The Doll the WORLD is talking about

So I know I'm not the first person to write a blog about the new breastfeeding baby doll (and probably won't be the last) - but I wanted to throw my opinion out there.  Before I do I'm going to put out my disclaimer - because I KNOW someone will have a fit about what I'm going to say! I DO realize that there are times when breastfeeding is just NOT an option - for example Milk supply - but I DO still believe it is the BEST thing for ANY infant - or GOD wouldn't have designed our bodies to produce milk to nourish an infant.

Now on to my post: 

If you haven't heard, or maybe you live under a rock ;) there is a new baby doll coming to America - it is the worlds first Breast Feeding Doll basically the doll comes with a little shirt/bra looking thing with flowers where the breasts would normally be. When the doll is near the flowers/breast it makes noises like its nursing, and moves its mouth. After the doll has eaten, it needs to be burped.  View commercial if you would like: 

Most people that I've heard talk/write about this doll do so in a negative light. They say the doll is degrading to little girls, or it's too sexual etc...  I don't feel that way about this doll at all - in fact if I had a daughter, and the doll wasn't almost $100 I would consider purchasing it for her.  

When I was little I didn't have this doll but I DO remember "nursing" my dolls (and I'm talking doll on skin here - no special little bra for me!) - because I saw my mother doing it. I burped my dolls - because I saw my mother doing it. I changed my dolls diapers because I saw my mom doing it.  Children learn from watching their parents. My cousins wife actually just wrote a sweet note on facebook about watching her oldest daughter (almost 2 yrs old) take care of her baby doll the same way that she sees her mother take care of her little sister. Children learn by the examples that we as adult set for them. 

From some of the articles I've read, this doll was created to bring awareness to Breastfeeding and all the good it does for your infant. Maybe if we bring awareness to breastfeeding to our children - they will choose to breastfeed knowing that it is so much better for their baby than formula.  Think about it - a mothers breastmilk doesn't have added hormones, added vitamins, it's not soy based, and it's never been recalled by the "company" It is the way God intended all women to feed their new born baby - it is natural. 

This clip from GMA I thought was pretty good - they weren't For or Against the doll. 

So I'm in the minority here - I realize that - but what do you think about this doll? Would you buy it for your child?

Birthday Cards, Target Cards and Freebies!

 Today turned out to be a pretty good day when I got to my mailbox! Our little tiny PO Box was over flowing with mail - the mail lady even had MORE in the back room for us - it was crazy!  Look at all these fabulous birthday cards I got in the mail :D (and those lovely target cards - whoo hoo! birthday money!)

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday either by phone, text or a facebook message - I truly know who my friends are - I felt very loved :)

Something else that came in the mail today was my freebie pack from Target! I got a new lotion, a few new shampoos, a lip gloss and chap stick to try - PLUS $25 worth of coupons! not to mention the cute little case it all came in!  And have I mentioned that the coupons are all for target - and I will get an extra 15% off because my hubby works for Target - love that discount! LOL!

and it doesn't stop there!! I got my latest copy of "Fresh Home" in the mail - this is a catalog I devour each time I get it in the mail. It has so many creative ideas in it - and this one looks promising!

I already love the water bottle vases with fresh daisies on the front cover!

So what fun things came in YOUR mailbox today??

A Believer Without a Church Family is Like an Orphan without a Family

"There is nothing like the local church when it’s working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken… It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, and the disillusioned… Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness… the radical message of transforming love has been given to the church"
~ Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership

During our (almost) 3 years of marriage we are on our 3rd hunt for a church. Let me tell you - this is NOT a fun process for me.

Hunt #1
We decided to leave church #1 6 months into our marriage - it took us another 6 months of trying many different churches before we found one that we liked and could agree with what they taught. We tried probably 10+ different churches. Most were non-denom churches. Some were pretty down right SCARY! Prophesying, random screaming of words, just to name a few of the crazy things we came across. But finally we found one that had good solid Bible teaching as well as ministries for us to serve in as well as be ministered to. We were very excited - and then Brian lost his job and we moved to Missouri.

Enter Hunt #2
This hunt started in October 2009 We started visiting churches in the Columbia MO area whenever I went and visited Brian (remember we were still living apart at this time). This time was a little easier because we knew what we were looking for, we knew what to look out for and what "words" drew red flags for us. After I moved to MO in March 2010 we really got serious about looking for a church - and finally decided on a church in September 2010 - again it took us 6 months to decide. But once we made a decision we knew it was the right one (funny - we choose the first church we ever visited). We felt like we had found a home. The people there welcomed us with open arms and accepted us - it was GREAT to have a church family again!  We jumped in with both feet and got involved :)

Sadly just a few short months later Brian took a new job causing us to enter....

Hunt #3
This hunt has been much harder since we were part of such a great church in Missouri. And the lack of churches in the area doesn't help either. We've only been on this hunt for a little over a month and a half (we took a 3 week break due to us being out of town & travel).  The first church we visited was fairly large - it "looks good" on the outside - you know all the right ministries, decent worship etc... but the preaching was lacking - it was a good 45 minute introduction - but it never went anywhere.  And it was this way each time we visited.  We went to church #2 and I almost fell asleep during the music portion of the service - then a guest pastor got up and yelled and screamed about something for an hour - I never did understand why he was so angry (they didn't have a pastor at the time either). We then tried church #3 (on the same Sunday as church #2 no less) and it was actually decent. The music was good, the preaching was good - but it didn't feel like home.  So we tried church #4 today and well we walked out 5 minutes into the service starting. The music started and I had to bite my tongue, my cheeks and even my lips to stop myself from laughing out loud - I think they just let anyone who wants to get on stage get up there - it was a little scary! People were dancing in the aisles - and I was afraid they were going to start healing people and slapping them on the heads - yeah...not the type of church we were looking for (this was a church we took a chance on  - they had NO doctrine information on their website) - so we ended up heading to church #3 for today's message.  We have one more church to visit next week and then we'll have to choose - we are running out of options!

This hunt is just something that I do not enjoy - but I KNOW the end result will be good.  I LOVE the feeling of a good church family - friends and a community of fellow believers - it's such a good thing!  So here's to looking at ONE more church and then HOPEFULLY getting settled.....hopefully.

What to Wipe With

Going Green: I am not one of those crazy people that is all about "going green" with every aspect of their life. Because let's face it - God will destroy this world when his purpose is fulfilled with it, and not a second sooner. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try and take care of this beautiful land that He created for me - so I try and do small steps at a time - so here is one of my first "baby steps" .... Enjoy!

About a year ago I visited a friend and noticed that she used only cloth napkins. I asked her if she made them - which she had (and some had been made for her as a gift). She mentioned that while paper napkins were not EXPENSIVE it was a cost that she didn't bother with anymore. And I noticed how "green" it was of her :)

 While I HAD cloth napkins we rarely used them - I thought they were only for "special" occasions - you know those candle-lit dinners where you serve the meal in courses - yeah those ones. Which come on - who has more than one or two of those a year - NOT I!  So when I got home I noticed we had about half a package of our paper napkins left. I made a decision right there and then that I was going to use them up and then put my cloth napkins in my napkin holder and try to use them - and if we didn't like it we'd go back.
Well I'm happy to report almost a year later we are still using the cloth napkins!  I try and use the same one all day - unless it gets wet or I have something REALLY messy and then I throw it in the washer to be washed.  We have about 12 napkins in our holder and that usually lasts us a week (since I only do laundry once a week ;) ) If we have company I do run out faster - and I'll have to wash them sooner - but for the day to day use - they are wonderful!

I think it took my husband a little longer to get used to it - but now he doesn't know the difference ;)

Now on to Paper Towels:
I still use paper towels for cleaning the counters and other small messes. This is something that I want to change. Even though we don't use that many (we're still working on a 18 pack from Sam's Club that I bought last March)  I had to put my brain to use and think - what could I use that I could throw in the washer and use again.........
And finally I remembered that when I was little my mom used to make her own baby wipes and used Handi Wipes. And then I thought - why couldn't I use them - I could have a small basket on my counter (or under my sink) and grab them for wiping the counters down & for small messes - so this is my goal when I finish the rolls in my cupboard. i'll report back when I've accomplished this :)
 

Now you're going to call me crazy - but what about Toilet paper?

Yeah...I don't think I can get my husband on board with this one (since I'm not on board either!)

Today I'm 29

I am starting a new blog on my birthday, weird yes I know.  You will find that I am not the best writer. I am not the most interesting, and please don't expect a daily blog from me - All that to say I missed blogging and felt dumb for going back to my old blog after not touching it for 2 years - YIKES!  So I'm off to a fresh new start....here goes nothing!! In my new blog you will find a little bit of everything. Cooking, Cleaning, Going Green, Music, wramblings and more! I hope you enjoy this new start as much as I'm going to!