SimpleMom adds on

So I've been reading Tsh at SimpleMom for a while now and I love it. :) She inspires me to be the best version of myself without going crazy. "Live Simply. Stay Sane." But they've unveiled today an umbrella company, Simple Living Media. And they've opened three new blogs, Simple Homeschool, Simple Bites, and the one I'm most excited about, Simple Organic.

Simple Organic is about sustainable and healthy living for mainstream people. We’ll cover green tips and trends, provide tutorials on repurposing items you already own, frugal crafts that celebrate nature and responsible living, and ways to improve your health and lifestyle with natural remedies.

This is a positive, family-friendly place geared to the average home manager interested in “greenifying” their home and lifestyle. We have no interest in piling on the guilt or preaching a hermit lifestyle.

The goal of Simple Organic is just as it sounds: to make things simple. Attainable. Do-able.

Anyway, that's my plug for Simple Mom today. :)

30 Days of Beauty

Emotional stress takes so much out of me! It's been a rough weekend and I feel like I've got nothing left to start my week with... yech. So I'm taking this opportunity to remember the beautiful things. Bluebirdbaby has started


So I'm going to join her quest to remember that spring is coming!

And while today's photos certainly aren't as beautiful as hers, they spoke peace into my life this morning. And that's the point.

 

So actually on my to-do list today is to enjoy spending time with Anne. Since I have no energy today for two-year-old-ness, I thought I needed the reminder every time I looked at my daily docket. And I realized that Anne enjoying drawing with markers (so much more exciting than crayons, apparently :)) is a beautiful thing. To enjoy each thing you are doing, as you are doing it - that's a great thing about a kid. No worrying about the next thing - just enjoying the present. 

And it's snowing today. Again. And it's February 8. Can you tell I'm not that excited about it? But thinking about the 30 days of beauty, I was reminded that I'm lucky to live somewhere in the city where I get to look at trees. Trees are very important to me! And trees are beautiful covered in a blanket of new white snow. So this is the view from my front porch.

And I'm going to relax and remember that the laundry will always be waiting for me and choose to focus on Anne. We'll both be happier.

Homemade Cleaners

So Laura, these are for you. :)
When I was researching recipes, most everything said to use the Alkaline cleaner for basic cleaning. And I use it occasionally. But I really like the Acidic cleaner. I use it all the time. Maybe it's because I don't use cleaner for things like wiping off counters, or maybe its because I have hard water, or because I have a small child, but I find the Acidic cleaner is what I reach for first. I spray it on, leave it for a minute or so, then wipe clean. It works great!

All Purpose Cleaner - Acidic

The acid in this cleaner will dissolve mineral buildup and neutralize and deodorize many body fluid odors.

1/4 c white distilled vinegar

1/2 t liquid soap or detergent

3/4 c warm water

couple of drops of essential oil - I like orange oil

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to blend before use. Spray surface generously then wipe clean.

 

All Purpose Cleaner - Alkaline

This is the all-purpose cleanser you should reach for first, because it works on most dirt.

1/2 t washing soda (NOT baking soda)

2 t borax

1/2 t liquid soap or detergent

2 c hot water
couple of drops of essential oil - I like orange oil

Combine the washing soda, borax, and soap in a spray bottle. Pour in the hot water (it will dissolve the minerals), screw on the lid, and shake to blend and dissolve. Spritz on surface and wipe to clean. For tough dirt, leave the cleaner on for few minutes before wiping it off.

This cleaner is environmentally friendly, but the washing soda and borax are caustic, so keep out of reach of children and pets.

 

Consumption for Convenience

I was cooking tonight and was struck by just how ingrained it is in our society to use throw-away items just because it's convenient. This recipe told me to put the partially prepared items on waxed paper or aluminum foil until the next step. And frankly, I probably wouldn't do this just because I don't have enough countertop space - I'd automatically use something that would hold up on its own. But why use something to throw away? Just so you don't have another dish to wash? That's not an awful reason, I admit. But it seems a little lazy and shallow. I know these are not revolutionary ideas, but it just struck me differently tonight.

Snapshots

 This is our cozy "fireplace." Anne's warming her toes after a bath.

This is the face of a very unhappy 2 year old that couldn't have another cookie. She can cry at the drop of a hat. :)

 

This is Anne's first tearing/gluing art project. Cute, eh? She's pretty proud of it.

Isn't she cute with her really big monkey? (Thanks, Uncle Seth!)

And a picture from December that I've never posted. This was the Southern Rail Christmas Train that we saw at Union Station. It was fun. Anne liked the train part more than the Christmas part. :)

Funniest Thing I Heard Today

Anne made me laugh today. When we got home from work today we were going to start an art project, but I thought she had a dirty diaper. When I asked, though, she said she didn't. I'm trying to work with her on telling the truth, so I got in her face and asked her again. Nope, no poopy pants here. So then I patiently reminded her that if she has poopy pants and doesn't change them, she'll have a sore bottom. "Will you have a sore bottom later, Anne?" She tilted her head, then said thoughtfully, "Lil' bit."

We changed her diaper.

Uh-oh

Words you don't want to hear from your two-year old working with you in the office:

My scissors? My scissors!

Maybe I should pay more attention? (and no, she didn't do anything with them. She's just discovered that scissors cut and that's pretty exciting, apparently!)

Naming the Year

Do any of you name your years? I read the idea on a couple of the blogs I'm following and I'm intrigued by the idea. Here's a post that Ann wrote about naming their years. Maybe it's just because I've had such a rough couple of years and have felt so out of touch with "normal" life, but it seems like year naming would be a grounding experience. As Ann says, "Named, we now have a destination, a way across the next twelve months." Maybe it's just the idealist/poet/romantic in me that likes the new different things I keep coming across, but I can't get this idea out of my head. (or maybe it's my heart?) I feel like it's a bit late, being almost the end of January, but I'm praying that God will give me a word to name this new year. I want this year to be different than the last two, but I don't think different happens accidentally. I need an intention. Not particularly a goal, because that suggests that there's an end.

Anyway, I told you all (all 3 of you that read my paltry musings), I'd try to blog more. So I am. And this is what I've been thinking about.

Oh, and about how when I asked Ben what he thought about me trying a homemade deodorant I'd read, he told me No! He said that was just too weird. :) Honestly, I already make all of our cleaning products, how much more weird would it be to do deodorant, too? But apparently, I have some convincing to do. LOL

Oh, and so many bloggers have amazing photos to go along with their posts. It's inspiring me to get out my camera more. Maybe tomorrow....

How to Handle Little People

So since I'm following so many blogs now, I'm really going to have to work to post original content and not just tell you all the wonderful things I'm reading. But I couldn't help it today. :)
I've truly enjoyed reading Holy Experience. Her prose is beautiful. Beautiful in a special day, every day kind of way that I want to experience. Each ordinary day is extraordinary when viewed from the right perspective. Anyway, her (re)post from today was beautiful. How to Handle Little People: A (Non)Tutorial.

So much for blogging

My title pretty much sums it up. My poor neglected blog.... So many other things are going on in my life that I haven't written. Different reasons on different days. But I feel like being honest today. So it's back to blogging.

I've started reading lots of blogs about mothering, urban living/homesteading, simplicity, etc. (like this one, this one, and this one.) They've inspired me. In fact this week I'm very excited about winning this book and accompanying home planner. A mommy blogger, Jamie at SteadyMom, wrote a short book about enjoying motherhood. About doing it intentionally, professionally, and giving your best to your kids. I'm really looking forward to reading it. Doing some things "good enough" is not always the easiest thing to do. So I'm working at it. Because Anne deserves best.

And I had time to blog today since I was sick yesterday and am taking it easy today. Anne's watching more tv than usual today so I get a chance to be on the computer. A treat for both of us. But now Ben is sick. Yech. Especially since his class started today. Hopefully he'll feel good enough to go tomorrow.

Okay, time for something to drink. (Nothing to eat and very little to drink for 36 hours takes a while to recover from.)