LATCH Webinar hosted by BRITAX

It's no secret that we are a BRITAX family. Way back when we were expecting Katy, we did a lot of research on the safest carseat out there. All forums online, friends, reviews, etc. pointed to BRITAX.


First, we started with the BRITAX Boulevard convertible carseat. The Boulevard did a great job, but eventually, the shoulder straps became too short for our growing girl. So, just this last fall, we moved our daughter to the BRITAX Frontier 90. She loves her "big girl" carseat and so do we! The Frontier 90 is a cinch to install, the headrest moves with a simple squeeze and Lil' Miss gets a cup holder. This is all on top of the high safety ratings and high weight limit (up to 90 pounds in the five point harness and 120 pounds with the lap belt).

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the ever-changing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This most definitely includes the use of carseats and/or the most appropriate seat for your child based on height, weight and age. So, when I found out about an upcoming LATCH webinar hosted by BRITAX, I wanted to share the information with the readers of All Things Katy!

Here's the webinar information:

Webinar : LATCH- Are You Confused?

Hosted by Sarah Tilton, Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Advocate for BRITAX

Thursday, February 6, 2014 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Click here to register for the LATCH Webinar. You will receive a confirmation via email once you register. If you do not receive one, please check to see if it got caught in your spam filter.

For your children's sake, please consider attending the webinar. Be safe!

*I was not financially compensated for this post.The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

Project Runway

"Fashionable" Twilight Sparkle

I was getting some things done on the computer, this morning, when Katy ran up to me. She was all excited!

"Mommy, Mommy! Look, I made a dress for Twilight!!"

Sure enough, she had used a handkerchief to make a "dress" for her creepy Twilight Sparkle doll (tell me that thing isn't the creepiest!?!!!). Katy was so proud of herself!

Black Bean Brownies

"I love chocolate!"

What do you do with  an antsy three-almost-four year old on a snow day? Well, make brownies, of course!

I happened to have some black beans left over in the fridge, so I decided to try out one of those new-fangled brownies, where you use black beans instead of flour. I looked up a recipe on Pinterest and- ta-da!- dessert is served!

Katy ate every.single.bite!

Now, from my perspective, I'd probably add a little more sugar to make it sweeter. Overall, though, it wasn't too bad- can't even taste the black beans.

"Let It Go" (Snow Day in NC)

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight

Not a footprint to be seen..."

 "...The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside..."

"...Let it go, let it go..."

"...Let it go, let it go..."

"...Here I stand in the light of day..."

"...Let the storm rage on..."

"...The cold never bothered me anyway..."

(Lyrics from Katy's current favorite movie, Frozen)

The weatherman was right because yesterday, we got SNOW!About an inch, to be exact. So, today is a snow day from school and Lil' Miss had fun playing in the white fluffy stuff. It was cold and we were out early, but she had a blast! It's not every day that it snows in NC, after all....

Wordless Wednesday- Silly Socks Game

Teach Us Jesus: Mountains & Valley

Teach Us Jesus: Mountains & Valley

Written and Illustrated by Kevin Lepp

Today, I have a very special opportunity to share a new book with you, the readers of All Things Katy! It is titled, Teach Us Jesus: Mountains & Valley, Written and Illustrated by Kevin Lepp. Hubby and I went to college with Kevin and I love promoting the talented work of a fellow Ringling College of Art and Design alum!

Playfully illustrated and Biblically based, Teach Us Jesus: Mountains & Valley is about Judah and his little sister, Daphne. Together, they must experience valleys, and learn the importance of listening to Jesus in order to get to the mountaintop.

Retailing for $13.00 + shipping, Teach Us Jesus: Mountains & Valley can be purchased at:

Teach Us Jesus Children's Books

Amazon- Harcopy

Amazon- EBook

**As a special promotion for the readers of All Things Katy!, you may purchase this book for $10.00 + shipping ($4.00). Order instructions: Email purchases@teachusjesusbooks.com. For the subject line put "Heather's Blog". In the email put: Name, Phone number and Number of books. You will be called later that day, or the next day, to do the transaction over the phone via credit card. Please DO NOT put your credit card information in the email.**

Sewing Pattern Testing- Amelie Clothing- Victoria Dress

The Victoria Dress

I recently had another opportunity to test a sewing pattern for Amelie Clothing. This time,  a sweet little dress, the Victoria Dress.

How do you like those wild colors/pattern I put together for the dress? The colors seem to scream, "SPRING!" so I just might save this dress for her Easter dress. Since it snowed, last Easter, we just might need the 3/4 length sleeves, too...

The Victoria Dress tutorial is  probably Amelie Clothing's best tutorial, yet. It was clear, concise and easy to read/follow. The pictures were a perfect accompaniment to the written instructions. I love the contrasting belt and cuffs on this dress. Next time, I might even add a ruffle at the bottom.... I will definitely be making this dress again, soon!

Thanks, again, Susan and Amelie Clothing, for another wonderful pattern! I love it!

Bento Box- #DisneySide Lunch

***Disclosure: "I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own."***

Lunch just tastes better when it's cut into cute little Mickey sandwiches! Thanks for our new cookie cutters, #DisneySide @Home Celebration!

Disney Side @Home Celebration- Hostess Box Arrival

***Disclosure: "I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own."***

I was selected to be a host for the #DisneySide @Home Celebration!!

What does that mean? Well, thanks to Disney, Moms Select, American Tourister (the official luggage of WDW) and HP, I get to throw a Disney-themed party to help show off my #DisneySide!

Yesterday, my hostess box arrived! It was quite a large box- 24 lbs, to be exact! 

In it, it contained... a suitcase! Really- it contained a brand-new suitcase! It's one of the really light-weight suitcases that spins every which way with the touch of a finger. So nice! 

In Mickey black and red, of course ;-).

When I opened up the box, I found party supplies- Mickey cups, napkins, plates, decorations, cupcake liners, cookie cutters, balloons and measuring cups. (The baker in me is LOVING the cookie cutters and cupcake liners!)

Also included, were Pluto stickers, Donald tattoos, an IPhone 5 case, HP Photo Cards, and  RunDisney Cheer cards.

Tucked in the bottom of the box was a sweet print of Minnie and Mickey, Muppet calendars (Hubby's #DisneySide is all about Muppets!!), and a face-painting guide.

How AWESOME is this party pack?!?!? I'm loving all the goodies and I'm so excited and thankful to be picked as #DisneySide Host!

Now, off to party plan....!

***Disclosure: "I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own."***

Moms' Night Out

Moms' Night Out: Official Trailer

I am fortunate enough to be apart of a great group of women (and their children) who get together weekly for playgroup. The kids play, the moms talk. It's so comforting and cathartic to be able to share life and build friendships amongst similarly-minded women.


Every couple months, or so, this same group of women go out for a Mom's Night Out. The husbands all stay home with the kids and the moms get to go out! We have done it all- dinner, karaoke, dancing! It' so fun!
So, when I saw this trailer for the upcoming movie, "Moms' Night Out," I literally LAUGHED OUT LOUD and thought of my mom friends! Too, too, funny... sometimes, reality if funnier than fiction! 

Don't forget that National Mom’s Nite Out is on May 8th, 2014. Check out their website for more information.



*I was not financially compensated for this post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

Sentence of the Day- More Color Theory...

We were talking color theory around the breakfast table (only in our house!), this morning, and Katy was telling us what color combinations make what. She already knows the primaries and secondaries.

Then, she asked, "What do orange and blue make?"

Ted jokingly answered, "A mess."

Katy persisted, "No, really, what do orange and blue make?"

Ted, seriously answered, "Well, when you mix a secondary and a primary color, you end up with something called a tertiary color..."

Katy exclaimed, "You get a TUSHY color?!?"

Hahahahaha.... that made me smile. :-)

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine

Calling the super busy, the stressed out, the overtired!

Are you tired of… being tired? Is your to-do list too long? Are the commitments—and the laundry—piling up but your energy keeps dwindling? Do you feel like you're simply making it through the days, not living or enjoying any part of them?

It doesn’t have to be like that. You were made for a more fulfilling life. There is a better way!

In “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode,” a new book by Crystal Paine, you'll find both practical ideas and big-picture perspective that will inspire you to live life on purpose. As a wife, mother of three, and founder of the wildly successful blog MoneySavingMom.com, Crystal has walked the road from barely surviving to living with intention.

With the warmth and candor of a dear friend, she shares what she's learned along the way, helping you:

• feel healthier and more energetic by setting priorities and boundaries
• eliminate stress with savvy management of your time, money, and home
• get more done by setting realistic goals and embracing discipline
• rediscover your passions—and the confidence to pursue them

Packed with straightforward solutions you'll use today and inspirational stories you'll remember for years, “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode” is a must for any woman who's ever longed for the freedom to enjoy life, not just survive it.

SPECIAL, LIMITED TIME OFFER:

To celebrate the release of her book this week, Tuesday, January 21, 2014, Crystal is offering a collection of amazing prizes for those who buy the book. Simply go to www.GoodbyeSurvivalModeBook.com now for details. You can also pick up the book anywhere books are sold, including Amazon.

*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received non-monetary compensation for this post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

Bento Box- Charcuterie plate

Salami, Crackers, Cheese Wheels and Green Grapes.

First Lunch Bunch of the New Year!

Last week's Lunch Bunch (1/8/14) was canceled due to cold weather (only in the Carolinas! My family in the Northeast laugh!).

Sentence of the Day- Back in the Day...

This morning, as we were getting ready for church, Katy asked me, "Mommy, did you have beds back then?"

Confused, I asked, "Back then? What do you mean, 'back then'?"

Katy replied, "You know- did you have beds when you were a little girl?"

Ha! Did she think I was so old that I grew up in the Stone Age?!

Wordless Wednesday- Daddy's Little Sidekick

The Book Thief

Our daughter is a book thief. No, not the one from the bestseller-turned-movie.

Nonetheless, let me tell you a true tale that happened last night....

We rang in the New Year by saying good-bye to Katy's baby monitor. She's almost four and we felt that she's old enough to be able to get through the night without it. If something were truly tragic, we'd definitely be able to hear it through the wall that divides our rooms.

Fast forward to last night. Ted turned on Katy's night light, tucked her in and kissed her goodnight. Ted and I were able to watch Downton Abbey (Poor Anna!!! :-() without interruption. I peeked in on Katy before I went to bed and noticed that she had fallen asleep with a book in her hand and several strewn across her bed. No big deal- she put herself to sleep without fussing and/or calling for us (as she usually does).

Around four o'clock in the morning there was a large CRASH!! We were startled awake and Ted immediately searched the house for the culprit. He looked in on Katy and didn't see anything amiss. She was fast asleep. He went for his run, went to work and went about his day.

I had to wake Katy up for Preschool at 7:45 AM, this morning. I woke her with a kiss and her eyes popped open. Immediately, she patted the bed beside her and exclaimed, "My books!" She quickly looked over at me, afraid that she was in trouble. I pointed to the floor beside her, at the pile of books that had crashed to the floor, earlier in the morning. Sheepishly, Katy nodded her head.

Apparently, while Ted and I were downstairs, watching television, Katy was upstairs reading books by night light. She had stacked a pile of about ten books under her blankets, after Ted had tucked her in for the night. Then, at four AM, she accidentally kicked the books off the bed (that was the loud crash), while sleeping.

What am I going to do with that little girl?!?!

Panthers Playoffs

Go Panthers!

Hahaha! If you know me, you know that I'd never say that in real life. It's not about one team over another- it's that we really don't care about ANY team winning and/or sports in general. Ted and I are the most un-athletic, un-sport-minded, could-care-less-about-sports people you will ever meet! However, the home team, the Carolina Panthers are playing in the playoffs, today. The whole city is abuzz! 

So, here's our ode to the Panthers- Go Panthers!

(In reality, I found this shirt in a box of hand-me-downs- thanks, Batys!- and decided this was the perfect opportunity for Lil' Miss to wear it! Believe it or not, when I pulled it out, she actually knew by the logo, what it was! How did she know that- it's not like Ted or I taught her that?!? ;-)

Sentence of the Day- I Spy

Katy likes to play the game, "I Spy," when we are driving. Today, on the way home from church, we were taking turns playing. At Katy's turn, she said, "I spy something big and happy!" Ted and I took turns guessing and guessing. Finally, Katy said, "It's our family!" Sweet girl!

Sponsored Post by Moms Meet- YoYummy Yogurt Review

Green Mountain YoYummy yogurt pouches

Ever since Lil' Miss was a baby (I blinked, and now she's almost FOUR!) there has been a firestorm of new food products out on the market that come in pouches. Forget baby jars! Forget a spoon, fork and/or spork! Welcome in the age of the squeezable, pouchable, portable snack!

First it was applesauce.

Next, it was baby food.

Now, it's Green Mountain YoYummy yogurt pouches!

Thanks to Moms Meet, Lil' Miss and I had the opportunity to review Green Mountain YoYummy yogurt pouches, recently. Lil' Miss loves yogurt of all kinds- mix-in, fruit on the bottom, Greek, homemade and frozen. So, Green Mountain YoYummy yogurt pouches are a good fit for her.

As soon as the box of samples arrived, Lil' Miss was super excited to try them. Right away, she had to try the strawberry flavor (Pink pouch, cartoon cow- what's not to appeal to the preschool set? ;-). Other flavors offered include Strawberry Banana, Cotton Candy and Mixed Berry. She gulped it down in no time.

"Yummy!"

I asked her if she liked the new yogurt and she emphatically said, "YES!" When I asked her what she specifically liked about it, she told me that it was, "Creamy." Personally, I find it impressive that a yogurt that is packaged in a pouch can be described as, "Creamy." In my experience, foods that come in pouches are kind of thin and watered-down.

A little YoYummy Background: "YoYummy was started by three guys with a very basic philosophy in mind: create a healthy, responsibly-made yogurt that tastes great and is affordable! YoYummy and Green Mountain Creamery strive to support their local dairy economy and community, using only Vermont cow milk from the Commonwealth Dairy. As a company, they are also committed to environmental sustainability and package all of their products using BPA-free materials."

Just the facts:
•YoYummy yogurts are available in four delicious flavors: Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry, and Cotton Candy.
•YoYummy yogurt is made with Grade-A rBST-free Vermont milk, is a good source of calcium, and is rich in vitamin A and D.
•It has 10 percent less sugar than the leading national brand kids’ yogurt. Real fruits and berries add just enough natural sugar to YoYummy yogurt to make it taste sweet.
•YoYummy is free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, additives, and preservatives. YoYummy is naturally gluten free.
•YoYummy is available at Wegman’s, Costco, Hannaford, Stew Leonard’s, Fresh & Easy, and Sprout’s Farmer Markets.
•The retail price for YoYummy is $4.99 for a 4-pack, $9.99 for a 12-pack, and $1.29 for single pouches.

Less sugar, no preservatives and no artificial dyes? Calcium in fun flavors? I'm in! Also, yogurt is a great way to get probiotics into our kids (helps with tummy troubles). I love that these little pouches are so convenient to eat on the go- as a snack or a quick breakfast before Preschool.

Artistically speaking, each flavor comes in bright-colored pouches with cute little cartoonish drawings of a cow and fruit on it. Very attractive to the younger crowd!

Quick note- I love that the screw-on caps for these Green Mountain YoYummy yogurt pouches are chunky and hard to lose. Some of the lids for other pouches are kind of small and definitely pose a choking hazard for little ones (or, they tend to get lost in the rush of life!).

All in all, I'd have to say Green Mountain YoYummy yogurt pouches were a big hit in our family! :-)

Connect with YoYummy through social media at:
Facebook
Twitter 
Pinterest 

**Disclaimer: "I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product."

Wordless Wednesday- Just a Little Chilly...

Happy 2014!

Good-bye 2013, Hello 2014!! Just four short years ago, the All Things Katy! blog was started. Now, 1,366 posts later, we are still here, still posting and still documenting the, "giggles, spills and life with Katy Grace!"

The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is always a good time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. 

Here are some family highlights of 2013:

-Our little girl turned THREE! This has been such a fun year with Lil' Miss! She's at a really good age, now, where she's just independent to do most things on her own, yet still young enough to still love to snuggle.

-In February, we moved. New year, new house, new neighborhood! We love our new neighborhood and are so blessed to be able to live so close to Ted's work, to have access to a playground and a pool in the summer. We actually know our neighbors by name and it's nice to know that our they are willing to lend a helping hand when needed (as evidenced by our summer tree incident).

-We went to HAWAII in March!! Thanks to our gracious hosts, we had a wonderful vacation! Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime memory maker! We went to a luau, visited Pearl Harbor, swam in the beautiful Hawaiian waters... so fun!

-Ted and I celebrated anniversary number eight, in April! In some ways, it seems like we've been together forever and then, other days, it seems like it's passed in the blink of an eye...!

-Katy started swim lessons in May, and by the end of August, she became quite the little fish! By the end of the summer, she was swimming underwater, blowing bubbles and swimming the width of the pool, unassisted! Amazing!

-In June, Katy got her first taste of Ballet. She took a summer ballet class at Miss Donna's School of dance and she's been hooked, ever since.

-Katy and I joined my sister and her family for a mini-vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC, in August. The kids had a blast playing together, swimming in the pool and enjoying the beach.

-In September, Katy started Preschool in the three year old class at St. James Lutheran Preschool. She loves her teacher, Ms. Kelly and has done WONDERFULLY since day one! I am so, so, so thankful for a smooth transition and a place that Katy enjoys and looks forward to going, each school day.

-Our family celebrated Halloween on the High Seas on a Disney Cruise. Lil' Miss dressed up as Cinderella with Ted as her Prince Charming and myself as her Fairy Godmother. We love to cruise!

-The Tinkey family descended upon our home in November to celebrate Thanksgiving, together. It was a whirlwind weekend, but lots of fun. 

-Nanny and Poppy Jones joined us for Christmas, this year. Besides recovering from a nasty cough and her first ear infection, Katy had a great Christmas week!
-When Katy went to the doctor's for her ear infection, they weighed and measured her. As of December 2013, she now weighs, 35 pounds and is 39 1/4" tall.

Here are some current blog highlights:

-All Things Katy! has had 1,366 blog posts since it's inception, four years ago.
-The most popular blog post of all times was the Money Saving Mom's Budget- Book Review with 523 page views.
-The second most popular post of all times was Katy's first birthday, Cookie Monster Birthday Bash way back in February 2011.
-I averaged about 26ish posts per month. Of course, some months are more "post-worthy" than others. Interestingly, October seems to be the month that I post the most (I would have bet December).
-For 2013, I had 33 "Wordless Wednesday" posts. So, not quite 52, but more than half...
-For 2013, I had 22 "Muffin Tin Monday/Bento Box" posts.
-In 2013, I said good-bye to the Nuby Blogger Program (Katy has outgrown that stage of her life- so sad!) and hello to pattern testing!
-In October, All Things Katy! held its very first giveaway, sponsored by Shutterfly. We didn't have many entrants, but it was something I'd never done, before and it was fun to be able to giveaway something through the blog.

Whew! What a year!

And now, onto another adventurous year... Happy New Year 2014!!