Walk Down Memory Lane - Berry Face (2008) #memories

I know I just used a berry picture this week but I can’t help it. Choosing a favorite of one of my kids pictures is next to impossible for me.  If you are my personal friend you know that I can never send just one. Well, actually, I can’t even send just 10. My kids make my heart swell and I am still amazed that I produced such cuties.

Chuggington Fire Patrol Rescue Day

Fire prevention is something my family takes very seriously. We go to the firehouse every year and learn all about it including climbing out the window of a smoke house with the help of the fire fighters.

The Most Perfect Mattress Ever!

Usually I keep my Amazon Vine Reviews separate from Maria's Space but I really have to share this with you.

As an Amazon Vine Reviewer I receive products for my honest opinion and sometimes they are pretty damn amazing!

We received the Classic Brands Mercer 12 Inch Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress, Full Size.

My Amazon Review:

This bed is beyond great. We put the bed up this past Saturday and are still talking about it even know. The bed feels like a big pillow. It is made from memory foam which is wrapped around each steel coil innersprings...yada, yada, yada...

OK...I don't know much about mattress but here is what I do know.

When you lie on the bed you feel as if you are lying on a pillow that completely fits every part of your body.

The moment you first sit you can feel the difference. You body just relaxes and you sink into a cloud of amazingness. Is that even a word? The mattress literally conforms to your body.

My son is thrilled with his new mattress and we can't stay off his bed.

With memory foam when you move off a certain area in your sleep the memory foam fills in any gaps and re-configures to your body shape.

Falling asleep is not a problem. My husband and I are looking into a king size for our room and my daughter wants one for her twin bed.

The bed is truly heaven and we have spent the last three days being kicked out by my son who wants HIS bed.

UPDATE: We just ordered a King size for ourselves. All weekend afternoon naps were taken in his bed. The moment we saw he was awake we both ran for it. Best bed ever and I can't wait to get ours. We deserve it! Now to save enough for Goddess to get a new mattress because she is demanding and reminding us how unfair it is that everyone but her is getting one. Hers was the newest until now.

Walk Down Memory Lane - Little Cheeks in A Blue Bandana (2003)

My son was 7 months old in this picture. I love it because of the blue headband but more importantly, look at those cheeks.  They look like they are going to fall right off his face. He was playing his little piano and wearing his binky clip because he was such a binky boy. Funny, I never called it a binky, always a pacifier, even to him. I just couldn’t do baby talk.

I also love these pj’s because they reminded me of the Cookie Monster. He was big, blue, fluffy and so damn adorable.

Does She Or Doesn't She? #memories (2008)

“One must ask children and birds how strawberries taste” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Does she or doesn’t she love them?

My daughter is 15 months old in this picture. She still loves strawberries and still makes the same face.

Walk Down Memory Lane - I Can't Stop Kissing Him #memories (July 26, 2008)

God saw an Angel standing there! And He gave you all his love to share amongst the rest of us. His greatness from above.

My son was 3 months shy of 1 year old in this picture. It was the end of March in 2004 and it was still quite cold out. I was amazed that I was a stay at home mom and loving that he was becoming more fun. This was his first park. It is only about 10 minutes from my house and only had a swing and a small slide but I loved letting him experience it.

It thought he was the cutest baby I ever saw with his big, round cheeks and big brown eyes. I am sure that under the microscope you would be able to see a permanant kiss mark on his forehead and cheeks because I STILL (5 years later) can’t stop kissin him.

Walking Down Memory Lane - Our Trip To The Turtle Back Zoo - Way Back #memories (Aug 2008)

Someone told me It’s all happening at the zoo
I do believe it, I do believe it’s true
Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm
Oh ho ho ho Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm

They wanted to leave and we were already heading back to the car when I realized that I hadn’t taken a picture to say where we were. I spotted this sign and had them walk back to take this picture. It was a short walk but as you can see they certainly were hot, tired and in no mood to pose.

Letter Written in 2010 Entitled "Letter's I'll Never Send"

Dear School Personnel,

This letter is to the aides who are greeting our children in the morning. We, as parents are dropping off our most prize possession into your care every morning. YOU, are the next face they see after the people who love them most say "good-bye" for the day.  So, why may I ask do you have such nasty, negative, bitchy, annoyed attitudes in the morning?  The day has yet to begin and already your face shows us that you do not want to be there. Do you think that makes us comfortable to hand off our children to that? I can only imagine that you are extremely unhappy in your job. If this is the case, do you think that this is the place for you? School is hard enough for the youth of today. They leave the safety of their home, the loving arms of their parents to enter a competive, overly structured, cold, environment. Is it any wonder that there are so many unhappy, combative, full of attitude children in school?

In the morning when you are "interrupted" by the loving, caring parents who are there to drop of their children and make sure they are on time, is there a reason for your cold, hard, nasty faces to not have a pleasant word. Can you not utter a "good morning" before you rudely say "No, it is not time." Or some other "excuse?" This morning it was "No, we cannot open the door, the school is not open yet we are having bus drills."  Do you think that the parents who drop off everyday on the other side of the school know about your bus drills?  Do you think that they do not have children to bring to another school (who will now be late yet again), or a JOB to get to?  Why is the door to the school not opened on time?  The children are going to the gym! They are not roaming around the school! Why DO you continually make children wait outside in rain and freezing weather? Does it make you feel good? I am not suggesting that the school doors be open ahead of time. I am not suggesting that you go above and beyond. I am simply stating that YOU do not have the right to be rude! You MUST do your job with a smile and on time! The world does not revolve around you!

The next time I drop my child off, I EXPECT a smile on your face even if it is a fake one. You nasty old bitch!

Ahhhhh that felt so good!!!!

Karepax Unboxing and Taste Testing Makes For A Really Fun Sleep Over #karepax

We reviewed Karepax last month and LOVED them! They are a monthly subscription treat package you get sent to you with treats from around the world.

You can get subscriptions in 1, 3, 6, and even 12 month plans. You can even do just a comic subscription which runs for 3 months. Also, Karepax is willing to work with you on your order and if you want to get just a box with snacks, they will forgo the comics and add extra snacks. LOVE this option. Currently both my kids want a subscription to Karepax for their birthday's this year.

Honestly I am amazed with the amount of treats in each box we have received. There is definitely no shortage of treats and the variety makes it even more fun.

We think this is a great idea for anyone who loves snacks, loves variety, enjoys trying new things, and likes to have fun.

Here are our unboxing videos where Goddess almost choked from laughing so much. Our sleepover guest asked if she could stay for three weeks. Not sure if it was our company or because she was on a sugar high from being part of our unboxing video but we would love to host her again.

It was a great time! The girls were willing to try everything and laughed so much. I can't wait to get another box. Goddess' birthday is next month so I believe we are going to sign her up for a 6 month subscription. We will have more uboxing videos as we get them. Can't wait!!!

Feeding Time Is A Mess No More @CryptonFabrics #LifeOnCrypton

We are so impressed with Crypton Fabrics! We have never heard of the company before but recently received 4 awesome place mats.

Check this out! We were pretty amazed and my kids can't stop playing with them. Thank goodness they are amazing and hold all the liquid they have been putting on them. BTW...it works with all kinds of liquids.

Crypton Fabrics make fabrics in many colors and designs based on your needs. Imagine an entire couch made of the kind of fabrics that lets spills just roll off! They don't just do place mats they have furniture, chairs, rockers, kid products, pet products and more.

Truly an amazing company. How do they do it? 

Here is one of their videos

I love the idea of mattress covers, and bedding especially if you have little ones running around. 

Bocandy Is A Box of Candy That Comes Monthly

The kids and I were so excited to receive a box of BoCandy (Box Of Candy). Like most people we love candy but more than that, we love experimenting and trying things we have never tried before.

The Bocandy sends a monthly assortment of candy from around the world and you can order in increments of 4, 6, or 8 months worth with the price going down the longer you subscribe for.

The kids and I think this is a great gift idea! Presents are fun, a stuffed animal, a video game but this gift continues for up to 8 months with a new package coming every month.

They have a "Claim It" button on their site where you are taken directly to a Paypal invoice reading:

The price is great and I wish I could buy one for each of my kids and my nieces and nephews. If I ever get a "real" job; I am so doing that because it would so make me the "cool" Aunt and I have some stiff competition.

Our unboxing! Excuse the lot of us, we were all getting over a cold.

Goddess and I could totally be very happy, just getting one of these boxes every month.

This was so delicious. Like a skinny Skor bar 

Goddess loved this one because it was layers of wafer cookie and caramel covered with chocolate.

This one was good too but was the last one completed. Probably because it was just chocolate. I did love them but the kids were more excited about everything else.

I just realized I didn't get a photo of the Mirage bar. Damn and that was my favorite. It was perfect! Chocolate with lots of air holes making it light and delicious.

 We loved this too. It was Edible Monster Money. Really thin wafer that melts in your mouth. Probably the most fun to eat. It comes in three different colors and my kids thought this was awesome. They loved that they were eating money?

If you are looking for a gift idea, a subscription to a goody box like Bocandy is a total winner and the price is awesome too. 

BTW Shipping is FREE

Our Weekend Was Amazing

We had a great time this weekend. It started on Thursday when we received a fun filled box from Fox Home Insiders containing everything we would need for our Friday Family Movie Night of Dreamworks Penguins of Madagascar. Saturday we headed out to Chili's for my husband's birthday dinner (his birthday was yesterday but Sunday is very busy for him). And Sunday the kids and I got to review a fun candy box. In the weekend lottery, it was a stellar weekend. And anytime I can spend time with my family I am a happy woman.

Our unboxing was quick but we had a great time! When the kids are around it seems like it is rushed. They want to plow through where I want to see everything.

For the movie night we set our living room up with the kids chairs, ate dinner together (this never happens), and decided who would hold which little stuffy.

The movie night box came with a make your own ice cream ball and a scooper. We all took turns mixing, turning, shaking, and rolling the ball to get our ice cream just right.

I think the fact that they had to work so hard to get the ice cream made it taste even better.

The 411:

The Penguins of Madagascar was so fun. From the opening scene to the end the kids and I laughed and talked. It was a great family film full of slapstick humor and adorably cute animals. We even loved Dave. 

My daughter really liked it comparing it to the other movies and the characters which I had forgotten about. 

Kids will undoubtedly love this movie!

Our Russell Madness Movie Night! @FoxHomeEnt @AirBud #RussellInsiders

The 411:  

Saturday we all sat down for a family movie night. These are the type of nights I remember as a child. Everyone gathers around the TV for a movie that you can watch together that entertained everyone. There are many movies you can watch with your kids but not many that I feel make it fun for the adults as well.

The movie is adorable, funny and action packed as Russell is a wrestler who gets in the ring as a pro wrestler thanks to his monkey manager Hunk.

The story starts with The Ferraros moving into Dad, Nate's family's old business. Back in the day his family ran a successful Pro-Wrestling Arena. The family pet Hank has been hanging around the building for years (?) Do they live that long? Anyway...such a cutie and after watching Night At The Museum we were excited for another starring monkey and all swear Hank is played by Crystal the star of NATM movies. I really need to Google that. If so, she has been very busy!

Russell is an adorable pouch who ends up being the last of his litter in a pet shop. Russell has a problem and pees on everyone. My daughter and I both said "why does everyone hold him like that!" BUT anyway, I guess if that didn't happen Russell would have been adopted and never had the opportunity to be a big wrestling star.

Family Movie Night

As Goldberg fan's we knew immediately that Russell is voiced by  Sean Giambrone.We love him. Perfect voice for adorable Russell.

If you get a chance, watch this adorably fun family friendly movie! Great jokes for the whole family. All very age appropriate with no embarrassing moments where you hope the kids didn't get it!  These are my kind of movies to watch with my kids. 

Goddess loved it so much she watched it with her play date friend yesterday. 

Dexter From NATM Fame Is Out And About With My Kids #NATM3Insiders #TrackDexter

We have been taking very good care of Dexter while he stays with us in New York. The kids as well as me and their dad love Night at the Museum and were so excited to spend time with Dexter and watch NATM3 with him (more on that later).

We took him everywhere! You just can't leave a monkey alone you know.

Handsome knows safety first and strapped Dexter into his shopping cart.

Goddess checked out some of her favorite big eye stuffys while Dexter patiently waited.

Almost done with our shopping and Dexter was the perfect passenger.

After that we headed to McDonald's for breakfast. My kids never get a treat like this and beg for it at least three times a week. We go maybe every other month. Eating out is a luxury these days.

5 Reasons You SHOULD Drink Dandelion Root Tea

 
The 411:

I am a firm believer in finding natural ways to assist your body using natural ingredients and if drinking a tea can actually assist in blood pressure, detoxing the liver and kidneys, reducing cholesterol I am all for it!

The tea was quite light and easy on my stomach. If you enjoy chamomile type light teas, you will like this.

 5 Reasons You Should Drink Dandelion Root Tea:

• Helps to detox, purify and regulate the bladder and liver which can also help clear up your skin
• It contains magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, vitamins A, C and D and B Complex
• Regulates blood sugars and lowers bad cholesterol
• Boosts your immune system
• It improves digestion and which can assist in weight loss. It is a natural diuretic which can help the body shed excessive water weight and flush your kidneys of toxins

This is safe for pregnant woman, nursing woman it is also non-GMO and caffeine free.

Happy Drinking!

Skoshbox Or Dekabox Is So Worth It! Get A Subscription And Have Some Family Fun!

My kids and I had so much fun last Friday. We received a box from Skoshboxto check out. We have been checking into subscription boxes as of late because my daughter is really interested in getting a subscription to one for her birthday this year.

Here is the March Dekabox we received (source: Skoshbox website)

Here are our photos:

My kids and I loved it because:

• We had a blast
• We got to try different things that we have never seen before
• The colors and packaging are so much fun
• The snacks were unbelievably good!
• We spent time together laughing

Our Unboxing and taste test. Watch us eat and make fools of ourselves over snacks! Yup, it happens and I am not proud of it. But everything was soooo good

Our DIY Fail was so fun for us. Watch us try to make some gummy creatures and battle it out for the cutest one. Shhhhh..I win!