Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Our "Never Gonna Happen" Girl's Name....


Before I had two boys, I wanted a cheerleading squad of girls. After having two boys, I couldn’t imagine a life of not being a boymom. I drive the school bus for our small town school district. I also have two nieces. While I love all of these kiddos dearly …. I am pretty sure that I’d run away to Magyar if I ever saw pink in my future. But that doesn’t stop me from naming my never gonna happen daughter.

When I found out I was pregnant with my boys – before finding out the sex – Cale and I, like most couples, immediately starting picking out names. He was all: William, Cash, Henry, Hank, etc. And I was like, "Cool. But what if it’s a girl?" He refused to think of a name. He knew both times that I was cooking blue in the oven. Plus he refused to even think about raising a daughter. It was just too much. And I remember him LITERALLY having a panic attack twice. Once when I first found out I was pregnant. And again when we didn’t see a little "thingie dingie" on Christopher’s initial sonogram. Like, profusely sweating, turned beat red, then sheet white, then a weird green color kind of panic attack.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Having 2 Kids is TWICE as Hard (Pouring my heart out)

I'm Pouring My Heart Out here. So you know what that means?  No judging!

No amount of research, books, advice, preparation, and work could ever prepare me for life with two kids. Having one kiddo wasn’t easy … so why on earth did we decide to have another one? I’d be lying if I didn’t envy families with just one child. Especially if that kid is over the age of 3. They’re more than likely out of the potty-training stage. They get to hop in the car and just go. Meals are cheaper, admission is cheaper, clothes are cheaper, EVERY THING is cheaper. Stress is less, travel time is more, quality time spent together is enhanced, and discipline is easier.  Having two kids is chaotic. It’s confrontational. It’s bustling. And it’s downright overwhelming MOST of the days. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve just lost complete control of my children. I haven’t … but the thought crosses my mind often.

Why didn’t anyone warn me about all of this? Everyone just kept saying: "you need to have another one", "just one more won’t hurt", "Cash needs a brother or sister", etc.


Monday, November 24, 2014

Why Candles are the PERFECT Gift for Christmas


There are certain smells that inevitably trigger wonderful memories of Christmases past. For me, the smells of Christmas are every bit as important as the sights and sounds.  For example, last week I walked past someone wearing a certain hairspray (which shall remain nameless) that immediately brought back memories of the kind that I wore in high school and I instantly felt like I had slipped back in time (scary thought, lol!).

Marriage IS Hard, DAMNIT! And that's normal...


Today I read a post by Shell over at Things I Can't Say about how, even though she and her husband will have been married for 10 years this week, they weren't always the happiest and they almost didn't make it. Once they realized that love is a decision, it requires work, and it's not something you can just give up on as if it were a craft that isn't working out, their marriage became much stronger.

Her post got me thinking about my own marriage. It's something I always want to write about but just haven't put the words on paper.


Monday, November 17, 2014

Leap into Gaming with the new LeapFrog LeapTV



Baby, it’s cold outside.  And when the weather turns cold, we like to light a fire and stay inside.  Or have a party!

This past weekend we threw a gaming party with some friends featuring our new LeapTV from LeapFrog.  LeapTV is one of the hottest toys this Christmas and after dancing and playing all day with it, I can see why!

LeapTV is a new educational, active video gaming system built specifically for kids ages 3-8 years.  Kids learn through motion as they dance, twirl, run (in place), and jump through engaging and entertaining activities that will help teach them reading, math, science, and problem solving skills.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Creating My Timeless Bathroom


We’re in the process of remodeling the master bathroom and we had no idea what we were about to get ourselves into.  It is no small undertaking!  I didn’t know there would be so many countertops to choose from, sinks to look at, or even bathroom faucets to argue over.   One thing I do know is that I want my bathroom to be timeless. I want it to be comfortable and a place where I can relax.  I do NOT want something that will be outdated within a couple of years. Or something that I just “settled on” because it was cheaper or easier to put in.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Everything is Awesome in November at LEGOLAND Kansas City

The LEGO® Movie Weekend is coming back to Kansas City this November! LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Kansas City is honored to be hosting The LEGO Movie Weekend again! Visit them this weekend, November 15-16, 2014, to meet your favorite characters from the movie and participate in a wide-range of The LEGO Movie activities.
Activities include:
  Meet and greets with Emmet and Wyldstyle.
  Photo ops with the Emmet and Wyldstyle LEGO models.
  Decorate Cloud Cuckoo Land on the LEGO build table.
  Search for the The LEGO Movie characters inside MINILAND.

Meet and Greets will take place from 11:00am - 5:00pm
{every thirty minutes, on the hour}

Monday, November 10, 2014

Free Chocolate? Yes Please. Thank you, Mrs. Cavanaugh

Y’all … I really love chocolate. It goes with everything … donuts, milk, cookies, raisins, nuts, WINE. I’m a chocoholic in the worst sense of the word. I especially love those little chocolates that are given as gifts to the people that everything – you know the kind I’m talking about – the chocolates in the box. It has every flavor you can think of!  The most famous of those chocolates are Mrs. Cavanaugh’s. Or at least it's MY favorite!

There was a time when Marie Cavanaugh spent hours in her South Dakota farmhouse each Christmas season making pecan rolls and homemade chocolates for holiday gifting.

"It started when my aunt sent her pecan-rolls recipe," Mrs. Cavanaugh recalled. "I gave the recipe my own touch and started making the yummy specialties. Then I began dipping chocolates. Our friends and neighbors loved these treats, encouraging me to start a candy business. Finally, I decided it might be a good idea.'"

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

An Emotional Look at Glen Campbell’s Alzheimer’s Battle

As music legend Glen Campbell enters the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease, his family is giving the world a rare glimpse inside his battle with the disease.  This fall, country music’s legendary rhinestone cowboy will take his last bow in a raw, warm, emotional, and at times harrowing documentary simply titled, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me / directed by James Keach (producer of “Walk the Line”).

In 2011, when Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he joined forces with his family to fight the biggest battle of his life. Glen and his wife of 32 years, Kim Woolen, made history by going public with the diagnosis – the first time a major American celebrity would share this experience with the world. The Campbell family then embarked on a short “Goodbye Tour,” but the three-week engagement turned into an emotional and triumphant 151-show nationwide tour de force documented the entire way.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Shooting the Bries during National Cheese Month

See what I did there? Lol.
Did you know the average American eats 27 pounds of cheese per year, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest?  That’s like … 553 squares of the processed squares.

I’m a BIG cheesehead. And I’m not referring to the yellow, processed, sandwich singles nor the blocks of processed cheese that seem to last an eternity.
I’m talking about the beautiful, artisanal, local cheeses that are increasingly being created right here in the United States. And possibly even in your hometown.

October is National Cheese Month in our great nation.  American Cheese Month is a celebration of North America’s delicious and diverse cheeses, and the farmers, cheesemakers, retailers, cheesemongers, and the chefs who bring them to your table.  And at Whole Foods – (who I am an ambassador for) – you can find some of THE TOP cheesemongers in the world.

Friday, October 17, 2014

ONE Critical Mistake New Parents Are Making (+ Giveaway)


The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in San Diego just released findings that 93% of parents leaving the hospital made at least one critical error when installing or using their car seat.  This is a very troubling statistic, I know, but it’s an issue that can be easily addressed.

Here are some tips from the consumer safety experts at Safety 1st about car seat safety and proper installation:

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Best of Fall - Apple & Pumpkin Recipe's


October is the perfect time to enjoy the bounty of local harvests with fresh seasonal flavors like apple and pumpkin, along with great cheese pairings and Non-GMO Project verified treats.  Visit your local pumpkin patch or favorite farm and spice up your season with new recipes and snacks that pack a punch and sing with seasonal flavor:

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Masking That "Boy" Smell

Disclaimer: This was sponsored by SC Johnson and Acorn Influence. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  And it's real world problems, people.  Seriously.  I can't make this stuff up.  And I can't be bought either.
Why is it that when boys reach that certain age where you no longer need to powder their bottoms, the smell of stinkiness just randomly creeps up and assaults your nose.

How is it possible that they were only outside for 2 minutes but managed to come in smelling like the creature from the black lagoon? Not that I’d know what the creature smells like. I just assume he smells … swamp(ish).

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

No. I don't want a Girl

Call it mother’s instinct or a lucky guess.  I knew the second I found out I was pregnant that I was having a boy – both times.

God has the best sense of humor.  Before I was pregnant, I wanted a dance squad of little girls twirling around my house in their frilly tutu’s and pigtails.  I even bought an adorable little overall outfit for my first-born [daughter] before I was even married.
Can you say “cray cray”?!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Whole Foods Market, Wichita - Opening Soon!

Disclosure: I was chosen to be a Whole Foods Market ambassador. I was chosen because of my interest to help grow the store. This does not influence my opinions on the Market.  As you know, The Procrastinating Mommy cannot be bought!

Whole Foods Market will open its first ever store in Wichita, Kansas on September 3rd.

The 30,900-square-foot Whole Foods Market store located at 1423 N. Webb Rd, Suite 101 – will employ approximately 120 full-time and part-time team members in various departments: Bakery, Bulk, Coffee & Yea, Grocery, Pets, Whole Body, Produce, Beer, Cheese, Meat & Poultry, Prepared Foods, Seafood, and Wine (ß sign me up for that Wine gig!).

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Family-Friendly Jayhawk Football + Giveaway! #OneTeam

The kids have gone back to school, structure is starting to kick in, and homework and after school practices have begun. And if your house is anything like our house, our boys know that shortly after school starts … football season is not far behind.  Which is a pretty BIG deal in our house!

All of our friends and family know that when the team has kicked off … you either hush, or join in with the screaming. We can get a little loud.  And if we actually GO to a game, well, we’re that family that can get a little cray cray too.  But that’s what makes it fun, right?  In our book, the words “football” and “family” just go together like “pizza” and “beer” errrr, “pop”!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

All Star Adventures in Wichita, KS is the Place to PLAY! (+ coupon)

This is a sponsored post on behalf of USFG and the Adventure Landing group. The post is written by me and I was not monetarily compensated for this post. I was provided with a family 4-pack but it did not reflect my opinion on All Star Adventures. This place rocks without me having to say so!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

School is almost back in session and if your kids are anything like mine … they’re getting antsy and bored with the same route every day.

Here's an idea! Wear them out, and spend some family time before school starts and spend the day at All Stars of Wichita!

All Star Sports/Adventures has something for everyone – from kids to adults – so the whole family can enjoy all of the excitement that All Star Adventures has to offer. Stay cool in the summer and get splashed on the Bumper Boats. Practice your putting skills on the Miniature Golf Courses or Driving Range. Race your friends on the Go-Karts, take a swing inside the Batting Cages, bump and dodge on the Bumper Cars, throw a strike in Bowlingo Bowling. Perfect your gaming skills and win prizes in their Mega Arcade or enjoy any of their awesome Amusement Rides!

Next time you hear your child say, "I’m soooooo bored" … head on over to one of two All Star Sports and/or Adventures in Wichita, KS. I promise you’ll be the "cool mom/dad". At least for the day anyway.

BONUS: Any of The Procrastinating Mommy readers can enjoy this coupon on me! Don’t say I never gave ya anything :::wink wink:::




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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

July 4th Travel Safety Tips with Safety 1st

AAA announced last week that it projects 41 Million Americans plan to travel for the 4th of July weekend for their annual summer beach outings, barbecues and more.

With 34.8 million choosing to travel by automobile (the highest level since 2007, according to AAA), it’s more important than ever to ensure children are safe in the backseat. From car seats that provide full body safety protection to crash tested car storage for travel essentials, the below products from Safety 1st ensure children are safe for a fun-filled family road trip:

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Octonauts Dive into SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium for Undersea Adventures


Do you have an Octonaut fan in your home? I TOTALLY do!! He’s obsessed with that sea show more than I’m obsessed with cupcakes. That’s a lot y’all!


SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium is excited to host Octonauts, a wildly popular animated TV show from The Disney Channel. The Octonauts will dive into the attraction starting May 28th and stay through June 8th.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Red Balloons for Ryan

Literally .... twenty minutes ago .... I sat here at my keyboard typing out something to say. How I wanted to word exactly what I was thinking. But I too, kept deleting what I wrote. Even those two sentences I just typed out, had been written three times. Word for word. Deleted. Word for word. Deleted.

I didn't know Jacqui or Dan or Ryan. But I felt like I did. I followed Baby Boy Bakery on Instagram and Twitter. I saw this sweet, adorable, red-headed little boy who was the exact same age as Christopher, fill my news feeds everyday.

It was actually him that drew me towards the children's clothing line, Quinn and Fox.

This could easily have been Christopher. A rambunctious and energetic 3.5 year old who was care-free, loved the world around him, and was loved by everyone.


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

American Well: The Doctor will see you NOW

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Well.
All opinions and outcomes are true and of my own.

Have you ever had a medical symptom or issue that you were too embarrassed to talk to your family doctor about?
Or maybe it’s something you want to know the answer to immediately, it’s in the middle of the night, and/or you’re on vacation and would like to speak to someone right away but you’re not sure who to call.

That’s where American Well and its health related service come in.

Did you know that over half of all doctor visits can be completed without even stepping foot in a clinic?

Without going into long personal details, I had something come up that I wanted a second opinion on. The medicine prescribed was only alleviating the pain, it wasn’t really telling me what’s going on. By signing up with American Well, I was able to describe my symptom(s), explain my past medical history and any chronic illnesses I may or may not have all by the computer.
I opted out of video chat because I was at work and didn’t want to enable the webcam on a work computer, but I was able to see the physician live, and talk to her via chat text message.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy --- What a bunch of A-Holes.

After more than a year of anticipation from my husband … the trailer for the new Marvel movie, Guardians of the Galaxy was released Tuesday night. I wondered where he went at 5am the next morning. You thought the Lego Movie song, "Everything is Awesome" was catchy, wait until you watch the trailer for GOTG. I don’t think my husband has spoke three words to me except for, "OogaChaka OogaChaka …. I I I I I, I’m hooked on a feeling…" and "Babe. You gotta watch this!" He hasn’t been this excited over something since … well … probably the last Marvel movie that came out in theaters. The first time he watched Guardians of the Galaxy was when a grainy video was illegally released from Comic-Con 2013. And he hasn’t stopped talking and dreaming about it since.

My husband is a nerd. And I think it’s sexy. He’s opened my eyes to things I never would’ve thought about. Sometimes he knows me better than I know myself. Like riding a roller coaster, trying a new beer, and watching the newest nerd-flicks.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Things you should NOT be doing over the age of 30

Unfortunately, we all get stuck in a hamster wheel of habit. We do things we shouldn’t and remain where we shouldn’t.

When you hit a certain age … we need to stop talking about things we SHOULD be doing, and instead talk about the things that we SHOULDN’T be doing. Here is my list...

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Facebook, IMO.

It didn’t really happen if you didn’t post it on Facebook.

At least that’s what it seems like it’s come down to. A few months ago, I was having a nice conversation with a friend when she asked what I did the weekend before. I told her that my husband and I went to Kansas City for the weekend just the two of us. She didn’t believe me. She thought I had made it up because I never posted anything on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This actually kind of made me mad. Ever since then … I’ve almost avoided the social media site like the plague only to "like" a few things by my personal infatuation … Disney. Because it truly makes me happy. And because I'm being a brat.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

60th Annual Progressive Kansas City Boat & Sportshow

Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or are just looking for a way to escape winter for the day, this is YOUR show! The annual Kansas City Boat & Sportshow is a 4-day event that turns Bartle Hall into a one-stop marketplace for outdoor fun— the best place to see and buy everything you need for your outdoor adventures! See and board boats for every lifestyle, activity and budget! Find gear and accessories for every outdoor activity imaginable; from boating, fishing and hunting to camping and more. Visit outfitters and resorts to plan your next trip or book a vacation, too. There’s really no better place to shop, compare and save!
 

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Florida Vacation Giveaway - Enter to Win!

3 days/2 nights of accommodations for 2 in FLORIDA! 
 Location Choices:
Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale,
Key West, Miami Beach, New Smyrna,
Orlando, Palm Beach, St. Augustine or St. Petersburg.
 Must be at least 21 years old.


Florida is absolutely my favorite travel destination. The weather is perfect, the water is warm, and the people are fun to be around.
Whether you like sitting on the beach, sipping on some margaritas or meeting your favorite Disney character, Florida is one destination you can't go wrong with!

 I've teamed up with Lauren Paints | a beautiful life
& AliceonVacation.com
to giveaway an awesome Florida Vacation,
this giveaway will provide one lucky winner with
3 days and 2 nights worth of accommodations in Florida.

{Picture taken in St Petersburg, FL}

Florida is paradise, each location has it's own local charm
and all kinds of entertaining activities to partake in!
Theme Parks, Beaches, World Famous Restaurants and Clubs,
 a little something for everyone!
Where would you like to visit?
What kind of fun do you enjoy having on the beach?

Imagine parasailing or maybe visiting Disney...
Picture your feet in the sand and days full of tanning...
Maybe you'll play a game of volleyball
or enjoy a Daquiri while lounging in a hammock....
One lucky winner will have the luxury of knowing your hotel stay is taken care of by
Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and Alice on Vacation.com!


Enter to win this amazing giveaway with the form below:
{entries will be verified ---  Giveaway runs:1/15/2014-2/15/2014}


Paradise is waiting...

Disclosure: The Procrastinating Mommy is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact Alice Kingsleigh with questions! This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. You must be 21+ to win.

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