I was provided this product for review. All opinions are my own.
Although measuring your laundry detergent out is a fairly simple task - open bottle, pour into cap and pour into washer - it's still nice to have it easier.
With Purex Power shot detergent all you have to do is open the cap, flip the bottle upside down over the washing machine and that's it. The detergent will into the washing machine.
Although I didn't take this video over the washing machine because it's really dark (basement laundry room) and I didn't have anywhere to prop the camera up but you should be able to get the idea of it.
For me this is actually nice because I have a curious one year old who is usually trying to climb up my leg and I don't have to worry about spilling the detergent or dropping a huge open jug.
To celebrate you can enter to win a washer/dryer set from whirpool with winners also receiving a bottle of PowerShot Detergent and all who enter will get a coupon.
I received this product from Influensterfor review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Recently I had the opportunity to sample the Reese's new spread. Reese's peanut butter cups are a favorite treat of mine (I may or may not be hording some from Halloween still)
Even though I love them (because of the chocolate mix) I don't really love peanut butter, so I was curious to know how it would stack up.
From that first spoonful I was hooked. It is sweeter than I expected, but not in a bad way. It just means that I can't have a lot of it in one sitting. It does taste a lot like a peanut butter cup which is great!
I tried it with pretzels, bananas, apples and on a sandwich. It was delicious on all. I've been contemplating putting it on bacon because bacon and chocolate seems to be the in thing to do.
You can purchase it at most grocery, convenience and drug stores for $3.89 for a 13 oz jar.
Fisher Price Smart Stages Vacuum
I won this and she thinks it so much fun to get it out when I vacuum. It lights up and makes music and is pretty fun. It's pretty short though so I worry she will outgrow it soon.
Laugh and Learn Lamp
She got this for her birthday and she still plays with it almost every single day.
(I tried to get a nice picture but she would not still; I'll do a photo dump soon!)
She has had a verbal explosion this month. She is saying so many words - to others they might sound
like jibberish but we know what she's trying to say.
She's finally started saying "mama" again. I hadn't heard her say it for what seemed like months.
Socks "ock"
Christmas tree "miss ee"
"papa"
"wuff wuff" All animals say this though according to her.
"Hi" This isn't a new one but she says it all the time. She will get in your face and say it over and over.
"Hello"
"Ball"
"Yellow"
"Circle"
I'm amazed at how much she understands now. I can ask her to get a book and she will, tell her it's time to eat and she will go to her highchair, and when I say we need to change her diaper she will go right to her changing table.
She can climb the stairs from the basement now. I actually think she probably could have done it before but I never gave her the chance.
She can wave bye bye.
Her 12 months pajamas are starting to feel snug, and some of her 12 month shirts are turning into belly shirts. Pants are 18 month.
She's really starting to imitate actions and remember how things work. For example she will get her socks or shoes and try to put them on.
Eating with a fork and spoon have become a lot easier for her.
She still loves pasta in any shape or form, loves green beans, mandarin oranges, and donuts (although she only gets a teeny tiny bit of those).
Another new tooth popped through. That makes six now and a seventh is getting ready to push through.
Sleep this month was terrible. We are finally getting it back on track. She would be asleep and then I'd lay her down and she would immediately stand up and scream and scream and scream. Get her back to sleep and the cycle would start over. I'd try to lay on her floor and eventually she'd calm down and I'd slowly inch my way out of the room. One night I spend an hour and half doing that only to have her stand up when she could no longer see me and scream. So many nights I gave and bed shared with her. But that wasn't working for me since she was taking up most of the bed. So I set up the pack n play next to my bed and she's used it a few times. I always start with the crib, but keep it there just in case. We also tried cry it out. After a few nights we were up to almost 45 minutes. After that it got easier. I've also been using a glo-worm and working to give her a lovey just at sleep time. I'd tried before to do a lovey but she never took to it.
She's moving a lot faster now. I'm not sure if I should call it running, but I will.
She loves to play the I'm gonna get you game. When I come at her she runs away giggling.
She knows where her nose is.
Oh and she's a little stinker. The other day she acted like she was going to drop her plate off her high chair tray. She looked at me and pushed it, and then when I grabbed for it she pulled it back and laughed. Well played Eleanor.
So it's been weeks since I posted and there is an explanation.
I mentioned a while ago about Rob having some health issues. From the end of September when they began until early December we made 6 er trips, 4 requiring hospitalization. We spent so much money on pain medications and prescriptions flying past that deductible. Doctors visits were at least weekly plus lab work and everything.
At the beginning of the December the decision was made to remove his colon and he had surgery. He spent a few more weeks in the hospital recovering. During the surgery part of his pancreas was damaged so blood sugar levels are now a issue and he takes insulin (although the hope is this isn't permanent and has to monitor his blood sugar levels multiple times a day.
The week after the surgery he had a blood transfusion as well which he was really hesitant to do but knew he needed it.
He hasn't worked in months (since shortly after Eleanor's birthday). He's slowly getting stronger, but is still down 50lbs from when this started and doesn't really have much energy. Really we only leave the house to go to the weekly appointments.
This week he was able to get his drain out that was put in due to fluid build up the week after the surgery. That was a huge boost to his spirits because without it he can move around so much better. The tubing doesn't hang down and get in his way and catch on things.
He still has the illestomy bag and will until the summertime. He will need two more surgeries before he can get rid of that.
On top of his constant frustration at being in pain all.the.time comes the stress at having no income (although the generosity shown to us by friends, family and stranger has been so unbelievably amazing. Seriously we have been constantly overwhelmed and blown away).
I am going to start a babysitting job soon which won't bring in much money at all and will be a lot of work, but it's something and will cover a few of our smaller expenses.
As far as me I've struggled too. I feel like I get overlooked by most in this process but it's been really tough on me. I have had to do almost 100% of Eleanor's care. I have to take care of her, and Rob. It's been hard to balance their needs. And constantly having to be 'on' means no mental break for me. Rob can't even lift her - although now he is able to sometimes sit on the floor with her - so I can't even have him watch her for a few minutes while I run to the store or something.
Anyway 2014 didn't end on the best of notes, but I'm optimistic that 2015 WILL be better.
