14 month update

Sweet girl is 14 months now.

Whens we use disposable we use size 4, although I think they are a smidge to big but I'm out of size 3 and don't want to buy anymore.

She's now in 9-12 month onesies, 18 months tops (with a few 12 month) and 18 month pants.  Her 12 month pajamas are getting snug.

She can sign please and I'm still working on all done.

She got another tooth pop through just a few days ago - she's now up to 5.

I've started to notice that she's become more verbal lately.  I can pick out a few words.  I probably wouldn't be able to tell but she uses them in the right contex "shoes" when she is trying to put hers on, and "iss" means kiss.

She's starting throwing little tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants.  It's hard not to laugh.

Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolate

I received this product complimentary for review purposes.  All opinions are my own. 

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.'"

Her husband and children helped fill demands for her homemade sweet and in 1972, the family moved to Utah, leaving good friends and their beloved cattle ranch. 

"It was a difficult decision, especially for George," Mrs. Cavanaugh said. "He was excited about making our new venture, which we chose to call Mrs. Cavanaugh's Candies, a great success. We felt Utah was blessed with good chocolates and that we would enjoy - and could compete with - those who pride themselves on making excellent chocolates."

Millions of pounds of chocolates later, Mrs. Cavanaugh's candies have earned a reputation for unquestionable excellence....

You know this is a product to be excited about when my husband who is dealing with major stomach issues really is bugging me to let him have one.  
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The carmel one was awesome!  This is the one we fought over.  The carmel was really rich and creamy.



This cherry cordial was amazing!  I love these things.  The cream was a lot lighter than in the more commercially produced ones. . That's the best way I can describe it.

Surprisingly I haven't devoured the box yet so I haven't tried all the kinds yet.

I also had a white chocolate coconut almond bar which was good.  I'm not a huge fan of white chocolate (I love the dark chocolate the best), but I still liked it.


Readers will receive Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolateswhen they use promo code: usfamily2014 http://www.mrscavanaughs.com

Baby Banana Brush Review & Giveaway

I was provided with this product for review.  All opinions are my own.

Like any other child teething comes and goes.  I almost always tend to blame her fussiness on teething and lately she's ramped it up, had spurts of drooliness, and chewing on things she normally wouldn't. 

So when the opportunity to check out the banana brush presented itself I hoped it would be a good fit.  The brush says its for babies up to 12 months, but Eleanor is close to the mark and with the teething symptoms I had to try it. 

The brush was invented by a mom who is also a hygienist.  It is made of silicone and helps to soothe sore gums.  The handles are easy to hold on to and it's dishwasher safe (which I think all kid products should be) and is safe for the freezer - which I haven't tried yet. 

It arrived, I opened it up and washed it, and handed it to her.   Or tried to, she didn't take it.  So I showed her what it was supposed to do, and handed it back to her.  She chewed it for a moment and then dropped it and wandered off.   

She didn't care to much for it.  It's not a product issue, but more so that she just wasn't interested. I guess she really was to old for it.    Thus the reason for the blurry pictures.  I had to try to be fast and failed. 

 I do plan to just keep it in her toy bin and I'm sure she will find it and love it periodically.

If you have a teething baby you can enter to win one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ways to Earn Cash & Rewards

With Rob having health issues, and me being a stay at home mom, I'm looking for ways to add a little bit of extra income here and there.

All these sites and apps are free to sign up for.

Save up

This isn't so much a money making site but I've won twice from this website.  I have won a ipad3  and a $100 gift card to Lowe's I love how easy it is to use and even if you don't win anything it has great features.
Sign up here (Referral link, I get 10 free plays)

Swag bucks

This is probably my favorite.  I don't spend a lot of time on it, although I've been spending more lately.  I do the daily poll and the NOSO, and then occasionally some of the quick videos that you can watch to earn swagbucks.  I also use it as a search engine to try to get some points that way.  The points can then be redeemed for gift cards, discounts or other prizes.  I spend 5-10 minutes a day and could earn a $5 amazon gift card probably every other month. I've been saving them for paypal cash though since I've have earned a good amazon balance.
Sign up here (This is a referral link, I get a percentage of what you earn)

Inbox dollars
I've been using this since before Eleanor was born.  I've made around $35 but haven't cashed out yet. You can take surveys and use it as a search engine, but I haven't done that yet.  I get emails (I think at least 10 times a week) and just by opening it and clicking on the confirm button you make .2 cents.  It's a small amount, but takes less than ten seconds to do.
Sign up here (Using this link you get $5, and I get $2)

Ebates
I've been using ebates for three years and in that time I've gotten over $200 back.  Before shopping online I always check to see if the store or shop is listed on ebates.  One of my favorite to use is groupon.  When I ordered our wedding invitations through vista print I went through ebates and got cash back.  I ordered some magazines on black Friday and got 50% of my purchase back.  Awesome!
Sign up here (I think I get $5 when you make your first purchase) 

Nexercise
This one isn't technically online..  Nexercise is an app (I think it's available on apple and android) and you track exercise and earn points that can be redeemed for other gift cards etc... I have earned a few dollars in amazon gift cards, but since I started using the app there  been a few changes and I don't like it as much. Since all activity is through the app if you want to be my friend let me know and I can email you my friend link (I think we both earn more points through this). You can still benefit from it even if you don't have friends on there.It does take a while to earn enough points for something, but I still will keep using it because I like tracking my exercise.

Pampers rewards
I've been using this for a while, and have yet to spend any money on it.  I follow some other blogs and they post when there is a free point code.  This usually happens on a monthly basis.
Sign Up Here

Kellogg's family rewards
Just by signing up and entering codes from eligible products I've earned a free children's book, and have enough points for free prints from shutterfly.  I'm saving them for something bigger, although I'm not sure what yet. They also offer free points codes (follow them on facebook) at least once or twice a month. Click the link below to sign up.

Crowdtap.
This connects you with brands and when you answer questions or participate in missions you earn points which equal entries for gift card drawings.  I did win a $50 gift card to restaurant.com, a walmart gift card, and then $5 to amazon (many times).  I've also been able to sample several different products (body wash, cleaners, throat drops etc.)
Sign up here

Feature Points
Another app that I just started using.  I haven't earned enough to redeem but it seems fairly easy.
Referal Link is XDKBBZ

The following are cash back on groceries etc... type apps.

Jingit. 
I signed up when it first was launched and I didn't have a smartphone so I forgot about it. But I've been trying to remember to use it again.
Sign up here

Checkout51
An app you use to earn cashback on groceries.  You buy your groceries and then upload your receipt to earn cash back

Ibotta
Same as checkout 51.  This one does have the option to earn bonuses based on your team (friends who sign up) as well.  If you are wanting to check it out and sign up my referral code is nvggg

Shrink 
Another cash back savings site.  This one I'm pretty new to so I haven't earned much yet from it.  My referal code is IDMISN

Savings Star
Every friday they offer a freebie bonus and as a result I've gotten free snacks and even earned cash back into paypal account (which I actually already have had deposited).

Snap by Groupon
Yet another cash back site. I do have a referral link and if you want it let me know.  I can't seem to post it here. 

~Holiday Bundle of Gifts Giveaway~

Welcome to the Holiday Bundle of Gifts Giveaway!

Featuring: 14 prizes for one lucky winner!

Hosted by: Just Another Mom

Co-Hosted by:

The Cafe Coupon, Deliciously Savvy, Heartbeat Soulstains, Michigan Savings and More,

Joan's Five Star Reviews, Totally Temberton, Cupcakes and Flipflops

The Mama Games & Disabled Diva Reviews

With a BIG thank you to all of the bloggers who are helping to promote!

As we draw closer and closer to Christmas, Just Another Mom is pleased to present the Holiday Bundle of Gifts Giveaway! Featuring 14 gifts from The Holiday Gift Guide at Just Another Mom, one lucky winner will win over $300 in prizes with a little bit of something for everyone!

Silly baby pick me up

The weather is crummy, I haven't left the house since Saturday and am in need of a pick me up.  Assuming you do too, I'm sharing a few cute things my girl has done lately.

1) If I'm nursing her and playing on my phone (so not looking at her) she will grab my face and turn it so I look at her.

2) If I have my phone out to take her picture she was say "eese" (cheese).  Maybe I take to many pictures?  Not that that's really possible. 

3) Rob has been in the hospital a lot lately.  When he got home from stay number 2 he walked in the door, Eleanor walked to him and just clung to his leg.  So sweet.

4) I had a little slide I picked up at a garage sale over the summer that I've pulled out.  She will sit and the bottom and go 'eee' (wheee)

5) I was using the bathroom the other day and she walked in, started pulling the toilet paper out.  I stopped that but let her have what she had already pulled.  She proceeded to rip it into tiny pieces and set it on my slippers

6)  See video below.  I did this once and now she will pick this (drum lid) up and hold it up to her face.

What cute things have your babies/kids done lately?

The Eleanor Update: 13 months

4 teeth still, but she's been working on a few for weeks and it's been getting kind of rough.

Sleep has taken a major nosedive lately.  Like hours up in the middle of the night and waking up by 6 am (I blame this partly on the time change).  This means we are back to two naps.

She gives kisses now and it's adorable.  

She is walking more than crawling now.  It's still kind of crazy to see her walking around.

She can sign milk now (I'd been working on it for a while and one night while nursing she looked up at me and signed it.  I melted).  She can also sign more (although not totally correct, but close enough), and we are working on please, all done and I just started working on help.

Her favorite words are 'hi' and 'thank you.'  She says 'mama', 'dada,' 'uh-oh' although I think she was saying all these last month.

I don't think we've tried any new foods this month.

She's developing a little temper and hits when she doesn't get what she wants.  Generally she can be redirected, but not always.

Holiday Bundle of Gifts Blogger Opp

Holiday Bundle of Gifts Blogger Opp

Fellow bloggers, come join me in promoting the Holiday Bundle of Gifts Giveaway, hosted by Just Another Mom!

Sign Ups will close on 11/16 and the Giveaway will go live on 11/18

The Giveaway will run from: 11/18 to 12/4

Prizes include:

* One month subscription to Sock Panda ($12 ARV)

* One necktie from Necktie Emporium (Up to $19.99 ARV)

* Two cloth Diapers from GloBug Diapers

* One Lambie & Me Lambie Lovie Snuggle Blanket ($29.95 ARV)

* One set of Chinese-English Blocks featuring the Chinese Zodiac Signs ($18.00 ARV)

* One Gift Certificate for Curtain and Bath Outlet ($25 ARV)

* One set of Magformers (tentative)

* One Deluxe Building Set from Roy Toy ($45 ARV)

* One EzRoller ($99 ARV)

* E-cloth set (tentative)

Over $200 in prizes!

More prizes may be added, but as you can see this is a pretty nice list of gifts! If more than 20 bloggers are on board, I'll also add in a $15 Gift Card to the Prize Pack.

Free, Paid, and Co-Host Options are available.

Sign-Up Here!

And in the referral box, tell them I sent you!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Edition

2013 vs 2014

With Rob sick and in the hospital it was just me and Eleanor. We stopped by my parents, then went to church for trunk or treat but only lasted for a whole 5 minutes (it was reaaallllllyyy cold).

After that we passed out some candy at home, which Eleanor was very possessive of and cried when I took the bowl away from her. 

It was pretty low key and thankfully she is young enough that I could get away with it.