My name is Allison and I am a 25 year old Floridian (born and raised) and married to my high school crush. I met him when I was 15, started dating when I was 23 and got married in December of 2007. We are expecting our first child, a daughter, in June of 2008. We are extremely excited!
This blog is a mix of daily ramblings, product reviews, photography and anything and everything "Mommy" centered.
Have no fear, Ally is Here!
By Allison | May 12, 2008
Where on EARTH is Allison?
Well, I am now working 50hours PLUS+ (I worked over 60 hours last week) and on top of that, I am flat out exhausted. When I am not working (or sleeping), I am trying to prep my house for Jenn and family to come visit me. They are arriving on Thursday for my baby shower (this Saturday).
The house is no where near completion. I am freaking out because I have to work to make a minimum to keep my job - but yet, I can’t stop nagging the husband enough to get the rest of the house work done. I can’t DO the house work because it’s a lot of bending over and lifting of heavy things.
I feel like I am in a lose, lose situation here. BAH! Too much going on this week - forgive me. Things should settle down after this week. Contest is down. New contest is not until this up coming Friday. I had to push it back. I just had to. FORGIVE ME!!!
EEK! (Scrambles to attempt to get things done.. but failing miserably).
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Just for Mandy
By Allison | May 9, 2008
Because I am missing half of my brain, ADD and EXTREMELY tired.. I have promised Mandy over and and over again to include her in my affiliates page. Then - I get home and crash. (Or have to work - 1 of the 2).
So I have not only added her banner to my affiliates page (while at work - shh don’t tell!) but I am also dedicating an ENTIRE entry to her WONDERFUL company. I have a onesie for review coming up soon - so keep an eye open. She has AMAZING products.. The pictures don’t even do JUSTICE to how cool her products are. Everything from the way they are delivered, to her postcards and business cards to the very essence of her personality. Mandy is great - and you will enjoy any purchase that [Night Owl Baby] has to offer! Make sure to go visit =)
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- bunny
CONTEST: Are you a HAPPY PANDA?
By Allison | May 5, 2008
Is your little one bigger or taller than other babies their age? Are you having trouble finding clothes that fit? [Happy Panda] caters to the “big and tall babies”. You can now buy the appropriate snappies and outfits listed at THEIR age (whether they are 6 months to 1 year) - get an outfit that fits them AND be a trend setter!
[Happy Panda] has the cutest snappies available, complete with a [Happy Panda] on their adorable diapered bottoms! The material is extremely soft and your child will be absolutely comfortable in their trendy snappie! There are quite a few adorable designs available, with my favorites being the [Beach], [soccer] and the [berry] designs. Many more designs are currently in the works! Now you can win a chance to win your very own “Fierce” snappie! Be one of the first to sport the brand new design!
//Blog Owners
- Blog about the [Happy Panda] contest being hosted at [Envyla].
- Write about your favorite design.
- Comment here to officially enter!
//Non Blog Owners
- [Email me] about your favorite design.
- Tell me why you would REALLY like a snappie from [Happy Panda]
- Comment here to officially enter!
*** THE CONTEST ENDS on MAY 12th ***
Look how cute this snappie is! I definitely recommend them, even if your baby ISN’T big and tall (simply buy a smaller size!) For example, if your baby is 12-18 months, purchase one in 6-12 months =)
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- bunny
- Laura
- Cindi
- Cathleen
REVIEW: Myself Belts
By Allison | May 5, 2008
You’ve been there before, “Mommy, Daddy!” (enter your name/title here) “I have to go potty REALLY bad!” However you spend too much time fiddling with their belt (a war you knew you would lose) and before you know it they’ve had an accident. Uh-oh.
Those belts are just too difficult! If your hands cannot undo their belts, do you really think that their little hands can? They have not yet developed the appropriate motor skills and you’re asking for trouble. I have discovered this new product called [Myself Belts] made especially for your little ones! They are great from age(s) 1-7 (for children still prone to potty accidents).
As a kindergarten teacher there have been many times that children have needed help because of their belts and in case of an emergency - you’re pretty much on a sinking ship. That is why it’s important that instead of using regular belts, you replace them with [Myself Belts]. They are designed to look EXACTLY like normal belts, however are undone with EASE by small hands.
One side of the belt hooks to your first loop with a snap. Then you lace the belt through the loops like normal and then attach the belt together with the sturdy velcro. When your child has to go to the bathroom, all they have to do is undo the velcro and TA-DA! You don’t have to worry so much about accidents and they can undo their belt ALL by themselves!
I put the little infant sized belt on [Giuliana]. I have to say it was the cutest thing in the WORLD (as you can see!) It was this very cute pink corduroy. It went on quite easily and looked like a genuine real belt! When [Giuliana] went to her daycare with the belt on, her caregivers raved about how easy it was to do diaper changes because of the velcro!
I can’t wait until Carli is old enough to wear the belt because I will definitely be using [Myself Belts]. They have a lot more than just pink corduroy as well. They have [patterns for girls] and [patterns for boys]. Whatever your child’s style is, there is a [Myself Belt] ready for them!
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CONTEST CLOSED!
By Allison | May 4, 2008
We have a winner. According to [Random.org] our winner is [Amanda]. She will be notified immediately.
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A lot is going on… (sorry for the delay)
By Allison | May 4, 2008
I found out on Friday that the budget will be affecting my job and I will no longer have a job in teaching as of June 11th 2008. Having the vice principal in the room with me as my principal broke the news made it easier. I am sure if the boss had me by herself she would have had a field day with criticism. She really bugged me, saying I did things that I didn’t do and didn’t do things that I did. I had to remind her a few times of things I did do and she went “oh.. now I remember.” and whited it out on the form. (Rolls eyes)
Can I really have a LEGITIMATE review from someone who was not completely un-bias and focused on what I WAS doing? It was like she had her mind open for negativity instead of “How are we improving?” Then she brought me back to the training we had in the beginning of the years and had this long conversation on the fact I was doodling during the training. I am sorry but when you stick someone in a room for 6-7 hours and talk about the SAME DAMN THING over and over again.. and ESPECIALLY if someone suffers from A.D.D, do you really expect them to be 100% focused at all times? This is supposed to be an EDUCATION system. You would think they would understand that. They don’t. The education system flat out STINKS.
If you are planning to become a teacher - my one single word of advice, “don’t”. It’s the most thankless, hypocritical, manipulative, back stabbing job available. If I had known the crap I know now after having taught for 3 years, I wouldn’t have gone into it. Plain and simple.
On another note, I started 3 new jobs. Yes THREE. All part time. One job occupied my time on Friday from 5pm-8:30 (I crashed soon there after) and I had to be up for ANOTHER job at 4am and left by 5am to be there by 6am. THAT job was from 6:00am-12:30. Then I came home (took me an hour to get home) and from 2:00-4:45, I slept from exhaustion and ache. That job, as much as I enjoyed it was much too much for my pregnant back and even this morning I woke up in extreme pain. Then from 5:00-9:00 I was scheduled to work for #2 (data entry). When 9pm hit, they wanted me to work longer so I worked until 10pm - then I crashed. So yes, yesterday I worked a total of 11.5 hours.
Then TODAY I have to work for job #2 (Photography) from 11am-6:30 as an indie photographer. Normally I would be jumping for joy, but considering the work yesterday threw out my back and made my sciatic nerves act up.. I am only looking at it with 1 part excitement for the opportunity and 1 part dread for the further pain I will endure. But it pays pretty good (for part time work) and we need the money. Especially since our registry has been barely touched and the only things bought on it are small things we could have bought ourselves. Do I seem ungrateful? My mom would think so. I am just panicking because we have absolutely NADDA. We still need a stroller. We still need a carseat (because they sure won’t let us carry her in the car on the way from the hospital). We still need a pack and play. We still need a bouncer. We still need a swing and a jumparoo. We already had to pay for her crib ourselves. PLUS about 90% of the stuff “bought” off registry are things my friends have donated to me after their child was done with them. BAH not in a great mood!
So did I have time to pick out a winner from my [bamboosa] Friday & Sat? No, unfortunately. But I am getting to that AND I have to put up a new one. Please be patient. I am jobless and just trying to support my little one, who should be here in about 8 weeks or so.
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VistaPrint.. Marketing on the Horizon.
By Allison | May 2, 2008
As I have mentioned before, I have been trying to set up a photography business over the past year or so. The first website I went to for my marketing needs was [Vista Print]. They have all sorts of customizable products available such as [business cards], [cards, notes & stationary], [rubber stamps & labels] and MUCH MUCH more!
They also have frequent promotional giveaways and you can get what you need at discounted prices! Sometimes they even offer products for [free]! I get emails all the time about the current promotions they are doing and it’s so hard not to take them up on their amazing offers each and every time! For example, the latest email I received from [VistaPrint] was about a HUGE blowout - everything they listed in the email was free! FREE! Such items were:
- Premium Business Cards (250 Reg. $19.99) NOW FREE
- Large Magnets (10 Reg. $12.99) NOW FREE
- Standard Postcards (100 Reg. $24.99) NOW FREE
- and much more!
With all that is included and the quality [Vista Print] puts forth, how can you possibly resist? So if you are a new business owner, I recommend checking out [Vista Print] for not only their great prices, but the whole processing an order is so EASY! It is very simple and well worth the investment. Make sure you check out all their products. such as [family address labels]. You’ll be happy that you did. 
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Cue the suspense music!
By Allison | May 1, 2008
Tomorrow I find out if the budget cuts have affected my job any (OR if the fact my boss hates me..) She came in to observe me yesterday during my reading lesson, which I didn’t mind considering it was Wednesday and the reading period ran short due to specials starting earlier. For ONCE she sat down and observed ME rather than walking around my room going through my stuff. Well, okay - she may have started invading my privacy within the few minutes I left her in my room… but that I will never know (UNLESS) she pulls something out of her hat tomorrow during the post-eval meeting (which she normally does).
Have I mentioned she is not kosher in her dealings? //Yes, she goes through our stuff.// If someone can tell me a law against that, I would forever be grateful. Anyhow - I was reading up about a story of a teacher that is going through the same thing of working for a psychologically abusive boss and what she did to manage. She said that she found a common ground; something they both had in common and made sure to bring it up. Well I found out that the Devil taught in Japan. If you KNEW me (at all) you would know how fascinated I am by the Japanese culture and crave to go there. So I saw her and casually brought it up and tried to keep her in the conversation for as long as time would allow, showing how interested I was.
That may have bought me a week without her harassment. Who knows? I can manage to buy off her attention for a week or two before she strikes again. Maybe she’ll back off for the next five weeks? hahahahaha. Today my team mates and I had a meeting with the assistant principal, who casually mentioned in conversation about another teacher and her “working on things” this summer. Looks like everyone else knows their place next year except me. I did hear from a friend who knows a higher up at my school that they weren’t cutting any teachers, only hiring (but that doesn’t make sense either). Knowing how the Devil has treated me all year… I really do not know what to think about tomorrow.
Do I have a job? Do I not? I have no clue. On another note, we got our weekly bulletin today for next week and I checked the time slot for next Wednesday, with whom people have told me I am having a work baby shower and it’s not even listed. I don’t get it. How can I have a baby shower if no one knows about it?
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What I Know Now…
By Allison | April 30, 2008
There are quite a few things I never really thought about until I became pregnant - things about motherhood in which I had absolutely NO idea. Although I am still relatively clueless about RAISING a child, I sure have learned some things about GROWING one.
- Growing a child HURTS - I never thought being pregnant would be so painful. I figured I would have back pain but no one really tells you about the sciatic nerve pain that goes all the way from your butt and down your leg making it VERY painful to walk. God forbid you reach up and try to get something and stretch a muscle wrong and you’ll be in immediate pain. You can’t sleep the way you want and some days your stomach muscles ache like no body’s business.
- Friends aren’t who they seem - Sometimes your friends who you have known for an extremely long time do not know how to adjust well to your new life as a mother (if they aren’t one themselves). Some may drop you completely like a fart in the wind. Others become insensitive to your feelings and start to not include you in social activities.
- You’ll never hear so much unsolicited advice in your life as you will when you are pregnant.
- You’ll admit whole heartedly that you lack a brain. (I’ve managed to lose mine!)
- Before you’re pregnant you insist you’ll ONLY eat the HEALTHIEST foods while pregnant.. but then you find yourself scoping out for the nearest Wendy’s. Just accept the fact that you’re fat and make peace with it. You can diet after the baby is born.
- Your whole circle of friends will change, to other mommies. It’s very sad, but you’re not who you used to be. You’re a Mommy now.
- Your extra money is now spent on the little one, and you’re happy about it.
I think about Carli every day and almost every minute of the day. It’s hard to imagine I have not met the person that someday I cannot imagine my life without. It’s hard to imagine that there is a living person within my body with eyes, a heart, a soul, fingers and toes. Growing a human hurts, but it’s so miraculous!
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“Hunt” for new gear!
By Allison | April 29, 2008
I have never been hunting in my entire life - and, I never plan to. I am much too much of an animal lover. However - I understand the reasons behind it and I do know a few people who have participated in the sport of hunting and enjoy it throughly. Thinking of them, I am sure they would love to hear about a website called [Hunting & Recreation: Business Mall]. The H&R Business mall offers quite a few hunting and sports products including [Hunting Blinds]. They also specialize in wildlife feeders - if that is your need. When you purchase from [Hunting & Recreation: Business Mall] you are getting brand new products, the latest versions of the products and nothing old, outdated or used. It’s definitely worth looking for if “hunting is your game”. (Ah I can’t help with the hunting pun!)
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