The Ounce Conspiracy

Has anyone else noticed that on several products that you purchase that the quantity is now less?  However you find yourself paying the exact same price for it?  Oh you know you'll have a recipe that calls for a 15oz can of a certain item.  Then when you to the store to purchase this item you notice that the cans that are available are 14.5oz?  Now if you are like me, you are just going to get this can, but it makes you wonder....does that .5oz make a difference in your recipe?  It probably does...and before we know it, it won't just be a .5oz it will be a whole ounce and so on.  For example, if you go to purchase a can of tomato sauce the standard sizes used to be 4oz and 8oz.  Now you'll find mostly cans of 6oz!  I mean what are you going to do with that?  It's a conspiracy I tell you!  If I am going to get less, then I expect the price to be lower.  What do you think and have you noticed this too?

Turkey Week

We had a pretty low key weekend.  We had Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws on Thursday.  On Friday, Nolan and I met my mother-in-law and sister-in-law for brunch.  Later we did a little shopping, but I am not a Black Friday shopper.  I've actually never gotten up early to go out...now I did have to work it when I was in college, so does that count?  Anyways, on Saturday we went to the Fantasy of Trees which is an event that has donated decorated trees on sale to benefit the local Children's Hospital.  The trees are fantastic!  They also are great for ideas for your own tree.  Here are a few pics, but the lighting was dark so please excuse the poor quality!

 Also I realized after a picture happy October that I had barely taken any pictures of Nolan in November.  Here are a few I snapped last week.

Nolan trying to get in my suitcase...

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends---and of course some turkey!

Almost Wordless Wednesday-Friend Style

This past weekend I got to spend some quality time with my college friends.  We've been friends for over 10 years!  A lot has changed throughout the years....marriages, babies, and Abigail going to Africa for 2 years!  It was good to see everyone together since it had been too long!

Sarah is expecting baby Sally in February!

An Ode to My Husband

This past weekend I went to visit some of my college gals for our traditional "Girls Weekend."  As you read in my post last week, Nolan and I both are sick with a cold.  When I left on Friday, I really thought he was on the mend and doing better.  Little did I know that he was not and actually still pretty sick.  And since it's Thanksgiving week this post seemed approriate for why I'm thankful for my husband.  Here's the "past weekend" reasons I am thankful for him:

• Thanks for getting up in the wee hours of the morning aka 1am-5am to help our little boy when he's got so much mucus and drainage that he can't sleep.  You holding him and patting his back helped him feel better and let him get some rest.
• Thanks for being creative.  Aspirating Nolan's nose on your own is not an easy task (I mean does any kid like this?) but you put your thinking cap on and wrapped him in a towel so you could help clear out that clogged nose!
• Thanks for being a trooper.  Even after no sleep, you played and played with Nolan.  That's why he races to see you as soon as you get home.
• Thanks for using/washing cloth diapers while I was gone.  Sure it's not big deal when it's not a #2 diaper, but a #2 diaper while the boy is sick...well that can be a little stinky and tricky.  You stepped up to the plate and cleaned them up like a champ.
• Thanks for cleaning up the thrown up Goldfish Nolan threw up after a nap.  I'm sure that smell made you want to hurl, but you effectively changed the bed sheet, Nolan's clothes, your clothes, and the side of the crib.  That's some mad dad skills!
• Thanks for just being you.

Nolan sleeping on Daddy...just a few days old!

Please keep Nolan in your prayers that he's feeling better by Turkey day.  He seems to be doing better but that little cough just breaks your heart!

The Belated 12 Month Stats

I know I'm really late on this, but what can I say with Nolan's birthday, my birthday, and both of us getting a cold...it's been put on the back burner.

I can't believe my sweet boy is a year old.  At your doctor's appointment you weighed 23 lbs and 8oz and 30.25 inches.  You are now in the 50th percentile across the board!  We've come along way from the baby that was weighing in the 5-10th percentile. 

You've been such a good eater until as of late.  You loved broccoli, now you don't.  You loved having pinches of a sandwich, now you don't.  You love keeping momma on her toes!  However you love most fruits (go figure) and are a big fan of any type of squash except for yellow squash. 

You are still loving to "boogie" when you hear any music.  You love to hide anything in the dog beds and also like to lay in them.  You're very close to walking, but you won't yet let go of mommy's hands.  You get a kick out of doing it though including when you are pushing your little toy walker around.

I believe once you do walk that you are going to be a climber.  I've already caught you many times hiking that leg up to get on something.  Now I don't think I'm prepared for that!  You are now loving swiping things off tables even when you have to get on your tip toes.

You still love taking everything out of drawers, boxes, or anything that will be a mess for mommy to clean up.   You love playing with your drum set and your Leapfrog laptop. 

I can't believe we're on our second round of holidays together and that last year you were just a "blob" at this time.

You've had your first cold that you got from me.  I hope you get better soon because it's so sad to see you sick little one.

Mommy and Daddy love you very much and can't wait to experience these new fun stages with you!  But try to slow down on growing up will ya?

The Sickness Monster

I have been lucky for the past 3 years or so I have not been sick.  Not a cold or anything.  However the weekend of my birthday party I woke up with a sore throat.  I fought and fought from catching a cold, but alas I finally did get the sniffles.  I really tried to not give it to Nolan, but I think that's pretty much impossible when I am with him all day and preparing all his meals. 

On Sunday night, Nolan started getting a runny nose.  He pretty much woke up every hour of the night.  I thought ok it's because of the drainage and the runny nose that keeps bothering him.  That Monday he only napped 30 minutes in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.  He had really been in good spirits the whole day, so I thought hopefully he'll sleep well since he had such a rough night.

WRONG!!!  I put him down around 8:15pm, and he woke up at 9pm.  I tried ever trick in the book to help soothe him...from rocking him, standing up and holding him, swaddling him, feeding him, and he wasn't having any of it.  He literally cried from 9pm to almost 2am.  I really couldn't believe he wouldn't just pass out.  What's sad is I know he needs the rest to get better.  I even put some towels under his mattress to elevate it after many people online said elevation helps them sleep.  We sat in the bathroom in the steam as I ran the hot water in the shower.  We've done the saline drops for the nose.  Oh and I even bought a Vicks Heat Vaporizer which was an epic fail.  We have a little thermometer in his room that also measures the humidity...his room was 77 degrees and 75% humidity!  It was like an oven.  So needless to say we had to turn it off.  I guess the vaporizer can really support huge rooms.

Nothing is worse than seeing your child in pain, and you can't do anything to help.  I would have held him all night if that would have enabled to sleep but this child is no cuddler when he's sick.  What's worse is I'm not getting over my cold because I'm getting zero sleep as well.

Any tips out there dealing with colds?  I had no idea that a sick child could be worse than getting up with a newborn!  But I have been proven wrong!  He has no fever, hasn't been vomiting or diarrhea, just your basic snottiness and coughing.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sometimes You Just Have to Ask Why?

I don't write many sad or negative posts on here.  It's just not really my personality.  However in this instance I feel that I must write this post.  I don't know if many of you have been following the Penn State scandal, but the more I hear about it...the more angry and disgusted I become.

The former defensive coordinator from Penn State has basically been abusing his special privileges of the Penn State facilities as a place to hurt little boys.  I'm not going into details, but if you have been following along you know that a Graduate Assistant caught the former defensive coordinator and a little boy in the shower.  Now the GA did what he was supposed to and reported it.  However, the moral code for all those who knew...even good ole Coach Paterno was not followed.  Instead a cover up was conducted, and this sick old guy continued to take advantage of little boys.

From what I have read, the former defensive coordinator created a foundation for under privileged kids.  Pretty much a playground to find victims.  He is a sexual predator who had the money and the means.  The foundation was opened in 1977, so you can just imagine how many victims there might be.  It was said that he tested the weakness of the boys to find which ones would be his potential victims.  Can you just imagine a little boy that comes from a hard home life that has the chance to go visit his idols or the stadium at Penn State?  Now there are even rumors that this twisted man also was using the foundation to "pimp out" boys to wealthy donors.  Are you still with me?  SERIOUSLY!  My brain can't even process this horrific information.

I didn't go to school at Penn State, nor am I from the state.  However I do live in a college town, and I just can't imagine the devastation this whole city would be in if this had happened here.  I feel so bad for the victims and the families.  It just begs the question---why do people want to hurt innocent little children?  I just don't get it.  There are sick, sick people out there.  Which is really sad that you can't trust anyone with your kids.  Can you imagine someone doing this to your child?  Stealing that innocence from them?  I shiver at the thought.  But in today's world I feel we have to be more vigilant than we ever have in the past. 

So hold those kids close...and question everything---because they need you to protect them.

C'mon on Down!

And the winner of the 50 free Tiny Prints Christmas or Holiday Cards is: (drum roll inserted here)

#18 is lucky lady JDaniel4's Mom!  Congratulations!  I already have your email address so I will pass this on to Tiny Prints.  Now get started on making those beautiful cards!

The Kroger Chronicles Continue

You may have read my post about the Best Buy gift card drama at Kroger.  If you did, you know that I'm indebted to Kroger for their awesome customer service in that situation.  However, since then I've had some recent technicalities while dealing with my friends at Kroger.

#1 I was charged twice for an apple corer.  Let's be honest there is no need to have two of those.  So I had to drive my happy little tail back to Kroger to get my $5 back.  No issue, they easily just put it back on my VISA.

#2 They sent me home without a whole bag of goods I had purchased.  It also just happened to be the items I needed for dinner that very same night.  I try to keep track of all the bags, but it's not easy as they have the checkout person at the register and the bagger both talking to my son.  Not to mention, I'm trying to get my coupons out to make sure they are credited to my purchase.

#3 Today I purchased a Rubbermaid tote to store some of Nolan's old clothes.  I get home and realize I do not have the tote.  I check my receipt as well, and it looks like at least I wasn't charged for it.  The cashier must of thought it wasn't mine since it was at the very end of all the groceries.

On a side note: it was so busy today...I was like what the heck on the middle of a Wednesday?!  Well, the cashier also informed me it's "Senior Citizen" discount day at Kroger.  Ok I will so avoid Wednesdays from here on out.  He also advised Tuesdays are the best days to come...I will plan accordingly.  Not sure about you, but I would rather avoid the "Senior Citizen" day.

I still love Kroger, and they are always quick to fix their mistakes.  But sometimes it's always on the worst days!

Tiny Prints Holiday Card Giveaway!

Have you ordered your Christmas cards yet?  Well no if you are like me, and you wait last minute.  HOWEVER this year this could be to our advantage because a lucky reader can win 50 FREE Christmas or holiday cards from Tiny Prints!  How awesome is that?  Take a spin around their Christmas card selection, and I know you will have a hard time choosing from all their cute designs!

To enter this giveaway leave a separate comment for the following:

• Be a follower of From Corporate to Domestic on GFC
• Let me know what designs you would choose if you won
• Tweet about this giveaway

Tiny Prints is also having a one day giveaway on their Facebook page for your kid to receive their own personalized letter from Santa.  You can personalize this letter for FREE by going to this link and this one. But HURRY this offer begins and ends on 11/9/11 11:59 (PT).

This giveaway closes on Thursday--11/10/11 at 11:59 (PT).  Good luck!

A Fun Time Had by All

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!  I had a great birthday weekend with friends.  We went to a local place that has some wonderful food and then to an Irish Pub.  Sadly, I didn't take many pictures.  Here's one of my friend Laura and I before we headed out:

Note: This is the first time we've been together without our boys in over a year!

Nolan did great over at the grandparents and even slept in from the time change.  However, today on my actual birthday he decided it was better to get up bright and early.  Guess he wanted to be the first to wish his mommy a happy birthday.  Also you guys are so sweet to guess that I was younger (I know you were just doing that to be nice) but I am turning the big 3-0 today!  No more twenties for me...I guess I can officially feel more like an adult right? 

I think I'll treat myself to a Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks today!  That sounds yummy, now only if I can get them to deliver it to my house....

They Say It's Your Birthday

Guess what bloggy friends?  My birthday is Monday.  I know, I know hard to believe I will be a year older.  Seems like this year has flown by since I have a little one and that my birthday as an adult becomes less and less important.

HOWEVER, tomorrow I am getting together with my husband and friends for a nice dinner and fun festivities.  On top of that, little man is staying over at my mother-in-law's house.  I know...this could be a CRAZY night, right? 

I'm excited to hang out with friends and for the extra hour of sleep we'll get for the time change.  Now not so excited for the time change next week when Nolan wakes up an hour earlier.  Oh but such is life! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend...and can you guess what birthday this is for me? :)  Sorry no prizes given out for the right answer just bragging rights!

Lovely Fall Brings Shorter Days

With the days getting shorter, and it being darker in the mornings I just want to curl up under the covers and stay in bed.  How about you?  Does the darker mornings make you want to stay in bed too?

Obviously this is also rubbing off on Nolan--except he thinks the dog bed is the perfect place to snuggle in!

Pausing Life for a Moment...

Today I'm sharing my "Pause Life for a Moment" over at  JDaniel4's Mom blog sharing some times in my life that I wanted to push pause.  She's an awesome blogger who is always coming up with creative ways to teach her son new things.  I'm honored that she asked me to guest post over at her blog, so please head on over there and read my moments!