Fun Children's Music

Ever since having a child a lot has changed... the things Curtis and I do, the time we have to ourselves, and even the kind of music we listen too. Instead of Curtis and I rockin' out to Yellowcard and MxPx as we head out snowboarding.... we are singing to "Princess and the Frog" while we head out to Toddler Time as the local swimming pool. What can I say... things have changed.

So, Curtis and I have been on a mission to find some good children's' music that doesn't want to make our drive our car off the road and I have to say, that this mission was harder than I thought it was going to be. But now, we actually have a play mix for Lucy.


We figured this information was important pass for the sanity of others :) So, hopefully you will all enjoy these as much as we do.

The Other Day I Met A Bear - by Bare Naked Ladies

Fast and Slow - by The Laurie Berkner Band

Three Little Birds - by Bob Marley (B is for Bob version)

Itsy Bitsy Spider - by O.A.R.

The Poopsmith Song - by Over the Rhine (this song you might not like... but we definitely got a kick out of it, one of the more weirder songs that I have ever heard )

Party In My Tummy - by Yo Gabba Gabba

7,8,9 - by Bare Naked Ladies

Five Days Old - by The Laurie Berkner Band

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Lovely, Love My Family - by The Roots (this is my favorate)

La la la la Lemon - by Bare Naked Ladies

Hopefully you will enjoy these songs as our family has and save your ears the pain of having to listen to anymore Wiggle music :) You can find all these songs on iTunes as well.

Ways to Save Money And Energy Around The House

WFMW
I will be honest, I.......am a tight wad. I will always choose Kirkland over name brand, Old Navy over Gucci, and even day old half-off donuts over fresh warm ones. I have a hard time spending more money on something that I know I can get for less. Don't get me wrong, I am willing to pay SOME money for good clothes, but there is a limit...for example. I wear Silver jeans, they are long enough for me (which is a struggle), they make my butt look great (which is near impossible), and they are in an acceptable price range. So I don't mind spending $50 on them because they cover all my jean needs. But I am also sensible enough to not spend $20 on pants that only look okay because I know I wont wear them, so I am basically flushing $20 down the toilet.

At the same time I have continued to place a pair of amazing Citizen jeans on sales now for about 3 years. Every once in a while I will find my size, drool, try them on, realize that I will never again look this good, and place them on hold. I have even gone to the extent of buying them and returning them with out even wearing them. I can never own them too long without having huge guilt that I spent THAT much on jeans. I have done this several times....I think the longest that I have ever owed a pair has been three days.

You may all be asking yourself, "If I want something this bad...why don't I just buy them and get it over with?" and I would answer, " Because they are $130-$180 DOLLAR JEANS!" I don't even enjoy wearing them, cause all I can think is, "Don't fall, don't spill, don't rip!". I have a hard time enjoying jean that cost 3 times the amount of my $50 dollar jeans that look great, have lasted, and don't give me an aneurysm from worry.

So as you can see I have already mastered my money saving skills when it comes to clothes and what not, but I have been doing some research trying to find the best ways to save money around the house....mainly with the utility bill. Maybe if I save enough, I can finally justify buying me some jeans :)

Wash in Cold Water
Up to 85% of your energy can be coming from your washer, mainly washing clothes in warm water. Simply picking cold as your choice can seriously save you some money, especially if your family does a lot of laundry. My husband and I usually don't even hook the warm water up because he never use it.
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Lint Filter
Cleaning your lint filter every time after use is not only safe, but helps your dryer to dry your clothes faster. Lint build up can actually cause fires in your home also dramatically drying clothes faster.
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A/C In Shade
Place your window A/C in the shade to help keep the temperate for the A/C accurate. The shade will keep it from working too hard and at unnecessary times. Plus, will also help your unit stay it better shape for longer.

Water Heater
Just simple limbo it.... how low can you go.... how low can you go?! It is suggested that 120* is a fine temperature. High effect to sanitize dishes for the dishwasher and for hot showers, but not high enough as too waste money maintaining its temperature.

Door Breezes
Opps....I see crack. So many doors have cracks and gaps. You can easily buy product that are meant to lay next to your door spotting the breeze from coming into your home, while allowing your door to still open with ease.

Cover Food
Covering your foods that you place in your fridge will help keep your fridge from working too hard. Also letting foods cool first will help save energy as well.


Toilet Level
Put a brick in it! If you have an old fashioned toilet, put a brick in the tank above the seat. This’ll mean you use less water every time you pull the flush handle. This will not only help you not waste water, but also electricity. One of a cities biggest use of electricity is for supply water and cleaning it up. So this will help you with both.

Outside Lights
If your family leaves a security light on overnight on your deck or door step, change the bulb to a compact fluorescent one, which cost more, but last 6 times longer and use less energy. Some compact fluorescent lamps ever come in yellow so they won't attract bugs, which is something I am ALL about!

Shower Heads
This is a tough one cause I hate a weak shower head, but you can save some money with a water saving shower head.


Blocked Vents
Move furniture away from the heater vents . Blocking the heat source forces the system to work harder because the house is not being heated like it should be.


I love these tips because most of them don't mess up my life too much, but also helps me save money. So maybe, just maybe, after a few months of bricks in toilets, lower water heaters, and florescent bug-free patios, I might be able to give myself and break and get my butt into the convented jeans. Just maybe :)

Terrible Twos

Oh Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.... I remember those good ol' days when you used to simply sit and play with your plastic keys, look through your books, and keep your self entertained with your toes..... and then...... THE TERRIBLE TWOS HAPPENED! Whoever thinks that phase actually starts when they're two is wrong..... sooo soooo wrong. .

And to prove it, here is a list of things I have had to deal with in the last few days....
1. Stop throwing your food on the floor
2. NO! NO! Keep your hands out of the poopies!
3. Stop throwing pens in the toilet
4. Your fingers don't belong in your nose
5. Your fingers don't belong in my nose!
6. Please don't rub your tushy on the glass.
7. DON'T LICK THE OUTLET!
8. If you ever want a brother or sister please stop doing that
9. Don't use mommy's bra as a bag
10. Old diapers are not toys
11. Fruit does not belong in mommy's cleavage
12. again?????
and last but not least....
13. AHHHHHHHH WHERE IS YOUR FATHER!

Christmas Decorations

I am a sucker for Christmas decorations and have been slowly collecting them over the past few years. But unfortunately since I have a child who has the ability to pick things up, but is still lacking in the hanging on tight area.. we have been looking for, um..... less sensitive items :) But just because I have to pass on items, doesn't mean that you have to. So, here is a great list of oober cute Christmas decorations.

Christmas Tree Advent Calender
Who doesn't love advent calenders... I know I do. Seriously, I love collecting them. They are just too cute and kids love having something to open everyday. This calender can be found at Target and is on sale for $19.

Christmas Card Holder
I have seen card holders pop up more over the years, but this has to be my absolute favorite one, and seriously... who wouldn't love it... ITS FROM POTTERY BARN! Everyone loves Pottery Barn.... okay, maybe not the prices... but they do have dang cute stuff. This super cute swirly card holder is going for about $49.

Table Runner
I have been thinking about making a nice table runner for a while now, but just never got myself to do it. But hey.... now I don't have to! I found this adorable snowman table runner from Amylinz on Esty that I have been eyeing this season. And if you are eyeing it too, you can get it for $43.


Christmas Puzzle
This is a great holiday decoration if you have children in the house, because it is made to be played with. I just love that fact that I wont have to watch Lucy like a hawk anytime she goes wobbling on over to it. I also love that it isn't just any old puzzle, but a great 3D one that is bound to give the children some festive fun. Selling from "The Lang of Nod" for only $13.95.

Reindeer Ornaments
This adorable reindeer set is more than just cute.... it is.... okay... well, maybe I don't really know a better word to describe them, but they sure are super DUPER cute! With each reindeer dressed a special way and tagged with their own name, your kids will have fun hanging Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. These ornaments come from Pottery Barn and you can get the whole set on sale right now for $49.99

Festive Bella Apron
I never thought a apron could be sexy, but I have to admit... that this little number has a little va-va voom to it! I know it doesn't have your typical Christmas colors, but is does have holiday presents all over its cute print. I think I might just have to get this to reward myself for all the Christmas baking I plan on doing this year! I think I could treat myself for only $28.75. Plus the apron is called the Bella apron and for all your Twilight fans you know you gotta love that!

Reindeer Rocking Horse
This has to be the cutest holiday decoration that I have ever seen! Seriously! I am already a sucker for rocking horses, but this! A reindeer rocking horse, toooo cute. And besides being a cute decoration, it is a wonderful toy for your kids to play with during the holidays. This reindeer comes from the Mammas & Pappas store in the UK, so if you are interested in ordering one for your home, you will need to contact them and discuss delivery arrangements, because they do deliver internationally, but they need some information first. This darling chair is on sale right now from 70 pounds (about $130) down to 25 pounds ($45).

Felt Christmas Ornaments
These adorable ornaments are just calling my name! MiChiMa's shop is just filled with very simple but adorable ornaments: Santa Clauses, Christmas trees, angles, wreaths, and even candles. They are a little pricey for ornaments, but the seller MiChiMa is having a sale of buy 3 get the 4th free. So, if you don't mind paying $7 for an ornament, these little fellas can be yours.

Stockings
Most people already have some nice stockings, but we have yet to find a nice set that we want to hang on for Christmases to come. But Pottery Barn has a nice set called the Sun Valley Stocking Collection that have a cozy home knit feel that I just love. They are on sale right now for $19 each and you have three cute patterns to choose from; Santa, snowman, or reindeer. You can also get them personalized for an extra $6.50

Christmas Plaque
This beautiful plaque is a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. With a simple and elegant design, it helps remind visitors in your home about the loveliness behind Christmas. Priced at $18.

Telluride Advent Calendar
Surprise, surprise, another Pottery Barn find.... this brightly colored advent calender has to be one of my favorites. Besides being a fun wall decoration, it is one of the biggest I have seen.... and I LOVE IT! I especially love that since the pockets are bigger you can fit better surprises in it, like toy cars, toy jewelry, and little trinkets. It is selling at $69 for a calender, but if that is a little hefty of a price, then just think of it as only $2.76 per pocket :)

South American, Here We Come

And we are off! Soon the Rappleyes will be heading down to Chile for some good quality time with the in-laws (don't worry... I will still be posting). Yep.... I said Chile.... Santiago, Chile to be exact. My family keeps asking me if I am so excited to be heading down to South America and I feel bad because all I can say is, "no". Not because it won't be fun, it is just that I am so nervous about a flight with a one year old... a one year old who can't sit still and has discovered tantrums. :) So, I am more over come with fear than excitement...as of now.

But I feel horrible about that because this is a wonderful opportunity that we are getting, so I decided that I need to focus on the things that will be awesome about leaving and heading to Chile.

Leaving The Politics Behind
I know that the President-elect has been decided, but it still seems like this has been going on forever and I think I just need a few days of politically free conversations. Don't get me wrong, this was an amazing race and wonderful to watch, but I think I need a political fast right now :)

Warm Weather
Right now Chile is averaging around 75* in November.... which I think sounds better than the 25* Anchorage has been averaging.

Stopping By In Vegas
We are having a three day layover in Vegas to spend time with Curtis's sister and her in-laws that we have missed dearly. (Wud up Wiklers). We have been looking forward to seeing our Lucy and their daughter getting to spend some good cousin time together. I think I need to bring my expectations down a bit though... I keep envisioning them holding hands and skipping into the sunset. :) It will probably be more eye poking, teddy bear stealing, and pacifier hogging than skipping.

Lucy Spending Time With Her Grandparents
Lucy doesn't get to see either sets of grandparents very often, so this is going to be some wonderful time that she will be able to see them, stay with them, and give them a chance to really see her sweet little personality and a tantrum or two :)

Warm Weather
A chance to trade in snow boots for flip flops.... who wouldn't be excited?

Our Layover In Seattle
On our way back from Chile we have a day layover in Seattle which normally wouldn't be very excited (no insult to Seattle) but one of our best friends just recently moved to Seattle for work and we are so excited to see Nate, AKA: Nadean. Our little Lucy hasn't had a chance to see her Uncle Tater in almost a year and we are looking forward to catching up.

Trying Out My Crazy Spanish Skills
Finally my two years of flunked high school Spanish classes will come into play! My dear sweet husband has been trying to help me brush up with things like, "How much", "You have a beautiful home", and at my request... "Help help I am lost and I need a phone!". So, as you can tell... I have been learning a lot :)

Testing My Immunity System Against Their Water
Santiago Chile isn't Tijuana Mexico, but I am still nervous about getting the true South American experience. Hopefully my system isn't too weak from the flu and I will be able to go Italian Stallion on those bug's butts! I guess I should also probably learn how to say, "Bottled water please".

Warm Weather
Is this reason getting old yet?

Letting My Husband Show Me His Life
My husband grew up throughout South America and so he has never had the chance to show me the house he grew up in, the schools he went to, and the places in town that he loves. He is getting really excited to have the chance to show ME around and to be on HIS turf.

Meeting Some Wonderful Latin People
The Latins are such a warm, friendly, loving people and I have never had the chance to visit any Latin countries. I am really looking forward to the people, the colors, the houses, decorations, traditions, and everything else that comes with their great culture.

Warm Weather
Come on... I LIVE IN FREAKIN' ALASKA... I deserve to really count this one!

Cheap Affordable Dates

With money being really tight with us now and with the economy making more than a few people nervous I figured it was the right time to start busting out my best money saving tips; and since there is nothing more than I love than date night... I figured I would start with that. Especially since between paying for babysitting, going to the movies, and out to dinner; a couple could easily drop at least $60. And I'm not even talking about you East Coasters out there, that have to fork out $10-$15 bucks per movie ticket and $20 a plate easy for dinner! Rumor has it that you even have to put a kidney down as collateral!

But, Curtis and I have always tried and to go out on one date a week....okay, I should rephrase that....we WANT to go out once a week, but then reality sets in and we realize that once-a-week-date-nights are probably going to happen once we can pay cash for a new car!

So since the only way we can start dropping $180-$240 a month on date nights are unless we start feeling that certain necessities like.....toilet paper and food are beneath us and don't need them anymore; I am pretty sure we are going to have to start making some adjustments. And I not talking about getting crafty enough to make homemade toilet paper. I don't know if I would want to go down THAT road!

So here are some fun, silly, serious, goofy date nights that we have planned in mind...

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Split Meals - Okay, before you turn this idea down I will admit something. I am not a sharer when it comes to food. It is like Joey, for all you "Friends" fans out there. "JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD".

I order what I like and I want to eat what I ordered. I don't mind letting you try my food to see if maybe next time you want it, but I don't want to give up my yummy pasta for some yucky fish. No no, that is a no go. But, what Curtis and I do, is that we go to restaurants that have a free never-ending bread basket, salad, or chips and we can eat those all we want. Then, we order a meal to share. We save money, have better portions, and yet we still walk away stuffed. The best restaurant for this is Olive Garden. They have that wonderful salad and bread sticks....ohhhh soooo good. Oh wait...I now need to go clean the drool off my keyboard. :)

House Hunting - Curtis and I love driving around and looking at houses in the Daddy Warbucks neighborhoods. Even though we can't afford a house right now, we love looking. We take mental notes on why we like that house, what's good in a yard, we will even grab the fliers sometimes to see prices and what the inside of the house has. We have a lot of fun talking in the car, making plans, and just imagining what the our first family house might be.

Museums/Imaginariums - These places might seem more of a fit for the kids, but when you take children to see a museum/imaginarium/planetarium you don't really get the spent the kind of time you want looking and reading about everything. My husband and I are going to go to the imaginarium here in Anchorage and take out time doing everything and reading all the facts. Plus, learning about things like this will give you hours of things to talk about later. And a nice bonus is that you are supporting your cities way of providing culture to the public.

Borders Book or Barnes & Noble - We love books, craft books, "learn how to", biographies, fiction...everything. It is fun to go into a book store and find a few books, sit down with each other and read through them. Maybe even pick up a coffee, hot coco, or muffin and just talk and read. But, instead of buying the book, just go home afterwards with a list of the ones you liked. Then if you really want them buy them on http://www.amazon.com/ and save yourself some serious money. We just love that relaxing, quiet environment. I don't know about all of you guys, but we could spend hours there.

Dollar Theaters - Not all cities have these, but you would be surprised how many cheap theaters there are out there. I love these theaters because they show the newly released movies, just a little bit later. Most discounted theaters cost anywhere from $1 - $4. Here in Anchorage, there is this fun place called "The Bear Tooth" and it is a restaurant/theater. You pay 2 bucks to get in and get to keep your kidney, plus then you can go and order food from their kitchen, they will then bring it to you in the theater. So, you get to watch your movie and eat, I love it! You can go see a movie and eat dinner totaling $16. Not to shabby ehh? Alaska doesn't sound too bad of a place to live now, does it?

Afternoon Dates - If none of these things are ringin' your bell then just have you and your honey go on a afternoon date. The movies are at matinee prices, restaurants have lunch menus, and then you also get to have your nights alone. What do I mean by that? Well, I love our daughter, but we already get a nice break every night. Lucy goes down at 8 so we always have 8-12ish to hang out and do our thing. But, we never get to go out and do stuff in the afternoons. So go get your self a sitter and head out on an afternoon date. Lunch, movie, maybe some errands and head home for dinner. Then a little after dinner , your sweet ones are down for the night and you get to have more alone time. I look at it like more bang for your buck! Pay a sitter for 4-5 hours, but really get 11!

Romantic Laptop - If you are more romantic and cuddly, you might like this one. Curtis and I use to go get a movie, a laptop, and then drive out to somewhere romantic. We would then climb in the back seat and......ohhh don't worry, this post is "G" rated......... but we would put down the seats and watch a movie under a big fluffy blanket. We loved this because it was sooo pretty, really cuddly, and if you are watching a scary movie, man, being out there in the middle of no-where REALLY adds to the suspense. Plus, being in the back of the car does make a nice little setting for a pecking party ....hee hee.

Game Night - Plan a date where you get to play all the good games you love. We love Scrabble, Catan, card games, really....just all games. Crack open some good soda, get some chips, and have a bunch of fun. If you are looking for some social company, get some friends over and teach them a new game! Skip-Bo is a good one for having people over and so is Bohnanza and Scene-It.

Prank Your Friends - There is nothing like being a kid again... well, just once in a while. But who didn't love toilet papering. We use to do it to our friends always. It was practically a sign of love! The bigger and better the job, the more you cared for them. It is like a giant three-ply hug! And the best part is, you don't have to worry about getting caught as much. There are no parents at home that can receive a call about kids running around causing chaos.

Shopping - I just love to look and wonder around the mall. Stepping into new stores and checking everything out. Especially since having a kid, I don't really get to just mosey on through a store and take my sweet time. So, you guys can go out and take turns with which stores you want to pop in and each get to pick one thing. Or set your selves a spending limit and get what you guys would like. Hungry!? Just pick up a snack at the mall. I am a sucker for Pretzels with good ol' fake nacho cheese. Call me sick, but I could drink that stuff.

Make a Fancy Meal Together or Have a Cook-Off - Find a good fancy recipe and both of you make dinner. It will give you guys nice time to chat and goof off. Then after dinner, make dessert! A fun chocolate fondue is great cause it is low maintenance and you can slowly snack on it while watching a movie. Just get some strawberries, pretzels, marshmallows, bananas....anything you love to smother in chocolate. If you guys are a little more competitive....have a cook-off! You each pick a dessert or meal and see who makes the best one. Not only is it fun, but you get loads of delicious food. Loser does dishes....or maybe gives a foot rub! Being a winner can be tiring and you will need your relaxation!

Mini Road Trip - Pick a city that is far enough you don't normally go to, but within an easy driving distance. Go there and try to find a "new spot" for you guys. Enjoy the nice drive out, make a traveling CD, have good music, enjoy some chatting, and get to know the city more. Find a cute little cafe', a good mall, maybe some fun events that are going on. Just a chance to get out and see new things, plus I love a good drive with my sweetie!

Library - Now, this one isn't a dreary as it sounds. I am not suggesting a library research date, to make you feel like you both are back in college cramming for that exam. But simply, go through and pick out some good Cd's and movies. Most public libraries have a fairly good selection of media. You might have to use the waiting list, so go check out the library before you plan anything. But, this one is great if you are really in a jam for money. You can't get much better than free, can ya?

Hot Music

Well, its time for some more cool music for us moms that are trying to prove that we still got it :)

You'll Always Be My Best Friend - Relient K

Suds In The Bucket - Sarah Evans

Disturbia - Rihanna

A Punk - Vampire Weekend

All-American Girl - Carrie Underwood

Hate (I Really Don't Like You) - Plain White T's

Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo - Tracy Byrd

So What - Pink

Take Me Away - Plain White T's

The Best Thing - Relient K

Should've Said No - Taylor Swift

1,2,3,4 - Plain White T's

I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy