Mom Tip Monday: Try, Try Again

Each step of the way, my little boy has been a picky eater. Even at 10 months, when we tried to feed him something new, he would stick his tongue out to taste it before it could go in his mouth. Where in the world did he learn to do that?! If he disapproved, he would refuse to eat anything else for the rest of his meal!!! Meanwhile, I would see my friends throw a bunch of random foods in front of their babies who would happily eat anything and everything up just because they were excited to eat something more interesting than pureed veggies.

THEN, once he finally started trying more solids, we were thrilled that he loved cheese and bread, but if you tried to give him a grilled cheese...he would spit it out immediately. Anything "touching" or seasoned in the slightest bit would be rejected on the spot. I couldn't believe that at just 13 months of age, he was so picky; it was incredibly frustrating. And I was afraid my son would end up eating out of baby jars until he went to elementary school.

When we asked our pediatrician about it, she was even a little baffled because at that age, he really shouldn't be incredibly choosy...it was usually closer to 2 years of age that he would start testing us at the dinner table. However, her advice was simple...she said that what he disliked one week could be his favorite the next. Even though I wasn't incredibly satisfied with that answer because it meant lots of dollars down the drain each week as we "tested" his preferences, I followed her instructions. Some days have been better than others along the way, but recently our efforts have started paying off. Finally, at 17 months of age, he's willing to taste almost anything on our plates, and for the most part, he has liked almost everything he's tried in the past week. Who'd have thunk? So I guess the old saying is true: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again..."

My First Diaper Cake

This past weekend, I co-hosted a shower and presented my very first diaper cake. You may not know what this is, and frankly, I didn't know until about a month ago, but they're adorable and totally worth the little extra work. Honestly, it was SO much easier than I thought.


Here's what you'll need:
1. Approximately 60 diapers
2. Clear hair rubberbands
3. Regular large rubberbands
4. Bottles for the center (I used an 8 oz one an a 5 oz one)
5. Double-sided tape (buy the REALLY strong stuff)
6. Gross grain ribbon
7. Anything you want to decorate the outside with

I learned how to do it through this Youtube video, which was super helpful. The look on the mom-to-be's face was so worth it when she saw her adorable present. And, the best part is that she's not only getting a ton of useful diapers, she gets bottles and other fun stuff all tied up in a pretty package. Try it for your next shower!

This Blogger's Perspective on Sponsorship

Recently, the incredibly talented Unexperienced Mom asked me to share my thoughts on how bloggers should approach brands for sponsorships...specifically, conference sponsorships. As a marketer who represents multiple brands seeking relationships with bloggers, I had a few recommendations about this very topic.

Check out my post at Blog Conference Guide for the Unexperienced and share your own thoughts!