book review: WOOL

 

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One word: Awesome!

Edit: for this being one of my favorite books of all time, I sure didn’t spend a lot of time or effort on this review back in 2012.

So here in 2021 I will lay it all out. This book has everything.

You don’t have to love sci-fi to appreciate it, because there’s drama, romance and mystery here. Sci-fi readers will really enjoy the engineering and forethought of this dystopian society where most of the population is held to the barest level of technology.

And the reason why? Because the truth, at this point, seems to be more dangerous to mankind than the lies. Just like today’s world, those who spent years orchestrating every facet of life within these walls would see their vision threatened if the hierarchy was not maintained.

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book review: leaving time

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's hard to choose a "main" character here. I'm not entirely sure whose story this is, as it is told through alternating viewpoints. We mainly hear from the young girl Jenna, who is looking for her missing mother and Alice, Jenna's mother who's obsession and research on elephants guides her life. Jenna recruits psychic Serenity and PI Virgil, who are both drawn to and inspired by Jenna, to help her figure out if her mother is dead or alive, and where she might be.

It was a cool adventure trying to solve this mystery. There is a lot of detail given about elephants which was interesting, and I really liked the descriptions of how the Gift works for a medium... but I hated the ending. There's a point where you kind of realize that some assumptions you made throughout the entire book may not be correct, and it's not often that I get tricked like this, so I do give the author credit. But once you get past that tipping point it's a confusing rush to the end. That's all I'll say here, to avoid spoilers.

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book review: Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another five star review for Wonder.

All the glowing reviews this book got: “I laughed, I cried, I cheered out loud!” Well, they were right on. Wonder is fantastic, from the message to the way the story is told by the different characters. It’s a perfect book that makes my mama heart so happy, and I can’t wait to share it with my kid.

“Sometimes people surprise us.”

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book review: The Girls

The Girls by Emma Cline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There were parts of this story I really liked… things I could identify with. 14-year-old Evie was totally desperate for acceptance, to find a place she fit in. The perspective on her younger self from her older point of view was interesting, and being in my 30s there are a few things I would like to teach my past self. The internal narrative was well done here, describing all the tortures young girls put themselves through, trying so hard to figure out their place in the world. How is she supposed to act? Does she exist only as a reflection of those around her? What is attraction? Desire? Love?

But there were parts that fell very much flat. Her time with the cult felt forced and unrelatable. At first, I could see how Evie was drawn to Suzanne and her self-confidence, but the experimentation with drugs and sex were glossed over. If a young teen is so obsessed with relationships and her place at “the ranch” why weren’t these aspects analyzed a little more? Suzanne was the only one of “the girls” with any depth – the rest, including the cult leader, were like background noise to the inner workings of a self-centered narrator. Maybe my lack of familiarity with Charles Manson and the murders this story is based on is at fault here, but regardless, a book should tell its own story.

The rest of Evie’s life was underwhelming. There was no closure… life during and after boarding school are presented as an afterthought. It’s noted that her name is mentioned in some accounts, enough that her present-day visitors are aware of her involvement, but interactions with police and journalists are left assumed. As a whole, the present-day exchange could have been much more fulfilling. Evie didn’t grow or change, and her adult self still craves attention and sees how easy (or even rewarding) it is to please the boys.

Despite a three-star review, I would still recommend this to someone that enjoys historical fiction – for a one-person take on a cult atmosphere.

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book review: The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed how the pieces came together gradually... over time. We didn't get dumped right into the plot, it really felt like the story unfolded around Rachel, the (drunk) girl on the train as we discover things along with her. I liked the fact that this is told from the POV of three different women, and that despite being very different, they have something in common.

Another book where you have to be careful to read the date headings... much, if not all of Megan's side of the story is told months behind where Rachel and Anna are, with good reason of course.

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book review: Fates and Furies

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

When I first finished, I felt like I wanted to cry. Not for any of the typical reasons, like not wanting to leave the characters behind, or even a powerful emotional conclusion. I was angry. I've been taken for a ride.

Part 1: Fates is Lotto's version of events, his life story and point of view through he and Mathilde's marriage. For all the raves touting the author's "stunning prose" I was mostly bored, and sometimes annoyed with him. All but one of his plays were uninteresting. There are only so many ways to describe someone who's born rich and through either sheer luck or charisma (questionable, given the multiple descriptions of his acne) manages to stay well taken care of despite his lack of knowledge in how the world works. We get it, she loved him in spite of his privilege and obliviousness. It says a lot when the most compelling thing about the guy is his need for constant adoration.

Part 2: Furies is Mathilde's side of the story. When I first started reading her voice I rejoiced! Maybe this book would save itself from exaggerated self-awareness. She was actually interesting in her own telling - Mathilde had a brain and a history you (Lotto) never knew! She wasn't likeable... neither of them were really, but she didn't have to be. She was sharp, with more under the surface and behind the scenes than you'd ever expect. Then things went wrong again. The timeline in the second half jumped around so badly! I can handle a flashback or two dozen flashbacks if they make sense, but Furies gave no warning and had no sense of order. In the end, this couple did few things right, which is probably realistic, but made this novel hard to embrace as a whole.

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probiotics + cranberry

I've never really been good at remembering vitamins... even prenatals! I've been trying to take better care of my health this year though, and a multivitamin and extra vitamin D have made it into the morning routine more than half the time - it's a start!

The timing of this review post worked out well... we just got back from vacation. If you're anything like me, vacations wreak havoc on the digestive system. I started taking these a week beforehand, and I didn't have any issues on the trip. The women's probiotic at 6 billion CFU plus cranberry for digestive health goes down easy in a daily capsule. **Results may vary from person to person. These products cannot be used to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

"25FREESHIP" gets you 25% off on all products at store.healthlabsnutra.com.

this is a post about tampons

I tried Lola tampons, and told some friends that I'd let them know how I liked them, so... here we go!


Packaging:

First of all, shipping was free! The packaging is great, just what you'd want for a subscription box of tampons: a plain brown box. The individual boxes themselves are plain white, with the word Lola on the side. That's it. No hot pink nonsense or pictures of women playing volleyball or whatever.

The Goods:

So, these are tampons. Not a whole lot to observe here, but there are some differences to point out between Lola and other major brands.

1. Lola tampons are 100% cotton. They feel like... cotton. Soft, and also a little fuzzy, with no "coating" them. In the interest of full disclosure, here's what's in Tampax: http://tampax.com/en-us/tips-and-advice/period-health/whats-in-a-tampax-tampon.

2. They're a little wider. Not longer thankfully, but bigger around. Enough that I noticed, but not uncomfortably so.

3. Plastic applicators. I personally prefer them to cardboard, but they're not exactly environmentally friendly here, so worth a mention. Also, they are pocket-friendly kind that you pull up to a click and then use as normal.


The Nitty Gritty:

1. When it's full, it's FULL. These are not the "braided" strings that provide a little backup. I don't know if it's just getting used to something new, or bad timing on my part, but it was a good thing I wore a pantyliner on my heaviest day. (UPDATE: this was totally just me getting used to them. No issues since.)

2. The lack of a coating (the "thin fabric around the absorbent core" on other tampons) does affect insertion and removal, but I didn't find it to be uncomfortable.

3. Absorbency seems to be on par with the major brands. I ordered 4 regular, 10 super, and 4 super+ in each box.


I wanted to try these because after having two kids, my periods are unpredictable... some months it's what I'd call "normal," and sometimes it's a mess and I'm an unprepared teenager all over again... so it's great to be able to customize each box to whatever you need. You get 18 to work with and each month can be a different mix if you want!

UPDATE: The absolute BEST part is that after three months my cramps are basically GONE. I wouldn't have believed that organic cotton would make that big of a difference, but I experienced it for myself! I still feel a little crampy, but nothing like the freaking giving-birth-contractions I used to get. I seriously couldn’t be happier!

Get $5 off your order when you use my sign up code spanza1 at https://goo.gl/KT223F New customers get 2 boxes for the price of 1, or 3 boxes for the price of 2. 

photo cards are the coolest {Shutterfly}

When it comes to holiday cards, I rarely send them out. One year, we sent a Christmas card with a picture of our pup on it, and the year Oliver was born I actually handed them out ON Christmas. With picture of the kid. I really love giving (and receiving) cards and notes with photos included… probably because of my love of all things scrapbooking-related! They're just that much more personal and special, not just something you got a box of 50 of and signed your name to a bunch of times. 

I was kidding myself by thinking I’d get Christmas cards out this year... there's just been too much stress on my family (emotionally and financially) this year, and right now I'm so focused on Oliver's birthday party, that it's just not a priority. Sorry, family and friends. If I don't see you around the holidays? Maybe you'll get one of those animated e-cards.

So back to Shutterfly. If I did do Christmas cards, it would probably be one of these.

For the "Happy Holidays" set, politically correct and all. Modern snowflake :)

Merry Christmas, clean and simple. Love that it's folded and really features the photo!

Guess what? I’m also not very good at remembering to send out thank you cards. (Great "review" right? HAHA) I usually get them done, but hardly ever in the socially-acceptable amount of time. My friend Proper Paige would be appalled, really. But I do get them done, eventually, and this year Shutterfly is going to help!

I'm getting 25 free cards (in exchange for writing this post) and there are so many cute designs to choose from! I've decided to go with thank you notes, since they are so sweet (all opinions are my own, duh) I know I will want to send them out right away. (I was not compensated in any other way, so postage is still on me.) I'm still deciding if Oliver will be allowed to color his name on these before they go out, though. (Clicking any photo in this post will take you to Shutterfly's website.)

I'm torn between a few of the designs... trying to find the most Sesame Street Birthday friendly match. Plus, it has depends on which photo I decide to use. I'm probably one of the most indecisive people, ever. Why yes, I am a joy to live with.

I have a thing for orange.

This card rocks... a fun & different way to say thanks.

I love this idea: full black & white photo with colorful letters...

The party is this weekend (!!!) so I have a little bit of time, right? (Heather?) Ooh maybe I'll use a photo from the party! From what I can tell the shipping only takes about a week... yeah, no, you're right. I'm really that ridiculous.

Hey, what do you guys think? Feel free to shout out opinions, yous guys.

Boo at the (CLEMet) Zoo



(show me your teeth, Ollie!)

Mommy + Oliver = <3

I have to say... I was unimpressed. The radio ads touted "family friendly fun!" that's "hairy, not scary!" (get it, because it was at the zoo?) but the problem was that the animals were, for the most part, sleeping. So... not much hair.
There were a few activities, like a Monster Mash dance area thing where we probably would have been trampled and a "spooky" greenhouse with lights in the trees and some good pumpkin decorations. There were bunches of kids and whole families in costume, a lot of people for a Sunday night, I thought.

Melman!

The only animals we could really see were the ones that had indoor viewing areas: the elephants, which Ollie did NOT LIKE (they were they were too big, I think?) and a koala. Outside we saw a couple camels, a few reindeer (cool, but not in a lighted habitat area, so tough to see) a seal (NO SEAL, DADDY!) and the bears.

The bears made it all worth it. We pointed, said "see the bears, buddy?" and held him while he looked... and then my Ollie held up his little hand like a claw and said "RARRR."

We hung out by the dang bears until it was time to leave. I can't wait to go back to the zoo during the DAY. As far as the Boo at the Zoo event, maybe we'll enjoy it more when he's a little older.

Oliver's Labels

I first read about Oliver’s Labels while blog-hopping and I thought, this is something I need to try! Not only is the name of the company enough to receive my undying admiration, they are super cute too.

The idea is awesome: super strong personalized labels that even stay on after being run thru the dishwasher or put in the freezer!

I contacted the folks at Oliver’s Labels and was super stoked when I got an email back saying they would send me a few of their new Date Labels to review. The Date Labels come with a nifty pencil to write the date (and contents if you plan on freezing homemade baby food or breast milk, for example).
When Ollie was still using bottles we had to use masking tape to put his name and the date on every bottle, every night. I wish I’d had these labels back then!

They are perfect for sending sippy cups or snack containers to day care, or taking along to birthday parties when there would be a million other kids around that have the exact same Gerber sippy cups.

I chose the Transportation theme, and put his first and last name on there. They are totally customizable, so if I’d wanted to put “Ollie Stinko Supreme” on there I could have.

Their other products look super awesome too… mini labels for smaller things like taking a toothbrush to a friend’s house for a sleep over, iron-on clothing labels, and labels that are designed to stick to the insoles of tiny shoes!

Even better: most of their products have what they call a “Found-It code” so if someone finds something with one of these labels on it they can go to oliverslabels.com and enter the code… you get hooked back up with your stuff without giving out your address!

I put Ollie’s labels on his sippy cups, and have run them thru the dishwasher at least three times now and they’re still going strong.

it's first thing in the morning, MOM

When we’re getting ready to go in the morning, packing the diaper bag and mama’s lunch, I always pick a cup with a label on it for his morning drink while he chills in his high chair. He hasn’t been able to peel these off, and not for lack of trying, which is more than I can say for the masking tape!

P.S. If you're inclined to shop and maybe order some Oliver's Labels for your own self, please go to www.oliverslabels.com/sarapanza and I'll get a little kickback.

P.P.S. Yes, I liked these so much I signed up to be an agent and tell everyone I know about how they're great and give you a better chance of getting your kid's stuff back home.



I received the product mentioned above for free by first contacting Oliver's Labels, then ultimately through using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for people like me. 

baby transport: reviews

Here are all the different ways we've transported the baby boy around.

1: Peanut Shell sling 2: Moby wrap 3: Snugli carrier 4: Graco Alano stroller

1. The sling was the first carrier I bought, thinking it seemed easiest, being one piece with no buckles or tying involved. And at first, it was. Until he got to be more than like 10 pounds, then it was OUCH. My shoulder and back hurt within like 15 minutes. Now that he's almost 20 pounds, I can actually stick him in sideways sitting up and it's not so bad. I get a good hour before it starts to hurt. I throw this one in the diaper bag just to have on hand for situations where the stroller is not practical.

2. The Moby. Ahhh, the Moby. The internets are all abuzz with adoring fans of this wrap. I've read a couple blogs where the moms actually said it saved their sanity! A must have! So I got one.

Moby: Comfy, but also a PITA

For me, eh. Not so much. I mean, it's great when you get him in there, but it's a giant Pain In The Ass to tie. I thought I just needed practice, I mean, once I tied this thing up a few times it would get easier, right? Eh, I guess so. But it's just so MUCH fabric... like, you wrap it around your middle, cross in the back, and cross in the front and tie a knot. It makes this pouch for him to sit in, eventually. I do like it, it's really comfortable, but it's just not practical for my life. We used it to walk around the yard, but I can't imagine trying to do this in the grocery store parking lot, and when we're out and it's hot it seems like all the fabric makes us both sweatier than if I were to just carry him.

3. The Snugli carrier I got as a hand-me-down gift from my cousin. It's kind of intimidating with all the straps and buckles, but once you figure out what goes where (like, if you had the box or instructions or something) it's a cinch. This is the only one Nick will wear. We both like it, it's pretty easy to adjust from him to me, and it's pretty comfortable.

I think Ollie likes it, too.

In Case You Missed It or Didn't Click To Enlarge:

(lol)

OUTSIDE VOICE

4. Last but not least, the stroller. Pros: It handles easy, use with carseat, has diaperbag storage underneath, cupholders, reclines for when he's sleepy, sunshade with peek-a-boo window, baby snack tray (great for feeding on the go, cuz mall highchairs = ick). Cons: heavy, must have SUV because getting this thing out of a car trunk would be stupid, takes more than one hand to open & put kid in, I don't care what they say, not always practical (crowded areas, rough roads).

Really nice for when it's too hot out for "babywearing" or if you're going to be somewhere for a long time, or if you/your kid aren't into being all up in each other's grill. Or if you have to eat. Because seriously, Grabby McGrabberson will make you share your french fries if he's 5 inches from your face.

The NinjaPanza Verdict/Smackdown:

For summer: Stroller FTW

Other seasons: I'll use the Snugli & stroller for walks this fall, and probably buy a wagon for Halloween.
(Unless I win the lottery and can somehow afford an Ergo because those are dope.)

Postpartum Thoughts

First, a picture.

Hey guys. Thanks for stopping by. Check out my chins.

Right then. So here are some post-partum thoughts, things I needed to get out of my head, and random updates... all neatly organized into numbered lists. You're welcome. *wink*

What I learned from being pregnant:

1. Multi-tasking is practically a thing of the past. As with pregnancy brain, mommy brain is a real killer.
2. Make lists. And let the small stuff go. Or better yet, let someone else do it. Speaking of which, I'm still working on the 100 reasons I love my son's dad post. Sure to bore everyone to death except for me and him.
3. Everything you think you know is wrong. What I mean to say is, when you think to yourself: "I'll never co-sleep" or "Breastfeeding in public is weird" You Just Don't Know Until You're Actually A Parent. I think this is what all those (still supremely annoying) people mean when they said "just wait...

Things I wish I could go back in time & change during my maternity leave:

1. I wouldn't have spent so much time thinking about going back to work. Seriously. I have guilt over how much time & energy I wasted thinking about how short my leave was & how hard it was going to be to go back.
2. I would've worried less about "getting him on a schedule" - as it turns out, that's not our parenting style. We're breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping, it's my baby and I'll hold him if I want to type parents.
3. I should've worked on the baby book. Yes, I only had about 5 minutes a day I felt like I could just tune out, and usually spent that time zoned in front of the TV, but even a start on his book would feel like an accomplishment. And maybe I would've have felt less like I totally lost control.
4. I would not have left the house til I felt ready - doctor's appointment aside - no shopping at two weeks old, it's too stressful! He was so little! It's not that I totally freaked out or anything, but the whole time we were out it just felt WRONG. I couldn't WAIT to get home. Maybe I won't feel that way with the second kid (yes, it probably will happen)... maybe the scary "brand new" thing will wear off faster.
5. I really really wish I'd had a cosleeper like this one from Arm's Reach; basically it's a bassinet that attaches to the side of your bed... this would have made it so much easier to
6. Try out nursing in bed a little sooner... once he had the appropriate head control, of course. But even before that, having him within "arm's reach" probably would have made things feel less like a battle.

*Giving credit where credit is due - I'd like to give a big shout out to breastfeeding because a) I still have not (knock on wood) gotten a post partum period; and b) it requires an extra 500 calories (approximately) to produce breastmilk, which is directly responsible for my weighing less now than I did before becoming pregnant. Woot!

Stuff I loved & am glad I had around:

1. Cloth diapers for soaking up the barf - everyone says this but it is SO TRUE. All those cute little flannel blanket things are only good as blankets, they don't absorb for shit.
2. A diaper stacker - I heard these are considered a waste of $$, but ours came with the crib bedding set and I love it!
3. Colace - A must for post partum pooping. I took it toward the end of my pregnancy, and was glad to have it around after he was born because the thought of pooping made me cringe, and I didn't even have any tears! Just the idea made me go NO MORE PUSHING EVAR. And hey, speaking of bodily functions, take your first post-birth pee in the middle of your first post-birth shower! With all the gross leaking you're doing t's MUCH easier than the whole squirt bottle & blot dry (HA!) system.
4. Pampers Swaddlers New Baby diapers - they have the stripe on the front that turns from yellow to blue to let you know they're wet. Perfect for newbie parents who otherwise would just change the kid every ten minutes because "does that feel full to you?" "I don't know" "Well maybe that's why he's crying" "Hell, it's worth a shot!"
5. Gripe Water. He didn't like something I ate? He's having trouble working out that fart? He just plain needed something that tasted like fennel to distract him? I don't know what it is about this stuff but Oliver calmed down within minutes of getting a shot of the gripe water.

Stuff I bought because somebody said I was supposed to, but just turned out to be useless:

1. Itzbeen baby care timer - I must admit, it was good to have while in the hospital since the nurses are all the time asking how long ago did he eat? It can also let you know which breast you last nursed from, which is a good thing before your milk comes in and one isn't any softer than the other. But, you have to remember to flip the little marker, and it's basically nothing a rubber band on your wrist can't take care of. We've barely used it since we came home. I made me too obsessed with how many hours it's been since he did this or that, which like I said before, isn't really our parenting style anyway, and who cares if it's been 1/2 an hour or 2 hours since we last changed him? If it's dirty, you change it.
2. GIANT tub of vaseline - guess what? One tube of A&D has lasted way past the glob the stuff on his circ stage and having it around just recently caused me to MommyFAIL. I put it in his hair. It still hasn't come all the way out. But that's a story for another day.
3. GIANT bottle of alcohol - you guessed it - this didn't get used once. Cause apparently you're not supposed to mess with the cord stump. Like, at all.
4. Up & Up brand diapers from Target = FAIL. "Try the generic brand of diapers!" they said. "They're just as good as the overpriced name brands!" they said. I now say, "Bull." These dumb things have only a small strip on the front that the velcro tabs will stick to, so with a squirmy baby or a baby with a smaller waist these just don't work because you can't overlap the tabs. And even when they are stuck in the proper spot, it's not very strong velcro and can easily come open.
5. Walmart brand diapers suck too. The tabs weren't very stretchy and the diaper overall felt cheap and plasticy. Yes, thank you spell check, I know that's not a word. I don't remember any significant leaks or anything, but when he would wet them, they would become very stiff and it seemed like they "filled up" very quickly, almost like the diaper was going to bust open since it had no give.

Honorable mention: the Diaper Genie.

• Awesome because you can't smell anything coming out of there.
• Bogus because the refills are HELLA expensive.
• Awesome because Nick's friend from work bought it for us and he was so excited to get a gift from one of his dudes that he has faithfully emptied the thing.
• Kinda BS because the lid sometimes gets stuck and oh yeah it has a BIG SHARP METAL cutting thing inside and you have to remember to tie off the end when you empty it otherwise you're screwed.
• (Awesome because I haven't had to deal with this. See: delegation, first section.)

*For the record: Postpartum hair loss? I haz it. Apparently, it likes to start being noticable around 3 months post partum. Just in time for your kid to get really good at grabbing handfuls! Yippee!