Saturday, August 27, 2011

Hurricane Irene and being Prepared, The Green Way

All I keep hearing about is having bottled water, bottled water and lots of it in case you lose power during this hurricane. I can't understand why? Does the bottled water industry have a bad weather contract with the government?


When I went to the store to buy some canned goods just in case power goes out I couldn't believe it when I noticed I was the only one not buying bottled water.
Did everyone forget how we got water before it came in bottles? From the tap.
I have a filter in our basement and a Brita in the fridge. Today and yesterday I have been just filling up the brita, then when it is done I put the water in a pitcher. I have 2 large glass pitchers full of water. I have also started to fill all the stainless steel bottles that we use instead of bottled water and put them in the fridge. With the brita full too this amount will last us days.
No need to spend our money on bottles that are very wasteful and bad for the environment.
It really surprises me that our family is the only one I know who is doing this and not running out for bottled water.
I just hope for Mother Earth people start to realize how wasteful and unnecessary bottled water is. Even during a hurricane.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Rhythm with a New baby

I am expecting a new baby to enter my life any day now, official due date is Friday.
I have completely slacked on a lot of our routine that has been set up for the days and week since I have become so hugely pregnant.
It hurts to bend, to sweep, to stand for a while and wash dishes, to change sheets, I could go on and on. With my first pregnancy I had some back aches, but this time it starts to hurt much more quickly. I don't think carry my toddler helps, but as anyone with a 2 year old knows this can often not be avoided.
I have decided to get myself back on the flylady wagon to help with my cleaning.
I had some a nice routine with out using Flylady, but my house was never as clean as I would prefer so I hope this will help.
Since I can't do too much now I have been working on starting a control journal for myself.
I have kept some of out weekly rhythm and plan to keep things a simple and peaceful as I can.
I hate the word schedule and can not standing being over scheduled. I know too many moms who even with very young children, have become their chauffeurs. I did not become a mom, and a SAHM to be my child's chauffeur. I enjoy doing simple things with my child, staying at home or local and just doing things with the seasons. My new routine still allows for this.
I am not even going to attempt to keep up with most of the cleaning parts till I am a little settled with the new baby. Cleaning can wait.
But I have made sure to include days for specific activities for Liv. I don't want her to get lost in the shuffle of a new baby.
I have also been working on creating my own seasonal book. I read so many books on seasonal activities but haven't found one that works 100% for me.
I started with Fall since it is coming up soon. I am slowly adding actives, ideas, crafts, poems and stories that I have found in some many other resources, or just ones I love from my own childhood. The poems and story part is the biggest thing right now for me. We have so many great books with lovely seasonal poems, perfect for rainy days, but not one is organized in the seasons so finding the right stories can be a chore.
When I am done I will have all of this right at my finger tips.

For now with out the cleaning part our new weekly rhythm will look something like this
Sunday-Church
Monday- Market and Music day for Liv
Tuesday- Park day or other outdoor activity
Wednesday- Wash (laundry) Library or playdates for Liv
Thursday- Baking day
Friday- Craft day or Playdate

These activities for Liv, for the most part are to be done in the afternoon, except the playdates since they are usually in the morning. I belong to a mothers group and there are playdates once or twice a month. This is the perfect amount for us. They also sometimes do group seasonal actives, like apple picking.
In the morning I like to try to get outside and play in our own yard, or go for walks.
Now that Liv is 2 she likes to try more things and I would like to expose her to more. Crafts is something I think she will love. She has already taken to baking. My grandmother even bought her her own little apron.
I am thinking of getting a nice chalk board to write our daily activities on.
These types of things help me from going crazy staying at home all day. It can get lonely and where I live doesn't help. So if I wake up and know that I have at least something to do for part of the day I have something to look forward to and feel more accomplished

then sitting wondering what it next?
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Saturday, August 20, 2011

A waiting my Baby

I am officially due this Friday and just waiting every day for that moment when you just go "Oh I'm in labor."
I am getting more and more excited to have a new baby in my home.
I recently learned how to knit and this was my first project.
It was a perfect beginner project and it feels so nice to make something for my baby, not just buy something.
This little cat has my heart and soul in it. I am so excited to give this to her when she is born and tell her that momma made this just for you.
I know realize why some people love knitting and crafting so much. You just feel a sense of accomplishment, which shopping for things never fills that void.
I am now going to start a lovely knit blanket for the baby. Something that I can work on while I am still waiting for baby to come and hopefully finish before the weather gets cooler so she can actually use my knit.
My first daughter has a lovely blanket and doll that she sleeps with. They bring her much comfort and I just wish I had these skills to make them for her instead of someone else.
But I am learning and growing.
Maybe I can make her some nice winter mittens, or a new doll for Christmas.
Handmade holidays are the best is they are made from the heart.

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Another Reason to Buy Local



http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/honey-laundering/ Unsafe Honey Flooding American Super Markets

I have really gotten into the SLOW (seasonal, local, organic, whole) movement since reading Alice Waters book

It started for me as just a cook book to read from the library to get me and my family eating better, but the message stayed with me and has lead me to read many other books about the SLOW food movement and eating. I was a vegetarian for 10 years till I got pregnant the first time (cravings got the better of me, and a little anemia didn't help) so I am no stranger to animal rights, healthier food and sustainable foods, but recently I have been learning so much more.
We I read news articles like about about what horrible things get into our food it makes me more a more want to reach my dream of becoming a homesteader.
Hopefully one day I will be more of a homesteader and a radical homemaker then I am now.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Peace with in the Storm

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths


Life has become very different for me in the past 2 weeks. My husband had gone on strike so we have no income and now our health benefits are probably being cancelled 5 days after my due date.
It is very scary to think about no money coming in but I keep telling myself that God will provide and help us get through this hard time.
I have already started to research programs like WIC and state sponsored health insurance. I never thought that I would need these type of programs, but you just never know in life. I am grateful that they are there and should be able to help us get through this difficult time.
I know lots of families who are suffering with this strike and other financially difficulties, but because of pride will not bring themselves to go to apply for WIC, food stamps or other aide. They suffer and charge life's bills to keep up with the Jones and not be considered poor.
I do not understand this mentality at all. I know there are lots of abuse to the welfare systems in this country but there is a wonderful purpose to them. To feed the hungry and provide them with medical care as they need.

1 Timothy 6:7-10

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.


It is a shame that in America too many are causing suffering on others because of their own greed.
As long as we are fed, clothed and healthy I will not let this get me down. I will let go and leave it in the hands of God. For he will guide me through these times.


We have been planning for this possibility. I am grateful that we don't over extend ourselves so we do not have to stress. With the addition help we should be getting I know will will get through this hard time and come out stronger people.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

TV Limits

Last week I was thinking about what I was doing 2 years ago. I was pregnant with Liv in the middle of the summer, waiting for my due date, just as I am now. But there is one huge difference, this time I am caring for a toddler. Cooking, cleaning, playing games, chasing her for diaper changes and more.
It is absolutely exhausting. Most days during her nap time I am napping too.
Before I became pregnant I limited Liv's tv time to zero. She watched no tv at all. But once morning sickness started to set in I gave in. I needed the break to go throw up in peace and to also recover.
When I started to feel better the tv was turned off again.
But now as I approach my due date the tv has been turned back on again. I am so exhausted and tired I need some breaks.
I am fairly anti-tv for young children. There are so many other things they can and should be doing then passively watching television. But unfortunately since I can barely bend down and we are in a heat wave out door play is limited and so are many indoor activities. She will entertain herself, but can not do that as often as I would like. So for those rough times the tv goes on.
I still set strong limits with the tv.
No more then an hour a day (when I am more able its down to 1/2hour)
The hour can not be continues, she can not watch more then 15-20 mins of so of tv at a time. Which is perfect since most children's shows have 15 min episodes.
Other tips I used to keep our tv watching down is to not schedule in tv in our day. There is not time in the day Liv sits on the couch and expects to watch tv. I reserve it for special needs in the day. When I need to call the dr. When she is getting very fussy and i need a break. When I am absolutely exhausted and need to lay down, or when I don't feel well and need to lay down.
I think its important to not have tv time scheduled in our day. Even though I have become more dependent on it we are still not too dependent at all.
If we have a nice day planned and I feel well the tv does not go on all day.
There are so many negatives to the television at this age. A great book on it is
When I feeling a little more in my brain and not all about baby coming I will try to get more into why TV is can harm children at all ages.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Full Term

I am now officially full term, 37 weeks pregnant.
This hot and humid summer has not made this a very fun pregnancy, either has chasing a toddler around.
I am just about ready to go, I hope I do not make it to 40 weeks.
I have become cranky, walking takes too much effort and I never feel cool or comfortable.
I have also out grown a lot of my maternity clothes, which is weird since I gained more weight with Liv then with this pregnancy and I started out only 2lbs about my pre Liv pregnancy weight.
Last time I was 9 months pregnant I was enjoying a cool and wet August (I knew I would not be so lucky again in NJ with our normal hot and humid summers)going for relaxing walks, sitting on the beach or in pool or watching Sopranos reruns on my tv.
This time I would love to be doing the same, but with an almost 2 year old that is not happening.
My tv time is limited to her naps, since I try to limit what and how much she watches and if its on she just plops on the couch with me.
So I have been knitting and reading more. Reading books with my daughter, coloring and if its a cooler day we do some baking.
While I am ready to not be pregnant I am a little worried about labor, since I had a horrible one last time, and dealing with a toddler and a newborn.
Things are definitely going to change big time around here soon.
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