are top-rack dishwasher safe.)

*You can find all these products on Amazon by clicking the link I have included with the names.  However, I do recommended buying the Seventh Generation at your local Target.  Use a Target coupon they often have on their website and a manufacturer's coupon you can usually find as a print-out online, and you get a great deal on these eco-friendly products.  They're not bad for the budget at all...even if you don't have a coupon.

So what "green" options are you enjoying in your home? How has it helped your budget or made you feel more at peace with what your family is being exposed to?

timely tips

Our household is totally "out of whack" right now.  Between our normal daily working routines, Justin mowing some lawns with his friend after work, and me in my second week of my first masters classes that is four nights a week, we're a little busy, busy. 

Making lunches is something we do nightly.  We both take our lunches every day, and now I'm packing snacks to get me through my night class so I don't starve to death.  Okay, so maybe that won't really happen...but I feel like it at least going nonstop like I am.  I thought I would share a few simple, yet crucial steps to lunch making that is helping me keep my sanity.  Yet again, I'm thinking God is using a time like this to prep me for kiddo years because I'm sure my "busy" is nothing right now compared to what it will be at that point in life.  (Am I hearing an "amen" from you busy mommas out there?!)

Tip 1:  Pre-package chips, crackers, etc. on Sunday night for the entire week.  This way they are easy to grab each evening when you're putting lunches together.

Tip 2:  Make your own fruit cups....save money and time.  I used to buy the fruit cups already created, but now I'm buying cans of fruit and big jars of apple sauce.  I divvy out the daily servings into tupperware containers and they're ready to go.  (You pay over $2 for 4 fruit cups while you pay maybe a little over a $1 for a can of fruit that will easily make four fruit cups.)

Tip 3:  Make the lunches ready to grab in the morning.  We have a designated spot in our refrigerator where we put all of our cold items together and then a place on the counter for our non-refrigerated items.  That way, they're ready to pack in the morning.  This especially works well for Justin, because he packs a cooler with ice for his drinks and lunch since he works outside.

Nothing earth shattering...but completely helpful, time-saving, and sanity-saving for us right now.  I would love to hear your lunch prep tips! What keeps you sane in your "must do" day-to-day routines?

p.s.  happy 100th post to theblessedlife!! blessings to you sweet readers and followers.  I adore and appreciate your support and bloggy love.  My prayer is that the next 100 posts touch your heart in one way or another just as hopefully the first 100 have.