How to take a picture of a toddler, by Stacie Turner

I recently came across this post on Staci Turner's photography blog.  I thought it was absolutely hillarious, the kind of post you read and think "darn it, I wish I could write like that!".  So I had to share!

How to take a picture of a todder, by Stacie Turner

1. Decide where you want the picture to be, take out your camera and meter the light.
2. Place toddler in selected spot.
3. Retrieve toddler from top of bookshelf and return to selected spot.
4. Get lollipop from cupboard.
5. Put toddler back in selected spot and give her lollipop.
6. Wipe lollipop smear from toddler’s face, top of bookshelf, and fur of cat.
7. Get out bubbles.
8. Return toddler to selected spot and blow bubbles to keep him interested.
9. Stop to mop up spilled bubble liquid.
10. Light has moved. Pick new spot and meter.
11. Put a basket in new spot.
12. Put toddler in basket.
13. Retrieve toddler from behind chair where he is playing with the outlet.
14. Remind self that you do NOT want a call from preschool in which the teacher inquires where your child learned to say those words.
15. Put brand new toy in basket along with toddler.
16. Throw broken toy away, retrieve toddler from kitchen where he is eating cat food.
17. Consider putting bowl of cat food where the light is good. Reject this idea.
18. Sew velco to butt of toddler pants and onto pillow. Place child on pillow where light is good.
19. Remove pillow from child’s behind and re-stuff with something heavier. Reattach child.
20. By now the light is gone.
21. Put camera away, pour self drink.

What apps do you love?

I have been loading my iPad with tons of educational games for the kiddos, but I'm ready to find some apps for myself. I love my kindle app and the blogger plus is great . What other apps are you guys using and loving?

Oh! I'm also loving WpC HD had which is where my background image (above) is from!

Support your local Walgreens Pharmacy, I do!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Chances are when you go to fill a drug prescription, you don't think much about what goes into making that prescription available to you.  At least I don't.  I go to my local Walgreens, give them my prescription form and expect that in 15 minutes they will have gotten it filled with which ever option (generic or what have you) will save me the most money.  It's why I go to Walgreens rather than the other pharmacy in town (which is  run by a very sweet, yet price gouging old man and takes at least 30 minutes to even get to your prescription). 

Luckily for me (and I'm sure most of you) there are Walgreens locations on my way to pretty much every destination I travel.  So when I'm running into the city I can take advantage of the 24 hour pharmacy and know that I don't need to worry about getting there until everything else is taken care of.  For someone like me who has to travel an hour to get to a city, that's a huge bonus.  Even my local Walgreens has great hours and the added convenience of a drive through (because getting all the kids out of the car and into the store is a HUGE hassle as most of you know!).

You get my point..... I'm a Walgreens customer.  Not only for their pharmacy, but that's what I wanted to focus on today because there are some changes going into effect that Walgreens wants you to know about.

Part of the reason Walgreens is able to provide such competitive prices is due to their relationship with Express Scripts.  In the past Walgreens and Express Script have negotiated contracts that allow Walgreens to offer their customers great savings.  However this year they were unable to reach an agreement which means those who are covered by the Express Script program (check the back of your prescription insurance card to see if this effects you,  it will say Express Script on it if it does) will now need to switch pharmacies (and pharmacists!) to continue to get their prescriptions.  Not to mention be subject to possible further drives to their new pharmacy and shorter hours of operation.  So when you leave the ER in the middle of the night (as I'm sure you fellow parents have!!! because nothing seems to happen during normal house with kids) your out of luck until regular hours the following day (and for people who live in rural areas like me, it also means a separate trip into town to go back during those hours!). 

So what is Walgreens doing to help their customers adjust to these changes?  Offering a discount on their Walgreens Prescription Savings Club !  For $10 a year, a family membership covers everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and pets. Individuals may join for $5. Join and receive discount prices on your prescriptions.  Keeping Walgreens as your pharmacy also means you get savings on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications, discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, diabetic supplies and more. 

What can you do to show Walgreens your support? Follow Walgreens on Twitter and Like Walgreens on Facebook!

Clip in Hair Extensions from Rapunzel Rapunzel

Extensions are becoming very main stream.  There are so many options with fused, sewn in, clip on..... depending on how often you want to wear them.  Since I'm mostly at home playing with my kiddos, I don't do much with my hair on most days.  I think because of that (and that feeling of dread every time a stay at home mom catches a look at herself in the mirror, gasp!) I thought it would be fun to play around with something to make me feel a little glamorous. 

I knew clip in was going to work best for me as I don't want the commitment (or expense) of up keeping any of the other methods for extensions.  However! If you do decide to do clip ins like me, make sure you don't skimp on the initial investment.  Get good quality clip ins that will last you and be easier to take care of (it's a one time cost!!!!).  I decided to go with the Remi clip ins from Rapunzel Rapunzel for a couple reasons.

1. Real (human!) hair.  Which means I can curl it, wash it, even color it!  It's REAL hair.
2. Remi clip in are built root to tip.  Which means they pay attention to the natural directions of the hair strand..... which means LESS TANGLE!!!! The hair lays nice and smooth.
3. They are available in  a LOT of colors and varying shades so it's easy to find a match to your color.

So here is what comes in the box (shown in the color I ordered, #22 Light Blonde)

It's a good amount of hair!  There are 6 pieces there.  Each with fewer clips so that you can place them on different parts of the head.  Normally you would place the three clip at the bottom, then the 4 clip, then the two clip and singles on the sides of the head.  Because I have such thick hair I found that it looks more natural if I place a two clip lower than you would normally place on at the back of the head, then the 3 clip, 4 clip, then another 2 clip and the singles on the sides.  Because I have a lot of layering in the front I didn't need much on the sides, but I needed all of them in the back to get close to the natural thickness of my hair (and keep it looking normal).

To further blend it's important to style them into your hair.  Unless you wear your hair stick straight, I suggest putting the extensions in BEFORE you do your styling.  Styling them into your natural hair blends them.  For me I have found that large barrel curls work the best for blending.  Because of my thick hair straight doesn't look natural, and a more beachy wave (which I do a lot with my natural hair) has a bit of the same effect as straight.  But I think the big curls look great and sort of Kardashian (I love their hair!!!).

So here is the before (excuse the poor photos......and the pajamas..... and no makeup LOL)

I should also mention that the Rapunzel Rapunzel extensions only come in 18 inches.  For me that's 3-4 inches longer than my natural hair, but enough to make a difference! 

It's that last bit of length that I just can't seem to get naturally. 

I was using a 1.5 inch barrel.

The clips lay nice and flat against my head so it hides well.   I don't need to pull my hair half up to hide them like some clips make you. I am having so much fun playing with them!  You can even clip them in and pull your hair up if you need added thickness for an updo. 

Because of the root to tip build Rapunzel Rapunzel uses, the clips are easy to take out and don't get all tangled up.  I've worn them a few times now and each time they come out easily and tangle free!  I was impressed that I didn't get a head ache wearing them either, they fit very comfortably!