Product Review: Marie Callender's Pasta Al Dente - YUM!

I'm obsessed with Marie Callender's Pasta Al Dente bowls. They are so delicious! My husband picked some up on a whim a couple months ago and we've been scooping them up (when they are on sale) ever since.


When my "velcro baby" was eating every hour and I didn't have a spare moment to pop anything on the stove, these heat and eat meals saved my life. I ate them for lunch, when my hubby was at work, until he figured out how good they were and he wanted them for dinner too! The sauce in some of them is so good, he and I literally lick the super-sexy clear plastic bowl.

My favorite flavors: Tortellini Romano, Chicken Pesto Parmesan, and Fettuccini Chicken Balsamic. Mmmmmmm!

Now that Andrew is almost 4-months-old and getting into a bit of a schedule, I do have time to whip up a sandwich or salad, but I still have the Pasta Al Dente bowls on hand as a treat. I picked them up at my local Stop & Shop (Myrtle Avenue in Glendale) for $2.50 each. That's pretty darn cheap for a satisfying lunch in New York City! If I was still working, these would definitely be in my brown bag.

Try them!

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The Greatest Birthday Gift

It is my first birthday as a mama and boy have things changed since last year. Among other things, I'm more sleep deprived, I haven't changed out of my pajamas yet, and there will be no work cupcakes or happy hour drinks for me. I actually even forgot it was my birthday until my husband reminded me this morning! Oh that mommy brain!

Yet, it is already the best birthday ever. My baby boy is sitting next to me making silly noises and I have never been so in love. He is the best gift and biggest blessing I could have asked for. And, he makes me want to be a better, kinder, and happier person, which is the best gift I can give myself.

So, happy birthday to me and a happy spring day to all the people who have been blessed with a child's love. I'm sure not every day will feel like a birthday celebration, but I know each moment will be a gift.

<3

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Breastfeeding Booby Traps

I have to share a great post with you from Chatter Scene titled "Breastfeeding Booby Traps." Click HERE.

The poster shares a number of the many reasons why so many women these days are unsuccessful at breastfeeding. I definitely had a hard time at first due to a couple of the reasons she posted, namely having a really terrible lactation consultant at the hospital and experiencing peer pressure to give Andrew a bottle because "maybe I wasn't producing enough milk for him."

I wish I knew what I know now about breastfeeding before I went into the hospital. I'm just so glad we have the hang of it now... and I WILL write a post here one day about all I have learned! It really does help to hear it straight from actual moms and to simply just hear that you can do it!

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Huggies and Pampers and Luvs, Oh My!

Well, I think we've finally got the diaper situation solved... at least for now!

After we experienced some redness and leakage with the new Pampers Dry Max, my husband picked up packages of Huggies and Luvs for us to try. The Huggies worked OK during the day, but we were still having leaks at night and the pee smell was really noticeable. The Luvs however are GREAT day and night for us and I don't notice a bad smell (chemical or pee) at all--this is something I didn't expect from a "value" diaper brand.



We're still using our remaining Pampers Dry Max during the day, since we have a huge box and the baby does do fine in them for just an hour or two, but at night we're using Luvs and will switch exclusively to Luvs once the Pampers run out.

Why I like: The Luvs diapers are soft on the inside and not bad on the outside either--although they do make that crinkly sound you find in many baby toys (I personally love that sound so it doesn't bug me one bit.) They don't have a mesh "poop catcher" like the Swaddlers, but the countoured fit of the Luvs have kept all of our messes in the diapers so far. Anyway, the mesh in the new Swaddlers kept getting stuck to my little one's private property (thank you Bonnie Hunt for that term!)

We did buy a size up as many reviews suggested (we're using a size 3 for our 15-pounder), so this is maybe adding to our success. Who knows? I'm just a happy mama for the extra sleep they allow me!

My only worry is that Luvs are made by the same company as Pampers (Proctor and Gamble), so I hope they won't change the design of Luvs on us like they did with the Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers! I don't think they realize how one chink in the chain can effect a mom and baby's sanity. My fingers are crossed!

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