Sharing the Love: Counting the Hours

Do you ever read someone else's blog post and really, really wish you had written it? Not in a jealous, "I want to be better than you way," but in a "I've been there and I know that feeling" sort of way.

Recently, I've had so many things going on that blogging has fallen to just the bare minimum, just the posts that I've made outside commitments to write. As that trend continues, I want to send you over to Five in Tow to read her post "Counting the Hours."

This particular quote described me perfectly after I had Mary:

With all the hours counted, I knew just how tired I could be, or irritated, or unproductive. I knew how much to require of other people and how much to coddle myself. I knew what I could or could not do.

Ok, I confess, I started doing this after Charlotte was born! I began to idolize sleep. I told anyone who would listen that all of my problems would be solved if I could just get a full night's sleep. It wasn't true then, and it isn't true now. And letting go of that belief was very freeing for me. Refusing to let sleep be an idol was one of the best parenting decisions I ever made.

If you are a mom of young children, I guarantee Kristen's Counting the Hours will move you to tears. Especially if you are sleep deprived. (You are more weepy when you are sleep deprived like me, right?)

Review: Glade® Expressions™

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media. All opinions are 100% mine.

 I like it when my home smells yummy. And I also like trying scents that are not typical. Lavender is nice, but the new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist scent of Lavender & Juniper Berry is just different enough to keep it interesting. For me, this is a good scent to have in my bedroom.

As I was getting ready to write this post, I probably looked pretty silly smelling the 4 different scents from Glade®, making mental notes about what I liked about each one.

Of all the new scents (there are 4), my favorite was Cotton & Mandarin. It was fresh, citrusy, and reminded me of when we used to live surrounded by orange groves. I think that has to be one of the best smells ever. Well, that and fresh baked bread. 

The other two scents are Fuji Apple & Cardamon and Pineapple & Mangosteen. I liked the apple based scent but the pineapple one was weird to me. I don't think the smell of pineapple fits me or my homes style. Maybe if I were having a tropical themed party though...

Glade® says their scents are long-lasting and the new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser lasts 30 days without electricity. So that means, even though the packaging is attractive, if it doesn't suit your needs, you can hide it anywhere. It also means that I don't have to worry about little kids playing with it, since I can place it up high, away from the outlets.

Glade® also offers a fragrance satisfaction guarantee. Just go to that link and follow the instructions if you are not satisfied with the scent.

You can also get a $2 off Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist coupon and a $1.50 off Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser coupon to use on your next purchase.

I Need Your Advice

Next week, we'll try once again to enjoy a family camping trip. Try being the operative word!

You see, our first family camping trip, way back when we only had 1 kid, was not quite as idyllic as we had hoped. Then, about a year later, Bruce decided to take Charlotte on a father-daughter trip. That camping adventure ended when they came back home at 9 pm so she could sleep in her own bed.

So, this is where you dear reader and friend come in!

What is your best tip for camping with a preschooler and toddler? Advice on getting them to sleep in a new, noisier place? Easy recipe that can be made ahead of time but is still real food?