Zoos

• They have Zoos in the Netherlands where Monkeys run free and they give you special monkey protection bags to put your stuff in so they won't steal it. Source: iVillage Message Board
• Cali is not cool with a live river otter swimming underneath her. Source: experience at our local Zoo today where she was happily sliding through the otter exhibit until I pointed out the otter swimming right under her.
  

Happy Birthday Cali

• If you tell your 2 year old its her birthday when she wakes up, don't be surprised if she wants "Happy Birthday Cake" for breakfast. Compromise: toaster waffle with frosting and sprinkles.
  
• Sonic Iced Latte: 1 on my previously mentioned scale. Blech, I wanted to throw up and did not even drink half of it. It must've been made with whole milk or heavy cream, it was so thick and gross! Never again. I've learned my lesson: you want a good iced latte you have to go to a real coffee shop.
  

McDonald's Iced Coffee

• I got the vanilla (they also have hazelnut and regular). On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being undrinkable and 10 being totally delicious), I give it a 5 and that's being generous. I'm a big fan of iced lattes, preferably with a shot of coconut. Definitely doesn't compare to that but if you're really in a pinch I suppose it would do, maybe. And at $2.15 for the medium I'd rather spend the extra $2 and drive a little further for the good stuff. I won't be getting it again anytime soon unless I'm really desperate for a caffeine kick. Source: My Own Curiosity
  
• People are shady - I bought this little nightlight, vapor releasing do-hicky for Cali's room to help with her stuffy nose. It was supposed to come with 5 refill pads of the vapor stuff. There was none in the box. I realize the box was sealed when I opened it so where could they be? Did the manufacturer leave them out on accident? I re-read it, yep it says it includes 5 vapor pad refills. I check the bottom of the box. Nice, a piece of grimy scotch tape is holding the bottom shut. Lovely, someone stole the vapor pads, taped the bottom shut and returned it? So now I have a vaporizer with no vapors and have to make a trip back to the store when I really have no time or desire to do that today. Source: Annoying personal experience
  
• The top of the guest bed is a great place to take Bear for a walk in his stroller. Source: Cali, almost 2
  

Mileage

• It is 1.5 miles from my local post office to the field of horseys I take Cali to look at. Source: Strollometer data from my morning jog.
• D is not allergic to peanuts. Source: Cali's generous offer of letting D "taste it" before I realized what she was doing.
• Cali is proficient at removing her pants & diapers now. Source: Mid-night trip to the potty where halfway down the hall I realized she had a naked butt and she proudly told me her diaper was "in bed" when I asked its whereabouts.
  
• New favorite product: Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath. Cali has a cold so I picked some up and it worked great, kind of like you dumped Vicks Vapor Rub in the tub but better. I've heard its great for grownups too. I'll definitely try it next time I get a stuffy nose.
  

Stains

• To remove stains - Pour boiling water over the stain ASAP. Source: Cookie Magazine.

Supposedly very effective, but not sure how practical it is. I mean who has boiling water handy when you really need it? And as a busy mom I don't even have time to boil some if I am home and happen to notice a stain right away. I usually don't notice them til they're out of the dryer and by then its way too late. I'll let you know if I ever try it, and you let me know if you do.

One of those Days

• Don't leave your box of scrapbooking brads on the desk where you will end up knocking it off and then have to spend five minutes picking them up and re-sorting them. Source: personal experience
• Just wait for the train instead of trying to drive around to the next crossing because as luck will have it, another train will be blocking that crossing too. Source: personal experience
• Don't leave your diaper bag at home. Source: personal experience (more than once)
• There is such a thing as a "mommy" paintbrush and a "baby" paintbrush even though they are identical in every way and yes she has to have both of them. Source: Cali, almost 2