Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Happy, but disappointed!

I should be really excited but I can't help but be a little disappointed. I won 4 tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas at Disney World! I'm sure you're asking, "how could she possibly be disappointed?" Well here is what happened.

I've spent the past two weeks entering a contest on our local MomsLikeMe forum to win 4 tickets to Disney's Christmas special, 2 nights in a Disney resort, and a $100 gift card to spend while there. Basically in order to enter enough times to have a shot at winning I spent about 30 minutes online every night after putting Nolan to bed. That's a lot of my free time!! I figured it would all be worth it though if I won!

The email I received telling me I could pick up the tickets at the local news station said I had won 4 tickets but didn't mention the other parts of the prize package. I re-read the official rules and indeed more than just the tickets was offered. When I went to pick up the prize, all I was handed was four tickets that are only good on one specific night and a Sunday night at that.

I asked the person in charge of the contest about the other parts of the prize package and she said that she had made a mistake and they were supposed to go with a second contest being run for Disney annual passes. The rules for that contest don't mention anything about a giftcard or hotel nights being offered. I understand mistakes but suddenly the prize is waaaaay less valuable. It seems like a mistake was made but since it was listed that way they should be offered with this contest.

I'm trying not to feel greedy but it's really hard!! You can't run a contest for a prize then only give away a third of it!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm thankful for my wonderful family amongst many other things!


...even when they are cranky!

I can't believe how big my little turkey is now and how little he was last year.

We'll end this little "parade" of pictures with Santa of course!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Purple Potatoes!!

So I'm kind of gullible when it comes to "new" foods. I was one of the 6 people in America who bought the grapple. Yep, they were apples that tasted like grapes. Just the other day I say a pear that tasted like an apple or vice versa can't remember. Tim gave me the look and we left the store without them. Afterall, I can just buy a pear if I want one! I usually end up disappointed in whatever new and fun food I try to buy anyways.

So when I was shopping at our local health food store and saw organic purple potatoes I just had to get them!!
Here is a shot of the potatoes half peeled. You can see both the skin and flesh are indeed a dark purple!

I cooked them this week as part of a beef stew. It was fun and a bit weird as without the carrots the whole dish would have been one color. As it was, it still kinda looked like dog food! I'm hoping to be able to use fun little meals like this if Nolan ever decides to be a picky eater! Here is a shot of the stew cooking before the meat was browned.
The stew turned out great and both Nolan and I enjoyed it!!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Losing the Locks!

We finally did it! Nolan has had his first haircut. I've wavered for some time on getting his hair cut. I love the shaggy look but keeping it out of his eyes was getting more complicated and he can't yet tuck it behind his ears.As I knew and feared, he looks more grown up. I need that itty bitty baby look!!

We went to a salon that specializes in only children. Nolan got to ride in a boat while getting his haircut.  Our stylist was really great with him. There was no negativity associated with it what so ever. She simply let him sit there and play with a Thomas Train while she chopped. We didn't use a cape this time because we were trying to keep him as calm as possible. I'm amazed at how good it looks considering there was no restraining him whatsoever. My big boy didn't shed a tear which is amazing after his traumatizing day with Santa earlier this week (post to come later!).

Now for the fun part...


So what do you think? I really like the cut but when I look back to yesterday's shaggy photo shoot I get a little sad!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Art Playdate

Nolan and I met our mommies group at The Cummer Museum of Art today. We knew better than to take a dozen rowdy toddlers through an actual art gallery but the museum has spectacular gardens and a kids section. Besides taking amazing garden pictures.....

...Nolan and I had fun with the psychedelic music and art creator. Basically they had the contraption that would turn you and your movements into a TV like art. I snapped shots of us playing there. See if you can find us in the artwork!





Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Knitting for kNolan

I've wanted to learn to knit ever since I was pregnant and looking at all the great baby items that can be made. Everyone knows about booties but as a cloth diaper user longies (or check out these) were one thing I really wanted. They are just to darn expensive to buy though!

I got a few "teach yourself to knit" kits and could manage to make an inch wide foot long string before some issue cropped up or it became to tedious with Nolan wanting to help. This past week I was at JoAnns wishing their PUL fabric was correctly laminated so I could make Nolan an awesome monkey diaper when I spotted the knitting kits again. I knew I couldn't just buy another one and hope it'd work out. Then I saw the Kniffty Knitter products and became intrigued.



For those of you not in tune with every JoAnns product, the Kniffty Knitter items are looms on which you can knit basic items. They come in circular, perfect for hats, and long looms, great for blankets and scarves. The JoAnns employee assured me they were easy and it was completely possible to teach yourself while juggling a running 1yr old.

I bought my first loom in the size which would make Nolan ridiculously cute hats. That same day during his nap I made this!!


My second hat attempt was just as successful.
I've since bought a few more looms and have been reading everything I can on them. Besides the basic stitch used in these two projects, you can do a regular purl stitch and many others. The looms have much more functionality than their simple instruction booklet lets on. The main downside is that you cannot control the distance between the stitches because the pegs on the loom are permanently installed. This means it works best with thicker yarns or doubling up on thinner yarns. Projects three and four are already on the looms being worked! Now I just have to find a pattern for longies that can be done on a loom!!