Don't Waste Your Money on Hershey's Aerated Chocolate

OK, so I got this new Hershey's Delight chocolate bar. I thought it was gonna be like a 3 Musketeers, all moussey on the inside... I was wrong. First of all, there are just bubbles in the classic Hershey's chocolate. Nothing fancy, nothing more. Second, you get less chocolate in the Air Delight bar than you get in the classic bar, a rip off. Third, The company completely lies about their claim that the bubbles allow the chocolate to melt effortlessly in your mouth: There is a thick layer of the packed chocolate surrounding the bubbly chocolate, which your saliva and warmth of your tongue have to permeate first, and when one becomes impatient while waiting for it to melt, one takes a big chomp of the chocolate on one's back molars, destroying the chocolate bubbles and defeating the purpose altogether. If Hershey wanted to make a more decadent chocolate that "melt's in your mouth, not in your hand", then maybe they should try a reformulation. Jumping on the bandwagon doesn't work for everyone.

Lite and Savory Breakfast Wrap

One of my many hobbies is cooking, and creating new versions of old favorites!

I never much cared for breakfast burritos, mainly due to the scrambled eggs; they always seemed so heavy to me, yet another fried food on top of the bacon and sausage in the burrito. So, I came up with a new take on the egg-part of the meal: boiled instead of fried; the boiled egg is not cooked while exposed to oxygen, giving it a more dense texture, which helps prevent gas build up in your stomach later in the day. Think soda vs. water. Anyway, I love this version of the breakfast burrito, and I'm sure I'll make a believer out of anyone!


Ingredients for One Original Wrap:

1 Flour tortilla
2 hard-boiled Eggs, halved with yolks removed
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 c. cooked Regular Sausage, crumbled
1-2 slices Bacon, cooked to your liking
1/4 c. shredded Cheddar cheese


Ingredients for One Sweet and Spicy Mexican Wrap:

1 Flour tortilla
2 hard-boiled Eggs, halved with yolks removed
1 tbsp. Sour Cream
1/2 tsp. Cumin
1/4 tsp. Cayenne (ground red pepper)
1/4 c. cooked Maple/Sweet Sausage, crumbled
1-2 slices Peppered Bacon, cooked to your liking
1/4 c. shredded Colby-Jack cheese



Ingredients for One Savory Far East Wrap:

1 Wheat tortilla
2 hard-boiled Eggs, halved with yolks removed
1 tbsp. Sour Cream
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 c. cooked Hot Sausage, crumbled
1-2 slices Maple/Applewood Bacon, cooked to your liking
1/4 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese


Directions are the same for all wraps

1. Mash the hard-boiled egg yolks with the dijon mustard/sour cream, cumin, and cayenne/sour cream and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread over tortilla.
2. Place bacon slice(s) parallel in the center of the tortilla.
3. Chop up hard-boiled egg whites. Mix with crumbled sausage and cheese. Spoon over bacon.
4. Here comes the tricky part: The Fold. If you cannot do the fold right, I will adding a video to this post in the next few weeks. 
1. Fold in the sides of the short ends of the bacon slices.Hold down the folds with your index and middle fingers.
2. Use your thumbs to fold up the bottom corners at an angle. Release your fingers from the first folds and keep your thumbs on the second folds.
3. Use your index and middle fingers to fold down the top corners at an angle. Hold the folds down.
4. Quickly release your thumbs and fold up the entire bottom flap. Roll up the rest of the wrap.

No, I didn't forget the veggies; I have eaten so many breakfast burritos in my life that I have come to realize that there is no amount of vegetable on the planet that can counter-balance the protein-packed fullness of the combination of bacon, eggs, and sausage. If you wish to have veggies in your burrito, I suggest eliminating either the bacon or sausage (in my opinion the bacon, as there is usually more fat and grease that comes along with it in comparison to the same amount of sausage), and add onions and red and green peppers. If you can stand it, absolutely include the onions... they enhance the flavor of the egg yolks! And remember, just because it's grab-and-go food, please don't eat while driving; your hands could get greasy and the steering wheel could slide right through them!

Yankee Candle Mixology - A List of Some of My Faves... You Should Try!

 Not long ago, I came across a page titled "Mixology" on Yankee Candle Co.'s website. I was intrigued, it never occurred to me to burn two candles at one time and have a totally different experience!

 But recently, I tried to go back to that page, and it was GONE! No more Mixology. So I searched the Interweb to find an archive of the Mixology combination's that I couldn't get enough of, and I found a lot of them... In fact, I found mixes from past years that I had never heard of!

While searching for these archives, I came across an article written by Yankee Candle themselves on Facebook, explaining how you can create your own personalized scents. I assume this was written just before the removal of the Mixology page; anywho, I decided to try some of my own.

Below is a list of my favorite tri-combination's, and if you love other-worldly scents, you must try them!

• Chills in the Forest = Mountain Lodge + Midsummer's Night + Patchouli
• Imagine you are deep in the forest, and you spot an abandoned house... tempted, you go inside. Perhaps this is what you would smell.

• Recalling the Past = Midsummer's Night + Fresh Cut Roses + Home Sweet Home
• Good scent to preform a seance to.

•  Total Escape = Sun & Sand + Ocean Water + Dune Grass
• An all-inclusive trip to the coastline... don't forget the sunscreen!

• Arabian Meditation = Drift Away + Beach Walk + Cinnamon Stick
• Cinnamon is more recently being recognized for it's calming effects, despite its spicy quality. Combined with scents reminiscent of cool and relaxing waters, this scent will lift all negativity from you.

• Asian Slumber = Midsummer's Night + Green Bamboo + Evening Air
• Imagine traveling to China, and falling asleep amongst the green bamboo reeds.

• Eye of the Storm = Storm Watch + Cottage Breeze + Drift Away
• For those who feel as if they are caught in a storm themselves, just remember: Even if everything around you is in chaos, deep within, everything is remains at peace.

• Hallucinations = Tahitian Tiare Flower + Patchouli + Drift Away
• Inspired by 70's tie-dye, this scent will help to put a nasty situation into a pleasant perspective.

• Summer is for the Birds = Midnight Jasmine + Water Garden + Sweet Honeysuckle
• Birds fly south for the winter, so show your appreciation for the summer by burning these scents and whistle a tune!

• Ultimate Herbality = Lemon Lavender + Sage & Citrus + Lilac Blossoms
• A more sensible way to enjoy the effects of Hallucinations; also, reminiscent of sipping herbal tea while receiving a massage.

• Mer-vana = Ocean Water + Velvet Petals + Amber Glow
• Think magical bonfires! Nuf said. B-|

• Snow Speckled Wood = Mountain Pine + Balsam & Cedar + Sparkling Snow
• Snow sparkles on pine needles as you peer out your sitting-room window!

• Frosted Roses = Fresh Cut Roses + Sparkling Snow + Snow Berry
• Like Beauty and the Beast, a rose can glitter by magic... even if that magic is a bit of seasonal change!

• Crisp Winter Lovin' = Mistletoe + Sparkling Snow + Red Berry & Cedar
• Imagine kissing your true love under the mistletoe... then maybe some snow angels, if you catch my snow-drift?

• Log Cabin = Mountain Pine + Jack Frost + Sparkling Snow
• Everyone needs a snowed-in getaway in a log cabin in Colorado!

• Witch's Pumpkin Patch = Patchouli + Spiced Pumpkin + Midsummer's Night
• I don't know why a witch would have a pumpkin patch... they go together like box terriers and catnip. Why can't we all just get along?

• Vanilla Fall = Vanilla Pumpkin + Moonlight Harvest + Lavender Vanilla
• Calling all vanilla lovers! An autumnal scent that's both sweet and savory.

• Pear it with This = Orchard Pear + Midsummer's Night + Moonlight Harvest
• A twist on fruity scents; this lightly fruited scent it deepened by the rich muskiness of night and the clear, cool scent of the moon.

• Sweet Home Alabama = Willow Breeze + Sweet Violet + Midsummer's Night
• This scent was inspired by Blanche Devaroux from the Golden Girls, and her scandalous encounters "under the magnolia tree," and various other sweet-scented shrubbery.

• Delirium = Stargazer Lily + Sun & Sand + Midsummer's Night
• Basically, an aromatheraputic version of Sex On The Beach.

• Fall-ing in Love = Midsummer's Night + Citrus & Sage + Spiced Pumpkin
• Created for those who don't like Autumn... I wouldn't know why anyone doesn't like the Fall, temperature regulates itself like in the Spring, and everyone loves the Spring! This scent will warm you up to the idea of the changing seasons.

• Crinkling Leaves = Moonlight Harvest + Autumn Wreath + Pumpkin Pie
• What do we all look forward to when the leaves start to fall? Midnight strolls as our feet crunch through the leaves, coming home to the welcoming brown leaf-scattered porch, and a nice big piece of pumpkin pie!

• Bobbing for Apples = Autumn Leaves + Macintosh + Lakeside Birch
• A fall staple; apples, succulent trees, and those crunchy leaves!

• Beware the Gingerbread House = Beware! + Moonlight Harvest + Mulling Spices
• You smell those awesome Thanksgiving smells of stuffing and pie, and you just can't resist... even a strange house made out of candy wouldn't stop you!

• Sweet and Spicy Elixir = Harvest + Macintosh Spice + Pomegranate Cider
• Kinda reminds me of a Hot Toddy... sweet and spicy, and the absolute perfect thing to warm you up AND take the edge off after holiday shopping!

• Winter Morning = Holiday Bayberry + Frosty Air + Early Sunrise
• I always feel like I'm the only one who says, "It smells like winter!" No one knows what it means... but after smelling the combination of Frosty Air and Early Sunrise, I hope I won't be! Add that to the sweet smell of your home during the holidays, and you've got one bangin' scent!

• Eye of the Storm: The Sequel = Storm Watch + Eucalyptus + Spa Fresh
• First scent not work its wonders on you like you thought it would? Try this: Eucalyptus fumes had been know for centuries to chemically relax the mind, and a lil' spa scent couldn't hurt!

• Fall Festival = Farmer's Market + Mandarin Cranberry + Mulling Spices
• Nothing like hitting up a town festival and sampling local goods.

Wondering why all of the combinations are in 3's? Well, Yankee Candle is currently selling triple-candle votive holder, which allows all three candles to melt into each other; they don't sell a double-candle votive holder for whatever reason, and I wish they did, but for now, the more the merrier will just have to do.

How can you create your own custom scent? Add a base, such as Midsummer's Night, to one of your favorite scents, to deepen or uplift an old classic. I love the smell of Tahitian Tiare Flower, and Midsummer's night smells like my boyfriend (Yankee states that many of its female customer's agree that it smells like their boyfriends), so I combined the two candles, and it smelled like US, and I LOVED it! Want to lighten a fragrance? Try pairing it with Vanilla! The possibilities are endless, at least until you consult a mathematician.

Potty Training for the Parent Who Doesn't Want to Spend Money on Training Books

About two months ago I began potty training my 40-month-old daughter. At nearly twice the recommended age for training, according to various websites I came across during my research, I decided that she was more than ready, despite the fact that she was completely opposed to interrupting her playtime to pee or poop in a bucket.

For months I had been using Pull-Ups, glorified diapers with wider and stretchier side tabs. When she was an infant, I swore that I wouldn't use them, as they were twice the price of regular diapers with half the absorbency; a rip off. However, my mom insisted I use them with my daughter, because she thought that my baby would do better with them than I had. On a side note, don't you love how people think they know your baby better than you do? She says with sarcasm... Anyway, my daughter did not take advantage of the flexibility of the Pull-Ups, as pretty much all children do, and continued to treat them as diapers. Why go sit on the potty when my mommy will just change me when I'm dirty?

The first step I took to her potty training revolution was to get rid of the Pull-Ups. I posted an ad on Craigslist for them (might as well give them to a sucker than throw them away), and placed them in the highest shelf in the closet where I would need a ladder to reach them, so as not to be tempted if things became unbearable. Then, I introduced my daughter to underwear. I explained to her that underwear was not the same as a diaper: a diaper you can pee and poop in, but it's not OK to pee and poop in underwear. I had my daughter feel the inside of a clean diaper, how it felt like a paper towel or something you clean up messes with and throw away. Then, she felt the underwear, which is just like her shirts and pants, which we put in the laundry when they get dirty. I continued to lecture her on the differences between diapers and underwear until she could tell me that diapers are OK to pee and poop in, and underwear is not OK to pee and poop in, and that diapers go in the trash, while underwear goes in the laundry.

• Do away with Pull-Ups or forgo them completely
• Use underwear only, and do not under any circumstances go back to Pull-Ups; you will undo progress
• Make sure she understands that you don't pee or poop in underwear and that she she can recite it back to you when prompted

Some sites I came across during my research suggested the "Naked"  method, which is basically letting your child roam the house in the buff while he is learning to use the potty. I found this slightly impractical, as accidents will happen, and its better to have an accident that is easy to clean up in the tub or laundry than in the carpet or couch. Also, a child can become accustomed to being nude after a long period of time, and will resist being dressed when it's necessary to go out and run errands. So, I found a happy medium: I dressed my daughter in underwear and a shirt on our days in, that way if we needed to go out, pants and socks were all that was needed; she was already half dressed, so she wouldn't give me a hard time when I had to get her dressed completely, and she could manage pulling down her underwear all on her own. Some parents I talked to about training girls specifically recommended putting her in a dress to make emergency dressing easier, but I found that it could potentially be more work when my daughter used the toilet and her dress fell in the bowl behind her, requiring a complete change of clothes; with just a shirt, no clothing gets in the way. And during the summer, if that's when you choose to train, keep them out of socks if possible, because pee and poop accidents alike can soil them and require more changing than necessary.

• Shirt and underwear is the easiest way to dress them and most beneficial learning-wise, to teach them to pull up underwear from the get-go, and to make accident clean-up easier; dresses can make more work than necessary
• Teach your child to pull up their underwear using the hand-over-hand method, so they can actually feel how their hands and arms should move to maneuver the underwear over the buttocks

Now on to the actual potty. You may be debating, child's own potty seat, or seat for over the grown-up toilet? One article I read said to just get a seat for over the porcelain throne, because "why would you buy a smaller version of something you already have?" Well, I weighed the pros and cons of each device, and came to the conclusion that it was a toss-up. If your child has a hard time climbing up on the adult-sized seat, then go ahead and get a toddler potty seat for him. If you wanna argue that there's no space for another seat in your bathroom, go ahead; I just wanna know where you're putting the stool that he's likely using to climb up on the toilet, because the space that it takes up when it's not being used could probably be better occupied by a potty bucket if your child is struggling. In addition, children are more likely to use something that is made for them, rather than something that is shared. Besides, if you're still unsure of which to get, know that most toddler potty buckets have a seat that is removable, so you are prepared if your child is more comfortable with a little seat, or is more determined to use the big-kid loo.

• First-time trainers should opt for a child's potty chair with removable seat for over the regular toilet
• Don't hesitate to get whatever device your child will feel comfortable with: comfort at this formidable age is what leads to success
• If your child uses the small potty chair, keep it in the bathroom, do not place it in the living room or the child's bedroom, and also not the kitchen. Your child should not be lead to believe that it is OK to sit on the potty for longer than necessary, just because they're in front of a TV or have several toys in reach. Leave one or two books next to the potty in the bathroom to help them get relaxed and get the job done, but so they do not stay on the potty longer than necessary
• Potties should be kept out of the kitchen, especially in households with multiple siblings or elderly. Although kitchens generally have an expanse of easily-cleaned tile, it's just a gross place to keep a potty; it's rude and unappreciated

So, how to I get my kid to actually want to use the potty? Universally, the best technique is praise. Praise leads to repeating the actions that got them the praise. Be specific about what you're praising them for. "I'm so glad you made it to the potty so that you didn't make a pee-pee accident", "You did a good job coming and telling mommy you had to poop while we were at the playground", you get the idea: be specific.

Many sites I came across in my research recommended a tangible reward, such as stickers or candy.I'm not a fan of the sweets idea for two reasons: 1. Too many sweets in a child's diet can make their bowel movements irregular, which can make potty training especially challenging, and 2. Edible treats as a reward can lead to eating disorders in the child's near future. I tried the stickers method, but they lost their luster after a few days, and they no longer motivated her. So, what I did was thought of a reward that had no value other than the happiness she got from a certain activity. My daughter loves throwing coins in the fountain at the mall, so what I did was I set up a bowl of pennies on the bathroom counter and put a coin purse next to it. Every time she made progress and did a good job using the potty, I put two or three pennies in the purse. I made sure she saw me do it, so that she would see that she was getting rewarded. However, the pennies-reward system only works if she gets to do what she loves to do with all coins: throw them in the fountain. So, I had to make sure I set aside time to go to the mall once a week so that she could fulfill the reward. It's a bit cumbersome, but it's only temporary, and will make life much easier for you in the long run.

• Use edible treats as a last resort; try all other reward methods (stickers, pennies, etc.) before you try treats. Recommended treats are jellybeans, M&Ms, and other bite-sized candies. Sometimes you can trick them with VitaGummies, but do not use mini or fun-size candy bars; over the course of a day, that's just too much sugar for their digestion
• Follow through with rewards. If it's a two-part reward, like the pennies, make sure you can live up to both halves, and avoid telling your child, "Well, maybe next weekend"; you could forget, and then your child will lose faith in being rewarded for progress, and he will fall back
• Remember: Give positive feedback and specific praise, and never make your child feel like he or she isn't doing it right, because they're only doing it as good as you're teaching them!

But, how do you get the ball rolling? This is the part you've been dreading. The part where I say you will have no life, no free-time, for a week. Your days will be consumed with watching over and interacting with your child constantly. This is also the part of potty training where most parents fumble; they think that they can just tell their kids to use the potty when they feel like they need to go, but it doesn't work like that. I should know, because that's what I did with my daughter while she was in Pull-Ups, before the potty training revolution. Here's what you do: On the very first day, put away the Pull-Ups, get them out of your head, and be all underwear, all the time! Get your kid excited about the variety of underwear, because most diaper brands don't offer various print designs in each pack, your child will most likely be excited about having the responsibility of decision making.

Next, begin interaction with your child immediately. Play together more than you ever had before. If you child gets tired of playing with you, let them play on their own, but stay in the same room. The reason you're gonna wanna be around your kid so much is to that you can consistently prompt them to listen to their body, feel how their lower belly is feeling, and see if they feel like pee or poop is about to come out. Every 20 minutes or so, prompt them to use the potty; don't ask, don't say, "Do you [feel like you] have to go potty?" But rather word it in a way that it is not a question, such as, "You should go sit on the potty and see if any pee-pees are about to come out." That way, they don't feel as if they're being forced to, while leaving you with the control. If you present them with a choice, they're obviously going to say, No, I'd rather keep playing than sit on the potty. If they still refuse, wait 5 minutes, then say, "Come with me," and offer them your hand. Let them bring one toy that they were already playing with, so at least they feel like they got something out of it, even if they were tricked.

Also while you're playing, expose them to the fact that they are not the only ones who have to go through this. If you, yourself, have to go, tell them that you just realized that you feel like are gonna pee, and that you are going to pee so that it goes in the toilet and not in your pants. Then, invite them to come with you, if you're not opposed to that. Having them come with you gives you a chance to suggest that they sit on their own potty, if they have one separate from the adult toilet. If not, offer the toilet for them when you are done, and give them an extra mile of encouragement by preparing their seat for them (but don't let this become a habit; later, they will need to realize that they can do this on their own!) However, I would not suggest pulling down their underwear unless they ask for your help; this can set them up for self-confidence issues later on.

Once they are seated on the potty, pick up a book and ask if they would like you to read it to them. This is also a great time to teach reading and encourage them to read to you by memory; if after you've finished the story they still haven't made in the potty, ask them to read it to you, just like when they ask you to read them a story. This buys you more time with a chance for success. By the time they're done reading the book to you, they have probably sat on the potty long enough, and you should allow them to get up if they wish. If they don't, suggest that you are going to go and continue whatever you were doing together, and they'll want to get up and continue playing. And remember, before they leave the bathroom, give them praise and perhaps a reward for doing well with the potty!

As I said earlier, it is recommended that every 20 minutes you prompt your child to use the potty. I have found that most preschool TV programs run approximately 20 minutes, so I often use that as a "timer"; I suggest to my daughter that she see if she has any pee or poop to make in the potty while the TV is on commercial. I know some parents are opposed to so much TV, but my personal living situation leaves me with few indoor resources in the evening and on too cold or rainy days.

I refuse to sugar-coat anything: kids will throw tantrums. If they give you the hardest time pulling them away from their playtime, it's time to take drastic measures. At one point, I nipped the problem in the bud by putting all of my daughter's toys in the top shelf of the closet next the the Pull-Ups. Now, she had nothing to distract her from listening to her body. Some parents say that this is cruel, but guess what? It worked. After a few hours, she didn't care that her toys were put away. She and I entertained each other verbally, and I learned so much about my daughter through her imagination. It was really great bonding time, and one of the first experiences your child could have about not taking things like toys for granted. After a few days, my daughter proved to me that she could at least try to make it to the bathroom before she had an accident, and that was enough for me to take down a few toys for her. (What? I was enjoying not having to pick up her toys!)

• Dedicate a whole week to focusing completely on your child potty training routine
• Potty-prompt every 20 minutes (Use the TV to your advantage if you like!), and give 5 minutes after refusal to offer your company in the bathroom. If they tell you to leave, then leave, but stay just outside and keep the door cracked to make sure they're not misbehaving. In this case, punishment would be acceptable
• Read a book or encourage him to read a book on his own while on the potty, for comfort and timing purposes
• Don't be afraid to play nasty and take distracting objects away from your child. Learning won't always be fun, and your child is old enough to be shown that

Going out: This involves preparedness on another level. You are used to making sure your child had diapers, wipes, a sippy, some shacks, maybe a few small toys, maybe a book, and usually a change of clothes, if there was room, not to mention all the stuff YOU needed, like your wallet, checkbook, cellphone, Chapstick, knuckle salve (don't look at me like that, I get ashy in the winter...), and whatever else compulsive mothers and fathers take with them wherever they go.

Now it is time for a complete overhaul: Number 1 - Ditch the diapers, Duh! But keep the wipes. I learned this the hard way when my daughter was playing at an indoor playspace and peed all over the equipment. Also keep the spare change of clothes, maybe two, depending on the confidence between you and your kid. If you're not OCD, and want to consolidate the clothing, stock up on neutral, universal jeans that will match whatever shirt your child is wearing, because odds are, an accident won't soil a top.

Snacks are still a must, however, by this time, your child is probably old enough to use or learn how to use a water bottle, so opt for one of those instead; if your child isn't eating, you can share the beverage without humiliation. Also, encourage the learning and use of water fountains... it's never too early to learn the benefits of free water! By now, you can probably cut back on the amount of entertainment you transport for your child. Let them pick two small items to put in the bag you carry; don't let them carry anything else, you might never see it again.

Now, consolidate your own stash! Get rid of the things you don't need, and keep the things you absolutely do! People rarely write checks anymore, so keep that in a safe for trips and things. Hang onto your wallet and cell phone... if you don't have a cell phone, then have at least two dollars worth of quarters at all times in case you need to use a payphone (but I guess nowadays those are kinds like checkbooks, too, huh?). Finally, a list of things you probably wouldn't think of until you needed them:

• Purel, or another form of antibacterial gel. As a girl, I love the Bath and Body Works AntiBac's that have those silicone holders that you can strap to the handle of a bag. I've never had a problem with them falling out
• Soap slivers. What are these? I got mine at Pier 1 Imports. You know those mint breath-freshening paper-like sheets? Well, that's the same concept as soap slivers, but it's soap, not sugar-paper
• Flushable wipes. I get Scott Naturals, because I assume their formulation is safe to use on kids, and I get the refill pack, because it's more compact. It's rude to flush non-flushable wipes down a public toilet, so personally, I wouldn't do it
• Tide To-Go Pen, or something like it. You never know if your child will have accidental runs, and you know you don't want it to stain!
• Don't forget the potty seat! Some facilities don't have a family bathroom, so bring a potty seat to go over the adult seat (again, this is where the toddler chair with removable seat comes in handy!) They also make folding toddler toilet seats, although I personally am not comfortable with my daughter sitting on the flimsy hinges (she's BIG for her age!). Because I bring a normal-sized seat, I use a large tote bag with several pockets aside from the large one that the seat goes in, so that nothing gets lost, and I don't have to remove the seat from my bag in public.

When you are away from home, you need to continue prompting your child about the potty, just as you do at home, and constantly remind her that if she feels like she's gonna make pee-pee or poopie, that she needs to tell you before she makes them in her underwear. She needs to know that potty use is still expected of her, even when she's not at home. Wear a watch so you can keep track of 20 minutes easily; it's a hassle to have to check your cell phone often for the time. When you go, suggest that she try as well, "While we're here." My daughter has been deathly afraid of the fluorescent lights in public bathrooms ever since her infancy, but at the toddler stage, consistent encouragement will break any phobia. Reassure her that you're there to hold her hand and that everything is OK. And don't forget to reward her, even when you're out; if she's not allowed to slack, neither are you! Don't set a bad example, 'cause you're only setting yourself up.


Like all things taught, lessons improve. Pay attention to the progress they make. Once they sustain a lesson for one consecutive week, cut back on the rewards. Tell them that you expect this without exception, because they have proved that they can and know how to do it. If they demand more rewards, don't give in. If they throw a tantrum because they don't get the rewards they demand, put them in a 5 minute timeout. It is important not to spank children in the potty training stage. (I'm such a hypocrite... I won't lie, cuz someone who knows me will call me out on it: I do spank my daughter when she is violently angry. But I'll pretend to be the rehabilitated druggie: DON'T SPANK YOUR KIDS!)

There will be a point where your expectations of your child are high, and you will take them to a place they love (Chuck E. Cheese's, anyone?) and what do you know? They get to excited, their excitement distracts them, and they will have an accident. The first time this happens, let it slide, but tell them if they don't listen to their body and check their bellies to see if they feel like they're gonna pee or poop, then you will have to leave, and you won't be able to come back again until they prove to you that they can at least tell you that they need to pee or poop before they have an accident. From there on out, there are no exceptions to outing accidents; you must leave immediately. If you're real ballsy, have your child sit on their soiled clothes for the ride home. Tell them that you had no extra clothes for them with you (even if it's a lie) and now they have to sit in pee and/or poop because they weren't paying attention to their bellies like you told them to. This, my friends, is called tough love.


Hopefully, that should help some of you potty training parents out there who don't quite know what to do between what all the websites are saying. If you're reading this, then like me, you did not want to spend $25 on a potty training boot camp book, and that is exactly why I wrote this. This is the method that has given me the most success, and I hope that most of you can at least take something from it and use it in your own system. Let me remind you that my method is a collection of advice from various online resources to which I cannot cite, because I am to lazy to re-find them all (I know, should've bookmarked); so, if you're reading this, and you have written a potty training article, this is where I thank you! Without you, I would probably still be cleaning poop and pee out of my carpet!

Discontinued Hard Candy Brand Cosmetics Archive - Eyeshadows

Do you guys remember the cosmetic brand Hard Candy? Yes, there is a brand by that name sold at Wal*Mart, but I'm talking about the Hard Candy that was once affiliated with the still-current cosmetic brand Urban Decay. The cute, not-so-edgy brand. Well, I remember being 11 years old, browsing their site, taking note of all the make-up that I wanted, decked out in hearts! Then, one day a few years ago, they disappeared from my life. And I forgot about them.

I know I sound so eerily passionate about just make-up... but I could not get past how CUTE the eyeshadow packaging was! I had never seen anything like it... there was no flip-top, but a slider... like when cell-phones no longer flipped, but slid open; the product was well ahead of it's time!

Somehow, I came across this ancient product one day in my eBay results one day. Oh, the nostalgia I experienced! And they were cheaper than they had been in their prime! So, I went for it. I bought all the colors I had once loved (I am currently awaiting their arrival). However, I couldn't seem to find a particular shade I had once used... Licorice. A slightly sparkly black.

Then I thought, Did it even exist? Am I thinking of another brand? So, I went to Google to search for an archive... I couldn't easily find one, it took some searching, and a lot of field revising. I did find one eventually, but to say the least, it sucked. So here I am, making my own archive, one eyeshadow at a time!

*REMEMBER: These are shadows for the DISCONTINUED Hard Candy brand, NOT the brand sold at Wal*Mart! Just so there's no one complaining about being mislead.

Licorice: Yes, it exists! Like I said, it is a sparkly black. It's basically the same product as its former counterpart Urban Decay's Oil Slick eyeshadow... Highly pigmented. Good for those who like powder liners and femme fatale looks.

Gum Drop: A kind of blue-purple. Like the quintessential grape soda marketing color. Grape soda Bottle Caps. Think Urban Decay's Eyeshadow in Flash.

 

Jellybean: Electric fuschia. A great funky rave color. If you want the color to really shine through, though, you're gonna want to use a primer, and honestly, they're all the same. Actually, I heard you can even chaffing lotion (like Gold Bond). Sounds gross, but hey, if it works, why not save the money? Comparable Urban Decay color would be their Deluxe shadow in Fishnet.

Popsicle: Has the same intensity as Gum Drop, but more of a true purple. A true, non-artificial grape. Try Urban Decay's shadow shade Stalker.

Snow Cone: Electric Blue. The exact color of the snow cone you would receive if you asked for "blue flavor". This pigment can stand on its own! *The picture does not do the actual product justice... too much flash! Urban Decay has a great twin color, their shadow in Kiddie Pool.

Spearmint: Typical mint color with a wink of true earthiness. The closest Urban Decay Shadow shade would have to be Aquarius, although it is more blue than a mint... the UD shadow is more of a wintergreen than a spearmint.

Sour Apple: Much warmer, more yellow-hued than Spearmint. It's a more demure side to its former counterpart Urban Decay's Urb.

Buttered Popcorn: Sparkly warm nude, almost a fuzzy navel color. Great if you want to spice up a no-makeup look. Try Urban Decay's Eyeshadow in Blunt.

Butterscotch: I'll be honest, I've never seen this shade in person, but a friend of mine described it to me as pretty much Buttered Popcorn, but matte... no sparkles! Urban Decay has a Matte Shadow line that has become very small due to their last sale, but they still carry a color that matches Butterscotch, by the name of ABC Gum... or try their regular shadow in Sellout.

Caramel: A true caramel, with sparkles. Deeper and warmer than Buttered Popcorn. Your best bet with an Urban Decay shadow shade would be Baked, although baked is heavily metallic, and could not be used as a nude.

Lollipop: I don't know where they got the name from, but this shade is another nude color, but cooler, better for pale skin and those who have pink undertones. The shade is the color on the left, in the blue container. Again, the photo does not do justice... it really is lighter, paler, and just a touch cooler. Perhaps Urban Decay's classic favorite Midnight Cowboy?

Taffy: Mauvy-pink. Dusty rose. Essentially pink, but earthy. The photo is pretty spot-on. Free love is Urban Decay's shadow shade that is the most spot on to match this shade!

Cotton Candy: Another color that is true to its name! The exact color you will receive if you ask for pink cotton candy. Color packs a punch! Go for Urban Decay's shadow in Hotpants; yes, their site may describe another shade by the name of SWF as "cottton candy", however that shade is much lighter, and Hotpants has the same intensity as Hard Candy's Cotton Candy. (Why do they not have a decent pink color for the font!?!)

Peppermint Patty: White. Bold White. With sparkle, like snow. They should have named this "Shaved Ice"! Urban Decay's counterpart would be their Vapor shadow, without a doubt!

Wondering why I made so many Urban Decay references? Well, like I said, they were once affiliated, so perhaps the brands borrowed shades from each other?

Have any discontinued brands you think I should archive? Gimme the brand, name of a product, any info you can, and I will accept your challenge!