tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87399679125508353352024-03-07T23:19:13.365-05:00Parenting Through the ChaosParenting Through the Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09080850616657432312noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-23781854517570089942009-10-09T16:15:00.004-04:002009-10-09T16:23:51.610-04:00So, what's new?Wow, this blog hasn't been updated in a while. That seems to be the general scheme of my life lately.<br /><br />So what's changed? As far as this blog is concerned:<br /><br />1. My tiny baby girl is now a monster-sized almost-10-month-old, crawling and almost walking and eating big girl food and giving kisses and jabbering away.<br /><br />2. I got a new washer and dryer, the fancy front-loading, energy-saving sort, and while it does work a good bit better than my old set (especially considering that my old set died, hence the purchase of the new set), I'll admit that I'm not as entirely thrilled with it as I wanted to be (but I can say that about almost everything in life).<br /><br />3. I'm no longer that impressed with Crunchy Clean detergent. It still smells wonderful, and I'm using what I have as carpet powder, but I've gone back to liquid detergent for washing my actual laundry.<br /><br />4. Still searching for the best detergent I can find. No luck yet.<br /><br />5. I'm addicted to Goodmamas. I have something like 45 of them now. I have a Goodnight on the way to try, and I'm considering trying the One but haven't yet. But still, Goodmamas = NO LEAKS, and that is king.<br /><br />6. I just enrolled in a Gourmet Cooking and Catering course. I'm not sure if it will go anywhere or not, but at the very least it will be fun while it lasts.<br /><br />7. I've been working out with a personal trainer, and even though it's not easy on the wallet, I'm seeing some good results. 18.5 lbs of body fat gone in two months. I'm sure that number would have been even higher if I wasn't still eating everything I could fit between my teeth.<br /><br />8. In trying to redefine myself and my life according to what makes me happy, I'm figuring out a way to spend more time doing the things I love: cooking (see #6), reading, writing, sewing, decorating, yoga. Perhaps you'll be seeing more of me around, and more of me being creative.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-8391494956512259702009-01-19T11:24:00.001-05:002009-01-19T11:26:05.915-05:00Diaper Review: Mommy's Touch One Size All-In-One4/5 stars<br /><br />I have to admit, when I ordered these I thought they were pockets instead of AIOs (yes, I really am that unobservant at times), and when I received them I was a little disappointed. But, as I hadn't yet started diapering and I didn't know anything about it, really, I figured I'd give them a shot. And then once I had the baby, the rise looked far too high even if the rest of them would fit. But again, how was I supposed to know, so I tried them. As it turns out, I like them a lot more than I thought I would.<br /><br />The absolute best thing about them is the most obvious thing--they're all one piece, which means no extra covers, no stuffing pockets, just snap and go. OK, technically there is an extra, smaller snap-in soaker, I just haven't used it--it snaps into the front, which seems to me like it would be more helpful for boys, which my little one is not. Just the same, they work fine without it and we haven't had any problems or leaks because of the absence of the additional soaker. In fact, we haven't had any problems or leaks at all. Also, since the soaker is only sewn at the back, drying time is about the same as the rest of my diapers (which are all pockets).<br /><br />There are two small problems I've noticed, and they're not exactly <i>problems</i>, per se. First, as I mentioned the additional soaker is small, about half the length as the sewn-in soaker. I personally think it would be more useful if it were full length. Second, the snaps are slightly complicated. If you follow a set of directions (including pictures, that is) it's easy enough, but figuring it out on your own is tough. Remember how I thought the rise was too high? That was because I had them snapped wrong. But snap them the right way, which includes folding the doubled bit back under, and the snaps aren't quite far enough apart, plus the waist becomes a bit thicker and therefore bulkier.<br /><br />Overall, I really do like them. As I said, no leaks at all, and once I figured out how to fasten them they fit my newborn fairly well. I will probably be ordering more of them, possibly with velcro instead of snaps (mostly because my husband prefers velcro, and because I want to see if they're less confusing), and I'll definitely be ordering more AIOs because of my good experience with the Mommy's Touch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-10266226745701548782009-01-15T10:21:00.005-05:002009-01-16T16:41:27.669-05:00Diapery GoodnessI know I've been a big proponent of prefold diapers, especially due to the cost factor. However, in the past few months I've branched out a bit and I wanted to share some revelations and give you the run-down of more diapers.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">All in Ones</span><br />I've tried a few All-in-Ones (AIO) and two have emerged as my absolute favorites.<br /><ul><li><a href="http://swaddlebees.com/products/aio?PHPSESSID=8b276004563fa35b5548b27d753d4761"><span style="font-size:130%;">Blueberry Stuffable AIO</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span>I think Blueberry discontinued their line, but Swaddlebees are from the same company and, based on my experience, I would say performance is equal). I've actually seen a few less than stellar reviews so I was a little concerned after I found a great deal and bought five, but now I'm wishing I had doubled my order! This is the only diaper that my husband actually put on and said, <em>"Holy crap, Honey, buy more of these! I don't care what you paid for them, we need more."</em> Only once have we had leakage and it was a situation where ANYTHING would have leaked. This has also contained all of my son's pooh-splosions. When stuffed with a hemp insert, this has proven to be a bulletproof night time diaper! </li><li>The downsides? Microfiber isn't as forgiving as cotton and I have found myself doing extra rinses to make sure any detergent residue is stripped. Also, drying takes a long time. I end up running my dryer for two full timed sessions and sometimes the very inner portion is still a bit damp and I have to put the diaper on an impromptu rack for drying. (I'm going to get a real drying rack soon and eliminate about 7 hours of useage a week on diapers alone!) </li></ul><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mtdiaperstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_34&products_id=558"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dream Eze AIO</span></a> How could someone NOT love this diaper. The Certified Organic Inner is super absorbent. The fit is so trim I can put Jamison in "regular" pants without sizing up on his already chunky frame. This has become my favorite diaper for out-of-town shopping trips! We've used it for night-time, but it would probably benefit from an added doubler for just a bit more absorbency for that 10 hour stretch (no leaks, only a tiny bit of wicking after 10 hours). Since it's cotton, it's more breathable than microfiber and it also generally has less issues with buildup. Due to the way the soaker is attached, drying time is about the same as with cotton pre-folds! (One full-time dryer session usually has the diaper <em>mostly</em> dry). </li><li>Downsides? I'm going to have a hard time coming up with negatives for this one. I guess I could mention that (especially with a boy) you may want to take an extra few moments to make sure the attached soaker is comfortably covering what it needs to cover, especially if your little boy like to squirm and try to crawl away during his diaper changes. <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I have gotten into the habit of laying Jamison on the diaper, pulling the soaker into place, <em>then</em> snapping the diaper and finally, reaching down with a couple of fingers and giving the soaker a little tug to make sure it wasn't dislodged in his escape attempts.</span> </span></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">WAHM Goodness </span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">I just splurged a bit and found the ultimate in squishy awesomeness- <span style="font-size:130%;"></span><a href="http://hyenacart.com/pbellie/index.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">Peanutbutter & Ellie Baby</span></a> 's PreFlats (I chose the Grae, so I could use a Snappi since I'm still a little leery of pins). I never imagined such a simple diaper could be so luxurious and so amazing. First of all, the diaper is incredibly stretchy, so even though it may look like it won't fit around a chunk; it will. And even more; it will fit the contours without gapping as your baby wriggles and giggles and contorts like a circus performer. I just received the order yesterday. I took the diapers out of the bag and I immediately got upset; why can I not have underwear so soft? Even my husband declared that his next pair of boxer-briefs needed to be made of bamboo velour! Seriously, the material is even softer than it looks on the screen. I threw the diapers (and included doublers) in the wash. The next sign I was going to love the diapers was the fact that they dried <em>super-fast</em>. Like, if you splurged on a stash of these, you may just save money on your drying time alone (just sayin', in case you needed to justify to a spouse or somethin'). Right out of the drier, I diapered the monkey and he scooted away before I could put a cover on him. Eventually, I did put a cover on, but it was a shame to hide his little bamboo-clad bottom! </span></p><p>I changed him into his night-time diaper and examined the PreFlat. The doubler was moist, but the diaper itself wasn't even damp (after a good 2.5 hours wear). Bamboo really is way more absorbent than cotton! The price may seem a bit high, but I did some comparisons and it ended up being pretty fair once I took into account the price included shipping and a doubler. Find another bamboo (or even hemp) diaper, include a doubler and add shipping and the price is going to be in the same ballpark. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything about this diaper. I may want to keep this information all to myself so I don't have so much competition when she restocks again.... </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">Overall Favorite Website</span></p><p>As far as my good, old, trustworthy cotton prefolds; I know there are many wonderful retailers out there, but I have to mention that my favorite is probably <a href="http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/">Green Mountain Diapers</a>. The owner compares the sizes so you really know what you need. When I was getting started, I bought my first dozen from another site and they ended up being way too big. Once I found Green Mountain Diapers I was able to locate exactly the size I needed and since I was able to see examples of different sizes on various babies, I knew <em>how</em> to expect the diapers to fit. The level of information is the same with everything carried in the store; you don't feel like you are clicking on some unknown product; you feel like you are in the store with the owner at your side demonstrating everything and helping you find the items that will best suit your needs and meet your expectations. Added bonuses: the service was top-notch and the order fulfillment and shipping were extremely fast. I heartily recommend this site to anyone looking to get started with cloth diapering. </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p></p><p></p>Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-11610545726369051902009-01-03T16:30:00.004-05:002009-01-03T16:58:42.792-05:00Detergent UpdateIt's hard to believe it's been almost a month since I first posted about <a href="http://parentingthroughthechaos.blogspot.com/2008/12/crunchyclean-what.html">CrunchyClean </a>detergent. What have I been doing in all that time? My laundry! chose scents for both detergents and I am so happy with both. Since I went with holiday scents, I've been washing everything in sight to keep me in a festive mood!<br /><br />One thing I noticed was that the scent wasn't terribly strong out of the dryer. It was there, in a "bury your nose in the sheets and inhale and have happy dreams" way, but not an "in your face, smell me from a block away" manner. I consider that to be a positive considering the chemicals and manufacturing that go into heavily perfumed artifical product containing detergents. After all, that's the very thing I'm trying to get away frm!<br /><br />I love the detergent. The Diaper Detergent really does get my son's diapers clean and I've been able to cut down on my rinses, too. The Regular Detergent has powered out everything my husband and kids have thrown at it, too. Not too shabby considering that includes dressing out a deer and stripping lathe and plaster from an old house; factor in a bloody nose and an upset stomach and I would say this detergent is a winner. As with any detergent, stains will need to be pretreated.<br /><br />I also love the idea of ordering something hand made from a person; not a factory. I'm not even halfway through my stash and I'm already planning my next order!Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-77576699753960829032008-12-03T10:45:00.007-05:002008-12-03T14:18:29.998-05:00Visions of Sugarplums?I just managed to learn what my mom is getting me for Christmas and I'm far too excited about it to not share with everyone else because, 1. it's exactly what I asked for and, 2. it's not something I would have splurged on myself until <em>after</em> my Holiday bills were paid. No, it's not a vacation and it's not jewelery, it's <strong>laundry detergent</strong>.<br /><br />Here's a quote from the website,<br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">"Hi! I'm CrunchyClean Gal - aka<br />Ashley! I am a wife and new<br />mom of a baby girl. I started making our<br />cleaning products over a year ago<br />in an effort to cut down on our exposure to<br />chemicals and be friendlier to<br />the earth. As my zeal for living a green life has<br />increased with new<br />motherhood, I have worked on my recipes and made them<br />perfect!"<br /></span></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;">Go check it out! </span><a href="http://www.crunchyclean.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.crunchyclean.com/</span></a><br /><br /><br />My mom is getting me both a Regular Detergent and a Diaper Detergent. I should mention that I absolutely adore clean, fresh sheets and clothes; fragranced detergents are a passion of mine, but my husband and two kiddos have sensitive skin and various allergies, so I have had to be very careful in my detergent choices. Add cloth diapers to that, and I sometimes feel limited by my options. I have started filling the fabric softener dispenser with plain water and adding 2 drops of essential oil to "spice up" the unscented detergent that has become my staple.<br /><br />However, in less than 2 weeks time, I will just add a scoop and walk away. I'm extra appreciative because, by all accounts, the Diaper Detergent rinses so clean I will be able to eliminate the extra rinse cycle and save on my water bill! It simply can't get any more awesome than that! I will certainly keep you posted on the performance once I receive it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">For the record, I know it was alluded to above, but I feel it bears repeating: this is not a paid advertisement. I am receiving no compensation for this post. Although, CrunchyClean Gal, if you read this and feel inspired to send a free bag of detergent as a gift of goodwill, I would certainly welcome it! </span>Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-8530505155483208692008-10-28T17:15:00.003-04:002008-10-28T17:31:00.180-04:00Easy-Peasy Curtain/ShadeLong time no see! I've been off remodeling (almost finished now!) and not doing much of anything useful. <div><br /></div><div></div><div>I did, however, make a curtain for my guest bathroom. It was just about the easiest curtain ever to be made, and yet look how cute:</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 682px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 511px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/miss_elisha/Bathrooms/DownstairsBathCurtain.jpg" border="0" /><br />How did I accomplish this feat?<br /><br />Instructions for the Easiest Curtain Ever:<br /><ol><li>Measure window. </li><li>Add a few inches to the top and bottom for pockets, and about an inch to each side for seams. Cut fabric accordingly.</li><li>Hem all four edges.</li><li>Fold over a couple of inches on the top, plus a wider amount on the bottom, and hem again, creating a pocket for the curtain rods.</li><li>Place curtain rods into pockets. (I used dow rods: cut one slightly wider than the width of the curtain for the top, or slightly shorter than the curtain width for the bottom. I also used a larger rod at the bottom to give it more weight.)</li><li>Hang curtain.</li><li>Cut two lengths of ribbon approximately 3 times the height of the curtain.</li><li>Tie ribbons around the curtain vertically, tying however you like (I did simple knots, but bows would be pretty).</li></ol>Bonus: You can roll up the bottom rod to expose part of the window. Simply tie the ribbon shorter, and voila!<br /><br /><br />Yes, this is the most crafty thing I've done recently, and it's so simple anyone with a sewing machine (or the patience for hand sewing) can do it. To make it even simpler, you could use some Stitch Witchery or similar product and heat bond it together, eliminating the need for sewing altogether.<br /><br />(Hey, I'm about to have a baby. I need to keep things simple. But on the other hand, look forward to diaper bag projects and cloth diaper reviews in the coming weeks.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-59004822423382879712008-10-17T20:51:00.004-04:002008-10-17T21:01:58.028-04:00I'm an official seller!I just haven't made any sales yet...<br /><br />Check out some of my wares! Seriously, I would love some input. Do you think I need some different pictures using a more scenic background, or posed with a model (especially in the case of my bags, which are NOT crooked as the pictures may suggest)?<br /><br /><br /><script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.etsy.com/etsy_mini.js'></script><script type='text/javascript'>new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(6035401, 'shop','thumbnail',4,2).renderIframe();</script><br /><br />So check it out, all you readers, and tell me what you think. What should I do differently to get people to look more closely?Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-109028104254796992008-10-09T16:06:00.003-04:002008-10-09T16:39:51.531-04:00Hello Again!I have had quite an exhausting two weeks. I had plenty of material to share with you all, but my time was limited. I think Jeff and/or I have had meetings or other obligations at least 5 nights out of each week recently. It's not easy being married to a politician... <span style="font-size:85%;">(that's kind of a joke, he <em>is </em>on the city council and it <em>does</em> take up a fair amount of time, but he's not a politician in any sense of the word.)</span><br /><br />I have recently had not one, but two sick children. Jamison was actually sick twice. The ear infection fron two weeks ago just didn't get knocked out with the first round of antibiotics and we had to go back to the doctor on Monday only to find out both ears were infected and he has tonsillitis. Poor baby. I had truly hoped that exclusive breastfeeding would help prevent ear infections but I concede he has the same genetic predisposition towards ear infections/allergies and sinus infections as his brother. Josephine was also sick with a flu-type virus. I knew it was serious, she willingly skipped a birthday party.<br /><br />I have been trying to complete various craft items for donations. The first was an item made for a benefit for a local family. A local business owner and all-around nice guy had been suffering from a brain tumor for almost a year and the local community really got behind he and his wife to help the family through a tough financial spot. He passed away a few weeks ago, and I made a purse for this weekend's silent auction affair in his honor. I wish I had taken a picture, it turned out awesome; black denim with a flame orange and red front pocket, black motorcycle lining with red swirl interior pockets. It was not my typical "pretty" bag, but it sure was eyecatching! I also completed a bag for my church's annual bazaar. I'n not as thrilled with it, I may have to add some details, like a crocheted flower, to draw the eye away from some less than perfect details.<br /><br />Jefferson is requesting a new fleece hat. I made him one two years ago, which I have started putting on Jamison. Jefferson looked at it and solemnly stated, "That's my hat". When I agreed and pointed out it no longer fit him he then sadly said, "I don't have a hat now". Looks like I need to make some hats.<br /><br />Meatballs have been made and frozen. Halloween projects are in the formative thinking stage. My front door wreath has been redone in fall colors. Sweaters and corduroy have been located (yes, I am wearing my corduroy maternity pants, shut up, they are comfortable). I'm officially ready for fall!<br /><br />What are some of your upcoming projects? Are there any seasonal preparations you do to herald the changing weather?Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-59753673743754981192008-09-25T11:05:00.002-04:002008-09-25T12:41:25.868-04:00More Meatballs!I have a full week's worth of ideas for fast and frugal dinners using my <a href="http://http://parentingthroughthechaos.blogspot.com/2008/09/favorite-meatball-recipe.html">meatballs</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Spaghetti and Meatballs</span><br />Empty frozen pack of meatballs into heating spaghetti sauce. (I don't tend to heat (canned) spaghetti sauce very long or at very high temperatures, so I usually microwave the meatballs in the opened bag for 2 minutes before placing the meatballs into the sauce.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Meatball Minestrone</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This truly doesn't even need a recipe, consider it a suggestion.</span> <br />Combine like amounts of water and beef broth in stockpot. Bring to boil, add favorite pasta (I frequently use spaghetti that has been broken into short pieces but it would be fun to use shaped pasta, as well) when about 5 minuted remains on pasta cook-time, add favorite frozen vegetables, when water returns to a boil, add a pack of meatballs. Feel free to add additional seasonings to taste.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">BBQ Meatball Sandwiches</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I love to use my crock pot for cooking. Usually, I'm running late for work and need something super fast to throw together. This is a family favorite!</span><br />Prep crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Dump in a couple packages of frozen meatballs, mix your favorite BBQ sauce with a small amount of water, pour over meatballs.<br />Cook on low for 4 hours.<br />Place on favorite bun and top with favorite cheese.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Meatball Grinders</span><br />Same as above, but use spaghetti sauce instead.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sweet and Sour Meatballs</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Place meatballs in microwave-safe container. Heat (covered) for a minute ot two, then turn meatballs and heat another minute or two if necessary (you know the power of your microwave best, it aslo depends how many meatballs you are preparing at once). Add sweet and sour sauce, heat additional 45 seconds. </span></span><br />Arrange creatively on a plate, then spear meatballs with a toothpick and serve as appetizers, <em>or</em><br />to prepare as a meal, cook oriental-mix vegetables seperately, combine with meatballs, add sweet and sour sauce, microwave for additional minute, then serve with rice.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Swedish Meatballs</span><br />It might be kind of a cheat, but I'm going to mention my <a href="http://parentingthroughthechaos.blogspot.com/2008/09/favorite-meatball-recipe.html">Swedish Meatball</a> recipe again. <br /><br />No drippings? Heat meatballs for 2 minutes in microwave (they don't have to be heated all the way through). To skillet, add about 2 TBSP. of vegetable oil, mash a (thawed) meatball or two into hot oil then follow the recipe as I have listed, I generally make this with two to three frozen packs of meatballs.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Meatball Stroganoff</span><br />Heat meatballs. In oiled or sprayed skillet, mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup with 1/2 cup sour cream, add small can (or freshly sliced, if preferred) mushrooms. Add meatballs and stir frequently until mixture is heated through. Serve over cooked noodles, rice, or baked potatoes.<br />(If you don't care for mushrooms, they can be omitted and you can substitute cream of celery soup).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheesy Broccoli Meatballs</span><br />Heat meatballs. Cook broccoli until fork-tender. Combine in soup pan or microwave-safe container. Pour can of cream of cheese soup over mixture, stir. Heat evenly. Serve over cooked noodles, rice, or baked potatoes.<br /><br /><br /><br />There you have it, eight easy meals. Lots more possibilities exist. Clearly, you wouldn't want to make all eight meals in a row, as there are similarities (spaghetti and meatballs, marinara meatball grinders, etc.) But I hope I gave you some ideas. Some I've never tried (cheesy broccoli meatballs and meatballs stroganoff), so you may need to adjust thickness by adding milk, but you have a basic starting point. So go on, eat some meatballs!Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-31688349086735554602008-09-24T11:18:00.004-04:002008-09-24T12:40:51.619-04:00Favorite Meatball Recipe!I'm going to share my secret meatball recipe. It's versatile and delicious and it's the cornerstone of many different meals.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Theola's Meatballs</span><br />(units per 1 lb of hamburger)<br />Hamburger<br />1 c. bread crumbs<br />1 egg, slightly beaten<br />1/3 c. milk<br />1/4 c. minced onion<br />1/2 tsp. salt<br />1/8 tsp. pepper<br />1/4 tsp. nutmeg<br />1 clove garlic<br />1/8 tsp. italian seasoning<br />few shakes Lawry's seasoning<br /><br />Mix ingredients and shape into balls. Brown in approx. 2 TBSP. of oil until cooked through.<br /><br /><br /><br />Which brings us to another recipe. I always make this on "meatball day".<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Theola's Swedish Meatballs</span><br />Remove meatballs from skillet, reduce heat.<br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees, prepare baking dish for cooking.<br />To skillet drippings add:<br />2 TBSP. flour and stir to form a bubbly "paste" (roux)<br />Slowly stir in:<br />1 1/2 c. beef broth<br />1/2 c. milk or light cream<br /><br />Stir frequently. Add salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg to taste. Bring to a gentle boil and stir constantly, gravy will thicken within 1-2 minutes. Consider it done when the gravy clings to the back of a spoon without dripping.<br /><br />Place meatballs in baking dish, cover with gravy then bake for 30-40 minutes.<br /><br />Excellent served over rice, potatoes or egg noodles!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My favorite recipe! However, when I make meatball, I make them in bulk. I don't make 1 pound, I make 5-6 pounds at a time. With that in mind, I have discovered a time saving alternative:<br />turn heat up on skillet, brown outsides then place into prepped baking dish. Once all meatballs are browned, place baking dish into 350 degree oven and bake for approx. 20 minutes and check for doneness. (Cut in half, is it pink or brown?) <span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(I know it still doesn't save tons of time, but I've found I can generally clean the kitchen in the time I would have been standing over the meatballs while they cooked in the skillet, just DON'T wash the skillet until after making the gravy!) </span><br /><br />Saving out just enough for supper, I count the meatballs out into plastic bags and freeze. I have found that about 14-16 walnut-sized meatballs works well for my family's spaghetti dinners; if a recipe needs more meatballs, I grab two bags instead of one.Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-37951013590398403212008-09-22T09:33:00.003-04:002008-09-22T12:15:36.446-04:00A Little GreenerLately I've been more focused on the environment. I'm far from being a tree hugger and I'm certainly not an activist (although there is nothing wrong with either), but I'm concerned and trying to be more responsible. <br /><br />Raised in a farming family, I've always been conscious of the earth; especially the soil and the water. Small family farmers generally have a very logical approach- if you contaminate soil, crops won't grow; if you contaminate the water, animals die. The use of pesticides and/or fertilizers are carefully considered; what will have the best results with the least negative impact.<br /><br />Being from Iowa (a 5-cent deposit state) I have always recycled my aluminum cans. When my husband and I moved to Kansas, we discovered that our city had recycle service. As we already saved our cans (to bring in to our local metals recycling facility, where I am the office manager) it took very little effort to set-up a second bin for plastic and glass. Paper and cardboard went into the largest cardboard box we had available and it's been no problem to keep it going throughout the years. Our children have no problem with it (sometimes our three year-old gets confused, but big sister helps him out). They are going to grow up to recycle because it is just going to be habit. I actually feel taken aback when I visit someone's house and see aluminum and plastics in their trash; I want to lecture them. I don't even see recycling as "green", it's just responsible and it saves the community money*; it makes sense.<br /><br />Almost out of the blue, a number of things have STOPPED making sense to me. <br />1. I got frustrated with disposable diapers. They cause so much waste, are so expensive and contain stuff that I really don't want next to my baby's skin: wood pulp and chemicals. Remembering the cloth diapers and rubber pants my mom used on my three half-sisters at home, I really didn't think I had an alternative. <br />2. Every time I go to the grocery store, I cringe when I realize I'm going to have to choose between paper and plastic. I really don't care to use either. Plastic is less inclined to tear, but I always feel slightly sick when I look at the empty bags and wonder how long it will take for them to break down. <br /><br />Somewhere along the line, I had an epiphany; if something makes me feel guilty or ashamed, don't do it because it's not the right choice <em>for me</em>.<br /><br />So following that line of thinking I:<br />1. started using cloth diapers at home. The new options are a lot cooler than you would imagine. They are so not my mom's cloth diapers!<br />2. am in the process of making a few market bags. It will give me a fun way to show off my creative sewing abilities and ease my conscience in the check-out lane.<br /><br />I'm still not an environmentalist, but I believe I'm just a little greener than I used to be. <br /><br />What about you? Are you green? Are there any small changes you could make? Are there changes you have made that you would like to share? Weigh in, people!<br /><br />*<span style="font-size:78%;"> The city is charged the landfill's tipping fee for all of the refuse brought to the landfill. Recycles are brought in separate loads, the tipping is free. Prisoners from the area correctional facility sort out the material for recycling and the solid waste facility is able to sell the material to processors. This not only keeps many tons of trash out of our landfill, it also helps to keep the city's trash fees lower as less refuse=lower utility costs. </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span>Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-36852431113750941762008-09-16T10:47:00.002-04:002008-09-16T11:26:54.013-04:00Cloth Diapering Version 2.0Theola has already spoken of her experience with cloth diapers. She's been at it for a few weeks already, using prefolds and covers.<br /><br />Me, I intend to cloth diaper when Baby gets here in December, and I'm already collecting a stash. For my first experience with diapers at all, I've decided to go with a more expensive, but hopefully easier route of using pocket diapers, or All-In-Twos (which are the same as All-In-Ones, but with an optional insert). What's more, I'm being very picky about it and getting only One Size diapers, preferrably with snaps rather than Velcro.<br /><br />The difficulty of all of this is that, well, by setting such restrictions on myself, I'm drastically limiting my options. Even worse, I'm buying all of this <em>before </em>Baby gets here, so it may turn out that the diapers I get don't fit her, or don't work very well for her, or leak, or perhaps she just won't like them. That's the risk I'm taking. Considering all of this, the plan is to collect a variety of types rather than just a bunch of one type. And since I'm still researching what's available, I'm continually finding more that I want to try.<br /><br />Right now I only have 12 <a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=98&products_id=1282">bumGenius 3.0 diapers</a>. And I'm going to have to get at least 4 more, because they just came out with 4 new colors. It's a start.<br /><br />I've also decided to go with cloth wipes, because 1) if I'm already doing the laundry, I might as well throw in the wipes with the diapers, and 2) disposable wipes are never substantial enough for me to do anything with, so I just know I'll end up making a mess, and no one wants that. So far I've got 12 <a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=110&products_id=104">bumGenius Flannel baby wipes</a>.<br /><br />Just as a note: I ordered the bumGenius diapers and wipes from <a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php">Cotton Babies</a>. I placed the order on Monday morning, and they were at my house by Wednesday evening. Front what I've seen, prices on cloth diapers are fairly close everywhere you go, so there's no real deal anywhere (unless you buy used, which I'm not at the time), and Cotton Babies has pretty good package deals, and free shipping on orders over $75. They also sent me a detailed email about how to care for my new cloth diapers, which is good, because they do require special care, and I need all the help I can get. In other words, Cotton Babies gets a thumbs up from me.<br /><br />Other diapers I want to try out include <a href="http://www.rumparooz.com/">Rump-a-rooz</a>®, which look fabulous to me mostly because of the double gusset, the option of either snaps or Velcro, and the option to upgrade the inserts to hemp fiber; <a href="http://www.blueberrydiapers.com/products/pockets/OSPUL">Blueberry(TM) One Size Deluxe snap diapers</a>, and a few of their Minky counterparts; and <a href="http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=195">BumWear One Size pocket diapers</a>, which have some adorable prints and colors available. There may be others that I try as I find them, and I definitely want to try at least some hemp product at some point.<br /><br />My plan is to have about 30 diapers and at least as many wipes by December. I figure I'll end up buying a few more after seeing what works best for my baby, and I'll be sure to post reviews as I go.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-61717756381314159982008-09-09T15:54:00.002-04:002008-09-09T16:08:50.362-04:00Frugal Parenting: Lesson OneHand-me-downs are a blessing. Say that to yourself, “Hand-me-downs are a blessing”. I’m not talking about “Brady Bunch” era Peter pan collar shirts and plaid pants (which are somewhat stylish again), I’m referring to gently used baby and toddler clothes. It is so easy to get carried away with all of the delectable clothes available. After all, your child is the most precious, beautiful person you’ve ever seen and you naturally wish to showcase your little jewel in the manner best befitting him or her.<br /><br />Keep in mind though, babies and small children need a lot of clothes. There are constant messes and wet spots and it’s impossible to guess the direction of the next projectile attack. If you can afford to foot the bill for all the adorable outfits your child will wear three times before outgrowing then you have a far more lucrative career than I do.<br /><br />I recently hit upon “The Mother Lode”. A friend (with excellent taste) asked if I would be interested in the baby clothes her son has outgrown. (Would I? Do bears… well, we know what bears do in the woods. Right?) One week later, she came to my house bearing four boxes of clothes, sized from six months up to 18 months. (Four boxes!)<br /><br />As soon as I opened the first box, I knew I was in love. The brands ranged from Carters and Old Navy to Gap and even Sonoma Lifestyle! I was entranced by the softness of the sleepers (inside and out) and the charming prints of the sturdy play clothes. There were a number of impossibly cute sweaters which I never would have purchased on my own, although they assuredly would have caught my eye.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise when I thanked my kindhearted friend and she acknowledged, “Some of those were hand-me-downs from [another friend]”. Being open to gently used clothes from others can free up the funds to buy a few special guilt-free pieces (for your child or for yourself)! And the best part- when your child has outgrown the clothes, you can pass them on to someone else. It’s truly a circle of fashion!<br /><br />Next time someone offers you free clothes, graciously accept. Don’t allow pride to get in the way. Even if you aren’t as fortunate as I was, there would certainly be enough to suit your taste to make it worth the time to look through it. Likewise, if you have a friend with an older child, don’t be too timid to mention, “If you want to get rid of his (or her) outgrown clothes, I would love the hand-me-downs.”Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-12239843460879864392008-09-02T17:19:00.002-04:002008-09-02T17:44:26.065-04:00Company picnicMy husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary a day early this year. We went out of town, to our favorite restaurant for lunch. The meal was fabulous. No fancy-schmancy food for us, the portions were generous and the overall feel to the food was Sunday dinner at Grandma's- if Grandma was a hefty German woman... who happened to live in a microbrewery.<br /><br />Afterwards, we drove to the cabin owned by my husband's boss, Gale. It was the first time we had ever been there and my husband had left the directions at home. The drive took a bit longer than necessary and involved more frustration than I really wanted to experience on the eve of a monumental day, but oh, it was worth it.<br /><br />I was too awestruck to take pictures and for that, I apologize. We turned off the highway onto a well-traveled path through a corn field. After a low clearance water-crossing, we found ourselves in a completely different world. I really didn't think we were in Kansas anymore! Acres of sunflowers guarded large hills. The gravel road curved along the edge of one such, limestone filled hill. Cattle grazed contentedly at the top and despite the beauty of the scene, I was frustrated and beginning to think the cabin didn't exist. Suddenly, on our way down the opposite side of the steep hill, the hidden valley came into focus.<br /><br />My words can't express the awe I felt. A small, lovely cabin and matching garage seemed right at home surrounded by trees and lush grass. The large deck on the cabin's front stood sentinel overlooking a small pond festooned with paddleboats. The cabin itself had plenty of storage, yet was no more than a small family needed. Clearly, it was a get-away in the truest sense of the word. My husband was most pleased about the pool tables in the (heated and air-conditioned) second story of the garage. This was truly a place for resting, relaxing and entertaining. It had everything we needed and it brought all of us a little closer together. <br /><br />I have never seen a more compelling argument for downsizing belongings and living a richer life and I look forward to future visits.Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-90188405828399837472008-08-27T11:34:00.003-04:002008-08-27T11:47:58.847-04:00Decluttering 101I've never been much of a packrat, or at least that what I tell myself. I'm not one to hold on to items for sentimental value, or even because I may need it one day (if I haven't needed it in the past 3 years, chances are I won't need it in the next 3).<br /><br />But now that I'm in the midst of decluttering my home pre-baby, I'm finding that I have a lot more stuff than I thought.<br /><br />Fortunately, when I do go through my collection, it's usually easy for me to let go of things. The bad part is that I don't let go of nearly as much as I need to. If I want to live the minimalist life I'm envisioning in my head, I've got to get serious about getting rid of all the junk.<br /><br />And I am trying. I've even discovered a few tricks along the way.<br /><br />The number one, most useful, easiest, best trick I've found is this: instead of pulling out items you want to get rid of, pull out only the items you really want to keep, then get rid of everything else.<br /><br />I'm finding this tip especially useful for books, because I don't habitually reread books, so there are very few I actually need to have on my shelf. But if I go through looking for books to toss, I'll fall into the trap of thinking, "Oh, I liked that book all right, I think I'll keep it," or even, "I never got around to reading that book, I'll get to it eventually." WRONG. With Baby on the way, I'm about to have less time to read than ever before, so if I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, chances are I'm not going to.<br /><br />But it also works for other things. Take clothes, for example. Most of us have more clothes than we really need, and I, at least, wear only a select set of them on a regular basis, and what's more, we know what that select set is (hint: look at your laundry basket for a couple of weeks). The trick is, which ones DO you wear, not which ones do you think you might wear? That's the tough part.<br /><br />Of course there are going to be things you don't wear on a weekly basis, or seasonal items you won't wear for another few months. I'm not talking about those. I'm talking about the shirt that's slightly uncomfortable, or that makes you sweat, or that doesn't quite fit, or that you're not sure if it's really your color. All of those, out they go!<br /><br />It's not as hard as it seems, and it's actually quite liberating. I'm looking forward to getting rid of more stuff this weekend.<br /><br />After the football game, of course.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-60737155599037606122008-08-20T17:33:00.001-04:002008-08-21T10:15:12.704-04:00One Week and Counting!I guess I can officially claim to be a cloth diapering mama. I’ve been at it for one week now and I can officially say- it’s gotten easier. Am I over the learning curve? No. No. And for good measure, heck no.<br /><br />Although the process seems much easier now, I am still eons away from being an expert. I have finally stopped hearing a little voice in my head saying “you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into, just declare it a loss and put on a disposable” every time I change my baby’s diaper.<br /><br />My baby has also gotten used to cloth diapers. He seems happier with them now than before, when he was clearly trying to figure out just what the new texture and additional moisture were all about.<br /><br />Granted, I still use disposables at night. That may continue indefinitely. It works well because baby has his biggest “constitutional” in the morning. It can be kind of explosive and… never mind. It is kind of nice to get that out of the way, wrap it up and never deal with it again. (I know, except for the fact that it ends up eventually leaching into the earth and poisoning the land for future generations, but please, give me a break because I’m trying.) I also still use disposables at daycare. I just don’t know about switching them over, and too, I need to give my credit card a rest for a while.<br /><br />Current Observations-Prefolds<br />1. As I previously mentioned, get plenty of covers. Get different kinds because they fit differently and you need to learn what works best for your baby. Invest in wool- even if it’s just one cover. It really is awesome! To keep costs down, I knit my own and it’s already my “go to” cover.<br /><br />2. Buy a few different prefolds to find the best fit. If you can, try to purchase singles in a few different sizes. I had initially thought to buy a bit bigger than baby truly needed to maximize the investment, but they didn’t fit well and diapering was way more difficult and frustrating than it needed to be. Basic cotton prefolds are not terribly expensive; it’s worth it to find and buy the correct size. Both you and your baby will be much happier and it’s going to keep you from reaching for the disposable out of frustration.<br /><br />3. Be realistic about your needs. Over the weekend, I found myself washing diapers daily. I wanted to rush right to my computer and order more. When I thought it out, I realized that 5 days a week, I’m only going through 4-5 diapers a night. Two dozen diapers meet our needs just fine. If I were to go to full time cloth diapering, I would definitely order another 1-2 dozen. I should also mention I grab cloth diapers when a spit-related emergencie arise (no pun intended). We go though extra diapers that way, but they absorb so well they are a must have.Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-10337101942158661792008-08-18T16:34:00.003-04:002008-08-18T16:45:27.684-04:00And we're off!The remodeling of the dining room has officially started! Most of the walls are stripped, with the final section getting stripped either this evening or first thing tomorrow. Also tomorrow, they're coming to install our new sliding doors. Then wiring, insulation, and drywall. And THEN . . . we're off to start the nursery.<br /><br />I cannot possibly explain to you how excited I am about that.<br /><br />Also of note, there was a bit of decluttering and rearranging done. In an effort to stay away from the plaster dust during the wall destruction, my mom helped me clean out the upstairs bathroom closet. I weeded out a ton of old sheets, expired medicines, and toiletries I'm never going to use. Plus we got my makeup and other currently used toiletries moved into the closet and the vanity in the spare room/soon-to-be-nursery cleared out.<br /><br />More importantly, we moved the towels and sheets to the lower shelves in the closet, and the toxic-if-ingested stuff up and away from tiny fingers. It's won't be important for another year or so, but I figured we might as well do it now while we're at it.<br /><br />And then on Sunday, I went through my closet and the two dressers in the spare room and weeded out clothes I no longer wear. They are now packed up and in the back of my car to drop off at Goodwill. It's harder to do it at this point though, because I can't judge anything on the basis of what fits, as nothing at all fits me right now except the few new maternity items I own. But it's also easier to declutter in a way, because I have a reason to get rid of stuff and make room.<br /><br />Still left to do: go through shoes, handbags, the storage boxes under the bed, and the dresser in the master bedroom. And really, the shoes and handbags are the biggest part of that (which isn't saying a whole lot--I <em>love</em> shoes and handbags). <br /><br />With any luck, that will be done this week, because next weekend we're setting up our baby registry.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-16298315959924443982008-08-14T10:48:00.003-04:002008-08-14T10:58:39.409-04:00Cloth Diapers: Financials and Figures and Shopping- Oh My!I had been tossing around the idea of cloth diapering since my youngest was born. I have to admit, it’s only been three months, but in that time we have already spent far more money on disposable diapers than I could stand. At $17.00 per week, the expense adds up quickly. I realize that babies gradually start to need fewer diapers per day as they grow. Diaper companies realize this too; larger size diapers have fewer per pack. I’m still spending about $15-$17 per week.<br /><br /> My older two kids were in disposable diapers until they were a little over two, then I switched them to the disposable training pants. The training pants made cleanups simpler, but didn’t really do much to encourage potty-training because the children were so comfortable in them. The cost of training pants? About $15-$17 per week.<br /> <br /> Josie and JR were both considered trained at 32 months. Multiplying 32 months by 4.3 (weeks in a month) brings us to an approximate age of 137.6 weeks. Multiply that by $16.00 (the average cost of diapers a week), and you’ve spent $2201.60 just on diapers. That doesn’t include wipes- $2201.60 on poop collection alone!<br /><br /> If that number does not seem staggering to you, I need to mention that I live in a tiny town in a not hugely populated area of the Western Plains. The closest WalMart is a 70 mile drive and the closest mall is 100 miles (sobs). Buying diapers in town is fairly costly, local retailers mark them up several dollars over discount chains. Running low on diapers invariably means a trip out of town to purchase diapers, wipes and a bunch of stuff we really didn’t need but couldn’t pass up because it was a good deal. Frequently, we also eat out once or twice. Suddenly, $75 for a month supply of diapers and wipes just quadrupled. I know what you are thinking, “Buy local, idiot”, but who wants to take the easy way out?<br /><br /> So after months of comparing and researching, I decided it was time to tinkle or get off the potty and I invested $150.00 into cloth diapers. It amounted to 15 prefolds, three covers, wool yarn to make a few of my own covers, 5 diaper liners for bedtime or excursions, a Snappi and a few cloth wipes. I had the weekend to experiment with cloth diapering and overall, it went well but I am still very much in the learning curve. I did decide that the diapers I had were a bit full to fit in the covers the way I wanted, I really wanted to fold the diapers in thirds and lay them in the covers, and then just secure them when I wrapped the cover onto my baby. Unfortunately, I got the diapers so big they would not fit well in that manner. I have since ordered a dozen smaller diapers, another Snappi and a wet bag. Total investment at this point is $200.00.<br /><br /> I have been using cloth diapers at home for the whole week. Since I work full time outside of the home, I have been using a disposable diaper at bedtime, just for the convenience of guaranteed dry sheets in the morning (providing my breasts did not leak in the night). The first few evening of cloth diapering were fraught with mistakes. There were several times all three of the purchased covers were in the wash because I didn’t manage to get enough coverage to the necessary locations. But it has been getting easier with every passing day.<br /><br /> <strong>My biggest recommendation is to get plenty of covers. I would have done less diapering laundry if I had gotten just a couple more covers off the bat.</strong><br /><br /> I’m still waiting for the smaller diapers to come in, and I’m getting more proficient with the larger ones while I wait. I will still use the larger ones as a back-up to be able to space laundry out an extra day and they really do make excellent burp cloths and changing pads! Besides, he will grow into them. They are still worth every penny. (Not to mention the fact that I'm not positive I'm done having babies and I will be able to use them for another baby later.)<br /> <br /> I haven’t progressed to the point where I’m positive I’ll be doing this at daycare. I would prefer to switch over completely, but I want to have enough experience with it that I can present it to the attendants with more knowledge. I want to make it simple enough for them that it would be considered “just another diaper change” and not "a completely unfair task demanded by the dragon lady". Provided I make the switch, I would probably invest in some one-sized pocket diapers for their convenience. It would mean a pretty heft investment, so I want to make sure it will be a wise one.<br /><br /> Yes, I will still make occasional trips out of town. I would go mad if I didn’t! But hopefully I could spread them out a bit more and spend significantly less overall. If my predominant purpose for going were removed it would no longer be a “shopping excursion”, it would just be a happy family outing. We would have a lot more time for museums and events instead of trying to navigate a wobbly shopping cart through narrow aisles. My husband is already breathing easier.Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-26333226388420700722008-08-12T09:35:00.001-04:002008-08-12T09:38:25.545-04:00New RideI just got a sweet new ride!<br /><br />At various times in my life, those words would have evoked different images. In college a “sweet ride” would have made me think of my friend Doug and his shiny red Dodge Daytona Turbo Z. It was fast and it looked great with my hair. It was an incredibly cool car for college students in the mid-90s. <br /><br />Several years later, in the mountains of Colorado, my friend Shannon had a “sweet ride” with her Audi Quattro. She also had a trust fund. <br /><br />Doug’s mom is now the Lieutenant Governor of a certain state and Shannon still has a trust fund and I’m just grateful to be further up the food chain than the ’78 Ford Fiesta I drove fifteen years ago. <br /><br />My newest acquisition is a used Chrysler Town & Country. I traded off my All Wheel Drive gas guzzler for a vehicle where my 9 year-old daughter would no longer complain about her brothers’ car seats taking up too much room. I would be free of my three year-old son yelling that his sister was touching him. I would have plenty of cargo space for the stroller for my 3 month-old son, with enough space left over for diapers, wipes, toilet paper, school supplies and bargain clothes. There would be enough room left over for weeks of groceries! <br /><br />(As it turned out, “weeks of groceries” lasted approximately 5 days. I will be grocery shopping this afternoon. I can show off my vehicle locally.) <br /><br /> I love my minivan, which is good; I’m going to be driving it for a long time. I won’t even mind if they start complaining about the van. I will be able to drown them out with my steering wheel mounted audio controls!Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-19538626485099405832008-08-11T10:39:00.004-04:002008-08-18T16:46:03.449-04:00Decluttering, Part I: Baseline AnalysisIn my heart, I am a minimalist. I have only what is absolutely necessary. There is no clutter on my countertops or tables, there is only one bottle of body wash in my shower, and I don't have any clothes in my closet that I don't actually wear.<br /><br />In my reality, things are a bit different. My countertops and tables are cluttered about 3 days after I make the effort to clear them off once and for all, I have about 6 types of body wash (most of which I actually use, but none of which I would call "absolutely necessary"), and most of the clothes in my closet haven't been worn in months (if not longer).<br /><br />My heart leaps at images of clean, open spaces and sleek, crisp lines. My inbox is clear, my To Do list is short, and my desktop is as free from icons as I can reasonably make it.<br /><br />My house, however, is inhabited by two large dogs, two fluffy cats, a packrat of a husband, and hand-me-down (i.e. not in any way minimalist-looking) furniture. Not to mention any number of remodeling projects and other assorted tasks.<br /><br />And then there's me, somewhere between ready-to-throw-out-everything-I-own-and-start-over and I-don't-care-what-it-looks-like-I-just-don't-want-to-think-about-it-right-now. Throw in the standard allotment of not-enough-hours-in-the-day, work a full time job to which you commute 40 minutes to and from each day, add a baby girl due in December, and make sure that approximately nothing has been done to ready the nursery (which still needs such basics as wiring, drywall, and new windows), and you'll have a pretty good idea of where I'm at.<br /><br />Yet I still read decluttering and minimalist blogs on a mostly daily basis. I still go through spurts of throwing out boxes and bags of stuff I don't need. Occasionally I even manage to convince my husband to get rid of a few tee shirts I've never seen him wear in the 4 years we've been together, or pants that haven't fit since his college days, or the rollerblading gloves he hasn't used since high school. And in those very rare moments where the longing for a minimalist abode is so great I'm willing to give up anything, anything at all just so I don't have to have it on my conscience any longer, I'll even clear a shelf of my greatest treasure: books.<br /><br />Today is significant in that we've had to clear most of our dining room in preparation for remodeling. We're replacing a set of windows with sliding doors and adding a patio and stairs outside (so we can actually get into our yard without having to walk all the way around the garage), updating the wiring, and replacing the cracked plaster walls with drywall. I'm still undecided on whether or not to refinish the floors (they need it, but we can't really do the living room at the same time, so they won't end up matching).<br /><br />The problem with all of this is, what do we do with all of our stuff? There is simply too much of it. Our house, while not huge, is a decent size (about 1650 square feet plus a full basement), and yet there is more clutter than two relatively young people would ever have a need for. We did manage to get rid of an extra desk (technically, it's sitting on the front porch until we can figure out exactly how to get rid of it), but everything else just got shuffled around. And the china cabinet and buffet are still in the dining room because I don't have anywhere to put them in the meantime. I could not, however, manage to convince my husband to let me get rid of the "puppy couch," or the torn up, stinking, 1987-patterned bachelor couch he had long before we met that the dogs are allowed on (hence the term), even though my grandmother recently gave us a perfectly decent sectional. Both of them are still in the living room. Along with all of the furniture from the dining room.<br /><br />I'm blaming my current mood partially on my pregnancy. I'm over halfway through (22 weeks), and I feel like I haven't accomplished a single thing. Sure, I've got about $400 worth of baby clothes that various people have bought me (I myself spent only about $23 and bought exactly ONE dress), and my mom has crocheted 4 afghans and unearthed a bunch of stuff from my own babyhood, and we have finally secured the financing to start the remodeling which will start with the dining room and eventually include the nursery. But as of right now, I have not cleared a single item of my clothing from the dresser that will be the baby's. I have not begun to clean out the bathroom closet that will house my toiletries instead of the desk in the spare bedroom, which will be the nursery. I haven't bought a single diaper, or chosen a fabric or pattern for the diaper bag I intend to make, or selected a crib, or anything.<br /><br />It's all so overwhelming, and I don't know where to start.<br /><br />So I'm just picking something. Obviously, the dining room, which is waiting for the hired help (i.e. my father and brother, who actually are professional construction-ers) to show up and do their thing, is one step. As for the nursery, it will begin with the cleaning of the bathroom closet to make room for the rearranging I have to do.<br /><br />Step 1: declutter (i.e. get rid of junk I don't need).<br /><br />It begins tonight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-34858748509177217232008-08-10T07:29:00.003-04:002008-08-10T07:50:05.545-04:00And me too.I'm the other one. I'm Elisha, and I'm new to this whole parenting thing, or perhaps not quite there yet, depending on how you want to look at it. I'm currently pregnant with my first child, and due in December. (The speculation says Baby's a girl, and no, we have not yet agreed on a name.)<br /><br />I'm married to a mostly wonderful guy, Steve. We live in an ongoing remodeling project in the mountains of beautiful West Virginia with our two dogs and two cats. He's a city boy, and I'm most definitely a country girl, and right now we live within the limits of a relatively small town, so sometimes things get interesting, but we're doing our best. As an added bonus, I also work full-time outside the home.<br /><br />My primary intests, considering the impending baby, are parenting and homemaking, but occasionally I'll wander to topics anywhere from health and nutrition to designing handbags. I'm often torn between the convenience of modern options and the natural, organic, minimalist lifestyle I would love to be living. In my dream world, I would be the apron-wearing, "Leave It to Beaver"-type stay-at-home-mom, and I'd do it all while saving money and staying "green."<br /><br />But this, unfortunately, is not my dream world, so I'll just have to make do with what I've got.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739967912550835335.post-73778767116189341482008-08-08T17:40:00.001-04:002008-08-08T17:41:41.673-04:00Welcome!Have we met?<br /><br />No?<br /><br />Well, come on in, sit down and let’s visit for a while. My name is Theola. I have three kids and I’m married to my best friend, Jeff. After life in the mountains of Colorado, we moved back to the Midwest and we now live in Jeff’s hometown in Kansas. In addition to being a wife and mother, I also work full-time outside of the home. <br /><br />My primary interests are parenting and homemaking. When I say homemaking I’m not speaking in terms of the apron-wearing “Leave It to Beaver” lifestyle. I mean juggling the cooking, cleaning, laundry and decorating on top of any other obligation you have. Martha Stewart makes it sound simple and easy. Love her or hate her, I think Martha Stewart has super powers that cannot be matched by mere mortals such as myself. <br /><br />I can’t maintain my house, husband, job and children and still have enough time left over to bake bread from scratch then slather it with freshly churned butter from an organically fed dairy cow. Yesterday I didn’t even remember to remove the burp cloth from my shoulder until a co-worker commented on it, 15 minutes after dropping my kids off at daycare! <br /><br />So forget Martha Stewart. (Hey, I’m not bagging on Martha Stewart, like I said, the woman has super powers. Quite frankly, I’m scared of her.) Let’s make life a little more attainable so we can actually sit down and enjoy it. At the very least, we can get a laugh out of it!Theola Chanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14843441960679086773noreply@blogger.com1