Lets talk deodorant!

I know I know, no the most exciting topic but an important one.  You all read my post about feeling yourself up right? (see link below) Well one thing that I didn't mention in that post was shortly after I had my first mammogram I was on a mission to change my deodorant to something non toxic, I was using secret brand at the time.   I was also on a mission to change my husband over to something non toxic as well (no easy task for someone who lives and breathes his gillette brand deodorant).  We tried a few from whole foods, Schmidts was one and there was one called crystal something or other but they either gave us rashes or weren't cutting it. Which by the way after more research we found out that the rashes were most likely from the baking soda! Anyways my CA moms group was a wealth of information when it came to non toxic products. One of the number 1 recommended deodorants was Piper Wai.  Nick tried it and immediately switched! I on the other hand was not sold as with Piper Wai you have to roll little balls of deodorant and then apply.. Umm I have two kids! Ain't nobody got time for that!!!!!

Frustrated with my personal search I opted for Lavanila which also came highly recommended.  I used it for almost two years with no other promising product to try.  I felt it worked but not for the whole day.  I felt I had a slight odor by the end of the day. Could I start ordering every single one on the market, yes probably, but again, Hi! Mom of two under three here! Could I also reapply a few times a day.. Probably, but again 2U3 here!!! It wasn't until a few weeks ago that the Admin of the Moms group posted about this non toxic deodorant that she was using! Not only did she love the product but it's made by two local (CA local) moms!!! How cool is that!? Well cool for me anyways! It's called B.O. BEDIENT (see additional links below). It just so happened that their new sensitive deodorant without baking soda in stick form was coming out that week! Score! I decided on the spot to try it and placed my order on the go!

I can honestly say that I have been using B.O. BEDIENT all week and it's amazing! The first two days using it were super hot and humid.  The rest of the week has been blah and raining but no matter what I am always moving around and on the go with my two little monkeys <3 Fast track a few days.. I saw a concert (front row) imagine the excitement.. Went on a hot sweaty 1hr walk in almost 90 degree weather half of which was in the sun.. Mowed the lawn in 80 degree weather and still NO SMELL FOLKS!!!! and only one am application! For a busy Mom of two this is seriously awesome!!!!

I have been wanting my husband to try it as well because it's just so great and so easy.  So this am when he was getting dressed I said are you ever going to try my deodorant?! He said excitedly, "I did! It's pretty good". This is a huge double plus!

If you are in the market for a non toxic deodorant I highly recommend stopping by their site B.O. BEDIENT! Tell them I sent you! You will not be disappointed! I even feel safe letting my 3 year old imitate Mommy and apply "her" deodorant! 

I hope everyone is enjoying this extended summer! 

Much Love, 

Sarah R 

xoxo 

https://simplyserendipitoussarah.blogspot.com/2014/08/feel-yourself-up-once-and-awhile.html

https://www.bo-bedient.com

Our thoughts and prayers are with Puerto Rico during this difficult time. 

http://unidosporpuertorico.com/en/
https://www.facebook.com/PuertoRicoRisesJax/
https://www.cabocado.com/collections/all/puerto-rico

Traveling with toddlers doesn't have to be so scary!

Quick side note: I have decided that nap time is Mommy's writing time! So hopefully you will see more blogs from me in the future :) 

I have traveled often with my now 2 year old and have traveled with my 1 and 2 year old alone.  So while everyone might not agree with my advice and not all my advice will work for everyone I figured I would offer what I have learned and what works for us! Plus we are preparing for a super long trip next month and I'm learning a lot! 

My first and most important piece of advice is that everyone needs a seat! If your little uses a car seat in the car I am firm believer that your little should sit in one on the plane.  It is also likely that you will need their car seat at the destination.  If you complain that it is an extra cost that in my opinion you probably shouldn't be traveling in the first place.  It is also the safest place for your little to be in the event of turbulence or a rough landing.  Little is used to and comfortable traveling in their seat so it won't be much of a transition at all and it gives you some space and allows you to have hands free :) of course you will want to get up and walk with them every hour or so in order to stretch every ones legs.  We use the Cosco Scenera as it's very affordable and super lightweight. 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Scenera-NEXT-Convertible-Car-Seat-Choose-your-Print/41126739

This was us taking off! They thought that was so fun! 

Remember during takeoff and landing, get them chewing or sucking on something! 

Baby wearing in the airport for us is a must.  It allows me to get through security seamlessly.   We already have to have the stroller, 2 car seats and our carryons checked so it's nice to have my runner strapped up on my back :) 

Getting ready to board the plane at SFO

The flight attendants are your best friend if you let them <3 United (despite all the recent bad publicity) has been nothing short of amazing for us.  When I see the attendants arrive for the flight I make every effort to engage in conversation and introduce myself.  This seems to make things a little bit easier when something goes awry on the plane.  On the trip where I flew with both kiddos on my own, A flipped her lid.  The flight attendant scooped her up and cuddled her and hung out with her so I could tend to Sammi who had just vomited all over me :/ 

The flight attendant who played "Grammy" to A so I could tend to S <3 

To keep the kids busy on the flights I am constantly checking the $1-$5 section at Tarje.  I fill a back pack full of stuff! Plus an iPad and headphones! But make sure the headphones you bring work for your little before you bring them! For this upcoming trip I am bringing lots of stickers, books to stick them in, crayons, pencils, gel pens, valentines that each came with a pencil (16 per pack! Score!).  We also often purchase the in flight wifi which is helpful for some apps.  This trip we are downloading our Disney movies which is great! Join the Disney movie club! 

I also pack all the snacks that they love and are used to as well as fill a "bead" container with fun new snacks (see below) This trip I will pack two of these as it's a super long flight and we will be sitting two and two. 

Many travelers have posted about little baggies to give out to surrounding passengers as a sort of "sorry you had to sit near my toddler".  I am not a fan of this practice as we shouldn't be punished to travel with our toddlers.  And kids will be kids. I am a fan however of buying a neighboring adult a beverage if they are unable to recline their seat due to my rear facing toddler or in other certain instances. I will not apologize for my kid being a kid as often times as seen recently it's the adults that need a little taming! lol 

Last but not least is that your kids feed off of you! If you are nervous and uptight they will follow your lead.  Try to stay relaxed and go with the flow like it's no big deal.

I think that is all I have for now.  Don't ever be afraid to travel with your little! We started them early and they are wonderful travelers! This upcoming 6/2/4 and 5/2/7 will be the ultimate test! Starting with a 6 hour flight, 2 hour layover and then another 4 hour flight! At least we are traveling as a foursome and we have Daddy! 

When all else fails sometimes its just you that needs the bink! 

Feel free to reach out with any questions or if you have anything to add I would love to add reader feedback and suggestions! 

Thanks for reading! 

Much Love, 

S

xoxo

Thankful for Us.. A Raad family update!

   As 2016 comes to a close I can't help but want to write about how thankful I am for our little unit.  each one of them.  Also how I am thankful for friends who are family. And many other things. 

   This year has been an exciting and exhausting year for the Raads.  We started off the year learning how to parent two little people at once.  The most challenging and rewarding experience of our lives.  I think we have to brag a little and note how much easier our kiddos made it for us!

   We took a trip to San Diego with Nick while he was attending a conference.  Then we drove up to Anaheim to spend a few days at Disneyland and ended the trip with a stop in LA to spend time with Nick's Uncle and cousins which was an amazing time!  

A. having fun with Daddy in the pool In San Diego! 

Trying to get two sleepy kids to smile at Disneyland! 

A giving some love to MM.. Too cute not to share ;)

The kiddos and their cousins <3

   We decided that I needed a long vacation with my Mom and that Nick would join us for a month at the end of our trip.  He was fortunate enough to have some baby bonding time left :) (thank you California).   The kids and I packed up and headed to MA for the summer! We were able to spend some wonderful quality time with Mimi <3 and Bibi.  Although we were chomping at the bit for Daddy to arrive! 

As most of you know our vacation home resulted in us returning home for good! The rest of the year becomes a whirlwind.  We returned to CA for 2 weeks determined to take one last little mini vacation before we departed.  We also had to organize the move back! Yikes! So we head to Tahoe for a long weekend.  What a beautiful place <3 

Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe.  Amazing! 

To finish off our stay in CA Nick was sworn in as a US citizen! Just in time! Eeeeek!

N Naturalization day! 

While we were all super excited to be returning home we were also sad to say goodbye to our CA family.  Friends who quickly became family <3 We still miss them everyday! Our Mentors Sandy and Bob, my sister from another mister and my brother from another mother - Olivia and Jimmy (and Mason too!) our friends Mary and Brian, our amazing neighbors and many other friends we met on this journey. 

Fast forward to today.  I am so thankful for this year (in our personal lives)! I am so thankful for a Husband who works tirelessly for our family and who brought us back home!  I am thankful to be close again to our very little family! I am thankful for a much shorter plane ride for Nicks parents! I am thankful for Nick's family as I love them more than I ever thought possible.  I get tears every time I think about Jido meeting Sammi IRL for the first time (which is happening soon)! I am thankful for friends who are family!  I am thankful for once again having an amazing set of neighbors (they were amazing in CA too!)  and last but not even close to least I am thankful for Amelia and Sammi.  They are two of the most amazing kiddos (I know we are biased).  They are so smart and wow us every day with something new.  Amelia is starting to talk up a storm and Sammi is smart as a whip that one! They love each other so much it's unreal (don't worry they fight too!). They weathered the changes like pros! 

Even though Nick's time off from work has been with everyone sick at home, I am thankful for this time.  I am thankful for us <3 

                     

Kiddos being goofy today.  Sammi's face when he gets a smooch from Sissy! 

THANKFUL FOR US

xoxo, 

S 

There has to be a diagnosis for this?!

So tonight I am scrolling through FB while feeding S and putting him down for bed. As I am scrolling I literally stop dead in my tracks. I see this (below). 

I immediately think to myself, quick get the kids to bed, I must make these.  I then click on the ingredients and see that I have them all (well I had to borrow 1/2 c sugar from my neighbor). What's wrong with me?! I have a million things to do and I am completely exhausted yet here I am wanting to make these cookies.  I txt my friend Merry and say "Damn you, guess what I am doing right now?!"  She didn't even have to ask, she knew.  

I follow the directions to a T  and looking at Merry's vs. mine hers are much darker (could be due to different kinds of cocoa).  She says hers are yummy, we haven't tried mine yet so I will leave that part until the end. 

So my question is, "What is it that makes me drop everything in an attempt to bake, especially when I am so tired and have a million things to do?!" There has to be a diagnosis for someone like me? lol

The directions are super easy! The dough is super doughy and parchment paper is a much! 

I wasn't sure if they were going to expand so I only put three on the baking sheet. They didn't. 

Well folks the verdict is in and they are delicious! There goes the 3.5mi we walked today! Recipe below. 

http://www.annies-eats.com/2011/01/14/giant-double-chocolate-cookies/

I hope you all had a great weekend. 

Much Love, 

S

Giving thanks

Good evening folks and Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I should be organizing my closet tonight but I thought it was important for me to sit down and record all that I am thankful for.. Warning - there is a lot and I might get teary (good thing I am behind the screen). And I am on my second glass on wine (pre- babies this would have been a non-issue).  Anyways, lets go. These are not necessarily in order, except maybe the first. 

1. First and foremost I am so very thankful for my beautiful family.  We were fortunate enough to grow our family this year. 

2. I am beyond thankful and grateful for my Mother in Law.  She selflessly gave up 6 months with her husband in Beirut to come here and live with us to help me out.  She has been an amazing help.  I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that she is leaving in a week.  There will be major heartbreak around here. 

3. I am thankful that Amelia and Sammi have been able to spend so much time with their Teta (Grandma).  Especially Amelia, she will be unbelievably sad when she leaves, as will I. 

4. I am thankful for my husband who works tirelessly for our family and allows us to have a pretty crazy, awesome adventurous life! 

5. I am thankful for my Mom and Mick (Grammy and Grampy) who take time everyday to Skype with us.  Even though we can't be with them Amelia and I get to see them almost everyday. 

6. I am thankful for the kiddos Jido (Grandpa) who also takes the time everyday to Skype with us.  We are so very sad that he isn't here with us and miss him every single day. 

7. I am thankful for our neighbors who have taken us as family.  The kids love their Grammy Sandy Boppy Bob and Aunties Heather and Taylor.  We are so fortunate to have friends so close that not only love our children, but treat them as their own (and us too).  

8. I am thankful for Mary F who I was introduced to by another person I am thankful for, Katie S.  Mary befriended me no questions asked when we moved her and has been so accepting of myself and my family. We love you Auntie Mary! 

9. I am thankful for Katie S. who introduced Mary and I.  I am also thankful for Katie who never makes me feel silly when I come to her with my Mommy questions or when I cry over FaceTime with her because I have life changing news!  I love you and miss you Katie! 

10. I am thankful for my first 3 Mommy friends here.  Amanda J (our first neighbor who was so kind to us) - you often answered questions and pointed me in the right direction :) Camille - Turns out we were going to have more in comment then 2 people could ever imagine including but not limited to getting pregnant within days of each other before we even knew each other! and Olivia - Well you kind of deserve your own, you are next! 

11.  I am thankful for my friend Olivia.  You and your family have been amazing and quite frankly have gotten me through the past 6 months or so.  Mason has been the perfect little boyfriend for Amelia and I love watching them together and show their love for each other.  For you and Jimmy and Mason I am forever thankful. 

12. I am thankful for French nursery rhymes that seem to calm my daughter in an instant when she is having a meltdown (and yes she looks sweet and innocent but she can throw a tantrum with the best of them)

13. I am thankful that all friends and family in France and Beirut are safe in this crazy scary world that we live in. 

14.  I am thankful for my best friends who take the time to Skype and call often.  Not only do I love hearing from them, but it makes being homesick a little easier.  Danielle, Kate and Kerin.  I love you more than know. 

15. I am thankful that I am able to stay home with my children, as hard as it may be some days it means the world to me. 

16. Last but not least, I am thankful that when my MIL, my husband and I sit down to a casual dinner and Real Sex 24 comes on the channel of the movie we were watching, at 8pm that we can all sit and laugh as none of us can find the remote! Only in California folks, only in California. 

17.  Ok, one more - I am thankful for this wine I am drinking. 

With all that said (there is so much more to be thankful for, but I would be here all night). I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your families.  It is most certainly my favorite holiday! 

Cheers and Love, 

Sarah R.

Our giving thanks feast before the feast :) 

My daughter got the measles from her vaccine and Im still not an anti vaxxer!

Our poor Amelia was 1 in 75 kids to come down with the measles due to the MMR vaccine.  We all know that when we take our children to the pedi for any vaccinations that there is a chance for something to not go right.  The MMR is a live vaccine so the chances of them getting the virus is higher than most other vaccines. However when contracted via the vaccine the case contracted is considered mild. 

With that said, Amelia in our eyes was very lucky that she did not have a moderate or severe reaction.    I also feel lucky that we did decide to vaccinate her.  Now knowing what a mild case of the measles is, I would never wish an actual case of the measles on any child.  While we were battling temperatures headed close to 105, severe rash & super crankiness (due to my poor bug not feeling well), all I could think was that if this was the full blown measles I would not only be having anxiety but an anxiety attack! I was nervous enough with her temps as high as they were! 

Now that she has an immunity to it I feel much better.  Living in the East Bay of San Francisco has made me even more aware of the importance of vaccines.  There are many Mom's here who choose not to vaccinate and truth be told this makes me very nervous for my sweet girl (and soon to be newborn Son). 

Below are links to the CDC and WHO where you can find more information on the MMR vaccine and others.  

Vaccines save lives! 

Much Love, 

Sarah R 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm#mmr

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/

Call it what you want!

Some people call these unsafe, silly, great, smart and the list could go on.  I call them genius :) My husband has been concerned lately as our daughter just started standing up in her crib.   While we lowered her mattress she can still grab the top of her crib although not pull herself up.  This little act leads to often bumping her head.   

I went online last night in search of a solution.  I found Wonder Bumpers.  These are great however they are only made for cribs that have slats that are all the same size.  Then I realized, hey, I can do this on my own! So I googled DIY wonder bumpers and sure enough.  While all had great ideas I combined a few ideas and did it my way! 

This is how the day started! 

Baby A didn't know what to think! She thought we were done with Home Depot when we finished our home renovations! 

Here's what you need:

Pipe insulation (I used 1" with a 1/2" hole) also you must measure all your slats to see how much you need to purchase. 

Fabric (again you have to measure, I needed approx. 12 yards) I was liberal

Ribbon Your choice (I would say 4 spools) 

Scissors

Time

Patience ;)

I measured and cut the pipe insulators to match my measurements. I then cut the fabric into strips in which could wrap around the pipe insulator.  Then I took of the strip that was covering the adhesive on the insulator and stuck the fabric to it.  I then wrapped the fabric around  repeated.  It slid right onto the slat on the crib and I secured it with a ribbon bow up top! 

I have to admit that I am pretty happy with the way they turned out! Looking forward to finishing the whole thing! 

I only had enough time today to do the front of the crib.  I am hoping this will be ok as it's usually this side which she wants to climb :) 

Happy Crafting, 

XOXO 

S