Question Day

1. So, stoneware (more specifically, Pamp*red Ch*f) is not suppose to be washed with soap. Just use the little scrapper thing. Well, Jason put our pie shaped stoneware dish in the dishwasher. Oh sure it looks fine, but my question to you, Is it really fine?
2. My forehead is dry. Very dry. Like flaky dry. Just the forehead. So, recently (very recently) I've started applying a good moisturizer (M*ry Kay TimeW*se or something, I like it) to my forehead every night and morning. But I dont think this is going to solve it. The best idea I can come up with is to slather my forhead in petroleum jelly and hope for the best. Do you have any better ideas?
3. I want to get Emma a baby doll for Christmas so she can get used to babies. Criteria: Not creepy looking, not too many crazy annoying featurings, want it to be able to drink from a bottle that is included with doll and have removable clothing. Do you know of a good doll?
4. I really like these blocks for Emma. We debated about wooden blocks versus big cardboard blocks, but I think we are leaning towards these for a few reasons including, they store easy in the included tub, there are 100!, and they are durable and long lasting. However, I just want the opinions of those of you that have knowledge on children and blocks. Good choice or not? Would she prefer a big tub of giant legos?
5. Fudge, Pralines or brittle?
6. What does your family/extended family do for Christmas presents? (like inlaws)Do you draw names? Put a price limit? What?
7. No one in our extended family has asked for ideas for what to get Emma for Christmas. Maybe they have great ideas, maybe they have no ideas, maybe they arent getting her anything. If they don't that's fine, but would they appreciate a list of possible ideas? I could send out a link to her wish list to family and just say, "While you do not need to get Emma anything for Christmas, here is a list of possible ideas, should you need them". Pushy? Too much? Tell me.
8. Any questions for me?

Comments

[pam]

I love pralines but fudge reminds me of this time of year because my grandmother use to make it. My mom/dad and I have decided to stop with the gifts and using the money for trips instead. My extended family use to draw names but we stopped doing that we our family started to get bigger. Instead we just get gifts for the kids and play games for small gifts that each family contributes. My inlaws are still very much gift nuts and noprice limit. everyone usually makes a list, no one checks with the other person, and you spend the next week taking stuff back to exchange. We also exchange names with my hubby's mom's side of the family.

[Goodboy Norman Featherstone]

I use Oil of Olay on the face. It works nicely.

K-Mart has all lego sets buy 2 get 1 free on Black Friday. You probably need to get there early though, because K-Mart is notorious for maintaining poor inventory of their sale items.

Fudge all the way.

Unfortunately, everyone on both sides of our family expects to receive a gift from everyone else in the family. Note, however, that they do not expect to give a gift to everyone else, just receive one. I don't know how this is possible. We are not dealing with sane people here. We spend far too much money at Christmas.

[girlville]

1) i'm going with the stoneware piece is okay. my MIL washes her pizza stone in the sink with hot soapy water all the time. none of us have died...yet.
2) two words: olive oil
4) i had a similar set when i was little. i played with them for years and years. check at tues. morning - i've seen them there. also make sure they aren't painted in china!
5) brittle
6) inlaws: they give gifts to their children (us)/granddkids...we give gifts to MIL/FIL and niece/nephews...we don't exchange with SILs/BILs at all (none of them have $ to spend on gifts)....my family: adults draw names ($40 limit) and we give gifts to any kids under 18...we have a special seperate christmas time with my parents and we give gifts to them and they to us...we are SUPAH busy at christmas time!! 3 gift exchanges!!

[Magnolia Sun]

I've never washed my stone with soap but I'm sure yours will be fine.
I'm having the same problem with a dry forehead - very strange - since I sell Avon that is the product I use.
I think your block selection is good - I would go with the wood b/c they will last forever and the bonus with the storage bin.
We only exchange with our parents.
I wouldn't send out a wish list unless someone has ask you - just my opinion.

[Kari]

1. They say not to use soap on the stoneware because it will soak it up. If others have used it and it hasn't hurt anyone, then doing it this once should be fine. I would be careful how often I do this, though.
2. You might want to get it checked by a doctor. It could be the beginning stages of excema. My husband has this and the sooner he catches it and gets strong cream from the doctor, the better it is because it doesn't get out of control.
3. Sorry, but I haven't looked at dolls in about 20 years so I'm no help to you on that score.
4. The blocks you picked look cool, will last for a long time, and will probably hold her attention. We bought alphabet blocks for my nephew and he never plays with them. I played with my set for years, but he doesn't touch them. I think she will love this set - they're so colorful.
5. This time of year...it's ALWAYS fudge. :-)
6. My parents expect gifts. My brother - I think he expects gifts, but he doesn't send them. We sent his family a tub of popcorn last year and gift cards to Toys 'R' Us for each of the kids. Hubby's family doesn't expect anything from us. They know we are trying to pay back 2 student loans and pay off 2 credit cards. We always do something for them. They usually give us cash ($100 from BIL/SIL and $100 from Hubby's parents). Our extended families don't do anything.
7. If I were to receive an email/link to a Christmas list, I would think the person expected me to purchase a gift even if they said they didn't. I wouldn't send a list.

Yeah, I think I will NOT send a list for Emma out. I think these relatives are getting her something (I know they will) but yall are right, unless they ask for a list....

[Wendy]

1. I think the stoneware should be fine! I never put mine in the dishwasher, but I do wash it wish a quick scrub of soap and hot water. It really grosses me out not to. I think you only have to worry about tasting the soap, but once should be fine

2. Can't help you here. My skin is so sensitive! I can't use anything on it.

3. Nope! Toys r us has a ton to choose from though.

4. I would go for the wooden blocks! We have some from Wesley's first Christmas and they are still in perfect condition!! The cardboard ones get "old looking" fast.

5.brittle all the way!!

6.We have a small family, so we all exchange gifts. If it were up to me the adults would pick names and just buy for the kids. But, my MIL wants no part of that:)

7.I think it's okay to send out a link...

8.What are some of the things on Emma's wish list?!? I don't want to get Lani a lot of toys since she doesn't play with them. Just curious what other 1 year olds are asking for:)

[nikki]

Wooden blocks all the way. I have no clue where my mom found the set she got Aaron, but the are wonderful and he's played with them for years and will play with them for years to come.

[Jamie]

1. I have no idea.

2. I suggest Eucerin or Aquaphor products. Both are fantastic and hypoallergenic/noncomedogenic. Eucerin, in particular, is great for excema-like irritation.

3. I like soft dolls for kids her age - no button eyes, no plastic limbs, etc. You can search around for them on Etsy, or go to Kerflop's list of preferred vendors.

4. Wood blocks are instant classics, just find out the provenance of the manufacturer, and you should be fine. They make a great heirloom toy!

5. Umm, fudge! DUH. That, or peppermint bark. But no brittle - it sticks in the teeth.

6. We only gift the closer extended relatives - since our family is pretty small, it only equals to about 5 more gifts. No price limit.

7. Have a list ready if they ask, but if they don't, then let sleeping dogs lie. :)

[Jamie]

I'm having second thoughts on the brittle, thinking more about last christmas. You make a fabulous brittle. Too bad there's no fudge brittle out there - it'd be the best of both candy worlds!

[Nicole]

Am I allowed to answer only 3 questions? :)

2. Cetaphil
3. Maddie has the Cabbage Patch Newborn and it comes with a bottle. Not sure if her clothes come off but the doll is adorable and even smells nice!
4. Those blocks look nice! Here is another option that Maddie has and LOVES - they're so fun and easy for her to stick together.
http://www.target.com/Parents-Bristle-Blocks-Twirlie-Tots/dp/B000H396TG/sr=1-2/qid=1195574884/ref=sr_1_2/601-0327471-2320111?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Aparents%20blocks&page=1

[Nicole]

Ok that link is huge and not clickable... sorry! Try this:
http://tinyurl.com/3c6msu

[Punchbugpug]

1. A little soap never killed anyone.
2. I use whatever is around.
3. Ahhh, baby dolls...sweet. I would suggest soft vinyl type.
4. We bought my son wooden block when he was 2. We still have them. We also have a box of a million legos. I'd go with the wooden blocks.
5. Brittle
6. I only have my dad and step-dad to buy for. I miss buying for my mom..she loved everything! We exchange with my sister, and her 3 children. P's side is huge and they don't really exchange anymore. No pressure. His one sister will sometimes buy, sometimes won't, we do the same. In the past we did draw names and set a limit. It worked out well. No one was offended.
7. No list...they'll figure it out.
8. Are you baking???

I loved buying for my mom too. She was the most fun to buy for. Yes, I'll be baking. But for who? That's still up in the air!

[Chas]

1. My husband did the same thing one time. I guess it's fine b/c we still use it.

3. For the next couple of days, Target has the Little Mommy newborn nursery doll on sale for $7.00. It is really cute and not weird looking.
4. We have lots of different kinds of blocks for Lila. She has the MegaBlocks, which are the huge Lego things, and other types. The benefit to the Lego-like blocks is that they don't fall as easily...but the wooden blocks are probably fine at this age.
5. I prefer fudge. If I can't have that then I'd go with brittle. I hate pralines.
6. We get my in-laws and parents gifts. We also get gifts for our two brothers and our two sister in laws...but nothing much.
7. I'd send out an email saying "Just in case you needed it, here are some ideas for Emma for Christmas." You could always say that some people had asked...even if they haven't...just so you don't sound pushy :).

[Greg]

I do not know why families are so wierd sometimes. K's family is great! Mine is wierd. Last year my mom said that nobody was getting gifts anymore except for E. She says that we are old enough to stop recieving gifts. Can you believe that?!? She does not buy gifts for her kids anymore!! Yet we still buy her,and my grandmother,and my sister and her husband gifts. You know....like normal people.

I just don't get it.

[Blue Sunday]

I've never washed my Pampered Chef items with soap. But! I say? If it came out in tact and looking okay, it's probably okay. (You could check their website for tips? I'm sure you're not the first to have done that.) I don't know about you, but I have very sensitive skin. So when I'm especially dry, I use Lubriderm (the one that's fragrance and dye free). It isn't greasy and it doesn't make me break out (which is nice). (Oh man, did I just sound like a commercial or what?) I vote for pralines!! After all, you live in the south! I won't be much help with the kid stuff because my step-daughter is 13 and past the toy stage. I think I'd keep Emma's wish list handy for when people ask. I wouldn't send it as an email though. Emma is probably still pretty easy to buy for since she's so young, and that might be why so few people are asking.

[Anth]

1) It's probably fine. You might want to rub it with a bit more oil and toss it in the oven for a while.

2) When my skin got really really dry a few winters ago, I used Ponds cold cream as moisturizer at night and that worked fab.

6) My in-laws now draw names since most of them are married and some are in school (ie, poor). My family, well I usually just get them a family gift because until last month most of them still lived at home with my parents (I'm the oldest of 6, and my youngest brother is only 11). I'm not sure what I'll do this year. Depends on how cheap I feel. Ha ha

7) A list seems a bit pushy if no one has asked for one.

8) When do we get another belly shot?!

[Lisa]

Oh Get her the Baby Annabelle Doll

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2743390

....We have had 3 of them and Whitney still oftend plays with it....when she gets older I would go with a American Doll Girl

http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/static/home.jsf

or a My Twin Doll

http://www.mytwinn.com/index.html?s_kwcid=my%20twinn%20com|485985142

..we have the My Twin Dolls...they can be a lot of Fun!

But the Baby Annabelle is the best for her age...

[kris]

my sister sells pampered chef... i'll have to ask her about the stone. i think that it may look fine, but after using it your food may come out tasting like dishwasher detergent.

for your forehead use aquaphor. you can get it at target. it is the best stuff. also works awesome for diaper rash.

go to babycenter.com and search for toys. find the baby stella doll. i want to get her for E this year, i think she is so cute. you can also look at my entry from 11/11/07 and see pics of stella, she is on E's wish list.

fudge all the way.