BEAUTY IN THE ESSENTIAL

I hate clutter. I do not like to have figurines, picture frames, etc. lying around on tabletops. I don't have collections. I don't have many decorative items at all. You must think my house looks pretty bare. I know some friends do (:::cough:::Charlotte:::cough). Truthfully, I would like to pare down more. I long for simplicity. I wish everyone in my family had about 5 outfits, a jacket, maybe 2 pairs of shoes. For Christmas, I am getting my kids each a Klean Kanteen so I can get rid of all those plastic sippy cups. No more cabinet clutter, no more plastic-leaching possibilities. I am also going to get them each their own enamelware dish set. One bowl, one cup. Durable, charming, simple. Buh-bye, plastic plates, cluttering up my drawers.
I think the key to having a beautiful, yet uncluttered space lies in several areas, all of which need work in my home.
1. Fabrics. Pillows, bedding, upholstery, window dressings, etc. They add so much depth and richness to a room without adding "stuff". I really want to bring more fabrics into my house.

2. Lighting. Candles, lamps, overhead lights on dimmers. Warm lighting that casts a soft glow really transforms a room. I love lamps. There are a few places I would like to add one, such as my kitchen.

3. Beauty in the essential. Just because an item is neccessary, doesn't mean it has to only be utilitarian. I love to have items in my home that are both useful and beautiful. I have very few items that only serve the purpose of beauty. There is really no excuse to not have beautiful things. Many items can be purchased at junk or antique stores that are just as functional as a new, more expensive item. Most times, the item that is prettier, is also more well made. For example, I think an all white bed is so beautiful unmade. I love the look of rumpled 100% cotton sheets, thick feather pillows, and a big yummy down comforter, unmade and ready at a moment's notice to curl up in. I also think of this especially with toys. I have noticed that when toys are out that I find visually appealing, they don't bother me nearly as much as ugly plastic toys. These wooden blocks could stay out all day without getting on my nerves. However, the moment the boys are done with these leggos, I want them picked up and put away. Here are a few things around my house that I find ugly, along with their equally useful, asthetically pleasing counterpart.
Instead of this ugly aeresol can......a pretty candle.
Instead of this plastic bottle of chemicals, uh, detergent......this glass bottle of natural lavender detergent.
Instead of this uninspired plastic laundry basket......this $3 wicker basket, spray painted black.
Instead of this boring plastic trashcan (oh look, it matches the laundry basket)......this white metal trash bucket (my mom has one that says PAIL (in comparison), that I just think is so fun).
Instead of dented, ugly cans with foods loaded with preservatives......how about some glass jars of homemade foods?

These are just a few areas in my home where I have replaced ugly functional with pretty functional. There are many other places I would like to do this. Most of the ugly things I still use, just behind the scenes, where I don't have to see them. Once they have finished serving their purpose, they find a home elsewhere. When the things that you use everyday, all the time, are beautiful then when your house is a little messy, it will still be a pleasing place to be, because the things that are "messy" are also beautiful. Few things, but good things. That is my goal.

SOLI DEO GLORIA
1 Corinthians 10:31



*Image from tomo*'s on flickr.com

AFTER ALL, TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY
I have to admit...there have been some bad habits in play at our house. I seem to fall into them whenever I have a new baby, and after a few months, have to regroup. It is that time again. Baby B is four months old, it is time to get a grip. The worst habit that I am now kicking to the curb, is using the television as a babysitter. I am embarrassed to admit how bad it has gotten, but maybe a shameful confession will do me some good. Here it is: My two year old sat buckled in his high chair, eating his scrambled eggs and toast in front of the tv for TWO HOURS the other morning. I know, I am a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad parent (that is a little literary shout out...name that book, anyone?).
Let me explain my downward spiral that has brought me to this shameful place. Ideally, I get up early. At least by six am. I have devotions, do a load or two of laundry, empty the dishwasher, get dressed, plan my day, do a little work, etc. Getting up at six gives me two hours of good work and really changes the tone of my home throughout the rest of the day.
Well, I haven't been doing that consistently for quite a long while. I have been staying up late (often until 1 or 2 am) on the computer, reading a book or magazine, what have you. I then fall asleep and don't wake up until 8:30 or 9 (if my children let me sleep that long). Usually the baby wakes up before that, but I put him in the bed with me and nurse him and we both go back to sleep. Many times Caed doesn't wake up until after me. L usually wakes up around 8 or so and either I will get up, or if the hubby is still home, he will get him up and fix his cereal. I drag out of bed and spend the next hour or two, scrambling to catch up and do the things I should have done early in the morning, while the children watch tv. I feel like I spend the whole rest of the day trying to get my act together.
But tonight, I am saying ENOUGH. I sat the family down and we had a little talk about how all this tv is not good for us. It rots their brains and gives them ADD and the gimmies and makes them not want to do creative things or be healthy. That I was being a bad mommy for letting them watch it so much.
It is going to take some serious discipline on my part. The hardest part will be to go to bed at a decent hour. Ideally, lights off at 10:30. Also, the tv will not come on AT ALL until I am cooking dinner. Then the kids may watch one 30 minute cartoon that I Tivo'd earlier in the day. On Friday nights, C may watch a video as a week-end treat. The hubby and I watch Prison Break on Monday nights, usually with friends.
I am going to be bringing more structure to our days. We are going to take advantage of local offerings: museums, wildlife centers, downtown events, festivals, the library. I refuse to allow this precious time with my little children to be used up with them in front of the tv while I try to cope with the neccessities of daily life. I am going to be intentional about their childhoods...my oldest is only five and already I am mourning how quickly the time is going. I am going to enjoy my children...their excitement, their unbounding energy, their amazing creativity, their inquisitive spirits, their unfailing love for me even when I am mean (:::sigh:::).
I am going to be a mother that embraces the amazing, yet overwhelming task of raising my boys to love Christ, love the world He created, and to love one another. And it starts first thing in the morning.

DIAPERS, AND WIPES, AND BABIES, OH MY!*Boo Bear Buns diapers from www.slingsandsacks.com

I have ordered several more cloth diapers. To my complete surprise, I actually really like cloth diapers. Well, let me rephrase that. I really like using cloth diapers on nursing infants who haven't started solids yet. :) There is no way in H-E-Double hockey sticks that I am using cloth diapers on my two year old. I am hoping that by easing into this gradually, by the time my 4 month old is well into solids, that I will be used to it and it won't be a big deal. The difference between cloth and disposable is huge. And not just with diapers. I find that using cloth over disposable is much better in almost every situation. Towels, wet wipes, napkins, diapers, nursing pads. When did we become such a disposable culture? Cloth is much more environmentally friendly, less expensive, feels better on skin, more satisfying to use, etc.

I can't really think of a good way to verbalize the difference. The best analogy I can think of is a house. You know when you walk into one of those cheap, cookie cutter, contractor-grade houses that are made of the cheapest vinyl siding, linoleum, fake wood floors, hollow core doors, and the like? You know how they just don't have that satisfying presence about them? And then you walk into a home that was custom built with brick, hardwood floors, solid wood doors, crown moulding, and tile? It just feels more substantial? More RIGHT? That is how using cloth feels to me. It just feels right. With a baby, using cloth isn't much of a hassle anyway. It isn't a big deal to throw the diapers in the wash and they look so sweet hanging on the line. If anyone who is reading this has a baby, I highly recommend buying a cloth diaper or two and just trying it out.
I haven't posted about my diaper experience sooner because I didn't want to jump the gun and act really excited about it only to have the novelty wear off after a few days and go back to disposable. I have used cloth while out of the house, at home, and overnight, all with great success. They launder easily and fit well on my baby.
I still am not completely sure which brand I want to use though. The first diaper I bought (and which I just ordered more of) is easily the easiest to use. It is called a one size all in one. The great thing about this diaper is that it is one size fits all...newborn to potty training...so you can really stretch your investment. The other great thing about it is that it has a built in liner, so you don't need a diaper cover. It is much less bulky under clothes because of that and is also much more hubby-grandparent-babysitter friendly because it is just like a disposable diaper to use (except for the throwing it away part).
On the other hand, I really like the other diaper I bought, which is pictured above. These diapers are organic, unbleached hemp/cotton blend, one size fits all, and they feel sooooo good. I love their natural color and how soft they are. They are very absorbent and are very easy to use. I don't even like to put baby B's clothes on because he looks so sweet in just his little diaper. However, the downside is that these need a diaper cover, so they are more expensive (and if you put a cover over them, then you can't see how cute they are!). These are actually faster to use than the other diaper, because you just lay the doubler in the diaper, rather than stuffing it in the pocket with the other diaper. So, I am not really sure what I will end up using. I might do a combo of the two.
As for my two year old, I am in a bit of dilemma. On the one hand, I am grossed out at the thought of cleaning cloth diapers at his advanced stage of eating. On the other hand, I feel really badly about using disposable diapers and clogging up the landfills. Did you know that it supposedly takes a disposable diaper 300 YEARS to decompose?!!! I have already dumped thousands of diapers in the trash with my three kids...multiply that by millions of babies...I shudder to think!

So, I thought that maybe biodegradable diapers would be a good compromise. While that would be better, environmentally, it still has some major drawbacks. On the eco level, there are still lots of materials, packaging, work, transportation, and fuel that go into making those diapers. While they may not be rotting in a landfull for the next umpteenth years, they stiil aren't the best choice. Also, they are almost twice as expensive ($0.52 apiece, compared to $0.28 apiece for huggies supreme) and I would have to order them online. So, my question is: Where do we draw the line with doing what is easiest for us, or best for the world as a whole? Where do we make the sacrifices in our everyday life for the good of future generations and where do we say enough? Some go so far as to live without a fridge and air conditioning while others just do a little recycling now and then. Do you go buy the expensive Prius because it is better for the environment, or do you keep the 8 year old Volvo that runs fine and is paid for?
Obviously, this isn't a cut and dried thing. There isn't one answer that works for everyone across the board.

I am struggling with that answer for my own family right now, in little ways. Should I spend more of our money on biodegradable diapers that are less harmful for the environment but less financially friendly?
Of course, the cheapest and most green choice would be cloth (or Elimination Communication/Potty Training).
So, the real question is: do I care enough about the earth to get over my squeamishness of changing cloth diapers on a grape and peanuts loving two year old? I hope the answer is yes, but honestly, I just don't know.

WEEK FIVE UPDATE, SOCIAL EXPERIMENT

This is a day late but I was so sick yesterday I couldn't even bring myself to type a little bitty post. I am feeling much better today, and am ready to report this week's results! Actually, I am going to include today's shopping also (even though my weeks run thursday to thursday) because I had intended to shop yesterday, which is my regular shopping day...but it was pushed to today because of being sick. Anyhooo...
Well, you may remember that the new challenge I have added to the social experiement is to try and cut my total grocery spending in half, from $400 to $200 per month. Which means I need to spend under $50 a week. This week I spent $111. But that is ok! I still think I can make it. I need to spend under $30 a week for the next three weeks to meet my goal. The reason I spent so much this week is because I needed to restock my pantry after being gone for six days, and because I had two birthday parties to throw this week. We had already had one party, which was a family potluck. We have another party tomorrow, with about 20-25 people coming. So, with all things considered, I am pretty happy with my grocery spending for the week.
Here is the breakdown
$12-Hotdogs for C's party (80 hotdogs from the foodsales hotty/hubby)
$36-Diapers, party supplies, pantry staples...from the Discount Food Store
$30-party supplies and pantry staples...IGA
$33-Vegetables and fruit...Produce stand

How am I going to keep my spending under $30 a week for the next three weeks, you ask?
Well, I have ordered two more cloth diapers, which should arrive next week. I will then have enough to last about 1/3 of a week, which will also reduce my diaper purchases by 1/6 (1/3 of 1/2 of my kids). That will save some. I have made and am now using cloth wipes, which will save a little. My freezers are full of all kinds of meat. My pantry has rice, pasta, canned goods, oatmeal, green beans, etc. All I will need to buy (for the most part) are dairy items such as milk, butter, and eggs...and fresh fruits and vegetables. I can reduce that bill too, by only buying local and in-season fruits and veggies. I spent a lot this week by buying grapes and asparagus. We love asparagus around our house, but it is pricey at $3.29 per pound. I can do better with pole beans (so yummy steamed and tossed with minced garlic, sea salt, pepper, and clarified butter), corn, and greens.
So, there it is. I can do it! In the words of the little blue engine that could "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"

My hubby really encouraged me to keep at it today when he said that he was really starting to feel the difference in our budget from the money I was saving on groceries. That was all the motivation I needed to keep this up! Not that I am wanting to quit, I love this new way of life! But, it was nice to hear that it was affecting our bottom line in a positive way.

In other good news, I have officially lost all my Bauer weight!! Woo Hoo!! I was doing a happy dance in my undies this morning when I stepped on that scale. It wasn't pretty, but I did it anyway because I was soooo excited!! I lost 43 pounds in 4 months. That is the fasted that I have ever lost weight. Now, I am going to get started on that 12 pounds I had left from Landing, and then the 22 pounds I had left from Caed! It's my own little No-Child-Left-Behind Act. :) 43 pounds down, 34 to go. I was so motivated that tonight when I wanted ice cream, I had grapes instead. I have to get those Choco tacos OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!

Oh, and I know this post is getting long, but here is what I decided on for the party tomorrow (you may remember that I had some angst about presents and gift bags a while back). We are having C's party at the church (playground, cafeteria like room w/ a kitchen). We invited about four families with boys his age, plus our families. We asked that no one bring gifts. C has only been to a few parties (and they were awhile ago), and hasn't had anything other than a family party for the last two years, so I really don't think he will notice. But if he does, we will just tell him that he is opening presents on Sunday, which is really his birthday. On Sunday night, we will go to a restaurant here in town that he has a birthday coupon for with our families and give him his presents from the grandparents. We are giving the two birthday boys (L's was Wednesday) a wooden playset from us.
We will play simple games such as simon says, musical chairs, etc. They can play on the playground, have an impromptu baseball game or work puzzles inside. We will also have a pinata. I decided against gift bags in leui of someone's great idea (can't remember who left that comment now, but thank you!) to have paper bags for the kids to decorate, then take their goodies from the pinata home in. I know disposable paper bags aren't very eco-friendly, but I figured it was better than plastic and other than making bags out of fabric from goodwill, I couldn't think of a better alternative. I did get the brown paper bags that haven't been bleached. I hope he is happy with his little party. I want him to enjoy having family and friends around celebrating with him and having a good time playing together...not him ripping through presents, throwing each one down to get to the next one while all his friends watch and feel jealous.
For food we are having hotdogs, chips, grapes, juice, and cupcakes. I still haven't figured out what I am doing about cups and plates...hmmm, guess I need to work that out pretty soon.

Well, that is it for now. I need to get busy making cupcakes and stuffing a dinosaur pinata!

LOVE FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY
*This image is from flickr.com

My sweet little Landing turns 2 today. It's been the longest and shortest two years of my life. Landing's birth altered my existence in more ways than I could ever verbalize.
Landing's reputation precedes him and he wears many titles. Wild child. Crazy Kid. Crash Landing. He wears them all well.

Landing doesn't do anything halfway. Every action is full of passion and enthusiasm. He runs. He jumps. He bounces. He crashes. His hugs are rough and heartfelt and always appreciated. His eyes sparkle and twinkle and warn me of impending mischeviousness.

Some days I think I won't survive his childhood.

Every day I am thankful for him.

Happy Birthday, Landing.
I love you more than you will ever know.

VERBIAGE

This evening, my soon-to-be five year old asked me the question that sends tremors of dread through women around the world: "mom, what's for dinner?"
In my head, I am thinking "pork chops, green beans, rice". But I know better than to answer with that. Pork chops, beans, and rice is boring. And yucky. And he doesn't like that. And he wants something else. Blah, blah, blah.
So after a moment, I replied..."C, for dinner this evening, you will be enjoying hand-cut pork chops, marinated overnight and grilled to perfection. Steamed green beans tossed with fresh minced garlic, sea salt, and clarified sweet cream butter. And of course, a delightful risotto with carmelized onions and aged parmesan cheese."
He looked at me, surprised, then said "Ooh, mom! That sounds good!"
And it was. Sometimes, it's all in the verbiage. :)

GOD IS GREEN

Click here to download a sermon on why Christians should be environmentally conscious. The sermon had some fluff, especially in the beginning, but the end was very thought provoking. As believers, we are commanded to have dominion over the earth. Who, more than we, should be taking care of the earth?

For me, it isn't about a hole in the ozone, or global warming. Those things may or may not be occuring. But even if they aren't, why waste when we don't need to? Why not recycle? Why not be content with less? Why not live a simple life?

CONFESSIONS...

Hmmm, I seem to be doing that a lot lately. Didn't do so great on my challenges yesterday. You could say I completely failed. That whole "go vegan for a week" thing? Yeah, that pretty much lasted 3 hours. Despite how gross meat and dairy seem in my head, the reality is, I really like them. A lot. Should I cut out meat and dairy when I am nursing? Probably wouldn't hurt anything, but I think I am going to drop that challenge. I am just going to focus on eating only when I am truly hungry, and eat healthy foods. That worked for the first three months. I am going to stick with that. I know, I now look like a complete flake. I guess that's what I get for posting my little challenges on my blog, huh?

Also, I didn't get to the screened porch yesterday. I don't know why I picked that for my first project, it is a big undertaking. I think maybe I should just delete yesterday's post and act like it never happened...
But, I did get a lot done yesterday. Instead of a house project, I made homemade wipes out of yummy thick flannel. I even sewed around the edges so they wouldn't fall apart in the wash. I was pretty proud of myself. I folded them and put them in an empty wipe box with a homemade solution of 2 cups water, 2 T. olive oil, and 2 T. lavender baby wash. They are WONDERFUL. They smell good and they are so soft on little baby bottoms. I am really, really pleased with them. I haven't mentioned how my cloth diapering experience has been going, but look for that in a later post.
I do want to get the porched cleaned up this week. I am hosting bookgroup at my house on Friday, and would love to have it out on the porch. You might remember that this picture below is my inspiration.And this is what my porch looks like now.
The porch has been pretty much just used for storage this summer, since it has been so hot. The boxes have been freecycled and will be picked up later this week. The hot wheels was won by the hubby at an auction. It is going on Craig's list today (unless any of you are looking for an early Christmas present?). My to-do list for the porch includes:
-wiping down all furniture
-brushing down cobwebs and leaves
-sweeping and mopping floor
-putting a tablecloth on table
-putting a vase of fall leaves on the table
-pulling the sisal rugs from the foyer and bathroom and putting them on the porch
-potting some flowers and putting them around
-airing out the pillows, putting them on rockers

That will all get done in bits and pieces between now and Friday. I will post after pictures when I get it looking a little better.
I did spend the morning cleaning the boys room. It was a disaster. I didn't take a before picture, but trust me, it was awful.
My next goals for their room is to paint all the beds the pale blue of bed #1 and get mattresses for the other beds (L will be moving in here soon, when I move B to the crib in the nursery). Then bedding. Red and white ticking dust ruffles/bed skirts, navy quilts, white sheets. I think it will look really sweet in there. All my little boys in a row. Cute!
Also, I did a little decluttering this morning, adding to the huge box in the foyer that is going to our church swap (garage sale without money) in a few weeks.Now, I am going to get these kiddos down for a nap, have a little lunch, and get started on the porch! Have a great day!

TWO PERSONAL CHALLENGES

This is the week of challenges for me. I am learning something with this blog...if I make a challenge to myself but also make it public (ie. write about it here), I am much more likely to stick with it. Because if I fail I only have two choices...either lie about my results, or admit my failure. I am definitely not going to lie and would rather not admit that I failed! :)
In some situations during my social experiment, especially in the very beginning, knowing that I would have to either 'fess up or lie, has kept me from caving in and cheating every once in awhile. So, I am posting not only what my two new challenges are for the week (in addition to my social experiment), but also the honest progress and result of those experiments. You may find this completely boring, but hey, it's my blog, so I can write about what I want, right? :) Here are my two challenges.

1. GO VEGAN. You are probably raising your eyebrows at this one. No, I am not doing it out of any moral obligation. I don't feel that eating animals is cruel and inhumane. Though, I will admit, when I think about milk and eggs and meat and what they really are and where they come from, I am pretty grossed out. I mean, I wouldn't want someone else to nurse my child, but I will drink milk from a cow? That seems slightly inconsistent.
No, I am doing it because I have spiralled out of control with my eating. For the first three months after baby B's birth, I ate very well and lost a lot of weight. Then the fruit snacks came into the picture. You have already read my confession. Then I went out of town. Didn't do so great then either. Now we have all the ice cream samples the hubby brought home. It isn't good people, it isn't good at all. I am an all or nothing person. I can't just cut back, I have to eliminate. So, this week is sort of a cleansing week. Detox, if you will. Only eating healthy foods for a week so I can cleanse myself and kick this junk food habit. I had originally thought I would just go vegetarian, but meat isn't the issue so much as dairy. Without dairy, I can't eat ice cream, cookies, etc.
Now, I am not going to go around reading labels on all my foods to make sure there is no dairy product in them. If my bread has a little milk in it, so be it. But, I will not eat anything that I know has dairy (like the ice cream) and I will not make anything (suck as cookies) that have milk and eggs in them.
My menu will consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, water, grains, and legumes.

2. WEEK OF REDECORATING. I am getting the bug to reorganize, declutter, and redecorate. This week I will be challenging myself to (re)decorate an area of my home each day with items that I already own or can be found in nature. I will not be going out and buying anything new to decorate with. I am also going to take an honest look at my closet of home decor items and get rid of the things that I don't absolutely love. It will be nice to reclaim that closet floor. Each day's decorating will be documented with a before and after picture. Today's challenge: the screened in porch. I'll be back later this afternoon to post pictures of the transformation!