Raisinglittlegrays

I won't be able to plan the theme for my kids birthdays forever. So when they're little, I like to take full advantage of DIY birthdays (well at least the first birthdays). For me, if I budget correctly and use items I have laying around my house, I can still spend the same amount I would spend if I bought the pre-made party packages (ie, character plates, cups, table cloths, table centerpieces, etc) that you can get at party city. The thing I like about DIY parties is that most of what you make can be used as decor after your done.  For some reason, Minnie Mouse just really stuck out to me. I had previously been on Pinterest and had gone pinning crazy for a Winter Onederland theme, but that quickly changed.  I didn't spend a lot of time planning. I literally just spent the 2-3 weeks before her party looking for ideas via Pinterest, and going out to buy everything I needed to.  Door Decor!  I found this chalkboard in this frame at a local store back when I was pregna...

I'm a sucker for muffins, and even better... So is my son. Which in my case is great.  I used to buy the lovely processed packages that we are all guilty of probably purchasing at least  once.. Right? But then, once upon a time, we decided that crap is SO bad for us. As much as I hate cooking, I've actually found that the more I do it, and the healthier it is, the more I like to do it.  So I started looking around for muffin recipes that I could basically just alter, and pump with natural ingredients to replace things like butter and sugar, and preservatives to be replaced with real fruit. May I also add, homegirl at pioneer woman has got it goin on (I love her recipes).  So here's what I came up with. ** You can use bananas instead of honey as a sweetener if you'd like, but since Hasting is having issues with bowel movements, I'm staying clear of bananas atm. Use 2 bananas if you use bananas ** 2.5C old fashioned oats  1C vanilla Greek yogurt 2 eggs  3 tsp...

The rules are simple... 1. Sign up using the below form. Click on the link below to be taken to the form! Open to everyone. International folks included.  2. Sign ups close September 10th and you will receive your partner by the 12th at the very latest. if  numbers are un-even I will open for a couple more days!  3. Spend 1-2 weeks chatting with your buddy, getting to know them.  4. Send out a mug to them BY September 30th. The MAX you should spend on the mug is $15. If your buddy is international, then reduce that to $10 MAX to for shipping purposes.  5. I'd love to see your mugs when you get them. Use the hashtag #mamagraymugswap2014 (because apparently mug swapping is a thing and its already got a handful of taken hashtags!)  6. Share it! Make sure to tell your friends about the swap on twitter and IG. I don't twitter, but have at it! Bear with me. This is my FIRST EVER swap I'm hosting. BUT, I will continue it yearly.   ...

Half a year. 6 months to go until 1. Holy crap. In 6 more months I will have a 1 year old, and a 3 year old. Mind blown . Annestyne's Stats:  16.8 pounds  25 inches (give or take). It's hard to measure a wiggly baby haha  Annestyne's personality continuously grows. And so does her teeth. Boy oh boy have we hit the teething stage, spot on. Teething with Annestyne has been harder on me than it was with Hasting. Some days aren't a bad as others, and vice versa.  Remedies WE use to help with teething (all are natural): Camilia  Teething tablets Clove bud essential oil Roman chamomile essential oil Lavender essential oil   Between a combination of all those things we are getting by the hard times with teething. We occasionally use vanilla extract, to help with the numbing of the gums.  Annestyne is occasionally rolling over. She maneuvers herself around when placed in one spot. You turn your back, then come back and it's "hey, that's not where I left you!"....

    There has been some interest from family and friends about my DoTERRA oils and why I chose them, as well as how I use them. So I have decided to write out a pretty detailed blog post for everyone to have as a reference :)   About 2 years ago is when I decided to venture out and start using  a more homeopathic approach to medicine and healing. Basically, after Hasting was about 5 months old. I wanted a solution to all of the coughs, runny noses, poop problems, stomach issues, etc etc, and I DIDN'T want it to be a doctor prescribing my small little baby a prescription. Not just that either. I was tired of taking my child in to get diagnosed for something (which indeed typically led to a pharmaceutical drug), and him being even more susceptible to catching something even WORSE in the doctors office (not including compromising my immune system at the same time). I've never really battled with health issues, BUT I will say th...

Another month. Every time I post these monthly updates that's what I think of.. Another month. You don't reLly think of how fast life filed until you have children.  Annestyne is really growing.  Annestyne is now 15lbs 8oz!  She is still exclusively breastfed, which is so so so amazing! No real interest in solids yet (yup, we're skipping the purées!). BLW (baby led weaning) is what we have chosen to do with Annestyne. Solid foods, nor purée are needed for a breastfed baby until a year. Annestyne will be introduced to solids when she starts to show signs of interest in solids :) AT FIVE MONTHS OLD ANNESTYNE.... ❤️ giggles out loud!  ❤️ blows raspberries ❤️ imitates sounds  ❤️ grasps toys (when she wants) ❤️ loves eating her fingers ❤️ is a slobber bucket ❤️ is TEETHING  ❤️ STILL loves being swaddled ❤️ loves to eat her Taggie  ❤️loves boobies ❤️ scoots on her butt while laying down ❤️ rolls up on her sides!  ❤️hates napping, she's a cat napper. ❤️ ...