Happy New Year and all that

With the arrival of 2009, I have many hopes and no resolutions.  I am not a person who sticks well to anything that isn’t really Disney or vacation related.  But I do have many hopes.  I hope, as always, that my family is “happy, healthy, wealthy and wise.”  Though I can forgo the wealthy, but without it the saying doesn’t have the same ring.  I also hope in getting healthy that I lose some weight.  This is where my not being able to stick to something really messes me up.  That, and my extreme love of food.  Mmmm, donuts.  Another hope I have this year is to get back on track financially.  We make some irresponsible decisions with money.  Now that I’m working again, I hope we can clean up the debt from those decisions.  Though I know us enough to realize we won’t all of a sudden become responsible with money.  Maybe just make less poor choices.

 

Do Not Put Bigotry Into Florida Law

Whether you agree or not with someone being gay, this amendment will hurt many people, gay and straight. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should vote no on amendment 2.

1.
Vote No On 2 because it Takes Away Benefits
Amendment 2 would take away important family protections, including health care insurance and hospital visitation from all unmarried Floridians. The Florida Legislature’s own analysis warns that this amendment: “… could place (domestic partnerships) at risk of losing specified rights and benefits, such as those related to health insurance.”

2.
Vote No On 2 because it Hurts Seniors
Amendment 2 would hurt Florida’s large senior population by taking away partnership rights of widowed seniors, like health care and end-of-life decision making. The AARP and Florida Alliance for Retired Americans have spoken out against these kinds of dangerous amendments.

3. Vote No On 2 because EVERY Major Florida Daily Newspaper is Opposed to Amendment 2 – Newspapers across the political spectrum whose editorial boards rarely agree on politics have come out strongly opposed to Amendment 2.
(read them)

4.
Vote No On 2 because Discrimination Doesn’t Belong in the Florida Constitution
The constitution should protect all of us from government intrusion and discrimination. This amendment would embed discrimination against unmarried people into our state constitution for generations to come.

5.
Vote No On 2 because Hurting Families Doesn’t “Protect” Anyone’s Marriage
Despite the name “Marriage Protection Amendment” this measure does NOTHING to help curb the divorce rate or strengthen marriage. It only scapegoats unmarried partners and strips them of vital health benefits.

6.
Vote No On 2 because it Permits Massive Government Intrusion
Amendment 2 puts the government where it doesn’t belong – regulating the personal relationships of Floridians. Government should not make it harder for people to take care of their loved ones.

7.
Vote No On 2 and Avoid Hiring Expensive Lawyers
Amendment 2 could force unmarried Floridians to hire expensive private lawyers just to be able to see each other in the hospital.

8.
Vote No On 2 because It’s Already Hard Enough for Families
At a time of economic crisis the last thing we should do is put government-enforced obstacles, big legal fees and more red tape in the way of people getting access to vital health care and family protections.

9.
Vote No On 2 because Florida is Better Than This
When Florida voters understand the real harm to real people the Amendment will cause, they will vote no. Everyday more and more Floridians are standing up to this divisive, harmful amendment. The Fairness for All Families’ Vote No On 2 campaign consists of over 260 civic, faith, and social justice groups working together to protect Florida’s families. Help spread the word. Volunteer and donate today.

10.
Vote No On 2 because of It Harms All of Us
People have already lost benefits in states that have passed similar measures. In Michigan, health insurance for domestic partners were repealed at every state university that offered them. In Kentucky, amendment backers had promised they were only “banning gay marriage”. Now they are working to eliminate domestic partner benefits for state and university employees. In Ohio, justice for domestic violence victims was impeded because lower courts ruled that their “marriage” amendment” prohibited applying domestic violence laws to unmarried couples.

For more information, please visit www.votenoon2.com

 

Put My Diaper On Now Woman!!!!

We quickly came to an end to our naked potty training after only 5 days of trying.  By the fifth day, my little one was demanding pants.  She stuffed all her toys into her potty and closed up shop.  She even moved it into a corner, rather than in front of the TV.  At the mere mention of sitting on the toilet, she insists that she wants her butt covered.  I guess I can take comfort in knowing this child will not be a nudist any time soon.  Nor will she be wearing panties. 

I do know she will not wear diapers forever.  So I will take a break for now and try again when she seems more interested.  There are few things in life a 2 year old can control, but her bladder and bowels are 2 of those things.

 

No Holiday Shopping Crowds for Me

I used to be one of those people who spent Thanksgiving searching the ads for where to shop the next day.  Then the internet took over my life.  Now I can look months ahead at the “Black Friday” sales.  The best part, most of those deals can be found online.  That means I don’t have to get in my car and fight some grandma for a parking space then battle with psychos who want the last of whatever is on the shelf, whether they can use it or not.  Plus, I can do all my holiday shopping sitting in my bed, still in my jammies. 

This year will be a bit different.  I’m going to be on a cruise for Thanksgiving.  I probably won’t be able to do my online shopping.  So I’ve decided to plan ahead.  I’m making a list now and keeping an eye out for sales.   I also plan to shop through Ebates.  You can search the site for the best deals and it gives you cash back quarterly.  If you aren’t a member, here’s a link to join.  http://www.ebates.com/refer-a-friend/0809promo.htm?referrerid=7WnEBHXwdEsuw8jPg2Uv9Q%3D%3D  You get $5 in your account when you make your first purchase through Ebates.  Joining is free. 

With the economy the way it is, I try to find every way possible to save money or get a little back.  But I still want the holidays to be good.  I’m hoping my online shopping and a lot of research will help make that happen.  The least, I’ll be able to avoid those crazy malls during the holidays.

 

http://www.ebates.com/refer-a-friend/0809promo.htm?referrerid=7WnEBHXwdEsuw8jPg2Uv9Q%3D%3D

 

Day 3 of Naked Potty Training AKA Yes, I Can Count

I am well aware this blog went from Day 1 to Day 3 of potty training.  That’s because Day 2 was very short and a complete failure.  I only had about an hour of training time before we were out and about for the day.  In that hour, I got buptkus from the buttkus.  So we’re now on to Day 3.

Her diaper was totally full from the night, including poo.  Yet, within a half hour of her walking around without a diaper she pee peed in the potty.  The potty music went off, I made a big deal, cleaned out the potty, then forgot to give her the promised M&M’s.  But since she forgot too, I’ll just let it go.

After the brief bit of success, the potty has turned into a play toy.  First, she tried to climb in it.  Then, it became a home for wayward animals.  Good thing for Clorox Clean-Up.  I wash and spray the potty down each time she goes.

Pee pee #2 of the day was only a partial success.   Partial because it was on our chair and not the potty.  But it was still a bit of a success because she said “Mommy, I pee peed on the Mickey chair.”  I decided it was time to turn the TV back on so she would sit still on the potty rather than walk around the house.

After pee pee #3 ended up on a book, I decided it was time to take a break (after cleaning up the book.)  Within an hour, the diaper was totally full.  Again, this is good because it tells me she has some control over her bodily functions.  She’s just being her typical stubborn self and not doing it where I’ve requested.

Nap time came with very little actual success today.  I hope to try again tomorrow, but my time is limited by her gymnastics class.

 

Day One of Potty Training Naked

Potty training has come back with a vengeance in our household.  I tried the naked method with my first daughter and it didn’t work.  She was the naked one, not me, so that wasn’t the reason it didn’t work.  She just really didn’t care if she sat in her own mess or had it running down her leg.  Bribes worked much better for her.  Now I’m on to training my second.  And I’m going for the naked method again, but a bit different this time.

We have a potty that makes noises when something hits the bowl.  I have set it out in front of the TV and put my 2 1/2 year old on it, sans pants.  I also was smart and closed off most of the carpeted areas of the house.  For as long as I can today, she will be watching TV and sitting on the potty.  When she goes, she gets M&M’s. 

Pee Pee #1 came about a half hour after we started our experiment.  Of course, she wasn’t sitting on the potty at the time.  She was talking to me when I felt a warm splash on my foot.  It surprised her so much she stopped mid-stream.  I was able to get her to finish her work on the potty while I cleaned up the mess on the floor and my foot. 

Lunch time came and I put out a folding tray next to her royal potty.  Mac and cheese dropped into the potty makes the same sound as pee or poop.  So after cleaning that up from her seat and her tush, we went back to doing nothing. 

Pee Pee #1 1/4 with a small dropping came a bit after lunch.  She didn’t want to get up because she wasn’t able to finish doing number two.  I did manage to get her up so I could clean it by offering more M&M’s.

Pee Pee #2 came about a half hour later.  Though at this point, the M&M’s began to lose their charm.  I go through the steps of cleaning her and the seat again.  At this point, she decides she doesn’t want to sit.  So I get a bit paranoid as she walks around the house playing with her toys. 

Pee Pee #3 happened while I was out of the room.  I was very happy to hear the royal chimes of the potty because it let me know my floor wasn’t wet.  After going through the routine of cleaning up again, I decided it was nap time.  So I diapered her up, put her to bed, and called it a day for day one of potty training naked. 

I consider this a semi-success.  I plan to try again tomorrow, but I hope to not have her spend too much time just watching TV while on the toilet.

 

Does joining the PTA make you lose your cool card?

I am getting ready to go to my first Parent Teacher Organization meeting (PTO).  When I was growing up, we called it the Parent Teacher Association.  My mother thought going to a PTA meeting was something only bored housewives did.  Well, wouldn’t she be proud of me now.  I’m a housewife joining the PTA.  Going on my mother’s stereotypes, I should now go out in public wearing a muu muu, houseslippers and curlers in my hair.  If my mom was buried in a grave, she’d be rolling over in it.  I guess she’ll instead just flail about in her ultra cool urn. 

I disagree with my mom’s ideas on the PTA.  Sure, there will probably be busy bodies who are only there to gossip about other people.  But I think the main point of joining these things is to get more involved in your child’s school.  Study after study shows that parents who are more involved in their child’s education help them do better at school and in life.  My daughter’s school requires 20 hours a year of volunteer work from parents or the child may be kicked out.  I really like this idea.  I’ve noticed kids who misbehave the most are kids who’s parents don’t care what they do.  If my daughter misbehaves (and she does), I want to take action right away.  I want other parents to do the same. 

I’m not sure if I ever had a cool card, but if I did, I don’t think joining the PTA would make me lose it.  Because as an adult, what is cool is much different than when we were young.  And caring about education is not only very cool to me, it’s very important.

 

Here’s the Bzz on Pledge

There’s a great website I belong to that allows me to try new products out for free. It’s called bzzagent.com. In exchange for these free products, I share my opinion of it with people I come into contact with. I figured my blog is a great way to deliver the Bzz to my friends and their friends who are too far away for an in person demonstration.

Today I’m going to tell you about a product I’m trying out that I really love. Pledge Multi Surface spray and wipes is good for most surfaces. This is great for me since I’m a lazy cleaner and hate trying to find something that works on my leather coffee table and my wood dining table. The sample wipes came in handy little packets that I threw in my diaper bag. I wish the wipes always came packaged like this, but I still will probably buy the wipes in the canister. So far I’ve cleaned a picnic table, my house, and today, a diaper pail with the Pledge Multi Surface. It didn’t clean the diaper pail as well as bleach, but it did do a good job. So if you happen to see this on the shelf at the store next time you are looking for cleaning supplies, pick up a bottle or the wipes. This is definitely a product I like to Bzz.

Here’s the Pledge website if you want more information: http://www.pledge.com/multi-surface-cleaner/

 

Not Your Usual Timeshare

I truly believe Disney does everything better.  Maybe it’s my pixie dusted glasses, but I think it’s more than just that.  Even Disney’s timeshare, the Disney Vacation Club, is better than other timeshares. 

First, DVC uses a point system rather than selling you a particular week.  This means you can actually pick where you want to go, when, and for how long.  As long as you own enough points to cover the trip, you could have a 2-week long vacation in a three bedroom Grand Villa or just take a quick weekend trip in a Studio. 

Second, the Disney Vacation Club comes with many different perks.  Just like with a regular Disney hotel, you can enjoy the Disney bus system and extras like Extra Magic Hours.  This is extra time where only Disney resort guests get free reign of the parks, before or after closing on certain days.  There are also many discounts offered to DVC members.  There is a perk for staying at DVC that other Disney resort guests don’t get, kitchens.  Even the studio has a small kitchenette. 

Third, buying into DVC gives you and your family a lifetime of vacations.  My children are young, but we know one day they will get married and have kids of their own.  We plan to use our points for their honeymoons and later to take our grandchildren to the Happiest Place on Earth.  My husband and I also plan on using our points to stay in many non-Disney resorts, maybe in Hawaii or Europe.  Or maybe we’ll use them for a Disney Cruise.

Here’s a brief explanation on how Disney Vacation Club works.  You buy a set amount of points for a specific resort.  Right now, DVC is selling ownership at Saratoga Springs Resort and the Animal Kingdom Villas.  You get these points annually for the life of the contract.  You can use them, bank them, or even borrow points from the next year.  That means, one year you could use three years of points for one huge vacation.  After you have paid off the cost of the property, you only pay yearly maintenance fees.  These fees are different for each resort and are per point.  But when you do the math, and you should if you are thinking of buying DVC, you will see you come out ahead. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the Disney Vacation Club, there are many places to research it.  My favorite place is the disboards.com.  But if you want to talk to an expert, call my DVC guide Anne Middlemiss at (800) 840-3708.  Tell her Erin Brumbaugh sent you. 

 

Here are some pictures of the Animal Kingdom Villas. 

1 Bedroom at AKV

 

The pool, Stormalong Bay, at the Beach Club Villas is amazing.

Hilton Head Island also has a great Disney Vacation Club. This is the dining room and kitchen.

 

The Magic of Disney World with Infants

I am well aware that an infant does not get a whole lot out of a trip to Disney.  But a family should not put off a trip just because they have a little one.  My youngest was 4 months when we took her on her first trip to Walt Disney World.  My oldest had enough change in her life with the new sibling, we weren’t going to take away one of her (and our) favorite family activities.  If you plan to visit Walt Disney World with an infant, here are a few tips to help.

Baby Care Centers
Disney offers a baby care center in each of it’s four Orlando area parks.  These centers offer a cool and quiet place to change and feed your baby.  There are even secluded air-conditioned rooms to nurse your baby.  The centers sell baby food, formula, diapers, pacifiers and more.  My only warning is the brands offered are limited to Disney’s partners (Huggies, Gerber.)  So if you have a favorite, make sure to remember it.  There is only one center in each park.
Magic Kingdom – located behind the Crystal Palace, near the First Aid station. 
Epcot – At the rear of the Odyssey building, close to Mexico.
Disney Hollywood Studios – Just inside the entrance on the left, by Guest Services.
Animal Kingdom – near the Creature Comforts gift shop in the Safari Village on the left side of The Tree of Life.

These baby care centers lead to my second bit of advice.  Take a lot of breaks.  While it is possible to have a great vacation at a theme park with an infant, you still need to adjust to the infant.  Schedule sit down lunches to enjoy the rest and the air conditioning.  Take strolls through the shops to avoid the outdoor heat. 

You can go on rides with an infant.  If the ride does not have a height requirement or other restriction, you can go on it with a little one.  I recommend getting a good baby carrier so the baby can sleep while you stroll the park.  I was able to get off and on many rides, whether my baby was awake or asleep. 

Also, invest in a good stroller.  The strollers available at the parks are not made for infants.   A stroller will create a comfortable place for the baby to sleep.  Plus, it gives your back a rest and offers a place to store all your baby gear.  I recommend keeping a small bag with your important items to take with you on the rides.  That way you don’t have to take the entire diaper bag.   

One great thing about bringing an infant to Disney is they usually haven’t developed a fear of the characters.  While they may not remember the trip, you will have many great pictures to share the memories you had when they get older.