Mornings when daddy is home are always fun. He pretends he is letting me sleep in by retrieving our children when they awake and throwing them into our bed where he promptly buries himself under the covers and attempts to go back to bed.
These morning bed sessions usually have some pretty sweet stories of sisters loving so nicely on each other, mommy or daddy being smothered in kisses, or tales of elaborate dreams of castles and M & M's being told. Occasionally they go a little more like this:
A sleepy face Amelia crawled into our bed and snuggled deep under the covers between daddy and I. She rolled over and grabbed my face and kissed me only to quickly pull away and tell me, "Your breaths is stinky. You need to get them out of there."
Laughing and burying myself deeper beneath the covers I tried to close my eyes again.
"I got rid of my boogers," Amelia announced proudly.
"You did what?! Where did you get rid of them?!" I was wide awake now.
"They were in my nose and they were stuck in there and I couldn't get them out," she continued to tell her tale with the full arm-flailing, hand-talking glory.
"When that happens you get a tissue. You don't use anything else to get them out." I scolded. "When did you get them out?"
"I was just laying in my bed and it was boinging on my fingers," she announced, wide-eyed with her fingers making a pinching motion.
Sitting straight up in bed, I was determined to find out the placement of said 'boinging things.' There was no going back to sleep now, only the innate desire to run far from this booger covered child lying beside me on my pillow.
"Where are they now?" I asked.
Proudly Amelia opened her mouth wide and with both hands inserted her pointer fingers deep into her mouth.
"You ate them?!? Amelia Ann, that is disgusting!"
"Ok, sorry mom. I'm hungry, look outside it's morning. Let's get up."
May this story come back to haunt you, Amelia, as it will me when I lay down on my pillow tonight.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Finding Home Sweet Home
The husband and I are soooo excited about purchasing our first home.
We started by browsing real estate websites then thought, "Oh no, what if we get all excited about these houses and then find out we can't get one?!"
The horror!!
So we got smart and got pre aprroved (no thanks to USAA, I'll save that rant for another day.) and really started stalking houses on the internet. So many things to take into consideration. There are lots of houses out there and each has something you could like about it. (Except split levels. I cannot find anything to like about them . It may be because I refuse to give them my time due to the fact they all look alike and the garage is all you see!)
Where did we want to live?
Where would our kids be going to school?
What would we be doing with our time there?
Of course living close to the husbands work would be convenient, but do we want to live in the burbs? The thought of a quaint house on some acreage to create our own little farm makes my heart beat a little faster, but is the husband up for joining me on this ambitious endeavor?
After driving through neighborhoods and seeing the homes for sale, the shopping areas, the schools and discussing our dreams rather than our expectations we think we are leaning towards our own little homestead. My hopes are high we will find the perfect place to move our family and I hope the process is painless!
Meanwhile my pintrest board is filling up with daydreams...
Saturday, March 2, 2013
If Only I Could Live in a Dream
I have stacks of beautiful fabrics to make clothes, quilts, and anything pretty with.
I have soft yarn in bright fun colors for scarves, leg warmers, and lovey friends.
I have books filled with great stories of adventure, tragedy, and delightful recipes.
I have bulbs and seeds enough to fill a yard with life.
I have a husband and two children and a house to tend to.
If only I could live in my daydreams, I would be living on my farm, feeding my family delicious recipes from those books with the foods I had grown, surrounded by all the beautiful handmade things I had created for our home. I would be sitting on the porch seeing getting lost in a good book while the girls ran and played in the yard. If only I could live in a dream.
I have soft yarn in bright fun colors for scarves, leg warmers, and lovey friends.
I have books filled with great stories of adventure, tragedy, and delightful recipes.
I have bulbs and seeds enough to fill a yard with life.
I have a husband and two children and a house to tend to.
If only I could live in my daydreams, I would be living on my farm, feeding my family delicious recipes from those books with the foods I had grown, surrounded by all the beautiful handmade things I had created for our home. I would be sitting on the porch seeing getting lost in a good book while the girls ran and played in the yard. If only I could live in a dream.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
My Adventure in Making Laundry Soap
Note: This is not a 'how-to', just the story of my adventure. And oh what an adventure it was...
In an attempt to be frugal and prolong staying at home with my first born, I decided to make my own laundry soap. I got a recipe from my sister who had recently made some and off to the store I went with my list in hand. I slaved over my cheese grater, shaving bar after bar of soap, and mixed up an enormous batch of powdered detergent.
So excited to try it out, I dumped a scoop in the washer with my clothes and let it do it's thing. When the wash stopped I switched the clothes over and as I did I could hear the little bits of soap hit the floor. FAIL. It didn't break down at all in the wash! I tend to wash most everything in cold water, as it's cost effective so I figured that was the issue. I washed the next load in warm water, hoping it would be better, but it was only slightly so. I grabbed my trusty store bought soap and commenced laundering as usual.
My lovely jar of soap sat perched on the shelf above the washer (for a the better part of a year), only being used when we would run out of detergent. Finally I decided I could not let all this soap go to waste and I made myself use it. The only way I could was to place a scoop of it in a jar, fill it with hot water and run around the house like a crazy person shaking it until it had somewhat dissolved, and then add it to the wash.
I had thought about trying to make it into liquid soap but hadn't tried. Then I stumbled upon this idea on pintrest. Whipped soap?! Genius! How easy would this break down in the wash?! I glanced at the ingredients and the how to and figured I'd give it a go. I couldn't find the original recipe I used, but I remembered the fels naptha soap, washing soda, and borax (which were the same as in the new recipe) so I went to work sifting the soap shavings out of the rest of the powder. (SUCH A PAIN! But I didn't want to waste all these ingredients!)
After hours of prepping and fussing children to get my kitchen kid-free and ready, I began to melt the soap. Hello progress! I mixed the first batch (I had to do three because I made soap for a year the first time. Hindsight, I probably should have started small and decided if I even liked it!) and poured it into my jars. (Something to keep in mind: heat your jars in hot water before you try to fill them with your hot soap!) Three batches and an eternity later, my jars sat cooling on the counter.
I cleaned up the first mess and allowed the jars to cool as directed. Once they were cooled I got out the trusty blender. (The best thing I learned from the whipped soap post was a mason jar fits onto the blender. This is going to come in so handy sometime!) I whipped the soap as directed but my jars still weren't full so I decided to combine them. I tightened the lids on, cleaned up the mess and sent out the all important picture message to my sister showing off my hard work.
Later that night, after the babies were in bed and my husband and I had just finished eating dinner, I decided to show off my days labor. As I went to pick up a jar my husband noted that the lid was bulging. As I went to pick it up there was a loud "POP" followed by soap flying everywhere. I was on the floor, laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face. It scared me so much I was doing the nervous laughter thing that he never seems to know how to handle.
Being the good husband that he is, we went jar by jar releasing the lids and scooping out some of the soap, leaving the 1 1/2" space at the top that was initially there. Then clean up began, and oh what a mess there was. I would wipe the counter clean and go rinse the wash cloth in the sink only to turn around and see the counter top a chalky white again. Once everything was fianlly free of soap I neatly lined my jars up along the counter and labeled each jar. Success.
The next morning I fixed breakfast and sat down to eat. As I did I noticed there was one of the jars that appeared to be leaking down the side. I went to pick it up and look at it and as I touched it, the lid shot off and the entire kitchen wall was covered in soap. As I began to look at the jars many of the lids were bugling. REALLY?? Once again I started the process of releasing each lid and scooping out the soap, this time leaving 2 1/2" space at the top. Once again I cleaned and re cleaned the kitchen.
Determined to figure out why this was happening I googled the issue. Surprisingly nothing came up. (Further proof that people are merely pinning and not trying things...geez people, where were you on this one?) The only thing even mentioned was that if you added oxy clean it could happen. I know I didn't use oxy clean, but what did I use? I looked again for the original recipe to no avail. I did find this one which was similar. Then I remembered.... I put baking soda in it. Oops! So now I'm left with exploding laundry soap. An entire years worth. Stored in jars in a tightly sealed Rubbermaid tote. Hope it cleans well!
If I ever do have to make this again I'm defiantly going with the Whipped Laundry Soap recipe. I love that it's super concentrated so it can take up little space and it's very cost effective! Plus, apparently if I make it correctly and don't just wing it, it won't explode!
In an attempt to be frugal and prolong staying at home with my first born, I decided to make my own laundry soap. I got a recipe from my sister who had recently made some and off to the store I went with my list in hand. I slaved over my cheese grater, shaving bar after bar of soap, and mixed up an enormous batch of powdered detergent.
So excited to try it out, I dumped a scoop in the washer with my clothes and let it do it's thing. When the wash stopped I switched the clothes over and as I did I could hear the little bits of soap hit the floor. FAIL. It didn't break down at all in the wash! I tend to wash most everything in cold water, as it's cost effective so I figured that was the issue. I washed the next load in warm water, hoping it would be better, but it was only slightly so. I grabbed my trusty store bought soap and commenced laundering as usual.
My lovely jar of soap sat perched on the shelf above the washer (for a the better part of a year), only being used when we would run out of detergent. Finally I decided I could not let all this soap go to waste and I made myself use it. The only way I could was to place a scoop of it in a jar, fill it with hot water and run around the house like a crazy person shaking it until it had somewhat dissolved, and then add it to the wash.
I had thought about trying to make it into liquid soap but hadn't tried. Then I stumbled upon this idea on pintrest. Whipped soap?! Genius! How easy would this break down in the wash?! I glanced at the ingredients and the how to and figured I'd give it a go. I couldn't find the original recipe I used, but I remembered the fels naptha soap, washing soda, and borax (which were the same as in the new recipe) so I went to work sifting the soap shavings out of the rest of the powder. (SUCH A PAIN! But I didn't want to waste all these ingredients!)
After hours of prepping and fussing children to get my kitchen kid-free and ready, I began to melt the soap. Hello progress! I mixed the first batch (I had to do three because I made soap for a year the first time. Hindsight, I probably should have started small and decided if I even liked it!) and poured it into my jars. (Something to keep in mind: heat your jars in hot water before you try to fill them with your hot soap!) Three batches and an eternity later, my jars sat cooling on the counter.
I cleaned up the first mess and allowed the jars to cool as directed. Once they were cooled I got out the trusty blender. (The best thing I learned from the whipped soap post was a mason jar fits onto the blender. This is going to come in so handy sometime!) I whipped the soap as directed but my jars still weren't full so I decided to combine them. I tightened the lids on, cleaned up the mess and sent out the all important picture message to my sister showing off my hard work.
Later that night, after the babies were in bed and my husband and I had just finished eating dinner, I decided to show off my days labor. As I went to pick up a jar my husband noted that the lid was bulging. As I went to pick it up there was a loud "POP" followed by soap flying everywhere. I was on the floor, laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face. It scared me so much I was doing the nervous laughter thing that he never seems to know how to handle.
Being the good husband that he is, we went jar by jar releasing the lids and scooping out some of the soap, leaving the 1 1/2" space at the top that was initially there. Then clean up began, and oh what a mess there was. I would wipe the counter clean and go rinse the wash cloth in the sink only to turn around and see the counter top a chalky white again. Once everything was fianlly free of soap I neatly lined my jars up along the counter and labeled each jar. Success.
The next morning I fixed breakfast and sat down to eat. As I did I noticed there was one of the jars that appeared to be leaking down the side. I went to pick it up and look at it and as I touched it, the lid shot off and the entire kitchen wall was covered in soap. As I began to look at the jars many of the lids were bugling. REALLY?? Once again I started the process of releasing each lid and scooping out the soap, this time leaving 2 1/2" space at the top. Once again I cleaned and re cleaned the kitchen.
Determined to figure out why this was happening I googled the issue. Surprisingly nothing came up. (Further proof that people are merely pinning and not trying things...geez people, where were you on this one?) The only thing even mentioned was that if you added oxy clean it could happen. I know I didn't use oxy clean, but what did I use? I looked again for the original recipe to no avail. I did find this one which was similar. Then I remembered.... I put baking soda in it. Oops! So now I'm left with exploding laundry soap. An entire years worth. Stored in jars in a tightly sealed Rubbermaid tote. Hope it cleans well!
If I ever do have to make this again I'm defiantly going with the Whipped Laundry Soap recipe. I love that it's super concentrated so it can take up little space and it's very cost effective! Plus, apparently if I make it correctly and don't just wing it, it won't explode!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Hallway Play House
We live in a rather small house so when it comes to places to play and for toys our options are limited. Most of the girls toys are in the laundry room which is also the pantry. It make things interesting. (I find many random items stashed away with the canned goods.)
I knew the girls would love a play house and I spent many hours drooling over some pretty amazing ones courtesy of pintrest, but none would be affordable/practical/fit anywhere inside or outside of our home. I started to think of ideas that would be more tent-like that ended up paring down to this:
A hallway play house. An easily put up and taken down, single panel curtain, held in place with tension rods. When put in place, it closes off the laundry room and transforms it into a playhouse.
We surprised the girls with it on Christmas and they love it!
I knew the girls would love a play house and I spent many hours drooling over some pretty amazing ones courtesy of pintrest, but none would be affordable/practical/fit anywhere inside or outside of our home. I started to think of ideas that would be more tent-like that ended up paring down to this:
A hallway play house. An easily put up and taken down, single panel curtain, held in place with tension rods. When put in place, it closes off the laundry room and transforms it into a playhouse.
We surprised the girls with it on Christmas and they love it!
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Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Birthday Week 2013
Today officially ended birthday week 2013.
As I'm getting older I figure the only way to make tacking on another year acceptable is to have a week long celebration. I don't celebrate half birthdays (ahem...Tracey) and I won't continue to turn 29 from every birthday from now until I'm 40, unlike my mother (seriously, do you know how hard it got to remember how old she was really turning?!) I will however use my birthday week as an excuse to spend time with my family and friends, eat good food, and do fun things!
I knew it would be sad to see it end, no longer can I use the excuse "It's still your turn to change the diaper because it's my birthday week." (My husband plays along so nicely with my silly antics.)
A successful birthday week it was, though! I'm pretty sure I packed on a few pounds due to excessive eating. (I think I may have eaten something chocolate every day along the way.) I got to celebrate with some of my favorite people and I happened to rake in some pretty sweet gifts too.
I found these amazing books at a local antique mall. (Happy birthday to me!)
And I plan on making this amazing swim suit with the pattern, circa 1947.
My husband got me this box I was swooning over at Hobby Lobby to put all my buttons in.
My mother-in-law surprised me with this mirror that I saw and fell in love with (also from the antique mall.) I want to paint it but I'm not sure what color. I need my farm house already so I can pick out a color pallet!
And today I got to rummage through my aunt's old things and bring home these treasures that used to belong to my grandmother.
A quilt she had made.
Vintage Vera Neumann napkins.
And this Cranberry Delaware Early American Patterned Glass berry serving set. I kind of love it!
I think I may have gotten spoiled!
As I'm getting older I figure the only way to make tacking on another year acceptable is to have a week long celebration. I don't celebrate half birthdays (ahem...Tracey) and I won't continue to turn 29 from every birthday from now until I'm 40, unlike my mother (seriously, do you know how hard it got to remember how old she was really turning?!) I will however use my birthday week as an excuse to spend time with my family and friends, eat good food, and do fun things!
I knew it would be sad to see it end, no longer can I use the excuse "It's still your turn to change the diaper because it's my birthday week." (My husband plays along so nicely with my silly antics.)
A successful birthday week it was, though! I'm pretty sure I packed on a few pounds due to excessive eating. (I think I may have eaten something chocolate every day along the way.) I got to celebrate with some of my favorite people and I happened to rake in some pretty sweet gifts too.
I found these amazing books at a local antique mall. (Happy birthday to me!)
And I plan on making this amazing swim suit with the pattern, circa 1947.
My husband got me this box I was swooning over at Hobby Lobby to put all my buttons in.
My mother-in-law surprised me with this mirror that I saw and fell in love with (also from the antique mall.) I want to paint it but I'm not sure what color. I need my farm house already so I can pick out a color pallet!
And today I got to rummage through my aunt's old things and bring home these treasures that used to belong to my grandmother.
A quilt she had made.
Vintage Vera Neumann napkins.
And this Cranberry Delaware Early American Patterned Glass berry serving set. I kind of love it!
I think I may have gotten spoiled!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
One is the Magic Number
Some may say that one is the loneliest number, I am convinced it is a magic number. It seems so anyway. Marinn has always been a lot little needier than her big sister ever was. It made for quite a first year with her in our lives. However, since turning one Marinn has become a much more independent child.
It's magical.
I feel as though she was visited by a fairy godmother who waved her wand and dusted some magical thing over her.
I can wear pants without a belt because there are no little hands tearing them off because I am no longer dragging her behind me as I do each task. There are no snot marks on my knees, as I am no longer the human Kleenex. There are no late night screams beckoning me into the the girls' room late at night. There are no sad faces smashed against the glass of the front door if I take the trash to the curb.
It only took a year, but I have gotten a full nights sleep for weeks straight!
It's so exciting, I don't really know what to do with myself.
I have had time to clean my house, play with the girls, fold laundry (not just pile in back into a laundry basket) AND do something leisurely like read or sew. I even took a bath the other night and it wasn't just to hide from screaming children refusing to go to bed.
Clearly this is going to be a good year. Much needed after the "fun" of last year. I feel so accomplished when I realize we all survived, no worse for the wear.
It's magical.
I feel as though she was visited by a fairy godmother who waved her wand and dusted some magical thing over her.
I can wear pants without a belt because there are no little hands tearing them off because I am no longer dragging her behind me as I do each task. There are no snot marks on my knees, as I am no longer the human Kleenex. There are no late night screams beckoning me into the the girls' room late at night. There are no sad faces smashed against the glass of the front door if I take the trash to the curb.
It only took a year, but I have gotten a full nights sleep for weeks straight!
It's so exciting, I don't really know what to do with myself.
I have had time to clean my house, play with the girls, fold laundry (not just pile in back into a laundry basket) AND do something leisurely like read or sew. I even took a bath the other night and it wasn't just to hide from screaming children refusing to go to bed.
Clearly this is going to be a good year. Much needed after the "fun" of last year. I feel so accomplished when I realize we all survived, no worse for the wear.
Look! They're playing together with no adults having to be in there with them!!
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