I want noooodles!

I don't know about you but when Dwayne and I were first starting out, Ramen noodles were a staple in our kitchen. Money was so tight that I used to find ways to make our packaged noodles into a gourmet meal. I have added everything from chicken wings, shrimp, scallions, cilantro and whatever we had available. We have always kept a few noodle packs on hand for those days when the fridge and pantry are looking bare. Now William has discovered "noooodles" and loves them. It is not unusual for him to request them for breakfast.

Every day right around lunch time William comes up to me with that sweet little face and says "Mommy cook the nooodles?" then he says "pleeeeeeeeease" Of course I say yes and he runs straight to the pantry to grab a pack. He gets so excited, it's the funniest thing. I guess I can't complain. He loves something that is super cheap and we always have it on hand. I still eat them occasionally to remind me how lucky we are to have all that we do. Ramen noodles will remain a pantry staple in the Ismail family kitchen :)

eBeanstalk makes toy shopping easy

Sometimes I feel like searching online for toys for my son can be a hassle. Do you go with digital toys, top selling toys for 3 year olds, or just stick to the classics? This is where I refer to eBeanstalk for help. We are really big on learning toys for our son and that is what makes eBeanstalk the perfect place online to shop. They offer so many toys for 3 year old boys as well as toys for 3 year old girls that match your child's developmental needs. You can choose items for specific age groups and gender. We have gotten several wooden toys for our son and he has enjoyed them. The quality is outstanding and I can feel good to hand them down to friends or family with little ones once he has outgrown them.

I was browsing through the eBeanstalk site and I really have my eye on this Band in a Box for my son. The first thing that attracted me was that it is a Melissa and Doug toy (my favorite brand) so I know it will be made to withstand the abuse from a 3 year old boy! If you are looking for toys for 3 year olds like I am (or any age up to 12) then I totally recommend you check out eBeanstalk. They make it so easy for busy parents :-)

Wordless Wednesday

Am I in the Twilight Zone?

Today has been what I would call a perfect day. I got up earlier than normal which I like very much. Early is good. I drove the girls to school and saw the husband off to work (early). I went to Kroger this morning and I swear I was the only customer in the entire store. William behaved like an angel today. No fussing, no rudeness, no destroying the house, just angelic. He even took a nap this afternoon which is rare. It was completely silent in the house. I prepared a wonderful dinner and even watched One Life to Live at the normal time. I don't have to pick the girls up until 5:30 today. I have all my housework done (even laundry & dishes). My inbox is on ZERO. All my obligations have been met and my account is balanced to the penny. My husband has been calling me periodically throughout the day cracking me up with his foolishness. This has been a perfect day :)

Mother's Day card idea

This Mother’s Day, give a Gift from the Heart and help build Habitat for Humanity homes in honor of mothers.
Make a tax-deductible Gift from the Heart donation to Habitat for Humanity and a special Mother’s Day card will be delivered by e-mail or postal mail to the recipient you choose to let them know a donation has been made in their name. Donations made through Habitat’s Gifts from the Heart will help families achieve the dream of owning a home of their own.

“What better way to show our moms how much we love and appreciate them than to invest in the dreams of mothers around the world,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “A Mother’s Day Gift from the Heart is a beautiful way to say ‘I love you.’”

When you make your donation, you will be able to choose Mother’s Day or another occasion and the recipient the donation is honoring.

To give a Gift from the Heart, go to www.habitat.org/md2011

About Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

Pedigree Ambassador dog food trial

Hey guys, I'm not sure if you have noticed the nifty little badge I placed on my blog a couple weeks ago~ Our dog Milo is participating in the Pedigree Ambassador dog food trial. We received 2 big bags of Pedigree Small Breed dog food. Pedigree is a very well known brand in households everywhere. I was thrilled at the opportunity for my pup to get to test out a brand that has been around for so long.

I took some time to check out the Pedigree site and was amazed at how many different formulas they offer according to your dog's specific needs. It costs a little bit less than what I am currently buying, which is a plus since I need to stretch my family dollars.Milo has never eaten the Pedigree brand of dog food before so we had to transition him slowly from his current food. He sniffed the mixture of both foods and dove right in! I don't think he came up for air. He has fully switched over to only Pedigree and I will say that he loves it since the food does not sit in the bowl for more than a minute! I was happy that the kibbles were small for Milo's little mouth. He had no problems crunching it up :)


Based on the four universal needs, here is where Milo stands:
Skin&Coat ~ He is about average.
Oral Care ~ He's 8 so his teeth can get a little icky but he is mostly average
Digestion ~ He is a great pooper and has not had any problem 'going' since trying the Pedigree food.
Immunity ~ Thankfully Milo does not ever get sick besides the occasional need to eat grass. He is very healthy overall.

I will be posting updates on Milo's progress with this new food. I also recommended Pedigree to my neighbors so they will be trying it our for their dogs as well. There is a $3 off coupon available here. Did you know Pedigree was on Facebook and Twitter? Be sure to follow them for great tips and advice for keeping your dogs healthy and happy.

I wrote this review while participating in an Ambassador campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Pedigree and received dog food to facilitate my reviews and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.