The Wannabe Wahm: Wannabe Work at Home Mommy on a Quest to Start My Own Business

It's My SITS Day!

2010-04-15T22:21:00.001-07:00

Stop by my new wordpress blog and join the party!!!

www.thewannabewahm.com

I've Moved To WORDPRESS!

2010-03-30T09:30:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had had enough with Blogger.
I spent all day learning everything I could about coding a WordPress blog and I took a giant leap of faith in myself and it paid off!
Welcome to the new The Wannabe WAHM blog!

I am still working about a few design elements but everything seems to be running smoothly.
Please go to www.thewannabewahm.com and subscribe to me feed! I will no longer be using Google Friend Connect.

Looking to Re-Enter the Workplace?

2010-03-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

I found this great video offering essential tips to moms re-entering the workplace after being a stay at home mom that I thought some of you might be interested in.

I've mentioned before that I work as a staffing agent and I've learned a lot about women seeking jobs after taking a break from their careers to have children. They are lacking confidence in their abilities and they are willing to give up a lot, even though they don't have to, to get back into the game. I wrote an article about negotiating your maternity leave that you might want to read if you are working mom that is approaching this important negotiation.

Are you a stay-at-home mom that has considered or is considering re-entering the workplace?

Or are you a mom that actually made the transition back into the workplace? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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April Fools' is Around the Corner: Are You a Prankster?

2010-03-26T23:42:00.000-07:00

I love practical jokes. Especially when they are not played on me!

April Fools' gives us a free-pass to get a little silly for a day and have a 'legitimate' excuse.

It's hard to pull a prank on a toddler but I remember my parents had tons of fun pranking me! So if you have an older child you are going to LOVE these... Printable Pranks for April Fools'

How about providing your kids with some 'proof' that they are from outer space with an Alien Birth Certificate? Or casually setting on the table the Chore Camp Brochure and letting your kids find it?

Have fun!

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Cupcake Animals: Perfect For Easter or a Birthday Party

2010-03-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, there is nothing more delicious than a cupcake.
And nothing is more adorable than an Animal Cupcake!

Instructions on how to make these delicious goodies can be found at the Disney Family website.

They suggest you make these for Easter but I think they would be a an excellent idea for a kiddie birthday party as well!

Will you be making any special treats this Easter?

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'Princesses' Run Through Disney World

2010-03-16T03:50:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, March 7th 2010, over 13,000 'princesses' hit the pavement to run Disney's Princess Half Marathon. The race was 13.1 miles long and a Fairy Godmother was there to wish all the runners well and many of the runners were dressed as their favorite Disney princess.

{photo source: Disney Parks Blog}

The Disney Princess Half Marathon is just one of the many events that took place that weekend at the happiest place on earth. The Disney The Princess and The Frog Royal Family 5K and Disney’s Royal Family Kids’ Races were also held that weekend. As well as a top notch Health and Fitness Expo fit for a princess.

{The princess on the right is my aunt}

The purpose of Disney's Princess Half Marathon was to celebrate the wonderful attributes that every princess possesses: commitment, courage, determination, perseverance, and strength. These attributes are extremely important in order to be a happy and successful person in life. This seems like an amazing event to participate in and share with girlfriends and daughters.

My aunt went with a few of her friends. She took up running a few years ago and now she runs marathons on a regular basis. At the end of the race all participants were awarded a medal and had their picture taken. This is my aunt.

Are you a runner? Did any of you get a chance to run Disney's Princess Half Marathon?
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Things Husbands Do

2010-03-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

When our 20 month old daughter gets sick, I become completely useless. I don't know what it is but I panic!

Luckily we have been blessed with a very healthy child and aside from the occasional upset tummy, we are happy to report that all is well.

A few nights ago she woke up in the middle of the night, crying, covered in vomit.

I froze.

"She threw up!" I declared.

My husband comes in behind me. Silent. He immediately scooped her up, calmed her down and started to clean her up and change her jammies.

He sat down with her and comforted her as the same scenario repeated over and over.

He became the vomit-catcher and baby-calmer. And I was the clean up lady. And we make an excellent team.

It was so comforting to know that he was there for her, for me... for us.

I am so happy to have him as my partner in this journey we call parenthood.

Honey, you're the best dad EVER!

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10 Things You Need to Know to Have a Successful Blog

2010-03-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

Blogging may start as a way to connect with moms with similar interests but as time passes, you realize that it also has the potential to generate some income. But just because you have a blog doesn’t mean that money and free products are going to come rolling in.

There are many factors that contribute to making your blog successful, from the quality of your writing to the design of your blog. But what does it take exactly to become a successful mommy blogger?

This is the question that I have been seeking answers to and have been applying my findings to my own blog. So here is what you really need to know in order to get your blog on the path to success.

1- Good Design. And by good design, I don’t mean just a pretty looking blog. Adding a little blog ‘eye candy’ will definitely score you some points but you also need to consider carefully where you place things such as ads. Yes, your kids are adorable but you can share those pictures in your About section and leave the sidebar for ad space. It has been proven that the less cluttered your sidebar is, the more likely it is that someone will click on an item in your sidebar.

2- Good Writing. The quality of your writing will ultimately determine how successful you become. Well written posts will spark interest in PR agents and generate return readers. As moms, we deal with and write about similar issues. You need to make sure that your writing style stands out. Your posts should be engaging and free of grammatical errors.

3- Track Your Blog. I cannot stress enough how important this is! Numbers talk the talk, people! Knowing your stats can help you promote yourself to potential advertisers by showing them the amount of exposure they will receive on your blog. It’s also a fantastic tool for you as a blogger. You can see what types of posts really spark an interest in your readers.

4- Monetize Your Blog. You can join several ad networks and generate some extra income through affiliate programs. I have joined Google Affiliate Network and LinkShare. I also joined Juice Box Jungle recently. AdSense is also a great resource to monetize your blog. And now that Amazon has partnered with Blogger to offer Amazon Associates directly on your Blogger dashboard, this is absolutely no excuse for you NOT to monetize your blog.

5- Link Exchange. Connect with other bloggers and exchange links. One of the factors Google takes into consideration when it calculates page rank is the amount (and quality) of outbound links to your site. The more links, the better.

6- Post Regularly. Posting regularly also generates outbound links to your blog. The more you post, the more outbound links you create. Posting regularly also ensures that readers return often because you are providing new content for them to read. You can read more about this in my article, Posting Every Day: Can it Really Increase Your Traffic?

7- Find Your Niche. I am still struggling with this one. But finding your niche can prove to be fruitful because you can carve your own little space in the blogosphere. You can become the ‘go to’ blogger for whatever topic you chose to blog about.

8- Create relationships. You need the support of your fellow bloggers in order to get ahead. Create lasting relationships by following blogs regularly, collaborating, guest posting or providing help when asked.

9- Become Part of a Community. Joining sites like Mom Bloggers Club and Mom Blog Network can help you build friendships, find answers and get your blog out there. Blog hops are also a great option when it comes to becoming part of a community of bloggers.

10- Professionalism. If you are contacted by a PR agent to review a product, respond in a timely manner and don’t share their information with other bloggers. If you think that another blogger might be interested in a specific campaign, give the PR agent their contact information and let them decide if they want to contact this person or not.

I’ll be exploring these points in detail in later posts and I would love to hear what you have to say. Have you already done any of the items listed here? Do you have any advice you would like to share?

Posting Everyday: Can it really increase your traffic?

2010-03-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

I recently wrapped up my self imposed month of blogging. I decided to take on this feat as an experiment to see what it could do for the traffic to my blog. I am always reading articles online about how to increase traffic to my site and the idea of posting regularly, everyday is possible, is a concept that keeps coming up over and over again.

Blogging everyday is a daunting task, especially when you are caring for a toddler, working part-time and trying to start your own business. At first, I was worried about not having anything to write about for 28 days straight. That didn't turn out to be a problem. Apparently, I have tons to say (my husband could have told me that!). The problem that I did come across but never considered was how time consuming it was. Finding time in my hectic day to sit down and actually compose a well thought out article proved to be quite a challenge. I respect my readers and the last thing I wanted to do was post something for the sake of posting.

You can also imagine that finding time to actually read other blogs also proved to be a challenge. I tried to keep up with the many incredible blogs that I follow on a regular basis but in the end, I fail to do that. I had to chose between good content or keeping up with my blogger friends.

And what about my traffic? Yes, I have to say that my traffic did increase. Not only that, I found some new followers and renewed my connection with some of my older followers. Compared to the previous month, the cold hard facts are:
- 587 more visits
- 1322 increase in pageviews
- Bounce rate decrease by almost 3% (the lower the better)

Over all, I think that the best thing to do is to find a balance. While I don't think that posting EVERY DAY is not something that I can handle, I think that writing 3 to 4 times a week can prove to be just as fruitful and I won't have to neglect my other responsibilities, as well as getting a little more shut eye at night!

Thank you to all of you that came along on my journey!

Winners and Bummas Giveaway

2010-03-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

Our Boogie Wipes and Uprinting giveaways came to an end last week.
Thank you to all of you that entered! Unfortunately, there can only be one winner...

And the winners are:

Boogie Wipes Giveaway Winner

Uprinting 18x24 Poster Print

Congratulations!!!

I am also giving away a pack of Bummas at Chic & Cheap Nursery! Click Bummas Giveaway to enter.

Giving To Those In Need

2010-02-28T21:15:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #28 of my 28 days of blogging.

2010 has gotten off to a rocky start.
First the earthquake in Haiti, taking 100,000s of lives in a matter of seconds.
And this past Saturday, Chile. Not only were they hit by a record breaking earthquake but they were also devastated by a tsunami shortly after.

It is important for us to appreciate how lucky we are. everyday!
And it is also important for us to give back. In any way we can.
You can donate food, time and/or prayer!

[photosource: www.entretenimientovisual.com]

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Young House Love: My Newest Obsession

2010-02-27T20:10:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #27 of my 28 days of blogging.

Young House Love is a blog about two "youngsters" falling in love with their old house.

This couples purchased a 53 year-old home and they have been renovating it room by room all by themselves. They have an incredible sense of style and have been featured all over the place, from HGTV to The Nest. The youngsters share their design problems, dish out advice and share DIY projects on their blog. You HAVE to check it out!

Here is a little teaser...

This is their den.

And this is their sunroom.

Makes me wish I had a house of my own! Do you just love it?

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

How to Create a Blog Signature

2010-02-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

* Today is day # 26 of my 28 days of blogging.

You've seen those cute signatures on several blogs and you wonder, "how can I get one"?

Here you go!

First, you need to create the signature image.

You can create your signature image with any software such as Paint or Photoshop. You can also create your signature online using an Online Signature Maker.

Once you have your signature image, you need to upload it to a host site. I use photobucket.com because it's free and easy but you can use any site you want (tinypic.com is another option).

Grab the HTML code of your uploaded image.

Next, go to your Blogger account and click on Settings. Then, click on the Formatting tab.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and paste your image HTML code in the box labeled Post Template.

Before you save, you need to edit your HTML code from this:

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i28.tinypic.com/bg8kt2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

to this:

<img src="http://i28.tinypic.com/bg8kt2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

* This is just a sample code, remember you are editing your image HTML code.

Now you are ready to click on Save Settings.

And you're done!

When you go to create a new post, your signature will automatically upload.

Want to try it? Go on, you know you want to... Click on the Posting tab and see for yourself!

* Is there a border around your signature? Want to get rid of it? It's easy.
Go to the Layout tab, and click on Fonts and Colors. Select Border Color and set it to the color of your background.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

UPrinting Giveaway: Win an 18x24 Poster Print (Rolled Finish)! {ended on 2/28/10}

2010-02-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #25 of my 28 days of blogging.

UPrinting is offering (1) lucky reader of The Wannabe WAHM an 18 x 24 Poster Print!

Imagine having a family portrait poster print hanging in your home! Or how about promoting your small business at trade shows with a beautiful 18x24 poster to draw in customers?

ABOUT UPRINTING

UPrinting is a leading online printing company that provides high quality printing at the most affordable prices including; Canvas Prints, Business Card Printing, Brochures, Postcards, Posters and more.

For over 25 years, UPrinting has been a trusted leader in online printing, featuring its signature easy-to-use website and the famous Free File Review, a complimentary proofing service which requires no upfront payment.

UPrinting offers convenient marketing support services such as design, lists, and direct mailing to help grow small and medium-size businesses nationwide.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me how what you plan on having printed on the poster.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by click Top Mommy Blogs (You can do this every 24 hours)

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on The Wannabe WAHM for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones coming up so be sure to come back soon!

1 Extra Entry Follow The Wannabe WAHM on Twitter - @wannabewahm

1 Extra Entry Follow UPrinting on Twitter - @uprinting

1 Extra Entry Tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Win an 18 x 24 Poster Print from @uprinting ends 2/28 #giveaway #win @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/bqFNHN Please RT

1 Extra Entry Follow Chic & Cheap Nursery on Twitter - @ChicCheapNrsery on Twitter (This is my nursery design site)

2 Extra Entries (leave 2 separate comments) if you Subscribe for Email Updates from Chic & Cheap Nursery

2 Extra Entries (leave 2 separate comments) per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of my buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of the Chic & Cheap Nursery buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 28th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for hosting this giveaway. UPrinting awarded me an 18 x 24 poster print, that's it :)

And the winner is:

Congratulations! You have 48 hours to contact me or I will have to choose another winner.

Blogger Conferences: What Are They All About?

2010-02-24T20:05:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #24 of my 28 days of blogging.

You may have heard of blogger conferences such as BlogHer, Blissdom and Blogalicious, but what are they all about?

I have absolutely no idea, since I have never been to a blogger conference myself.

But my friend The (Un)Experienced Mom has recently launched a site to provide you with all the information you need regarding blogger conferences.

Visit http://blogconferencenewbie.com/ for more info.

I will be attending BlogHer 2010 and I hope to see you there. Will any of you be in attendance?

Have any of you been to a blogger conference? Which one?

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Can Someone Please Turn Off The Waterworks?

2010-02-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #23 of my 28 days of blogging.

I've always been a bit of a cry baby.

I can admit that.

Most of the time I was able to keep those tears under control.

And then pregnancy happened!

It was like someone turned on the waterworks. Permanently!

I cried during Hallmark commercials, allergy commercials, jewelry commercials, etc. You name it, it probably made me cry.

After I had my baby, I thought things would go back to normal. But no.

And let me tell you something, it is really starting to annoy me. Seriously!

Today, and please don't judge me, I was watching that MTV show, 16 & Pregnant. And WTH happened to MTV? I thought MTV was an acronym for Music Television NOT Mediocre Television! Where is the music MTV?

Anyway, I was watching this show, pondering how is it even possible that kids who probably don't even brush their teeth unless their mommy reminds are allowed to have their genitals touch and pop out kids. I was just about to change the channel because the only person who deserves a spanking more than that obnoxious 16 year old pregnant teen is me for even watching that crap when it happened.

A beautiful innocent baby had come into this world. And I could not stop crying!

In that moment, all I could think about was this baby and all the love that babies bring to our lives.

And I cried.

Pathetic.

What makes you cry?

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From Drab To Fab: Organizing My Dresser

2010-02-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #22 of my 28 days of blogging.
A mess.
A complete mess. That's what my dresser looked like. I had bottles, necklaces, my flat iron and hair brushes EVERYWHERE!

I decided I had to do something to organize it because I was going to lose it if I had to stare at that mess one more time. Every weekend I would organize all of the dresser items into straight little rows but that didn't last very long. So I went to The Container Store and found these:

I purchased two of them, headed home and voila!

Instant organization and peace of mind, since it's all in a bin, Sophia can't get to anything!

I can definitely live with that.

Do you have an area in your house that is driving you insane?

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Things Husbands Do

2010-02-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #21 of my 28 days of blogging.
Isn't it great when you are feeling under the weather and your husband/significant takes care of you?

Yesterday, I was feeling pretty lousy. My hubby got up early to take care of the baby and woke me up at 11am with breakfast in bed.

And then he told me to go back to sleep and HE took Sophia to Gymboree all by himself.
I got to sleep until 4pm! Isn't my hubby a keeper or what?!

Has your husband/significant other done something like this for you?

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Mother Nature is Not Happy!

2010-02-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #20 of my 28 days of blogging.

I've been sleeping all day. Just got up for a few minutes to leave you a little note.

I'll see you tomorrow.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Did You Know That I'm A Super Hero?

2010-02-18T22:38:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #19 of my 28 days of blogging.

Yes.

Like Superman and Mr. Incredible, I too have a secret identity.

I may be a 25 year old, four-eyed, silly, loud mouthed, clumsy, dreamer. But I am also a super hero.

I. Am. Super Mom!

With sparkly pink cape included, I come to the rescue of my darling Sophia.

{photo source: www.cafepress.com}

My super strength lets me scoop her up and make her fly like a plane.

I have super balance that helps me juggle a 28 lbs. toddler, a diaper bag, and groceries while I fish for the keys in my back pocket.

I use the healing power of my magic kisses to heal all her bumps and bruises.

And best of all, I have super hearing. This super power allows me, and only me, to understand Sophia's babbling. To the untrained ear, it may sound like nonsense. But thanks to my super hearing, I know exactly what she's saying.

I am Super Mom. Changer of diapers, wiper of noses and slayer of monsters.

Are you a Super Mom? What are your special powers?

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Does Your Kid Have What It Takes To Become A Wilhelmina Model?

2010-02-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #18 of my 28 days of blogging.

Today, February 18th, Next Direct, one of Britain’s most popular brands, is launching in America and to celebrate they are running a children’s modeling competition to find a 4-7 year old who will become the face of Next Direct, win a $100,000 college scholarship fund and one year contract with Wilhelmina Models.

Entry will open on their Facebook Fan Page at 7am EST and moms can send in photos of their child who will appear in a voting gallery for the public to choose their new model! Fifty finalists will be invited to Universal Studios on April 24th where they will choose a winner.

Next Direct has over 650 stores worldwide selling classic-contemporary fashion for men, women and children, plus stylish furniture and homewares. As Europe’s biggest fashion e-tailer (with a global online presence through Next Direct), the brand is at the forefront of home-shopping too.

* Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. The Wannabe WAHM has no affiliation with Next Direct or Wilhelmina Models and is not responsible in any way in all matters related to this competition.

Is It Time To Join A Play Gym?

2010-02-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #17 of my 28 days of blogging.

For years I was seriously put off by the thought of joining a play gym once I became a mom. All I really knew about being a mom was what I saw on TV and play gym moms looked waaaaay to hyper for my taste.

By the time Sophia was 7 months old, I had been asked by many people if I had joined a play gym yet. "OF COURSE NOT!" was my response. Why would we need to join a play gym? We did plenty of belly time at home. But by month 8, Sophia still wasn't crawling and I was starting to feel the pressure.* So I signed up for a free introductory course at Gymboree Play and Learn to see what all the fuss was about.

It was fantastic! Sophia was incredibly happy to be around other babies. She was stimulated by the sounds, colors and activities in ways that I could have NEVER provided at home. I saw the benefits at that first class and I signed up that very same day.

And all the hype about play gym moms... So not true! I think a lot of us there were looking to make some friends too. It was sort of like a Twilight Zone version of Blind Date where all these moms show up with their babies to see if they can "hook up" with a new mommy friend.

Sophia didn't crawl until she was almost 12 months, because apparently she couldn't be bothered, but she has learned so much there that I can't even imagine what she would be like if she had never been exposed to this sort of stimulation.

So if you're wondering if a play gym or a mommy & me class is for you, stop wondering! Most places will offer you the first class free. So get online, find a place in your area and go play!

Have any of you joined a play gym? Have you considered it but never actually been to one? Let's talk it out.

* Don't give in to pressure. Don't compare your baby to other babies. They are all unique and reach their milestones at different ages. But if you do have concerns, consult your pediatrician.
** I am NOT endorsing Gymboree Play and Learn. I used it as an example because that is the play gym that I am a member of and have been for almost a year.

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Boogie Wipes: Review and Giveaway {ended on 02/26/10}

2010-02-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #16 of my 28 days of blogging.

I am going to say this right up front, Boogie Wipes rock!
I.AM. ADDICTED. They are supposed to be for kids but I also use them. :)

You see, Boogie Wipes, are basically a wipe made with saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. And as a mom, you know that there are many! The saline moistens those dry 'boogies' and that makes cleaning those little noses a walk in the park.

So what's the difference between a regular baby wipe and a Boogie Wipe?
A regular baby wipe and a Boogie Wipe may look the same but they're not! A side from the saline, Boogie Wipes are also made with Vitamin E, Aloe and Chamomile to provide moisture. They are hypoallergenic and alcohol free, as well as phthalate (chemical substance added to plastics to increase flexibility) and paraben (chemical used as a preservative) free.

Runny noses can be a big problem. Constantly using a tissue or a baby wipe can irritate your infant or toddler's tiny little nose. Boogie Wipes is the solution to that problem, created by moms just like us.

Scented in Great Grape, Fresh Scent or Magic Menthol (for extra stuffy noses) Boogie Wipes are recommended by Pediatricians as a gentle, effective alternative to a dry tissue.

Buy It
Boogie Wipes are now available nationwide. You can find them at Duane Reade, Babies R Us and many other retailers. Click here to find a retailer near you.

Win It
One lucky ready will win (2) packs of 30-count wipes (fresh, grape or menthol – combination varies).
No Mandatory Entry.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted.

1 Entry: Follow Boogie Wipes on Facebook

1 Entry: Follow Boogie Wipes on Twitter

1 Entry: Join the Boogie Bunch (You'll get a coupon for your next Boogie Wipes purchase)

1 Entry: If you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Need help with boogies caused by the common cold? Boogie Wipes #giveaway @wannabewahm @BoogieMom http://bit.ly/d7CArn No more sore noses!

1 Entry: Subscribe to my RSS feed

1 Entry: Subscribe to The Wannabe WAHM by email.

1 Entry: Become a fan of The Wannabe WAHM on Facebook.

1 Entry: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to the blog post.

1 Entry: If you place my button on your blog. Please leave the url where it can be found.

1 Entry: Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs. Just click the cute little button underneath. You can vote once every 24 hours.

Giveaway will end on February 26th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents only.

* Boogie Wipes provided us with 1 pack of 30-count wipes and a few of the individually packed wipes for this review. No other form of compensation was received.

And the winner is:

Congratulations Julie!!! You have 48 hours to contact me and provide me with your mailing address.

My Friend Jonathan Thinks He's MacGyver

2010-02-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #15 of my 28 days of blogging.
In case you guys forgot, I was in the lovely Dominican Republic last month for about 10 days. I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and I love seeing my friends every chance I get.

Growing up, I'm sure everyone had that one crazy friend. The one who had "brilliant" ideas about how to steal your parents car by using a potato (yes, he actually suggested it!).

The best thing about my friend Jonathan is that he never, EVER, ceases to amaze me.

EVER.

And on this occasion, he did not disappoint!

"What's that?" you ask.

It's a cantenna.

It's a homemade solution to boosting the signal of your wireless connection. You stick the wireless antenna in a can, and voila! {If you are feeling adventurous, here is a cantenna online tutorial}

And because it was just too funny not to post, here is his Facebook profile picture.

He might kill me for posting it. But I think it would be totally worth it!

* I am officially half way through my 28 days of blogging and I have to say that I am really enjoying myself! I might continue to blog every day after this. That's probably the "blogging junkie" in me talking but we'll see. Have you guys been enjoying my month on blogging?

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And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Things Husbands Do

2010-02-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #14 of my 28 days of blogging.

Yes, that's my daughter.

And yes, she is inside our house.

And YES, that is a snow ball in her hand!

After our fun in the snow, Sophia would not stop crying because we made her come in to the house.

So my hubby did the smartest thing I have ever seen him do!

He went outside, made a snow ball and gave it to her to play with until it melted.

Problem solved!

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And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Death Of An Olympic Athlete

2010-02-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #13 of my 28 days of blogging.

A few hours before the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, it was announced to the world that 21 year old Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili, had tragically lost his life during his last training run.

My heart goes out to his family. Especially his mother.

The Republic of Georgia, like other countries that formed part of the Soviet Union, is still trying to stand on its on two feet. And bringing up a child under those circumstances cannot be an easy thing to do. Yet, this woman worked hard and her child grew up to form part of the Georgian Olympic Team. And as she prepared to watch her soon fulfill his dreams of becoming an Olympian, she receives the most earth shattering news in the world.

Loss of life is always tragic and I ask that we all keep in our minds and in our hearts this young man and his family.

And remember that it is going to take A LOT to rebuild Haiti! So keep those donations coming! I have been emailing with the Red Cross and will be posting something soon about how YOU can help.

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And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for voting! We have been steadily climbing the list thanks to you!!!

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

2010-02-11T22:42:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #12 of my 28 days of blogging.
New York City has a population that exceeds 8.3 million people.

And amongst this sea of people, I was lonely. Because, like many of you, I let myself get caught up in the day to day and forgot to look at the big picture. I focused on studying, working, making sure that we had enough diapers, that the dishes were washed, that the laundry was folded (or at least clean), and all those little tasks that make up, what I thought, was a full life.

But I had no friends. No one to speak with. No one to share my passions, rants or opinions with.

And one lonely day at work, I created a blog.

What I didn't realize at that moment was that I was creating friendships.

Friendships with women in all walks of life. Some with toddlers, some with teenagers and some with no kids at all. Together, we have laughed, cried, and shared so much with whom some might call strangers... But we know better than that. We aren't strangers. We're part of a community. We are friends.

So on this day, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I would just like to say ...

THANK YOU!

Snow Day in NYC

2010-02-10T23:47:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #11 of my 28 days of blogging.
Unless you've been on a deserted island for the last couple of days, you know that there has been a record breaking snow storm blasting areas from northern Virginia to extreme southern New England. People have been secluded in their homes for days.

New York caught a break and didn't really see any snow until yesterday. And boy, did it snow! But New Yorkers are a rare breed and they braved the blizzard to take advantage of the snow day.

Here are a few examples:

Little Suri Cruise braved the storm with mom Katie Holmes, protected by a Disney princess umbrella.

[photosource: www.people.com]

Some people grabbed their skis and headed to Central Park.

[photo source: www.gettyimages.com]

And here, at Maison de Wannabe WAHM, we went for an early evening stroll in the middle of the blizzard to take pictures and make snowballs.

How did you guys spend the day yesterday? I'd love to hear from you!

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

2010-02-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

*Today is day #10 of my 28 days of blogging.
I know a lot of you are stuck indoors today.
I don't really like snow. In fact, I hate it.
It looks really nice in postcards and in movies, but in real life, I don't find it that attractive.

And to think, less than 3 weeks ago I was in sunny Dominican Republic!

Why don't we all close our eyes and pretend we're there with an umbrella drink?

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Thanks so much for voting! We have been steadily climbing the list thanks to you!!!

Featured Mompreneur - Amy Sapirstein, creator of Mommy Mitten: A MUST for the Urban Mom

2010-02-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #9 of my 28 days of blogging.

You all know I have a soft spot for mom-owned businesses.
Moms are creative, innovative and motivated by their desire to be with their children and create a better future for them.

Today, I am featuring the creator of Mommy Mitten. Mommy Mitten is a product that I wish I had created myself! It's a MUST-HAVE stroller accessory for parents that live in cool or cold climates and still need to push their kids around in a stroller no matter what the weather is like.

Name: Amy Sapirstein
Children: 2 ½ year old daughter, Blakely and baby #2 due in April
How did you come up with Mommy Mitten?
I came up with the idea for Mommy Mitten in Oct. 2007 when Blakely was just 2 months old. I was out running errands with her in the stroller in our NYC neighborhood and it had just started getting chilly outside. I did not have my mittens even out of storage yet; thus the idea struck.
So lightning struck, then what?
I researched for competitive products and at the time found none. So I was off to the races as they say. Since then I have worked through the provisional patent process, trademarking, prototype creation and selection of a manufacturer, building a website, setting up my company and so much more. This venture took a bit longer then I had hoped namely due to the fact I was doing all of this on my own primarily when my little one took her naps each day. It has not always been a smooth process, but I am excited that I finally launched in Sept 2009.
Where can we find your product?
Mommy Mitten is now sold via my website, http://www.mommymitten.com/, as well as on the Babies R Us website!

Amy was nice enough to send me the Mommy Mitten for my review and I have not shut up since! I absolutely love it! My hands stayed nice and toasty in the Mommy Mitten as I strolled to the supermarket last week. And Mommy Mitten also has a zippered pocket so you can store cash or your cellphone!

Amy: We wish you much success with Mommy Mitten, although with such a fantastic product, luck is not really needed.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Wild Thing: 3 Steps to Taming Your Inbox

2010-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #8 of my 28 days of blogging.
* Updated.

Your inbox can get out of control, fast! One day everything's fine, the week later you have 77 unread messages.

I read all of my emails when they come in but if they require me to reply or do something that I can't do at that moment, I mark it as unread so that I can get to it at a later time. But I never get to it because new emails keep coming in!

Show do you tame this beast? I have the answer!

1- Create a folder within your email account. Call it the "Action Required" or something similar.
This is where you will be storing all of those incoming emails that require you to take an action.

2- Set aside at least 30 minutes and grab a notepad. You will ONLY read those pending emails during those 30 minutes. Nothing else. Sit down with your notepad and go through all of your unread emails, jotting down everything that you need to do to get them cleared.

3- If you can take care of the email at this time, do it. If not, make a note of what needs to be done and move the email to the folder you created earlier, the "Action Required" folder.

Now you've organized your inbox AND you have a to-do list to tackle so that you can actually take care of those emails, once and for all.

But you need to keep this up! Every time you get a new email that requires an action from you, jot it down and move it to the "Action Required" folder or you'll be right back where you started! And remember to set aside 30 minutes each week, preferably on the same day and time each week, so that you can keep on top of your "Action Required" folder.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Things Husbands Do...

2010-02-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #7 of my 28 days of blogging.

I work 2 to 3 days a week out of the home to keep the money coming in until my business actually starts to generate some moola.

On Friday, I came home to find this.

My beautiful daughter in her Halloween pajamas and sneakers, with a swiffer in her hand.

My husband stayed home with Sophia and he decided he was going to clean the house a bit. And he enlisted our 18 month old daughter as his assistant!

Hey, at least he had the initiative to actually clean!

Hope you've been enjoying the weekend.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of... New York

2010-02-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #6 of my 28 days of blogging.

Jay-Z's new song featuring Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind," is my new favorite song. Have you heard it? It's about the inspiration that New York is to many but the reality that you even though you might do everything to succeed, only a few will really make it.

New York City is the most populous city in the United States, a melting pot of cultures, built on the entrepreneurial spirit of people that came to this city looking to 'make it.' And to this day, people come from near and far to be inspired by it's giant skyscrapers and it's bright lights.

[photo source: www.wired.com]

My husband and I are two of those people. But every one person that makes it, million and millions of people spend their entire lives working towards a dream that will never come true. So while I work tirelessly to start my own business, the same thought seems to haunt me day and night...

Will I spend my whole life trying to be successful or will I be one of the few that 'make it'?

I think only time will answer this question. In the mean time, I will continue to push this thought to the back of my mind and push forward, inspired by the big city lights, dreams of a better future and the feeling that there IS nothing I can't do because I'm in New York.

[photo source: www.destination360.com]

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby!: Tip #3 for Improving your Marriage/Relationship

2010-02-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #5 of my 28 days of blogging.
* Today's post contains adult content.

With each passing year, my husband seems to annoy me more and more.

I love him but sometimes he does things that make me think, "I cannot live with this for the REST OF MY LIFE!"

And I know that this thought has crossed your mind before too. But there are things we can do to make our relationships better, because 'til death do us part is a looooong time and you can't spend all of your energy giving your husband the evil eye because he forgot to put out a new roll of toilet paper after he finished the last one.

If you missed Tip #1: Improve Your Marriage and Tip #2: Improve Your Marriage, I suggest you give them a look.

But today, we are going to talk about S.E.X.

Remember how happy you and your husband were when you were newly weds? That probably has something to do with all that sex you were having! “There’s a strong relationship between rating your marriage as happy and the frequency of intercourse,” said Tom W. Smith, who conducted the “American Sexual Behavior” study. What the study was not able to determine is "whether people who are happy in their marriage have sex more, or whether people who have sex more become happy in their marriages, or a combination of those two.” But does it really matter?

Maybe when you have sex frequently you don't have the energy to get mad. Or maybe you're on a sex 'high' and you're all giddy and nothing bothers you. Either way, I think having a little more sex couldn't hurt anyone!

So next time your husband does something that annoys you to your very core, fight the urge to smack him over the head with a frying pan and just take your clothes off.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (you can vote every 24 hours). Just click Top Mommy Blogs or the button on the right sidebar.

Buddy Tops Review & Giveaway {closed}

2010-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #4 of my 28 days of blogging.

Sophia hates hats. Seriously!
Everytime she sees a hat, she freaks out.

So when Buddy Tops contacted me for a review, I was a little hesitant. How was I suppossed to review a children's hat when my kid won't even wear one? But they were too cute to pass on, so I accepted.

Buddy Tops come in a variety of animals (cow, dalmatian, and tiger, to name a few). And they are so plush that your child will probably think it's a toy!

This little cutie was one of the hats that Buddy Tops sent to us. I left it on the dinning room table and let Sophia find it on her own.

Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw it! She grabbed it, kissed it and started barking. I put it on my head and modeled it for her as I barked like I dog (the things we do for our kids!).

Jackpot!

She grabbed off of my head and put it on! Now, every time we get ready to go out, she grabs her Buddy Tops hat and puts it on.

And guess which celebrity offspring was photographed in December sporting a Buddy Tops hat... Heidi Klum's daughter, Leni.

So if you're looking for a children's hat that's cute & warm, why not try Buddy Tops?

Win it!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Buddy Tops and tell me which animal you would chose and why. Please remember to leave your email address in your comment. I need to be able to contact you if you are the winner.

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry - Follow @buddytops on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Follow @wannabewahm on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Follow @ChicCheapNrsery on Twitter

1 Extra Entry (tweet daily) - Win this year's coolest children's hat from @buddytops . Winter isn't over yet! @wannabewahm ends 02/09/10 #giveaway http://bit.ly/ds2jlX

1 Extra Entry - Subscribe to this blog

1 Extra Entry - Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! All you have to do is click here or on the button in the right sidebar.

* Disclaimer: Buddy Tops provided me with a hat for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was received.

CONGRATULATIONS WORKING MOMMY! You have 48 hours to contact me or I will have to chose another winner.

Sarcasm's Not For Everyone: Featured Sarcastic Mom Blog of the Month

2010-02-03T00:43:00.000-08:00

* Today is day #3 of my 28 days of blogging.

It's the return of Sarcastic Wednesday!
Once a weekly affair, I will now try to resurrect Sarcastic Wednesday and host it on the first Wednesday of every month.

This is one of my favorite post ideas and I have been so sad because I haven't featured a sacastic mommy in months!
In case you are unfamiliar, Sarcastic Wednesdays here at the Wannabe WAHM blog is about featuring a Sarcastic Mom blog. Pretty simple, right?

And the lucky mom blogger this month is:
Mrs.BlogAlot

In her own words, Mrs.BlogAlot is a Mother, wife, writer, friend, employee, feeder of fish and cats (all right, so I don't always remember to feed the fish-it's not my fault they can't talk to remind me), cleaner of house and clocks and I am the author of mrsblogalot.com as well as grandmasunderwear.com (to say the very least)- not necessarily always in that order or always done well but getting done nevertheless (-:

With posts like, The Sex Ref, where she describes her disdain for marriage counselors and explains that a hooker would be a better investment and What Would Lee Majors do?, a conversation in which she declares that "The C-section is the Mercedes of childbirth," Mrs.BlogAlot will always have you laughing out loud.

So be prepared to stifle your giggles if you are at work or your baby is napping while you read her blog!

And remember:

Please vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs!!! You can vote by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

My Ikea Dream Home

2010-02-02T00:58:00.000-08:00

* Today is day 2 of my 28 days of blogging.

I've never owned a home. Ever since I moved out of my mother's house, I've been a renter.
I think I have this fantasy of what it would be like to own my own home, especially one that I could design myself.

I studied architecture, so let's just say that HGTV is my porn.

And Ikea is the whore house I like to frequent.

And when it's late at night, instead of going to bed, I like to fantasize about the house I will one day have.

This would be the kitchen I would pretend to cook in.

This would be the living room we would entertain in. Because in my dreams we also have friends, and those friends come over to hang out and stuff...

And THIS would be my oasis!!! In my dream, Sophia sleeps until 11 am and I get to sleep in EVERYDAY!

That's all for today. Come back tomorrow for the return of Sarcastic Wednesday! Which sarcastic mom blog will be featured?

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

2010 Grammys: The Red Carpet

2010-02-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

* Today, is day 1 of my 28 days of blogging.

I'm not big on award shows anymore but I do love to watch the red carpet shows.

I love seeing what the wealthy and glamorous people of tinsel town chose to wear on these occasions. While I can't afford to even buy the underwear they are wearing, sometimes I think that I have more sense of style than most.

But we are not going to focus on who got it wrong last night, we are going to take a look at who got it oh so right!

So let's take a look at some of the ladies that walked the red carpet for the 2010 Grammys and looked fabulous doing it!

Fergie looked amazing in this curve hugging blue mini-dress. Minimal accessories complement her dress and those gold heels make her legs go on for miles. She rocked it!

Can you say "Oh my God!"? Jennifer Hudson looks fabulous! Better than ever! She got everything right with this outfit and she is glowing!!! And did I mention that I am digging those bangs? Makes me want to get some...

Lea Michele from "Glee" walked the red carpet in this little black dress. Out of all of the dresses I saw last night, this was my absolute favorite. And those black pumps?! I'm thinking of gluing my head onto her body and using the pic as motivation to lose about 10 lbs!

Only Heidi Klum could pull this off! The dress is stunning but the hanger is what really makes this dress. Does she have a pact with the devil or something? Doesn't she have like 3 kids? Didn't she just have a baby? Although, I think this dress was a little too short.

Rihanna always makes bold choices when it comes to fashion. Sometimes it's hit or miss but she hit a home run with this dress. She looked absolutely amazing channeling some old Hollywood glamour.

There's not much to say about Carrie Underwood's look except... perfection! She looked flawless from her hair to her accessories.

And last but most certainly not least, the lovely Taylor Swift. At every awards show she attends, she always looks flawless. Look at that! She did it again.

Did you watch the red carpet for the 2010 Grammys? Do you have any favorites that I forgot to mention? Let me know!

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

All images in the post are from eonline.com

February: 28 Days of Blogging

2010-01-31T08:11:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow marks the start of my month of blogging!
After trying unsuccessfully in January, I have decided to take another crack at it this month.

I hope you will stop by often, I have some featured bloggers to introduce you to, as well as more NYC pictures and some pics of our trip to the Dominican Republic. And I have found some great sponsors that will be giving away their products to lucky readers of this blog!

If you're feeling a little pumped, why don't you join me?
I'll be posting a McLinky tomorrow on the first post of the month. Link up to let others know that you will be joining me in this insanity!!!

Feel free to grab my "28 Days of Blogging" button if you are joining me, or just to show some support!

See you tomorrow!!!

The End Of An Era: Bye Bye Books, Hello eReaders

2010-01-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

It was announced that Apple will be including an e-reader to their product line, the iPad (and by the way Apple, what the hell where you thinking when you picked a name? All I can think about are maxi pads!).

The iPad is the latest addition to the long list of e-readers that includes Barnes & Nobles' nook, Amazon's Kindle and Cool-er.

I am a geek at heart and I worship at the church of Mac. However, I cannot forsee that I will ever purchase the iPad or any e-reader for that matter.

Nothing beats curling up with a good book. NOTHING.

I don't read as much as I used to. For that, I am truly sorry. But what makes me even sadder is that Sophia will probably never share my love of books.

I remember when my sister got too old/cool to keep her Sweet Valley High book collection and gave them all to me. I read book after book, nonstop. I looked up to my sister and I imagined what she must have been doing or thinking as she read the books that I was now reading.

I remember peaking over at the next couple of pages while reading a really good book to see what would happen because the anticipation was killing me.

I love how books get worn from reading them over and over again.

And I love the smell of a new book! There is something almost lustful in the aroma of a brand new book, waiting for you to flip the pages and luring you into a life that isn't your own.

So I say "No!" to the e-reader/e-book/whatever you want to call it. Yes, your convenience is appealing but books have something you will never have... my heart!

Top 10 Reasons Why I Choose Books Over e-Readers (in no particular order)

1. You can wrap up a good book and gift it to a friend.

2. Your eyes won't hurt from the glare of a book.

3. You can drop a book and not worry that it broke.

4. You can lend a book (although I don't like to do that because you never get them back).

5. You can use books as decoration.

6. A thin book can fix a wobbly table or chair.

7. You can throw a book at someone if they make you angry. Dictionaries work best!

8. You can spill a drink on a book and just let it dry out. Let's see you beat that e-reader!

9. Books are a good place to keep little pieces of paper you don't know what to do with.

10. You can judge a book by it's cover. And you can judge a person by the book theey're reading. You can't tell what a person with an e-book is reading. They could be reading a book on how to be an axe murderer as they sit right next to you in the waiting room of your doctor's office.

Do you have any fond memories that include books? Do you have a favorite book that you've read more than once? I'd love to hear from you.

Did you like this post? Then, please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

Window Shopping on 5th Avenue: Holidays & The City (Part 3)

2010-01-28T07:19:00.000-08:00

I know January is almost over. But since some people still have their holiday decorations up, I don't see why I shouldn't share more pictures of New York City during the holidays with you.

And since it's Time Out Thursday, I am taking the opportunity. In case you are unfamiliar with Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday, the goal is to join the party on the last Thursday of every month and share with other Theta Moms how you spent an hour alone, meaning, without the kids!

So if you are interested in joining the party or reading about how other Theta Moms spent their time out, head on over to ThetaMom.com.

For the third installment of Holidays & The City, I am going to take you window shopping on 5th Avenue with me and my friend, Bethsy. She was here for 2 weeks during the holidays and made sure that we left the house EVERY DAY!

New York City is filled with high end retail stores, ones that my pockets are deep enough to even by a key chain in! But that didn't stop us from walking around for hours and looking at the fabulous holiday window displays.

First stop, Cartier!

Then, Fendi!

We also had to stop by Armani Exchange. I'm the one with the white coat and the disturbed looking girl behind me is Bethsy's sister. Because it was FREEZING!!!

Louis Vuitton...

And finally, Tiffany's!!!

We went inside to warm up a bit. So many beautifu pieces of jewelry and so little money...How depressing! And they have an ENTIRE FLOOR just for engagement rings! We went up there to pick out rings for Bethsy and her sister, even though they are both single. Crazy, I know, but SOOOO much fun. And then we snuck (or is it sneaked?) into the 'ladies lounge' to use the restrooms and take a picture.

So there you have it. A sampling of our window shopping adventure. Hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of 5th Avenue. And in case you missed it, you can read about our other outings in New York City Never Looked This Good: Holidays and The City (Part 1) and A Night on The Town in NYC: Holidays and The City (Part 2).

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

I'm Back!

2010-01-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

Yes my friends. I have returned.

My trip was extremely enjoyable but now it's back to business and I don't think I will EVER be able to tackle the mess that is my inbox!

My month of blogging went down the crapper. I had a few posts set up to post automatically while I was away but the only day that I was able to log on I must have clicked on something that drove blogger crazy because, not only did they not post, they disappeared!

But I am not one to give up that easily, so I am going to start all over on February 1st. Thank you so much to all of you that dropped by while I was away.

I leave you with a picture of the person that enjoyed our trip to Dominican Republic the most... Sophia!

Bare Escentuals New Campaign: Rethink What Matters

2010-01-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

Seems like the people from Bare Escentuals have finally figured it out!

Their latest campaign Rethink What Matters seeks to start a dialogue among women about beauty and freedom.

Beauty is not about covering up your imperfections but about embracing your beauty and enhancing it.
You can visit RethinkWhatMatters.com to participate in the dialogue as well as win free products from Bare Escentuals.

You'll also be able to win free products here too!

As a mom, my perspective of beauty has changed. And my beauty has changed.

I feel beautiful when I look refreshed even when I haven't slept in days.

What does beauty mean to you?

10 Things That Make Me Happy

2010-01-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

By the time you read this, I will be on my way, if not already there, to Dominican Republic. Sophia and I will be hanging out there for a few days to get some personal things sorted out. Due to the recent earthquake that devastated Haiti, I will also try to find a way to provide aid in any way that I can.

I am sure that my internet access will be limited but I will try to send smoke signals and let you know how it's going.

While I am gone, this blog will still continue to update every day, as promised! There will be a few more giveaways and a few more fun NYC pics. I will also be featuring some very funny bloggers, so please make sure you check back often.

Anyways, I was recently tagged by Molly from I'm a Sleeper Baker for a 10 Things That Make Me Happy list. So here goes:

1. My daughter, Sophia. (Corny, yes. True, yes!)
2. Dancing
3. Delicious Food
4. Hanging out with friends
5. Surprises
6. When my mom tells me she is proud of me
7. Presents
8. Knowing that someone loves me
9. Did I mention food?
10. Being right :P

There you have it. The truth about me. Apparently I am not very deep but I am honest.

And now I need to tag 10 bloggers :
1- Thanks, Mail Carrier
2- This Mama Works it!
3- Vodka Logic
4- A Nut in a Nutshell
5- ... I don't like "Mama"
6- Winey Mommy
7- Two Little Monkeys Plus Hubby
8- Lessons Learned
9- My Favorite Everything
10- Randomness of a Momma

Remember that I am posting EVERY DAY for 30 DAYS. Today is only day 8 of my month of blogging and I have tons of goodies in my bloggy bag to share with you.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

A Night On The Town In NYC: Holiday & The City (Part 2)

2010-01-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

Today I will be sharing a little more of NYC with you. If you missed Holiday & The City (Part 1), you should take a moment and check it out.

NYC's nightlife is one of the best in the world. Needless to say that ever since we had a baby, hubby and I have not been out much. Especially not clubbing.

But if you have a guest visiting NYC for the very first time, it is the perfect excuse to go out on the town! I have a friend who works as a club promoter, so not only did we hit the streets of NYC, we also got VIP treatment. 'Cuz I know people :)

[image: clubplanet.com]

We went to a club called Cain, located in Chelsea, and we were ushered right in. No lines. No waiting. My friend had a table set up right in front of the DJ's booth. We danced the night away until 4am! Can you believe it?! I sure can't. I didn't think I still had it in me.

Me and Bethsy @ Cain Luxe in NYC

This is my friend, the club promoter. He would rather remain anonymous.

I was a big party girl before I got married. And I miss it a lot sometimes. I like to have fun. And most of all I love to dance and below out my favorite tunes. I loved going to clubs because you can dance and sing to the top of your lungs and nobody cares.

I had an amazing time. I also realize that I could never go back to going out as much as I used to, but I should definitely try to get out more often. Maybe once a month. I wasn't going to make any New Year's Resolutions but this might be a good one ;-)

Remember that I am posting EVERY DAY for 30 DAYS, and I have 500 pics worth of stories to tell you! Today is only day 7 of my month of blogging and I have tons of goodies in my bloggy bag to share with you.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

The Corner Stork: Review & Giveaway - Ends 01/28/10 {closed}

2010-01-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

The Corner Stork: Baby Gifts & More is an online baby gift shop that offers a selection of hand picked items, sure to impress. It was founded by a group of moms that were looking for the convenience of an online store but not your average gift selection.

They handpicked the best of bath toys to room decor, personalized gifts to clothing, searching out the best vendors all around the world. Then they road-tested these products on their own babies. And they promise that the price you pay here is the absolutely the most competitive because no one knows a mom's budget better than a mom.

And to prove that they had chosen the very best, The Corner Stork let me pick one item for their store to review. And I chose the "Love Ewe" Plush Lamb and Lovie Gift Set in Organza-and-Satin Drawstring Bag.

This cute newborn gift set is perfect if you are looking for an affordable baby shower gift or a gift to send to the hospital to a new mommy. This gift set includes a plush lamb made of ultra-soft chenille and a satin-trimmed blanket beautifully presented in a sheer, ivory organza bag with satin-lined base. No one would believe that this item costs less than $30!

But remember that baby gifts are not the only items available at The Corner Stork. You can also find a unique selection of baby shower favors, diaper bags and first birthday gifts, to name a few.

Win it: The Corner Stork will be gifting one lucky reader of The Wannabe WAHM the same product that was sent to me to review, the "Love Ewe" Plush Lamb and Lovie Gift Set in Organza-and-Satin Drawstring Bag.

Mandatory Entry: Visit The Corner Stork website and let me know what your favorite item is, besides the ones shown here.

1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by click here (You can do this every 24 hours)

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on The Wannabe WAHM for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones coming up so be sure to come back soon!

1 Extra Entry Follow The Wannabe WAHM on Twitter - @wannabewahm

1 Extra Entry Visit The Corner Stork Blog and join their mail list (top right).

1 Extra Entry Tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Win a baby gift set from CornerStorkBabyGifts.com - Ends 1/28 #giveaway #win @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/4AdPpV Please RT

1 Extra Entry Follow Chic & Cheap Nursery on Twitter - @ChicCheapNrsery on Twitter (This is my nursery design site)

2 Extra Entries (leave 2 separate comments) if you Subscribe for Email Updates from Chic & Cheap Nursery

2 Extra Entries (leave 2 separate comments) per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me, The Wannabe WAHM, with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put my button on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of the Chic & Cheap Nursery buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM and The Corner Stork. Please leave an address where it can be found.

5 Extra Entries if you make a purchase from The Corner Stork during the giveaway. Tell us what you ordered.

Giveaway will end on January 28th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for hosting this giveaway. The Corner Stork provided me with a product from their store for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own and in no way influenced by the receipt of the item to review :)

The Winner:

Congratulations Xenia!

New York City Never Looked This Good: Holidays & The City (Part 1)

2010-01-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

I know many of us stayed home this holiday season. But I thought it would be fun to take you on a tour of New York City during the holidays.

New York City is truely a magical place. I love this city. I fell in love with it instantly while I was on vacation here with a few of my friends.

New York has personality and that personality changes with every season. I don't particularly like cold weather but NYC lit up for the holidays is like a stunning bride on her wedding day... glowing.

My friend Bethsy had never been to NYC. In fact, she had never seen snow! So she hopped on a plane and came to spend 2 fabulous weeks with moi in the City that Never Sleeps.

She arrived on the evening of Dec. 24th. I make tacos every year for Christmas dinner. We had a Mexican fiesta and too many Margaritas to count. We had so many, no one even remembered to take a single picture! So you are just going to have to use your imaginations on this one.

On Christmas Day, after breakfast in our PJs and exchanging gifts, we set out to explore the city while Hubby stayed home with Sophia.

The streets were filled with people, mostly because all of the stores were closed, but we managed to get a few sights in.

That's my friend Bethsy and her cousin in front of a church on Broadway and 10th Street.

Bethsy and me @ Time Square

This picture is a little blurry but you can see how packed Time Square was that day.

That thing in the middle is the Broadway shows ticket sales booth.

Then we had a drink to celebrate the occasion at Planet Hollywood in Time Square.

So there you have it. Christmas Day in NYC. But we were just getting started. This was probably the most boring day of all the days we spent together in this great city.

Remember that I am posting EVERY DAY for 30 DAYS, and I have 500 pics worth of stories to tell you! Today is only day 5 of my month of blogging and I have tons of goodies in my bloggy bag to share with you.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

Summit on the Summit: Celebrities Making a Difference

2010-01-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

Sure, most celebrities get their kicks by flashing their vajayjay to the paparazzi or driving while intoxicated, but there are a few that like to use their celebrity for good.

Jessica Biel and Emile Hirsch, from Into the Wild and Milk, are among a group of climbers comprised of activists, musicians and actors that are on their way to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro as we speak!

Why are they doing it?

To raise awareness and funds for the global clean water crisis. Summit on the Summit is the name of this initiative and it was founded my Grammy-nominated musician, Kenna.

Other climbers include rapper Lupe Fiasco, Alexandra Cousteau (granddaughter of the explorer, Jaques Cousteau), Elizabeth Gore (executive of the United Nations Foundation) and Kick Kennedy (environmentalist and granddaughter of Ted Kennedy).

You can track their climb on the Summit on the Summit website or via Twitter.

Please consider donating or spreading the word. 1 cent equals 1 leiter of clean, safe drinking water. No donation is too small.

This is day 4 of my 30 days of blogging. Please take a quick look at a few of my previous posts.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

The Great Thing About Friendship

2010-01-10T15:08:00.000-08:00

I moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 2003, when I was 19 years old.

I lived in Florida for 2 years before I moved to New York.

And this holiday season, for the first time, I had one of my friends from Dominican Republic visit me. She stayed for 2 weeks!

Not having had a house guest EVER and having a friend stay over for 2 weeks was making my very anxious. Even though I visit Dom. Rep. fairly often, I rarely communicate with my friends except for when I email them to let them know I am coming.

But let me tell you, I just had the best 2 weeks of my life!

My friend Bethsy and I had SOOO much fun! We have known each other for almost 10 years! We used to hit the town every weekend and party like rockstars!

But since moving to New York and having a baby, 'Party Me' has rarely made an appearance. I was starting to think 'Party Me' was dead!

Enter Bethsy!

Let's just say I am still trying to recover and Bethsy left about 4 days ago. And did I mention I miss her like crazy?

It's amazing how years can just fly by but a friendship can remain even if it has been a little neglected (mostly by me), fueled only by the memories of wonderful and sad moments shared.

Thanks to my new camera, I took over 500 pictures during those 2 weeks (most of which I can't share with you... ji ji ji) and I will be taking you on a tour of Manhattan during the holidays in a few posts this month, part of my 30 days of blogging (new posts will go up every day at 6pm EST).

All I can say is...

I didn't think I still had the ability to party like a rock star (and take care of a toddler the next day!) but I was pleasantly surprised to discover, I STILL GOT IT!

I leave you with a picture preview of more to come.

This is me and my friend Bethsy on New Year's Eve!

Do you have a good friend that you only see on occasion but it's as if time never passed every time you meet? I'd love to hear from you.

And please remember to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking Top Mommy Blogs or on the button on the right sidebar. All you have to do is click!

UPrinting Giveaway: Win 250 Business Cards!

2010-01-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

UPrinting is offering (1) lucky reader of The Wannabe WAHM 250 business cards*!

As a blogger or entrepreneur, a business card is necessary in order to show others that you are serious about what you do! Forget about writing your information on a piece of paper or trying to make your own at home. Stand out from amongst the crowd with a professional business card.

ABOUT UPRINTING

UPrinting is a leading online printing company that provides high quality printing at the most affordable prices including; Canvas Prints, Business Card Printing, Brochures, Postcards and more.

UPrinting offers convenient marketing support services such as design, lists, and direct mailing to help grow small and medium-size businesses nationwide.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me how you plan on using these business cards.

1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by click Top Mommy Blogs (You can do this every 24 hours)

1 Extra Entry Follow The Wannabe WAHM on Twitter - @wannabewahm

1 Extra Entry Follow UPrinting on Twitter - @uprinting

1 Extra Entry Tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Win 250 Business Cards from @uprinting ends 1/18 #giveaway #win @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/4r1qgr Please RT

1 Extra Entry Follow Chic & Cheap Nursery on Twitter - @ChicCheapNrsery on Twitter (This is my nursery design site)

2 Extra Entries (leave 2 separate comments) if you Subscribe for Email Updates from Chic & Cheap Nursery

2 Extra Entries (leave 2 separate comments) per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me, The Wannabe WAHM, with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of my buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of the Chic & Cheap Nursery buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 18th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

*Winner is responsible for cost of shipping.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for hosting this giveaway. UPrinting awarded me 250 Business Cards, that's it :)

Santa Didn't Put Me On The Naughty List This Year!

2010-01-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season this year!
I know I sure did.

And I am very excited to share with all of you.

To get myself back into the blogging rhythm, I will be trying to post EVERY DAY for the next 30 days! Quite and undertaking, but I have many things to share with you. I'll be taking you on a photo tour of New York City during the holidays, I have a few giveaways coming up and I have several things to vent about!

But today I want to share with you what Santa left under the tree for me this year. Turns out Santa thought I was a very good girl!

1. Santa left me an upgrade to the new Mac Operating System, Snow Leopard. I have been a Mac user for years now and have never really had a complaint about the speed. But Snow Leopard is AMAZING! I'm geeky, I know.

2. Santa also left me a new router. Because I need to be able to use the internet wirelessly in my home, we have a router set up. It worked ok for the first few months but then it was just a mess. It started resetting itself and having to reconfigure the password was a pain! But now I have the Linksys Cisco Gigabit N-type router. Don't let the name fool you, this was the easiest thing to set up... EVER! I am still in shock! It took my like 5 mins to install and protect with a password. It has an Setup Wizard that does everything for you! All you have to do is plug in the cables (it tells you where to put them) and type in your password!

3. And because Santa thinks I look like crap, he also gave me a gift certificate to the hair salon I go to. Good for 2 haircuts and blow outs! Can you believe that? Santa also gave me the gift of beauty!

4. And last but not least, the gift I had been hinting that I wanted and desperately needed... A new camera! No, Santa didn't bring me the SLR that I wanted because he knows me too well to know that a camera that size is not going to make it out of the house much. Instead, Santa gave me the Canon PowerShot SD 1200IS!!! It was love at first sight. It is lightweight and tiny and the picture quality is amazing! I will be edicating an upcoming post to the awesomeness that is the Canon PowerShot SD 1200IS so stay tuned for that if you are in the market for a new camera.

And there you have it folks!

I'd love for you to share your holiday gifts with me as well...

And don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! All you have to do is click the button on the right sidebar :-)

Hot Nanny Saga Ends: Because The Moral Of This Story Is That She Is Going To Burn In Hell & You Should Always Follow Your Gut!

2009-12-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

No, my husband didn't cheat on me.
But my hot nanny is an a-hole!
Well, my ex-nanny is an a-hole!

Today, Dec. 30th, hot nanny called my husband to inform him that she is starting a class on Jan. 5th and she can no longer take care of Sophia.

Today!
Dec. 30th!

Can you believe the balls on this one?!

How can anyone be so irresponsible?! Doesn't she know that I am depending on her to earn a living?

I'm not upset that she is studying. I think it's great. I am a big supporter of learning and if I had the time and money, I would be studying something too.

What bothers me is that she must have confused me with an idiot! I am NO idiot! But in this case, she has made me an idiot.

And I. AM. FUMING!!!

I have turned into a fire breathing dragon and my husband is at the receiving end of the enormous fireballs spewing out of my mouth.

I blame him!

I blame him because he was the one that brought her into our home, he was the one that offered her a ridiculously high salary, he was the on that paid her when I had to take UNPAID days off from work to train this unexperienced monkey to take care of our child! Him, him, him!

And now I find myself without a babysitter, and guess who's supposed to go back to work next week? Me.

Happy New Years!

Big Announcements, New Projects and a Little Secret

2009-12-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

The holidays are here! Can you believe it?

And to thank you all for your support these past couple of months, I would just like to say...

THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart! I never expected anyone to read this crazy little blog but apparently I was wrong. We have created great friendships and I hope that as time goes by we will continue to support each other and see our children grow.

The dirty little secret I want to share with you is... my name. I will continue to refer to myself as Sophia's Mom on this blog but I think that we know each other well enough now that I can disclose it. Just don't tell anyone!

My name is...

Nicole.

Hi! Nice to meet you!

And last but not least, the reason I have been slacking on visiting your blogs. I have been busy with a little projects, after all, I am the Wannabe WAHM.

I have an Architecture degree from Columbia University and a love for all things baby. I have decided to combine these to things and launch a nursery design on a budget site: Chic & Cheap Nursery.

If you have a moment, I would appreciate it if you stopped by. I am still uploading content as we speak but any suggestions, comments and ideas would be appreciated.

If you like the site, please sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter!

Getting To Know Theta Mom: Blogger Interview

2009-12-16T21:14:00.000-08:00

It's a bird, it's a plane, no...

It's Theta Mom!

Theta Mom has made quite an impact in our mom blogger community. With her thought provoking posts and her Time-Out Thursdays, Theta Mom has provided us with a little window into her Theta World. She's reminded us that being a mom is a difficult yet rewarding job but perfection is not necessarily what we should be aiming for. We should strive to be the best we can and be true to the woman within, at least one hour a week ;-)

So to get to know her a little better, here is a short Q & A.

Enjoy!

1. Why don't we start things off by having you introduce yourself? Let's pretend we don't ALL know who you are...
My name is Heather and I began my blog Theta Mom as a way to connect with other mothers. I wanted to share my experiences as a Theta Mom because I know so many other moms feel the same way I do. We don’t have this motherhood thing all figured out and we are trying to do the best job we know how. I thought blogging would be the best way to support women and mothers through this process. A Theta Mom is The True, Authentic [The-T-A] mom. She’s a combination of an Alpha and a Beta mom. She has her act together some days, but on others, she clearly doesn’t. She searches endlessly for the best pre-school in the neighborhood but also shows up to a birthday party late. Some days she looks smashing and ready to go and on other days, she walks out of the house with a coffee stained t-shirt. We are living this reality of motherhood and although it’s certainly rewarding, it’s also very hard work. Nobody ever said it was easy, and a Theta Mom will be the first to admit that.

2. I have been following your blog since the very beginning and I look up to you. I see you as a got-it-together awesome mom of two. Our perception of ourselves always seems to vary from the perception others have of us. How do you see yourself?
Wow, thank you for the compliment! I am flattered! Actually, I feel as though I have it all together, but the reality is there are many times I don’t. Although I am super organized, I have those mornings when I am running late and there’s not a damn thing I could do to change it. There are also many nights that I slap some Mac-n-Cheese on the table for dinner. We all go through it. Nobody is perfect and anyone who says that this gig is easy is simply not sharing the entire truth. I find the hardest thing about being a mom is the negative self talk. I think we all ask ourselves way too much, “Is the job that I am doing good enough?” We want nothing but the best for our kids. But at the end of the day, we have to release all of that negativity and begin to think that, “Yes, I am doing the best that I can and it IS good enough. And if today wasn’t such a spectacular day, I’ll try it again tomorrow.” When I make mistakes or find things that didn’t work, I recognize that I am always given another chance to make it right the next day. And motherhood doesn’t get more authentic than that.

3. What were your expectations when you first started blogging? Have any of them come true? What are your expectations for the future of Theta Mom?
Since I began my blog, for the first time I feel like I now have voice. I have a platform to empower women. I really want to revolutionize the way we think about the role of motherhood. This was my only expectation when I began this blog, to build a community. I feel as though I am in a place where I am beginning to establish just that. I have met some of the most amazing women through my blog. I never expected to make some of the connections that I have. This has truly blown me away. I want to continue to build this community of Theta Moms together. I want to explore these relationships and connections to the fullest.

4. You post and comment religiously. How do you find the time? Do you have any blogging tips or secrets you would like to share with the rest of us?
Honestly, my time is just as limited as everyone else’s. I wouldn’t say I have mastered time management, but I certainly have a handle on it. I work from home, I’m raising two kids, I’m keeping up with the house and all the fun stuff that comes with the territory, and I am also writing and managing my blog. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Blogging for me is an outlet. I always loved to write and this platform suits me well since I could write about the topic of motherhood forever! I have learned the best way to get the support of others is by supporting them as well. So anyone that comments on my blog, I comment back. If someone follows, I follow back (when my Google Friend Connect cooperates)! If someone took the time to read my blog and comment, that blogger deserves my time as well. This is how you truly build community; it can’t be all one-sided. I love interacting with my readers and it helps to continue the dialogue…sort of like blogging with a purpose.

5. Blogging has many pros and cons. In your opinion, what are the #1 pros and cons to blogging? For me, the #1 pro is that blogging has given me the opportunity to meet some amazing mothers I wouldn’t have met otherwise. They continue to inspire me to write. The flip side of this is that blogging is very time consuming. Sometimes I wonder if I am taking too much time away from my kids to maintain my blog. Just like anything else in life, you have to make sacrifices and there is definitely a trade-off. The bottom line is that this blogging thing is really hard work. People that don’t blog really don’t understand it. They think you can just slap up a post and sit back with your coffee as you watch hundreds of comments stroll in. We all know this is not how it works. It takes dedication, determination, great writing and a lot of time to make a blog successful. Regardless, as long as I stay true to myself and committed to my Mission, then I have truly met my own expectations.

Heather, it was so nice of you to play along and answer my silly questions. I really appreciate it!

And just in case you want to stalk Theta Mom on Twitter... Here you go! @ThetaMom

Umami Road: Review and Giveaway {ended 12/22/09}

2009-12-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

Finding the perfect gift for a friend (or for yourself) can be tricky. You want to purchase something unique, thoughtful and most of all, affordable.

How about a hand-stitched item made from salvaged leather from Umami Road?
Umami Road is a labor of love and the work of artist and designer Jen Pressley. Described as eco-rock-n-roll-craft-couture, Umami Road's collection is a unique work of art that is both functional and eco friendly... and did I mention gorgeous?

Take a look at this wallet. Stylish and affordable. And also multi-functional! It can also be used as a phone or camera case.

When I received my Umami Road wallet in the mail, two things came to mind.
1- It is so much bigger in person! From the picture the wallet looks more like a coin holder but it's not!
2- Where can I go buy something so that I can flash my new wallet?

Look trendy and save the environment with Umami Road's wallets! Each piece uses scrap leather that would normally be thrown away.

They also offer leather cuffs!

BUY IT: Go to Umami Road's site and see their selection for yourself. See an item you like but it's not listed? Email Umami Road and they will list a custom item for you on Etsy.

WIN IT: Umami Road has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader a trendy wallet!

Mandatory: Visit Umami Road and tell me tell me which item you would like. Please leave an email address so I have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry Tell me who the wallet would be for if you won this giveaway
1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs (button on the right sidebar)
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on The Wannabe WAHM for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones coming up so be sure to come back soon!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

#giveaway Genuine Leather Wallet made from salvaged leather from Umami Road! Support a Mom Owned Business. @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/4oAV8q

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of my buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM and Umami Road. Please leave an address where it can be found.

10 Extra Entries (leave 5 separate comments) if you order something from Umami Road during this giveaway! Let me know what cute item(s) you ordered.

Giveaway will end on December 22nd at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And the winner is:

Congratulations Xenia!!! You have 48 hours to claim your prize or I will have to draw another winner.

We have a winner!

2009-12-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

I am so incredibly late in posting this winner!!!

I am so sorry! I FINALLY got a Christmas tree and I have been trying to shop for my presents (last minute, as always!).

The winner of the Custom Frame or Monogram valued at $39.99 from The Studio by Danielson Design is:

Congratulations Kim! I have just sent you an email. You have 48 hours to contact me or I will have to pick another winner.

Thanks to all that entered the giveaway. I have other fabulous giveaways going on and a few more on the way. GOOD LUCK!

You May Have Noticed a Trend: Support Mom-Owned Businesses

2009-12-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

As a Wannabe WAHM, I consider it to be extremely important that we support mom-owned businesses.

There is a lot to be said about a woman, also known as mom, that can channel her creativity and strength into a successful business all fueled by the ambition to prove herself, generate income for her family and, most importantly, be able to be more involved with her kids.

These very things are what motivate me everyday to get up in the morning, write this blog and continue to move forward idea after idea (failure after failure) until I find the perfect whatever that will make me a successful mompreneur.

You may have noticed a trend in my giveaways recently. I have been reaching out to mompreneurs to support them by hosting giveaways or writing reviews on this blog.

I ask you to please help me support them by generating traffic to their site or increasing their sales.

You can:
- Enter their giveaways
- Purchase their products
- Tweet or Blog about them/ their products or services/ their giveaways
- Become their FaceBook fan

Let's help each other out! You never know if you might be the next mompreneur catapulted to success thanks to the support of moms just like you and me.

Here is a list of a few of my fav mom-owned businesses:

- The Simple Stencil ( I am hosting a giveaway ending 12/15. See Top Right Sidebar)
- My Embroidered Gifts
- 4 Sweet Cheeks ( I am hosting a giveaway ending 12/22. See Top Right Sidebar)
- Zee Studio: Thoughtful Web Design for Small Businesses

Do you have a mom-owned business that I can shine a spotlight on? Let me know.
Email me at thewannabewahm@gmail.com

4 Sweet Cheeks: Monogrammed Hooded Towel Review and Giveaway {ended 12/22/09}

2009-12-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to start shopping. I managed to contain myself until I found out the sex of the baby but once I knew I was having a girl, I LOST MY MIND. And I became addicted to hooded infant towels. I could just imagine my cute little baby swaddled up in a hooded towel after her bath. Who doesn't love a baby wrapped up in a hooded towel? I must have bought like 10. I am not kidding.

But my little baby quickly outgrew those infant towels and I was searching for MONTHS for toddler hooded towels. You would think Babies R’US would carry them but no! And you know what? I’m glad they don’t because my search for Hooded Toddler towels ended with 4 Sweet Cheeks.

4 Sweet Cheeks is a mom-owned store on Etsy that offers unique gifts for baby. Everything from Diaper Cakes to Monogrammed Hooded Towels!

They even offer an affordable alternative to a Diaper Cake: Diaper Bouquets! Imagine how thrilled a new mom would be to receive this Butterflies and Flowers Diaper Bouquet at the hospital or when she comes home with her new baby!

4 Sweet Cheeks uses only the highest quality ingredients in thier cakes, hooded towels, and bouquets making them stylish, sturdy, and guaranteed to impress!

I chose to review the Stripes and Flowers - Boutique Hooded Baby Towel and I am BEYOND satisfied! The hooded towel is made with a full sized towel (very soft by the way, much softer than anything I ever purchased from Babies R' US) perfect for drying your baby after a shower or a swim. It arrived wrapped up just as you see in the picture. It was almost a shame to actually use it.

4 Sweet Cheeks has been kind enough to offer 1 of my readers a chance to win a Monogrammed Hooded Towel!

And they are also offering a 10% DISCOUNT on all orders over $50 until the end of this year! A hooded towel would be the perfect gift for baby's first Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate (or don't).

And they have a large selection of WINTER and HOLIDAY fabrics & would LOVE to create a custom order for you!

WIN IT: You can win a Monogrammed Hooded Towel from 4 Sweet Cheeks!

Mandatory Entry: Visit 4 Sweet Cheeks and tell me tell me which Hooded Towel you would choose if you won (If you do not do this, all of your entries will be considered invalid). Please leave an email address so I have a way to contact the winner.
Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry Visit 4 Sweet Cheeks and tell me what other item you like besides the hooded towels

1 Extra Entry Become a Facebook fan on 4 Sweet Cheeks Facebook Page

1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs (button on the right sidebar)

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on The Wannabe WAHM for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones coming up so be sure to come back soon!

1 Extra Entry Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Unique Baby Gifts that are Stylish & Guaranteed to Impress from 4 Sweet Cheeks #giveaway #win @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/50ZCei Please RT

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of my buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM and 4 Sweet Cheeks. Please leave an address where it can be found.

5 Extra Entries (leave 5 separate comments) if you order something from 4 Sweet Cheeks during this giveaway! Let me know what cute item(s) you ordered.

Giveaway will end on December 22nd at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

*Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this review. These are 100% my opinions. 4 Sweet Cheeks only provided a Monogrammed Hooded Towel for my review.

________________________________________________________________________________________

And the winner is:

Congratulations Lindsey!!! You have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize or I will have to draw another winner.

Merry SITSmas!

2009-12-07T21:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks for stopping by my SITSas! I want to spread a little Holiday cheer to all of you and to thank you for all of your support in the past couple of months.

We have shared so many stories and forged so many friendships this year.

I am sad to see 2009 go, for all of the wonderful gifts it has given me.

But I am excited for things to come in the new year.

Enjoy the holidays.

Be safe.

Hot Nanny Update

2009-12-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

I know many of you are wondering what was the fate of 'Hot Nanny.' If you are unfamiliar with the Hot Nanny Saga click here and here to catch up.

First of all, thanks so much to all of you who voted in the Hot Nanny Poll. The results were predictable, to say the least. Great minds think alike and I am glad we are all on the same page! Here are the results:

Would you hire a hot nanny?

12% Yes

32% No

56% Are you crazy?

I suspect there was one person in particular (you know who you are!) that kept voting yes but overall, I think we can all agree that if you still have your own teeth and your car insurance isn't from AARP, don't think you are going to get hired to take care of our kids.

So, what ever happened to Hot Nanny, you ask. You are not going to like the answer. No, I didn't have her wacked. I do live in NYC but I don't have those types of connections. I have the Dominican connection but everyone knows that you can't hire a Dominican to do a hit job, you hire an Italian... or a Russian.

Whoa! My mind really ran with that one, huh?

Anyway, as we ~~speak~~ ~~write~~ ~~read~~... At this moment, Hot Nanny is in my home, taking care of my adorable little Sophia.

"Am I crazy?", 56% of you ask. The answer is, no. I'm not crazy. I AM DESPERATE!

My mother cannot take care of Sophia any longer and I can't quit my job because my stress-induced gastritis might turn into a stress-induced ulcer if my bank account gets any lower than it already is.

For now, Hot Nanny is hired. She has already been with us for a few weeks. Sophia seems to like her. She is catching on pretty quickly to our routine and how I like things done.

Also, my husband has been reassuring we that she is not attractive at all. He rambles on and on about all the things he isn't attracted about her to make me feel better. I have to say, it is working like a charm. In fact, it turns me on a little... Is that wrong?!

I'm still looking for an older, wiser, less attractive nanny but in the mean time, Hot Nanny will just have to do.

Before you go, please take a moment to enter my giveaways. You won't regret it!

* The Studio by Danielson Designs - Ends Dec. 8th

* The Simple Stencil - Ends Dec. 15th

And also, please vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs. You can click on the button on the right sidebar or simply click here. That's all you have to do. Just click.

A Christmas Meme

2009-12-05T14:58:00.000-08:00

The Penny-Pinching Mama tagged me for a Christmas Meme. This is my first meme ever! Can you believe it? Any one can join, so feel free to play along, even if you haven't been tagged.

Have you started your Christmas shopping?
No! I know, I know... I am so screwed!

Tell me about one of your special traditions.
We eat tacos for Christmas dinner. No, neither me nor my husband are from Mexico. But I can't cook so we eat tacos for Christmas. :)

Are you a Black Friday Shopper?
No. I would probably end up in jail or in a hospital. Crowds annoy me! For real!

When do you put up your Tree?
I used to put it up the day after Thanksgiving. Since I had Sophia, I've been slacking. My tree is still not up.

Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?
Stay home. Although, if I could afford it, I would be on a plane to Dominican Republic as we speak.

What is your funniest Christmas memory?
I can't really think of one right now. But it's probably from when I was single and involves alcohol ;-)

What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time?
Home Alone. I'm actually watching it right now.

Do you do your own Christmas Baking, what’s your favorite treat?
Again, I don't cook. And cooking also includes backing in my book. However, my favorite treat are brownies. But not just any brownies! Fairytale Brownies! My office orders them every year... heaven!

Fake or Real Tree?
Real! I love the smell.

What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
I'm already panicked. But I'm probably not going to do anything until 2 days before Christmas. My biggest flaw... I thrive on chaos and panic!

Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Not at all. I am a gift wrapping maven!

What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
Decorating the house.

What Christmas craft do you like the best?
I don't really indulge in Christmas crafts. However, my favorite thing ever is wrapping gifts. That counts, right?

Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song?
Yes! Very hard to say... Probably, Santa Baby!

When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
The day before Christmas.

I am tagging:
I'm a Sleeper Baker
Baby Makin(g) Machine
Unknown Mami
Raising My 4 Sons
Life Gone Awry

Want to join in? Instructions: Simply copy and paste the questions into your blog, and then answer them. Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.

When you post your blog, please spread some Christmas cheer, and leave a link back to Top 10 Christmas, and the blog that you were tagged by. (You can participate even if you were not tagged)

Post your link in a comment below so I can see your answers too!

AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR MY AT TOP MOMMY BLOGS! THEY RESET THE LISTING SO ALL OF YOUR VOTES HAVE BEEN DELETED. SORRY! (Button on sidebar)

And remember to enter my fabulous giveaways!!!

The Review & Giveaway of the Century: The Simple Stencil {ended 12/15/09}

2009-12-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

Ok.

I may be exaggerating a little. But I tend to do that. Plus, it got your attention, didn't it?

I have been living in my apartment for almost a year now and I feel completely ashamed to admit to you, and myself, that I NEVER finished Sophia's nursery!

We painted and hung shelves and the finishing touches are what make a room and I never got around to it.

So when I was given the opportunity to do a review for The Simple Stencil, I have to say that 'over the moon' does not even start to describe how excited I was. Especially since The Simple Stencil is a mom owned and operated business. And as a Wannabe WAHM you know that gave The Simple Stencil some points in my book.

I had the hardest time deciding what product to review but luckily The Simple Stencil has an Inspirational Catalog that I browsed through and was able to get some ideas. I was also able to preview my items in the color I wanted to order and change the background color so that I could see what it would look like on my wall!!!

Here is the finished product! You like? The room looks completely different and I love it.

Thank you so much to The Simple Stencil!!!

BUY IT: Visit The Simple Stencil website and see for yourself the variety of stencils they offer. I'm sure you will find the perfect one for you. The Simple Stencil is having HOLIDAY SPECIAL.
$10 OFF all orders $75 and up plus FREE SHIPPING and FREE PROFESSIONAL APPLICATION TOOL. Enter Coupon Code: HOLIDAY at checkout.

WIN IT:
One lucky reader will win a $50 GC from The Simple Stencil.

Mandatory: Visit The Simple Stencil and tell me tell me how you would spend your $50 GC. Please leave an email address so I have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry Sign up for The Simple Stencil newsletter.

1 Extra Entry Subscribe to The Simple Stencil Blog

1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs (button on the right sidebar)
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on The Wannabe WAHM for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones coming up so be sure to come back soon!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Win a $50 GC for TheSimpleStencil, mom owned business providing quality & affordable wall decals #giveaway @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/6uzd3b

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of my buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM and The Simple Stencil. Please leave an address where it can be found.

5 Extra Entries (leave 5 separate comments) if you order something from The Simple Stencil during this giveaway! Let me know what cute item(s) you ordered.

Giveaway will end on December 15th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

And the winner is:

Congratulations Melissa! You have 48 hours to contact me or I will have to chose another winner.

Lemonade Award: How Sweet!

2009-12-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are more awards to be thankful for and pass along to my bloggy friends.

The lovely Dawna from A kiss and a Peck was awarded the Lemonade award and was kind enough to pass it along to me! I've never received the Lemonade award and I've always wanted one. Thanks so much Dawna!

The rules for this award:

- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So many blogs to chose from! But the winners are:
- 2 Toddlers and Me
- Frugal Mom Knows Best
- A Nut in a Nutshell
- Theta Mom
- The Girl Next Door Grows Up
- Young Wives Tale
- Hearts Make Families
- Kat's Confessions
- Yonca is Cooking
- The Winey Mommy

You girls are awesome! I just wish I had a cash prize for you!

A special offer from giggle, just in time for the holidays! Enjoy 20% off your next online order through December 7. To get your discount, just enter code INSIDER09 at checkout. And the more the merrier, so be sure to spread the word!

I love you Blog Awards!

2009-12-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

It's been such a long time since I last posted some blog awards it is just ridiculous!

I am a procrastinator but I have taken that to a whole new level with the blog awards that I have received. I have been sitting on, and I kid you not, more than 8 blog awards for the past couple of months and I am so ashamed.

I LOVE AWARDS! I am a procrastinating overachiever and to be recognized by my fellow bloggers is such an honor!

So to celebrate the end of the year, I am going to be posting and passing on all of my awards this month. Along with a gazzilion (ok, more like 5) giveaways!

So today I give to you:

THE ROSIE AWARD

Bestowed upon me by Mrs.Blogalot, this award is for the MOST UT.

They are hilarious, fun, inspirational, sarcastic, silly, compelling, irrational, unpredictable, truthful, astounding, thought provoking, raunchy, racy, boundry pushers, yellers, ranters, ravers, poets, cynics ..... no not all at the same time...

Mrs. Blogalot gave this award to most of my cynical friends (click here to see who else received the award) but she left out a few and it is my duty (yeah, right!) to pass it along. All of these spectacular bloggers are extremely versitile. You never know what to expect from their blogs or their comments.

I would like to pass this award to:
- Mrs.Blogalot herself! She is as hilarious and sarcastic as they come. Love at first ~~sight~~ post.
- Life's Crazy Joke. Because I need to wear Depends every time I read her blog.
- Brilliant Sulk. Because she blows my mind with every post and comment!
- Scary Mommy. Because she is really not that scary.
- http://stay-at-homemomwhoknew.blogspot.com/. Because she is super sweet and then someone pisses her off and she gets boriqua on them...
- Barefoot Foodie. Because even though she probably doesn't give a crap about awards, she deserves it!
I'm sure that there are many other bloggers I have forgotten. But if I keep trying to remember who else I would like to give this award to, it will just sit here as a draft until 2012.
- Venti Vixen. Because someone who drinks that much coffee is bound to say something crazy!

The Studio by Danielson Designs: Review and Giveaway {closed}

2009-11-24T22:19:00.000-08:00

I love interior design. I don't think I state that enough here. It is my passion.

I think even a simple picture frame can change the feel of a room. Which is why I was so excited to be contacted by The Studio by Danielson Designs to do a review and giveaway for them.

“They’re a cool little design company pioneering a new way of doing business. They create home décor and gifts with real heart sentiment and a spot-on-trend look.” I really couldn't have put it better myself!

Their items are 100% Made in the USA. They were awarded the "Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program for a Company Under 100 Employees" by the American Business Awards. And they are GREEN: they finish their products with water-based paints and use 100% recycled wood for all our signs and frames.

They offer a wide range of customizable frames, signs and monograms.

Look at this picture frame from their Christmas collection.

And how about these adorable signs? They are sure to put the finishing touch to any room in your home.

It was incredibly hard for me to decide on an item for my review. I always want to get something for Sophia's room but our bedroom needs a little love. So we compromised. I got a customized picture frame to display our first photo as a family in our bedroom.

Isn't it cute? The best part about purchasing from The Studio by Danielson Designs was their online design center. It was great to be able to see how the frame would turn out so I was able to play around with it until it looked perfect.

An item from The Studio by Danielson Designs is an ideal gift for any loved one this holiday season!

GET IT: Go to The Studio and enter the code WANNABE through December 11th to get $10 off of your purchase. All orders over $100 get free shipping!

WIN IT: You can win any item of $39.99 or less. Here's how!

Mandatory: Visit The Studio and tell me tell me which item you would choose if you won. Please leave an email address so I have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry Visit The Studio and tell me one of their values. (Here is the link to their Values page).

1 Extra Entry Tell me what other item you like from The Studio by Danielson Designs.

1 Extra Entry Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs (button on the right sidebar)
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on The Wannabe WAHM for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my left sidebar - there are some really great ones coming up so be sure to come back soon!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

The Studio by Danielson Designs.Simply Stunning Custom Decor.Win a custom item valued at $39.99! #giveaway @wannabewahm http://bit.ly/5bShck

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe via email.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put one of my buttons on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to The Wannabe WAHM and The Studio by Danielson Designs. Please leave an address where it can be found.

5 Extra Entries (leave 5 separate comments) if you order something from The Studio by Danielson Designs during this giveaway! Let me know what cute item(s) you ordered.

Giveaway will end on December 8th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

The winner of this fabulous giveaway is:

Congratulations Kim!

Isabella Oliver: Stylin' Baby Bump

2009-11-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

*UPDATE: Enter coupon code TREAT09 to receive 20% your order until Dec.1st!

I have to admit something to you.

I purchased most of my maternity clothes at Target. I took a few trips to Pea in a Pod and Motherhood but their maternity clothes was so overpriced for the poor quality they offered that I didn't see the point of spending so much money.

But you want/need to look beautiful at your baby shower so I took to the internet (my faithful companion) to help me find something fabulous for me to wear.

Enter Isabella Oliver. I had seen one of their ads in Pregnancy magazine of a beautiful pregnant woman wearing a wrap tube top. I thought to myself "I want to look like that!"

Most recently, celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Angelina Jolie, and Kelly Rutherford (Gossip Girl) have worn Isabella Oliver's maternity clothes.

I ended up getting 2 tops from them, since I was having 2 baby showers. What I liked most was the possibility of wearing the tops AFTER I had the baby. I was a little nervous about ordering maternity clothes online (being shipped from the UK) but the offer free shipping on orders of $89 or more, their sizing chart was very accurate and I was able to speak with a customer rep within minutes.

I took a HUGE leap of faith and it was TOTALY worth it. I looked beautiful at my baby showers and last weekend I actually wore one of the tops to a birthday party (and I already lost my 40+ lbs. of baby weight)!

And did I mention they don't just sell maternity clothes?

6 months pregnant. Baby Shower in Dominican Republic.

Bandeau Wrap Top from Isabella Oliver

8 months pregnant. Baby Shower in NYC.

Wrap Around Top from Isabella Oliver

* Disclosure: I was not compensated in anyway for this post. I WISH! I am an affiliate to Isabella Oliver because I LOVE their clothes.

There's Nothing Worse Than Hairy Legs!

2009-11-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

We are taking a break from the 'Hot Nanny' series to talk about my mortifying doctor visit today.

I've been sick lately and as promised I went to the doctor. It was my first time visiting this office so I fill out all my new patient forms and imagine my surprise when Dr.Hottie calls my name.

Immediately I turn on the charm and try to pay attention while I am mentally kicking myself in the ass for looking like shit. How hard is it to put on a litttle blush, biatch?!

He takes me into the exam room and asks me to remove my top and put on the ugliest pink gown. Pink is my color but I don't think THAT shade of pink is anyones color!

He does the routine check up and just when I think we are done and my flirtmeter is about to hit 100% he tries to pull my pant legs up.

"Stop!!!" I scream. And not just inside my head. I didn't shave my legs!!! Cute underwear, check. Shaved pits, check. Nice bra, check. Shaved legs, *crickets*.

* These are not my legs but they are pretty close!

I end up having to explain to him that I only shave for the gyno and for sex, which is common knowledge to most of you by now. Then I make an awkward joke about how hairy legs are my contraceptive (because let me let you in on a little secret, I tend to make jokes when I'm uncomfortable). He has a good laugh, reassures me he's seen worse, promises to forget all about it. I concede and I lose my self respect.

After I put my clothes back on, I do the wake of shame back to his desk. I asked him for a referal to another doctor because I will never be able to look him in the face. He promised to forget all about it. I promise to shave and put on make up for my next appointment.
* In the winter I like to let my leg hair grow so I can frenchbraid it and make leg warmers. :D

Hot Nanny: The Saga Continues...

2009-11-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

Ok. Apparently, being hot is not enough of a reason to not hire the Georgian 'nanny' (because she is really not a nanny) according to my husband.

I told him how I felt about hiring the Georgian nanny (from now on referred to as 'the hottie') and he told me that he felt insulted I would even think of him and another woman. INSULTED. Hah! My answer: "OK. Now we are even for all the times you said something and I felt insulted."

But that's not the way it works. And my mom has some people coming in from out of town for Thanksgiving for a few days so I really need a sitter ASAP.

We are having 'the hottie' sit for us for 2 weeks and then we will make our decision.

Yesterday, Monday, we had her spend a few hours with me and Sophia. She was supposed to come at 11am. She got here 20 minutes early without here mom (hottie: 2 me: 0). Sophia and her immediately started playing which left me completely free to do what I needed to to. I made food for Sophia for about 2 weeks while they played and played.

Sophia's diaper was bursting at the seams when I told her that we needed to change her diaper (hottie:2 me: 1). I get a point because I shouldn't need to tell you that my baby needs a diaper change. It's obvious that she needs a new one when her butt starts to resemble Kim Kardashian!

I let her change the diaper. Too little diaper cream. Put the diaper on backwards and way too tight (hottie: 2 me:2)! And on top of that, she could have been peed on because she didn't put a new diaper under her right away and her face was right in the line of fire. I am not adding a point for that because being peed on would have been enough punishment already.

Later we went to the park and they played for about an hour (hottie: 3 me:2). You need a lot of energy to run after Sophia and 'the hottie' managed to keep up with her the whole time we were there.

After the park, Sophia went to sleep and we got to talkin'. She has only been in the country for months (she's here legally - hottie: 4 me:2; I am really losing this, huh?) and she is hoping to go back to Georgia next summer to get married to her boyfriend (hottie:5 me:2).*

So it's not looking go for me. She is coming back today to spend the entire day with us.

She was 20 minutes late!

I'll let you know tomorrow what happens today!

* Even if this is a lie. She totally deserves a point just for coming up with it!

Let's Create Our Media Kit Together!

2009-11-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Girls!!!

It seems that a lot of us started blogging together and now most of us are looking to create a Media Kit for advertisers.

I had never thought about creating one because I didn't think that anyone would be interested in advertising on my silly little blog but it turns out that some people do!

So I had to create a Media Kit for those people. Can you believe the nerve?! Making me work harder than I already do!

I suggest you start to create one now before you get requests. Or maybe you are scrambling to figure out how to create one like me and a few of my bloggy friends (that will remain unnamed, unless they send me an email and then I will totally plug their blog here).

I think it would be extremely helpful and super fun if we all created our Media Kits together. So to get you started, I want to share with you some helpful links that I have found.

Mom Blogger's Club - Media Kit Template

Mom Blogger's Club - Advertising Rates for Mom Blogs

We also need to find out more about our readers. I feel like I know more about some of you than I do about my own family members but I can't very well write on my media kit about you individually. They need numbers and that I do not have. Do you?

There is a poll on the top right sidebar. Please select all that apply. I invite you to creat your own poll so you can get the stats you need to create your Media Kit.

Do you already have a Media Kit? Do you have any helpful hints to share with us? Leave a comment and I will update the post to include your tips!

Now Come On! Let's Create Our Media Kit Together!

Time-Out for The Wannabe WAHM

2009-11-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

Would You Hire a Young/Attractive Nanny?

2009-11-10T22:18:00.000-08:00

Yes. I changed my blog design again.
I'm stressed. And when I'm stressed, this is what I do. I keep busy.

I need to hire a nanny. My amazing, sweet ( and by sweet I mean old) and patient nanny moved back to her country (read my sob story here) in September and I have been in denial.

My mom had taken over her duties but while my hubby was away, she had just about enough she could take, and told me that she can't keep babysitting for me 2 days a week.

Hubby has decided that he would like to hire someone from his country, the Republic of Georgia because he wants Sophia to speak Georgian (can you believe that is actually a language?). So he made a few calls and yesterday we had a Georgian 'nanny' stop by to speak with us.

Here's a map because I had no idea where/what that was when we met

She is 24 years old, a medical student and has the face of an angel. She came with her mom and Sophia (who has a fear of strangers... and I love it) took instantly to her. I swear Sophia thought we brought her a little playmate!

image: getty images

I was not really involved in the conversation because they were speaking Georgian (je je je... that's a language?) and by they I mean my husband and her mother. I swear that my potential 'nanny' barely said a word! And I call her my potential nanny because I cannot remember her name! Come to think of it, I don't think anyone told me her name.

OK. So, I need you to tell me that this is a horrible mistake! That I should not hire this angel-faced medical student.

My husband and I struggle everyday with our cultural differences. I am from the Dominican Republic. We are loud and happy people. Georgians are very somber and rigid. So why in the HELL would I hire a Georgian angel to care for our child?

can you blame us for being happy people when we are from an island that looks like this?

i stole this picture from my sister's facebook page but she doesn't know i have a blog, so it's all good

My husband gets home about an hour and a half before me (I work 3 days a week) so that means that he is the one that would relieve her of her duties. It's not that I don't trust him but I keep playing the same scenario in my head: Everyday he gets home, talks in his native language to this girl, reminisce about their country and starts to think 'Why am I married to this Dominican biatch when I could be with someone who gets me'?

HELP!!!

p.s. Have I mentioned my husband's hot? No?! Well, he is! I married him for his looks, not his personality. But he's mine and I'd like to keep him ;-)

My Newest Creations: Wannabe Blog Design

2009-11-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Hi there!

It's been a few days but I have been SICK! I have no idea what I had but I felt that I had been beaten by a stick. Every part of my body has been aching for the past couple of days but I'm feeling much better now.

I promise I am going to the doctor sometime this week. I am one of the few lucky ones that actually has health insurance so I should really take advantage of it.

I don't know about you but I have the horrible habit of only going to the doctor when I'm sick. Naughty, naughty, I know!

So this is just a quick post to let you know I'm alive (and some what well) and to share with you my latest blog designs!

If you are new or haven't been paying attention, I have started my blog design business, Wannabe Blog Design.

I gave my friend (actually, sister from another mother) Ashley a full blown blog makeover! Here is her blog header. You can click on it to visit her site.

Ashley was nice enough to host a giveaway for me. Courtney was the luck winner! She had a new blog project in mind and we just installed her new layout! You can click on the image below to visit her site.

I'm going back to bed but I will see you all tomorrow!!!

Time-Out for The Wannabe WAHM

2009-11-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

It's Thursday again and I am so excited to share my time-out with you!
Thursday is the day to share your 'time-out' and link up to Theta Mom.

In case you are not familiar with Theta Mom (which I doubt, but if you are not... shame on you!) let me explain. She had a brilliant idea called "Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday." The goal is to grab one hour of time within one week to do whatever you want…without the kids. On Thursdays, you post how you spent your “time out” and add her button or link in your post. Make sure to stop by to see how Theta Mom and other mom bloggers spent their time-out!

I had a few time-outs this week. I am super excited to share with you. First, I spent an awesome night with the ladies of Aiming Low and other bloggers in NYC last Wednesday. You can read all about here.

Then, Thursday morning I was invited by my friend to be an audience member on The View. The celebrity guests that day were Wanda Sykes and STING! You can read all about my Sting obsession here. All the details about that will be posted next week. Pics included.

But today I want to share with you the best-time out which I had this Sunday night. My mom and I went to the movies! It's very rare now that I have a baby that my mom and I hang out, just the two of us. She wanted to see the Michael Jackson movie 'This is it' and invited me to go with her.

We had a great time. We danced in our seats the whole time. Putting aside all the allegations of child molestation (only 2 people know for sure what happened, the kid and MJ), Michael Jackson was truly a musical genius. He was unbelievably talented and it was very interesting to see how he was involved in every aspect of the show that he was putting together. I feel bad for him because he died before he even got to take his show on the road. And I feel bad for all of his fans that were ready to see him perform live in the UK. It was going to be a magnificent show!

I'm excited to see what you girls did this week with your 'time-out'!

One more thing!!! My friend Ashley from Confessions of a First Time Mom is doing a blog makeover giveaway! I redesigned her blog and you could be next!!! Enter here.

Aiming Low NYC - Booze, Bloggers and HP Printers

2009-11-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

So in case you have been living under a rock, like I was until last Tuesday around midnight, let me tell you a little bit about Aiming Low.

Aiming Low is a "a group of women/moms/bloggers/friends/writers that believe that there’s no shame in serving mac and cheese for dinner three nights in a row, Febreeze was created to make a questionably clean shirt smell ready-to-walk-out-the-door-fresh and that slack isn’t a way of life…it’s an art.

So, if you’re tired of being told that you should be better than you are…a better wife, a better mother, a better cook, a better housekeeper, a better friend, a better all-around-person…this is your place."

No one has actually told me that I should be better than I am but I sorta feel like I should. But that's a topic best served with a martini on a shrink's couch.

Back to the subject. I was catching up on my blog reading last Tuesday night. Went to see what sort of shenanigans by beloved Barefoot Foodie (I love her, click here to read all about that) had written about and I see that she is in NYC. I live in NYC! So I scramble to figure out why she is here and where can I see her, and I discover that she is here for an Aiming Low blogger mixer thing sponsored by HP.

Let's skip to the good part because I know you are getting bored and I don't want you to go yet! The point is I went. I knew no one there so I got a cocktail to keep me company and proceeded to sit with some strangers :)

I had one drink and was already plastered. Enter Barefoot Foodie! I enlisted a girl from my table (whose name I was too drunk to remember now) and we went up to Brittany (Barefoot Foodie) and proceeded to ~~tell her what a big fan I am , make a total ass of myself, tell her I was drunk, tell her I only eat Ensure, tell her I was planning a lesbian treesome with her and MaryMac from Pajamas and Coffee~~ basically scare the shit out of her.

Here is a picture of me (on the right, pink shirt, drunken smile, holding Brittany a little too close for her comfort), Brittany (in the middle scared shitless) and the girl whose name I can't remember (just realized from the pic that her name tag says Molly) but I do know that she had no baby and no blog but she won an mini HP laptop.

This pic belongs to Barefoot Foodie. I snagged it from her Flickr without permission :)

I also got to hang out with Bay from Queen Mother Blog. She took a pic but is taking forever to send it too me! She is super sweet and seriously, she looks like she is 12! And that is a compliment! I look 25 going on 40 because I never sleep.

Also talked for a little bit with Shauna from Is it 5 o'clock yet?. She is part of the Aiming Low crew and hysterical. I wanted to ask for her phone # so we could talk but I think that might have been ackward.

But as the night unwinded and 1 Cosmopolitan became 1 Cosmo+ 2 Appletinis, use mommy bloggers got a little crazy!

I'm not going to share all the details. All I can say is that VDog is amazing and probably doesn't remember me! My cheeks hurt so much from laughing at Every. Word. that came out of her mouth!

And my all time favorite of the evening... LaughMom! She proclaimed to anyone that would listen that I was her new best friend and together we terrorized the living crap out of one of the HP Printer guys. Let's just say his man nuts have gone into hiding.

I had a FANTASTIC time with every on at the Aiming Low thingy. I feel totally sorry for all of you that didn't get a chance to go and hang out with us!

P.S. Forgot to mention Angie from A Whole Lot of Nothing. Super sweet and funny.

P.P.S. HP, if you're reading. You will get no plug from me!!! Rumor has it there was a gift card in the swag bags... Well, NOT IN MINE! You made me fall in love with your printer and I can't get one of my very own!!!

The Internet Made Me Do It: Explanations, Announcements and Giveaways...

2009-11-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that I have been slacking on my blog and Twitter for the past 2 weeks. And now I can tell you why. My husband was out of town for TWO WEEKS! Thankfully he made it back just in time... before I lost my mind! I really wanted to tell you guys but between the chaos of being home alone and the terrifying articles I've read on line about blog safety and how you should never post about being home alone until after the fact (which kicked my paranoid self into overdrive) I had to wait until he was back. The internet made me do it... I swear!

I have posts planned all week to catch up on all the exciting things that have been going on in the Wannabe life, like my trip to see Sting on 'The View' and my night out with the Aiming Low girls! Be sure to stop by every day!

Also a reminder that today is the LAST day to enter to win a Personalized Diaper Cake. You have until 11:59 pm tonight to enter so click here and don't miss out!

Another awesome giveaway you should enter is the BLOG MAKEOVER that Ashley at Confessions of a First Time Mom is hosting. The blog design will be done by yours truly! In case you haven't noticed, I have branched out to blog design. Enter the giveaway here or check out my blog design site here.

Also, I have gotten a lot of emails about how to number comments. Unfortunately, I didn't invent the wheel so I just found a tutorial online and tweaked it until it worked. It seems that everyone out there has the same tutorial posted which works for others (but didn't work for me). If you are interested in numbering your comments, I will do it for $5, same day! Just send me an email (thewannabewahm@gmail.com)!!!

Sting + Tequila = Baby!

2009-10-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

Most of us like to share our labor story but I want to share with you HOW I became Sophia's Mom.

I have to start my story by letting you know that I am a HUGE Sting and The Police fan. I love their music and I think Sting is SUPER sexy.

The Police reunited for a tour in 2007. I wasn't able to get tickets and I was bummed! Sting was going to be in Madison Square Garden, a few miles from me and I wasn't going to be able to see him!

A few months later, my hubby tells me he has a present for me. Great (enter sarcasm here)! My husband is not the greatest gift giver. For Christmas last year, he gave my a sticker for my phone. For my birthday last year, which was 2 weeks after I had Sophia, he gave me a breast feeding pillow. Sure, I needed one. But that is not the gift you give your wife for her birthday when she just gave YOU a baby! You give her diamonds or a new flat screen TV, not a pillow!

Where was I?

Ah, yes! Sting is hot!

Anyway, the gift my husband had for me will go down in our history as the best present ever... The Police was coming back to NYC and my husband got us tickets! Can you believe it!?

So for 2 weeks, he indulged me and listened to The Police all day long because I refused to go to the concert with him if he didn't learn at least one song!

The day came and I was soooo excited. We went to Madison Square Garden and had a few shots of tequila to warm up a bit before the concert. The concert was on Nov. 2nd and it was already cold.

I don't want to bore you so let's just say that many more shots followed. I sang screamed every song and drunk dialed everyone I knew.

It was the best night ever and I was very grateful when we got home ;-)

We had been trying for 3 months with no success. But all we needed was Sting (in a sleeveless shirt!) and some tequila to make a baby!

AND NOW FOR THE AWESOME NEWS!

My boss/bestest friend ever got tickets to "The View" tomorrow morning and guess who is going to be there... STING!

My hubby is out of town but will be back on Friday, let's see if Sting can work his magic a second time ;-)

Sarcasm's Not For Everyone: Featured Sarcastic Mom Blog of the Week

2009-10-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sarcastic Wednesday is back ladies!

This is one of my favorite post ideas and I have been so sad because I haven't featured a sacastic mommy in months! It's been really hard to find sarcastic mommas on the blogosphere lately!

But I found one for you! Well, she actually found me but who the hell cares how it happened! The point is we found eachother and now I want you to know all about her!

In case you are unfamiliar, Sarcastic Wednesdays here at the Wannabe WAHM blog is about featuring a Sarcastic Mom blog. Pretty simple, right?

And the lucky mom blogger this week is:

Life's Crazy Joke

Mrs. Call Me Crazy is absolutely insane and I love reading about her life. It's just like yours BUT FUNNIER!

Her mom even asked her to post a disclaimer! Can you believe it? Her mommy wants to make sure that everyone knows that she didn't raise her like this and is unsure about where she went wrong.

Listen Mrs. Call Me Crazy's Mom! You did everything right! Your daughter is one of the funniest bloggers out there. So pretend she's not your daughter, pull up a chair, prepare a mixed drink and have yourself a laugh!

So if I've managed to talk you into visiting the newest member of the Sarcasm's Not For Everyone Blog Roll then take a look at her
Honest Crap post. It's a hysterical acceptance of her first blog award. My fav is #2. Apparently she helped save her husband’s soul through the power of Jesus and BJs. (I'm giggling right now just thinking about this post).

And remember:

Enter my first giveaway ever! Win a Personalized Diaper Cake featuring JoJo Giraffe (seen on the hit tv show HOUSE)!!! Click here to enter.

Also, please vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here or clicking on the button on the top right (all you have to do is just click). Thanks!!!

If you are a Divine Caroline member (or want to join) and want to vote for my blog you can click on the award button on the top right or click here.

Domestic Heaven: I have No Idea What I'm Doing!

2009-10-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I burnt 2 fingers when I went to move the pot of rice I was making (and by making, I mean following the instruction on the bag of rice. you didn't know it came with directions did you?).

"Well, why didn't you use pot holders, Sophia's Mom?" you must be asking yourself. The answer is simple (and stupid)... I don't own any.

I don't know how to cook, nor have I made many attempts at learning how to. I don't have the appropriate utensils, I don't own a cook book, I don't understand the terminology... You get my point!

Now, I have a husband I can't cook for and a baby (toddler, really) that eats the same flavorless foods everyweek.

And that is just the tip of the gigantic undomesticated iceberg that is my life!

My mother is blissfully undomestic. She doesn't clean, sew, cook, bake or partake in any other activity that would be categorized as 'domestic.' Mom, I know you are reading this but I am hoping your English comprehension (or lack thereof) don't fully allow you to understand what I am trying to say. To put it nicely, she can't even fry an egg... I have photographic evidence. But that's neither here nor there. Maybe I'm just looking for someone to blame. But that's material for another post.

Ok. Where were we?

Ah, yes! Sophia's Mom = Lame Undomestic Burnt Fingers ~~Diva~~ Mommy

So after 4 years of marriage and 14 months of mommyhood under my belt you would think that I would have this down or at least somewhat down. But no. You wanna know why? I. Dont. Want. To.

Yes, I admit it. I don't want to! I have not tried to learn how to do anything domestic. The only thing I can sew is a button and I want to keep it that way because once I learn how to do anything else, there come the requests.'Honey, can you hem these pants?... Honey, can you fix this tear?' I'm not gonna do it. And if I do, it's probably gonna take me like 3 weeks to get to it because I have other things on my plate like taking care of a baby, blogging, watching Grey's Anatomy... The list is endless!

image from dailymail.co.uk

Let's face it. Ignorance is bliss. That ain't no lie. And why would I want to give that up? Although, I have to admit that since my super awesome babysitter left (you can read my sob story here) I've had to take one for the team and get creative with Sophia's menu.

But she's the only one I'm cooking for. I mean it! (You heard that, Sophia's Dad!)

Don't look at me if you're hungry 'cause the only thing you are getting is take-out or flan (the only think I can make from scratch and without a recipe).

image from ehow.com

So, to wrap this up. I want to know if any of you proudly claim ignorance (or at least lie and claim ignorance to get out of doing something) about something.

Share with me. I can't be the only one... Or am I?

P.S. Enter my first giveaway ever! Win a Personalized Diaper Cake featuring JoJo Giraffe (seen on the hit tv show HOUSE)!!! Click here to enter.

Also, please vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here or clicking on the button on the top right (all you have to do is just click). Thanks!!!

If you are a Divine Caroline member (or want to join) and want to vote for my blog you can click on the award button on the top right or click here.

Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion & Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm Review and Coupon!

2009-10-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

So the wonderful people over at Fisher Price sent Sophia not 1 but 2 toys to test drive so that mommy could blog all about it.

They sent us:

Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion and Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm

Both items were pretty easy to assemble. Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion took about 15 minutes to put together. And I assembled Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm while Sophia was taking a nap (took me about 30 minutes).

As you can tell from the box, Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion can be used as a walker or your child can ride on it! Sophia has a lion fetish so this toy could not have been more perfect for her. It has the silliest roar and laugh plus 2 fun songs to dance to (no words, just music... THANK GOD!). She pushes it all over the house roaring the whole time. It is just too cute for words! I still haven't figured out how to upload video to my blog but I am on it because you really have to see this. It's hysterical!

Sophia loves her Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion so much that even when she is playing with other toys she'll come over and push it's nose to get the music going, dance around next to it and then go back to what she was doing!

The Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm is another great product we received. My favorite feature is the light switch! It has a cute little lamp with a huge light switch and the lamp turns on and off. Sophia also has a light switch fetish. She will stand underneath the light switch and beg to be hoisted up so she can turn it on, and off, and on, and off, and on... You get the point. Since we got the Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm she has been switch her lamp on and off and leaving the regular ones alone.

This toy has fun features on both sides and plenty of animal noises to keep your little one entertained. The little barn door in the middle swings back and forth and I had to crawl (more like wiggle) through it to show Sophia how it's done but she loves crawling through there now. It also has some fun veggie shapes for sorting or feeding the cow. Sophia has been trying to eat the eggs and the carrots! What a silly little girl (pics were really hard to take because she won't stand still for 2 seconds!).

Thanks Fisher Price for sending my little girl these great toys!

COUPON:

Fisher Price is offering $20 off any purchase of $100 or more. Click here to get your discount today! The use for this discount is limited so don't wait!

I have a birthday coming up and am using the coupon to purchase Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride® Lion.

Disclaimer: Fisher Price only provided me with these 2 items. No monetary compensation or other form of compensation was received for this review :-) It is my honest opinion.

Time-Out for The Wannabe WAHM

2009-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday again and I am so excited to share my time-out with you!
Thursday is the day to share your 'time-out' and link up to Theta Mom.

In case you are not familiar with Theta Mom (which I doubt, but if you are not... shame on you!) let me explain. She had a brilliant idea called "Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday." The goal is to grab one hour of time within one week to do whatever you want…without the kids. On Thursdays, you post how you spent your “time out” and add her button or link in your post. Make sure to stop by to see how Theta Mom and other mom bloggers spent their time-out!

This week's time out was very uneventful but VERY enjoyable!

This week...

Get ready...

This week, I took a nap!

Jealous much?!

I haven't slept during the day since I gave birth (at the hospital)!

On Monday, Sophia went down for a nap at about 11am and so did mommy! And Sophia was extra nice and actually went right to sleep! Which means I got a good hour sleep before continuing our day.

It was soooo refreshing to take a nap in the middle of the day. I woke up energized, ready to take on the afternoon with fully charged batteries. I think I should really make it a habit to sleep at least 1 nap a week. I work pretty hard every day! I think a liitle shut eye is well deserved :)

What did you do on your time-out this week?

P.S. Enter my first giveaway ever! Win a Personalized Diaper Cake featuring JoJo Giraffe (seen on the hit tv show HOUSE)!!! Click here to enter.

Also, please vote for me at Top Baby Blogs by clicking here or clicking on the banner on the top (all you have to do is just click). Thanks!!!