Lately I have been in a groove. Things have been clicking and moving along smoothly. By just doing a few small things, I have been able to lower my stress. I have been setting out my clothes the night before, picking up all the dirty clothes/shoes/misc. items each night before bed, and keeping the dishwasher loaded and unloaded. (If my mom read this she would say, "But that is what I taught you to do!")
Just these small changes have taken some of the last minute craziness out of my life. Let me know what you do to help life run smoothly.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Working from Home
I have been working at home one day a week this year. It has been a really good experience so far. Here are some things that I have observed.
* It is really quiet in my house! Not having the office noise and co-workers to talk to makes the day very quiet. I usually turn on music to not go crazy from the silence.
* I would not be able to work 8 am to 5 pm at home with kids. There is no way a baby, toddler or pre-schooler would sit still for 9 hours. So working from home with kids would look and work very differently.
*** NO I AM NOT PREGNANT****
* Skype, cell phone, and e-mail make communicate very easy.
* I am able to throw a load of laundry in while working. I use my lunch break to clean house or cook dinner. It has made managing work and home easier.
* Working at home takes a lot of self motivation.
* It is really quiet in my house! Not having the office noise and co-workers to talk to makes the day very quiet. I usually turn on music to not go crazy from the silence.
* I would not be able to work 8 am to 5 pm at home with kids. There is no way a baby, toddler or pre-schooler would sit still for 9 hours. So working from home with kids would look and work very differently.
*** NO I AM NOT PREGNANT****
* Skype, cell phone, and e-mail make communicate very easy.
* I am able to throw a load of laundry in while working. I use my lunch break to clean house or cook dinner. It has made managing work and home easier.
* Working at home takes a lot of self motivation.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
You know it's bad . . .
You know it is bad when you have a nightmare. It's really bad when that nightmare has your biggest fear - snakes. But it is really bad when your nightmare is so realistic that you wake your husband up!
So last night I dreamed that some how a snake had gotten into our house. A big, mean, going to eat you snake. In my dream I ran to the bedroom to tell Brett about the snake and have him save me. I woke up myself up and realized that I was shaking Brett and that I was telling him there was a snake in the house.
Sadly he went back to sleep right away, I did not.
So last night I dreamed that some how a snake had gotten into our house. A big, mean, going to eat you snake. In my dream I ran to the bedroom to tell Brett about the snake and have him save me. I woke up myself up and realized that I was shaking Brett and that I was telling him there was a snake in the house.
Sadly he went back to sleep right away, I did not.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
making my own laundry detergent
I have made my own laundry detergent. It was easy and fun. I was paying around 25 cents per load and the cost of my home made detergent is about 4 cents per load. On a large bottle (96 loads) I am saving $20.16!
Here is what you do. This is a full recipe, but I only add half the water to make a concentrate.
1) Grate a bar of soap in to a sauce pan. You can choose any bar of soap. I used Ivory because that is what we had in the house. But your bar of soap is what will give you a smell.
2) Stir the grated soap into the water (about 2 cups) until it is dissolved.
3) Mix in 1 cup of washing soda into the pan. I could not find Washing Soda at Wal-Mart. I did find it at Kroger. Washing Soda is made by Arm & Hammer. It is not baking soda - WASHING SODA. This box will made many batches of laundry detergent.
4) Mix in 1/2 cup of Borax. I did find Borax at Wal-Mart. This box will last you a long time too.
5) Let the water cool down some before you pour into your container if it is a softer plastic. I used an old Tide bottle that I had rinsed out (the 96 load size). This container was about 1.5 gallons. Use a funnel to pour into your container. Put the lid on a give it a few good shakes. Fill the bottle up with tap water. Put the lid back on again and shake some more.
6) Let it sit over night. It will be "chunky". This is your concentrate. I have a smaller Tide bottle (16 loads). I will mix equal parts water and concentrate into this bottle. Always shake before pouring into the washing machine because it will settle.
This detergent will not bubble up like normal commercial detergent. It has done a great job of cleaning our clothes! The full recipe so you don't have to do any more mixing is to add 3 gallons of tap water. But I don't have a five gallon bucket to mix it in and I don't have a place to store 5 gallons.
Here is what you do. This is a full recipe, but I only add half the water to make a concentrate.
1) Grate a bar of soap in to a sauce pan. You can choose any bar of soap. I used Ivory because that is what we had in the house. But your bar of soap is what will give you a smell.
2) Stir the grated soap into the water (about 2 cups) until it is dissolved.
3) Mix in 1 cup of washing soda into the pan. I could not find Washing Soda at Wal-Mart. I did find it at Kroger. Washing Soda is made by Arm & Hammer. It is not baking soda - WASHING SODA. This box will made many batches of laundry detergent.
4) Mix in 1/2 cup of Borax. I did find Borax at Wal-Mart. This box will last you a long time too.
5) Let the water cool down some before you pour into your container if it is a softer plastic. I used an old Tide bottle that I had rinsed out (the 96 load size). This container was about 1.5 gallons. Use a funnel to pour into your container. Put the lid on a give it a few good shakes. Fill the bottle up with tap water. Put the lid back on again and shake some more.
6) Let it sit over night. It will be "chunky". This is your concentrate. I have a smaller Tide bottle (16 loads). I will mix equal parts water and concentrate into this bottle. Always shake before pouring into the washing machine because it will settle.This detergent will not bubble up like normal commercial detergent. It has done a great job of cleaning our clothes! The full recipe so you don't have to do any more mixing is to add 3 gallons of tap water. But I don't have a five gallon bucket to mix it in and I don't have a place to store 5 gallons.
I would love to know if you give this a try!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
One Sentence Prayers
I am going to try something new for awhile - one sentence prayer posts. I hope that these prayers will touch your heart and bring you closer to the Heavenly Father.
"Draw me nearer to you, Lord Jesus."
"Draw me nearer to you, Lord Jesus."
Friday, September 18, 2009
Cousins of Love
This weekend is the 2nd annual Cousins of Love and Melody Sisters weekend. My two aunts, and seven cousins, one second cousin and I will be having the ultimate girl weekend! Movie, food, pedicures, making crafts, and giggling!
Kitty update: the three cats are doing great. They are eating a lot! Tiger and Patches have jumped on to the roof of the workshop and explored around. Tiger has also learned to jump over the fence. But so far he has always come back.
Kitty update: the three cats are doing great. They are eating a lot! Tiger and Patches have jumped on to the roof of the workshop and explored around. Tiger has also learned to jump over the fence. But so far he has always come back.
Monday, September 14, 2009
THREE CATS!
This is Tiger.
Boots on the left, Patches on the right.
Boots and Patches - they are never far apart. Boots is a mamma's boy.
Tiger!We have three cats on our deck right now. Friday night we went to find some geocaches and instead found some cats. When we got out of the car to find the first cache we heard a little meow. Brett and I went to investigate and saw a little kitty head pop up out of the grass, then a second head popped up, then a third little head. Some one had abandoned a momma and her two babies at a dead end street in Maumelle. They are so skinny and had no place to stay dry.
Brett was a saint and we got Tiger and Patches (the mom) into my car. We tried and tried to catch Buttercup but she was just too scared. We had to let the two cats out of the car and leave them. I called Maumelle Animal Services, and Emergency Vet Clinic, and C.A.R.E. but no one answered.
Our hope was that C.A.R.E. would call back and come rescue them on Saturday, but they never called and we never got to talk to a real person. So Saturday afternoon Brett and I went back out there to see if they were still alive. We found them in the same place we had left them. We made a quick run to Wal-Mart, got some food and went back.
In a short time they were eating from the pile of food in front of me and we were able to get them in the car. Once they got home we let them get used to a new place. And eventually we were able to get them to come on the deck with us. Of course the food and water helped!
So now we have three cats on our back deck. Patches, the mom, is a calico cat with orange and black spots. Tiger, is a boy and is a very pretty orange striped cat with gold eyes. Buttercup is not a girl as we first thought, so she is now called Boots. Boots, looks just like his brother but a soft butter cream yellow.
We don't plan to keep Patches and Boots long-term. We hope to find a home for them or be able to get them to C.A.R.E. We do plan to keep Tiger. He is very friendly and very curious!
Brett was a saint and we got Tiger and Patches (the mom) into my car. We tried and tried to catch Buttercup but she was just too scared. We had to let the two cats out of the car and leave them. I called Maumelle Animal Services, and Emergency Vet Clinic, and C.A.R.E. but no one answered.
Our hope was that C.A.R.E. would call back and come rescue them on Saturday, but they never called and we never got to talk to a real person. So Saturday afternoon Brett and I went back out there to see if they were still alive. We found them in the same place we had left them. We made a quick run to Wal-Mart, got some food and went back.
In a short time they were eating from the pile of food in front of me and we were able to get them in the car. Once they got home we let them get used to a new place. And eventually we were able to get them to come on the deck with us. Of course the food and water helped!
So now we have three cats on our back deck. Patches, the mom, is a calico cat with orange and black spots. Tiger, is a boy and is a very pretty orange striped cat with gold eyes. Buttercup is not a girl as we first thought, so she is now called Boots. Boots, looks just like his brother but a soft butter cream yellow.
We don't plan to keep Patches and Boots long-term. We hope to find a home for them or be able to get them to C.A.R.E. We do plan to keep Tiger. He is very friendly and very curious!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Paint Paint Paint
Tonight we will finish the kitchen!!!! I am so happy because the major painting projects will be finished. Brett did an awesome job this weekend. He got on the extension ladder to peal the last bit of wallpaper off and paint that corner. I really feel like the house is "put together" and I can finally relax. Also the guest bedroom and office are about 80% unpacked. :)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Two Years - Two Months
Today is 9-8-09. Two years ago it was 9-8-07 and Martin and Ashlan said "I do". Happy two year anniversary! I love you both.
Two months ago it was 7-8-09 and Carew was born. Happy two month to the best nephew ever. I love you.
Two months ago it was 7-8-09 and Carew was born. Happy two month to the best nephew ever. I love you.
Friday, September 4, 2009
I need a new nose
I am sick. Well I am on the up side of being sick. It seems that there are forces keeping me from unpacking - sickness - helping friends move - more sickness - helping other friends move - movies - TV.
It is Labor Day weekend and we are going to try to paint the kitchen. Brett tried to install our new kitchen faucet, but rusty bolts are slowing him down. Any suggestions??
Still working to get Internet on my lap top. It hasn't be high on the list.
It is Labor Day weekend and we are going to try to paint the kitchen. Brett tried to install our new kitchen faucet, but rusty bolts are slowing him down. Any suggestions??
Still working to get Internet on my lap top. It hasn't be high on the list.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Well . . . .
There are no pictures here. I know, I promised. But sickness, work, laundry, internet problems and such get in the way. We have internet at home, but not wireless yet. So the pictures are on my lap top which is not connected to the information super highway.
Sickness seems to be my friend these days. It is time to slow down, breathe, rest and let my body heal. I need to start saying no to some things.
Other than that we are doing great. The house is slowing becoming unpacked. We got the guest bedroom furniture set up, but there are boxes filling the room. We love having our house. It is only 200 square feet bigger than our apartment, but it just feels huge. I really feel the need to have a garage sale or take a big load to Goodwill.
Oh, by they way - we are real home owners. Our dishwasher is broken and our garage door doesn't always want to work correctly.
Finally, my dear friend Laura left US soil today. She and the hubby will be spending 3 years in Japan. On one hand I am very very very sad about this. But on the other hand just is just a skpye call away. I pray for safe travel for them today.
Sickness seems to be my friend these days. It is time to slow down, breathe, rest and let my body heal. I need to start saying no to some things.
Other than that we are doing great. The house is slowing becoming unpacked. We got the guest bedroom furniture set up, but there are boxes filling the room. We love having our house. It is only 200 square feet bigger than our apartment, but it just feels huge. I really feel the need to have a garage sale or take a big load to Goodwill.
Oh, by they way - we are real home owners. Our dishwasher is broken and our garage door doesn't always want to work correctly.
Finally, my dear friend Laura left US soil today. She and the hubby will be spending 3 years in Japan. On one hand I am very very very sad about this. But on the other hand just is just a skpye call away. I pray for safe travel for them today.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Maybe, maybe not
I might get Internet tomorrow. ATT says they will flip the switch tomorrow, but I am not going to hold my breath. IF we do get Internet I MIGHT get some pictures up here. But again I am not holding my breath (and neither should you).
We have made some good progress in the house. The kitchen is 90% put together. The master bedroom only needs the mirror attached to the dresser and some major closet organization. The master bath is DONE!
My goal is by the end of the month to have the guest bedroom and office workable. I really want to spend time unpacking and analyzing what we need to keep and throw away. I know that will take some time, but it will be totally worth it. Right now I feel motivated to do a garage sale. I think that if we got some of our friends in on the action too that it would be fun and we could make some cash.
Painting might start back up in September. Right now painting feels like the most horrible thing in the world. But I refuse wake up six years from now and still not have the washer and dryer room painted!
By the way, Brett and I both feel back to 100% normal again. We never want to be that sick again, ever!
We have made some good progress in the house. The kitchen is 90% put together. The master bedroom only needs the mirror attached to the dresser and some major closet organization. The master bath is DONE!
My goal is by the end of the month to have the guest bedroom and office workable. I really want to spend time unpacking and analyzing what we need to keep and throw away. I know that will take some time, but it will be totally worth it. Right now I feel motivated to do a garage sale. I think that if we got some of our friends in on the action too that it would be fun and we could make some cash.
Painting might start back up in September. Right now painting feels like the most horrible thing in the world. But I refuse wake up six years from now and still not have the washer and dryer room painted!
By the way, Brett and I both feel back to 100% normal again. We never want to be that sick again, ever!
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