Getting Kayden Ready for JK

first day of school can be scary. Especially if you are starting school for the first time in your life. Kayden has been at home with me for 3 years, and will be starting kindergarten right before his 4th birthday.

as parents, we want to make the transition to kindergarten as seamless as can be. we have been working with him to become more independent, stepping up the potty training etc. The only thing we havent been able to give kayden is a school environment with kids. Thank goodness for the community center. We had enrolled Kayden in one activity in the fall , and really enjoyed the setup of it and most importantly, the price.

I found an activity which helps toddlers prepare for kindergarten. It mimics a classroom and does similar activities. There are about 15 children in Kaydens class, accompanied by 1 teacher. When the children enter the class they have about 5 minutes to play. Then it is circle time, which consists of the teacher reading a story. Afterwards they do a craft, one week Kayden did a Valentine's themed one, and this past week be did an easter one. Then it is back to play time. Everytime the children are playing the teacher spends a few minutes setting up an activity then she interacts with the children. the last activity they do is more focused on education, matching, counting etc. Right before class ends they sit in a circle and do an interactive song and then they gather up their work and go home.

the goal of the class is for parents to drop off the kids then walk out, similar to what you would do in kindergarten. The teacher will suggest when you should leave the room, and every class she wants you to leave earlier and for longer periods of time.

We stayed for the first class and never left. At the second class we left within 5 minutes, and kayden didn't seem to care. he was fine by himself, and didnt care that we wernt in the room. I was so relieved. I always worry whether or not kayden would feel comfortable with a teacher, and how long it will take him to get to that point. i was glad to see him playing alongside other kids. there are kids at all different levels, which helps kids bounce off of each other. unlike his last activity, there is a lot more interaction and doing things together. there will be two or three kids playing with one toy, and they will work on it together/play together, then clean it all up together.

Because kayden's speach isn't at the level it should be (which he is getting help for), i often worry about his transition to kindergarten. it is refreshing to hear other parents talk about their children and their fears as well. Seeing Kayden playing with other kids and following the teacher's instructions eased my mind. Since I can see in the classroom, it eased my concerns. Kayden transitioned perfectly (even if its for an hour), and loves going. He loves doing the activities, and there are toys there he has never seen, so that is also a plus.

I would reccomend these kind of programs to all the mamas/parents out there. I know a lot of parents can not afford daycare/preschool (not practical on one income at $1000 a month), so see if your city offers programs to help with the transition.

Branded Survey's Review

i did a post a few weeks ago, about ways to make extra money and receive free products. I recently discovered a new survey site, which I have been using for about a month now, called Branded Surveys.

how it works

Like most survey sites, you fill in your basic information and you give some background information. They will send you a survey invitation in the mail, which tells you approximately how much time it will take and how many points it is worth. Every 100 points equals $1. You go through a general screening process before actually taking the survey, which takes about a minute. if you don't qualify some of them will give you some points ( the most I have received is 30 points), and if you do your points are pending. They state it takes about 14 days for your points to get posted, during this time they verify your responses, ensuring you were actually taking the survey and not rushing through it and giving random answers.

when you look at your points section, there will be two sections, one for points that have posted and one for pending points.

So far i have made about $30, and i have some points pending. There have been a few days when I didn't qualify for any surveys which gets disheartening. It feels like it takes forever for points to add up, but in reality it isn't so bad. a lot of other survey companies make you redeem "cash" for gift cards, which doesn't add up. for instance redeem $75 for $25 gift card.

I have joined other sites which have cash payouts, and it takes forever to meet their minimum requirement. I met the minimum payout amount, which is $10 within 2 weeks.

im not expecting to get rich off of it. but it gives me something to do in the day. and a lot of the times, the surveys have to do with things in the news, healthcare, government etc.  it is pretty cool to give my opinion on currents issues, and be Impacting change in my country.

Valentine's Day with a toddler

Valentines Day is just around the corner. Like most parents, Valentine's Day has changed for Curtis and I. We have never made a big deal about it, since Curtis isn't a big fan of the holiday. Instead I have used this day to eat some indulgent meals.

As Kayden has gotten older, Valentine's Day has become special. We always get Kayden tons of chocolate and some extra goodies. Lately Kayden has been loving painting, I have even used it as an incentive for staying dry the whole day. If kayden doesn't wet his underwear then he gets to paint at the end of the day before he has a bath. Needless to say, we are running low on paint! we purchased Kayden some glitter paint. i thought it would be a nice change from his regular colors. And we can't forget about chocolate. Kayden loves candy, so this is a perfect time to restock his stash. yes I said it, he has a stash. Before you all judge me, we use it as an incentive. For instance we want Kayden to communicate that he needs to use the bathroom. Kayden tells us when he needs to poo, but never when he has to pee. Now if he tells us, then he gets a chocolate of his choice. It is small but it is something he looks forward to, and it is how we have slowly moved through each stage and step of potty training. Kayden has requested jelly beans and little chocolate hearts. The great thing about it, is that he knows WE are giving it to him, unlike Christmas which was Santa. Now if he misbehaves I  just say I wont buy you X Y and Z.

Valentines Day is such a fun and carefree holiday. It was never a day that Curtis and I emphasized, and because of that I made it more about Kayden. About celebrating him, and giving him a few things that I knew he would enjoy. I went to the Dollar Store last weekend and they had the cutest things, stickers, pencils, coloring books, games etc. and they were all valentine themed. You do not need to spend a lot of money to make the day fun or worthwhile.

for Valentine's Day we are going to stay home, which should be no surprise. Curtis works mornings now, so I will be in charge of Kayden's present. Kayden has been into helping me a lot, especially in the kitchen. I thought I would do a special surf and turf dinner, and red velvet cupcakes. I know Kayden will be all over the baking, and insist on being a part of every step. Of course there will be some special goodies (jelly beans and chocolate, as per kayden's request), that will make the day special for him.

valentines Day is a fun holiday, that should can used to tell anyone in your life that you care about them. I am a strong believer that you don't need to spend a lot of money, small, simple gestures are enough.

Sephora Lip Luster Review

we all know how convenient online shopping is. you can do it from anywhere, anytime of day. I had recently run out of my makeup setting spray and had to purchase a new one. Sephora is my go to place for makeup. of course the item i wanted was sold out, so i had to settle for another bottle. And, I also didn't meet the $50 for free shipping. So i headed over the sale section, and browsed. there is something about purchasing high end makeup at a lower price that makes me happy.

As soon as I saw lip products on sale i couldnt resist. Sephora's Lip Luster Matte was on sale, and I was curious. i am not big on gloss since I prefer an all matte face, i feel like any dewiness makes me look oily! i decided to give this lip product a try after reading the reviews, they described it as a lipstick with a light sheen.

The packaging itself is sleek and compact, like most Sephora products. The lip product is small, but i never run out of lip products, so that is not an issue.

the shade I purchased is Fig Luster. i thought it would be a neutral shade on me, but it was a bit dark.

The formula is creamy and glides on beautifully. the applicator is small but easy to use. For me, this lipstick is long lasting, but it does not dry out my lips. it is not like a liquid lipstick where it dries and stays in place, so it is easy to move around which can be a pro and a con. I have put this lipstick on a few times and I have never had any issues with it. it is a beautiful fall/winter color, and my boyfriend always compliments me whenever i wear it.

This lip product is one i would definetly purchase again. it stayed on all day, and gives me a perfect balance of a matte lip and a glossy lip.

I Would rate Sephora Lip Luster lipstick a 9/10. As i mentioned before the lipstick does not stay in place, which i prefer if i am getting a liquid lipstick lipstick. while they call it a lip color, all their similar products that they recommend are liquid lipsticks. This color lasted me all day, and my boyfriend gave me a compliment on my lip color, which he never does. The price point is perfect, it only cost me $7 on sale and regular price is $20.

No More Naps!

I feel like it has been so long since i did a mommy post. I have been reviewing so many beauty products, that i started to miss writing about being a Mommy.

I did a post awhile ago about some of the troubles i was experiencing with kayden. One of the big issues was his sleeping. He would always take his nap, but he would never sleep at night. It was frustrating and exhausting. I never got any time to myself, whenever he was awake so was i, and i was getting more and more exhausted.

Curtis and i had discussed taking away his naps, but i felt it was to soon. I also struggled with not getting adult time. If i have learned anything from being a mom, it is how important my ME time is.

We decided to attempt taking naps away during one weekend. I will admit, having Curtis there helped. He could man the meltdowns while i cooked, which proved to be difficult during weekdays. That weekend, Kayden went down with no issues. He didn't come out of his room 50 times, and bedtime wasn't extended another two hours. Kayden did eventually wake up (and still does), but it is after a few hours, or if he hears a loud noise.

The thing about our apartment, is the kitchen and living room lights shine down the hallway, which means kayden can see light when he lays down. We usually wait till he is asleep before we turn on the lights. sometimes this can be an issue, because our dinner use to get delayed. now he knocks out immediately which allows us to do anything we need to do.

That was one of the great things about eliminating naptimes, his body was ready to go to bed. By the time I walked out of his room, he was knocked out.

When kayden would wake up, it was easier to put him back down. he would be half awake and barely have his eyes open , so we would pick him up and lay him back down. he usually does fall back asleep.

Daytime is the hardest part. Kayden was getting tired around the five and a half hour mark, which was when he would usually go down for a nap. I was running out of ideas with how to keep him occupied. Kayden was having meltdowns from 2:30pm till about 6pm (when i would give him a bath). I was exhausted. Kayden usually goes down at 7:15pm but i couldn't wait.

After a month, i started to notice Kayden getting tired later and later. It eventually went to 3:30pm. Soon the blood curling cries and never ending temper tantrums ended.

Fast forward to today. Kayden doesnt get tired till about 3:30-4pmish. This is such a big improvement. This is normally the time i would start dinner, but now i have to multitask to make sure kayden doesnt fall asleep. On the days he has dozed off for about 30min to an hour, it is pure hell at nightime. It goes back to taking hours for him to go to bed. On the days he does stay awake (which is 99.

9% of the time), he goes down in a snap. I even talked to kayden about his naps, and he says he likes that i took them away and he just sleeps at night.

i do find that i am able to get more done in a shorter amount of time as well. for instance when running errands i do not need to come home by a certain time to ensure that he goes down for a nap, but i can get everything done then he can come home and relax.

i will admit i am much more exhausted then i was before. the one thing about kayden, is that he is always on the go. he is playing with his toys, dancing around, wanting to craft etc. it is rare that he sits down in one spot and i can have a breather.

Now that Kayden gets 10- 12 hours of sleep at night, i find he is in a better mood and his body is getting the rest it needs. i really started to realize how he would just eat because he was tired, and his mood swings were caused by him being tired.  For the most part my days fly by, and the best part, sometimes Kayden will tell me he is tired and wants to go to bed. His body wants rest, and he doesn't feel the need to hide it anymore or feel like he is missing out on something. 

Olay 4 in 1 Water Activated makeup wipes Review

Taking off my makeup is one of the best feelings in the world. Don't get me wrong, i love makeup, but after having kayden i don't wear it as often, but one thing i have always love doing is removing my makeup.

I have always had a love hate relationship with makeup wipes. The first one's that i tried was the Neutrogena all in one wipes. I tried two different types and i wasn't in love. It irritated my skin and i always felt like i needed to moisturize my skin after. I was really into working out at the time, so all i wanted to do was wipe my face and be out the door.

I got a sample from Wal-Mart for Olay's daily facials, 4-in -1 water activated wipes. I will admit, i was skeptical.

I had gone to a birthday party that night, which means i had quite a bit of makeup on. I figured if i was going to test it out, this would be the time to do so.

Claims

Removes dirt, oil and makeup. Removes mascara 2x then basic cleansing

Gently exfoliotes and smooth skin texture in less then one week.

Condition skin with essential olay conditioners.

I took the washcloth out and dampened it under the tap. I was skeptical at first. I didnt believe this one washcloth would be able to do anything significant. But i was wrong. It was a miracle. I will start off by saying that it took off ALL my makeup. Granted i could have used two to be extra cautious, but one did the trick. One of my favorite things about these wipes is that it is safe to use around the eyes. When i go full glam, i wear a lot of eye makeup, multiple eyeshadows, eyeliner and mascara( top and bottom). For these wipes to remove all of it, says a lot.  Especially when you do a full face, contour, blush etc. I can honestly say that this one cloth took everything off. Other cloths would take off my makeup and strip off everything from my face. My face would feel dry, and dull. These olay wipes did the exact opposite, it was gentle and incredibly moisturizing. In winter my face goes completely dry, and im always struggling to keep it moisturized.

Whenever i come back from an event, i always hop into the shower, and wash my face two times. Yes, i know, it sounds like a lot, but i never feel like my face is completely clean. Using the olay wipes, it was the first time in awhile that i didn't feel the need to do that.

I don't know if i would say that it exfoliated my skin, if it did, i didnt notice. If you are an olay fan, you will be thoroughly satisfied with this product. I would give this product a 9/10. For me to feel satisfied after using a makeup wipe, says a lot.

The 4 in 1 wipes retail for $6.97 for a pack of 33 at walmart.

Xo Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Review

I love baking. Probably because i love anything sweet. I can usually bake anything, but for some reason i havent attempted to tackle cookies, i always buy premade cookie dough.

On one of my many grocery pickups, walmart gave me a sample of xo chocolate chip cookie mix. I had never heard of this brand before, but to be fair i am not up to date with gluten free lines. Yes thats right, gluten free. I personally dont have a gluten intolerance, but i can sympathise with those who do. My bestfriend in highschool had to eat gluten free, i even heard about the aftermath when she indulged.

I have tried a few gluten free products, and i was amazed by the taste. You couldn't even tell the difference. I was anxious to see how this baking mix tasted. My boyfriend is the perfect taste tester, because he is picky with his food. It is one thing for me to like it, but if he enjoyed it, i knew it was a hit.

The mix itself was easy. I added eggs, vanilla and butter. The mix came in a clear bag, all i had to do was combine all the ingredients. I did notice that the mix was a lot wetter then traditional cookie dough. It threw me off, but i went with it.

I baked 2 batches of cookies, and made slight differences. The first batch the balls i formed wernt perfect, and i cooked then for the minimum amount of time. The second batch i did perfect balls, and baked them for a little longer.

The results

My boyfriend and i were split on our thoughts. Curtis loved the cookies, he couldn't even tell that they were gluten free, and he preferred the second batch. I did not care for the taste at all, but i think it is because i found it had to much vanilla in it. I also preferred the first batch.

Here is the best part, we gave the cookies to 2 people who didnt know they were gluten free, and they loved them. They said it tasted delicious, and didnt know it was gluten free.

This product is expensive, retailing for $8.97 at my local Walmart. If gluten free products are a must in your lifestyle, then I would highly reccomend this. It tastes exactly like chocolate chip cookies,and no one will be able to tell the difference.