What a Delima

OK, so Bill & I are looking for a "big" gift to give to the girls, but we have no idea what to give them. We thought about a Wii - not in stock anyway - or a Nintendo, but we really do not want to give them computer items that make them sit on their duffs, or not engage with their imaginations. They already have doll houses, dolls galore, doll accessories, trains, cars, art supplies (although, I've thought about chucking some of their cheap stuff and replacing it with better quality items; that would cost a good chunk, but doesn't look like a "big" item.)

So, basically we are at a loss for a big item this year. I'm thinking of some sort of trip, like maybe to an indoor water park. If there are any spots available this late.

Annika's Skirt

I tried to get a good picture of the skirt I made for Annika, but apparently she was not feeling cooperative. These poses kinda cracked me up, so I thought I'd add them both to the "its all about me" site. (read with some sarcasm, because it is kids on MY site!)

But, I did make this skirt all by myself - no pattern nor nuthin'! I had an idea, made a mistake in the quantity I bought, and created a completely different look for the skirt. You might see me on Project Runway soon! HARRR!

Wow! I've Saved

So, I have been squirling away my babysitting money. I have a small amnt. in my underware drawer (which, btw, Bill has been pilfering from!) But today I actually totaled up the deposits into our savings account.... I've put $360 in it so far since October! And, I have been using more and more cash to purchase stuff, so I guess all in all I am saving more than I thought!! Cool.

If only I had time or money

I'd definatly make or purchase these little adorable faries for my two fairy-freek kiddos!!

http://store.imaginechildhood.com/fairies.aspx

Annika's "Prairie" Skirt

I have two kids. Each kid seems to want what the other kid has, even if they are not interested in said item. Remember the Laura Ingalls Halloween costume I spent the better part of October, and $50+, making? Well Annika finally has declared that she needs a pioneer outfit too.

So, I spent $5 on fabric and made her my version of a "prairie" skirt. I ended up having to make the different fabrics go vertically rather than horizontally due to my lack of adequate planning and measuring, but it turns out that I can now make two similar skirts out of the fabric I bought. And, I kinda like the looks of the final product.

When I get a good picture I'll post it. But lets count another item off my 101 list!

Room Painted, another 101 thing down!

So, the bathroom is done. And yes, it is red!! However, having said that, turns out that both Bill and I like the color, even if it is not quite the color we envisioned when we started out. But, we are going to live with it, and see if once we get some new window treatments and decorations up if that will help tone down the brightness some.

Luckily it is a small room, so only a small amount of bright red, but all in all we do like it. I finally have the red room I wanted when I was a young child! Whoot!

Red Room Verdict

It is not me; they mixed the paint one shade darker. They goofed. Now we have to either live with a blood bath on our walls, or repaint.

....might be a blood bath on our walls!

Crock Pot A Day

I stumbled upon this blog; the author has vowed to cook with a crock pot each and every day for an entire year. Interesting. But us lovely readers can glean a good recipe or two from her trials. I have come to sort of enjoy my crock pot. With my busy evenings it is necessary if we want to eat before 7pm! I am just tired of the three recipes that taste good to us!

I'll keep you updated.

Red-Rum, err Room

So, we began painting the bath this weekend. We took the plunge and chose a soft red paint called Pottery-Red. It is sort of a terra cotta-ish red. In theory.

With one coat on it looks like a blood bath in our tiny room. I'm not so sure, but I'll keep painting until it is a smooth and solid color, live with it for awhile and then decide.

Removing More Wallpaper

Item # 4 is now complete. I have removed the ugly faux marble wallpaper from our downstairs 1/2 bath. Now on to painting!

And In the Other Room

As I sit here on the computer, Lauren is in the other room quilting her little heat out. Yup. All by herself. As if I could even begin to offer much assistance; she knows more than I do by far!! How weird. I must learn to sew so that I can keep up with her.

Maybe.

OK, off to sort of facilitate. Not that I need to.

Crock Pot Yogurt

We eat a ton of yogurt here. I'm talking at least a half gallon a week. The girls (& me too) eat yogurt plain, yogurt with fruit, we make smoothies after school, they eat it for snacks, with lunch, we put it in oatmeal, I make yogurt cheese and use it in place of sour cream .... we eat a lot of yogurt! I usually buy Stoneyfield brand, which is about $4.00 a quart, so it quickly adds up over the week - we are talking around $36-40 a month for yogurt! Ouch!

I decided to make my own yogurt. I looked at yogurt makers, and they seemed to be around $30 each, which is not too bad and I figured even with high-end, $10 gallon locally produced, organic, vat-pasteurized, non-homogenized milk I would quickly save money. (By the second month even!) But, as my cooking guru hero, Alton Brown, says: No Uni-taskers! Really, I do not need yet another machine in my already cluttered kitchen!

So, I figured why not use the crock pot? I happen to have little inserts that I can use in my large pot and reduce the volume by half. Brilliant Idea Kay!! A quick research online, and voila - crock pot yogurt goodness!! Homemade yogurt is a bit thinner, but still yummy and good! And can I tell you the savings we are reaping in with this one?? At $5 a gallon for my normal organic milk that makes our yogurt costs a mere $10 a month, saving $26 a month or .... $300+ a year! Whoot!! Momma's going to Colorado with that money!!

Another 100 in 1001 down!

Tractor Square Dance?

OK, I've seen it all now!!

I was looking for tractor clips on YouTube for the little dude I babysit, and found this.

How MANY Birds!

I recently put up a suet feeder, and added black sunflower seeds to our bird feeder. It is amazing how many different birds I have spotted at our feeder since putting these up. From upper left to lower right: Red breasted nuthatch - they are cool because they run upside down on the tree, Cardinal - one of my favorites!, Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Dark Eyed Junco, White breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay - not necessarily my favorite, but they are actually far an few between, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse. I have also some sort of sparrow - but I really want to identify the specific species before I claim it! And then there is some other bird that is slightly larger than the sparrow, looks much like it, but with sort of chartreusey yellow stripes instead of white. Still working on that; it may be a female finch.

Cranky Old Lady's Halloween Complaints

Handing out Candy and Drinking beer lead to a few Cranky old Lady complaints :)

One parent actually complained to my neighbor that he was not prepared enough for his kids! "Sir, you need to be more prepared. My kids were having a hard time waiting." You got to be kidding me!! When one of the first trick-o-treaters knocks on your door at 6pm, and you all set to go? Especially when you both work full time jobs and you are constantly trucking your teenage kids around? I think your kids can wait a minute while I am diggin' out the free candy to hand to them!!!

One parent was pulling her two kids (around age 3 and 5, I'd guess) in a wagon. OK, I live in a neighborhood with long driveways, and no sidewalks. I can see a wagon to help cart the kids. But, these kids NEVER got out of the wagon. She pulled them up to the steps, and made *me* come to them to give them candy. And then, I grabed two pieces from my bowl, one for him and one for her, and the boy tried to grab BOTH of them from my hand. When I said that the other one was for his sister, he got angry.

After the second beer was gone I waited for a lull in kids (not a hard thing, we had few kids this year compared to last year!) and then went inside to get my beer. Well, I set my bowl down on the porch (just not thinking, really) and came out to find one kid grabbing a whole huge handful. She put back some when I caught her, but protested that her friend took a handful too. And when I looked in the bowl, all the mini M&M's (for the little kids) were GONE. Greedy kid took them all. AND the parent with them apparently thought it was OK to do this!!

There were a few others, but by the fourth or fifth beer I did not care so much. And it was just fun to call my friends in CO or Livonia and harass them some more.

Kids these days, I'm telling you. And parents - they are worse!!!

Cranky Old Lady signing off.

Finding Ideas For My List

As of today I have a grand total of 64, scratch that, 65 things to do on my 101 items in 1001 days list. I am not great at math, but even *I* recognize that I am a tad short of the 101 things! I just cannot seem to find List-Worthy items for this.

I know some of you would have absolutely NO problem writing down 101 things to do. But I am not a list maker, so this is new territory for me. These are supposed to be "unordinary" things, or at least I am making that criteria. So I would not put my daily tasks, or errands etc. on this list. This list is for larger tasks and projects. And in truth, some of the items are long term projects, like me saving $20 a week from babysitting so I can go on the Wild Women Weekend, or having a monthly night out with just Bill. These things cannot be accomplished until the end of the 10001 days. Hmmm, slight flaw in my plan? Eh... I'll just have to count the things I am working on in the list too.

Hey - turns out I have quite a few things I am working on:

1. Decorate wood Doll house
2. Organize basement
3. Begin regular nature study each weekend
4. Save $20/week
5. Hand make one item for each family birthday
6. Organize laundry room
7. Deep clean one room a month
8. Have monthly night out with Bill

Still, I am a bit short on my list! Better keep thinking of those ideas.

Bill Bento

Apparently Bill has been the talk of lunch time in his office. He only has 30 mins for lunch, and because we are frugal as well, we pack his lunch almost every day. (Except for a long running Thai Thursday tradition he managed to start.) Since he has been working long before the girls started school, and thus I became turned on to Bento style lunches, I have recently made some changes in his lunch habits.

I have always cooked one extra portion of dinner and then packed it for his lunch. Just a simple way to save time, and provide him with something much better than frozen meals! Apparently not many people do this, and that alone was cause for some interest. But this summer I finally bought him a plate for his food to be heated up on in the microwave. (I hate reheating in plastic!) Apparently when you plop your food onto a plate the same food becomes more appealing and interesting to the onlookers!

Well, I also started packing more bento style lunches for him. I think that has thrown the crew into hyper drive! He comes home virtually every day and has some story to tell about how his co-workers are jealous and think we eat well. Maybe, but I think it is a combination of presentation and simple home cooked meals!

Lucky Bill!

(contents of Bill Bento: Pot roast (from a locally & humanely, albeit not organic, raised cow)with ketchup in one container, and horseradish in another. Butterfly shaped biscuits in a silicone cup - Bill, not me, made them with the girls! Other side is potatoes and carrots from our garden, a container of (homemade) strawberry jelly for the biscuits, and some leftover mini-M&Ms to help clean out last year's Halloween candy!)

Another 101 thing down!

So, I had the idea to create a fund for all Girl Scouts at the girls school. I proposed it loosely to the person in charge, and she "love love love love" s the idea! So, I officially wrote it out and sent it out to other people in charge in the hopes that this will get off the ground.

Another of my 101 things in 1001 days down!

Little Treasures

Last night Lauren found a book she made last year in school; she left it on the counter and mentioned something about me not reading it lately. Truth is, I forgot about it.

It was a hard-bound book that was made in class for a Mother's Day book. She drew and colored all the pages, and wrote the text. It is titled, "My Mother Is Special Because..." Inside is a list of all the everyday things I do for my beloved family on a daily basis ... I love her, I cook for her, I do laundry, I do dishes, I clean (that could be debated!) the house, I tuck her in at night, I give her kisses, I let Mulligan out, I play with her, & I am nice.

A whole 6 months has gone by since she made this for me, but it brings tears to my eyes more today than the day I first read it. Partly because it is SO very precious, but mainly because it shows that those mundane, trying, never ending, countless things I do for her are appreciated. (Either that or I am so uninspiring otherwise that she had nothing else to write!)

I hope I "inspire" her (and Annika) that there is great value in being an ordinary person living their life to the fullest. I'd rather be ordinary me sharing my everyday moments with those I love, than be someone living in the public eye unable to share a walk in the park with my kids. And I think my family likes it better that way too.

$100 Christmas

Last year I tried to talk Bill into doing a $100 Christmas, but he could not wrap his head around it. OK, so Christmas is in 2.5 months, I need to begin the leg work now.

With the state of the economy being so shakey, maybe this year will be the year he agrees to spending $100 for Christmas gifts!

Check one item off my 101 Things list

So, I have finished the Pioneer Outfit for Lauren's doll, Barbara. It is a mini version of the Halloween outfit I made for Lauren. Check off my first item from my list!

I also made a mini quilt for the Doll house, and plan on doing some more to decorate it for fall. The girls play with the furniture some, and with their Calico Critters or Littlest Pet Shop dolls often. Lauren and I started decorating the house a year ago, but we both lost interest. So I am hijacking the project and I have LOTS of Waldorf inspired, and just plain Kay inspired ideas to make it homey and inviting to play with.

So, I am on my way to fulfilling two more things on my list; decorate the doll house & make one handmade gift for each birthday. And yes, in this instance double dipping is allowed!

Pictures will follow, but probably not until after the birthday celebration.

Silly Me!

I figured out my problem to the entry a few days earlier ... I was in Html edit mode! sigh ....

Well, I never once claimed to be highly computer literate. Just enough to make it seem I know what is going on!

I'm Going (gulp)Public

So, I have been contemplating this thing I read about somewhere in the Blogosphere ... 101 things in 1001 days. The idea is you create a list of 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days. The list should be substantial, but not overwhelming. But the idea is you have approximately 2.5yrs to complete your list.

Interesting concept.

I'm not really a goal setter or list maker type person. So right away I kinda laughed at this idea. But then I kept running across people who had a list of 101 things on their blog, and I was forced to think about this concept more.

I do have a lot of things I'd like to accomplish. So at first I though, maybe I'll write down those things. Then I sat and thought a tad ... and wrote down some more things, things that would be nice to do in theory, but the reality is I'd probably never really do them. Then I wrote down some things I'd really like to do, but probably would never make the time or take the effort to do them. That was what made me say, HEY! Why not do those things? Why not make myself do some of them.

So, here goes. I am going public with my list. Because I know myself, and if I go public with it, I'm likely to accomplish many of these items. I'm a realist, and know that I may really want to do some of these things, or some of them sound cool in theory, but the reality is I probably will not follow through with all 101 items. Well, the list is only like 40 items anyway! But here it goes.

100 things to accomplish in 1001 days
October 12, 2008 – July 12, 2011
1001 Days - 143 Weeks - 32 Months - 2 ½ Years

Paint laundry room built-in
Go on romantic getaway w/just Bill
Travel to Laura Ingalls places
Buy only farm fresh, humane, eggs
Purchase a family friendly eco friendly car to replace Durango
Document Bill and my beginnings
Create a photo album of our family
Talk to Grandpa Kenny re his life
Document GK’s conversation
Organize basement
Create memory album of Nanna’s life
Create memory album of Poppa’s life
Create memory album of Grandma's life
Create memory album of Bill’s life
Create memory album of my life
Start a B-day journal for Lauren
Start a b-day journal for Annika
Begin regular nature study each weekend.
Remove wallpaper from main bath
Paint main bath
Remove wallpaper from ½ bath
Paint ½ bath
Remove wallpaper from master bath
Pant master bath
Incorporate weekly art/history study
Save $20/week
Have monthly night out with Bill
Read 16 books from my PBS/Amazon wish list
Re-landscape fencerow with native/noninvasive plants
Re-landscape basement area
Put up bat house
Have our beer tasting party
Create a Beer Bento
Make a pioneer dress for Barbara
Make dinner for Carrie one evening
Hand make one item for each family birthday
Put up bird bath
Put up thistle feeder
Re-cover living room valences
Re-paint kitchen
Take down kitchen border
Put new kitchen window coverings
Get new drapes for toy room
Get new dresser for our bedroom
Organize laundry room
Decorate wood Doll house
Re-paint Lauren’s Room
Re-finish Porch Bench
Re-finish Play structure
Touch-up paint moulding
Touch-up paint windows
Organize Master Closet
Clear out Kitchen cupbords
Organize Hall closet

Strange error below

So, I started this entry, but had to run and do laundry, play with a kid, change a diaper .... you know; mom things.

When I returned all the photos were uploaded, but, uhhh, all in code so that I cannot change the layout any or move things to make it look better. So sorry, but for now this is a weird entry that makes little sense visually. But enjoy it otherwise!

I love rainy fall days!

It was a misty, yet warm morning today. I love these kind of fall days! I just had to snap a few photos from my deck to document the beauty of all this change. This is one (of the many) thing I really missed when I lived in California. They do not have fall like Michigan does!

I actually took 64 photos this morning. I was that inspired by the beauty of it all.

I noticed that, while there is quite a bit of frost damage and leaves turning, there is also still some flowers around. In fact, some of my pansies from a few years ago have managed to survive and actually bloom this cool fall. Huh.

Well, enjoy some lovely snaps of my yard, the misty view over our subdivision, and the contrast between the end of summer and beginning of fall. Green and colorful, just the way I like it! For now. I will be just as excieted come the first snow, too!

It is a slow email day

I am in the mood to see how all my peeps are doing, but I have not had any email today. If you are out there, send me a line and let me know how your are doing!


BTW - I'm doing awesome this fine fall day. I am finishing Lauren's Halloween costume, and, if I may be so bold as to brag for a moment, it is turning out mighty fine! Pretty proud of myself; never thought I could sew so well ... and kinda fast too.

But, back to reality. ...and more sewing.

100 Items

I stumbled upon this concept today: Paring down your possessions to simply 100 items. What a wonderful way to unencumber yourself and free yourself from the confines of consumerism.

Intriguing idea. Let me begin my list ...

Computer
paper
pencil(s)
Panda - stuffed animal from childhood
camera
photo album(s)


wow - this would be QUITE a challenge. Can I make the girls take this?? : )

A New Blog

Yea, like what I really need is another blog! But, this one is more of a public one, and one dedicated to my "awakening of my consciousness and changing my American Consumerism Habits to a more sustainable and green life." I am working on Creating a Balance in my "Green" life.

There is not much on this blog yet - one post written a month ago. I intended on doing some stuff, but life got in the way. And honestly, as much as I wanted to push myself on some green issues, I am proud to say that I stayed true to my goal and remained my same ole self, but kept BALANCED in my life ... not overtaxing myself so I would slip further into the abyss of convenience.

So, go ahead and check out my virgin entry. And check back, things have settled here a bit (I hope!) and I may have a weekly or more often entry!

Where is All That Time I'm Supposed to Have??

With both girls in school full time, I am supposed to have a lot of free time on my hands; HAR! I am still waiting for it to show up!! Today I actually am free, but I am going to work on the girls' Halloween costumes and some Daisy stuff. (I am Annika's troop leader. ...for better or worse...)

So, if you've been wondering why it is October 2nd and it has been a whole month since last I wrote in here ... well it is not because I have nothing to say, rather it is because I have no time to formulate a coherent thought lately!!!

Being frugal

Bill has a coworker that is working on her Master's, and as an assignment she has a "week of poverty," where she has to live on a grand total of $2 a day. It got me thinking, forever the frugal being that I am, how I could cut my living costs even further. Food is one area that I refuse to cut nutrition, so whole grains, fruit and veggies, and organic items will always be worth the extra money ... but I have the money to spend on these items.


Anyway, I am going to be contemplating this issue for awhile. The concept of having a mear $2 a day for EVERYTHING is both intriguing and disturbing to me. I have had very lean times in my life, but I lived alone, with no one else to support. And with the hard economic times in front of us, this is a reality I see being thrown at more and more people.


I count our blessings often! Having reliable food, housing, and health care available to my family is not a given, I do realize this. But I still feel that living frugal is a necessity to prevent loosing this reliable stream of food, housing and health care. Keep your eyes peeled for more thoughts on living frugally while still living fully!

I want one!!

I just saw this baby product, but I want one for lunches!! It'd be perfect for me!!

Tomatoes from, ?Heaven?

Well, if you plant a tomato plant (or dozen) you really should expect tomatoes. And, yes, we have tomatoes of every size and shape coming out our rears!

I have taken to being ultra domestic and canned some this week. I made salsa, and canned 6 1/2 pints. I made three batches of spaghetti sauce and have canned 8 1/2 quarts. (we ate one quart...maybe two actually)

Wow - what a lot of tomato products I have in my house now!

My Latest Food Obsession

Yumm Yumm Yummm!

What do you do with tons of cherry tomatoes, chard, & zucchini piling up from the garden? Well .... I saute this in olive oil with some onions and garlic and it is good in just about ANYTHING! (Or on its own!)

I add an egg for breakfast. Add it to pasta, rice, couscous. It is even good with perogies. This is my newest, yummiest, "base" to add veggies to meals.

Only problem, everyone but me is tired of it. Sigh ......

And, it is HIGH in vitamin K - I read that one cup of boiled chard has 716% of VK! wow! I probably eat a total of 1/4C a day. It really shrinks down when cooked!!

More Bento Fun to Share

I actually have a neighbor that is now curious as to what (and how) I pack for lunch for the girls. When we were talking about school lunches, and I mentioned I did a more Bento style, she was intrigued as to exactly what that was.


So, here are two more of my very simple lunches. Nothing creative here. The first is for the garden, and I believe I added a small container of yogurt for the girls too. They seem to eat a second breakfast as well as lunch while we are there, so I have been packing more and more food for them. Bagel and cream cheese, apple slices, and cucumber slices. Flower ice-cube packs help keep it cool and look pretty too. OH! I have my new purchase in here too; I purchased some silicone cupcake liners to help compartmentalize and keep moist foods from the other foods. I cannot believe I waited so long to make this purchase!!!



The other lunch was for our recent canoe trip. PBJ sandwich, carrot sticks (from our garden) and pretzels. I threw in some cherry tomatoes more of a space filler to keep things from moving around. The girls are tired of tomatoes, and they were upset that I put them in there. Oh well. What I really needed was one of my cupcake liners to keep the pretzels from getting squoggy.

Yummmmmmy!

I just returned from the garden with a glob of veggies - tomatoes, chard, zucchini mostly. I decided to make a fritata type meal for lunch. Sauteed some onion and garlic with the above veggies and then mixed in an egg. YUM! Wow was that good!! I just might have to do that again! Anything yummy to help use up the abundant plethora of veggies in our house!

Ichiban Kan

I have read about this Japanese-style online store, but finally decided to visit it. Well, I visited it shortly after it launched, and it was not inspiring to me. But now it has more bento gear on it! And at quite the reduced price compared to my current e-bay sources. Momma might have to make a few fun back-to-school purchases!!

For those of you who are interested in this whole bento style lunching (with or without an American twist) check out the site.

No Impact Man

Occasionally I read a few environmental blogs, and recently I found a blog titled No Impact Man. I love his philosophy, seen here. It ties in with this book I have been eying since last September (in fact he mentions it, and the context in which he discusses the book makes me want the book even more!) The book is titled "Cradle to Cradle; Remaking the way we make things."

Now, I'd love in theory to go ahead and try this no impact experiment. In fact, I've tried to talk Bill into getting rid of our satellite TV (even though I LOVE my TVo!) because I feel it distracts from our life - we so enjoyed our TV free week this spring! (or I did at least, and come-on, isn't it all about me!?! Oh Great & Wonderful Kay The Goddess of All Goddesses, right?) But, back to No Impact Man, the reality of this idea is harsh, and quite in conflict with EVERYONE else in society! However, I've been on a slow mission (very slow, since the deliberate decision was made sometime around 2002) to improve my lifestyle. Which, lets face it, has always had quite a strong "green" or "environmental" edge to it.

Yea, I am destined to be a liberal, earth hugging, pseudo-hippie. I'm ok with that. To a degree. So I will continue to lessen my net-impact on this earth, and continue to be inspired by those who boldly shirk societal norms in favor of their conscious. Good thing I do not personally know anyone who is as bold as No Impact Man, because rubbing shoulders with such a person would be dangerously inspiring and influential to me! And my beloved family just might disown me!

Garden Snack Bento

Another bento I packed for the girls to eat while at the garden. PB sandwich, fresh cucumber, baby carrots, and ranch dip. Annika ate half her sandwich before I packed it, so I also added a cheese stick. They ate EVERYTHING while I was working in the garden.

Van Gogh

Hey! Too cool and fun. I noticed today that I could add a Van Gogh painting of that day to my blog! I happen to really like Van Gogh and post-impressionist paintings, so I added it. Hope you enjoy a pretty addition to my blog.

A few Bento Snacks

I have been going to the garden early in the morning, and spending 2-3 hours there. I have to feed the hungry beasts breakfast before I leave (Lauren on low-blood-sugar is NO FUN!) but they demand another snack before I am ready to leave. So, WHO-HO! I get to make more bento fun!



Here are two recent bento snacks I packed for the kids to take with them. Fresh garden cucumbers, grapes and a cheese stick in one, with some flower ice packs to help keep cold. Carrots, half a bagel with cream cheese and grapes in another.

My Bento Obsession

It is back to school time, or preparation time at least. We have one month till the start of school, but I am already getting back to my bento obsession! Just today I packed a snack for the girls to take to the garden with them - bento style! (They ate it all, btw - 1/2 whole wheat bagel and cream cheese, grapes, and carrots)

Today, while perusing some of my bento blogs I like, I ran across this, from my favorite Laptop Lunches folks. What a cool, cool way to help plan a weeks worth of healthy lunches!

Returned Clippers

For those of you that were following the great Fairy-Borrowers-Gypsy debate ... the clippers have been found.

hmmmmmm, does that help clarify precisely WHAT it was that took them for a week?

Mt Laundry Update

Washing Machine - 7
Folding and putting away - 10

How is that possible? Procrastination!


And guess what? I have more laundry to do still!! But probably only about 4 loads! Summer and those swim towels do me in! But it is worth the hassle; water is soooo much fun.

Mt. Laundry

And this is only one of several baskets. Guess what I am doing ALL day today? Yup, donning my O2 mask and conquering the elusive Mt. Laundry!

Here we go (maybe) again!

I must confess that this past May's no purchase foray was a good month to think about all the purchases I made. Can I get Bill to do this too? hmmmmmm More food for thought hee. School is coming up, and we need a few supplies. When does school start? Sept. something, so I could, in theory, wait until Sept. to purchase all the supplies needed. Or, today purchase backpacks and lunch boxes (oh, I might have a LaptopLunch already - gotta look into that one!) The girls need shoes, but I have to wait for Lauren's ortho visit first; the inserts make shoes fit differently, and she seems to think that her current inserts are too small.

Anyway - for now I am possibly not buying anything new nor going out to eat for the month of August!

Bored in the car

I was having some fun taking photos in the car while driving home from vacation. 3 hours in a car can get a tad tedious. So I had fun.

Lost Already!

Yea, I lost one of my pairs of sunglasses while on vacation.

Good thing they were not very comfortable, and therefore I really did not like them much. But now I am stuck with ONLY the old lady style ones ... which I feel weird in!

What I decided on

...for sunglasses. One is slightly large and Old-Lady-ish. (Read, stylish) the other is pretty typical me!

The "me" ones

The "stylish" ones - a little Minnie Perl since the tags are still on. hehe

And of course, here is Lauren reading a book, while Annika is goofing around.

What was the book about? Greek Myths, of course. She picked it up out of curiosity and could not put it down until she finished it - about 20 mins of walking around kinda talking and kinda reading. It is a compullsion for her!

Sunglasses

I went to Target today to purchase a new pair of sunglasses; my previous pair fell off the counter onto our kitchen floor and BROKE! Shees, cheep plastic!

So off I toddle down the street to the Target, all happy and giddy at the thought of buying a new pair of sunglasses, and getting something kinda fun. Apparently I was in the mood to be semi-trendy or somethin'.

Yea, didn't last long. What is up with this nasty 70's influence sunglasses? They are HUGE, tacky, old-lady looking things! I think my grandma still wears a white pair that looks like 90% of what was for sale. I just couldn't do it. But I couldn't look like three years ago fashion either .... sigh.

So, folks, it is official. I am old and oh so very out of touch! My poor kids are not even old enough yet, nor in touch with current trends, so they cannot help steer me in any direction. I am just going to be a white sock and sandal wearing fool from now on. Not that I have ever been *much* of a slave to fashion, but I've been more aware than lately, apparently.

Well, I purchased two pairs. We'll see which ugly style I feel less conspicuous wearing. sheeesh

My most amazing friend

I have some pretty wonderful and amazing friends in my life; I am truly blessed! But my friend Trish is just very amazing and inspiring. Right now she is in Cincinnati, OH with her daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth (one of Trish's 15yr old triplets) just underwent her 63rd (I think) airway surgery. They rebuild Elizabeth's airway by taking a piece of her rib out and then cutting open her neck and inserting the bone into the airway. Yea, quite a major surgery. Trish, who happens to be the only bread winner in their family due to her husband's fragile medical condition, has to take 4-8 weeks off of work to stay with her daughter during the recovery. She did the same surgery when Elizabeth was 3yrs old; she watched her daughter virtually die before her eyes three times. Then, when Elizabeth was around 11 there was another major surgery too. And here we are again. I cannot imagine doing this. Trish sounds stressed and worried - who wouldn't be?!? Elizabeth is in pain.

I have known Trish since we were 3yrs old. Our lives have taken many different paths and adventures, both together and apart, but we have remained good friends. I think that is the sign of a true friend, one who is meant to be a part of your life for ever. It hurts to see someone you love struggle like this. But, she faces all these many struggles (and there have been more struggles in her life than seems possible!) with such grace, it just amazes me and inspires me. If that is her life's purpose than she is doing what she was destined to do! I just wish it was not so often and so extreme.

Think good thoughts for my friend Trish, Elizabeth, and their family. They need it!

Painting - Stage 3

Well, we put the 1st coat of the tan on the top of the wall. The color combination reminds me of *something* but for the life of me I cannot figure out what! Anyway, I like it, but still think the white and teal color looked fresher and crisper. Some day I just may repaint the top half white. But for now I still like the tan so much more than the previous wallpaper!!!!!!!

Stage 2 of Painting

So, we painted the bottom half of the dinning/toy room today. We picked out an awesome teal-y blue; I LOVE it more than I thought I would!

We picked out a tan color for the top half, but I am not sure I want to paint it. I really like the white color a lot. It is so fresh and crisp and really opens up the room. It is, however, very different from all the other rooms in our house. Well, I have the paint, I'll see how it looks I guess.

Ugly Flower Wallpaper is Gone!

When we bought our house - 4 years ago! - we intended on removing all the wallpaper. The wallpaper in the dinning room/toy room was just horrible, we thought. I had since come to accept it, and did not cringe every time I walked into view. However, I really did want to update it to our style. So ....

We purchased a steamer and began working Sat. evening. I worked for less than 2 hours and removed about 1/3 of the paper. Sunday afternoon I started again, and in less than 3 hours had removed it all! I cannot believe how easy and quickly this paper removal went!

In the planning stages...

So my friend inspired me to do one of two things very soon here. (I need to get to the beer store to do this, and well, that is not the everyday trip, especially with gas costing over 4.25/gallon now and me driving a huge gas guzzler!)

So, i am going to plan a beer bento lunch. Not for the kids, obviously : ) but for us adults! I have been toying with the idea of having it as a little party for some close friends. But here is the gist of the idea: Pair together a beer with a food that really seems to compliment the beer. So, have three or four beers and a food for each one. Nut Brown and a good brat or sausage, Corona (or some other good "light, summer " beer) and lime with guacamole and chips ... you get the idea. So the beer and the food would make a whole package for the party/bento :)

For those of you that live too far away (like China!) I'll have to make sure you get the "recipe" and can re-create it for yourself!

Red Tail Ale

Bill bought a 6-pack of my favorite beer, Red Tail Ale, the other day. Ahhhh. This is one of the things from CA that I do often miss. Although, Killians Red is not too bad a substitute. But the bigger problem is that CA seemed to have such the pluthera of small and micro-breweries to choose from in the everyday grocery store, and here, well not so much the selection.

In order to purchase a "good" beer you basically have to make a seperate trip to a high-end party store. Luckily we have found two in the semi-near area that have managed to serve our needs. Now I have to remember to seperate the good beers from the average beers when I take back the returnables, and then I have to remember which store to return what bottles. Ah, such the hassles of a good beer.

And then there is that Beer Tasting Party we keep talking about. Yea, it has been four years or more since we talked about that one! sigh. We suck at party throwing. Or, planned ones at least. Iam such a spontanous person that I have difficulties planning well.

Oh well, I have a cold Red Tail in front of me and I am happy!!

Exaustion!

I have been rather quite lately. But only online. My life has been turned upside down it seems. With the end of school and all that means with field trips, parties, and performances and the like, plus Annika's birthday, then add in the Community Garden we are helping with, and now that school is out I am watching little Ikey more and the girls also have swimming lessons Mon-Thurs, I am getting ready for our sub's annual meeting and family picnic plus planning the Simmons-Kreeger/MI-CA clan summer camping trip, and dear Lauren has declared that she wants to be home schooled this summer ..... did I forget something? Oh yea, ME! and even more so, BILL!

I finally threw in the towel today and scheduled a babysitter for tomorrow night. Don't care what we do, but me and the man are going out!

Zoo Lunch

This is what Annika and I took to the zoo with us on our field trip Thursday. Roast beef and spinach rolled up in a tortilla with a bit of cream cheese spread on it. Carrot, broccoli, and cucumber slices with a side of ranch dip (for Annika only, I chose to have naked veggies) a cheese stick cut into thirds for easy packing in my container, and some apple slices to top it all off. This was more than we could eat for both lunch and a mid-morning snack, which surprised me quite a bit as it did not seem to be that much food. And, surprisingly enough, Annika ate the sandwich, then the broccoli, then the carrots, then the cucumber (which is usually her favorite veggie) and finally the apples and cheese stick for a 2-o'clock snack on the drive home. Odd.

Wed's lunch

I might start a semi-regular series of photos here of the lunches I pack for the kids. I know this site is all about me, but I have had some inquires about what I pack for lunch and what my kids eat, so this is my way of addressing this. Plus, I am kinda obsessed with this topic ... part of my nutritional stuff, ya know.

So, tomorrows lunch (per Lauren's request) consists of roaches in sandy logs (we were out of raisins, so I used dried cherries - they're bigger so thus they are roaches.) two sticks of colby cheese in one container. Mango, pineapple (and later some kiwi was added too) ranch flavored wheat thin crackers, and grape tomatoes. In the little blue container (my only official bento gear, btw) are some extra roaches ... err dried cherries. I also will pack a home made chocolate chip cookie.

Laundry Line

I did it! A few weeks ago I located some PVC piping, a drill, and some rope and I created a laundry line that will dry a load of laundry and still be rather inconspicuous. Bill really does not like to see laundry hanging up on the line (the snob that he is. har!) so I thought about it for awhile, and found the perfect compromise.

He still does not like it much, but come on, is it really that noticeable hanging off the trellis of our walk out basement? I think not! So, green laundry drying and lower energy bills here we come! And with the price of gas lately, we need to save our pennies everywhere we can!

Word Salad

Heee Heeee

Our entire family has decided that we are going to learn a foreign language together. (not sure how that will actually work, but we are working on it.) Not being very language savvy myself, I have always struggled, and really never possessed the desire to learn another language. But yesterday, while watching an older episode of Boston Legal) I decided that I am going make Word Salad my foreign language!

What is word salad, you ask? (Does it come with a side of ranch?) Well, if you believe everything you see on TV (and don't we all) it is where you think one thing, and nonsense, mixed up words come out of your mouth. For instance, if I wanted to say, "Good morning teacher. How was your weekend," what might come out instead is, "Frog legs piggy bank. Books and teapots eat away my lifeline."

Now, wouldn't that be fun to mess with my kids? And neighbors. And friends. he he he he.....

I got a job offer ...

You gotta love it when a job offer comes your way without even really searching for it. Yea, I have been doing little volunteer things with the intent of networking and such for when I am actually looking for a job, but this one kinda fell into my lap.

The position is through Gleaner's Food Bank, and their Operation Front Line program. I have volunteered to help run a 6-week program teaching food cooking, nutrition, shopping etc. to various groups. I love the class and program, and am excited to bring it to our county here. So, when I found out that they needed someone to help run this satellite office/program I was excited. Originally I was told it would be one day a week - sweet! I can handle that; and even in the summer one day of day care for the kids will not be a problem. But, it turns out that this job is a grand 30 hrs a week, and only until Aug. 25th. Sigh. This is more than I am willing to take on for the summer months, combined with watching Isaac one to two days a week too.

So right now I am trying to see if I can swing a "job share" program with another person. They would probably rather not deal with TWO people in the position .... and all the extra headaches that comes with multiple people. So, I do not hold much hope now. One day a week, for a much longer time sounded much much nicer than 30hrs a week for the entire summer, and then no more work once the summer is over. Especially since both kids will be in school full time starting in Sept.

So, I'll keep a look out for another part time job in the fall. Maybe. Maybe this part time temporary job will pan out. I hate turning down a good thing, but ....

Don't you hate it when a good things suddenly turns out to have a few twists and clouds?

Birthday Loot, and Mom's Day Too

I enjoyed a decent birthday last week. Well OK, actually the girls were overtired and cranky - especially Annika. And as we all know by now, cranky kid equals cranky parents. So I was rather cranky by the end of the evening. Annika and I kept butting heads, and for those who know me, the more I but heads with someone, the more I dig in my heals and refuse to budge. Not a great trait to have when it comes to young kids. But it is mine, so I make the best of it ... whatever that means!

But, I did have a decent morning, and the girls were SO excited to make me my cake and to

give me their gifts.We always make a cake with the girls for birthdays. Sometimes it turns out better than others, (this wasn't one of those times) but this is one of our traditions, and the girls absolutely love it! This time they actually set their alarms and woke us up at 7am, bouncing off the walls with excitement. I think I remember Annika being the most excited too. I think - It was early, and a whole week ago now!

Earlier in the week Bill took them out shopping for my gifts. Bill made me a bluebird house, something I thought would be nice to have and to attract a pretty songbird. Annika insisted on giving me this hummingbird garden ornament thingy. And Lauren chose a rain gauge that rests in a ceramic toad. We've name him Toad the Wet Sprocket, or Sprocket for short. So now when it rains, which it has finally done twice since my birthday, we check Sprocket for the rain totals. (So far we have had just under 1/2" and then yesterday 5/8", in case you were wondering) I also received a very nice bowl-type humming bird feeder. And some money to go shopping. I see some bento boxes and produce bags in my future!

For Mother's Day I finally got a good broom! YEA! I swept this evening and it actually looks as if I had swept afterwards - hallelujah!! The girls gave me some really cute hand made gifts, so I am happy. It was a good day, and I feel well loved by all.

Still waiting on my sink drain plug and eco-gear. Guess I'll have to get that myself. I think Bill got me the broom more so because it was a funny gift. Yea, I'm strange, what can I say.

I laughed and cackled and rode around my broom for effects.

I Survived!

Does anyone else have Gloria Gaynor singing in the background? ...for as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive ....

But the true story is that I, and my entire family, survived the entire month of April with only 8 unecessary purchases. And some of these are borderline necessary. Borderline - I know we could have gotten along without any of them, if we truely HAD too. But the bigger victory, for me .... I exposed many other people to the idea of actually thinking of not consumming oh so much stuff all the time. I had a few positive responses to this idea, and unfortunatly more than a few, "You are nuts!" comments. But, one step at a time, right? And everyone kept asking me how I was doing, so a good dialogue was opened up here. I am sure that as soon as I left there was quite a bit of behind-my-back chatter, but I'm ok with that! Everyone here thinks I am nuts, and I know that! :)

Failure 6, 7 & 8 in the Buy Nothing Month

Last week it was 75 degrees most days, if not warmer. I had to break out the summer clothes for the girls, as long sleeve shirts and thick heavy pants were causing them to faint from heat exposure. Lauren has grown so much this winter that all of last years clothes are way too small! Yes, she can still squeeze into them, but I am not keen on 6yr olds running around in skin tight belly shirts worn with skirts so short you can see their cheeks! Which is what we have in this house!

So I visited out local used clothing store. The first thing we see is a frog raincoat. Annika runs up to it and declares it hers! In her defence, we have been looking for a raincoat for both girls, and it does match her frog rain boots, that she wears EVERYWHERE! So I had to purchase the raincoat. I also found a shirt, skort, and cool dress for Lauren. She now has a few items to wear and not be expelled from 1st grade for obscene dress.

On Saturday Lauren's Brownie troop had a special surprise event to help celebrate their year of Brownie-hood. So, off to the Mall to the Build-A-Bear store we went. Lauren had never been in the store, and was in a bit of consumerism overwhelm! I was looking at all the really cute stuff you could purchase (for a rather large sum, I might add!) and Lauren said to me, "Too bad you can't buy anything this month." That's my daughter!! She had a great time making her bear, complete with a Brownie uniform and patches for her and the bear. We did not actually purchase this item, but I count it on my list of failures, because it was a new item, total and complete consumerism if ever there was such a thing, that entered our house this month.

And finally, yesterday I bought a bunch of zip lock bags. I started out this month with one or two bags, and almost had to borrow some from a friend the other day when Lauren had a field trip and was required to bring a (gasp) completely disposable lunch. But I dug up some reused bags and made due. We do not use plastic bags very often, but occasionally we do, and I just happened to be out of all but the gallon bag size. So I bought something I could have done without. My rationale: I would have bought them in May anyway. Holding off on this purchase was just postponing the eventual. I figured what difference does two days make, when the point of this challenge is to make me rethink what I am purchasing, and find alternatives. I have a whole cupboard of alternatives, but there are times when a bag is what I really prefer to use. Although, I have seriously considered freezer paper over the past few weeks while I postponed this purchase. So I may pick-up some freezer paper (I have to see if it is recyclable) next month. See, I did use my brain before I just went out and bought plastic items!!

Two Days Till May and ....

I have been contemplating the latest Crunchy Chicken challenges and keep going back and forth over which part, if any, I am going to participate in. Sigh - I feel so "wrong" for even thinking of not participating in them! UG! The rules clearly state no Halvesies; you go all the way or nothing. However, my brain thinks a minor tweak here and there is better than avoiding it altogether! My neighbors and school moms pretty much think I am crazy to contemplate any of these ideas ... one even said she had to buy something new every day! Reaks of hidden issues if you as me, but ....

So, here I sit, just two days away from the first day of May, (and a few days from my, gulp, 42nd birthday ... when did I get so old? I don't feel that age.) and I have not committed to anything. Yes, this is a huge commitment, but it something I wholeheartedly believe in, so what is keeping me from doing it? The lack of ease? The desire to just go with the flow? The lack of much true support in this endeavor? Some combination of all of these, I'd say.

No paper, with the exception of no TP, would be the easiest. Except Annika and her obsession with coloring and cutting printouts from the internet would be a major challenge. This particular challenge was not made for parents of preschoolers! I guess for that week we get out our white board and chalk board!

Well, more food for thought (but only if it is locally grown food, packaged in glass or cloth, that I bring home on my bicycle, and then do not need to refrigerate it, bc I have turned off my electricity!)

yea, I am insane for thinking about this. So, what week is best for this challenge, I ask myself. We'll just have to see!

My Version of a Bento Lunch

For those who are wondering, this is my version of the Japeneese Bento style lunch. I made this for Annika to eat at home; no traveling was going to take place with this box. I would love to have little containers with lids to put ranch dressing, yogurt, or other wet ingredients into, as they leak in my container.