Park days

Some days, it is so refreshing to just get outside and play with my Wee-Ones.

Breathe fresh air...
To swing...

 And to slide.
Let your hair down, put down the phone (but take pictures) let the wind muss your hair, sit on the grass, go down the slide!
Enjoy your blessings today!

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” ~ C. S. Lewis

Cloth diapering

I do both cloth and disposable diapers. For disposables I really like 7th Generation for it's absorbency, durability and eco-friendliness (it actually decomposes where other's do not, like for many, many, many years)   I've been using regular old cloth diapers (unbleached) with Snappies ( instead of pins) and the workhorse variety which are cut more like a diaper and close with snaps or Velcro. These can be used alone, for the brave, or with a variety of cute and irresistible diaper covers, the options are endless. Behold the variety at www.greenmountiandiapers.com   There are lots of pics of all the diapers and covers on a variety of babies from newborn to toddler.

How I wash cloth diapers and covers:
 Some use a pail and wash when they have a full load. For two reasons I wash daily; 1) I only own about two days worth of diapers, and 2) I don't want to smell or touch (much) soiled diapers especially ones that are several days old. That said, cloth really doesn't smell as strong as a soiled disposable.  I use diaper liners which come in rolls , they are a very thin mesh like a dryer sheet after run in the dryer.  The liners catch all the poo, basically, and I  flush the poo away and throw the liner in the outside bin. I wash diapers in my 'towels and unders' load, and yes I have a full load every day; one 'towels and unders' and one regular. I use Charlies Soap powder for all my laundry. I use bleach or vinegar to kill germs in the 'towels and unders' loads. I do not use dryer sheets or fabric softeners.

If I have a diaper that is especially soiled (poo) I will run it in a quick cold wash cycle by  itself before going through the regular cycle.  I have a small wet bag for when I go out, it has a waterproof lining for soiled diapers and an outer pocket for fresh diapers/wipes. At home I don't use a pail, I just put the diaper in a small bin on top of my washer which is in the garage. The bin gets the Lysol wipe treatment every so often . I fold the diapers on themselves so the soil doesn't really touch the bin itself.
 I use disposables just at night and at church, so one pack of 36 diapers will last me all month.

All dressed up with nowhere to go

This morning I rose early, did some chores and got myself dressed, complete with poofy hair, Pinterest inspired orange and grey outfit (which I am loving)  and SHOES. I know, when does mom ever put on shoes without some place special to go?  "Bi-bow sudy?" Seth asked. Not today. Today I am availing myself to God's will in a way I too often overlook. I'm getting all dressed up and ready to go.

*get showered (early if you can, before Hubby leaves the house) Many times I have had to warsh (we say warsh over here) my hair in the kitchen sink, and take a 'tub shower' which means get in the tub and run the faucet: wash what's important and do it fast. This way I can keep an ear and eye on the kids. Whatever it takes, right? If I've learned one thing in 12 years of momming it's that I need to adapt because life comes at me fast and not the same way twice.
*dressed, poofed, and brushed (teeth)
*run the washer, get the dishes done (while little ones having breakfast or entranced by their morning cartoon. Use this time to stock the diaper/outing bag with water and car snacks and throw into the car things often left home without (dry cleaning, store returns, library books, bills)
*straighten the house as you go, just 'picked up' enough to not give you hives when you come home (wipe the bathroom counter with the damp towel from your shower, use the baby wipe you wiped baby's face with to swipe the high chair tray.
*Make a to-do list that includes any grocery items, calls to make, and reminders. I back-pocket my list, and look at it throughout the day. Things tend to disappear in my purse.

All this takes about an hour and a half, give or take a poopy diaper. The key is to be quick, don't go from one room to another without something in your hands to put away (something from my waitress days). Also, don't stress. Life happens. You will fail if you try to hold back the flood gates of life happening.

I'm studying the Proverbs 31 model of the ideal woman/wife/mother. This time around I'm taking it slow and breaking it in to palatable, small bits;a single thought, verse, principle.. with the goal of taking what I learn and making real application.

Proverbs 31:10 says "who can find a capable wife?"
Capable:

Having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a specified thing.

Able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do; competent.

Are you feeling like you just don't have what it takes?

Have you thrown in the towel before getting out of the gates?

Why don't you try getting ready for your day.  You may get out of the house, you may stay in and play choo-choo in the hallway like I did this morning.  But I've got options now that I wouldn't have in my greasy hair and baggy bottom sweats.  If opportunity knocks I'm presentable enough to answer the door.

 While playing outside with the little ones I'm much more inclined to take a bag of oranges from our tree over to the neighbor's , greet and thank the mail man. Walk down to the estate sale down the street. (which I totally did and had a blast) None of these if I'm in my slippers and baggy-bottom sweats with greasy hair and yesterday's eye make-up on my cheek.  Doors open for ministering to others because I am availing myself to be around people, and I am in a good mood.  So if you don't already, make a point to get ready for the day.

Proverbs 31 Woman: Wife of Valor

I came across a great link (shared below) and wanted to share. I just love the title of "wife of Valor" Maybe because I call my guys my Mighty Men of Valor and it sounds/feels so empowering :) I can do this; I am a Wife of Valor. That is my current motto as I dig for precious jewels in Proverbs 31 in the month of February.  .

Of what value can this ancient poem be to the diverse, complex life-styles of women today?

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." The Hebrew word chayil, translated here "noble," or "virtuous" (KJV), means a wife of valor — a strong, capable woman with strong convictions. 

  I so admire a woman who has strong convictions and lives by them, not imposing them on others. Convictions are personal are they not? I have myself taken my personal convictions and used them as a sounding board to judge others. I am trying to grow in this area of faithfulness to what I have heard and received from the Lord for myself; to encourage others and help them and not try to make them fit my mold.

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
(Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor)
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

 "This woman does not do right only when it is convenient and profitable. Her actions are not based on how she is treated by others or by what others think. Her character is steady. She is reliable and dependable.
http://www.gci.org/bible/poetry/prov31"

Proverbs 14:1“A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.” (NLT)

Workout Solution

I have finally found a great solution for workouts, and I am not going to the gym, or coordinating mommy stroller-walk play dates (that seriously worked my nerves, not so much my buns and thighs) which cut into most of a whole day.  Matt bought me Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for Christmas. (I made him a list this year) 

We have been working out together 4 times a week or more, sometimes the boys join us.  The work outs are 20 min. When I was going to the gym, it would take me twenty minutes to get there, plus forty minuted to an hour work out time. I would cycle, weight train, treadmill and weight train some more. This 20 min DVD gave me results in a fraction of the time I was spending at the gym. Speaking of spending, the DVD was what, 14.99?? No more gym membership for us. I've not felt this strong and in this good of shape since before Blessing # 2 was born. 20 minutes.  14.99.

The hardest part was fighting the desire to have a routine. Sometimes we Shred in the evening, sometimes on a Saturday morning, sometimes well after kiddo's bedtime. We just have been encouraging each other and Matt has held babies some nights while I work out. The WONDERFUL thing is, even if the babies are crying, it's late and I'm tired, or we have a furiously busy weekend; it is only 20 minutes! <3 it!

Power Snacks

I try to eat several small snacks throughout the day to keep my energy and metabolism up. I love food and am strongly food-motivated. I can get through just about any chore (think giant piles of laundry) if there is a snack to look forward to at the end. Here are five simple rules for snacking that will keep energy high and sweet-tooth abated without fear of weight gain.

1) NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS.  They are bad for you, don't we all know that by now?

2)  PUT DOWN THE PROTEIN BAR. For the best snacking, you want to keep to foods with less than three ingredients. Bars promise protein and energy, but most pack quite a punch of sugar, which will cause you to be hungry again and could cause fatigue and headaches.



3) HAVE MORE THAN ONE Nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits, wassa crackers, rice cake, small portions of meat and cheese are great snacking. The key to keeping yourself satisfied is to have at least two foods together. i.e. dried apricots and almonds, apples and cheese, peanut butter and celery, almond butter and apples, rice cake with slices fruit and peanut butter or cream cheese.




4) PLAN AHEAD when making breakfast or lunches in the morning, slice up an apple and cheese and put a "snack plate" in the fridge for easy access, or in a baggy that you can grab on the way out of the house. This simple act helps in saving $$$ as having your own snacks on hand may keep you from  driving through for  fast food in moments of weakness

5) SECRET STASH. every mommy needs a secret stash of special treats.  You may have to  redefine what you think of as a treat. My treats are of the dark chocolate persuasion. The darker the better since the darker chocolate has less sugar and milk fat. I currently have a cup of dark chocolate pieces in the pantry which I visit 2-3 times a day. **this is not dark chocolate truffles. I buy plain dark chocolate bars, sometimes with almonds, not Hershey's dark chocolate bars or kisses, they have too much sugar. If you are going for dark chocolate get the good stuff, it will last you a while.



Don't forget to hydrate. I will often mistake thirst for hunger.  Green teas are great for you, hot or iced. If you drink coffee, avoid or cut back on sweatened creamers. Try coffee with unsweetened almond milk or half and half. Dust with cocoa, or break out the grater and add some dark chocolate shavings.

My kitchen; where memories are made and displayed

 Love this sign I made (for myself) this Christmas. I really enjoy cooking from old cookware. This one I found at a yard sale down the street. It's the best 2 Bucks I've ever spent. I use this almost daily.

 Having mementos around  is very important to me. These are some old handwritten recipes from both of Matt's grandma's. Waiting on one more from Nana. The small rolling pin I remember playing with on the floor in Nana's kitchen. Now Seth and I use it when we play Play dough.

 The sieve is a treasure from my Nana. The shelf is a Pottery Barn clearance find ; should have bought two, but the one shelf is working out fine. I have a passion for hooks, and some of my measuring spoons hang from the shelf, some on the cabinet beside.

My solace cupboard! The pantries get cluttered and disorganized and need attention now and again; but this cupboard stays neat and tidy, easy on the eyes, but best of all  FUNCTIONAL.  It is my comfort and consolation in what can be a very busy and heavily "used" kitchen. I plan on ordering a vinyl chalk board for the inside of the door to keep a weekly menu plan...and maybe add some more hooks.