Buttons Cloth Diapers Review + Giveaway

A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.

This isn’t a case of I did chores you’re going to do them too. It’s not even about punishment or earning an allowance…because they don’t. It’s about respect for the home you live in and learning responsibilities. Sure I may get the shit looks as if they want to gouge my eyes out with one of my heals…but in the long run I know they will thank me for teaching them these lessons…
Perhaps when I’m on my death-bed?
Life is full of fun responsibilities like paying bills and getting your kids to school on time, what happens if I just wanted to go out and play instead? Like on the computer as they so say I’m ALWAYS doing.
The bills would stack up like those dishes and start growing that funky white mold..I mean late fees.
I see their friends impatiently pacing outside as my kids begrudgingly do their chores..and it’s not like they clean the whole house here people! Since there is two of them doing chores (currently) they switch chores every other day…one day dishes/kitchen the other day floors/straighten living room + keeping their room clean.
Truly, I think that is where I broke the camels back!
Asking them to clean their room!? How dare I! I mean I’m the one that goes in there and tosses their clothing on the floor or pulls all the books and colored pencils off the shelving, I should pick it up right?
Maybe I should just let one of the pencils penetrate their foot…have a costly hospital visit and then apologize for not picking it up sooner.
I understand there is only so much daylight after school, but I also understand the importance of them doing my job…I mean learning responsibility. There are days where I will spend my day doing their chores (way better than they would ever do them btw) so when they come home they just have to drop their things and run…
Far Far Away
But, it hurts my heart because I don’t even get a Thanks Mom…you’re so awesome! Nope, not even one. I get instead a “what’s for snack?” or better yet the slam of the door as they take off to do what ever it is these kids on the streets do these days.
Despite the grunts and groans and impatiently waiting friends, who have no responsibilities, my kids will continue to do their chores
And LOVE it.
Because I’m trying to raise responsible young men who have respect for themselves, others and the places around them. I feel good knowing I’m sending them off into the world knowing how to do dishes, cook, clean, vacuum, and do laundry…
ohh! I almost forgot! My oldest mows the lawn now…thank god! But he’s also turned it into a business around the neighborhood…
SEE! RESPONSIBILITY!
I have the RESPONSIBILITY to raise 4 young men to be responsible, respectful fully grown men…and I’m not letting that lag anytime soon.
Unless you bring wine…Please bring wine!

While most people have never heard of them, Jon Favreau the director of Disney’s “The Jungle Book” is one of those people who just think pangolins are the coolest critters out there. Jon even included one in the movie…you’ll meet him not long after you meet Baloo, & provide comic relief during a particular scene in the movie. During my recent trip to L.A. for the #JungleBookEvent, we were educated about the critically endangered Pangolin. Jeffrey Flocken, who is the North American Regional Director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), shared details about this rarely heard of animal, why they are so endangered, & how we can help to conserve & protect this creature from extinction.
Photo Courtesy of ifaw.org
What is a Pangolin?
“Pangolins are very little known and incredibly awesome animals…They are a mammal, unique to their taxonomy branch, and there is no close relative… they are under a tremendous amount of pressure, experiencing extinction throughout its range and it’s because it’s being captured for the wildlife trade, in most cases illegally, although still legally in many cases.”
Why are they so critically endangered?
Their meat is considered a delicacy throughout Asia, particularly in China. Their scales are used for various things…they are ground up and used in traditional Asian medicines & can also be found in belts & boots.
6 Facts you need to know!
There are eight different species of Pangolins. Four in Asia and Four in Africa
Pangolins are so endangered, they are very likely to become extinct in our lifetime unless we do something to prevent it.
Pangolins are solitary, nocturnal animals…so not much is known about them or how many are truly left in the wild.
There has never been a successful breeding program in captivity.
It’s almost impossible to keep them alive once they’ve been taken from the wild.
The only zoo in North America to currently house a pangolin is the San Diego Zoo.
Photo Source: www.awf.org
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is working to try to set up protection so that the animals can no longer be traded legally, which will also help stop the illegal trade. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued their 90 day finding on the pangolin petition on March 16th. IFAW got a positive finding, which means it will go through the full process to determine if pangolins warrant “Endangered” protection. IFAW is asking for the public to sign a petition in support of protecting the pangolins. While we wait for this petition, please check out this page for more information on protecting the pangolins.
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Mr. Pangolin in Disney’s The Jungle Book, out TODAY!

Halloween is my second favorite time of year, and my hubbies favorite. Throw in my 7-year-olds birthday around Halloween, and you know we have to do it big. We love to throw a good Halloween/Birthday party where there’s plenty of treats, spooks and things to do. While I was in LA earlier this month for the #DoctorStrangeEvent we also celebrated Finding Dory coming to Blu-ray Halloween style!
We joined Master Pumpkin Carver, Joseph Yakovetc to learn how to carve pumpkins properly…and all these years I thought I was doing a good job! Let’s go over some tips from the Master Carver himself.
TIP 1. Find a pumpkin with a good healthy stem. The stem sill has nutrients that feed the pumpkin and keep it healthy.
Lets talk about design and carving…
Things you will need:
Printable/Color Page
Transfer Paper
Pen/Pencil
Sharpie
2-4 Push Pins
Baby Wipes
Paint (colors depend on project)
Getting Started:
TIP 2. Don’t cut the stem off the top, this actually makes you pumpkin die…see #1…Instead cut a hole out in the back of your pumpkin, it will last longer and be easier to light.
Lets Get Started “carving”
Clean your pumpkin well with a wipe.
Now you are ready to pin your selected design backed by tracing paper to your pumpkin. Trace every line with your pen/pencil. Once you have that done you can remove the papers and follow outlines with a
Once you have that done you can remove the papers and follow outlines with a permanent marker…you may need to clean your marker now and then to keep it fresh.
Use your baby wipes to clean off surface from graphite paper, you will be left permanent marker lines.
Paint any areas you want to be colored.
Take carving utensil and outline the outside of the design.
Then you will pick areas that you will scrape out…for Dory, we scraped out the eyes and teeth
Photo by EnzasBargins.com
TIP 3. Use an old CD to clean out your pumpkin. The larger surface area and curve makes cleaning out pumpkins quick and easy. Joseph Yokovetc can clean a pumpkin in 30 seconds with this method.
TIP 4. Don’t let your pumpkin sit directly on the pavement, instead use a trivet or table to keep it elevated, and bring it in each night to help it say healthier longer.
FUN FINDING DORY ACTIVITY SHEETS
The summer blockbuster hit, Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory,” swims home just in time for the holidays on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on Oct. 25 and on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Nov. 15. Viewers can watch Dory’s hilarious and heartwarming quest to find her family and continue the underwater adventure with hours of immersive bonus features.
The film’s playful and plentiful bonus offerings include “Piper,” the theatrical short film starring an irresistible sandpiper hatchling; an all-new mini short featuring interviews with Dory’s pals from the Marine Life Institute; a behind-the-scenes look at the most challenging character Pixar has ever created; never-before-seen deleted scenes, including a digital exclusive featuring the Tank Gang from “Finding Nemo” who make it their mission to get Marlin and Nemo to the Marine Life Institute; and much, much more.
Thirteen years after the original, audiences get a new chapter in the story of their favorite forgetful blue tang. As returning director Andrew Stanton describes, “I realized that I was worried about Dory. The idea of her short-term memory loss and how it affected her was unresolved. What if she got lost again?” His response is a touching tale of friendship and family that’s truly unforgettable … perhaps even for Dory.
Bonus features include*:
Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray & Digital HD:
Theatrical Short: “Piper” – A hungry sandpiper hatchling ventures from her nest for the first time to dig for food by the shoreline. The only problem is that the food is buried beneath the sand where scary waves roll up onto the shore.
Marine Life Interviews (All-New Mini Short) – Meet the inhabitants of the Marine Life Institute as they remember our favorite blue tang.
The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar – Pixar’s “Team Hank” unravels the challenges, frustrations, and rewards of bringing to life the studio’s crankiest and most technically complicated character ever.
What Were We Talking About? – This piece showcases the complex routes Dory’s story took as the filmmakers worked to construct a comprehensive narrative involving a main character with short-term memory loss.
Casual Carpool – What’s it like to commute with the voices of Marlin, Charlie, Bailey and Hank? Join “Finding Dory” writer/director Andrew Stanton as he drives Albert Brooks, Eugene Levy, Ty Burrell and Ed O’Neill to work.
Animation & Acting – How do you create a connection between a human audience and a fish? This behind-the-scenes look behind the curtain examines the process of constructing believable performances through a unique collaboration between the director, voice actors and animators.
Creature Features – The cast of “Finding Dory” share cool facts about the creatures they voice in the film.
Deep in the Kelp – Disney Channel’s Jenna Ortega guides us on a research trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to show how far the “Finding Dory” crew went to make Dory’s world feel real.
Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer – “Finding Dory” character art director Jason Deamer talks about how he got to Pixar, how he draws the characters in the film, and how falling off a skateboard teaches you lessons you can use in art and life.
Dory’s Theme – A spirited discussion among the composer, music editor and director of “Finding Dory” about the musical elements that shape Dory’s quirky and joyful theme.
Rough Day on the Reef – Sometimes computers make mistakes. Here you’ll see some of the funny, creepy and just plain bizarre footage the crew encountered while making “Finding Dory.”
Commentary – Director Andrew Stanton, co-director Angus MacLane and producer Lindsey Collins deliver their personal perspective on “Finding Dory.”
Deleted Scenes (introduced by director Andrew Stanton)
Losing Nemo – While watching the stingray migration, Dory starts to follow two fish that remind her of her parents, leaving Nemo all alone.
Little Tension in Clown Town – In this alternate version of the film, Dory tries to “follow her fins” to her parents, but ends up in a strange place with even stranger fish fashion.
Dory Dumped – In this early version of the story, Dory’s parents had short-term memory loss as well.
Sleep Swimming – Dory begins to talk and swim in her sleep, revealing what seem to be clues to her past.
Meeting Hank – Wandering the Marine Life Institute’s elaborate pipe system, Dory happens upon the abode of Hank the cranky octopus.
The Pig – Frantically navigating the pipes of the Marine Life Institute in search of her parents, Dory crosses paths with a terrifying cleaning device.
Starting Over – Director Andrew Stanton presents four different versions of the movie’s opening scene to illustrate the filmmakers’ search for the best way to introduce Dory’s backstory and to connect this new film to “Finding Nemo.”
Tank Gang (Digital exclusive) – After a close encounter with a squid leaves them separated from Dory, Marlin and Nemo unexpectedly meet up with the Tank Gang from “Finding Nemo,” who make it their mission to get to the Marine Life Institute … by any means necessary.
Hidden Seacrets of Finding Dory (Digital exclusive) – Take a deep dive to catch secret Easter Eggs throughout the movie. And just like Hank, they’re hidden in plain sight.
DVD:
Theatrical Short: Piper & Commentary
Create a fun Jello Dessert
Ingredients
2 Boxes Dory Jello
6 Cups of Water
1 Bag Sweedish Fish
Fill your cup a quarter of the way and put in fridge for about 1 1/2 hours put in a few fish and fill a little more repeat until cup is full.
Or you can fill cups, let sit in fridge about 1 hour – 1 hour 15 min and push a few fish into place (you will want to top with cool whip if you do it this way)
You will need to let your Jello sit about 4 hours before it is ready to eat.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE ARTICLES FROM THE #DOCTORSTRANGEEVENT
Interview with Mads Mikkelsen Scott Derrickson Interview Tilda Swinton Interview Rachel McAdams Interview
Benedict Cumberbatch Interview Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After

When I was younger there was nothing I loved more than drawing. Putting pencil to paper and creating something beautiful. For years now I have been curious about graphics tablets and how easy it is to create with them. Ugee sent me their Ugee M1000L Graphics Tablet to try out so I could see just how great digital drawing is.
It took me a little bit to figure out how to get it working…the buttons would work, but I couldn’t get my computer to accept it as a mouse. So I just rebooted the computer with the tablet still plugged in and it worked like a charm. Let’s talk a little about the features first.
Ugee M1000L offers a great value for its price. It features:
Many customizable buttons for better productivity
2048 level of pressure sensitivity, to control the quality of your artwork
Large active working area which is good of precise drawing
Great customer support from Ugee.
The Ugee M1000L has 8 shortcut keys, which is more than comparable graphic tablets. More buttons means better productivity for you. It also has 16 hot-cell keys across the top. Each of these buttons has an icon telling you what they do by default, so that you don’t have to use the keyboard or mouse so much…but the best thing about these is they are customizable which is great for me because I do not use Word/Excel etc or Msn…so I can customize it for them to open Photoshop or ArtRage instead.
Ugee M1000L offers a spacious 10×6″ active drawing area. It does not offer wireless capability, but does offer a 4′ cord. The pen is easy to set up and use. It also comes with 8 pen tips just in case the pen tip gets worn down. The Ugee M1000L works with both Windows & Mac.
Ugee M1000L supports the following programs:
Adobe Photoshop Autodesk Sketchbook Express Manga Studio Paint Tool SAI AI Krita
Ugee Fun 2 – Which comes with the tablet
Overall I’ve very pleased with the quality and price of this tablet. My little guys are more into drawing than I am these days…I can’t wait to see what they create!
BUY IT
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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