Keepin' it real

This is a post I've wanted to do for a long time. I think as women, and moms in particular, we tend to compare ourselves to others. I do this all the time, and it's never good for the self esteem. There is always going to be someone that does something better than I do. This was especially the case as I adjusted from working part time and having one child to staying home full time with two. Life gets crazy. Days fly by in a blur of laundry and baby care and feeding little mouths over and over. 

I feel much more comfortable now with this job life I've chosen. I've (mostly) accepted that all things cannot be as they were pre-kids. There are messes every time I turn around. I drive myself crazy picking them up. But that's just how I am. I know I function much better in neat, organized spaces. Clutter stresses me out. I'm a better mom if my house stays relatively clean. I know we all aren't wired that way, and it may appear that I have it all figured out. But let me tell ya, I never post pics on my blog of the constant messes that pop up (and sometimes stay) in my home. So that's what I'm gonna do today. I'm gonna keep it real. Because as fellow moms we should encourage, not compare. And we should be able to laugh at ourselves and embrace our quirks. Here are mine. 

This is an example of how I'm wired. I physically cannot have magnets or artwork on the fridge. It just doesn't work for me. I know to some of you that seems selfish, but it's just how I am. We painted a magnetic wall in the playroom where the boys can hang their art, so my kitchen stays clutter free. And I promise, my boys are still happy and functioning. :)

Also, my bed must be made every morning. With many pretty pillows. It just makes me happy so I do it.

And when my bed is neat, it makes the whole upstairs seem cleaner. 

 

However, I do not make Ty's bed for him. This drives me absolutely bonkers, but I just don't go in his room very often. He is technically supposed to make it, but it doesn't happen. So there ya go; a messy, not pretty, real photo.

My bathroom cannot have stuff on the counters. That's what drawers and cupboards are for. Plus, I need a peaceful escape from...

Yup. Here it is. The worst of my "real" photos. Our playroom on a very bad day. Hubby and I were just discussing this morning how awful it is right now. It stays pretty neat for a while, then somehow everything just explodes in there. So I close the door. This room is tucked in the farthest upstairs corner of our house, so it's easy to forget about the mess. Until I walk by to do laundry. Which is why I close the door. This works for maybe a week, then I can't sleep and I have to spend a morning in there putting everything back. And the cycle begins again. 

This is our 'bottom of the stairs basket'. Back before we had kids it was filled with pretty silk hydrangea and served no function. Now I can't live without it. All day long I'm picking up things that don't belong downstairs, so they go in the basket. Then it gets embarrassingly full like this, I walk past and pretend not to see it for a while, and finally cart the thing upstairs and find all kinds of stuff we were missing. 

But as long as my kitchen table is clear I can live with the stair basket. It's all about balance. ;) Or, well, keeping one's OCD habits to just a few areas. By the way, no children are allowed to sit on the red chairs. That's why we have the bench. I'm not a fan of the "ugly furniture until the kids move out" policy. Just another quirk. 

But then look at this. Hubby bought me this desk so I could close it up and make it look pretty when not in use. But even when I'm not sewing much it seems to always be in use. Do you like the linty bits all over the top? And the fabric scraps? And the unsewn coffee cozies? This is why I need a craft room. Then this mess can hide from the rest of the house. Creativity needs a little freedom... my type A, OCD-ness doesn't always carry over into my craftiness. Sometimes. But not always. 

Yikes. I still can't believe I'm posting this pic. I very well may chicken out and delete it before I publish this post. Our pen/junk drawer is usually messy. But at least my counters are not cluttered. That's the problem, I think.... all the stuff that gets left on the counter I stick in this drawer. Nail files, lipgloss, headphones, checkbook, hairbands, lotion, sunglasses....  I don't want to look at it so into the drawer it goes. I'll clean it out next week. Or the next. Weird how we have our hot spots like this. Please tell me you have them too. 

I vacuum my hardwoods four to five times a week. Mop them at least twice. Two to three loads of laundry every day, and each load is almost always folded and put away immediately. All shirts are hung up by category. Everything else gets put neatly into drawers. Myself, because if I let my five year old put it away, the drawers would be messy. Heck, if I let my husband put it away the drawers would be messy. And clothing drawers have to be neat. But this drawer. This drawer can be messy. Why is that? And my car. My car is always messy. Is it because I don't love my car? I don't love my toilets and they are always clean. 

Tell me about your OCD habits. And tell me what's messy in your house. Please.

And I hope you enjoyed seeing my messes. :)

Hello, spring...?

Are you there? I've been waiting patiently. Enjoying the snow. Embracing sweater and scarf weather. But it's May now and I'm ready for your much anticipated arrival. I've planted a spring garden for the first time, and what do you do? Snow on it. Twice. Please bring some of your warmth and sunshine for my poor little plants. I'd like to go for walks outside. The kids would like to play in the dirt. I'd love to dust off the barbecue, and put my outdoor cushions back on the deck furniture. It would sure be nice to wash my car and have it stay clean for more than one day.

my sad little plants

I know, it's still a bit early for our little corner of Oregon. But could you just show your face? A few more times so we know you're still there? It's been very wet and cold here. I guess Winter is just enjoying his long visit a little too much. You've overstayed your welcome, Winter! Time to pack your bags and "visit" someone else! We are ready for farmer's markets, bike rides, and a little color on our frighteningly pale faces. Mother's day lunch outside would be nice. Yard work and picnics. Gardening. Coffee and music on the front porch on lazy Saturday mornings. Bare feet. Yes, please.

I see the signs! Please tell me you're almost here! I think this year is worse than others since it's the first in a long time that we haven't traveled somewhere sunny to break up the winter, due to the Baby Who Does Not Travel Well. Also that nagging little, relatively new thing called One Income. 

Um, thanks for letting me vent. 

Cleaning schedule

Oooh. I knew that title would suck you right in. I realize I may be the only person in the entire world who is excited about this... but on the off chance I'm not, I had to share.
Earlier this month I posted about needing to better balance my time. To prioritize a bit better... I felt like having a clean house was taking precedence to playing and spending quality time with my kids. And after all, I am a stay-at-home-mom, not a stay-at-home-maid. But... I still like my house clean. And so does hubby. And if I didn't finish the things that need doing all week, I know he would end up doing them on the weekends. And that needs to be our family time. He needs to spend quality time with the boys, and enjoy his days off.
So I struggled with this. I posted about it... which often helps me at least organize my thoughts. But I got a bonus this time! A wonderful friend commented on my post telling me about her house cleaning schedule. She even listed it for me! I promptly copied it, word for word, on my little dry erase board inside my pantry. I followed it exactly for one week, the tweaked it a bit to suit my house.
It's been a full four weeks since I started this, and I can't even tell you the weight it has lifted!! I just had to tell everyone about it because it has solved so many things I struggled with, and helped me in ways I never expected.
Now each day, I know the exact things I need to do. Once those things are done, plus a few daily tasks, I am free to do anything!! Play with the kids! Do a craft or sewing project! Cook an elaborate dinner! Blog! Play with friends! Go to the park! Even just relax a bit, something I never did during the day before.
I used to feel the weight of the entire week's chores resting on me, each day. Even though the boys and I did fun stuff often, I always felt guilt that I should be home working on that huuuge list. Now having it all divided up, with just a couple things each day, I have no guilt. I know if I just do those few things, there is plenty of time in the week to get the rest of the stuff done. I don't feel the need to get ahead by doing tomorrow's chores. Getting the chores finished has never been my problem... the stuff always got done. It was just at the expense of other, more important things. But now, having a plan, I actually feel like I spend less time cleaning! And I really don't know why I didn't do this sooner. I love plans.
So thank you to my friend Teresa. You just may have saved my sanity.

Here is my schedule:
M: Vacuum downstairs, mop, dust
T: Tubs/showers, toilets, towels, garbages
W: Bathrooms, vacuum upstairs
Th: Kitchen appliances and counters, bedrooms
F: Vacuum, mop, dust, clean out car, sheets

Daily: pick up toys and clutter, dishes, spot clean (counters, table, floor under highchair), laundry- 2 or 3 loads a day (pretty much a week-long battle for me)

Then each week I pick a special project to tackle- windows, mouldings, garage, playroom, purging outgrown clothes, other "hotspots"... something I can just plug away at as the week goes by.

If this is something you struggle with too, give it a shot! And let me know how it goes! I find it so freeing. And I think it could work for anyone! Even those who work outside the home. A couple chores each evening and you could have the whole weekend free!

changes

Lots of exciting stuff going on around here!

Perhaps you've noticed the new look... three columns, new background, new owl. :) Plus the 'popular posts' section on my sidebar, which links to my most read posts. Fun, right? 

And check out sleepless in Sandy from your smartphone... I have a new mobile version which is more user friendly from your phone! About 90% of my internet time is from my iPhone or hubby's iPad, so this is handy for me!

Now here's what I'm most excited about.... 

I've finally launched the sleepless in Sandy etsy store!!!! This had been a work in progress for months. But really, a dream for way longer than that! Ever since I discovered etsy a few years ago, I've wanted to join the community of amazing artists and crafty folks there. But boy is it intimidating. I think having my coffee cozies selling at the shops here in Sandy has given me a bit more confidence to just go for it. 

So... check out the shop. I've posted a few coffee cozies and plan to post more, plus maybe some other things as I get to it! And if you're new to etsy, you must browse around. It's one of my favorite time-wasters. :) And a fabulous place for one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts! Also vintage fabric.... but that's another story.

To celebrate this exciting new venture, I've decided to do a giveaway!!! I was experimenting with a new style for my cozies, which turned out pretty cute... but it's a bit too labor intensive to sell for $5. 

Sooo, I'm giving it to one of you!

Isn't it pretty? It's the same Amy Butler fabrics I used for my Cosmo bag, but I gathered it! So it's all ruffly and girly. 

See? And it has a pearly white button. It'll fit pretty much any size cup just like my other cozies. And it's one of a kind! I'm not making any more like it. 

So there ya go: a girly, one of a kind cozy, in pretty spring colors. Just for you!

Want it? 

Just comment on this post before Monday, January 31st at 11:59pm.

I'll randomly choose a winner on February 1st and post it here. 

Make sure you leave an email address in your comment so I can contact you!

For an extra entry, become a sleepless in Sandy follower and leave another comment telling me you did!

Happy birthday Ty!

Today my first baby turns 5.

I've had a grand ole time searching through photos and reminiscing a bit... This post is way more fun for me than it is for you. But it's my blog. And it's my baby's birthday. So... on with the reminiscing. :)

May 12, 2005. I'll never forget that day. The coveted second line appeared and our lives changed forever. 

August 25, 2005. It's a boy! I knew it! This was also the day we closed on our very first house. Big day. 

January 15, 2006, 4:41am. 9lbs, 11oz. Chubby from the start!

I have never been so tired in all my life. Until the weeks and months to come....

I love this age. About 6mos here... Ty was such a sunny, happy baby!

And chubby! Love the rolls!

"Sand in my toes, walkin' with my Papa"... life is good.

What a goofy mom he has.

Good thing dad is mostly normal.

Look out ladies. 

My little dragon, almost 2 yrs old.

Watching the Portland Beavers play a little baseball

Ty's first Disneyland trip, just after his 4th birthday.

And here he is, best big brother ever, my sweet birthday boy. 

Love him. 

Such a kind, thoughtful, sensitive, creative, bright little guy. What a joy he is. 

Happy birthday Ty.

Balance

I love how the new year feels like such a fresh start.

I have big plans for this year. Well, big to me. Keep in mind having a most-of-the-time semi-organized playroom would very big. As would an always neat car. But I like the relative simplicity of my life. I chose it. Planned it that way. Gives me room to fill it with the things I really love.
So that's what I hope to accomplish this year- Lots of stuff I enjoy, less that I don't.

Sorta wish that meant I was hiring a housekeeper, but nope. No such luck. But I know there are a lot of things I can do around this house to make the cleaning easier. A few areas that could stand better organization. And the biggest thing I plan to work on is organizing my time.

I need to find better balance.

The couple weeks before Christmas got so crazy with sewing projects and shopping to finish, and the overwhelming and surprising coffee cozy sales really threw a wrench in my plans. I felt scrambled and unable to prioritize- and my house suffered! I realized I need to organize my time a bit better.

I know when I'm old I'll look back fondly on these sweet years home with my babies... the time together, raising them and just having fun with them. I want them to have those memories too. I don't want them to say, "Mom was great, but she was always too busy to play. Always sewing, always cleaning, always in the middle of some project...". But I think that's how it's been!

So how do I find the right balance between the things I want to do and the things I have to do? The kid time and the grown-up time? The house cleaning and the having fun?
I've struggled with this off and on since I left my beloved job outside the home and took on the most fulfilling yet frustrating job I've ever had. I kept telling myself it's just because I'm new to this SAHM thing, I'll get it figured out. But it's been almost 18 months since I left work and I'm still trying to figure it out!

I like my house clean. I don't like clutter. I like to cook meals for my family. I don't like fast food. I love always being in the middle of a project. Crafting and sewing. Blogging. Visiting with friends. I love to play with my kiddos, but always feel guilty when playing if there are chores to be done. And there are always chores to be done! Right mamas? Yet when I'm doing chores I feel as though I should be doing something fun with the kids!

I absolutely love staying home. Best thing I've ever done, best decision we've ever made. I'm eternally grateful to my hubby for supporting this dream of mine. So I want to do it well!

Tell me your secrets! How do you balance your time? Do I need a detailed, daily schedule? I like structured days, but need some flexibility! All you seasoned, experienced mamas, please share your tips.
Thanks. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

My family's Thanksgiving tradition is to watch 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' every year, sometime before Thanksgiving day. Without the children, of course. Mostly due to the one particular scene at the rental car counter. If you haven't seen this movie, it's dated but hilarious! We have so many inside jokes and quotes from that movie. 

I just wanted to share a few specific things that I'm feeling very thankful for this year. Cliche`, yes... but this is my blog so I can be cheesy if I want. :)

Every day (even long days with cranky kids) I feel so blessed to get to stay home and raise my children myself. I love the time with them, I love cooking for my family every day, I love spending time at Ty's school, and having the time to do the things I always wanted to do (like crafts! and this silly blog!).

I am so incredibly thankful for my amazing husband, who works so hard for us. Even though things have been frustrating for him at work because of the economy, he still puts his all into it. He finds ways to be creative and keep it fun. He supported my dream of being a stay-at-home mom, and sacrifices constantly so we can make it happen. 

I am overwhelmingly thankful for my healthy, happy, beautiful boys. What a blessing from God. They keep me humble, make me crazy, and inspire me to be a better person. They make every day an adventure, they make me laugh, they keep me young. 

I am thankful that my entire family lives within about a 30 mile radius. Two sets of grandparents, parents, tons of aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins' kids (second cousins? I never can figure that out...), in-laws, nephews and niece! I can't imagine being separated from my family by distance, and feel so blessed that we can see each other anytime.

I am thankful for my health, my God, my home, my friends... but also for small things like hobbies I enjoy, great food, a little snow, Christmas music, and funny movies. 

Happy thanksgiving to you and yours!

Laundry Detergent Challenge: Recipe

Alrighty folks, here is the promised recipe for the dry laundry detergent (click here to read more about this challenge). I just finished making a batch myself and it was super easy. Except for the cramped hand from all the grating!!

Gather your ingredients:

Fels Naptha soap

Borax

Washing Soda

Grate the soap using a fine grater

Ugh, taking a break... 

Done!

Then pour it into your container.

(the recipe will yield about 4 cups, so choose one large enough)

Add one cup washing soda...

And one cup borax...

Then shake it up!

My borax was a bit clumpy, so I had to stir it with a fork.

For a front-loading washer, you would want to use about 1 Tablespoon per load, and for a top-loader you would use 2 Tablespoons. I tried to make a little measuring cup to put inside, but couldn't find my sharpie!

So I wrote the instructions on the lid, and also added the recipe. Since these donations will go to struggling families, maybe knowing how to make more of this inexpensive homemade detergent can benefit them in the future.

Ok, simple as that!! I've only made this one batch so far, but have lots of my borax and washing soda left, so I just need to go pick up a few more bars of Fels Naptha to make more. Then I will be taking it to My Father's House! Can't wait. 

Sooo, about that giveaway...

Here are the details:

Comment on this post once you've made your detergent and donated it. (I'll link to it on my sidebar so you can find it again later)

Become a Sleepless in Sandy follower for an extra entry, just leave another comment telling me you've done so

Be sure to leave an email address where I can reach you if you win!

Contest will close on Thanksgiving, November 25th, at 6pm (that gives you almost 2 weeks, you can do it!)

Winner will be chosen at random on Friday, November 26th 

I'll email the winner and post it here that afternoon!

Winner receives:

4 movie tickets to Regal Cinemas 

and a reusable sandwich wrap

and a coffee cozy!

Not to mention that warm fuzzy feeling and the know-how to make your own detergent!

A fun challenge, and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Ok, I have a super fun thing to share today!

Let's call it a 'giving back' challenge:

I like to come up with ways to help those less fortunate, but usually can't afford to make big donations to the causes dear to my heart. So I have to get a bit creative. I used to be really on top of couponing, and got a lot of free and very cheap groceries and household items that I could donate, but I've been really slacking lately. Recently my husband mentioned a local organization called My Father's House, which is a family homeless shelter in Gresham, and apparently they are in great need of food and household product donations.
 They also need laundry detergent.
This got the wheels turning... I asked him to verify if they could accept homemade detergent and they can!!
That I can do!!
So, here is my plan:

Several of my friends, some of Mike's co-workers and I are purchasing the ingredients for the dry laundry detergent recipe I originally found on My Frugal Lifestyle. I've only made the liquid myself, but have wanted to try the dry- and I think it would be easier for this purpose. Then in the next week or so, we all will be making the detergent (as few or as many batches as we can!) and taking it to the donation center at this local charity.

Here is my challenge to you:
Let's all do it!!
Go pick up these three ingredients at your local grocery store, plus a container with a lid to put it in (like a food storage container):
20 Mule Team Borax (one box is enough for about 9 batches)
Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (1 box is enough for about 6 batches)
Fels Naptha soap (1 bar per batch, so buy extra if you want to make more)

I've found these at both Winco and Fred Meyer (Kroger), so hopefully most grocery stores will carry them also.

The great thing about this is it is soooo cheap! One batch costs under $2, and will yield around 64 loads, or even more in a front-loading machine. That's around 3 cents (or less) per load. So much cheaper than store-bought! I can donate a lot more homemade detergent than I could if I had to go buy it.

So, get your ingredients ready, and I'll be reposting the recipe in the next couple days. Then make up a few batches and bring them to a shelter or organization near you (but be sure they can accept homemade).

Here's the fun part: come back here (I'll add a link to my sidebar) and comment to let me know you participated, and you'll be entered to win my first ever giveaway!!! 4 Premier Movie Tickets for Regal Cinemas, PLUS a crafty creation of my choosing!

I'm super excited about this! Let's do a small thing to help these families and have a bit of fun at the same time.

I'll post more details about the giveaway when I post the recipe, so be sure to check back soon!

Edit: Click here for giveaway details and detergent recipe!

What I wish I learned in school

Hubby and I were discussing this the other day. I expressed my fear of Ty one day bringing home math that I can't remember how to do... I say 'one day', however I imagine this is likely in the near future. Perhaps 2nd grade. Math was not my thing.
Then it occurred to me that I don't remember how to do it because I don't use it. How many of us really use algebra on a day to day basis? Or even long division? I have a nice, handy calculator on my iPhone that takes care of those daily math challenges, such as halving recipes, or calculating sale prices.
This got me thinking about the stuff I do use on a day to day basis. The stuff I wish I had learned years ago instead of having to figure out on my own. So here is my somewhat complete list of classes I wish I had in high school.

1. Basic yard care- I never learned how to mow a lawn. I'm mostly thankful for this. But I also didn't know you had to deadhead rhododendrons every year. If I'd known this, I may not have talked Mike into buying our first house. The one with at least 4 giant rhodies in the yard. To this day I hate those things.

2. Laundry 101- Yes, it's true... I'm ashamed to admit I never did a load of laundry until my parents went out of town for 2 weeks late in high school and I ran out of clothes. I think Mike had to come over and teach me. I'm sure this is just because my mom, like me, is a control freak. My boys will probably never learn either.

3. Interior painting- Ok, I am awesome at this. Not ashamed to brag a little. I can cut in without tape like nobody's business. However, some people are not awesome at it and we should all learn so maybe there would be fewer stark-white walls in the world.

4.  Garage sale organization and execution- I love garage sales. I love shopping them, and I love having them. It's like playing store. I price everything with neat tags using a tagging gun. I use lots of tables with tablecloths and organized merchandising. No piles of junk on the lawn. Stuff is cleaned first. I hang all nice clothes for easier browsing. I have an organized bookkeeping system and always balance our cash box after the sale. But I've been to sales that are just a mess. The control freak in me wants to take over and reorganize peoples' sales for my own shopping pleasure.

5. Um, grammar? Perhaps some of us could use a little more of this subject? And maybe some more work on spelling? Preventative is not a word. There, their and they're are all different for a reason. Marshmallow is not spelled marshmellow. And it's 'supposed to', not 'suppose to'. Ok, end rant.

6. Parenting! Good grief, I could use some help on this. I imagine most high school students will end up as parents. Hopefully later, but sometimes sooner. A nice, printed manual would be great. And a trouble-shooting guide I could hang in my pantry.

7. Basic car care- My husband is not a car guy. He likes cars, sure. But he doesn't work on them. Nor do I. Nor do I really want to. However, it would be nice to go into Jiffy Lube and not get completely taken advantage of because the sales guy tells me I need 6 different filters plus this service and that service. All of a sudden I've spent $200 on an oil change and I have no idea why. I'm very thankful for a new friend who's husband is a car guy. He has saved me countless times. We all need someone like him, or perhaps just some basic car knowledge so we don't get ripped off.

These classes would have been much more useful than all that silly math. And chemistry. And I get (and support) the concept of physical education, but did we really have to play basketball so much? And why does everyone assume that if you're tall, you must be able to play well?

Wow. Anyone still there? What classes do you wish you had?

Ten random facts...

about me!

I read a very entertaining post like this over at make happy and thought it looked like fun! So here ya go, my top ten quirks.

1. I can't stand soda. Of any kind. I've choked down maybe 5 sips in my entire life. Also on this subject, I can't go anywhere without a big bottle of cold water-- I drink almost 2 gallons a day. I never knew this was weird until just recently.
2. I also used to believe that most people knew how to spell and use basic grammar-- until I joined facebook. :)
3. Cleaning out the fridge is my very least favorite chore. The rest I really don't mind. If it wasn't for my husband I would most likely have science experiments running rampant in the back of my fridge.
4. I've used the dishwasher in my house maybe 5 times since we moved in. 2 years ago. I so prefer to hand wash.
5. When eating a meal, I finish each food before moving on to the next. I also thought this was normal until just recently. Anyone else do this?
6. My birthday is 9/11.
7. I am currently hating almost every single thing about my living room and trying desperately to come up with a new plan. A new cheap plan.
8. My absolute favorite people to hang out with are my husband and my parents. Not always in that order. :) This makes me feel very blessed!
9. On our honeymoon, the airline lost our luggage and we didn't get it back for 2 days. On the way home, they lost it again.
10. I tend to get very passionate about things I believe in-- this is one of my least favorite things about myself, and also one of my favorite.


Tell me your quirks!!

The great plastic bag debate

"An island of trash twice the size of Texas...."

"90% of this trash is plastic bags that never biodegrade..."

"More than 267 species die every year due to plastic in our oceans...."




Stats from Environment Oregon about The Great Pacific Clean-up: an effort to ban plastic bags at retailers in Oregon in order to stop contributing to this 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch'.

I tend to avoid the news a bit. I'm a little ashamed to admit that, because I believe in the importance of staying aware of current events. But I'm also a mom who loses far too much sleep worrying about the awful stuff I hear on TV. And luckily, I have a husband who is a news/current events/pop culture junkie and keeps me abreast of the important stuff. And every now and then something really strikes a cord and I feel the need to learn more. This is one of those issues.

I hadn't heard about this garbage patch until some young ladies from Environment Oregon came knocking at my door, asking for contributions to their cause, and trying to educate the public about this plastic bag problem. I checked their website as soon as they left and was saddened by what I read, but inspired that someone is trying to create change. My husband has been emailing me links to the latest news articles dealing with this campaign (this way I don't have to read all the articles about crazy people doing awful things to children and animals), and I was very excited to learn that Portland-area Fred Meyer stores are doing a trial ban on the plastic bags!! It will begin August 1st, and paper bags will still be available, but they are encouraging bringing your own reusable bags.

This is so easy, people! The bags are around $1 each. Buy one each time you buy groceries and you'll have plenty in no time! Most people I know are already doing this; I've been doing it for years. It's such a simple, inexpensive step we can ALL take to keep this garbage pile from growing. Start small!


Also, and a bit off the subject, but I recently read that Americans throw out 16,000,000,000 (yes, thats billion) disposable diapers each year. Which take 500 years to decompose. Consider cloth! It's easier than you think! And will literally save you thousands! Just sayin'. :)

Why I Blog

Hello blog, I've missed you.

This past week has had me pondering the purpose of this blog.

And my conclusion? The short answer is I feel like I can talk to other adults about stuff that interests me.
The long answer...
I've only been a stay-at-home-mom for just under a year. I'm very new to this crazy, busy, always rewarding and often frustrating full-time "job". But I love it more than I ever thought I would. I cut back to working part-time after Ty was born, so I got a small taste of what it's like to spend the days doing kid stuff, and I was hooked. It was a long-term goal for us... it took a few years to pay off all debt but the house, cut back on tons of expenses, and learn to live on a lot less. But when I was eight months pregnant with Beckham and it was finally time to quit my almost 10-year job, I felt so conflicted! I really LOVED it- loved my boss, loved my co-workers. It was a tear-filled and bittersweet day for me when I left. And I still miss it. I feel very lucky that I get to fill in occasionally, visit whenever I want, and stay in touch with my little work "family".
But after several months of being home, I was missing one thing the most: going to work each day and chatting about idle, mundane details of life with my friends. What we made for dinner. How our diets were going. Funny things the kids said. Ideas for saving money. Crafts. Scrapbooking. Sports. Current events. Television shows. Stuff that interested us, but nothing important enough to call each other up and share.
So I sat on the idea of a blog, felt silly about it, thought it seemed a bit self-indulgent. Which it totally is. But it's the outlet I desperately needed. Nothing here is life-changing or even very important. But it's important to me, and I want to share it. So that's my answer.  :)