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Monday, March 30, 2015

The Tooth Fairy Fail

Yesterday Anthony lost another tooth. Wow. They are falling out left and right! So awesome. 

As customary in our home, we take out our sacred, semi-creepy tooth fairy pillow, place fallen out tooth inside, then place the sacred, semi-creepy tooth fairly pillow underneath Anthony's sleeping pillow. 

This morning I was separating laundry (bleh!) in our bedroom when Anthony walks in with a very grave look on his face. 

"Mama, I have some very bad news."
"What is it, Anthony?"
"She never came." he said while holding up the tooth fairy pillow. 

Fuck. 

I took the pillow from his hands and wrapped my arms around him. My mouth was struggling to find the words. I can't believe I forgot. How awful of me. Shit. My heart sank for him. 

In that moment I had a thought come to me. Now would be the perfect time to tell him there is no tooth fairy. Now is it. He'll understand. He might be sad at first, but I think overall it will make him feel like a big boy to know his Mama and Papa let him in on the secret. Yes. Good idea. I'll tell him and then give him a dollar for his most perfect baby tooth and all will be well. 

And just then, as I opened my mouth to reveal the truth, I shut it again. 

What about Molly? What about when Molly starts loosing teeth....pretty much any time now. Would Anthony keep the tooth fairy secret? Could he? That's a pretty heavy responsibility for a not quite yet 8 year old. He would for sure tell. Maybe not on purpose....though that would likely be the case the first time he got really super mad at Molly. You know how kids can be. I don't want it to be ruined for Molly. She deserves to experience the fun and magic of the tooth fairy too. 

Ok, so I won't tell Anthony the truth. I'll tell him that sometimes the tooth fairy gets so busy she doesn't have time to get to every house in one night. If that ever happens, like it did to me a few times when I was a kid (it never did...thanks mom and dad!....but Anthony doesn't need to know that part), we're supposed to keep it under our pillow until she does come. 

Yes, I'll tell him that. That will work. 


It worked. Sheesh, that was a close one. We're in the clear for a bit longer. One of these days I'll let Anthony in on the secret, but not today. 

I better not let that happen again. Yikes. 

With love,
Mama hauck

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Dollar Shave Club Review

It's been about 6 weeks now since I decided to ditch the fancy, expensive razors from the store and sign up to be a part of the The Dollar Shave Club. I really couldn't justify spending $17 for 4 razor heads every month. I've experimented with middle of the road razors, which did ok I suppose, but it's still more than I wanted to spend. And cheap razors? No. They scare me. 

Just as a note, I am a terrible shaver. I'll admit it. What's wrong with me? I refuse to buy shaving cream because its gone within a few shaves. But maybe I'm using too much? Then again, if I'm using too much, shouldn't it work? I cut myself and get horrible razor burn even with shaving cream....no matter how little or how much I use. Bad technique I suppose. And it's expensive. So it's a lose-lose in my book. I usually use soap, which works just as well....or as bad...as shaving cream. Because I use soap (and just suck at shaving for some reason), I go slow....to avoid cuts and razor burn. And because I go slow to avoid cuts and razor burn, it's time consuming. And because it's time consuming, I don't want to do it. And because I don't want to do it.....I don't. Well, I don't often. My legs, anyway. Don't worry...I shave my armpits daily. But they suffer because of it. 

Anyway, in my quest to save money and try something new, I took the plunge and hooked up with The Dollar Shave Club. I chose "The 4X", for $6 + free shipping. This is their middle of the road razor. There's one at $1 (with $2 shipping) and one at $9 (with free shipping). To check out the blades yourself, go to The Blades Page. The 4X comes with the razor body and 4 blades. I also got a free sample of shave butter, which I haven't used yet, and everything came packaged very nicely with a funny member handbook I enjoyed reading...and so did Sam!

I love this razor. It works, and it works well. Now, I'm wondering if it works so well because I changed up my soap at the same time? I started using soap from Sappo Hill, specifically the oatmeal soap, and I love it. I get it at Fred Meyer in their healthy organics section, but can also get it from my local health food store, The Grist Mill, right here in town. Sam loves this brand of soap too. For whatever reason, the combination of this razor and that soap is just wonderful. We are friends for life. I don't think I shave painfully slow anymore, and I haven't gotten any cuts or razor burn (on my legs OR armpits!). This razor works wonderfully and it's cheap. 4 razor heads for $6 a month....yes! By the time I received my second month's shipment of razor heads, I had only used 3 from my first shipment, so I still had 1 left. I might have a little stockpile of razor heads going on soon. No complaints there!

Also, at the very end of my leg shaving experience, once out of the shower, I put on my home made lotion that's in bar form. Winning combination I tell you. 


If you're wanting to break the cycle of spendy razors, I would suggest checking out The Dollar Shave Club. If in the end you are unsatisfied, you can always cancel your subscription and you're only out $3-$9, depending on which razor you choose. And if you DO decided to go for it and sign up, click my referral link and I'll get $5....http://shaved.by/cH5bj

....Now if only I got paid to try goods and write reviews. I'd be saving money AND making money. ;) 

With love,
Mama Hauck


Friday, March 27, 2015

November Wedding Fun

Remember when I flew home to NY last November? I was able to visit family, which was super awesome! But the reason I made that trip to begin with was to take part in my childhood friend Jill's wedding that was being held in PA. 

I've known Jill since middle school and she and I were two peas in a pod up until the day I moved to WA after graduating high school. And even though our lives took different paths and we lived 3,000 miles apart, Jill and I remained friends; bound by a love only childhood friends could know. 

Jill and her husband Tim's wedding was lovely. Extremely lovely! And fun. Soooooo much fun! I was very nervous, taking part in a wedding with lots of people I didn't know without my family by my side. The other gals, with the exception of her sister whom I did know, were her friend's from college and I had never met them. But everyone welcomed me with open arms and made me feel very loved and comfortable. I am eternally grateful for that. 

When I got copies of Jill and Tim's professional wedding photos, I just knew I had to share them on my blog (along with a few of us getting our hair done!). It was such a fun day with wonderful food, awesome music, and the best of people. Jill made for such a beautiful bride. Her husband is a very lucky man. :) 

Getting ready and praying together....


The ceremony.... 


 After ceremony photos....


The reception and dancing time!!....


You are beautiful, dear friend. And I will forever be grateful you asked me to be a part of your special day. I love you!



With love,
Mama Hauck

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Gratitude Journal, Month 8

8 months....I've been writing in my gratitude journal, every night, for 8 months now. I've actually moved on to a second journal as I've completed the first. It's another beautiful leather bound Sam and I purchased 7 years ago at a craft fair when we lived on Whidbey Island. 


This is why I started my journal.  And My 4 month mark landed a few days before Thanksgiving. How fitting! 

My journal has been so very good for my soul. I really do encourage you to start one yourself. Even if you're not doing it daily, you will benefit. 



I am grateful and thankful for.....


Leftover Thanksgiving apple pie for breakfast. 
Jumping on the hotel bed with Anthony and Timothy. 
Laying in bed till 8am. 
Christmas music playing in the restaurant bathroom and Molly and I singing and giggling.
Getting another photo in the Goldendale calendar. 
Little love sticky notes from Sam. 
Making a nice profit at the Farmers Market Christmas Bazaar. 
"Shake shake shake.....shake it off, shake it off."
Peppermint and lavender bath salt soak. 
Ugly Christmas sweaters. 
Watching "Home Alone" with the kids for the first time. 
The kids' notes to Santa.
Chapstick for chapped lips. 
Timothy's glow worm.
Molly's bravery dealing with needing and getting glasses. 
A barf bucket close by.
Sam always having my towel ready when I get out of the shower. 
Leonard making a shadow box for Anthony's Big Foot foot cast. 
Vanilla Chi Tea. 
Being enlightened and fired up to make some changes. 
Listening to Tim giggle when I tickle him. 
Shopping alone....no kids in tow. 
My headache going away. 
A handy man husband. 
Anthony's good attitude with home work this week. 
Raspberries.
Laughing till I was out of breath. 
Watching Molly get her first award at school. 
Children's self pride.
Having a good vent....sometimes you just have to get it all out. 
Movie night with the family. 
Raspberry tea with raw honey. 
Tim's baby powder mess....priceless. 
Anthony's increase in wpm going from 33 to 77. Hard work pays off. 
65* and sunny, sun on our faces. 
My friends loving my children like they are their own. 
Feta and spinach stuffed shells. 
Allergy pills. 
Seeing Molly dressed up in her mix-matched clothing for Wacky Wednesday at school. 
New couches. 
Lunch out and essential oil class with friends. 
Sam's surprise grateful note in my grateful journal. 
Music and dancing in the living room with Papa and the kids. 
Making Valentine goody bags with Anth and Mols. 
Sunglasses. 
Dinner out with Sam to the Glass Onion for Valentine's Day. 
Hearing Tim say, "Tim is Mama's Baby!" 
The smell of spruce. 
Sam's text photo of all the kid's stuffed animals lined up on his hotel bed. 
Quiet, alone time. 
Pee in the potty, not in undies. 
Molly growing in confidence and Anthony growing in skill with Wrestling. 
Reconnecting. 
Custom orders and repeat happy customers. 
Hearing Tim say, "Sowwy, Mama." 
That swell of pride you get radiating through your body and bursting your heart when your child makes the right decision or is kind....when they don't know you are watching. 


4 more months to go and I'll be at my goal of a year. Awesome. 

With love,
Mama Hauck


Monday, March 23, 2015

Little Boy

Little boy,

Your sweet smile melts my heart
Your giggle lifts my soul
Your stubborn and independent nature makes me laugh
And your kind heart makes me proud

I am so lucky I get to be your Mama. I am beyond thankful.


With love,
Mama Hauck