(post on submission coming soon)
I am a Christian. I am a mother of 3, 2 of which are school-aged. I send my kids to public school.
WHAAATTTTT???
I have a lot of friends that homeschool their children. More than I ever thought I would.
Growing up I had a bunch of friends that were home schooled. And to be completely honest, coming from a public school, I thought that we had some advantages. Some academic, social, life-experience advantages. And seriously, some of that is true. But also seriously, my views have changed quite a bit about the whole idea of it. Mostly because I grew up and have now have school-aged kids.
Kids that I will, Lord-willing, never homeschool.
A little background: When we lived in Ohio, the schools in our district were awful. Terrible. We were beyond poor so private schools were not an option. (Though unlike here, I think academically the Christians schools in the area were far better than the public schools in our town.) I think they know that some schools are just not good and so many area public school are very accepting of open enrollment for out-of-district kids. Sometimes we only had one car, so driving 20 minutes one way multiple times a day was not an option. And to add extra littles in all that sounded painful. So our options were public school or homeschool.
A dear friend gave me a real curriculum for preschool for Alex. I was excited and we gave it a try. And then.... I have never had such a clear sign from God in my entire life: I am NOT meant to homeschool.
Absolutely no doubt in my mind. This is not going to work long-term. And he's my easy kid!
So I got him signed up for Kindergarten at the best school in our side of town and then *Thank God* got final word that we were moving back to NJ. Where I actually like the public schools. Sigh of relief like you would not believe.
Ok. My friends that homeschool have changed the way I look at it. I am fully confident that they will do a good job of teaching their kids. At least most of them ;) And I don't know how they look at me, but I feel like the homeschooling world in general looks down, way down, on public school parents. Maybe it's the constant "this is why homeschooling is the best" everything that I see ALL the time or maybe they are just trying to reaffirm to themselves that they are doing what is right for their family. I don't know. Either way, there are a lot of times when I get looks of mild judgement when people learn I send my kids to school. Public school.
A few of my friends posted a link on FB to an article about the benefits of homeschooling. And really, almost every point got me thinking not that I wanted to, but glad I don't.
Ready for this?My points are compared to the numbers in the article.
1. Seriously? Guess how much driving I do everyday for school. Zero. They take the bus! OH MY GOSH I LET MY CHILDREN RIDE THE BUS. Yeah yeah whatever. ( I would have had to drive them to school in OH because their bus system was a complete nightmare and I wouldn't have been able to figure it out, let alone my Kindergartner. But still- in-district, schools are close.)
Extra curricular activities shouldn't be put in this, especially if you are going to make it a point to say that home schooled kids are still welcome to participate in school/township activities. Those I do drive for.
2. Yeah. This I agree with. Private school is pricey. And we didn't even want to pay for preschool, so private school is not happening. Let's save that money for a good college, thanks.
3. My children are excelling academically in public school (here in NJ). Alex is in a gifted program because he totally rocks at school. Yes, he's categorized. No, I don't mind. He's super intelligent and has extra teachers to push him further. Teachers that are far more creative than I am and have far more knowledge about what to do with him than I do. Danica is doing way better than we thought in school. She loves it and is learning so much more than I probably would have attempted to teach her at her age.
4. I'm afraid that it would turn into a ton of computer work. ew.
5. Hey guess what? If you are taking your kids to the school for special classes or activities, you're still driving them. And not teaching that part. Duh.
6. I love my children, but especially for Danica, it's a good thing that we are not together 24/7. Parenting in the evenings is easier when I am not tired out from them all day.
7. Days off and weekends are more special because we have more time together. Spring break starts in 2 days and I'm stoked to have my kids home all week!
8. Something I need to work on that I'm not sure them being home/going to school plays a huge part in.
9. Kids that go to school still have free time. They don't get a ton at school, but if they don't have it at home, then that is the parents' fault for overbooking them anyways. I often have to remind my kids- especially the boys- they need to just be themselves sometimes. I absolutely can not get enough of when they think they are super heroes or their little pictures that they draw. Which they are doing any second they can, by the way. We go through a LOT of paper here! Playing with their toys and when it's nice enough playing outside is never an issue either. They have lots and lots of time to do those things.
10. Any issues (though ours have been minor so far) are worked on with homework. And their teachers do work with them. Maybe it's just our school? I hear a lot about how teachers don't work with kids with specific needs. Always our teachers have helped my kids with what they need help with. Never once have I worried about that. AND they are more trained and equipped to do that than I am.
11. This I don't get. There is no reason to not work on changing habits when you do have time with them.
12. Oh sweet goodness this would be a disaster for us. I am not a morning person and wouldn't be able to get up and motivated to all the everything that goes with doing school. Time management is not my forte. (I mean seriously, I have a ton to do before tomorrow and I'm blogging. oops).
13. Younger children learn from older siblings. Yes. My youngest was potty-trained earlier and way easier than the others because the older ones liked to help. One was in school all day when this was happening? How ever could a little ones learn from an older one that is gone 8 hours a day 5 days a week? Oh- that would be because there is more time in each day and week than that. And Alex is helping Danica with reading and teaching her math things all the time. How is that when they are apart all day? Because they still have plenty of time to be together when they are not in school.
14. Save money? NO. I'm not paying for field trips and books and co-op dues. And just because I send my kids to school doesn't mean that I'm paying for day-care, too. I'm not sure why that seems to be standard with people these days. I don't work outside my home so I have no reason to do that. And no, I don't plan to go back to work when Tristan is in school so I'm not even just waiting for that either. We are saving lots of money but not homeschooling.
15. I have heard more times than I can count that parents can not rely on Sunday school teachers and pastors to teach their kids everything they need to know about God. So why should we be relying on teachers to teach them other life skills, too? I only have 3, but my older ones are learning to help with younger ones while they are at home. My kids help me shop when they are home (but Lord knows it's way easier when they are not with me!). I set timers for getting things done, too.
16. I have no doubt that homeschoolers are fine in the socialization department. I also know that any time you are with other people, or even between siblings, there is a chance of peer pressure and bullying. It's part of being human. And mine are exposed to people with different backgrounds and beliefs. And when problems do come up we give them advise on how to handle it themselves without us there. Because those are life skills I want them to have, too.
17. Sleep. yeah right. My kids would still be up and ready to go at the same time they are anyway. How do I know this? Because they are up the same time on the weekends, breaks, and all summer. They have been for years. And they are also up before me- without any alarms- every. single. day. No matter what time they go to bed.
18. Again. Why do we have to think teachers are going to teach them our personal values? Not their job.
The author concludes with saying homeschooling isn't for everyone. And that is the truest thing of this whole article. Public school isn't either. This I know. Especially if the public schools in your area are not good. I do feel like they/a lot of people are thinking that it's either all or nothing though, and it's not. I still see my kids a lot. I take time to make sure they know what is important and how much God loves them and how we can live to better serve Him. I know that part is my job and never once thought I was sacrificing that by sending them to school. In fact, by not being with me all the time, by being around non-Christians, they are learning to put their beliefs into action. And yes, even in second grade we've had things come up. To be honest, I do think that homeschoolers often don't have that chance since they tend to gather in groups of the same beliefs.
I don't overbook my kids. I don't feel the need to be involved in every activity available to us. Or even want to. We've decided that first grade is a good time to start organized sports for our family. And one sport a year is great. I'm not running 3 kids to music lessons and swim lessons and multiple sports every day. That has nothing to do with going to school or homeschooling. It just seems like a major headache that I don't want. Not to mention the cost of all those. And they certainly don't need all of that.
Also. I get more done when my kids are in school. And the whole "oh they can help you blah blah blah." You know what? It would not be easier for me to have to carry a basket of dirty laundry downstairs and wait for them to put it in the washer at their own speed. I do not want them doing the glass dishes. And there are plenty of things that I want/need to do that I cant because kids are around. Things that I will be able to get done once Tristan is in school and I don't have to worry about him ruining things or getting hurt.
And the things they can help with? I make them do anyways. It's just at 4pm or after dinner or on the weekends instead of the middle of the day. Grocery shopping is a million times easier with one- or none!- than it is with multiple kids in tow. No matter how "helpful" they can be- if they are even in the right mood! They are still around when I do most of my cooking so they can help if that can happen.
Basically, I with that people didn't think that just because people send their kids to public school that we are sacrificing all things good about having kids. WE are still raising our kids. Not the teachers. WE are still teaching them about life. Sure we don't get to go on all the fun field trips and all that. But I know plenty of homeschoolers that hardly ever leave their houses unless it's for co-op anyways. Sometimes I'm jealous of the fun things my friends do with their kids. But then I remember that we wouldn't be able to afford half that stuff even if I did think to do it anyways.
And now I look forward to planting our garden soon- with my kids! And playing outside- with my kids! And doing art projects- with my kids! And getting things done inside- while they are at school!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I do laundry every day... almost.
I go through a pretty decent amount of laundry detergent. And some of the store bought stuff has scents that make me want to throw up. There may be some psychological reasons, but still. Who wants to want to throw up from their own clean clothes. Not me. And I know they have unscented. Not enough people use that (I did most of the time before I started this.)
I started doing this way before Pinterest. I got it from a friend... And the original site no longer exists. And I am not spending the rest of my night looking for a link to the exact recipe.
This makes 4 gallons! Which lasts me about 3 months-ish. That's for an average of 7 loads a week. And I dont measure.
First you will need:
Borax.
Washing Soda.
Fels Naptha soap (you dont really have to, it sounds like you can use whatever soap you want. Fels Naptha was in the original recipe and I stuck with it. I tried Ivory once because I heard it was more gentle on super sensitive skin (like new babies), but I didnt see the difference, and this was just fine on my super fair/sensitive skinned littles... even on Tristan as a fresh newborn- never a problem!)
(Baking soda is optional, I usually use some)
Water, of course.
And four 1-gallon jugs. (the original site said to put it in a 5 gallon bucket- but then you have to stir the WHOLE THING every time. No thanks.)
The biggest pot I have holds about a gallon. So I fill that up with water and start heating it. It should get to boiling, or close enough. That takes a while so we have plenty of time to get things ready. So..
Real Step #1
Chop/ grate/ whatever the soap. Do it because I said so. And because then it melts way easier when you are mixing it into boiling water. Stir, stir, stir. Probably turn the heat down some. Because Step # 2 will make it overflow. Or at least it does for me when I forget to turn the heat down. Which is every time except this last time. For real. Once it's dissolved...
Step #2. 1 cup of Washing soda. Mix, mix, mix. Blow on it. Again, so it doesnt boil over. Or dont. Maybe that's just what I do.
Step #3. 1 Cup Borax. Stir some more.
Note: You dont have to be stirring this whole time. But dont let it sit too long either.
If you want, you can add some Baking soda. Up to a cup, I suppose. I usually just use whatever is left in a little box and/or my container that I use for cleaning.
Ok. Turn the stove off. Do you have your gallon jugs ready? I put some water (usually about 4 cups) of room temp/cool water in them. Because I do not want the insanely hot soap mix melting the thin plastic. And then I start to evenly distribute the detergent.
I decided- after doing this for so many years- that it's easier to add water to the cooling pot of soap (after each on get the same amount) to dilute it more than it is to top off the jugs. Which I dont do that anymore either. It separates and gets globby. Especially since my house is a little chilly. So. With the extra room, I can shake it up and then add hot water (and shake some more) before I use each gallon. Much easier than trying to shake up a full gallon of jelly.
And do make it a full gallon before using it!
Then I shake it before each use because it's not hard to do that when it's only one gallon at a time. I think you're supposed to use about 1/2 a cup in each full load. I just pour it around the bottom while the water is going in .
For fabric softener, I use... vinegar! It does NOT stink. I promise! I put it straight in the fabric softener thing in the washer. It kills more germs and it really does soften our clothes.... better than not using anything. I started doing this part when we were using cloth diapers. (The waxy build up in the washer from store bought fabric softener- even if not used in the same load- can build up on the diapers and make them less absorbent. NOT GOOD for the little ones. Or the mamas.) And even though it's been almost a year since I've washed diapers, I still do it for our clothes.
I suppose if you are someone who needs your clothes to smell like something, you could put a few drops of essential oil in. I dont. Because they are expensive and I'm okay with our clothes just being clean without smelling like anything. Except when it's warm out and I hang it on the line outside... Mmmm that's my favorite.
Anyways. I get questions about this one. So let me know if you have any!
Good luck!
I started doing this way before Pinterest. I got it from a friend... And the original site no longer exists. And I am not spending the rest of my night looking for a link to the exact recipe.
This makes 4 gallons! Which lasts me about 3 months-ish. That's for an average of 7 loads a week. And I dont measure.
First you will need:
Washing Soda.
Fels Naptha soap (you dont really have to, it sounds like you can use whatever soap you want. Fels Naptha was in the original recipe and I stuck with it. I tried Ivory once because I heard it was more gentle on super sensitive skin (like new babies), but I didnt see the difference, and this was just fine on my super fair/sensitive skinned littles... even on Tristan as a fresh newborn- never a problem!)
(Baking soda is optional, I usually use some)
Water, of course.
And four 1-gallon jugs. (the original site said to put it in a 5 gallon bucket- but then you have to stir the WHOLE THING every time. No thanks.)
The biggest pot I have holds about a gallon. So I fill that up with water and start heating it. It should get to boiling, or close enough. That takes a while so we have plenty of time to get things ready. So..
Real Step #1
Step #2. 1 cup of Washing soda. Mix, mix, mix. Blow on it. Again, so it doesnt boil over. Or dont. Maybe that's just what I do.
Step #3. 1 Cup Borax. Stir some more.
Note: You dont have to be stirring this whole time. But dont let it sit too long either.
If you want, you can add some Baking soda. Up to a cup, I suppose. I usually just use whatever is left in a little box and/or my container that I use for cleaning.
Ok. Turn the stove off. Do you have your gallon jugs ready? I put some water (usually about 4 cups) of room temp/cool water in them. Because I do not want the insanely hot soap mix melting the thin plastic. And then I start to evenly distribute the detergent.
And do make it a full gallon before using it!
Then I shake it before each use because it's not hard to do that when it's only one gallon at a time. I think you're supposed to use about 1/2 a cup in each full load. I just pour it around the bottom while the water is going in .
For fabric softener, I use... vinegar! It does NOT stink. I promise! I put it straight in the fabric softener thing in the washer. It kills more germs and it really does soften our clothes.... better than not using anything. I started doing this part when we were using cloth diapers. (The waxy build up in the washer from store bought fabric softener- even if not used in the same load- can build up on the diapers and make them less absorbent. NOT GOOD for the little ones. Or the mamas.) And even though it's been almost a year since I've washed diapers, I still do it for our clothes.
I suppose if you are someone who needs your clothes to smell like something, you could put a few drops of essential oil in. I dont. Because they are expensive and I'm okay with our clothes just being clean without smelling like anything. Except when it's warm out and I hang it on the line outside... Mmmm that's my favorite.
Anyways. I get questions about this one. So let me know if you have any!
Good luck!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Dishwasher detergent
This one is next because people have been asking about this a lot lately.
We didnt have a dishwasher until we moved here. So I was super excited to get a new one shortly after we moved it (because the one that was here was 30+ years old and basically just gave everything a hot rinse). I was not excited when I would pour a glass of water into a fresh-out-of-the-dishwasher glass and it would suds up. Just a little bit, but still. Nothing says 'refreshing' like knowing you are drinking soap. Blech.
So I asked around. And I do not have a link for this because a friend gave me ideas.
I usually make up about 4 cups at a time- because that's the most (and still mixable) amount my little container holds. Which, by the way, is labeled with a permanent marker straight onto it. I do not have time or care at all about fancy printed labels for something that is going to live under my kitchen sink. (No offense to my label-maker happy friends out there.) Anyways. "Dishwasher Detergent" it says on the lid and I think the side. It's a little faded, but you can still read it- in real life, not this picture.
So. 2 cups of Borax. 2 cups of Baking soda. a layer of salt. Shake shake shake.
I saw something about using Washing Soda instead of baking soda. I tried it and I dont think it did as well. Sometimes I make it halfsies with the baking soda. Like 2 cups of Borax, 1 cup Washing soda, 1 cup baking soda. But let's face it, the less ingredients, the better! Especially when I'm out and I just pour them directly into the dishwasher thing.
My little old Tupperware midget is a perfect size for measuring.
Rinse Aid: I was putting straight vinegar into the Rinse Aid compartment. But then I read a bunch of things about it messing with rubber parts inside the dishwasher when it sits there for a while (because each load uses so little that it does just sit in there). So I've just been putting a cup with some in it toward the back of the top rack. It doesnt really help dry as much. But it does help get rid of more germs. Which is the part I like!
And now... No chemical residue on our dishes! No suds in my drinking water! And I am happy.
Let me know if you try it!
We didnt have a dishwasher until we moved here. So I was super excited to get a new one shortly after we moved it (because the one that was here was 30+ years old and basically just gave everything a hot rinse). I was not excited when I would pour a glass of water into a fresh-out-of-the-dishwasher glass and it would suds up. Just a little bit, but still. Nothing says 'refreshing' like knowing you are drinking soap. Blech.
So I asked around. And I do not have a link for this because a friend gave me ideas.
I usually make up about 4 cups at a time- because that's the most (and still mixable) amount my little container holds. Which, by the way, is labeled with a permanent marker straight onto it. I do not have time or care at all about fancy printed labels for something that is going to live under my kitchen sink. (No offense to my label-maker happy friends out there.) Anyways. "Dishwasher Detergent" it says on the lid and I think the side. It's a little faded, but you can still read it- in real life, not this picture.
So. 2 cups of Borax. 2 cups of Baking soda. a layer of salt. Shake shake shake.
I saw something about using Washing Soda instead of baking soda. I tried it and I dont think it did as well. Sometimes I make it halfsies with the baking soda. Like 2 cups of Borax, 1 cup Washing soda, 1 cup baking soda. But let's face it, the less ingredients, the better! Especially when I'm out and I just pour them directly into the dishwasher thing.
My little old Tupperware midget is a perfect size for measuring.
Rinse Aid: I was putting straight vinegar into the Rinse Aid compartment. But then I read a bunch of things about it messing with rubber parts inside the dishwasher when it sits there for a while (because each load uses so little that it does just sit in there). So I've just been putting a cup with some in it toward the back of the top rack. It doesnt really help dry as much. But it does help get rid of more germs. Which is the part I like!
And now... No chemical residue on our dishes! No suds in my drinking water! And I am happy.
Let me know if you try it!
Cleaning 101
First. I won! Second place, but still the same prize. I am stoked about my new slippers and will definitely be posting a picture when I get them.
Second. Let's do this.
First requested was for a post on my homemade cleans. Aaaaanddd guess what. Recently has been a time of making more of a bunch of them. How convenient!
What's this? Just baking soda and vinegar? Yes. So simple! something needs to be scrubbed? Baking soda! Wiped down? Vinegar! The spray bottle is for convenience.
The baking soda: I put in a (cleaned out) Parmesan cheese container so it's easier to sprinkle/pour. I do not use this kind for cooking. The giant bag is for cleaning... everything :)
Things about vinegar that I love:
1. It kills germs.
2. It doesnt stink once it's dry. (I hate the chemically smell of everything when I was done cleaning when I used them.
3. It doesnt irritate anyone's lungs.
4. Kid safe!
Sometimes I dilute, sometimes I dont. Just depends on my mood I suppose. It cleans everything, too! Windows, mirrors, other glass. (I think it works better than "streak free" Windex! Especially straight.) The sink, counters, tables, anything that needs to be rid of germs.
A little twist on this:
Need a link? Pick one from here
So Jesse doesnt love the smell of vinegar. So I thought I would work on that. And Pinterest gave me some ideas. Citrus has cleaning powers, too, ya know. And if things need to *smell* clean, citrus is the way to go, especially instead of bleach or ammonia or whatever else.
So the sites I saw said to let it sit for a week or ten days. Around there. OR you could forget to do that part and actually finish it after 3 weeks. Oops. But it still works. And it smells good. And I need to get more oranges to I can just keep this going all the time I think. The spray bottle had a couple ounces of vinegar left in the bottom and I left it there. I strained the little pieces out of the mix and voila! Better smelling cleaner. It's not a pretty color, but that's okay. And I used a little before I added a bit of water. There is no measuring in this one. It's abotu 3/4 gone right now, so I'll just have to fill 'er back up with the straight stuff until I can get this going again. But this one is definitely a keeper.
Oh! It's not quite as fantastic on glass. Maybe the oils from the peels? But I did use it and then just straight water and my mirrors are clear.
So there you have it! The real basics of chemical-free cleaning.
And why do I do this? Because it's cheaper than buying chemicals to clean everything. And I really prefer kid-friendly. (so it's safe for them to be around what was cleaned and they can do it, too!) And for health purposes. My boys have asthma issues. And Alex's were terrible when he was little. And I didnt even know this when I started, but I noticed *on my own* that his symptoms greatly improved when I stopped using chemicals. I'd been chemical-free for a few years before I found anything to back me up (ok- I didnt look, I just happened to see an article somewhere and then had to share it for all the people who thought I was nuts). This is not the article, but I figured if I claimed something, especially medically related, I should have something. His asthma is not 100% better. Especially now with living in a super drafty old house. And neither is Tristan's. But I dont want to know how bad his would be if I used "real" cleaning products.
Stay tuned for dishwasher detergent!
Second. Let's do this.
First requested was for a post on my homemade cleans. Aaaaanddd guess what. Recently has been a time of making more of a bunch of them. How convenient!
What's this? Just baking soda and vinegar? Yes. So simple! something needs to be scrubbed? Baking soda! Wiped down? Vinegar! The spray bottle is for convenience.
The baking soda: I put in a (cleaned out) Parmesan cheese container so it's easier to sprinkle/pour. I do not use this kind for cooking. The giant bag is for cleaning... everything :)
Things about vinegar that I love:
1. It kills germs.
2. It doesnt stink once it's dry. (I hate the chemically smell of everything when I was done cleaning when I used them.
3. It doesnt irritate anyone's lungs.
4. Kid safe!
Sometimes I dilute, sometimes I dont. Just depends on my mood I suppose. It cleans everything, too! Windows, mirrors, other glass. (I think it works better than "streak free" Windex! Especially straight.) The sink, counters, tables, anything that needs to be rid of germs.
A little twist on this:
Need a link? Pick one from here
So Jesse doesnt love the smell of vinegar. So I thought I would work on that. And Pinterest gave me some ideas. Citrus has cleaning powers, too, ya know. And if things need to *smell* clean, citrus is the way to go, especially instead of bleach or ammonia or whatever else.
So the sites I saw said to let it sit for a week or ten days. Around there. OR you could forget to do that part and actually finish it after 3 weeks. Oops. But it still works. And it smells good. And I need to get more oranges to I can just keep this going all the time I think. The spray bottle had a couple ounces of vinegar left in the bottom and I left it there. I strained the little pieces out of the mix and voila! Better smelling cleaner. It's not a pretty color, but that's okay. And I used a little before I added a bit of water. There is no measuring in this one. It's abotu 3/4 gone right now, so I'll just have to fill 'er back up with the straight stuff until I can get this going again. But this one is definitely a keeper.
Oh! It's not quite as fantastic on glass. Maybe the oils from the peels? But I did use it and then just straight water and my mirrors are clear.
So there you have it! The real basics of chemical-free cleaning.
And why do I do this? Because it's cheaper than buying chemicals to clean everything. And I really prefer kid-friendly. (so it's safe for them to be around what was cleaned and they can do it, too!) And for health purposes. My boys have asthma issues. And Alex's were terrible when he was little. And I didnt even know this when I started, but I noticed *on my own* that his symptoms greatly improved when I stopped using chemicals. I'd been chemical-free for a few years before I found anything to back me up (ok- I didnt look, I just happened to see an article somewhere and then had to share it for all the people who thought I was nuts). This is not the article, but I figured if I claimed something, especially medically related, I should have something. His asthma is not 100% better. Especially now with living in a super drafty old house. And neither is Tristan's. But I dont want to know how bad his would be if I used "real" cleaning products.
Stay tuned for dishwasher detergent!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Real quick
I have been taking pictures of my homemade cleaners over the last week or so as I've been making. BUT. I'm not doing that right now.
One of my dear old friends makes reall cute things. Scarves, hats, little sweaters for little dogs. And now slippers! And I love slippers. I wear them all the time. And I would totally love to win some that she made. And I get my name entered in more times if I blog about them.
CHECK THIS OUT
Aren't they so comfy looking? That's on her Etsy site... feel free to check out all the fun things she makes.
And HERE is her facebook page so you can see what she makes as she posts and enter to win, too!
Next time I'm on here, I promise to get started on my list of things to post about. For real. And hopefully while wearing some sweet new slippers. :)
*edit* My dear "old" friend is older than me, and I never mind pointing that out. Not just her, about anyone who is older than me. Because I'm nice like that. Anyways. What I actually meant was "long term". We have been friends since we were young. Actually young. Kids even. So check out the business of my dear friend that I have known since we were just children. hehehe
One of my dear old friends makes reall cute things. Scarves, hats, little sweaters for little dogs. And now slippers! And I love slippers. I wear them all the time. And I would totally love to win some that she made. And I get my name entered in more times if I blog about them.
CHECK THIS OUT
Aren't they so comfy looking? That's on her Etsy site... feel free to check out all the fun things she makes.
And HERE is her facebook page so you can see what she makes as she posts and enter to win, too!
Next time I'm on here, I promise to get started on my list of things to post about. For real. And hopefully while wearing some sweet new slippers. :)
*edit* My dear "old" friend is older than me, and I never mind pointing that out. Not just her, about anyone who is older than me. Because I'm nice like that. Anyways. What I actually meant was "long term". We have been friends since we were young. Actually young. Kids even. So check out the business of my dear friend that I have known since we were just children. hehehe
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Ideas
I read a lot of blogs.
Some I follow, some I find from Pinterest. Some I find on Pinterest and wind up following.
So many amazing ideas from so many different directions about so many different things.
So many blog posts in my head that never make it onto here.
I'm thinking (hoping?) that if I get this much down that I will have some accountability to actually do them.
And I would totally love some feedback on which ones you want me to do first.
There are projects going on that need some before and after shots. This I know. This also means I need to figure out how to get pictures from my phone onto here... because I know how to get them onto facebook and email. That's it. But those posts will have to happen when things are happening, too.
Other ideas:
1. Put myself out there and do a natural look makeup post. I see so many posts that give people fantastic tips on how to look fancy. I know a lot of people that want to look natural, but done. I wear make up every single day, and I sure dont make myself look fancy too often.
2. My kids. I mentioned before that I want to do a post for each.
3. Submitting to my husband. This one has been in the process in my head for a while because of conversations with a bunch of people over the last few months about this. It was one of those things that was just in my life but not really in the front of my mind for a long time and now it seems to be something that I am explaining in different ways more than I ever thought I would.
4. Crafty things. Part of being productive this year also means wanting to turn some ideas into real life. (I need to find out if my sewing machine works, I suppose.)
What should I do first?! Because we all know I'm not going to just bang out a dozen posts in a week. Anything specific you want to know about any of those?
Some I follow, some I find from Pinterest. Some I find on Pinterest and wind up following.
So many amazing ideas from so many different directions about so many different things.
So many blog posts in my head that never make it onto here.
I'm thinking (hoping?) that if I get this much down that I will have some accountability to actually do them.
And I would totally love some feedback on which ones you want me to do first.
There are projects going on that need some before and after shots. This I know. This also means I need to figure out how to get pictures from my phone onto here... because I know how to get them onto facebook and email. That's it. But those posts will have to happen when things are happening, too.
Other ideas:
1. Put myself out there and do a natural look makeup post. I see so many posts that give people fantastic tips on how to look fancy. I know a lot of people that want to look natural, but done. I wear make up every single day, and I sure dont make myself look fancy too often.
2. My kids. I mentioned before that I want to do a post for each.
3. Submitting to my husband. This one has been in the process in my head for a while because of conversations with a bunch of people over the last few months about this. It was one of those things that was just in my life but not really in the front of my mind for a long time and now it seems to be something that I am explaining in different ways more than I ever thought I would.
4. Crafty things. Part of being productive this year also means wanting to turn some ideas into real life. (I need to find out if my sewing machine works, I suppose.)
What should I do first?! Because we all know I'm not going to just bang out a dozen posts in a week. Anything specific you want to know about any of those?
Monday, January 7, 2013
A New Year
2013 is the first year since 1987 to have 4 different numbers in it. I did not come up with that myself.
Instead of resolutions, I try to set reachable goals each year. Or at least a couple years that I actually cared. Because I dont always care. Especially those years that started off with a tiny baby and very little sleep. But since my baby is 3 now (sad face), I have more time to think about real life. To be honest, I think I'd rather be taken over by little baby-ness. That's probably just me.
Anyways. For 2012, my goal was to post something that I was thankful for for every single day of the year. So many people post things in November, because Thanksgiving reminds people to appreciate what they have. Even if it's just the super vague "I'm thankful for family." But I wanted to focus on the little things that I am truly thankful for all year. Things like a random warm day in a cold season so I can hang laundry outside. Or my Sunday afternoon naps and time at MOPS (I'm ALWAYS thankful for those!). Or an easy trip to the grocery store or an awesome find at Goodwill. And I did it! Some days I missed and had to make up for, and some days were not easy and I would just stare at the screen completely frazzled by the day trying to remember something that happened that didnt make me want to pull my hair out (that didnt happen too often, dont worry). Most days I had more than one thing that just made my day a little happier... because I took the time to notice it.
So this year, I need to be more productive. I am not not naturally organized or self motivated. When I work on a project, the instinct to clean up completely when finished is just not there. I dont know why. But I married a neat freak that doesnt usually want to help with the day-to-day stuff but goes crazy when things are a mess. Which they usually are.
I have a number of smaller projects that I want/need to get done. I dont really want to do them, I just want them to be done. Knowing that I probably wont find the best way to organize things to save space, etc doesnt help. I'm also not crafty- at all- but I am hoping to try to work some crafts into these projects to help. Simple things like wrapping boxes so they are cuter to put things in.
So I came home one night after working in the Nativity and Jesse had made up a list of things for me to do to get the whole house clean by Christmas. At first I was not happy because it was going to be super not fun. And each day's project had to be done before I could go to bed. But I knew I really had no choice so I sucked it up and got to work. He let me move some things around to make things a little easier. Like when the kids had a half day of school to start out their Winter Break, I made that the day to clean their rooms so they could help. And by could I mean I made them do a lot of the work. His idea worked and everything but the kitchen was clean by Christmas. And I did it with a happy heart, so it's extra bonus- with plenty of time before bedtime. So now, I just have to maintain. Not easy for me, but I'm learning. I am already feeling less overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done though, so it's worth it. And it will leave more time for my extra projects. And it's making Jesse happier.
Ok. So I'm hoping that part of my productiveness will also lead to more blog posts. But I make no promises. Feel free to ask me about what I've been getting done and/or tell me to post. And have no worries about my family being neglected because of me focusing on getting things done. That's a separate post about why that could never happen ;)
Instead of resolutions, I try to set reachable goals each year. Or at least a couple years that I actually cared. Because I dont always care. Especially those years that started off with a tiny baby and very little sleep. But since my baby is 3 now (sad face), I have more time to think about real life. To be honest, I think I'd rather be taken over by little baby-ness. That's probably just me.
Anyways. For 2012, my goal was to post something that I was thankful for for every single day of the year. So many people post things in November, because Thanksgiving reminds people to appreciate what they have. Even if it's just the super vague "I'm thankful for family." But I wanted to focus on the little things that I am truly thankful for all year. Things like a random warm day in a cold season so I can hang laundry outside. Or my Sunday afternoon naps and time at MOPS (I'm ALWAYS thankful for those!). Or an easy trip to the grocery store or an awesome find at Goodwill. And I did it! Some days I missed and had to make up for, and some days were not easy and I would just stare at the screen completely frazzled by the day trying to remember something that happened that didnt make me want to pull my hair out (that didnt happen too often, dont worry). Most days I had more than one thing that just made my day a little happier... because I took the time to notice it.
So this year, I need to be more productive. I am not not naturally organized or self motivated. When I work on a project, the instinct to clean up completely when finished is just not there. I dont know why. But I married a neat freak that doesnt usually want to help with the day-to-day stuff but goes crazy when things are a mess. Which they usually are.
I have a number of smaller projects that I want/need to get done. I dont really want to do them, I just want them to be done. Knowing that I probably wont find the best way to organize things to save space, etc doesnt help. I'm also not crafty- at all- but I am hoping to try to work some crafts into these projects to help. Simple things like wrapping boxes so they are cuter to put things in.
So I came home one night after working in the Nativity and Jesse had made up a list of things for me to do to get the whole house clean by Christmas. At first I was not happy because it was going to be super not fun. And each day's project had to be done before I could go to bed. But I knew I really had no choice so I sucked it up and got to work. He let me move some things around to make things a little easier. Like when the kids had a half day of school to start out their Winter Break, I made that the day to clean their rooms so they could help. And by could I mean I made them do a lot of the work. His idea worked and everything but the kitchen was clean by Christmas. And I did it with a happy heart, so it's extra bonus- with plenty of time before bedtime. So now, I just have to maintain. Not easy for me, but I'm learning. I am already feeling less overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done though, so it's worth it. And it will leave more time for my extra projects. And it's making Jesse happier.
Ok. So I'm hoping that part of my productiveness will also lead to more blog posts. But I make no promises. Feel free to ask me about what I've been getting done and/or tell me to post. And have no worries about my family being neglected because of me focusing on getting things done. That's a separate post about why that could never happen ;)
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