Summer is officially here and my family is super excited because we bought a camper! My husband and I grew up camping in tents, but we have been bit by the GLAMping bug and have found just how much easier camping is when you have everything contained in one spot.
We've already been out a couple times in the last month and the girls have been watching me each week as I methodically prepare the camper for the next upcoming adventure. Setting aside clean clothes for the weekend, filling the fridge and pantry with our meals and most importantly - the snacks.
The other day Ruby (my two year old) says "Mama, I help you?" and I thought to myself about how can I involve the kids in prepping for our camping trips. So I sent them upstairs and instructed them to set out two sets of clothes for camping and to fill their backpacks with books and a few toys to play with.
When they were done we started to prepare their snack mix for the weekend. It's really to veg-out and pull out all the junk food when you're camping, but why when good nutrition is so easy to prepare ahead of time? Involving the girls in their meal planning helps them get a sense of what is a good choice for snacking and we also get to work on skills like measuring, scooping, pouring, shaking and ingredient identification.
Ingredients: Gerber Lil' Beanies (original or white cheddar broccoli)
1/2 cup of cashew halves
1/2 cup of dried blueberries
1/2 cup of dried sweetened cherries or cranberries
1 cup of lightly salted popcorn
And into the camper is goes, ready for this weekend's adventure!
A photo posted by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on
...Not before a taste test first, mom!
My appreciation for this snack mix is because it is chock full of protein from navy beans, thanks to the Lil' Beanies and cashews with a mixture of sweet from the berries and salty from the popcorn and nuts. The non-messy crunch factor is also a big deal! Knowing that Gerber now offers non-gmo kid snacks makes this an easy choice.
What kind of snack mix do you prep for your kids? Gerber Lil' Beanies are an easy way to add crunchy, yummy protein into any kid snack! You can find them in the kids snack section at Walmart.
Where can you get a protein and fiber filled, crunchy, NON GMO snack perfect for toddler hands? Visit this month's blog sponsor to find out!
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This week I took my family to our local drive in and watched the preview of Finding Dory. It's been a much anticipated movie for our household; the kids are in love with their favorite characters from Finding Nemo while the hubs and I are big Pixar fans. I was curious how this movie was going to hold up as a sequel to Finding Nemo and if it was going to bust Pixar out of their current rut. Brave (2012) was the last Pixar film that I was really wowed over, but one can't really expect them to have hit it out of the ballpark blockbusters every time.
I've been wrestling with myself about Finding Dory. The story line has some deep themes that have left me unsettled; I've got a new perspective about the main characters that I didn't really see in Finding Nemo. You see, most people will say that the main lesson in Finding Dory is "believe in yourself," to which I agree. I think if you are looking for the "happy ending" moral, that one can be easily said about this movie. Throughout the whole story Dory is continually working on moving through her struggle of short term memory loss, and just like in Finding Nemo, memories that mean a lot to her help spark her memory. But what unsettles me is Marlin.
Let's back up. I'll start with the good. Did you notice that most of the characters in Finding Dory, with the exception of Marlin, Charlie and Jenny (Dory's parents) have special needs? Hank the octopus is missing an arm, Bailey the Beluga whale has a problem with his echolocation, Destiny the whale shark is near sighted, Nemo has a little fin and Dory has short term memory loss. This was one of the main reasons why I loved Finding Nemo so much, because in Pixar's quiet way they reinforced to children that it's ok to be different. The whole premise of Finding Nemo is that he was showing his dad that he doesn't need to be held back because of his disability. "You think you can do these things, but you just CAN'T, Nemo!" I'm not a parent of a child with disabilities, but I am sure that this statement hit a lot of parents in the gut. Our job as parents is to find a way to help our children flourish, in spite of their struggles, and it's a dark moment if we ever realize that we were holding our child back. By the end of Finding Nemo Marlin seemed to understand that Nemo's disability won't slow him down for long.
But my opinion of Marlin was slowly changed in the beginning of Finding Dory. The early part of the movie shows Marlin, Nemo and Dory a year after the end of Finding Nemo. They lived next door to each other and Dory is an active part of the clownfishes' lives. Dory's short attention span and forgetfulness is well known throughout the community. The day comes where Nemo's class is going on a field trip to watch the ray migration and Mr. Ray quietly tells Marlin that having Dory along that day will make the trip more difficult. Both Mr. Ray and Marlin seem a exasperated by Dory's needs, but don't want to hurt her feelings. Marlin tries to explain to Dory why she can't go along that day and she misunderstands it as Ray needing a teacher's assistant. Ray and Marlin give a quick, tongue in cheek exchange that Ray gets Dory for the day.
This is what sets the mood to me that although Marlin and Dory are friends he still sees her as a burden. He had tried multiple times during Finding Nemo to unload her and now keeps her around, probably because Nemo holds him accountable and responsible in caring for her. Multiple off color jokes from Marlin pepper the whole movie, especially about Dory and Becky, the wacked out and 'not all the way there' bird.
What really caught my attention was the moment after the squid chase and the trio are in the kelp jungle. Marlin is trying to assess Nemo and Dory is trying to help. Marlin is clearly stressed out and Nemo is crying a little and needing comfort. Dory feels terrible and realizes that her whole scatterbrained quest is what almost got all of them eaten and she tries over and over to get in and make sure that Nemo is ok. Finally Marlin snaps and tells Dory to go away. I really think that Marlin views Dory as a burden.
A lot of us as parents can relate to this situation. I've had it happen numerous times where I'm doing the exact same thing - one child needs something addressed immediately and the other isn't letting up. I've snapped, numerous times, to get the other kid to give us space and I can figure out what needs to happen. In our age group (toddler and preschooler) it usually results in two kids crying and me feeling worse than before.
I'm no professional, but I do have a B.A. in Sociology which has trained me to look at social situations. This interchange is called caregiver burnout. Marlin was never equipped to fully handle Dory and her needs and he finally snapped.
Compare that to how Dory's parents relate to her. Each of Dory's flashbacks show us how Jennie and Charlie came up with games and songs (very much like an occupational therapist would do) to help Dory manage her life. They show sadness and fear at times where they realize how difficult her life may be in the future. Regardless, they work together to create a safe environment where Dory can flourish within reasonable boundaries, rather than be limited and restricted (which is how Marlin treated Nemo, and later Dory).
I'm not saying that Marlin is a bad guy. There are many amazing people in this world who are called on and equipped for the mental and emotional work of helping care for someone who has special needs. Some need a lifetime of care and others only for a short period of time. Marlin was already called upon to raise Nemo and learned that he doesn't do himself or Nemo any favors by holding him back and babying him because of the lucky fin. He made big strides through Finding Nemo to trust Nemo. The same problem is revisited in Finding Dory, but this time he is less invested because Dory is a friend and not his child. I wonder if Marlin thinks about what the long term solution is for Dory, and if she will ever be able to be on her own (even though she had survived childhood all by herself, showing that she can be fine).
Finding Dory is still a very enjoyable movie, and like many other reviews have said that it stands well alone as the continuation of the Nemo storyline, and parents of special needs kids can relate to Marlin vs Jennie & Charlie.
What do you think?
Thanks for supporting the blog and checking out the month's sponsor, Gerber, and their delicious Lil Beanies!
Almost 2 months ago, my husband and I moved our family about an hour north to beautiful Skagit County (Washington) where we get to live in the home of our dreams. It was the house we had prayed for and now we get to realize our dream!
As many of you know, I am also a chicken mama and have had a small flock of backyard hens for almost 3 years. Once we moved to our new house and were no longer constrained by city regulations, I went a little chicken crazy. Just a little. We went from 7 hens to double that in a very short amount of time. That term is called "chicken math."
Say hello to the 11 + 3 Pierogie Peepers! We call them 11 + 3 because I've got 11 chicks and 3 turkey poults (the word for baby turkeys).
These guys are quickly growing and the super cute chick phase was short lived. But I had some fun while they were cute and fuzzy!
A photo posted by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on
But adolescence is rarely cute on any creature and that's kind of where we are at right now. Almost immediately baby chicks start to lose their fuzzy baby down and grow in their feathers. We are in a middle stage where just a little bit of down remains.
Out of all of the Peepers, Babcia the Polish chicken is kind of my favorite. She's been the most fun to watch as she feathers out. Polish chickens are bred to have a huge 'fro, and are one of the most fabulous in the chicken world. You might wonder where this name came from. "Babcia" in Polish means "Grandmother," which is what my daughters call my mom. My mom, bless her heart, I love her so, but the 'fro on Polish chickens reminds me of my mom on a bad hair day.
Most of the time when you buy chicks from your local Co Op or farm store they come "sexed," meaning you have about a 90% chance of knowing that the chicks you've selected are girls. Some breeds (specialty, mostly) come "straight run," meaning they were not sexed and you have a 50/50 chance of pullet vs roo. Babcia came as a straight run and I go between wondering if she is a girl or a boy. I am really hoping she's a girl. I also got my four black copper marans from a friend who breeds them as straight run and so far I think I've found that two out of the four are roos. It's still too early to tell at 4 weeks, but there are sometimes indicators (comb size, usually) that may indicate boys. My guess is that #1 and #4 are boys.
And that's pretty much where we are at! To answer the elephant in the room - yes, the turkeys are for us to eat. My husband will be butchering them sometime between September and November, depending on their size. It's not an aspect that I look forward to with excitement, but having the personal satisfaction of growing our own meat, giving the turkey a good life and an honorable death will be a part of our life here on our new "farm."
Where can you get a protein and fiber filled, crunchy, NON GMO snack perfect for toddler hands? Visit this month's blog sponsor to find out! ___________________
Babywearing takes on many shapes and forms, and using woven wraps is one of the most versatile ways to wear your baby. Woven wraps are long, narrow strips of woven cloth made from various textiles that offer different qualities on wrapping a child to their caregiver's body. Woven wraps do come with a bit of a learning curve, but with practice you can adapt the wrap so that you and your baby are comfortable. Most wraps are able to support baby from birth to toddler, so they make a great investment on your time in babywearing.
The Wrapsody Breeze is a lightweight woven wrap made of gauze cotton. The lightweight, breathable fabric is complimented by the beautiful hand painted batik design which makes each and every wrap completely unique! This wrap is perfect for babywearing in hot weather and throughout the rest of the year too!
The Wrapsody Breeze comes in 11 colorways. The Pierogie Mama and her sister in law love the Wrapsody Breeze Haumea, as her sister in law just moved to San Diego and was looking for a good wrap to wear her newborn in. Read why Haumea is a special wrap for expecting mothers and it gets 6 thumbs up! Some things to know about the Wrapsody Breeze line:
11 colors available Cotton gauze making it a great lightweight warm weather wrap
Use it to wear your baby on the front, back or side Hand batiked designs by a family in Bali Has a self storing pocket on the end, making it easy to store in your diaper bag!
three sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL (lengths varying from 4.6 meters to 5.5 meters long) Now you can enter to win a gorgeous Wrapsody Breeze woven wrap in your choice of available colorway and size! See giveaway details in the widget below.
Disclousure: This giveaway is hosted by The Pierogie Mama. It is not affiliated with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media platform. Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Please email thepierogiemama@gmail.com with any questions regarding this giveaway or if you'd like to sponsor a future giveaway or blog post. Please see giveaway widget for full giveaway details and eligibility.
gives your toddler a power pack protein, fiber & Vitamin E in a single serving!
It was February - my sister in love was 7 months pregnant with baby #3 and she was relocating from Washington State to sunny San Diego due to her husband's impending deployment. Besides all of the normal things that would plague a mom's mind during that time (where will I deliver? where will my kids go to school? how are we going to adapt while Daddy is on deployment, living 1,200 miles away from family?), there was definitely one thing that I knew that I could help mama out with. How is she going to wear this brand new baby in unbelievably hot weather??
I got on the task and started asking around on social media - hot weather moms: what do you recommend for babywearing in hot weather?? <- You can find the answers to this question on my guest post on the Wrapsody Baby blog!
One thing was abundantly clear; she needed a wrap that behaved completely differently than what she and I would have used in Washington. This is how the Wrapsody Haumea came to live at her house.
Then early April came. I flew in to San Diego with the intention of being with the family for the birth of baby, being that there was no family living close by and I was brimming with excitement. My two girls (Penny is 4, Ruby is 2) and I set aside 2 weeks to spend in SD and I was just praying for this baby to hold out until I got there. It would just make everything smooth for mama and daddy. I arrive, and my SIL is definitely smuggling a beachball under her shirt. Whew, ok baby - you can come out now. Auntie made it. Oh, and the fun part? We wouldn't know the gender of this baby until birth!
So Wrapsody Haumea arrives, while we eagerly guarded the front door in anticipation for this very special fluffymail. It was exceptionally meaningful to my SIL because she is a Labor & Delivery Nurse, helping babies and mamas is her job and passion. The name, Haumea, is for the Hawaiian Goddess of fertility and childbirth. Really, how much more perfect can that be for a professional in the birthing field and for a woman just about to become a mama.
We quickly started to break Haumea in, and prayed for her birthy vibes to welcome baby soon.
A photo posted by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on
It took a week. We're not going to dwell on that. Instead we are going to show you some serious Haumea love instead!
The Wrapsody Breeze Haumea was a tricky wrap to love at first. As with all of the wraps in the Breeze line, it is a very thin, but very strong, gauze wrap that comes deceivingly "rough" at first. I will admit, it was a bit of a shock. But I knew that the work would be worth it with this wrap! So with the help of 4 kids, we broke Haumea in lightning fast with many hours of wrap hammocks, braiding, snuggling and of course - belly wrapping.
A photo posted by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on
Three days after this photo was taken, little "DJ" came into the world! I became the proud auntie of my 5th nephew!
I got to spend another week with the family, filled with a visit to Disneyland, fun trips to the park and aquarium, late night board games and a little bit of time with our childrens' Nana. And then I had to go home :(
Haumea took a little bit of a break during the first month of DJ's life; mama was finding a lot more ease of use with a ring sling. But after about 5 weeks, his mama started sending me a few pictures and updates. Being a newbie wrapper it was hard at first to find the right amount of pull to give the wrap for it to hold tightly and last. Because the wrap is somewhat comparably "rough" to other cotton wraps, it doesn't slide around too much and holds quite well.
Mama really got to loving it.
This wrap has become her go-to in the already hot San Diego summer, and she's learned how to pull on it just right to get the perfect wrap and support where she and DJ need it.
But do you know who loves it the most? DJ's 8 year old big sister. Mama says that the wrap is a little more narrow than her other wraps so it fits her daughter better. It is easier and neater to wrap than her others!
"My favorite is when he falls asleep and I get to snuggle him."
Haumea definitely gets 6 thumbs up (from mama, big sis and DJ, of course!) from us.
While breaking in Haumea, I washed and ironed her many times. It truly became a labor of love to get this wrap broken in and ready for DJ and mama. The family laughed whenever they heard the creak of the ironing board open - "Bianca's at it again - she's ironing the wrap!" I loved ironing it because it gave me extra time to really take a close look at the hand painted hibiscus flowers and the extremely unique gradient of sunset colors throughout the length of the wrap. It's truly a one of a kind wrap, you won't find two Haumeas that look exactly alike; just how every labor, every child, and every season of motherhood is different.
Disclosure: All photography and opinions are 100% The Pierogie Mama's. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Please contact Bianca via email: thepierogiemama@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like your product to be featured in a future post.
Do you love babywearing? Enter to win one of three babywearing carriers from The Pierogie Mama!
Tula Baby Carriers have become one of the most popular products out there. With gorgeous colors,prints and designs, as well as amazing features it's no surprise! Because of their popularity,getting certain prints can be almost impossible!
Check out some of the features that make this carrier so popular!
Carrier features:
Gray canvas base
Removable, regulated hood in gray
Highest quality Duraflex buckles
Large front pocket on the contouring hip belt
Dual-adjustment straps, provide the perfect fit
Extra padding around leg-opening for baby’s comfort
Supportive shoulder padding for your optimal comfort
Hand-made from 100% Öko-Tex Standard 100 certified canvas
Instruction brochure
Each Tula carrier:
Can be used in both front and back carries
Can be used from 15-45 pounds (baby sized carriers) and 25–60 pounds (toddler sized carrier)
Baby sized carrier can be used from birth in combination with Tula Infant Insert* (sold separately)
Provides an ergonomic M-position seat supporting optimal development for baby’s body
Easy to care for and machine washable
Scoring the right Tula can be tough sometimes because of their popularity,thankfully the Amazing Vanessa at Green Path Baby wants you to own one of their gorgeous prints in Beautiful Flora Blue.
You can also find some other great products for yourself and little one at Green Path Baby! Make sure and check them out for yourself!
This giveaway has ended. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network.All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to US residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact Elia At Conservamom
Don't miss! If you love babywearing, after entering the Beco Giveaway, hop over so that you can also have your hand at winning a Wrapsody Breeze Woven Wrap too!
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Even though I'm at the end of my season of babywearing Ruby, at almost 2 1/2 years old, I still am all about keeping up with the latest in babywearing reviews and news! Babywearing is an act of love. It keeps baby comfy, close to your heartbeat and everyone happy. It has truly been a lifesaver for me when I had my second daughter, giving me two children under the age of 2. In addition to the many benefits of babywearing, baby carriers come in amazing designs, prints and patterns. One very popular type is the soft structured carriers (SSCs). They're easy to put on and take off, and have comfortable padded shoulder straps. My SSCs have been my lifeline for most of my babywearing career. Beco Baby Carriers are well known soft structured baby carriers (SSC) and the Soleil goes from 7-45lbs. With the snap of two buckles this carrier is easy to take on and off for shopping, going on a walk or simply getting things done at home like eating! Wouldn't you love to win this beautiful carrier? Details below:
Beco Soleil Carriers are well known for their versatility and selection in prints and patterns. With the infant insert, these carriers go from 7-45 pounds and position baby ergonomically. In addition to the Soleil, the company also carriers the toddler and Gemini. You can read Mama Banana's review of their other carrier, the Beco Gemini, to see more about these carriers and brand. Why Beco? The Beco Soleil Comes in Fantastic Colors and has many features. In addition, this design is no longer in production and highly sought after!
Beco Soleil Features Include:
Features:
Soft structured baby carrier - front, hip & back carry positions
Newborn (with Soleil Infant Insert - sold separately) to toddler (7 - 45 lbs/3.5 - 20.4 kg)
Wide base & high back panel, large shaped ergonomic seat
Padded headrest & leg openings
Ability to cross straps across back
Roomy pocket on waist belt
Key ring & toy ring
Phthalate Free, Latex Free, Lead Free, BPA Free
Measurements
Body 16" wide x 17" tall
Shoulder straps adjustable from 23" - 42"
Padded waist belt adjustable from 28" - 60"
Weight capacity of the carrier: 7 - 45 lbs (3.2 - 20.4kg)
Weight of the carrier: 1.5 lbs
This giveaway had ended! Thanks for entering.
Disclosure;
This is not a sponsored post. This post may contain affiliate links. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. Open to USA and Canadian residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this event you can contact MamaBananasAdventures@gmail.com
Gerber Lil' Beanies (original or white cheddar broccoli)
