I find the two biggest ways to save money on my grocery shopping are to 1) meal plan and shop based on sales and 2) meal plan based on what I already have. Ideally, much of what I've bought was purchased at the lowest price possible.
Yesterday, I pored over the sale papers to find out what's on sale and then determine my meal plan. Sometimes it is so overwhelming ot me to even begin to think of meal planning, and last night was one of those times. I think I was just extra tired and frustrated from the day, so staring at sale papers made me want to just throw them away and meal plan based on what I felt like eating. I took a break, put the baby to bed, and then tried again, this time with a much better attitude.
Cinco de Mayo is next Wednesday, so you can find anything you need for your own Mexican Fiesta on sale right now. That was the inspiration for my meal plan. I bought tortillas on sale (using a coupon), stocked up on cheese, diced tomatoes and chilis (AKA Rotel), refried beans, jalapenos, cilantro, and chicken. All of these items were at very reduced prices. I didn't take the store's word for it though; I double checked other store's prices and checked my handy dandy price book so that I could know for a fact that the items were truly at a deep discount.
Take jalapenos, for example. Wal-Mart had them $1 per lb. Sounds like a steal, right? Albertsons had them $1 for 2 lbs. Considering how small jalapenos are, the savings is probably negligible, but since I had to go anyway to get cheap chicken (49 cents per pound for a whole fryer), it was worth it to not purchase jalapenos at Wal-Mart.
FYI, you can only get the cheap chicken with an additional purchase of $25, so I stocked up on other sales at Albertsons for things that I may or may not need this week, but we will eat at some point. And I knew some things at Albertsons were on sale for the same "every day low price" as at Wal-Mart, so I just made it a point to purchase these at Albertsons to help bring my total to $25. The store does limit you to purchasing four chickens, so I stocked up. Those four chickens will feed us for quite some time. This chicken sale seems to come up every month or two, but this is the first time I've needed to make use of it.
My meal plan for the next 10-14 days includes fajitas, tostadas, and quesodillas, among many other things, including Asian Chicken Salad, to help unclog our arteries. Cabbage is on sale for 88 cents for two pounds at Super 1, so I'll be stopping by Super 1 tomorrow on my way home from the gym, and that will be the basis for the chicken salads. The recipe will be something like this one on All Recipes, with some tweaking, because I'll use only cabbage. My mom made a similar salad growing up, so I'm trying to duplicate it.
Here's what's on the menu at our house:
Grilled Chicken Fajitas
Chicken Tostadas
Chicken Quesodillas
Asian Chicken Salad
Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Bread
Chicken Parmesan (already in the freezer from last week)
Chicken Enchiladas (already in the freezer because I cooked one pan, froze 2 this week).
Red Beans and Rice (I'll freeze the oodles of leftovers next week)
Breakfast (thrown in once a week or every other week).
Breakfast For Dinner (BFD) could include grits and eggs, blueberry Belgian waffles, omelets, or french toast (pain perdu, but you have to say it with a really frenchy accent). We always have the ingredients for this stuff on hand. BFD helps the budget and is something we both enjoy. We usually go with oatmeal, fruit, or just coffee for breakfast during the week, so we love a chance to have a yummy, hot breakfast for dinner, especially at the end of the week, when we're both tired and just want to relax together.
Your Thrifty Thursday tip: Shop sale papers and eat mexican food this next week. Your taste buds will thank you. You can apologize to your hips and arteries later.
Oh, and buy .49 cent/lb chicken.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Book Review: On Becoming Toddlerwise
Last week I finally got around to finishing On Becoming Toddlerwise, by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. The Babywise series of books are highly, highly conversial, so let's not even get into any of that please! If you completely disagree with scheduling, give me a call and let's talk about it, but otherwise, we can agree to disagree, and at least acknowledge that there's some wisdom to be gained by the authors. After all, Babywise is not a best-selling book without reason. This post, however, will be directed towards Toddlerwise, which addresses the second year of a child's life, including potty training (although there's a separate book on that too).
I enjoyed the first chapter, which discusses the combining forces that shape both us and our children: heredity, environment, and personality. Personality is determined by a combination of heredity, environment, and temperament. The authors discuss the areas where we, as parents, can directly influence our children's personalities and behavior. They stress training and education. Some children are naturally more easy-going, but if we have a child who isn't, we can still teach that child patience. In the same way that we teach our children how to brush their teeth, we can try to teach our children to control their tempers.
Scheduling, of course!
Toddlerwise, in classic Ezzo style, addresses scheduling and how to structure a child's day. I think this chapter can be really helpful if you're not quite sure what to do with your kid all day long, but I have a feeling most moms figure it out just fine. It is great for giving parents the idea that it's okay to let your child play alone. In fact, it's pretty healthy! Still, people sometimes find it surprising that Isabelle can usually entertain herself.
At our house, we don't adhere strictly to the toddler scheduling ideas in the book, but we do have basic routines and structure in our day. For example, Isabelle usually has independent playtime in her room in the morning while I enjoy my coffee and check e-mail (five feet away from her in my room, which connects to hers). But this will vary on days when we 1) have church, 2) have ladies' Bible study, 3) have MOPS, or 4) choose to go the the gym first thing in the morning instead of mid-morning. After my coffee, I usually like to read to her, sing songs, and do other activities with her.
We also have a pre-nap routine. After lunch, she has a sippy cup of milk while I read a book or two to her and then I usually sing one song to her. I've been reading to her before her naptime since she was just a tiny thing. I wanted to make sure that she read a book at least once or twice a day, which is why I've tied reading together with her naptime--she will take a nap everyday, therefore she will be read to!. All day long, we have a basic routine, but it can vary sometimes, and I don't have every 30 minute portion of her day scheduled!
The authors do stress the importance of having parent-directed playtime, where your child can only play with certain things that you want them to play with. I'm kicking around this idea and trying to decide if it's something we should work on or not. They also discuss blanket time, training your child to play on a blanket for a set period of time. I'm still not sure of what I think about that.
The Low Points
Some of the chapters dealt with a little bit of theory, but I would've enjoyed either a more intellectual discussion of their theories or no discussion of it at all. This is why it took so long for me to finish! I found this portion of the book a little bit dull, mostly because I'm already on board with the premise of their books. Still, sometimes when they present "theory," they do not include footnotes or anyway to validate their claims, so it makes it hard to completely agree.
I also disagreed with them on a few points, but I rarely find anyone I agree with 100%, so this isn't a big deal. When the authors discussed mealtimes, they said that parents in the U.S. are needlessly concerned with their children's eating habits. Everyone worries that their child isn't eating enough, but most children are eating plenty. The authors suggest setting a time limit on mealtime. I think the authors have a valid point, but if you've ever had a child in the 5-10th percentiles on the growth chart, you know that you do worry about every bite the child doesn't eat. And I don't think it's a needless concern in my case, but that's why I'm especially concerned about the nutritional content of Isabelle's food.
The High Points
My favorite section of the book were the last few chapters. Chapter six deals with "Conflict, Training, and Correction," chapter seven is about potty training, and chapter 8 is their "Toddler Topic Pool," in which they answer various questions about the toddler years.
I loved this last section so much because it has a problem/solution mentality. A lot of times parents feel like we just have to survive the toddler years and hope our kid isn't a tough one, but we really can troubleshoot some of their behaviors.
Applying Toddlerwise
For example, after reading the last portion of the book, I decided that Isabelle, at 16 months, really is old enough to begin learning to clean up after herself. Will she do it on her own, unprompted? Probably not. Can she clean her room by herself? Definitely not! But I can sing the clean up song to her while she helps me put toys in their baskets. And she joins me, singing "nup! nup!" instead of "clean up!" She had so much fun putting the books back on her shelves that first day. I physically made her hold the book and put it on the shelf, then praised her for it. After doing this with about six books, she was looking for more books to stack up. She stacked all the books up and then I pulled out the same books for her to stack again because she loved it.
I'm also working with Isabelle on looking at me and saying "Yes, Mommy" when I tell her to do something. She can't do it yet, and probably won't be able to for a couple of months, but we have to start somewhere, and it'll get her used to obeying out of habit (ideally). I'm also working with her on coming when I call her. From what I've read, much of the training can really begin around 18 months, but some kids can pick things up sooner, so I think it doesn't hurt to start at 16 months.
Right now, we're troubleshooting the afternoon grouch fest that seems to start around 5 and last until daddy gets home. Yesterday it started even earlier, around 3:30. I know it's completely normal for children to act up while mom is preparing dinner, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! It started when she got her 15 month shots at the same time that she started cutting five teeth and has lasted for two and a half weeks. Is she 1) just being a toddler? 2) hungry? 3) tired? 4) teething?
Answer #1 is completely unacceptable to me (even if it's true)! I've tried giving her a snack, but she's still cranky and then won't eat as much at dinner. I recently tried to adjust her sleep schedule by going back to a morning nap, but then she just ends up skipping her afternoon nap. Last night I decided once and for all that it must be teething. I checked her mouth (despite her protests) and two top molars are still trying to break through, but the clincher was when she woke up crying at 11:30 p.m. I can't tell you the last time I had to get up with her during the night, but it might've been when we were traveling at Christmas. This is definitely abnormal behavior for her! I think she just hurts, plain and simple, and that's why she's cranky. We'll go back to giving her something for the pain. I've also found that distraction helps, so having cool toys available in the kitchen while I'm making dinner seems to help. Cool toys = a bowl of blocks and other items for her to stir with a wooden spoon while I cook. Hopefully it'll go well tonight, or we might have to go back to the drawing board again!
What are your thoughts on the Babywise books and toddler discipline? If you have any teething advice or suggestions for dealing with the afternoon grouch fest, I'd love to hear it.
I enjoyed the first chapter, which discusses the combining forces that shape both us and our children: heredity, environment, and personality. Personality is determined by a combination of heredity, environment, and temperament. The authors discuss the areas where we, as parents, can directly influence our children's personalities and behavior. They stress training and education. Some children are naturally more easy-going, but if we have a child who isn't, we can still teach that child patience. In the same way that we teach our children how to brush their teeth, we can try to teach our children to control their tempers.
Scheduling, of course!
Toddlerwise, in classic Ezzo style, addresses scheduling and how to structure a child's day. I think this chapter can be really helpful if you're not quite sure what to do with your kid all day long, but I have a feeling most moms figure it out just fine. It is great for giving parents the idea that it's okay to let your child play alone. In fact, it's pretty healthy! Still, people sometimes find it surprising that Isabelle can usually entertain herself.
At our house, we don't adhere strictly to the toddler scheduling ideas in the book, but we do have basic routines and structure in our day. For example, Isabelle usually has independent playtime in her room in the morning while I enjoy my coffee and check e-mail (five feet away from her in my room, which connects to hers). But this will vary on days when we 1) have church, 2) have ladies' Bible study, 3) have MOPS, or 4) choose to go the the gym first thing in the morning instead of mid-morning. After my coffee, I usually like to read to her, sing songs, and do other activities with her.
We also have a pre-nap routine. After lunch, she has a sippy cup of milk while I read a book or two to her and then I usually sing one song to her. I've been reading to her before her naptime since she was just a tiny thing. I wanted to make sure that she read a book at least once or twice a day, which is why I've tied reading together with her naptime--she will take a nap everyday, therefore she will be read to!. All day long, we have a basic routine, but it can vary sometimes, and I don't have every 30 minute portion of her day scheduled!
The authors do stress the importance of having parent-directed playtime, where your child can only play with certain things that you want them to play with. I'm kicking around this idea and trying to decide if it's something we should work on or not. They also discuss blanket time, training your child to play on a blanket for a set period of time. I'm still not sure of what I think about that.
The Low Points
Some of the chapters dealt with a little bit of theory, but I would've enjoyed either a more intellectual discussion of their theories or no discussion of it at all. This is why it took so long for me to finish! I found this portion of the book a little bit dull, mostly because I'm already on board with the premise of their books. Still, sometimes when they present "theory," they do not include footnotes or anyway to validate their claims, so it makes it hard to completely agree.
I also disagreed with them on a few points, but I rarely find anyone I agree with 100%, so this isn't a big deal. When the authors discussed mealtimes, they said that parents in the U.S. are needlessly concerned with their children's eating habits. Everyone worries that their child isn't eating enough, but most children are eating plenty. The authors suggest setting a time limit on mealtime. I think the authors have a valid point, but if you've ever had a child in the 5-10th percentiles on the growth chart, you know that you do worry about every bite the child doesn't eat. And I don't think it's a needless concern in my case, but that's why I'm especially concerned about the nutritional content of Isabelle's food.
The High Points
My favorite section of the book were the last few chapters. Chapter six deals with "Conflict, Training, and Correction," chapter seven is about potty training, and chapter 8 is their "Toddler Topic Pool," in which they answer various questions about the toddler years.
I loved this last section so much because it has a problem/solution mentality. A lot of times parents feel like we just have to survive the toddler years and hope our kid isn't a tough one, but we really can troubleshoot some of their behaviors.
Applying Toddlerwise
For example, after reading the last portion of the book, I decided that Isabelle, at 16 months, really is old enough to begin learning to clean up after herself. Will she do it on her own, unprompted? Probably not. Can she clean her room by herself? Definitely not! But I can sing the clean up song to her while she helps me put toys in their baskets. And she joins me, singing "nup! nup!" instead of "clean up!" She had so much fun putting the books back on her shelves that first day. I physically made her hold the book and put it on the shelf, then praised her for it. After doing this with about six books, she was looking for more books to stack up. She stacked all the books up and then I pulled out the same books for her to stack again because she loved it.
I'm also working with Isabelle on looking at me and saying "Yes, Mommy" when I tell her to do something. She can't do it yet, and probably won't be able to for a couple of months, but we have to start somewhere, and it'll get her used to obeying out of habit (ideally). I'm also working with her on coming when I call her. From what I've read, much of the training can really begin around 18 months, but some kids can pick things up sooner, so I think it doesn't hurt to start at 16 months.
Right now, we're troubleshooting the afternoon grouch fest that seems to start around 5 and last until daddy gets home. Yesterday it started even earlier, around 3:30. I know it's completely normal for children to act up while mom is preparing dinner, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! It started when she got her 15 month shots at the same time that she started cutting five teeth and has lasted for two and a half weeks. Is she 1) just being a toddler? 2) hungry? 3) tired? 4) teething?
Answer #1 is completely unacceptable to me (even if it's true)! I've tried giving her a snack, but she's still cranky and then won't eat as much at dinner. I recently tried to adjust her sleep schedule by going back to a morning nap, but then she just ends up skipping her afternoon nap. Last night I decided once and for all that it must be teething. I checked her mouth (despite her protests) and two top molars are still trying to break through, but the clincher was when she woke up crying at 11:30 p.m. I can't tell you the last time I had to get up with her during the night, but it might've been when we were traveling at Christmas. This is definitely abnormal behavior for her! I think she just hurts, plain and simple, and that's why she's cranky. We'll go back to giving her something for the pain. I've also found that distraction helps, so having cool toys available in the kitchen while I'm making dinner seems to help. Cool toys = a bowl of blocks and other items for her to stir with a wooden spoon while I cook. Hopefully it'll go well tonight, or we might have to go back to the drawing board again!
What are your thoughts on the Babywise books and toddler discipline? If you have any teething advice or suggestions for dealing with the afternoon grouch fest, I'd love to hear it.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Book Review: First half of Living Well on One Income
I'm halfway finished with Living Well on One Income in a Two-Income World, by Cynthia Yates, and there's so much to say about this book that I already want to tell you about what I've been reading. When I finish reading it, I'll tell you about the second half of it.
When it comes to reading about budgeting and thrifty living, this book isn't my first rodeo. I read a basic intro to budgeting as a newlywed when I took a marriage class my senior year of college, I've read Jonni McCoy's three books, Miserly Moms, Frugal Families, and Healthy Meals for Less, we've listened to all of Dave Ramsey's talks, and I've already told you about reading The Complete Tightwad Gazette. So needless to say, some of this information in Living Well isn't new to me.
That said, it's incredibly relevant to anyone, regardless of where you are in your budgeting and frugal living journey. In fact, even if you're living on two incomes, you'd probably enjoy reading this and implementing those strategies that you have time for. What I love about this book is its perspective. While the authors of some of the books I listed above may (or may not) be Christians, it's not anything they harp on or make a central focus of their books. Cynthia Yates' book is primarily about doing just what the title says, Living Well on One Income, but with a godly perspective.
Here's an outline of the first five chapters in case you're interested in reading it:
God doesn't want us to be misers or stingy. We should be generous and giving with what the Lord has blessed us with, and I firmly believe that living frugally actually helps me to be generous when appropriate. Our grocery budget would be much less if we never brought meals to other families, but I believe it's an important part of being the hands and feet of Christ. I can't tell you how much I appreciated the meals brought to us when Isabelle was born, and I love doing that for others. And it's always been such a blessing to us when our friends who we know are on a strict budget are able to support our mission trips. These, clearly, are families who know that as important as it is to save money, all our money has been given to us by the Lord to use to bring glory to Him.
Yates does a good job of addressing not just frugality, but Biblical frugality in the first two chapters. She also gives a great intro to budgeting in chapter three.
Then I hit chapter four, which I really didn't expect to find in a book about frugal living. What does organization have to do with saving money?!? I won't answer that question for you--you'll have to read the book! Some things she pointed out were eye openers to me, like when she mentioned the importance of organizing your freezer so that you actually know what's in there. I guess I'm going to have to organize my freezer now! (Groan.) But other times in this chapter, I wanted to stand up and shout Amen. In her list of types of lists (!), she mentioned making "A list of everything that must be done that day away from home and the route that will save you the most time and gas" (p. 70). Ah, Yates is a woman after my own heart! I thought I was the only crazy list maker who did this.
Chapter five is about being a savvy shopper, and in addition to lots of tips and amusing stories about her own not so savvy attempts at being a smart consumer, she gives a wonderful list of seasonal sales. Did you know that January is a good month to buy standing ribs and that air conditioners can be purchased at their cheapest in February?
I also loved it when Yates mentioned that everyone has areas where we will not budge in the budget, and its OK to be that way. I've wondered sometimes if I should feel guilty in areas that I splurge. For Yates, she loves having organic extra virgin olive oil. For me, its all-natural peanut butter with no hydrogenated oils and jam without high fructose corn syrup, because my daughter eats a PB&J least 3 times a week, if not more, and I don't want this stuff in her food. Yates points out that our wise budgeting can enable us to have these areas where we do choose to splurge, but that we should do so wisely.
Another good aspect of Living Well is that Yates has a great sense of humor and a fun attitude. If you're looking for a really serious book, don't read this one. She addresses (somewhat) serious issues in a fun way. It's fairly light reading, but you'll almost want to take notes at times because her tips are so helpful.
I'll be sure to let you know about the rest of the book!
When it comes to reading about budgeting and thrifty living, this book isn't my first rodeo. I read a basic intro to budgeting as a newlywed when I took a marriage class my senior year of college, I've read Jonni McCoy's three books, Miserly Moms, Frugal Families, and Healthy Meals for Less, we've listened to all of Dave Ramsey's talks, and I've already told you about reading The Complete Tightwad Gazette. So needless to say, some of this information in Living Well isn't new to me.
That said, it's incredibly relevant to anyone, regardless of where you are in your budgeting and frugal living journey. In fact, even if you're living on two incomes, you'd probably enjoy reading this and implementing those strategies that you have time for. What I love about this book is its perspective. While the authors of some of the books I listed above may (or may not) be Christians, it's not anything they harp on or make a central focus of their books. Cynthia Yates' book is primarily about doing just what the title says, Living Well on One Income, but with a godly perspective.
Here's an outline of the first five chapters in case you're interested in reading it:
- What's the Rub?
- A Cheerful Heart: The Right Attitude
- Live Within Your Means
- Let's Organize!
- It Pays to be Savvy
God doesn't want us to be misers or stingy. We should be generous and giving with what the Lord has blessed us with, and I firmly believe that living frugally actually helps me to be generous when appropriate. Our grocery budget would be much less if we never brought meals to other families, but I believe it's an important part of being the hands and feet of Christ. I can't tell you how much I appreciated the meals brought to us when Isabelle was born, and I love doing that for others. And it's always been such a blessing to us when our friends who we know are on a strict budget are able to support our mission trips. These, clearly, are families who know that as important as it is to save money, all our money has been given to us by the Lord to use to bring glory to Him.
Yates does a good job of addressing not just frugality, but Biblical frugality in the first two chapters. She also gives a great intro to budgeting in chapter three.
Then I hit chapter four, which I really didn't expect to find in a book about frugal living. What does organization have to do with saving money?!? I won't answer that question for you--you'll have to read the book! Some things she pointed out were eye openers to me, like when she mentioned the importance of organizing your freezer so that you actually know what's in there. I guess I'm going to have to organize my freezer now! (Groan.) But other times in this chapter, I wanted to stand up and shout Amen. In her list of types of lists (!), she mentioned making "A list of everything that must be done that day away from home and the route that will save you the most time and gas" (p. 70). Ah, Yates is a woman after my own heart! I thought I was the only crazy list maker who did this.
Chapter five is about being a savvy shopper, and in addition to lots of tips and amusing stories about her own not so savvy attempts at being a smart consumer, she gives a wonderful list of seasonal sales. Did you know that January is a good month to buy standing ribs and that air conditioners can be purchased at their cheapest in February?
I also loved it when Yates mentioned that everyone has areas where we will not budge in the budget, and its OK to be that way. I've wondered sometimes if I should feel guilty in areas that I splurge. For Yates, she loves having organic extra virgin olive oil. For me, its all-natural peanut butter with no hydrogenated oils and jam without high fructose corn syrup, because my daughter eats a PB&J least 3 times a week, if not more, and I don't want this stuff in her food. Yates points out that our wise budgeting can enable us to have these areas where we do choose to splurge, but that we should do so wisely.
Another good aspect of Living Well is that Yates has a great sense of humor and a fun attitude. If you're looking for a really serious book, don't read this one. She addresses (somewhat) serious issues in a fun way. It's fairly light reading, but you'll almost want to take notes at times because her tips are so helpful.
I'll be sure to let you know about the rest of the book!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Children's Book Giveaway on Chronicles of a Babywise Mom
One of the first blogs I ever started reading from time to time is Chronicles of a Babywise Mom. The author does just what the blog title says, and blogs about following the Babywise series of books with her three children. I love that she gives weekly updates about her infants and their schedules. It was so helpful to me as a first time mom to see what was "normal" when it came to my child's schedule. I thought it was strange at first that my newborn daughter's wake times were so short (20 or 30 minutes, other than eating!), but when I saw her children's schedules, I saw that it was very normal for a newborn. She adheres to the Babywise ideas a little more strictly than I do, but it's still been quite a help.
She posted a giveway today about a children's book called Bedtime for Mommy. It looks pretty adorable, and one way to enter the giveaway is to blog about it. Hence today's blog! Click this link to checkout the book for yourself and enter the giveaway if you're interested in it.
I do feel the need to give a little bit of a disclaimer. The author's religious views are incredibly different from mine and probably yours too, so it can be helpful to keep that in mind if you decide to start following her blog (she's a Mormon). The practical aspect of seeing how someone applies Babywise and the rest of the books is still very helpful, and I find that I agree with her on a number of things, such as sleep habits, eating habits, and creating a loving atmosphere that still has firm discipline at home.
She posted a giveway today about a children's book called Bedtime for Mommy. It looks pretty adorable, and one way to enter the giveaway is to blog about it. Hence today's blog! Click this link to checkout the book for yourself and enter the giveaway if you're interested in it.
I do feel the need to give a little bit of a disclaimer. The author's religious views are incredibly different from mine and probably yours too, so it can be helpful to keep that in mind if you decide to start following her blog (she's a Mormon). The practical aspect of seeing how someone applies Babywise and the rest of the books is still very helpful, and I find that I agree with her on a number of things, such as sleep habits, eating habits, and creating a loving atmosphere that still has firm discipline at home.
Friday, April 23, 2010
A Greener Cleaner
In honor of Earth Day, I'm excited to tell you about one of my favorite cleaning items, Shaklee Basic H2.
When I was only a couple months pregnant, I received one of my first baby gifts, a set of organic cleaning supplies from Shaklee. Among other products (like a scouring paste made out of cherry pits!), my friend had given me a bottle of Basic H2 and three empty bottles for mixing cleaners.
At the time, I thought these were pretty great items, but I didn't realize just how great until months later. When I was pregnant, and even now, I receive wonderful hand-me-down baby gear items from friends and relatives. I'm not just talking about cute little dresses and shoes, but real gear: high chairs, a bassinet, 2 exersaucers, a jumperoo, a baby swing, a pack and play, a bouncy chair, and countless other items.
I set about cleaning the exersaucers, some of the first things I received, and tried to figure out exactly how to clean the toys attached to it. Do I use Scrubbing Bubbles or a bleach-containing cleaner? Sure these products will kill any and all germs, but then my baby will eat the toys. And the chemicals too. Bleh. If a cleaner burns your nose or stinks, you probably don't want your infant's mouth anywhere near it!
That's why I love Basic H2. I don't have to worry about what I'm using to clean my child's high chair tray or Bumbo. If you're at all concerned about reducing your family's exposure to toxic chemicals in the home, then you're going to love this cleaner.
Why is this a green cleaner? It's natural and nontoxic, so it's not harmful to the environment, but even better, one bottle of Basic H2 can replace most or all of your household cleaners. It's a cleaner that you mix with water to make other cleaners. 2 drops of Basic H mixed with 16 ounces of water = glass cleaner. That's why it's great to get the three empty, labeled bottles to go with the Basic H2. There's a separate bottle for glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, and a degreaser. It's great too. I use it to clean my entire kitchen, except the floors, because I like using vinegar and water (the original all-natural cleaner!). Check out this link for more info and a cost breakdown.
The friend who brought me the Shaklee cleaners does sell Shaklee products, but I know she was bringing me something she knew I'd love, not just trying to make a buck. After all, it's been nearly 2 years, and I still haven't had to replace my bottle of Basic H2 with another $12 bottle. And as a rule of thumb, I trust anyone who will hold my hair while I lose my breakfast in the church bathroom, thanks to morning sickness. If you are interested in buying it, let me know, and I'll put you in touch with her.
I know it's highly politicized, but don't hate me for "celebrating" Earth Day. =) While I do think some folks take things a bit too far, all in the name of saving the earth (like only showering once or twice a week), I think there's nothing wrong with taking care of what the Lord has given us while we're here. At the same time, it's important to keep it all in perspective. My hope does not lie in saving the planet; my hope lies in Christ and Christ alone. Ultimately, heaven and earth will all pass away.
When I was only a couple months pregnant, I received one of my first baby gifts, a set of organic cleaning supplies from Shaklee. Among other products (like a scouring paste made out of cherry pits!), my friend had given me a bottle of Basic H2 and three empty bottles for mixing cleaners.
I set about cleaning the exersaucers, some of the first things I received, and tried to figure out exactly how to clean the toys attached to it. Do I use Scrubbing Bubbles or a bleach-containing cleaner? Sure these products will kill any and all germs, but then my baby will eat the toys. And the chemicals too. Bleh. If a cleaner burns your nose or stinks, you probably don't want your infant's mouth anywhere near it!
That's why I love Basic H2. I don't have to worry about what I'm using to clean my child's high chair tray or Bumbo. If you're at all concerned about reducing your family's exposure to toxic chemicals in the home, then you're going to love this cleaner.
Why is this a green cleaner? It's natural and nontoxic, so it's not harmful to the environment, but even better, one bottle of Basic H2 can replace most or all of your household cleaners. It's a cleaner that you mix with water to make other cleaners. 2 drops of Basic H mixed with 16 ounces of water = glass cleaner. That's why it's great to get the three empty, labeled bottles to go with the Basic H2. There's a separate bottle for glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, and a degreaser. It's great too. I use it to clean my entire kitchen, except the floors, because I like using vinegar and water (the original all-natural cleaner!). Check out this link for more info and a cost breakdown.
The friend who brought me the Shaklee cleaners does sell Shaklee products, but I know she was bringing me something she knew I'd love, not just trying to make a buck. After all, it's been nearly 2 years, and I still haven't had to replace my bottle of Basic H2 with another $12 bottle. And as a rule of thumb, I trust anyone who will hold my hair while I lose my breakfast in the church bathroom, thanks to morning sickness. If you are interested in buying it, let me know, and I'll put you in touch with her.
I know it's highly politicized, but don't hate me for "celebrating" Earth Day. =) While I do think some folks take things a bit too far, all in the name of saving the earth (like only showering once or twice a week), I think there's nothing wrong with taking care of what the Lord has given us while we're here. At the same time, it's important to keep it all in perspective. My hope does not lie in saving the planet; my hope lies in Christ and Christ alone. Ultimately, heaven and earth will all pass away.
How's the flight?
So how's it going with FlyLady? If you read my blog last week, you saw that I wanted to get back to using FlyLady's tips and scheduled cleaning program so that I can keep my home more organized. A number of you responded with a comment on here, on Facebook, or in person that you would love to do FlyLady also. How's your flight?
Cleaning has been great for me with FlyLady. This week, we were doing our zone cleaning in the master bedroom, which is an area that I told you I really struggle with. Normally when I clean, I usually leave my bedroom last because it's a lower priority, so I was so pleased to see us in this zone.
My room looks great! I love it. I've gotten rid of all my piles--there's not a single one in the room! There's not even a paper work pile, which is pretty great, considering our home office is in the master bedroom.
Here's what the week looked like:
Monday: Remove anything that belongs somewhere else. You mean the giant 4 foot level doesn't belong in my master bedroom?
Tuesday: Get rid of all clothing piles. That was great, because I still hadn't unpacked from our weekend out of town!
Wednesday: Clean off end tables and put something nice to look at on your endtable. This was the highlight for me. I put a sweet picture of 2 week old Isabelle on my end table to go along with a candle, antique lamp and my ever-present stack of 2 books, my bible, and journal. The pleasing appearance of my end table is motivation enough to keep this area clean every day. I now de-clutter it regularly.
Thursday: Clean off dresser surfaces!
Friday: Strip bed and flip mattress. Sorry, the mattress flipping isn't going to happen today! I can't do it by myself, and I'd rather have a nice neat bedroom for my husband to come home to, instead of making him flip the mattress with me when he gets home from work.
All in all, it was a great week, and I love love LOVE my bedroom. Don't you love your house when it's clean?
Cleaning has been great for me with FlyLady. This week, we were doing our zone cleaning in the master bedroom, which is an area that I told you I really struggle with. Normally when I clean, I usually leave my bedroom last because it's a lower priority, so I was so pleased to see us in this zone.
My room looks great! I love it. I've gotten rid of all my piles--there's not a single one in the room! There's not even a paper work pile, which is pretty great, considering our home office is in the master bedroom.
Here's what the week looked like:
Monday: Remove anything that belongs somewhere else. You mean the giant 4 foot level doesn't belong in my master bedroom?
Tuesday: Get rid of all clothing piles. That was great, because I still hadn't unpacked from our weekend out of town!
Wednesday: Clean off end tables and put something nice to look at on your endtable. This was the highlight for me. I put a sweet picture of 2 week old Isabelle on my end table to go along with a candle, antique lamp and my ever-present stack of 2 books, my bible, and journal. The pleasing appearance of my end table is motivation enough to keep this area clean every day. I now de-clutter it regularly.
Thursday: Clean off dresser surfaces!
Friday: Strip bed and flip mattress. Sorry, the mattress flipping isn't going to happen today! I can't do it by myself, and I'd rather have a nice neat bedroom for my husband to come home to, instead of making him flip the mattress with me when he gets home from work.
All in all, it was a great week, and I love love LOVE my bedroom. Don't you love your house when it's clean?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thrifty Thursday
Every Thursday, I'm going to offer a tip to help your family save money. I don't want the entire blog to be about frugality every day, but it's definitely something I'm passionate about, and from the feedback I've gotten from many of you, a lot of you are interested in being thrifty too. Who doesn't want to save money?
Over the past year or two, I've developed a growing distaste for any product that ultimately gets thrown away. It means you are literally throwing money in the garbage. Disposable products are also harmful for the environment. So one way to save money and be more "green" is to look for every day products that you use and dispose of immediately, and replace them with something else. This is what I've done with my Swiffer.
A Smarter way to Swiffer
I'm sure the folks at Swiffer wouldn't appreciate this post at all, but too bad! This really works, and I no longer have to buy the pad thingies for my Swiffer.
As an owner of hardwood floors, I jumped on the Swiffer bandwagon with everyone else a number of years ago. We bought the Swiffer Max and the Swiffer Wet Jet, along with bottles of their special hardwood floor cleaner.
I go back and forth between my preferences for cleaning my floors. I have ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, and I find that a good old fashioned string mop works best, rather than any Swiffer. It simply has too much texture for the Swiffer heads to properly clean them.
Then we have the hardwood floors, which are in every room of the house, usually with a rug of some sort on them, although the dining room is still rugless. It will probably stay rugless as long as there's a toddler in the house. Green peas don't exactly enhance the beauty of an oriental rug.
Sometimes I vacuum the hardwood floors because it sucks out any dirt or dust between the boards. It's also easy to do, since I'm usually vacuuming the rugs anyway. Sometimes I sweep the floors with a real broom. A lot of times I Swiffer the wood floors, which does a great job of picking up the dust that seems to steadily accummulate any time your house is older than, say, 1950. We don't actually know how old our house is, but it seems to be 30s or 40s in style. The only problem with Swiffering the floors is that I've decided I don't like buying the disposable pads anymore. Disposable = money in the trash. Literally.
So here's the plan:
At Wal-Mart (or wherever you shop), you should be able to find a bag of microfiber shop towels in the automotive section of the store. The ones I bought came in a large bag of about 6 or 8, and half the towels are blue and the other half are white. I already talked about the wonders of using these towels as cloth diaper doublers in a previous post. I use the white ones as diaper doublers and the blue ones as dusting towels or Swiffer towels.
Basically, all you do is use one or two microfiber towels as your Swiffer pad. Tuck them into the pinching towel holder on the Swiffer. I have a SwifferMax, so I need to use two of them. I bet you could mop your floors this way too, and just dampen the towels with your mop solution before putting them on.
Incidentally, we were in Dallas about a month ago for a soccer game, and after dinner, we decided to grab dessert at a cute little cupcake shop near the restaurant. While my sister ordered one, I noticed that the shop's dustmop was pretty similar to mine. They had taken a larger microfiber towel and wrapped it over the head of a smaller dust mop, possibly a swiffer. There was enough excess fabric that they could gather it on top, near the base of the pole, with a rubber band. Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks microfiber is a great way to clean!
Over the past year or two, I've developed a growing distaste for any product that ultimately gets thrown away. It means you are literally throwing money in the garbage. Disposable products are also harmful for the environment. So one way to save money and be more "green" is to look for every day products that you use and dispose of immediately, and replace them with something else. This is what I've done with my Swiffer.
A Smarter way to Swiffer
I'm sure the folks at Swiffer wouldn't appreciate this post at all, but too bad! This really works, and I no longer have to buy the pad thingies for my Swiffer.
As an owner of hardwood floors, I jumped on the Swiffer bandwagon with everyone else a number of years ago. We bought the Swiffer Max and the Swiffer Wet Jet, along with bottles of their special hardwood floor cleaner.
I go back and forth between my preferences for cleaning my floors. I have ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, and I find that a good old fashioned string mop works best, rather than any Swiffer. It simply has too much texture for the Swiffer heads to properly clean them.
Then we have the hardwood floors, which are in every room of the house, usually with a rug of some sort on them, although the dining room is still rugless. It will probably stay rugless as long as there's a toddler in the house. Green peas don't exactly enhance the beauty of an oriental rug.
Sometimes I vacuum the hardwood floors because it sucks out any dirt or dust between the boards. It's also easy to do, since I'm usually vacuuming the rugs anyway. Sometimes I sweep the floors with a real broom. A lot of times I Swiffer the wood floors, which does a great job of picking up the dust that seems to steadily accummulate any time your house is older than, say, 1950. We don't actually know how old our house is, but it seems to be 30s or 40s in style. The only problem with Swiffering the floors is that I've decided I don't like buying the disposable pads anymore. Disposable = money in the trash. Literally.
So here's the plan:
At Wal-Mart (or wherever you shop), you should be able to find a bag of microfiber shop towels in the automotive section of the store. The ones I bought came in a large bag of about 6 or 8, and half the towels are blue and the other half are white. I already talked about the wonders of using these towels as cloth diaper doublers in a previous post. I use the white ones as diaper doublers and the blue ones as dusting towels or Swiffer towels.
Basically, all you do is use one or two microfiber towels as your Swiffer pad. Tuck them into the pinching towel holder on the Swiffer. I have a SwifferMax, so I need to use two of them. I bet you could mop your floors this way too, and just dampen the towels with your mop solution before putting them on.
Incidentally, we were in Dallas about a month ago for a soccer game, and after dinner, we decided to grab dessert at a cute little cupcake shop near the restaurant. While my sister ordered one, I noticed that the shop's dustmop was pretty similar to mine. They had taken a larger microfiber towel and wrapped it over the head of a smaller dust mop, possibly a swiffer. There was enough excess fabric that they could gather it on top, near the base of the pole, with a rubber band. Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks microfiber is a great way to clean!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sewing Surprises
I have the hardest time keeping gifts a secret. I get so excited about them that I want to tell everyone about them, and that's especially true when the gift is something I've worked hard at making.
I made this sweet little apron for my sweet little niece, Jordan, who will be turning 3 in a couple of weeks. She received a play kitchen for Christmas, along with pretend food, so I decided she needed an apron to go with it. I'm new at this whole sewing thing, but I didn't think a toddler apron could be too difficult, and sure enough, it was a piece of cake. I'm just hoping her mom doesn't get around to reading my blog any time soon, so that it can be a surprise for both of them.
I did a google search for toddler apron patterns, and I found this one on Olah Momma!
I usually dream big, so when I tackle a sewing project, it seems I always take on huge projects. About five years ago, having only sewn one thing in my entire life, I came across a fat quarter bundle of adorable Mary Engelbreit fabric and decided I must have it. I would make a quilt. For my dog. Over spring break. Ha.
The quilt is nearly finished--I finally found time to finish the quilt top and I also found a friend willing to help me put it all together. We've already made the quilt sandwich, so in the next couple of weeks, she's going to teach me how to make the binding and attach it. Now that I'm about done with the fabric, I thought the cute Mary Engelbreit print just screamed "kitchen" and the scraps would be perfect for making Jordan's apron.
Since this was my first small sewing project (other than burp cloths and wet bags, which are really small projects!), I was pleasantly surprised at how little time it took to complete. I usually dread the tedious parts of sewing, like the measuring, cutting, and pinning. I just want to get to the fun part already! But this time it was easy--I did most of the cutting while watching the final NCAA basketball championship game. I really enjoyed doing the ruffle, and it was fun to see it all come together.
If I make another toddler apron, I'd use the same pattern, but give myself larger seam allowances. The ones given on the website are so tiny that it makes the pinning, ironing, and sewing very tedious and much more time consuming than it has to be. I'd also change the way the belt is constructed. It wasn't worth it to flip the whole belt strip inside out, using a dowel rod and tweezers! There are much easier ways to put it together.
I added a pocket to the top of the apron for visual interest and also to add cohesiveness to the apron. Each fabric is so different that while they all go together, it's hard to see how well they match unless you see the fabric pattern that ties them all together.
I wish I had more time to ooh and ahh over my creation, but I've already had to say goodbye to it. Damian's brother and his brother's girlfriend passed through town last night and are headed down to Gonzales, LA this morning, so they'll be bringing the present to our niece. Happy Birthday, Jordan!
I made this sweet little apron for my sweet little niece, Jordan, who will be turning 3 in a couple of weeks. She received a play kitchen for Christmas, along with pretend food, so I decided she needed an apron to go with it. I'm new at this whole sewing thing, but I didn't think a toddler apron could be too difficult, and sure enough, it was a piece of cake. I'm just hoping her mom doesn't get around to reading my blog any time soon, so that it can be a surprise for both of them.
I usually dream big, so when I tackle a sewing project, it seems I always take on huge projects. About five years ago, having only sewn one thing in my entire life, I came across a fat quarter bundle of adorable Mary Engelbreit fabric and decided I must have it. I would make a quilt. For my dog. Over spring break. Ha.
The quilt is nearly finished--I finally found time to finish the quilt top and I also found a friend willing to help me put it all together. We've already made the quilt sandwich, so in the next couple of weeks, she's going to teach me how to make the binding and attach it. Now that I'm about done with the fabric, I thought the cute Mary Engelbreit print just screamed "kitchen" and the scraps would be perfect for making Jordan's apron.
Since this was my first small sewing project (other than burp cloths and wet bags, which are really small projects!), I was pleasantly surprised at how little time it took to complete. I usually dread the tedious parts of sewing, like the measuring, cutting, and pinning. I just want to get to the fun part already! But this time it was easy--I did most of the cutting while watching the final NCAA basketball championship game. I really enjoyed doing the ruffle, and it was fun to see it all come together.
If I make another toddler apron, I'd use the same pattern, but give myself larger seam allowances. The ones given on the website are so tiny that it makes the pinning, ironing, and sewing very tedious and much more time consuming than it has to be. I'd also change the way the belt is constructed. It wasn't worth it to flip the whole belt strip inside out, using a dowel rod and tweezers! There are much easier ways to put it together.
I added a pocket to the top of the apron for visual interest and also to add cohesiveness to the apron. Each fabric is so different that while they all go together, it's hard to see how well they match unless you see the fabric pattern that ties them all together.
I wish I had more time to ooh and ahh over my creation, but I've already had to say goodbye to it. Damian's brother and his brother's girlfriend passed through town last night and are headed down to Gonzales, LA this morning, so they'll be bringing the present to our niece. Happy Birthday, Jordan!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Family Wedding
We spent our weekend in Lake Charles, LA so we could be a part of my brother's wedding festivities. Friday evening was a quick rehearsal and then the highlight, a crawfish boil. My brother, Bug (his real name is Jonathan) did the crawfish himself, and they were amazing.
Saturday was the wedding, and while they've only been engaged for about 2 and a half months and didn't have much time to plan, the wedding was absolutely beautiful. It was an outdoor wedding at Heidi's family property, a plot of 41 acres, complete with cows and everything!
The guys wore boots and cowboy hats while the girls were dressed up. It was a great combination of the elegant and rustic. Heidi's dad built a beautiful wooden structure for them to get married under.
The bridal party arrived in a horse drawn carriage, and once Bug and Heidi were declared Mr. and Mrs. Aymond, they rode away to the reception in the same carriage.
I think my favorite part about their wedding is simply seeing my not-so-little brother grow up and become a man. He's 25, so he's been in the adult category for a long time, but I've loved seeing him take care of Heidi. He helped take care of many of the details for the wedding, he helps her dad out with the cattle on weekends, and more importantly, he's making sure they're at church on Sundays. There are few things that impact a family more than a husband's strong leadership, and he's setting that foundation early. I'm praying that this will continue, and that he will lead them into a godly marriage and family.
Welcome to the family, Heidi! We love you both!
The following passage was read at my wedding, and if every married couple lived by this principle, their marriages would thrive.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Saturday was the wedding, and while they've only been engaged for about 2 and a half months and didn't have much time to plan, the wedding was absolutely beautiful. It was an outdoor wedding at Heidi's family property, a plot of 41 acres, complete with cows and everything!
The guys wore boots and cowboy hats while the girls were dressed up. It was a great combination of the elegant and rustic. Heidi's dad built a beautiful wooden structure for them to get married under.
The bridal party arrived in a horse drawn carriage, and once Bug and Heidi were declared Mr. and Mrs. Aymond, they rode away to the reception in the same carriage.
Welcome to the family, Heidi! We love you both!
The following passage was read at my wedding, and if every married couple lived by this principle, their marriages would thrive.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Come Fly with Me
I read a blog post yesterday on Faithful Homemaking, and just looking at the picture made me want that to be my closet! So I decided that it's high time I started Flying again, and I want to invite you to join me.
If you've never heard of FlyLady, you might want to check her out! She helps you establish great routines that are built into your day so that your home is well-maintained. She breaks down the house into different zones and you spend a week focusing on simply that zone. She e-mails you with assignments specific to that zone like spending 15 minutes cleaning out under your bed. In addition to working on one zone per week, you're still maintaining your house. It sounds like more work than what you already do, but somehow I felt like I spent less time cleaning, maybe because all of my cleaning was very focused. There was never that feeling of "oh no, where do I start?!?"
Lately I've felt like I'm not making any headway in my home. Don't get me wrong, my house is clean. And no, I'm not being defensive--seriously, walk into my house, and you'll see a clean, pleasant home. But don't come into my bedroom, which is always the last thing I clean. And whatever you do, don't open my closet door. Ever.
So while the house is usually pretty clean, I feel like I'm just maintaining it. Back when I did Flylady, I not only had a clean house, but every day, it was more organized than the day before. Her routines helped me organize the laundry room, the bathroom cabinets, etc., on top of maintaining an overall clean home. A friend and I and followed FlyLady's babysteps together, even texting each other pictures of our shiny sinks.
It's not like I just ditched FlyLady altogether. Many of her routines are ones that I continue to keep. She says to always go to bed with a clean, shiny (and empty!) kitchen sink. I do make sure all the dishes are done when I go to bed because it simply makes life easier. If I go to bed with dirty dishes, I feel like I start the day behind.
I started doing FlyLady last summer, before I switched to cloth diapers, and because of her routines, I felt like I could definitely handle the added laundry that comes with cloth diapering. One of her many quips is "a load a day keeps the stress away!" Through her website, I also realized that sometimes, my own perfectionism is what kept me from getting things done. If, for example, I didn't have time to clean the entire bathroom, then I wasn't going to mess with it. Instead, now I'll use a free five minutes to clean the toilet, sink, and mirrors, but I'll get to the shower and floors later.
I have to admit, many of the suggestions she makes are some of the same tips I learned from my mom. Example: When you're not sure where to start cleaning, pick a corner of the room and simply work clockwise around the room until you're done. But the truth is, many of us either weren't taught well or we ignore what we've been taught. It's great to have someone to tell me what to clean today, even if she does send about 5 (or more!) e-mails per day. I've got enough decisions to make on a daily basis.
I'm going to start up again on Monday. No, this isn't a Scarlett O'Hara "I'll think about it tomorrow" thing to do. We're leaving town tomorrow evening for my brother's wedding, and we won't be back until Sunday. If you want to join me, keep in mind that you don't have to do everything. Just use what works and toss what doesn't.
I know, it almost makes you sick, doesn't it? [Photo from Faithful Homemaking].
I used to be that organized. Really. Ok, maybe not that organized, but I had one closet of my house that looked even better than this, with everything in matching containers, with lids and neat little labels. And before I had kids, my car was always clean. My policy was that it doesn't get messy if you don't leave junk in there, so I always carried out my stuff when I got out of the car. Now my hands (and arms, and pinky fingers) are always full, carrying a baby, diaper bag, and groceries, so my car gets pretty bad. But if I were doing FlyLady, she'd have me cleaning out the car every Friday!
If you've never heard of FlyLady, you might want to check her out! She helps you establish great routines that are built into your day so that your home is well-maintained. She breaks down the house into different zones and you spend a week focusing on simply that zone. She e-mails you with assignments specific to that zone like spending 15 minutes cleaning out under your bed. In addition to working on one zone per week, you're still maintaining your house. It sounds like more work than what you already do, but somehow I felt like I spent less time cleaning, maybe because all of my cleaning was very focused. There was never that feeling of "oh no, where do I start?!?"
Lately I've felt like I'm not making any headway in my home. Don't get me wrong, my house is clean. And no, I'm not being defensive--seriously, walk into my house, and you'll see a clean, pleasant home. But don't come into my bedroom, which is always the last thing I clean. And whatever you do, don't open my closet door. Ever. So while the house is usually pretty clean, I feel like I'm just maintaining it. Back when I did Flylady, I not only had a clean house, but every day, it was more organized than the day before. Her routines helped me organize the laundry room, the bathroom cabinets, etc., on top of maintaining an overall clean home. A friend and I and followed FlyLady's babysteps together, even texting each other pictures of our shiny sinks.
It's not like I just ditched FlyLady altogether. Many of her routines are ones that I continue to keep. She says to always go to bed with a clean, shiny (and empty!) kitchen sink. I do make sure all the dishes are done when I go to bed because it simply makes life easier. If I go to bed with dirty dishes, I feel like I start the day behind.
I started doing FlyLady last summer, before I switched to cloth diapers, and because of her routines, I felt like I could definitely handle the added laundry that comes with cloth diapering. One of her many quips is "a load a day keeps the stress away!" Through her website, I also realized that sometimes, my own perfectionism is what kept me from getting things done. If, for example, I didn't have time to clean the entire bathroom, then I wasn't going to mess with it. Instead, now I'll use a free five minutes to clean the toilet, sink, and mirrors, but I'll get to the shower and floors later.
I have to admit, many of the suggestions she makes are some of the same tips I learned from my mom. Example: When you're not sure where to start cleaning, pick a corner of the room and simply work clockwise around the room until you're done. But the truth is, many of us either weren't taught well or we ignore what we've been taught. It's great to have someone to tell me what to clean today, even if she does send about 5 (or more!) e-mails per day. I've got enough decisions to make on a daily basis.
I'm going to start up again on Monday. No, this isn't a Scarlett O'Hara "I'll think about it tomorrow" thing to do. We're leaving town tomorrow evening for my brother's wedding, and we won't be back until Sunday. If you want to join me, keep in mind that you don't have to do everything. Just use what works and toss what doesn't.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
My Latest Cloth Diaper Purchase
I've been planning on doing this for a long time, but finally my husband said to just do it--get some more cloth diapers to make my life easier. It's obvious that we're sticking with it, so let's get more than just these 9 diapers so that I won't have to wash diapers as often. And some of our diapers are sized, so eventually, we'll have to get more when she outgrows the medium Snap-EZs. Fortunately, my girl's a little one, so it'll be a while before she outgrows them.
I already told you my ideal diaper: A well-known brand of good quality diapers in a one-size snap, so that it lasts through more than just one child. I've been drooling over Happy Heiny's newest product line, their one-size snap. And yes, they still come in COW PRINT. I think it would be so stinkin' cute to see my little one toddling around in a cow print diaper!
I want to get about 4 more diapers. I noticed that the price is about the same on most websites, $18.95 per dipe, but some charge extra for prints (including cow!). Boo. Some websites offer free shipping over $50 or over $75. I definitely wanted to cash in on some free shipping, but I also wanted to try the diaper out first.
The solution? I just finished placing my order for one Happy Heiny's one-size snap diaper through Jillian's Drawers. I purchased inserts and liners from this company back when I first made the switch to cloth, so I know that they're an excellent company to work with. Speedy delivery, great service, and competitive prices. Even better, if I don't like the diaper, if it doesn't fit her well or leaks, I can return the item and get my money back within 90 days.
Jillians doesn't have cow print though, so if I do like the diaper (and I think I will), I'll place an order through the Cloth Diaper Outlet for 3 more dipes, and enjoy free shipping on my order. I'll let you know how I like them.
Sorry for those of you who could care less about cloth diapers or think I'm a hippie. I know this makes for a pretty boring read. You can get excited about your new adorable shoes, but this is what excites me. Yep, I'm totally into this mom thing.
I already told you my ideal diaper: A well-known brand of good quality diapers in a one-size snap, so that it lasts through more than just one child. I've been drooling over Happy Heiny's newest product line, their one-size snap. And yes, they still come in COW PRINT. I think it would be so stinkin' cute to see my little one toddling around in a cow print diaper!
I want to get about 4 more diapers. I noticed that the price is about the same on most websites, $18.95 per dipe, but some charge extra for prints (including cow!). Boo. Some websites offer free shipping over $50 or over $75. I definitely wanted to cash in on some free shipping, but I also wanted to try the diaper out first.
The solution? I just finished placing my order for one Happy Heiny's one-size snap diaper through Jillian's Drawers. I purchased inserts and liners from this company back when I first made the switch to cloth, so I know that they're an excellent company to work with. Speedy delivery, great service, and competitive prices. Even better, if I don't like the diaper, if it doesn't fit her well or leaks, I can return the item and get my money back within 90 days.
Jillians doesn't have cow print though, so if I do like the diaper (and I think I will), I'll place an order through the Cloth Diaper Outlet for 3 more dipes, and enjoy free shipping on my order. I'll let you know how I like them.
Sorry for those of you who could care less about cloth diapers or think I'm a hippie. I know this makes for a pretty boring read. You can get excited about your new adorable shoes, but this is what excites me. Yep, I'm totally into this mom thing.
On Grief
I won't write about the recent loss that our friends are dealing with--those of you at Fellowship already know about it. Quite honestly, I don't want to trivialize this family's grief and pain as they deal with the loss of their stillborn child. Their pain is exponentially worse than the hurt we feel as we empathize with them.
I do, however, want to make a suggestion for any of you who have a friend who has recently experienced a deep loss. You may want to check out Molly Piper's blog, specifically, the list of articles on the right side of the webpage, under the heading "How to Help Your Grieving Friend." Molly Piper is the daughter-in-law of John Piper, author and pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, MN. After going through a very difficult time, Molly wrote firsthand about the things friends did that truly comforted her.
We often don't know what to do or what to say when others go through grief, so we do and say nothing, but that's probably not the best response either. I wish I'd read this months or years ago. It might've prevented me from sounding Hallmark-y during the losses that some of you have experienced.
I do, however, want to make a suggestion for any of you who have a friend who has recently experienced a deep loss. You may want to check out Molly Piper's blog, specifically, the list of articles on the right side of the webpage, under the heading "How to Help Your Grieving Friend." Molly Piper is the daughter-in-law of John Piper, author and pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, MN. After going through a very difficult time, Molly wrote firsthand about the things friends did that truly comforted her.
We often don't know what to do or what to say when others go through grief, so we do and say nothing, but that's probably not the best response either. I wish I'd read this months or years ago. It might've prevented me from sounding Hallmark-y during the losses that some of you have experienced.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Easter odds and ends
So did you score on any post Easter deals this week? I haven't had a chance to go to Hobby Lobby or Lifeway in search of Resurrection Eggs, but I'm hoping we'll get a chance tonight when we're on our much-needed semi date night. It's a semi date because Isabelle will be with us, but it'll be good just to spend time together. Damian has been working on a project all week and has had to leave right after dinner to run errands or have meetings every night this week.
I picked up plastic Easter eggs for our hunt next year at 50 cents for 42 eggs instead of $2. I also got a PAAS egg dyeing kit for 36 cents, regularly $1.44. This year I just used some of my Wilton icing colors and my eggs came out beautifully. I did learn that if you don't mix it well with some warm water first, the colors separate, which gives you mystery eggs. I plopped the eggs in the dye and never knew what colors they'd turn out! This only happened with my purple. From the same batch of purple dye, I got one purple egg, one bright pink egg, and three blue eggs.
Three days before Easter, I realized I had no Easter decorations at all and no centerpiece for the table. I decided to use ordinary things from around the house to make a centerpiece. Then I discovered that I don't decorate in pastels at all, so I had nothing to use! So I decided to make an Easter basket for my centerpiece. I dyed eggs, added some fake flowers and a silver cross (a housewarming gift!), and I had my centerpiece. It wasn't the nicest I've ever seen, but it worked in a pinch.
Damian was pretty impressed by my attempt at craftiness, but when I told him the centerpiece was free, he corrected me. What about the price of the eggs? But I was one step ahead of him and had the eggs themselves in the fridge, ready to be scrambled. If you're careful, you can save the egg innards (that just sounds gross) and use them for breakfast the next day.
Any extra ham will go in the freezer until I want to make split pea soup or something else. We also have a massive ham hock from the giant ham, so I'll be making a huge pot of red beans next week, and we can get back to having Red Bean Wednesdays again. I've really been working hard at not wasting anything, and I think it's helping my grocery bill quite a bit. I'm trying to cook the way women did 30 years ago, not wasting anything, instead of cooking like the typical twenty-something who purchases pre-packaged everything. It's a lost art, but it's one I'm trying to reclaim.
It's naptime, so I've got to get some sewing done on my niece's birthday gift.
Random thought of the day: Wal-Mart, I understand why you had to get rid of the fabric department, but would it be so hard to have yellow thread and bobbins on hand? They don't take up that much space! Now I get to fit in a trip to the fabric store today!
I'll leave you with a picture of Isabelle in her cute bunny outfit. She wasn't being photogenic because she just wanted the bow out of her hair. The outfit was a baby shower gift that finally fits her. It's got a cute little while tail on the back!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Say Please!
I haven't stressed sign language too much with Isabelle, but recently I've seen the value of it, so I've worked with her on a few signs to help her communicate her needs. For about a week or two, I've specifically been working with her on "all done" and "please."
This morning, after I'd read a farm animal story to Isabelle, we both sat in the nursery together in the glider. Suddenly, she started signing please. In fact, she was so eager to say please that she started signing it on her chest and on mine too, just to be clear. It was the first time she'd ever said it completely unprompted, so I was ready to find out what she wanted. She would say please and then point to her hairbow holder, which is already maxxed out on bows. I happily gave her a bow, but it quickly became obvious that she wanted it in her hair, so I put it in for her. Then she started saying please again, and the whole cycle started over. Here's what we ended up with:
This morning, after I'd read a farm animal story to Isabelle, we both sat in the nursery together in the glider. Suddenly, she started signing please. In fact, she was so eager to say please that she started signing it on her chest and on mine too, just to be clear. It was the first time she'd ever said it completely unprompted, so I was ready to find out what she wanted. She would say please and then point to her hairbow holder, which is already maxxed out on bows. I happily gave her a bow, but it quickly became obvious that she wanted it in her hair, so I put it in for her. Then she started saying please again, and the whole cycle started over. Here's what we ended up with:
Her daddy's response? She's such a girl!
Monday, April 5, 2010
March at our Home
I decided I'd start giving a family update at the end of each month, specifically for those of you who are family or close friends. I hope you find it a good way to keep up with us!
As a Family
It's been a month of ups and downs, but it seems the downs are about all I blogged about (the pipe problems and Nathan's death). God carried us through the difficulties this month and brought us some special family memories too.
Soccer: If you know my husband, you know he loves soccer. I never was a fan until he convinced me to play several years ago, and now I really enjoy it. But neither of us had ever been to a professional soccer game, so a couple months ago, when a friend who lives in Austin posted on Facebook that he was organizing a group to watch the FC Dallas season opener, we jumped at the chance to see old friends and watch pro soccer, in person. I thought it would also be a great birthday present for Damian, even if it was a few weeks late. We had a blast! My sister babysat Isabelle so that we wouldn't have to force her to sit still for a couple of hours, and we got to see our old soccer friends, Kelly, Johny, and Leslie. The game ended in a 1-1 tie against Houston, but it was fun to watch.
March has been the month of picky eating. In January and February, we were enjoying that she'd reached 1, so the dietary restrictions suggested by pediatricians were gone, and she could eat pretty much anything she liked. She seemed to love most foods. In March, she reached that picky toddler stage, where the foods she loved are suddenly disgusting to her. She shakes her head and says "NoMoNoMo" (no more) when she doesn't want something. We're adjusting. I don't want to be a short order cook, but I also want to make sure my little 10th percentile on the growth chart baby grows adequately, so I'm dealing with it by offering healthy options for her (oatmeal, yogurt, etc).
Isabelle is still my happy little girl, a good sleeper with a sunny disposition. She has bouts of timidity, mostly when we walk into a room full of people (like at church). Otherwise, she loves hamming it up for anyone who'll watch. She makes friends in the grocery store and anywhere we go, and I'm constantly being complimented on her cuteness, her happy attitude, and her sweet smile.
She's still a good sleeper, but we dropped her morning nap a couple weeks ago, so now she sleeps for a couple hours in the afternoon, and from about 7:30-8 pm until 7 or 7:30 am. In some ways, it makes it easier for us to get things done, but in other ways, it's a challenge. I just have to make sure I get all errands run in the morning, because by the time she gets up from her afternoon nap, it's time to start dinner.
As a Family
It's been a month of ups and downs, but it seems the downs are about all I blogged about (the pipe problems and Nathan's death). God carried us through the difficulties this month and brought us some special family memories too.
Hiking: For Damian's 31st birthday, we went on a day hike up in the mountains (in Arkansas). We had a great time and lived to tell about it! It was super hard, and it was a long day, but we left with a sense of accomplishment and the resolve to never do it again!! At least, not with a 1 year old in a jogging stroller, in difficult uphill terrain.
Soccer: If you know my husband, you know he loves soccer. I never was a fan until he convinced me to play several years ago, and now I really enjoy it. But neither of us had ever been to a professional soccer game, so a couple months ago, when a friend who lives in Austin posted on Facebook that he was organizing a group to watch the FC Dallas season opener, we jumped at the chance to see old friends and watch pro soccer, in person. I thought it would also be a great birthday present for Damian, even if it was a few weeks late. We had a blast! My sister babysat Isabelle so that we wouldn't have to force her to sit still for a couple of hours, and we got to see our old soccer friends, Kelly, Johny, and Leslie. The game ended in a 1-1 tie against Houston, but it was fun to watch.
Isabelle
At 15 months, Isabelle still isn't walking. No worries though--she's an active kid, climbing on everything and crusing all around the room. She'll walk holding my finger, but she hasn't worked up the courage to do it on her own yet.
March has been the month of picky eating. In January and February, we were enjoying that she'd reached 1, so the dietary restrictions suggested by pediatricians were gone, and she could eat pretty much anything she liked. She seemed to love most foods. In March, she reached that picky toddler stage, where the foods she loved are suddenly disgusting to her. She shakes her head and says "NoMoNoMo" (no more) when she doesn't want something. We're adjusting. I don't want to be a short order cook, but I also want to make sure my little 10th percentile on the growth chart baby grows adequately, so I'm dealing with it by offering healthy options for her (oatmeal, yogurt, etc).
Isabelle is still my happy little girl, a good sleeper with a sunny disposition. She has bouts of timidity, mostly when we walk into a room full of people (like at church). Otherwise, she loves hamming it up for anyone who'll watch. She makes friends in the grocery store and anywhere we go, and I'm constantly being complimented on her cuteness, her happy attitude, and her sweet smile.
She's still a good sleeper, but we dropped her morning nap a couple weeks ago, so now she sleeps for a couple hours in the afternoon, and from about 7:30-8 pm until 7 or 7:30 am. In some ways, it makes it easier for us to get things done, but in other ways, it's a challenge. I just have to make sure I get all errands run in the morning, because by the time she gets up from her afternoon nap, it's time to start dinner.
Favorites
Food: oatmeal, YoBaby yogurt, quinoa pilaf
Toys: lion (pictured above, which she can push or ride), books (she says "ku" for book), her shape sorter, and the calculator, which she thinks is just as cool as our cell phones. We don't let her play with our phones, but we see no problem with her playing with the calculator. She loves pressing the little bitty buttons.
New Signs (ASL sign language): all done & help
New habits/areas of discipline: I finally got her to give me her food instead of throwing it when she's done eating! She says "kay kou" (thank you) and hands me her leftover food.
Gabby, personally
I'm doing great. I still am so grateful that I get to have this marvelous job of being a homemaker. Thank you, Damian! Thank you, Lord!
God is showing me how mightily He provides. He has provided for us in big ways, financially, as we dealt with the plumbing issues. He provided peace and strength dealing with Nathan's death. And He's providing me with self-discipline in keeping up our home, meal planning, and weight loss. I'm seeing more and more that everything is a spiritual issue, regardless of how mundane it may seem. I can do none of these things apart from Him and the power He provides through the Holy Spirit.
Goals for April
Continued weight loss. 14 pounds down and more to go! It's exciting to see results, and it motivates me to keep it up.
Crafts: I haven't sewed or scrapbooked lately, so I've got a couple of things I want to get done this month, but I'll have to keep them a secret, since both are gifts. I'm going to sew something for my niece, whose birthday is in May, and make a gift for a friend. I'll take pictures and show the finished products on my blog, but only after I've given them their gifts!
Stay on budget! I did a great job with the grocery budget in March, so I want to continue doing well this month too.
Books: Jo loaned me a book called Living Well on One Income in a Two-Income World, by Cynthia Yates, so I hope to start and finish this one in the next few weeks. I also want to continue reading my Jonathan Edwards biography again and make some progress in Grudem's Systematic Theology. I'll share some of my thoughts on these books during the month.
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