New Baby

Here I have neglected my blog (and life) for a bit due to new developments around here.  So I'll try to fill in with a quick update about all that I've been up to as of late.

First off, the new baby I'm referring to is my new blog!  I'm keeping this blog dedicated to family life and mommy topics.  My new blog Health Nut For Life (www.healthnutforlife.org) will contain some mommy things, but also has topics related to my profession in a former life such as fitness, nutrition, general health, vegan recipes, weekly menus, etc.  It's been keeping me busy as I'd really like to see it take off and become my business.

I also started teaching Pilates classes on Sunday mornings, not that it takes up a lot of time, it's just one more thing I'm doing.  Also, my accounting class (part II) began two days ago, and it's going to be a fast pace since it's a summer course.  I really am going to try to cram it in and get done early - it's an online course so I can go at my own pace as long as I get things done on time, meaning, I can go ahead as much as life allows.

I got really fired up to go to a continuing education course in NYC the end of July.  However, third trimester has hit me really hard.  Within the last week I've started not feeling the greatest.  Maybe it's a bug, but I'm thinking it's just that I've crossed over into the final weeks of this pregnancy.  My energy level has plummeted and my joints are all over the place.  Can't even roll over in bed without my hips, back, and/or SI joints popping.  For these reasons, I decided that even though it will be hard to get to the course after Cash arrives, it won't stress me out that I might go into labor in New York.

Also I've been looking for gently used baby items.  Not planning on getting a lot of stuff for Cash because a lot of what I got for Charlette was totally unnecessary and some unused.  Therefore, I'm taking the minimalist approach this time.  I am going to change up the sleeping arrangements and get an Arm's Reach co-sleeper with an organic mattress, which I found on Craigslist.  Have been having a hard time making connections with the seller but am planning on picking it up tomorrow.  It's really a great deal, even though it isn't a color I would have picked out.  Doesn't matter if it matches our bedroom or not.  Frivolity is overrated. :)

All in all, I'm really enjoying most of the things I've taken on.  Would rather not be doing accounting right now, but it made sense to get it done while I already have the books and online codes paid for.  Just going to get it over with.

Hope all is well with everyone else!  Have a great summer!!!

Mother's Day Extravaganza

Due to the recent flooding in the Middle Tennessee area, Chris had an entire week off from work (downtown flooded and without electricity).  It was a wonderfully productive week at our house!  I have been wishing for a week's vacation in which we don't have to go anywhere, just able to stay home and get some things done.  I got my wish! Although the circumstances were not ideal obviously.

The week consisted of lots and LOTS of yardwork.  Something I love!  I trimmed the bushes, rearranged a lot of plants that were overcrowded and for the grand finale and my mother's day present:  I planted an herb garden!  Yes, I did the planting...so how was this my gift?  Well, after looking everywhere for an attractive, but economical planter for my little garden (since we don't really have yard space) and coming up short, Chris offered to build me a little raised garden box! 

Since we'll be eating what is grown in the garden, we needed some non-toxic materials for building.  We decided on cedar since it is naturally weatherproof and not treated with chemicals.  Couldn't find a good base made of natural wood, so we got some pegboard and then lined it with cardboard.

Char and Daddy measuring the cardboard

Ready to plant!

Char and Mommy watering our garden (yes we're in our PJ's)

All done!

So there you have it!  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first homegrown tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries!  We also have quite a variety of fresh herbs including lavender, basil, cilantro, mint, oregano, chives, stevia, parsley, and rosemary.  My very first herb garden!  Hooray!  And a big THANK YOU to my sweet husband for making it possible!!!

How to Dress Up a Kitchen Shelf

Here's a peek inside my home and a few simple ways to change up the decor without spending a lot of money.  My favorite way to be creative!

Okay, so since our house is on the market, I'm constantly looking for ways to spruce things up and make it more visually appealing.  Today's post is about dressing up my kitchen shelf.

A few years ago, Chris mounted some simple white shelves above our kitchen window.  Since then, I've had various decorative plates on display.  It started out with basic store-bought travel art plates.  Simple, sort of boring, but hey, at least it wasn't an empty shelf anymore.

At Christmas, I got a little creative and used my white snowflake plates with green ribbon (borrowed from my stampin' supplies) and a snowflake ornament taped to the fronts and pine cones proudly standing in front.  Also had an old homemade mini Christmas tree (from Pathfinders) as the center.  Pretty cute end result, but all things must come to an end and the holidays are no exception.

Enter my latest inspiration.  I had this picture in my mind's eye of having potted decorative grass across the shelf.  I found this really cute and quirky fiber optic grass at Bates Nursery (~$4/pot).  Also, used my everyday dinnerware as my backdrop as it matches the rest of my living room/kitchen decor.  Now, to find something to pot the grass in besides the ugly grass green plastic pots they came in.  It couldn't be any bigger though because there wasn't much clearance to the ceiling.  Dilemma.  After looking at various potting ideas, I had an epiphany!  Had just bought some black and white polka dot gift wrap for a friend's bridal shower gift.  I had a LOT left, including a narrow scrap.  We wrapped the planters with the gift wrap, taped it on and....voila!...a cheap way to add a little excitement to a kitchen shelf.

Operation Simplify

In hopes of selling our house and having a little "breathing room" when it comes to finances, I find myself daydreaming and plotting of what we'll be able to do with a little extra cash.  New car for Chris, cuter cloth diapers for our soon-arriving little boy, repaint, remodel, new decor....oh, and save up to build our dream home!  However, due to my online research addiction, I stumbled upon a few blogs (see blogroll) that talk about simplification and learning to live below your means, even-and maybe especially- if your means increase.

It got me re-thinking my hopes and dreams.  After all, it's all temporary-since when do earthly possessions increase happiness anyway?

Coincidentally, it's Earth Day, and so, I find myself making a few Earth Day resolutions to protect the health of my family, decrease financial strain, and, you guessed it, SIMPLIFY my life!  Without further adieu, here's my list (so far):

1. Go paperless in the kitchen (paperless towels, cloth napkins)-I just bought recycled paper towels, napkins, and TP yesterday....should have just gone with cloth (with exception of the TP).  Also just read a blurb about how receipts contain BPA.  May be opting out of those too!
2. Go "poo-less"!  Found some recipes for a shampoo-less hair cleaning solution (not starting this one until AFTER being a bridesmaid in a week...just in case).  Hoping this will save money, time, and give me fabulous hair (something that one bad haircut after another has made hard to come by)!  Have had a hard time finding organic, truly healthy shampoos for a reasonable price.  Enter baking soda wash, apple cider vinegar rinse.  Here goes nothin'!
3. Quit using commercial facewash and moisturizer.  I've always had temperamental skin anyway and am constantly switching to find something that I like.  Found a blog with a post about simply using a castor oil and olive oil mixture for cleansing...no extra moisturizer required!  Can also use coconut oil for eye makeup removal.  These moms are so smart!  http://simplemom.net/oil-cleansing-method/
4. Clean out closets, get rid of non-necessities, invest in some bins/baskets for organization.  Seems like I have done this a lot lately mainly due to showing our house to sell.  Was at a loss for what to do with my linen closets which are always stuffed.  Saw a cute idea for using wicker baskets/bins to separate sheets, towels, etc. and have them labeled for ease of finding what you need.  http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/08/tag-youre-it/  Not sure about the tags, but I love the basket!
5. Get more house plants!  Okay, while this one will cost some money, I think it will be worth it to have better quality air to breathe and add some green to our house.  I've been doing this already, but after reading an article about how house plants can help to detox your home, I'm ready to green it up!  http://simpleorganic.net/using-houseplants-to-reduce-toxins-and-grow-fresh-air/
6. Exercise more.  Always a struggle.  I grew up doing a lot of yardwork (manual labor :) and that was my greatest form of exercise (plus I was a kid...kids get to play for exercise!)...and I miss it!  Being in my little house in a subdivision (trying to be thankful), it's hard for me to get outside and work like I used to.  I hate exercising just to exercise.  Would much rather accomplish something along the way.  I've now committed to teaching a Pilates class for our church women, so that's a start.  Once summer hits, I will be living in the swimming pool for my aerobic exercise (and to stay cool as a large, pregnant person)!
7. Plant a vegetable and herb garden and can/freeze my own food.  While I don't really have a good space to do that here, I have a little space that I could at least get a tomato plant and have some herbs.  If we move, there will be a full-fledged garden!  Sigh.
8. Focus on my relationship with God.  When I lose focus, I start to see all the things I don't have instead of counting my blessings.  Time to regroup and re-God!  After all, He's the reason we are to take care of our planet, our bodies, and strive for heavenly instead of earthly possessions.

Life as Usual

Things have been relatively normal around here.  Something for which I'm very grateful!  Enjoying the warm weather.  Getting ready for one of my dear friend's wedding, which has been a little stressful since I didn't get my dress in until 2 days ago (the wedding's in a couple of weeks), and since I'm quickly expanding, it was a risky order.  It fits though (barely).  I could barely get it zipped, mainly due to rib cage expansion.  Hopefully I can hold my size up top for a couple more weeks so I can breathe during the wedding. :)

Charlette is growing up so quickly.  She will be 2 yrs old in 3 weeks!  Time just keeps rolling faster and faster.  Especially with this new pregnancy.  I'm over halfway through already and have hardly put any thought into it.  Unlike my first pregnancy that I seemed to dwell on constantly.

We are having a little boy this time though, so things will be different all around.  We're very VERY excited about it and happy that Charlette will soon have a little brother to show the ropes to.

Our house is on the market again (has been for a month).  It started out slow, then we had a slew of showings, and now it's slow again.  I'd rather the slowness so I don't have to constantly pick things up.  I tend to stress about the place being perfect which leads me to having Braxton-Hicks contractions and all that good stuff.  So it's really better to just get through our 3 month obligation for listing it and just give it up after that I think.  Already brainstorming on how to use our tiny space for a 4-person family.  Where I will put all the things out of the guest room closet (which will be the baby's room) I do not know.  I have a feeling there will be a lot of cleaning out, giving away, and selling of things that are not absolute necessities.

Finally, I'm all motivated to share some of my P.T. and exercise knowledge with the church women, namely the pregnant and postpartum women.  I'm trying to find a place to offer pre/post-natal exercise classes, but am not having much luck so far.  Currently waiting on the elementary school to present it to the board and see if they can accommodate.  If it all works, I will probably focus on prenatal exercises but open the class up to all women as it will address all issues of women's health....my latest research endeavor.

We'll see how it all goes.  Still trying to get some cloth diaper parties together, but my main passion is education, not sales, so would rather use a different avenue if I can and still add a little bit to our income.  Always a challenge.

With all the women's health research I've been doing, I've convinced myself that a home birth would be my preference.  Others are not so convinced, but I know how much I've researched and doubt they have done the same.  Not to mention, I've become such a naturalist since becoming a mother, that a hospital birth will not be able to meet all my birth plan expectations.  However, since insurance would not cover it, that's a huge problem.  We really don't have the money to spend, even though the charge is not as much as a hospital birth, but our out-of-pocket expense is 10x more (or at least in theory.  Our insurance keeps trying to charge us more than the plan's outlined costs).

Okay, I said things were normal around here, but re-reading all that, it sounds busy!  Guess that's good though.

Cloth Diaper Party Success

Had a great turnout for my first cloth diaper party. Thanks so much to those who attended. Nice to have such support. Will do some things differently for the next one. Live and learn. But overall I think it went well. Had too much to say and too little time. I'll make it more concise next round though....I tend to ramble when I get excited (and I'll just blame a little of it on the pregnancy brain too).

A big thanks also to my 2 sponsors:
Cloth Diaper Superstore
Abby's Lane (please comment that Angela Aitken referred you from the cloth diaper party in the Order Notes)

Both stores have a great selection and made it possible for me to have brand-new items to demo at my party. Will re-stock my inventory and have more new stuff to show and/or sell next time. And a small P.S....Cloth Diaper Superstore will custom make wet bags in any fabric she has shown OR fabric you have that you want made into a bag. Let me know if you want to do this and I can get more information and/or place your order.

A new development...I will now be taking orders at the party (and for a short time after) and deliver the products to you! I will offer a small discount for orders placed at the party or within a few days of the party if you go through me.  If there is enough interest I can do this on a regular basis (every month or every few months), even if you haven't been to a recent party.  This will cut down on shipping costs which will help keep suppliers' prices low. Think this will be less confusing than having a million links for you to check out.

If you haven't already, you're welcome to check out my other (and neglected) blog: Cloth Diaper Diaries. I started it as an adjunct to this blog but then decided to just put it all in one place. There are some old posts (about a year old) about my cloth diapering/EC at that time. Was interesting to re-read and see how far we've come.

Thanks again to my guests and looking forward to the next party already...coming soon for those of you who missed the first one or those who just want to see some new items...will keep rotating my stock so should have slightly different things at each party.

Cloth Diaper Party coming!

I've scheduled my first official cloth diaper party for March 21 at 10 a.m.

It should be a great time!  I will be talking about my experiences with cloth, types, caring for cloth, infant potty training (a.k.a. elimination communication), and answer any and all questions there may be (or find the answer if I don't know it).  There will be many diapers on display, some from my personal stash, some brand new.  I will include the most popular and highly rated brands for day and nighttime diapering.  Some will be available for purchase at the party, but to get a good stash, simply contact me to place an order.

Here are my affiliated cloth diaper sites to check out:

Cloth Diaper Superstore
Banana Peels Diapers
Abby's Lane (please comment that Angela Aitken referred you from the cloth diaper party in the Order Notes)
Kelly's Closet

I'm excited if you can't tell!  The best part is, I get to feed my cloth diaper addiction and buy all the latest and greatest in the cloth diaper world for educational purposes!  Can't wait!