One day I will find the time to blog more. But not today. I do have a few minutes so here's the scoop.
We're moving again. Found a great little deal in the town of Trumbull where we always wanted to live. So instead of living the rest of my days here on Blueberry Lane in Stratford, we are switching gears to Cottage Street in Trumbull. Was this in the plans? No. I threw away every last moving box when we moved here last year. So. Life...crazy. Trying to do all the normal everyday things...work, family, kids, etc. But now we are in a frenzy to remodel both bathrooms and finish up a few things that need to be done to list our house on the market. All at the same time that we are putting together blueprints and working out the zoning details to take the little shack we just bought and turn it into a beautiful home for us. Permanently. Are you reading this, Jason Chiodo? I'm not moving again after this. Seriously, this time. We've never done a project this big...so I'm a wee bit nervous and stressed out and excited and impatient. No biggie.
Enjoying the gorgeous summer weather. Doing lots of water play with the kiddos. The pool, slip n' slide, sprinkler hose. I'm washing beach towels every day. Getting ready for my kids to add another birthday to their young lives. How can Ben be turning 2 in July? How is that possible?!? Enrolling Abby for kindergarten. And August 31st (Abby's first day of school) I will be doing the ugly cry. Just bank on it. It's gonna happen. Jason may need to take the day off to handle his out of control emotionally unstable wife that day.
I did recently switch to work the night shift at Yale-still in the PACU. I'm sacrificing sleep for the sake of our family. :) It's not that bad. I'm working 2 12 hour shifts from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. More money (love shift differential) and less babysitting (love being with my kids more!) I was working 9:30-10 during the day, and it was just breaking my heart. I'd run around crazy in the morning, get the kids dropped off, and would come crawling home exhausted to see them fast asleep at night. Kinda hurt to miss out on whole days with them. So when a night shift position opened up, I jumped at the chance. If I don't work back to back, I can truly sleep 3 hours and get up and function the rest of the day. Head and words are a little fuzzy, but I think I come across as looking pretty normal. I try to do every Friday night so that Saturday mornings can be fun Jason/Abby/Ben time while I sneak in those 3 hours. Babysitter time just went from 18 hours a week to 4-6 hours. Sweet.
Okay. Off to get the paint off of my wedding ring. I dream of the day I will not need to paint something somewhere.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A New Hobby
I found this blog the other day, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since! Let me back up first....I am the type of person who loves to look through the Pottery Barn magazines, "ooh" and "aah" at a few things, get a decorating idea here or there, but never buy anything from them. I love to see the look and find it somewhere else for way, way cheaper.
For instance, our bed. I love our bed. After 7 1/2 years of using Jason's old queen mattress and bedframe, I bought a king-sized bed and new bedframe when we moved to Blueberry Lane. I will admit that I kind of bamboozled my husband with the idea to look at a mattress sale, and then made the command decision to get the bedframe too...and "make it a king while you're at it!". I think his head was still spinning when we left the bedding store. But, my wrought iron bed looks a lot like a Pottery Barn bed that sells for $849 (+$150 for s/h). I bought ours for $299 (and no s/h).
All that to say, when I found this website, my heart did a little leap inside me. This girlie-girl mom who lives in Alaska has a blog called Knock Off Wood (knockoffwood.blogspot.com). She loves the look of the furniture at places like Pottery Barn but couldn't afford it, let alone the shipping of it to Alaska. So she made her own....many times copying the same look as she found in magazines. And she has this fabulous blog with very simple and clear lists of the shopping lists you need from the orange or blue store (as she calls it), the few tools you'll need, and then easy-to-understand FREE plans for how to make that piece of furniture.
So this coming weekend, I'm going to make my first project. I'm so excited! I'm already dreaming of all the furniture I could make for our house...stuff that looks like PB but costs thousands of dollars less! This weekend, I'm going to make a kid-sized picnic table. I have needed one for outside for the kids...especially when we have guests over. A few boards, a few tools, $30, and a few hours of my afternoon. And the best part is...I get to paint it whatever fun yummy color I choose. Stay tuned!
For instance, our bed. I love our bed. After 7 1/2 years of using Jason's old queen mattress and bedframe, I bought a king-sized bed and new bedframe when we moved to Blueberry Lane. I will admit that I kind of bamboozled my husband with the idea to look at a mattress sale, and then made the command decision to get the bedframe too...and "make it a king while you're at it!". I think his head was still spinning when we left the bedding store. But, my wrought iron bed looks a lot like a Pottery Barn bed that sells for $849 (+$150 for s/h). I bought ours for $299 (and no s/h).
All that to say, when I found this website, my heart did a little leap inside me. This girlie-girl mom who lives in Alaska has a blog called Knock Off Wood (knockoffwood.blogspot.com). She loves the look of the furniture at places like Pottery Barn but couldn't afford it, let alone the shipping of it to Alaska. So she made her own....many times copying the same look as she found in magazines. And she has this fabulous blog with very simple and clear lists of the shopping lists you need from the orange or blue store (as she calls it), the few tools you'll need, and then easy-to-understand FREE plans for how to make that piece of furniture.
So this coming weekend, I'm going to make my first project. I'm so excited! I'm already dreaming of all the furniture I could make for our house...stuff that looks like PB but costs thousands of dollars less! This weekend, I'm going to make a kid-sized picnic table. I have needed one for outside for the kids...especially when we have guests over. A few boards, a few tools, $30, and a few hours of my afternoon. And the best part is...I get to paint it whatever fun yummy color I choose. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Musings of a Mother
You know-there are several things I've been thinking upon lately that no one really prepares you for as a mother. For instance:
1. The intricacies of disassembling and then reassembling sippy cups. Who tells you that it takes a rocket scientist to put together these 'no spill' cups?!? And the husband doing it?!? Forget it. The directions need to say: "Must have a lot of patience and be very detail-oriented to do this correctly." It's really not that each one is difficult. It's when you buy a variety of them (trying to find the most non-spill kind), and then you unload the dishwasher and see the mountain of cups, lids, valves, straws, etc. looming in front of you.
2. Having to explain to your four year old about cars. All the questions about windshield wipers (why none on the sides?) and brake lights (why are their red lights on?) and blinkers, seatbelts, horns, filling up with gas, you name it. Had no idea the curiousity about vehicles.
3. Koolaid! I made them Koolaid for the first time this week. Abby saw the packet in the store and asked about it. In my mind I thought, "I drank Koolaid all the time growing up...why not?" Then I made it and realized you put in a WHOLE CUP OF SUGAR!!! (Mom-this is not a judgment on you). Somehow we weren't allowed to drink soda growing up, but we could have Koolaid?!? After giving my kids a glass each and then dealing with them bouncing off the walls for over an hour, I poured the rest down the drain. Thanks, but no thanks.
4. The magnetism to toilet water. I know I would've freaked out more if it was my first child...but my dear son seems to love toilet water. Let's just say I'm taking a supersonic fast shower, I hear the toilet mechanisms and realize 10 seconds too late that Ben has a Dixie cup in his hand, a mouthful of water, and a wet shirt up to his elbows. Yes, I'm assuming he got thirsty and decided the toilet was better than nothing. How do you undo the damage that has already been done? All while being wet and naked jumping out of the shower to stop the fella? Gag a few times and pray that the immune system works the way God created it? I swear I watch him like a hawk and he still gets things past me. It hasn't just been a one time occurrence either. (And I have to add...this is in a house where you have to still remind the 4 year old to flush....thankfully the two occasions have not met each other).
5. Explaining the story of Jesus. Oh-this was a heartwrencher. I was coloring with Abby the other day and we started talking about Easter. I asked her if she knew what Easter was about. I took a deep breath, prayed a quick prayer for just the right words, and told her about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and why He did it...Him rising from the dead, being in heaven, etc. (Talk about feeling so vulnerable and inadequate right then and there.) She even said, "Jesus lives in heaven, but He also can live in people's hearts!" I explained that a bit more in very elementary terms. I asked her if she wanted to pray to Jesus and ask Him to live in her heart. She said, "No, not right now. Maybe later." Then we kept coloring. A few days later, she randomly said, "Mom. How did Jesus get to heaven? Did he grow wings and fly up there?" So I know the thoughts are still churning in her mind.
There's more...but I have to start dinner now.
1. The intricacies of disassembling and then reassembling sippy cups. Who tells you that it takes a rocket scientist to put together these 'no spill' cups?!? And the husband doing it?!? Forget it. The directions need to say: "Must have a lot of patience and be very detail-oriented to do this correctly." It's really not that each one is difficult. It's when you buy a variety of them (trying to find the most non-spill kind), and then you unload the dishwasher and see the mountain of cups, lids, valves, straws, etc. looming in front of you.
2. Having to explain to your four year old about cars. All the questions about windshield wipers (why none on the sides?) and brake lights (why are their red lights on?) and blinkers, seatbelts, horns, filling up with gas, you name it. Had no idea the curiousity about vehicles.
3. Koolaid! I made them Koolaid for the first time this week. Abby saw the packet in the store and asked about it. In my mind I thought, "I drank Koolaid all the time growing up...why not?" Then I made it and realized you put in a WHOLE CUP OF SUGAR!!! (Mom-this is not a judgment on you). Somehow we weren't allowed to drink soda growing up, but we could have Koolaid?!? After giving my kids a glass each and then dealing with them bouncing off the walls for over an hour, I poured the rest down the drain. Thanks, but no thanks.
4. The magnetism to toilet water. I know I would've freaked out more if it was my first child...but my dear son seems to love toilet water. Let's just say I'm taking a supersonic fast shower, I hear the toilet mechanisms and realize 10 seconds too late that Ben has a Dixie cup in his hand, a mouthful of water, and a wet shirt up to his elbows. Yes, I'm assuming he got thirsty and decided the toilet was better than nothing. How do you undo the damage that has already been done? All while being wet and naked jumping out of the shower to stop the fella? Gag a few times and pray that the immune system works the way God created it? I swear I watch him like a hawk and he still gets things past me. It hasn't just been a one time occurrence either. (And I have to add...this is in a house where you have to still remind the 4 year old to flush....thankfully the two occasions have not met each other).
5. Explaining the story of Jesus. Oh-this was a heartwrencher. I was coloring with Abby the other day and we started talking about Easter. I asked her if she knew what Easter was about. I took a deep breath, prayed a quick prayer for just the right words, and told her about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and why He did it...Him rising from the dead, being in heaven, etc. (Talk about feeling so vulnerable and inadequate right then and there.) She even said, "Jesus lives in heaven, but He also can live in people's hearts!" I explained that a bit more in very elementary terms. I asked her if she wanted to pray to Jesus and ask Him to live in her heart. She said, "No, not right now. Maybe later." Then we kept coloring. A few days later, she randomly said, "Mom. How did Jesus get to heaven? Did he grow wings and fly up there?" So I know the thoughts are still churning in her mind.
There's more...but I have to start dinner now.
Monday, February 1, 2010
News from the Slacker
Okay, it's February 1st, and I realized I didn't even make a single post on my blog the whole month of January. I guess I kind of feel like there's not too much exciting stuff going on in the Chiodo home. Work for both of us is going well; Abby's still enjoying her preschool 3 days a week; Ben is growing like a weed. We spend our weekends together and do a little home project here and there.
Here's a house update:
1. Jason found out about Connecticut utility companies providing rebate money for make energy efficient home improvements up until March 2010. So we got their required energy audit and within the month of December we had insulation blown into the walls, ceilings, attics, and garage in our house. It costs about $1.10/sq. foot and we get a rebate of $1.00/sq. foot. We ended up paying about $300 to fully insulate our house. We also got central air installed (I find this quite lovely-especially since the rebate made Jason gung-ho to get it done instead of me asking for it many times over when it gets hot here). We already had all the ductwork set up in the house so it wasn't overly expensive to do. And we used money we got for Christmas to get a new front-loading washer and dryer. The ones that came with the house were still the originals from 1965. I'm definitely loving these Christmas presents. The good thing is-we're now getting our utility bills for January...and there is a big difference! Our electric, water, and gas bills are all significantly lower. Love that.
2. We got a new front door-goodbye ugly and creaky 1965 one! Still needs to be painted but it's a lovely one.
3. All of our new windows are installed except for our big bay window. That's a spring project. As I'm typing this, I don't think I posted on here the nightmare that we had with our new windows. The new window project started in November and it just finished about 1 week ago. Have I mentioned I'm not the most patient of people? This really pushed my patient buttons. Anyway-long story but it's finally getting resolved.
4. In November, Jason and his dad built me floor to ceiling built-in bookcases on both sides of my fireplace. I needed some storage and instead of buying cheap Target bookcases, I sweetly asked to have some built. And they did. And I love them. Although painting them white was a long and arduous project I wasn't fond of. But worth it.
5. This past weekend, Jason and I hung up curtains in my dining room/kitchen. I did a little happy dance once they were hung. I love curtains. And I haven't had any in my house for 2 1/2 years. When we rented for 2 years, I didn't hang any since it was temporary. So I had white walls and bare windows that whole time. And Sunday (yesterday), my dear husband made his wife quite happy with my curtains.
6. Projects still to come....both bathrooms need a total overhaul; our bedroom needs to be painted desperately (painted in 1965) along with a new light fixture. We still have the ugly globe one hanging in there.
So-home projects are exciting for us but I'm sure they're not that exciting for everyone else. But they keep us busy.
Abby & Ben:
We signed Abby up for soccer through the town of Stratford for Wednesday evenings. Her first one was last week. She was so cute out there running with her red curls bouncing up and down. They did lots of running and some soccer drills. When it was over, she sighed and said, "Mom. That was not fun. I was breathing way too hard." But she loved it. Abby also gave up her afternoon nap for good about 2 weeks ago. I figured I was one lucky mom to still have her take one until she was 4 1/2. And surprisingly, she's done really well. She has about 45 minutes of quiet time in her room, then she gets to watch a show, and then the two of us will play a game or do a puzzle or something fun. One day she fell asleep sitting on the couch around 5:30 when I was making dinner. And we can't drive anywhere late in the evening without her falling asleep in her booster seat. But she and Ben hit the sack around 7 each night and that makes the evenings for the two of us quite nice to spend together.
Ben is 18 months now...and no stitches, no broken bones or broken teeth or major boo-boos. He climbs on everything. And I mean everything....kitchen table, fireplace, top of the couch, etc. I tell people that BC may stand for Ben Chiodo but it really stands for Birth Control. :) He says "momma" and "uh-oh" and "ow!" And he's definitely a cuddler. He makes a "ooohhhh" sound and will just hug you so sweet and tight. And gives open-mouthed slobbery kisses.
Okay-I'm off to do some dishes. That's a quick update on us. I'll post some pictures soon.
Love y'all-Jenn
Here's a house update:
1. Jason found out about Connecticut utility companies providing rebate money for make energy efficient home improvements up until March 2010. So we got their required energy audit and within the month of December we had insulation blown into the walls, ceilings, attics, and garage in our house. It costs about $1.10/sq. foot and we get a rebate of $1.00/sq. foot. We ended up paying about $300 to fully insulate our house. We also got central air installed (I find this quite lovely-especially since the rebate made Jason gung-ho to get it done instead of me asking for it many times over when it gets hot here). We already had all the ductwork set up in the house so it wasn't overly expensive to do. And we used money we got for Christmas to get a new front-loading washer and dryer. The ones that came with the house were still the originals from 1965. I'm definitely loving these Christmas presents. The good thing is-we're now getting our utility bills for January...and there is a big difference! Our electric, water, and gas bills are all significantly lower. Love that.
2. We got a new front door-goodbye ugly and creaky 1965 one! Still needs to be painted but it's a lovely one.
3. All of our new windows are installed except for our big bay window. That's a spring project. As I'm typing this, I don't think I posted on here the nightmare that we had with our new windows. The new window project started in November and it just finished about 1 week ago. Have I mentioned I'm not the most patient of people? This really pushed my patient buttons. Anyway-long story but it's finally getting resolved.
4. In November, Jason and his dad built me floor to ceiling built-in bookcases on both sides of my fireplace. I needed some storage and instead of buying cheap Target bookcases, I sweetly asked to have some built. And they did. And I love them. Although painting them white was a long and arduous project I wasn't fond of. But worth it.
5. This past weekend, Jason and I hung up curtains in my dining room/kitchen. I did a little happy dance once they were hung. I love curtains. And I haven't had any in my house for 2 1/2 years. When we rented for 2 years, I didn't hang any since it was temporary. So I had white walls and bare windows that whole time. And Sunday (yesterday), my dear husband made his wife quite happy with my curtains.
6. Projects still to come....both bathrooms need a total overhaul; our bedroom needs to be painted desperately (painted in 1965) along with a new light fixture. We still have the ugly globe one hanging in there.
So-home projects are exciting for us but I'm sure they're not that exciting for everyone else. But they keep us busy.
Abby & Ben:
We signed Abby up for soccer through the town of Stratford for Wednesday evenings. Her first one was last week. She was so cute out there running with her red curls bouncing up and down. They did lots of running and some soccer drills. When it was over, she sighed and said, "Mom. That was not fun. I was breathing way too hard." But she loved it. Abby also gave up her afternoon nap for good about 2 weeks ago. I figured I was one lucky mom to still have her take one until she was 4 1/2. And surprisingly, she's done really well. She has about 45 minutes of quiet time in her room, then she gets to watch a show, and then the two of us will play a game or do a puzzle or something fun. One day she fell asleep sitting on the couch around 5:30 when I was making dinner. And we can't drive anywhere late in the evening without her falling asleep in her booster seat. But she and Ben hit the sack around 7 each night and that makes the evenings for the two of us quite nice to spend together.
Ben is 18 months now...and no stitches, no broken bones or broken teeth or major boo-boos. He climbs on everything. And I mean everything....kitchen table, fireplace, top of the couch, etc. I tell people that BC may stand for Ben Chiodo but it really stands for Birth Control. :) He says "momma" and "uh-oh" and "ow!" And he's definitely a cuddler. He makes a "ooohhhh" sound and will just hug you so sweet and tight. And gives open-mouthed slobbery kisses.
Okay-I'm off to do some dishes. That's a quick update on us. I'll post some pictures soon.
Love y'all-Jenn
Saturday, December 12, 2009
2009 Chiodo Christmas Letter
December 2009
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from the Chiodo family! We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy during this holiday season. We have much to be thankful for as we reflect back on this past year. Here are a few highlights to share with you.
The biggest change for us this year is that we became homeowners again! After renting for two years, saving, and planning for the future, we bought a home in August on Blueberry Lane in Stratford, CT. For several long months, we house hunted and made offers on various homes. We tried a few times at getting a bank-owned house or a fixer-upper that had many offers on it. But we trust that God knew what He was doing, and the door finally opened up for us to turn this house into our home. We love the location, the quiet street, and the big yard for the kids. Our house was outdated (hello 1965!) and needed some updating before we could move in. We gutted the kitchen right away and remodeled it from top to bottom. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into getting the house ready for us…or I should say a lot of paint, spackling, and trips to Home Depot! We’ve been here for 3 ½ months now, and while the need-to-do list is still quite long, we have made some big improvements that have made a considerable difference. It feels goods to finally have a sense of permanence.
Abby turned 4 in July and is in her second year of nursery school. We switched to a different preschool for her due to the move, but she loves her teacher and new friends. Within the first month of school, she knew the Pledge of Allegiance, “God Bless America”, and started learning Bible verses. Abby loves to color and do any kind of art project; she loves to ‘play’ her new guitar she got for her birthday; and she is constantly sounding out words and wanting to know how to spell…everything. Reading-here we come! She tells us frequently that when she turns 5, she is very excited to go to kindergarten, and she is going to lose her teeth and grow new ones.
Ben turned one in July, and he is 100% all boy. The kid never stops moving! He definitely keeps us on our toes. He averages about one new boo-boo every other day, and has figured out how to climb on basically anything in the house. Ben loves to ride on his truck, play with any kind of ball you roll his way, and enjoys playing with his big sister (when he’s not grabbing a handful of her thick curly hair). He is also a big cuddler and gives plenty of sloppy kisses and squeezy hugs. He and Abby play well together and it warms our hearts to see them having a good giggle together.
Jason continues to work at BG Lubricare as a sales representative. He thrives with the flexible schedule and the challenges that come his way. Jason and his dad are also working on their fifth rehab house project. Earlier this year, they finished one from top to bottom and it was sold within one week! He loves getting in his workout every morning and keeping up with the latest news on Investors.com.
Jenn continues to work part-time at Yale-New Haven Hospital in the OR Recovery Room. I work two twelve-hour shifts each week which allow me to enjoy being at home with the kids the rest of the time. I keep busy with the everyday mom stuff…laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning-with a monthly dose of book club with the girlfriends thrown in for good measure.
This year we were able to travel to Oklahoma in April to visit Jenn’s family. Jenn’s mom also came out in July to celebrate Abby’s and Ben’s birthdays with a big picnic at the park. We also took a family vacation this year in November out to California. We enjoyed visiting our dear friends, the Lignos family, out there while seeing the sights at SeaWorld, Disneyland, and the beach.
We’ve had a good year with its ups and downs, but we are blessed with wonderful family both near and far, strong friendships, a supportive church, happy and healthy children, and a God who loves us unconditionally. We hope that you have many blessings to be thankful for as well for this past year and the year to come.
With Love-Jason, Jenn, Abby, & Ben Chiodo
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from the Chiodo family! We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy during this holiday season. We have much to be thankful for as we reflect back on this past year. Here are a few highlights to share with you.
The biggest change for us this year is that we became homeowners again! After renting for two years, saving, and planning for the future, we bought a home in August on Blueberry Lane in Stratford, CT. For several long months, we house hunted and made offers on various homes. We tried a few times at getting a bank-owned house or a fixer-upper that had many offers on it. But we trust that God knew what He was doing, and the door finally opened up for us to turn this house into our home. We love the location, the quiet street, and the big yard for the kids. Our house was outdated (hello 1965!) and needed some updating before we could move in. We gutted the kitchen right away and remodeled it from top to bottom. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into getting the house ready for us…or I should say a lot of paint, spackling, and trips to Home Depot! We’ve been here for 3 ½ months now, and while the need-to-do list is still quite long, we have made some big improvements that have made a considerable difference. It feels goods to finally have a sense of permanence.
Abby turned 4 in July and is in her second year of nursery school. We switched to a different preschool for her due to the move, but she loves her teacher and new friends. Within the first month of school, she knew the Pledge of Allegiance, “God Bless America”, and started learning Bible verses. Abby loves to color and do any kind of art project; she loves to ‘play’ her new guitar she got for her birthday; and she is constantly sounding out words and wanting to know how to spell…everything. Reading-here we come! She tells us frequently that when she turns 5, she is very excited to go to kindergarten, and she is going to lose her teeth and grow new ones.
Ben turned one in July, and he is 100% all boy. The kid never stops moving! He definitely keeps us on our toes. He averages about one new boo-boo every other day, and has figured out how to climb on basically anything in the house. Ben loves to ride on his truck, play with any kind of ball you roll his way, and enjoys playing with his big sister (when he’s not grabbing a handful of her thick curly hair). He is also a big cuddler and gives plenty of sloppy kisses and squeezy hugs. He and Abby play well together and it warms our hearts to see them having a good giggle together.
Jason continues to work at BG Lubricare as a sales representative. He thrives with the flexible schedule and the challenges that come his way. Jason and his dad are also working on their fifth rehab house project. Earlier this year, they finished one from top to bottom and it was sold within one week! He loves getting in his workout every morning and keeping up with the latest news on Investors.com.
Jenn continues to work part-time at Yale-New Haven Hospital in the OR Recovery Room. I work two twelve-hour shifts each week which allow me to enjoy being at home with the kids the rest of the time. I keep busy with the everyday mom stuff…laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning-with a monthly dose of book club with the girlfriends thrown in for good measure.
This year we were able to travel to Oklahoma in April to visit Jenn’s family. Jenn’s mom also came out in July to celebrate Abby’s and Ben’s birthdays with a big picnic at the park. We also took a family vacation this year in November out to California. We enjoyed visiting our dear friends, the Lignos family, out there while seeing the sights at SeaWorld, Disneyland, and the beach.
We’ve had a good year with its ups and downs, but we are blessed with wonderful family both near and far, strong friendships, a supportive church, happy and healthy children, and a God who loves us unconditionally. We hope that you have many blessings to be thankful for as well for this past year and the year to come.
With Love-Jason, Jenn, Abby, & Ben Chiodo
The 5th Annual Chiodo's Top Ten Favorite Things
The 5th Annual Chiodo’s Top Ten Favorite Things List
1. Allrecipes.com: I could just about throw out most of my cookbooks, thanks to this awesome recipe website. I use it A LOT when finding good ideas for a quick dinner, a party, or something for the crockpot.
2. Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair: Each of our kids have a red one with their name embroidered on the back. They love them! They are perfect for a child to have as their little comfy spot to call their own. The cover comes off and can be thrown in the washer/dryer. Here’s a hint: you can buy the PBK foam inserts on ebay for much less than they sell them at PBK. It comes brand new, wrapped, and sealed in a PBK box-from an ebay seller!
3. Windex All Purpose Cleaner: Now that my remodeled kitchen has granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, I had to find out how to clean these surfaces. A friend told me about the all purpose cleaner from Windex. Sure enough, the back of it says it’s great for stainless steel and granite plus many other things. And it’s green! Since I seem to use it by the gallon, I’m quite happy with the price and the shine in my kitchen.
4. Biggest Loser Workout DVDs: Okay, we don’t even watch the show. But we had to come up with a way to realistically workout since the cost and inconvenience of joining a gym wasn’t a good option for us. So we started off with the Exercise TV option on the Free On Demand with Comcast Cable and found Bob’s Biggest Loser Workout and Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred. Buy a couple of sets of weights, put on the tennis shoes with the pajamas in the morning, and you have yourself a good little workout in the comfort of your home. And you get to have quality time with the family since the kids like to participate too!
5. Superyard Metal Gate: Did I mention my son likes to climb and get into everything? Since the fireplace seemed to have this natural magnetism for our Ben, we bought the mommas of all mommas gate to kindly remind him to stay away from things like the fireplace, the bookcases, the Christmas tree. It stretches out wide, encloses in a circle-gives several options for the mobile child. Now if only I could find something to keep him off the top of the dining room table….
6. Melissa & Doug toys: I love good quality toys. And nothing says good quality like Melissa & Doug. They are simple which draws out the creativity in the kid; they are wooden and durable; and they have such a fun selection to choose from-puzzles, games, easels, blocks, etc.
7. DCWV Vinyl Wall Quotes: I am a lover of quotes. I probably could put them all over my house and drive my husband crazy with them. I hold myself back…but not completely. You can find these online or in places like Target or Kohls in the wall art section. They go on very easily-just a little measuring and then rubbing the words right onto the wall. It can transform a room instantly. Big fan.
8. Bud Light Lime: Yes, I’m recommending a beer. No, you can’t judge me. It’s my Top 10 list. I have a general distaste for beer. In my mind, it’s what horse urine would taste like. But I gave this one a try, and I must say…it’s pretty good. I don’t have one on a consistent basis. But when we were working on our house in August when it was hot, dusty, dirty, and overwhelming to the verge of tears…this did the trick at the end of the long work hours.
9. Crest Little Grippers Toothbrush: Found this little doodad in the travel toiletries section at Target for a buck. You get a cute little kid toothbrush with suction cups on the bottom to have it stand up straight by the bathroom sink. And it comes with a travel size kids toothpaste-perfect for little hands to use. Great idea for a party favor, stocking stuffer, or everyday use. My kids love them.
10. Restaurant.Com: This is a great website! You can go on here and purchase gift certificates to use at any number of local restaurants. The gift certificates are usually cheaper to buy than the actual cost of them for the restaurant. (Like you can buy a $50 certificate for $25). But the kicker is this-they have sales on top of their sales. One day, they had a 90% sale on their gift certificates. So you find a local restaurant you like, you see the $10 price for a $20 gift certificate. But, for 90%, you pay $1 (90% off of $10) for a $20 gift certificate! Awesome! Bought several this way and use them for an inexpensive date night or meal with the family.
1. Allrecipes.com: I could just about throw out most of my cookbooks, thanks to this awesome recipe website. I use it A LOT when finding good ideas for a quick dinner, a party, or something for the crockpot.
2. Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair: Each of our kids have a red one with their name embroidered on the back. They love them! They are perfect for a child to have as their little comfy spot to call their own. The cover comes off and can be thrown in the washer/dryer. Here’s a hint: you can buy the PBK foam inserts on ebay for much less than they sell them at PBK. It comes brand new, wrapped, and sealed in a PBK box-from an ebay seller!
3. Windex All Purpose Cleaner: Now that my remodeled kitchen has granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, I had to find out how to clean these surfaces. A friend told me about the all purpose cleaner from Windex. Sure enough, the back of it says it’s great for stainless steel and granite plus many other things. And it’s green! Since I seem to use it by the gallon, I’m quite happy with the price and the shine in my kitchen.
4. Biggest Loser Workout DVDs: Okay, we don’t even watch the show. But we had to come up with a way to realistically workout since the cost and inconvenience of joining a gym wasn’t a good option for us. So we started off with the Exercise TV option on the Free On Demand with Comcast Cable and found Bob’s Biggest Loser Workout and Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred. Buy a couple of sets of weights, put on the tennis shoes with the pajamas in the morning, and you have yourself a good little workout in the comfort of your home. And you get to have quality time with the family since the kids like to participate too!
5. Superyard Metal Gate: Did I mention my son likes to climb and get into everything? Since the fireplace seemed to have this natural magnetism for our Ben, we bought the mommas of all mommas gate to kindly remind him to stay away from things like the fireplace, the bookcases, the Christmas tree. It stretches out wide, encloses in a circle-gives several options for the mobile child. Now if only I could find something to keep him off the top of the dining room table….
6. Melissa & Doug toys: I love good quality toys. And nothing says good quality like Melissa & Doug. They are simple which draws out the creativity in the kid; they are wooden and durable; and they have such a fun selection to choose from-puzzles, games, easels, blocks, etc.
7. DCWV Vinyl Wall Quotes: I am a lover of quotes. I probably could put them all over my house and drive my husband crazy with them. I hold myself back…but not completely. You can find these online or in places like Target or Kohls in the wall art section. They go on very easily-just a little measuring and then rubbing the words right onto the wall. It can transform a room instantly. Big fan.
8. Bud Light Lime: Yes, I’m recommending a beer. No, you can’t judge me. It’s my Top 10 list. I have a general distaste for beer. In my mind, it’s what horse urine would taste like. But I gave this one a try, and I must say…it’s pretty good. I don’t have one on a consistent basis. But when we were working on our house in August when it was hot, dusty, dirty, and overwhelming to the verge of tears…this did the trick at the end of the long work hours.
9. Crest Little Grippers Toothbrush: Found this little doodad in the travel toiletries section at Target for a buck. You get a cute little kid toothbrush with suction cups on the bottom to have it stand up straight by the bathroom sink. And it comes with a travel size kids toothpaste-perfect for little hands to use. Great idea for a party favor, stocking stuffer, or everyday use. My kids love them.
10. Restaurant.Com: This is a great website! You can go on here and purchase gift certificates to use at any number of local restaurants. The gift certificates are usually cheaper to buy than the actual cost of them for the restaurant. (Like you can buy a $50 certificate for $25). But the kicker is this-they have sales on top of their sales. One day, they had a 90% sale on their gift certificates. So you find a local restaurant you like, you see the $10 price for a $20 gift certificate. But, for 90%, you pay $1 (90% off of $10) for a $20 gift certificate! Awesome! Bought several this way and use them for an inexpensive date night or meal with the family.
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