Is it sad that I get so excited about little things like not having to walk around stores to get what I need? How life has changed after having baby!
I've been prepping the camper for this spring over the last few weeks. Scouring the internet and pinterest for ideas on how to organize in such a tiny space (we have a smaller rpod with a baby). I've found some great ideas, but not all of them are even usable in our tiny camper. The storage cubbies we have are really deep and oddly shaped making it hard to find bins or anything to organize clothes and stuff we want to put there. Lots of trial and error, but I found the perfect stackable plastic drawer system, but sadly our Target didn't have enough. I bought them out and looked up online what other store would have them. Yep, my luck, the closest ones were an hour away. Well I was slow on getting into Raleigh to run errands and checking online today I saw that they have them at my store again! Not only that, but I could order it and pay online so tomorrow when I'm coming home from the gym and little man is ready for his nap I can pop into the customer service desk, show my ID, and grab n go! Will I still wander the aisles of Target other days, yes, but it's nice to have this option for those times I know it's tight getting things done and back home before someone loses it.
What else have I grown to love for low stress shopping?
Amazon Prime Can you tell I like my online options? I can get a lot of stuff cheaper through amazon and with prime I can get 2 day shipping. I like buying those cumbersome items like big bags of kitty litter this way. My fedex guy loves me for it I'm sure.
Soap.com And all of its sister sites. I can order (again) bigger items like toilet paper and paper towels. They accept coupons (have to mail them in) or they also have ecoupons available.
ContainerStore There is an option for pickup there as well. I could get sucked in there, but if little man is with me it needs to be quick.
Harris Teeter or the "teet" as my sister-in-law calls it. I haven't used this yet, but just recently heard about online ordering and curbside pick up. This was a tip from another mom. You do have to pay per pickup or you can pay for a month and it's unlimited. I'm looking forward to this during deployments for sure!
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Get it Together
Who hasn't done it? You've rolled out of bed and you're doing good to have changed into yoga pants. The baby didn't sleep last night because he/she is teething or sick. This has been my life for the last three months. We've been moving, life is inconsistent, we've managed to hit baby losing mom's immunity at cold/flu season and he's trying to drop his first nap. It's a little hectic.
I take quick moments for myself, and now that we've got the house coming together and a little more flow to the day I'm trying to not be frump-a-lumpagus. I'm hitting up pinterest. I've got the love/hate with it, but more on that later. I'm trying to find the time to look presentable since we're trying to get out more after hitting the 1 year mark. So here are a few of my finds...
When it's tight, shower at night
There are those days you're gonna have to get up and roll out of the house pretty quick. Now that we don't do morning naps (most days) that time to shower and put a face on sans baby is gone! I have fine hair and sleeping on it can end with poor results, but there is always a ponytail or topknot. I saw this blog on pinterest and she's also suggested not washing your hair everyday. I'm wondering though if sometimes these are people with thicker hair/longer hair who are able to pull this off. We'll try it. It doesn't hurt or cost anything to try it.
Comfortable can be cute!
So the site mentioned above also talks about it not saving you any time to dress nicer than yoga pants. This is true if you're comfortable coming up with cute outfits. I'm not a fashionista, but I'm getting better! What has gotten me out of my slump of mini tees is looking at the people who I feel always look put together. I look at the basics from their wardrobe and use it as a template. My go to look lately is cute flats, a basic top and some accessories and I'm set. I've learned to never underestimate the power of a good accessory. It's like the spring blooms on a tree. It's small, but can have a real impact.
Keep the basics in your bag
Keep a tube of mascara and lip gloss or my fave, Rosebud Lip Balm, in your diaper bag/purse. I also keep a hair tie and bobby pins in my wallet. If you run out the door, you can take 60 seconds, while kids are still strapped into carseats at your destination to freshen up and feel like you've got it together.
Set it out at night
This is one that I've known, but don't regularly practice. Find more time in the morning when things are set out for you ready to use. Trim those precious seconds by putting your coffee cup out, program the coffee maker, set out your clothes and your kids' clothes, and anything else that will allow you to get ready with less fuss.
Progress not perfection
Pinterest perfection shouldn't be your ultimate goal. Like I mentioned above I see people who I really admire for their style that looks effortless. It's something I want for myself, so I'm working on that in a way that fits my budget and body. I'm proud of the changes I've made in clothes and also in my schedule and other places I've been working to improve. I'm consider myself winning if I'm moving forward. And you know what, even if I take a few steps back, I'm still better than I was when I started and that is fantastic. Don't be the perfectionist that doesn't start because they can't attain perfection.
I'm blogging. It's not perfect. But that isn't the point. I didn't wait until I could take pictures and edit them for this post. I'm trying to do all the things above, so I don't really have time for that right now, but one day maybe I will. Today I completed a task for myself and that is what I call winning.
I take quick moments for myself, and now that we've got the house coming together and a little more flow to the day I'm trying to not be frump-a-lumpagus. I'm hitting up pinterest. I've got the love/hate with it, but more on that later. I'm trying to find the time to look presentable since we're trying to get out more after hitting the 1 year mark. So here are a few of my finds...
When it's tight, shower at night
There are those days you're gonna have to get up and roll out of the house pretty quick. Now that we don't do morning naps (most days) that time to shower and put a face on sans baby is gone! I have fine hair and sleeping on it can end with poor results, but there is always a ponytail or topknot. I saw this blog on pinterest and she's also suggested not washing your hair everyday. I'm wondering though if sometimes these are people with thicker hair/longer hair who are able to pull this off. We'll try it. It doesn't hurt or cost anything to try it.
Comfortable can be cute!
So the site mentioned above also talks about it not saving you any time to dress nicer than yoga pants. This is true if you're comfortable coming up with cute outfits. I'm not a fashionista, but I'm getting better! What has gotten me out of my slump of mini tees is looking at the people who I feel always look put together. I look at the basics from their wardrobe and use it as a template. My go to look lately is cute flats, a basic top and some accessories and I'm set. I've learned to never underestimate the power of a good accessory. It's like the spring blooms on a tree. It's small, but can have a real impact.
Again I'm no fashionista, but this outfit is super comfortable, baby chasing appropriate,
and an example of how one scarf makes this monochromatic outfit more interesting.
and an example of how one scarf makes this monochromatic outfit more interesting.
Keep the basics in your bag
Keep a tube of mascara and lip gloss or my fave, Rosebud Lip Balm, in your diaper bag/purse. I also keep a hair tie and bobby pins in my wallet. If you run out the door, you can take 60 seconds, while kids are still strapped into carseats at your destination to freshen up and feel like you've got it together.
Set it out at night
This is one that I've known, but don't regularly practice. Find more time in the morning when things are set out for you ready to use. Trim those precious seconds by putting your coffee cup out, program the coffee maker, set out your clothes and your kids' clothes, and anything else that will allow you to get ready with less fuss.
Progress not perfection
Pinterest perfection shouldn't be your ultimate goal. Like I mentioned above I see people who I really admire for their style that looks effortless. It's something I want for myself, so I'm working on that in a way that fits my budget and body. I'm proud of the changes I've made in clothes and also in my schedule and other places I've been working to improve. I'm consider myself winning if I'm moving forward. And you know what, even if I take a few steps back, I'm still better than I was when I started and that is fantastic. Don't be the perfectionist that doesn't start because they can't attain perfection.
I'm blogging. It's not perfect. But that isn't the point. I didn't wait until I could take pictures and edit them for this post. I'm trying to do all the things above, so I don't really have time for that right now, but one day maybe I will. Today I completed a task for myself and that is what I call winning.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
It's What's for Dinner
The newest product discovery is the Plum Spoon Boon. I found mine at Target, but I'm sure you can find them lots of other places.
This little screw on spoon is amazing! I've had problems getting little man to eat. He has to have the spoon or we go into melt down. The traditional spoon was great, but he wouldn't get half of the food in his mouth and I couldn't get him food fast enough. Most feeding ended in tears. I tried giving him a spoon for each hand and one to feed him with, but alas he's a smart one and would drop one or both to acquire the one with the food on it. Why do I like this little spoon? I get food to him at his rate so less fussing because I can't get him food fast enough. He can hold something and not make a HUGE mess. He grasps the end of the spoon or top of the pouch without disrupting meal time. The only negative I have for it is that I think it's made for an older kid. The spoon is deep for such a tiny mouth (he's 6 months) so he can't get all of the food out, but I can look over that. Feedings are cleaner, faster and happier for all. Will we need to change methods as he gets older, yes, but for now this is one happy momma.
As for my mealtimes I got around to cooking something for dinner tonight. The farm share brought potatoes so I made a little breakfast hash this evening. Potatoes, chives, green onions, and left over breakfast sausage from the other day. Yummy! It required no salt or pepper as you get plenty of flavor from the green onions, chives and sausage.
As for my mealtimes I got around to cooking something for dinner tonight. The farm share brought potatoes so I made a little breakfast hash this evening. Potatoes, chives, green onions, and left over breakfast sausage from the other day. Yummy! It required no salt or pepper as you get plenty of flavor from the green onions, chives and sausage.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Mustgo Stew
In a previous post I mentioned our farm share. I love getting the bag of veggies each week. This week we had some beautiful carrots. As there are enough veggies for a full family and I'm primarily the only eating them I'm finding it difficult some weeks to keep up. When I was at home, Mom would always make mustgo soup with all the things that "must go" before they spoil. Since I bought stew meat recently and it was either cook it or freeze it, I stuck it in the crock pot with the beautiful carrots and some celery, mushrooms, green onions and a few radishes that were left over from the 4th. Just a little happiness which greets you in the morning. It's nice to wake and know lunch is taken care of and today after the kiddo seems to only sleep 30 minutes at a time that was much needed.
Bright and Beautiful!
Monday, July 1, 2013
The Rule of Two
It seems now that I have a kid that I live out of my car. The diaper bag never really makes it in the house and then the stroller is always there along with other various items that make it in, but with a kiddo in my arms when I go in the house and the temp being over 100 degrees now I don't always everything the house. There are times I feel like the car looks like this.
Now I realize this is a big extreme. I know I don't collect that much stuff in the car, but the fact still remains that it's far from clean. Part of my attempt to simplify life is keeping the car clean and organized. Ultimately it would be really nice to do the drive thru car wash and then use the free vacuums and just clean out the trash, but alas baby boy is not a fan of the car wash or the vacuums. Where does this leave me? I either use a good morning naptime to clear it all out or use the rule of two.
The Rule of Two:
When you don't have time to get EVERYTHING done at once, at least get two things put away.
I'm not sure if it's an idea my mom had or if it's one of my own. It's been around a while, though not always utilized. So my goal this next week is relocating at least two things. When coming in from the car I'm going to grab one of the many toys that relocated to the floor on the drive home and something else and put it where it belongs. Once you get the car clean you can help keep it clean by doing the rule of two each time you get out of the car. You don't have to get ALL the trash at once. Grab the fast food cup and those gas receipts when you stop at Walmart and drop them in the trash on the way in. It's all about progress, not perfection. My new mantra. We'll never be perfect, but we can be better than we were.
Now I realize this is a big extreme. I know I don't collect that much stuff in the car, but the fact still remains that it's far from clean. Part of my attempt to simplify life is keeping the car clean and organized. Ultimately it would be really nice to do the drive thru car wash and then use the free vacuums and just clean out the trash, but alas baby boy is not a fan of the car wash or the vacuums. Where does this leave me? I either use a good morning naptime to clear it all out or use the rule of two.
The Rule of Two:
When you don't have time to get EVERYTHING done at once, at least get two things put away.
I'm not sure if it's an idea my mom had or if it's one of my own. It's been around a while, though not always utilized. So my goal this next week is relocating at least two things. When coming in from the car I'm going to grab one of the many toys that relocated to the floor on the drive home and something else and put it where it belongs. Once you get the car clean you can help keep it clean by doing the rule of two each time you get out of the car. You don't have to get ALL the trash at once. Grab the fast food cup and those gas receipts when you stop at Walmart and drop them in the trash on the way in. It's all about progress, not perfection. My new mantra. We'll never be perfect, but we can be better than we were.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Shelby, Betty, Madeline, Julie & Julia
Tonight after putting the little one in bed I decided on what I would do for my "mommy time". So here I sit, my Betty Crocker brownies, delicious Madeline Tosh yarn, and Julie & Julia. It's just a lot of Mom and the little guy these days. I'm much more efficient than I was when he first came home. We have a loose schedule and in that schedule is always some mommy time. I'm a firm believer that if you take care of yourself that you can take care of them better than if you didn't. Since Daddy is busy with work I'm doing it all and all the time. This is a lot for one person and if I didn't do things I enjoy like knitting I'd burn out for sure.
Speaking of knitting, after a brief sabbatical, I'm back and working on the little one's blanket. This is my year of fearless knitting! I've decided that I'm not going to shy away from hard patterns or patterns that intimidate me just for the amount of knitting involved. In the last few weeks I've started back on my first sweater. I've busted through some of my yarn stash with a fun scarf. As I mentioned before I pulled out the baby blanket for my 5 month old. I started that bad boy during pregnancy - no judging! I am truly an ADD knitter. I can put a project into the naughty bag and let it hibernate for months. This sadly is how I am on several things in life.
This week I've finally started fixing the hot mess of an old desk we've been using as a side table. On our first assignment we lived in this 1,000 sq ft apartment near the beach. It was white. When I say it was white, it was white. There wasn't even builders' beige to live with. So after over watering a plant and ending up with a water ring on said desk I painted it. I painted it bright green and loved it. And then we moved. I was not as big of a fan of the color in the next house. Then we moved again. Needless to say I was over the green. What did I do? I bought stripper and started a new adventure. I brought the desk out, put the chemical on and waited for it to bubble and the paint to fall off with ease. HA! I do have to say that it worked well some places and less in others. I tried again and still no amazing results. I wanted to restore this sweet little desk to it's glory. No dice. I was frustrated and needed a break, so I wiped it down and decided to use it for a week or two while I regrouped. Now, around 2 years later I pulled out this still partially green desk while the little guys was asleep for a nap and sanded it. It still has flecks of green, which are permanently soaked in the wood, but I'm viewing it as added character. On another day I stained it. Maybe next week I'll put on the clear coat. I'm not putting it back where I'm using it since you know what happened last time I did that.
Needless to say I'm not a finisher when left to my own devices with home projects. This is why I married my husband. Together we are yin and yang. I'm the OCD, have several projects going or draw it out because I need it to be perfect and he's the one project at a time, doesn't have to be perfect kind of guy. He doesn't understand my knitting habit. Why would one ever have 5 projects going at once? My reason? I get bored or frustrated and rather than hurry through and make mistakes (which will bug the ever living daylights out of me every time I saw it) I will put it away until I'm excited to work on it again or at least not angry. Now the hubs is no slob. He does wonderful work around the house, but if there is a small hiccup he doesn't obsess about it. We stretch each other though. He knows I'm OCD and will make sure to slow down when he gets close to the end of a project so he doesn't make mistakes in the excitement of almost being done and I do honestly try to do not have projects lying about for long periods of time. He hates the mess. We're good for each other.
Well with all of this talk of getting things done and taking care of myself I have to admit it's time that I pick myself off the couch and get ready for bed. This momma has to get some sleep to make it happen all over again tomorrow. Good night all!
Speaking of knitting, after a brief sabbatical, I'm back and working on the little one's blanket. This is my year of fearless knitting! I've decided that I'm not going to shy away from hard patterns or patterns that intimidate me just for the amount of knitting involved. In the last few weeks I've started back on my first sweater. I've busted through some of my yarn stash with a fun scarf. As I mentioned before I pulled out the baby blanket for my 5 month old. I started that bad boy during pregnancy - no judging! I am truly an ADD knitter. I can put a project into the naughty bag and let it hibernate for months. This sadly is how I am on several things in life.
This week I've finally started fixing the hot mess of an old desk we've been using as a side table. On our first assignment we lived in this 1,000 sq ft apartment near the beach. It was white. When I say it was white, it was white. There wasn't even builders' beige to live with. So after over watering a plant and ending up with a water ring on said desk I painted it. I painted it bright green and loved it. And then we moved. I was not as big of a fan of the color in the next house. Then we moved again. Needless to say I was over the green. What did I do? I bought stripper and started a new adventure. I brought the desk out, put the chemical on and waited for it to bubble and the paint to fall off with ease. HA! I do have to say that it worked well some places and less in others. I tried again and still no amazing results. I wanted to restore this sweet little desk to it's glory. No dice. I was frustrated and needed a break, so I wiped it down and decided to use it for a week or two while I regrouped. Now, around 2 years later I pulled out this still partially green desk while the little guys was asleep for a nap and sanded it. It still has flecks of green, which are permanently soaked in the wood, but I'm viewing it as added character. On another day I stained it. Maybe next week I'll put on the clear coat. I'm not putting it back where I'm using it since you know what happened last time I did that.
Needless to say I'm not a finisher when left to my own devices with home projects. This is why I married my husband. Together we are yin and yang. I'm the OCD, have several projects going or draw it out because I need it to be perfect and he's the one project at a time, doesn't have to be perfect kind of guy. He doesn't understand my knitting habit. Why would one ever have 5 projects going at once? My reason? I get bored or frustrated and rather than hurry through and make mistakes (which will bug the ever living daylights out of me every time I saw it) I will put it away until I'm excited to work on it again or at least not angry. Now the hubs is no slob. He does wonderful work around the house, but if there is a small hiccup he doesn't obsess about it. We stretch each other though. He knows I'm OCD and will make sure to slow down when he gets close to the end of a project so he doesn't make mistakes in the excitement of almost being done and I do honestly try to do not have projects lying about for long periods of time. He hates the mess. We're good for each other.
Well with all of this talk of getting things done and taking care of myself I have to admit it's time that I pick myself off the couch and get ready for bed. This momma has to get some sleep to make it happen all over again tomorrow. Good night all!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Live Simply part 1
Live simply. What does that mean to you? I'm sure if you asked 10 people that one question, you would get different answers. There is no right answer and no right or wrong way to do it either. You'll find everyone has their "how-to" out there on the web. This is what worked for them, but may not work fully for you. I've looked at tons of sites and pins on pinterest.com looking for methods of scaling back.
Over the next 6 months I'm going to try and simplify my lifestyle. After bringing baby home and not returning to work my stress level has decreased. I'm not pushing myself so hard to get it all done at once. With the little guy here most of my schedule revolves around him and his needs for the day. That being the case I would like to simplify not only what we own, but also how I do things. This allowing me more opportunity to keep the house under control or be social and enjoy the time I have with my family.
I'm going to start with stuff since I can't seem to focus clearly until the house is in order. I plan on starting once I've recovered from having my wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. Oh how I look forward to eating solid food.
Over the next 6 months I'm going to try and simplify my lifestyle. After bringing baby home and not returning to work my stress level has decreased. I'm not pushing myself so hard to get it all done at once. With the little guy here most of my schedule revolves around him and his needs for the day. That being the case I would like to simplify not only what we own, but also how I do things. This allowing me more opportunity to keep the house under control or be social and enjoy the time I have with my family.
I'm going to start with stuff since I can't seem to focus clearly until the house is in order. I plan on starting once I've recovered from having my wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. Oh how I look forward to eating solid food.
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