Mother's Day weekend!

The weekend has finally come where it is the weekend just to celebrate being a mom. Now for most moms your day will be filled with family, doing things with the kids, maybe going out for dinner or enjoying a home cooked meal. But maybe, just maybe, you are one of those moms that get to take the day off. You are off to the spa, after getting to sleep in, while your hubby is at home cleaning, cooking and taking care of the kids. You might possibly be curled up in a chair somewhere reading a book. I know for me I am working from home so I can be with my kids every day. I spend time with the them each day, reading every night, finding family activities to do on the weekend, enjoying church together and just being a family. So really for me, Mother's Day is not different from any other day. But it is a day for me to remind my mother how much I appreciate her and everything she has done for me. It is also a day for me to reflect on the kind of mother I have been, the kind of mother I want to be and what I can do to show my own children that I truly appreciate them. For me, it's a day to slow down and truly enjoy what motherhood is all about.

So to kick of Mother's Day weekend, Monkey and I read Why a Daughter needs a Mother. We read half of it last night and the rest tonight. It was very nice to go over the lessons mothers should teach their daughters, remind your daughter why you love her, and just spend quality time together. This morning we then got up to participate in the Run, Walk and Waddle, that raises money for postpartum depression. I packed Peanut in the stroller, and Monkey walked with me. It was windy beyond words. Which also brought up a strange bitter cold! Had I know I would have packed the girls in their snow suits! It was a pretty cold walk. We finished the 3K walk in an hour and I ended up carrying Peanut wrapped in a blanket for the last mile. Talk about a work out!! But it was really great to get the fresh air and exercise, as well as help with a great cause. As mother's we have so many highs and lows, and for some its harder than we know. So anything that can help out someone else, should be done. If you want to see more info on the walk click right here.

The day continued at home with lunch and nap time. I got some cleaning done (not as much as I had hoped) and quite a bit of work done. Now as the kids sleep I am trying up some loose ends on the computer, then I plan on sewing and ironing a bit before reading and going to bed. Tomorrow will be church, lunch with my mom, and taking the girls out to the park or zoo. Tomorrow night I think we will venture out for dinner, just the girls and I, before heading home to tackle some laundry and bedtime. Monkey already gave me one of her gifts she made. How sweet it is when they are so young and excited. These gifts truly are the best since it takes their time and dedication to make these gifts filled with so much love. One day it will be so nice to look back through all these gifts to see how they change over the years.

What are you doing this Mother's Day? Do you have a special day planned? Are you doing the usual or do you do something new each year?

Whatever it is you do tomorrow, I hope you have a wonderful day. Happy Mother's Day to you and your own mother. May you have a great day as well as a great rest of the year!

~Dawn

Site of the week- Little Ladybug Designs

This week I would like to introduce you to Little Ladybug Designs. When it comes to announcing the special events in our lives, cherishing special memories and getting our business off to the right start, there is no better way to do that then through the designs of Little Ladybug. Here you can receive custom cards for any occasion- adoption & birth announcements, birthday invitations, baby shower invitations, religious invitations, save the date cards, bridal shower invitations, wedding invitations, wedding announcements. Little Ladybug designs has been working hard on expanding their line of products to offer you an even bigger selection. Check out all these new items:Baby Shower Invitations, Birthday Invitations, Adoption Wall Art, Personalized Wall Art, and Business Cards.

Have you ever had a video montage made to capture your special moments? This is a special treat by Kim, the owner of Little Ladybug Designs. Check out the sample video so you get an idea of what all this video montage has to offer!

When you are ready to decorate your nursery, Little Ladybug Designs is ready with their new wall art that is personalized. If you have adopted, you can pick out the sweet adoption wall art to add extra meaning to the baby's room.

Now are you looking to take your business to the next level? Do you want custom business cards to match your site? Do you need a business logo or return address labels? Look no further. Little Ladybug Designs has got you covered. Just contact Kim with what you need and she can make it happen. Making her products customized is what she does best. With every card you purchase you receive: professionally printed cards on high quality photo paper or card stock, basic photo editing, envelopes and free and unlimited digial proofs.

Head over to Little Ladybug Designs and start shopping! Enjoy a 10% off discount now through May 31st by clicking the following link: http://www.littleladybugdesigns.com/?code=maypromo

**Don't forget to sign up for the Little Ladybug Designs newsletter and receive a $5 coupon! Visit their blog as well!

Thanks for checking out our site of the week! Check back next Friday for another new and exciting business!

Have a great weekend!

~Dawn

What Doesn't Work for Me Wednesday

Well today is the first time I have participated in Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer. Today is also a themed WFMW and it is what doesn't work for me. Well let's see I think I have a few....

Driving: With gas prices as high as they are, driving doesn't work for me. Paying over a $100 in gas a week is killing my budget. So right now I have to start thinking of other ways to get places, or how to run all my errands at once in order so that I minimize my driving as much as possible. Soon I am never going to leave the house since gas prices will be through the roof.

Shopping while Hungry: I don't know why I can't get this one down and know it doesn't work for me. Every time I shop hungry I come home with nothing but snacks and munchies and things that will never equal a great dinner or lunch and missing the important things I went there to begin with. I need to eat a light snack before shopping. And I need to not take the kids. Carrying a 1 year old who wants in and out of the cart and wants to walk around the store and wants to throw a fit DOES NOT WORK FOR ME. As well as a 7 year old asking for something different on every row as well as letting me know that she doesn't want the things I am putting in the cart. Nope I think kids shopping with me doesn not work at all.

Sorting laundry: Sorting all the laundry into piles of whites, jeans, colors, darks, towels, bedding, delicates, and whatever else you can think of does not work for me. That is so time consuming and takes over the whole house. I just throw it all together. Although to be honest I think a few piles do get made of jeans and of delicates but the rest all goes in together. With lots of dirty clothes and children making messes with theirs, I just have to get as much of it done as possible. So I wash it all on cold, dry on low and don't use beach. They come out clean and fresh every time.

Well this was fun... hopefully I got the theme down this week and can add something useful next week when its just works for me wednesday. I have to start thinking of what actually works for me that is worth sharing. More themes are coming up: June 4 -- The Mom-I'm-Bored edition, July 2 -- The Five-Ingredients-Or-Less edition. So head over to Rocks in My Dryer and read the other fun WFMW posts. Make sure to leave a comment if you stop by so I can come visit you and say hello!

Have a wonderful day!

~Dawn

Wordless Wednesday- The Big Apple

I figured this Wordless Wednesday I would post something different instead of pictures of my little girls. I know we love to see them every week but let's take a look at some pics I took on our trip to New York. It was our first time there and it was amazing. There was so much to see and to do. We didn't even get to half of what I wanted to see. Hopefully this fall or next spring we will be heading back out there. My little brother goes to NYU so it was a good reason to head out there. :)

Leave a comment so I know you stopped by and so I can come and visit you. Grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile. Let's get to know each other a bit. Then head over to 5 minutes for mom for all the other great Wordless Wednesday fun!



Have a great day!

~Dawn

The winner of the Stowers Swaddlers & Stationary is...

the grand winner is comment #17 is Danielle. The winner has been notified by email and has 3 days to get back to me to claim her prize. Don't forget to visit Stowers Swaddler & Stationary for all their great products and award winning swaddle blankets!!

~Dawn

Good morning.. is it Friday yet? All About Me Part 2

Ok so the week hasn't started off that bad that I am hoping for it to be Friday but really it's that I have been so busy lately and I only have more to do this week that I can't wait for the weekend. First I must say to everyone that won a book from here and won the Bloggy Giveaway, I am sorry you have not received them yet. I just mailed them. I know I know its later than I said and I should have made it to the post office days ago. But it has been crazy. But the gifts are on their way and I thank you for your patience!!!

Now on to my other news of the day... I just found out yesterday that a close friend of mine had her husband die over in Iraq on May 2nd. THey are both in the marines and have only been married a short time. They were both stationed over there and planning on coming home in December to move to their home state, Colorado, and truly begin their family and life together. My heart just breaks for her! I can't believe her best friend, her soulmate, is gone and she will have to bury him this young in their lives and marriage. (be forewarned strong feelings coming up) I HATE the "war" in Iraq. I don't even call it a war but America sending over our people to die while cleaning up the mess of another counrty. Why don't we keep our people here to better our own country? You know we have highest crime rate in the world? That is INSANE. There are so many things I love about America but so many things I think we lack on and are behind with. Like maternity leave, family values, the drinking and drug problems, crime, school systems, work and unemployment, immigrant problems, gas prices, the list goes on and on. I am counting down the days til the election. I really hope that we get our people out of there and back home. On that note I am happy to remote that another friend of mine will be having her husband return home to her on Friday from his year long adventure being in Iraq.

Ok enough on that... just makes me sad and angry. So on to my books.... I haven't read a thing this weekend. I just didn't have time and now after reading several other opinions, blogs, and thinking about things I am not sure whether I will read the books or not. I might just read them anyway so that I have an understanding of the books and where they are coming from. I like to be educated on both sides and then form an opinion afterwards. So if you have any good books you recommend that are fullfilling, enlightening and move you pelase leave a comment and let me know.

Now to add on a bit more in my All About Me series.. being the only girl and middle child has given me quite the seat in life. I tend to take on the motherly role to everyone I meet including my own mother. Not because I am bossy (well maybe I can be) but because I have this nuturing side I just can't control. I was always good with children and children were drawn to me. I baby sat my own life and if I could have kept doing it while being a mother I would have! I loved watching children grow, learn new things, say the funniest things, and have so much energy. This love and passion made for one sure thing- I was going to be a mother. I didn't know what else I would do in life but I knew for sure that I was going to be a mother. And now that I am a mother of 2 I think it has been the most eye opening experience in my life. It constantly challenges me. I have to always be thinking that someone is watching every move that I make and that I must be doing the right thing to ensure these little girls do the right things as they get older. Have you ever wondered what you look like as a parent to your child? Wait til they are older say 5. When my daughter used to get in trouble I would have one hand on my hip and one finger shaking telling her no no no that is not ok. Well years later at age 5, I said something to my daughter only for her to turn around, hand on her hip, shaking her finger at me saying " no no mommy!" Wow is that what I look like? It is so easy to get lost in those moments. Over the years, I have seen more of myself in my daughter and it is quite frightening. But having these experiences are what keeps me going in life. It's what drives the fire. I know now that I have to finish school to show my girls that one day no matter what happens to them in life they can still finish school and it's important to do so. I know that I want to do well with my business, to show them that when they believe in something and are truly passionate it about it, success will come there way.

As you can see in part two, I am pretty passionate about motherhood and really underneath that I am passionate about being a strong woman. Believing in who you are, where you want to go, and knowing that you can do it on your own, is a message I try to live by, one I want to share with others, and an example I want to set for my girls.

There you have it. A little look into my weekend, today's thoughts, and little bit more about me. This week I have some more reviews, contests, and stories to share. I hope you decide to come back and hang out for a bit. Grab some coffee, I might long winded. ;)

Have a wonderful day. What is moving you this morning?

~Dawn

The weekend is here!

I was trying to decide what I would write about today. Do I mention the great news going on with my business? Do I write part 2 on the All About Me? Should we talk about the kids and what they are doing this weekend. Hmmm I am not sure. All I know is... I am excited about the things going on with my business. I have such high energy right now! It feels good when so many things are going right! I am hoping they keep up. If you want to see a bit about what I am excited about check out this article that mentions me in The Denver Business Journal! We are on page 3! Then there is more to come with a tv show and magazines but we will save that information for later.

Tonight is family fun night at my daughter's school. So you go with your family to have pizza and ice cream as well as a ton of carnival games, booths and fun! We will be heading there tonight! My daughter is excited for things like this and for me to take a break from Sweet Pea Cakes, Etc. Tomorrow is filled with more family fun as well as helping out Baby Candy with her shirts. Watch for her stuff to be on Ellen on Friday May 9th for the Mother's Day Show. Sunday will be pretty low key with church, LOTS of homework and finals. And that is our weekend.

What are you doing this weekend?
What exciting things are going on in your life? Is there something that you are wanting to bring into your life?

I am giong to be reading the book "The Laws of Spirit" this weekend. I will write up a little something on Monday. I am also reading A New Earth and going through the workbook on Oprah. If you haven't heard about it or don't think it will work for you. Read it. Look into it. Check out Oprah.com. There is so much to be said with the power you have within you. I totally believe everyone can bring themselves to the spiritually greatness they are meant to be and live this life you are suppose to be.

~Dawn

Winner of the MJennings Designs is...

The winner of the contest is comment #24 Danielle! The winner has been emailed and has 3 days to respond to win their bracelet!!

Don't forget that all Sweet Pea Readers can head over to MJennings Designs and start shopping with a 15% discount good til May 21st! So get those Mother's day gifts now! Just enter SPC15% at the checkout!

If you would like your product reviewed and host a giveway please email me your name, site name, url, to sweetpeacakesetc (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Thanks so much!
~Dawn

I won something!!! WOO HOO

I am so excited to say that I won something!! I won a $15 gift certificate from BePe Baby from the blog A Frog in My Soup!! Here is what it said:

The BePe Baby Contest has ended, but don’t forget to purchase these wonderful slippers for the little ones in your life and save another 20% by using the code: BP20%OFF! My babies adore these slippers!
#18 - Dawn
Congratulations Dawn - Remember everyone, there’s always great contests going on here and at www.FroggyReviews.com!

I will have you know that 8 is my lucky number and usually 18 is too! it all starts from my birthday being 8-18-81 at 8:18 in the morning! Anyway, today has been the best day ever and it is now even better. I can't wait to get these things from BePe Baby:
#68 BePe Baby Toddler Non-Skid Slipper, Brown with Pink and Brown Square Bubbles Print
and I like
#007 BePe Baby Toddler Non-Skid Slipper, Brown Slipper with White and Bright Colored Flower Print

So you need to head over and check it out. I love these little shoes. And if your little baby loves to take off their shoes or don't like shoes these little slippers will be perfect!

Yippee for being a winner. Happy Days!!

~Dawn

Congrats from Colorado Auction to support Children's Hospital

I just wanted to share with you something that I am a sponsor of. This is an auction being held online to support Children's Hospital, put together by Olivia Omega Logan, owner of Baby Candy. Many of us participate in the Congrats from Colorado gift baskets that go out to different celebrities having babies and one recently went out to Kathy Sabine our local weather lady on 9 News. Now the same gift basket will be auctioned off to support Children's Hospital in Denver, CO. If you get some time check it out during May 7th-12th. There are a lot of awesome things in this giveaway- including Crocs and Bobby- our local companies!! I am so proud to be a part of something so good for the community. It's good to give back.

Just incase you can't see all the participating companies here they are and please feel free to click on the links and check out each of these mommy owned businesses!!

Baby Candy

Dreem

Bella Mama

Monkey-Toes

Belle Baby Carriers

Pangea Organics

Boppy

Snippets

Bruz wear

Sweet Pea Cakes, etc.

Crocs

Trista Baby


Please stop by the auction starting May 7th! http://www.congratsfromcolorado.com/

~Dawn

What Motherhood Means to Me

Over at 5 Minutes for Mom, they have an awesome giveaway for Mother's Day. It is a photo contest showing what motherhood means to you to win a $1000!! I am hoping to win because that would be so nice to go shopping with since I have not gotten myself something nice in a long time. Plus I could take the girls out for some fun and some new summer outfits. So I am trying to decide on some pictures and we are going to start off with a funny one to lead up to the serious one (although my mom thinks humor would get me the win)

Motherhood is not always great and happy all the time. Sometimes you want to pull out your hair. And if it's not me pulling out mine....

then its the kids pulling out theirs!

(NOTE: no children were harmed during the taking of this photo.)

But really motherhood brings you back to seeing the life through the eyes of a child... its believing in everything again. Enjoying the bond between you and your child brings so much love and happiness. Then watching the love blossom between siblings- the very children you brought into this world- is what makes this job so rewarding.

Those are my babies- Monkey and Peanut. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Here are some other fun photos! My mother and I in the same outfits. We did NOT plan this. I happened to show up and we were wearing the same outfits. Its so nice when your best friend and you are wearing matching outfits. I am so blessed to have a great mother who goes the extra mile for all of her children and grandchildren. Since her and I are so close, it allows the girls to be close to Grandma too. They have such a great bond. Happy Mother's Day mom!

Thanks for stopping by to see what motherhood means to me. Feel free to leave a comment and tell me what motherhood means to you. Then head over to 5 minutes for mom and enter all their other contests they have going on for two weeks! Just click the banner to head over. I am already entering this one, the contest for a printer and more!

Happy Mother's Day!

~Dawn

Wordless Wednesday- Puppy Love

This week I took the cutest picture of my little Peanut hugging onto her favorite dog over at Grandma's house. Braedi is her favorite and she must say hi to her and hug her every time we come over. It is so funny that she loves her so much since Monkey loved the other dog, Maddie when she was little. They each have their favorite.

I also have a fun picture of Monkey to throw in here too from her beauty party on Sunday with Girl Scouts. Her hair was really,really cute and I wish they didn't put the blue sparkle spray stuff in there.

Check out all the Wordless Wednesday going on at 5 minutes for mom! Leave a comment and let me know you stopped by and hey here's a question too:

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? I know must of you will say your kids but is there anything else?

Have a great week! Make sure to check out our contests and come back this week for more exciting stuff going on.

Happy WW!

~Dawn

Cyber Baby Shower

Check out the baby shower fun going on right now for Margie Gunn! I donated a Yellow Nursing Diaper cake for her baby shower! And you can win something too! Head over and start playing the games and check out all the prizes! We are giving away a yellow or pink nursing cover up to 1 lucky winner! Make sure you stop by before Friday May 2nd. Check Happy Panda for the list of prizes! I love so many of the prizes: Happy Pandas $40 giveaway to their site, Polka Dot Bumblebee is giving away custom photo cards, and I love the Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow for Nursing Moms even though it will be awhile til I nurse again( I am still weaning Peanut from night feedings. UGH)

Baby shower's are so much fun!

~Dawn

I almost forgot my answers to the game:

Game #1 my guess is 88 jelly beans!

Game #2 here is a pic of me preggo with Peanut:

Game #3

Well I shouldn't guess how many diapers are used for the Nursing Diaper cake since its from me. :) But its less then 75 and more than 50!

Game #4

Well both of my labors were fast and all natural. With my first I went in to have my water broken since I was nearly 4 1/2 cm dilated and it wasn't breaking on its own. So the doctor broke it said see you in the morning and was off. Well after visiting with friends that came to visit. I soon yelled out I have to push. The nurses ran over panicked and one left to find the doctor. THey told me not to push. So I tried to hold her in. It didnt' work. It took less than 15 minutes of pushing, about 4 pushes, and she was out. Nearly 8 lbs too. SO an hour total of labor with pushing. I didn't get Monkey on my belly or anything. I was not breathing right while pushing and I had to be put on oxygen right away. I also tore and got the chills right after having her so I was piled under blankets. But I decided it was a breeze and I was made to have kids. I then planned on having a dozen.

When I went in with Peanut they wanted to make sure I was in the hospital before my water broke since they figured this one would be quick too. For some reason I was not dilating so they gave me some little pills that they insert (yuck) and it softens the cervix. Well the first one did wonders and I had HUGE contractions about a minute about but was still not dilating. SO I took a hot shower in a shower with jets on the wall. It was so fantastic. It was time for the second pill (they came in a series of 4 and if by morning I was not dilating the doctor would be hooking me up to the big meds to get it going) but they wouldn't give it to me since my contractions were to close together. So they said to get some rest. Yeah right. I think I slept for an hour and then it was time for another pill. shortly after this I did not feel well. I had to keep going potty and what have you. Well at one point the contractions got super bad and I could not get off the toilet. I kid you not I was sitting in there with my head against the cool wall, losing feeling in my legs, afraid the baby would fall in the toilet. Finally everyone insisted that I get out of the bathroom right now and lay down that the doctor would be in soon to speed this up. My only thoughts was does he hate me?? why on earth would be want to cause me more pain? At this point I insisted on drugs NOW. (prior to this I told everyone that at no point was I to have any even if I ask) I also asked to go home. I had enough of being there and figured the baby wasn't ready and we shouldn't make her come out so I wanted to go home. The nurse checked and I was finally dilated at 4 cm. in about another 3 minutes I was in horrible pain. I was gripping the railings so hard my knuckles were white. Everyone was trying to set up the room and get ready and call the doctor to come in. Well at this point I have the overwhelming urge to pee. I ask to go to the bathroom and you know what? NO ONE HELPED ME. So my boyfriend grabbed a bedpan to give me but a nurse came in and took that way. All of a sudden water went everywhere- on the floor (which was a horribe sound) and everywhere. I started to cry thinking I just wet the bed and no one wanted to let me go potty. That soon ended as I rolled off my side and screamed I have to push. They grabbed the on call doctor and told me do not push. How do you not push? Well he barely turned around to catch the baby. I pushed once and she shot out. I felt every shoulder, her butt, her legs, all of it. I don't remember feeling all of Monkey when she came out. It was crazy. They popped her on my belly which I didn't get with Monkey since they put me on oxygen right away. I had to remind my boyfriend to cut the cord, grab the camera and call to check on my mom. SO Peanut came out 5 minutes after my water broke. Thank goodness I didn't go home! So the dilating took forever, which it wouldn't have had I been at home and doing it like I did the first. But the actually pushing and all that was quick. It was just soooo intense and fast this time that it hurt. So now I have changed my mind on a dozen and I am now having two. Maybe in 5 years when I forget the pain I will think of having another!

Tackle it Tuesday- Kitchen!

Well this week for Tackle it Tuesday, I tackled the kitchen! Last week I took on me and let me update you a bit on that. After saying I was going to take time for myself I ended up sick- sick with a fever, running nose, cough, headache, chills, and body aches. It was brutal the first few days. The night before that though I did get some family time and went to a baseball game. So needless to say with a cold I sure did get some rest. It didn't help much with getting my to do list done. But I knocked out a lot the past two days and I am quite happy to say I added the kitchen in and it looks great. Its small but it can get cluttered quick. Here are the before pictures of the stove, the pantry and the tupperware cupboard where my little Peanut insists on playing.














I could really use a shelf in the back of the tupperware cupboard to make it more organized but that will have to wait for another day. I decluttered and disinfected every part of that kitchen, as well as sweep and mop, do all the dishes and finish the laundry that was piled up. Now I am working on my desk and all my work stuff and finding some place for that.



My daughter and I worked on her room on Sunday going through all the clothes and organizing her toys. I didn't get the before pictures so I decided to skip on the after pictures. Things are coming along nicely. And as for my long to do list from last week.... well the stuff I got done is highlighted in pink. The rest is still needing to be done and has joined a new list for this week.



finishing up the laundry

organizing the hall closet

going through the girls' winter clothes, pulling out the summer clothes

finishing the new diaper cakes and posting to site

mailing out wholesale information,

booking appointments with local retailers

updating my blog

uploading all new towel cake line

mailing off cakes

finalizing location for charity silent auction this fall

following up with leads

setting up details for next Girls Night In

preparing house to be on the market

register for summer and fall classes

read a book ( I have a stack to the ceiling of fantastic books that I am just waiting for some time to curl up with and read!)

finding more sites to host product reviews

sell old car

book trip to Disneyland





The work never ends does it?!?!



What are you tackling this week? Leave a comment and let me know you stopped by!



Have you seen the post all about me? More personal posts to come daily!



Did you get time to enter some of our contests we are having? Click here to check them out!



Have a great week. Don't forget to head over and check out the other Tackle it Tuesday posts at 5 minutes for mom. Have you seen their Mother Day giveaways? Just click on the banner to the left and head over to see what its all about! See you tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday!



~Dawn

Winner of our Bloggy Carnival Giveaway is...

I had a giveaway in honor of the Bloggy Carnival! I am giving away a copy of The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide, a monkey diapers cloth bag (perfect for grocery shopping) and a Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. diaper cupcake for a boy or a girl AND a $15 gift certificate to Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. to.......


COMMENT #10! SARAH YOU ARE THE WINNER! I have sent the winner an email. If I don't hear from Sarah in 3 days, a new winner will be drawn and announced on here.

Thank you all for participating and stopping by my blog. I hope to see you again for our contests, product reviews, personal stories and fun!

Have a great week!
~Dawn