tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81088622545039892432024-03-12T20:17:55.598-07:00J to the fourth powerOur simple approach to living the life God intended for us.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-74797503592234995392013-04-05T08:15:00.005-07:002013-04-05T08:15:29.419-07:00new pageWe have moved.<br />
<br />
come visit us at <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://jtothe4thpower.wordpress.com/">jtothe4thpower.wordpress.com</a><br />
</blockquote>
See you over there!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Justin and JessicaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-1653380085582055732013-03-29T08:50:00.000-07:002013-03-29T08:50:00.560-07:00Day 86: Five Buck FridaysThere is a weekly offer at our local flower shop, each friday, called a "five buck friday." It is a simple arrangement of flowers. My sweet husband likes to spoil me about every two weeks with one of these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dunr3WXhnhU/UVRmFeHvKaI/AAAAAAAAAzI/FWiFMswzXto/s1600/fivebuckfriday+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dunr3WXhnhU/UVRmFeHvKaI/AAAAAAAAAzI/FWiFMswzXto/s1600/fivebuckfriday+Collage.jpg" height="588" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In this act he is supporting a local business, making me feel loved and appreciated, being smart by not buying me expensive roses (in which I don't even like), and helping our home feel more inviting by the presence of fresh flowers.<br />
<br />
I love the idea of the five buck friday. And as much as I say that I don't like flowers (because they are not thoughtful and don't last more than a week or two), I most definitely love getting them from my husband :)<br />
<br />
Call me old fashioned.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-72045111352962070722013-03-28T08:28:00.003-07:002013-03-28T08:28:45.221-07:00(what should be) Day 85: Project #3 - Dryer Balls I have been wanting to do dryer balls for quite awhile now, and finally decided to make them for a friend's bridal shower!<br />
<br />
They were relatively cheap and very simple.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4A_E_fdV_u4/UVRgf08kIfI/AAAAAAAAAzA/D4PSA58Jbes/s1600/dryer+balls+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4A_E_fdV_u4/UVRgf08kIfI/AAAAAAAAAzA/D4PSA58Jbes/s1600/dryer+balls+Collage.jpg" height="640" width="576" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For one skein of yarn I was able to make three balls (one large, one medium and one small).<br />
<br />
I have yet to make some for our family...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<b>Why wool dryer balls?</b><br />
-To replace dryer sheets<br />
-They are reusable (last from 5-10 YEARS!)<br />
-Chemical free<br />
-Safe for cloth diapers<br />
-Reduce static cling<br />
-Reduce drying time by 25-45%</blockquote>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-30609377357762987222013-03-27T07:57:00.000-07:002013-03-28T07:58:11.190-07:00uh....SO BEHINDInstead of beating myself up daily over not posting all the things we've done throughout the year so far, I am going to start now.<br />
<br />
I will, at some point, go back and fill in all the missed days, but I have gotten so far behind that it is better for me to just start now, from today on.<br />
<br />
And. It. Is. Okay.<br />
<br />
Our goal may not have been accomplished completely, but we have not failed at striving for simplicity.<br />
<br />
So, here goes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-43604302392364967392013-02-20T11:10:00.003-08:002013-02-20T11:15:23.775-08:00ApologiesWe would like to apologize for our lack of consistency.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Sorry!</span></blockquote>
We found it extremely difficult to keep up with the blog, not having Internet access at home.<br />
We have returned to being customers/slaves of Cox Communications - we traded our previous Internet speed in for the slowest possible. It still works quite well.<br />
<br />
This week, starting with a glorious snow-day today, I am going to attempt to post all the missing days!<br />
I will most likely do about two per day...if you care.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we are still keeping up with our year-challenge - just having a hard time keeping up with pictures and writing. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Something about having two-kiddos-under-two, battling tax season while being a full-time college student, getting involved in the community and church hunting takes a lot of one's free time :)</em></span></blockquote>
<br />
Happy Snow Day to those of you experiencing it!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0xB17Y3GBxg/USUdEdtfXpI/AAAAAAAAAsw/rpkn3KoTwTA/s1600/Tree_in_the_snow_outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0xB17Y3GBxg/USUdEdtfXpI/AAAAAAAAAsw/rpkn3KoTwTA/s640/Tree_in_the_snow_outside.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Snow Outside" Dave Matthews Band<br />
You should<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgbMtIOIYjM" target="_blank"><strong>listen</strong></a> to this song today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-2942346629747972472013-02-05T21:29:00.000-08:002013-03-16T21:32:32.492-07:00Day 34: Our bath/shower areaThis one sort of speaks for itself.<br />
We simplified our shower/bath area by eliminating products we don't use and organizing what we had a little better.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IewTdbpbW3U/UUVHGtDLLlI/AAAAAAAAAwA/-GGigfxTnEU/s1600/bath+TUB+Collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IewTdbpbW3U/UUVHGtDLLlI/AAAAAAAAAwA/-GGigfxTnEU/s1600/bath+TUB+Collage.png" height="376" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see, this is before we have switched to any natural products what-so-ever...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-14029021340550905132013-02-04T14:33:00.000-08:002013-03-05T19:24:58.743-08:00Day 33: We bought a scaleWe've been trying to eat better, eat less and exercise more.<br />
<br />
In order to push ourselves a little bit, we have bought a scale to keep track of our weight!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6UNpz7_nms/UTa2cg_kKWI/AAAAAAAAAvw/9OqqLIWOBzs/s1600/scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6UNpz7_nms/UTa2cg_kKWI/AAAAAAAAAvw/9OqqLIWOBzs/s1600/scale.jpg" height="640" width="608" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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I do need to be careful though - I am nursing two little nurslings and noticed myself getting dizzy the other day as I was counting calories...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My goal is to eat healthier - not necessarily less - but, less junk.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
AND to drink more water, instead of other sugar filled beverages.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Both of us have lost a few pounds this week and I am feeling a lot better about my body already! Just getting a little more active each day helps a whole lot! </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-80674351023566305092013-02-03T14:13:00.000-08:002013-03-05T14:18:28.621-08:00Day 32: My reading listAt this very moment, I am "reading" about ten different books.<br />
<br />
"reading"= have read at least one chapter and have the book sitting out in a random place for me to pick up whenever I get the time/urge to read it; OR am continually turning to it when I decide I need advice.<br />
<br />
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wlR3gYRQg4g/UTZuH5R19KI/AAAAAAAAAvg/X1mqz_tZqy0/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wlR3gYRQg4g/UTZuH5R19KI/AAAAAAAAAvg/X1mqz_tZqy0/s1600/books.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">+ <a href="http://inspiredtoaction.com/" target="_blank">two e-books</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is not simple. This is too many.<br />
<br />
What's my plan of action? How am I going to simplify my reading? <br />
<br />
I DON'T KNOW.<br />
<br />
But I think I should.<br />
<br />
<br />
What do you suggest? I clearly don't have enough time to get through a book quickly; I rarely sit down to actually read more than one chapter at a time. I <i>want </i>to read all of these. I <i>need </i>to read some of these. <br />
<br />
help.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-86194239676154246882013-02-02T13:56:00.000-08:002013-03-05T13:56:46.093-08:00Day 31: QuickbooksAs a family, we do a pretty decent job of keeping track of our finances and setting up a realistic spending plan. Thanks to my wonderfully-smart-accountant-of-a-husband, we have our moneys set. Recently, he set us up as a company in quickbooks! Instead of telling you about quickbooks or the why and how of what we are doing, I am going to allow him to do the talking. He is very passionate about it, and pretty good at explaining things. <br />
<img height="314" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.cpasitesolutions.com/images/whatyouget/quickbooks.jpg" style="margin-top: 87px;" width="400" /><br />
Go ahead honey.<br />
<br />
((This blog post is on its way. Justin is smack-dab-in-the-middle of tax season and finishing up his last semester at LSU...he will write when he has time.))Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-61133596523944267802013-02-01T11:36:00.000-08:002013-02-27T11:57:03.737-08:00Day 30: GarageThe garage at our house is normally referred to as "Justin's garage." It has become more of a storage space than a place to park a car. It isn't very big, but we can squeeze our van into it if it is going to hail or something. <br />
<br />Recently, as we have been clearing our living spaces of "stuff," we have been boxing that stuff and setting it in the garage to be delivered to an organization on a later date. That stuff has been PILING up. <br />
<br />
Plus, Justin's work bench area has been filled with projects that need to be done.<br />
<br />
One night, after we put the kiddos in bed, we decided to clean the garage out. It only took us about two hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnDaQa0mEUA/US5hzOBBjQI/AAAAAAAAAus/Bp2AcRK9FU8/s1600/garage+collage+edited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnDaQa0mEUA/US5hzOBBjQI/AAAAAAAAAus/Bp2AcRK9FU8/s640/garage+collage+edited.png" width="640" /></a></div>
((some fun things to notice as you look at these pictures:<br />
My husband's collection of hot wheels (as well as bottled water and can goods in case of catastrophe.) The toddler bed that needs re-finishing that we bought at a second-hand-furniture-store. The street sign above the work bench... The graffiti wall. Our bikes up-top! The little pink riding car Jane got for Christmas. The riding lawn-mower that we are storing for Justin's parents. [Top right photo] My cutesie husband sitting on said mower.)) <br />
<br />
So, there you have it. Justin's garage is clean and somewhat organized. We moved a lot of the un-used stuff to the shed. We took the boxes of donations to our van (which later ended back up in the garage because we didn't have time to deliver them.) There is now room to work on "the toddler bed project." I am beyond excited to grab those bikes down for a stroll once springtime hits!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-28760050505538462432013-01-31T18:43:00.000-08:002013-02-25T18:44:12.747-08:00Day 29: Gardening ChatJustin and I would like to start a vegetable garden as part of our goal to be self-sufficient. Neither of us have ever done this, so we are tapping into some of our resources. I have a friend who grew up Amish and knows everything about gardening, and Justin works with a lady who loves to plant things.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLLQVXAyoAw/USwhCv81HXI/AAAAAAAAAuY/fCZ2Kh-MHU8/s1600/vegetable+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLLQVXAyoAw/USwhCv81HXI/AAAAAAAAAuY/fCZ2Kh-MHU8/s640/vegetable+garden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Today, in addition to catching up with my friend, I asked lots of questions about gardening. How to start one? Where to put it? What to plant? When to start? <br />
<br />
The recommended time to plant is after the ground is no longer frozen (end of April/beginning of May). <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, we have a sticker-full yard...I think they are actually called sand burs. Therefore, we will need to get rid of those before we set up our gardening area.<br />
Thankfully, April/May is after Justin is done with tax season (he is an accountant) and he should be done with school by then as well! He has got quite a task in front of him!<br />
<br />
I would love to hear any advice you may have on gardening. As I said before, we are NOVICES. Clueless ones at that! Please share any useful tools, information, reading, etc!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-17579739074236319292013-01-30T18:19:00.000-08:002013-02-25T18:21:27.872-08:00Day 28: Cleaning out our vehicle<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every family with kids has a messy car at some point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ours gets messy daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I allow Jane to have a drink in the car – I
usually limit it to water, otherwise we could end up with a nasty milk
situation – therefore, those cups end up on the floor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">immediately </i>after she is finished with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We eat out and our trash ends up on the
floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do my makeup in the car and my
used-mascara-ridden-q-tips end up on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mail is occasionally opened in the car, and you guessed it, the junk
mail ends up on the floor of our van.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All that to say, our van gets messy quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A smart way to combat this would be to carry
a trash item in with each return to home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, let me tell you, my hands are a bit preoccupied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between carrying Jack (2 months), trying to
hold a disobedient tiny Jane (16 months) hand and carrying in the (sometimes)
two diaper bags, there is no room for trash in these two hands of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It makes me crazy to see stuff all over the van.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My new goal is to clean our van once per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have a set time or day, it is more on
an as-needed basis. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-40399481154928318282013-01-29T11:47:00.000-08:002013-02-20T11:58:43.405-08:00Day 27: Research Day<span style="font-family: inherit;">
Part of our year of less is focused on researching and
supporting ethical companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To us,
ethical = natural products and Christian companies or people making those
products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked about my friend
Jenny’s Products (</span><a href="http://sunflowersundays.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">sunflowersundays.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">) and how we were going to try CalBen Shampoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have kind of decided against the shampoo, strictly
based on price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.applevalleynaturalsoap.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgqfCrEys6Y/USUoPqijseI/AAAAAAAAAuE/TkqCFYa46_g/s1600/applevalley.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I googled, “natural shampoo Christian,” to start my search
for a company and product that we want to support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one that I came across that sounds spot
on with what we are looking for is <a href="http://www.applevalleynaturalsoap.com/" target="_blank">Apple Valley</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a family company, owned and operated
by Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They offer “shampoo bars”
along with many other products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
wanted to try this shampoo bar, but unfortunately it does not work with hard
water…which we have!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They suggest using
a filtered shower head, but that equals a higher cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once more, we are not sure what to replace
our “chemical cocktail” shampoo with…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Any ideas friends? </blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also went to a local store called </span><a href="http://www.herbsbacktonature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Back to Nature"</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to look at their shampoo options. As I read on the backs of the bottles, they seemed to have just as many ingredients as the ones I already buy, and I know nothing about all the companies - not to mention, the cost was much more than what I am looking to spend. We need help!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-20896120221111712672013-01-28T11:16:00.000-08:002013-02-20T11:32:09.593-08:00Day 26: Kid's Drawer<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Along with that shelf in the hallway closet, the rest of the hall closet, and
every single drawer in our house, the second drawer down in our hallway tends
to get messy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call it the Jane/Jack
drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It contains their bath wash and
lotion (of which we have not ever had to buy), towels and random baby
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the disaster area:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sD2Uec9bwSo/USUihkpzkHI/AAAAAAAAAtw/CWmn0WzrNNI/s1600/kid+drawer+before.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sD2Uec9bwSo/USUihkpzkHI/AAAAAAAAAtw/CWmn0WzrNNI/s400/kid+drawer+before.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And here is the organized drawer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1hlwMBvlyk/USUiWPt2UMI/AAAAAAAAAto/2EG7TOhZDpc/s1600/kid+drawer+after.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1hlwMBvlyk/USUiWPt2UMI/AAAAAAAAAto/2EG7TOhZDpc/s400/kid+drawer+after.png" width="360" /></a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I threw away some stuff, but mostly just folded the towels
and set stuff up nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there were
even items that just didn’t belong in there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My next task is consolidating towels…that will be in a
while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t decided how many towels
I think is a good number for our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="http://theyearofless.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-100-eight-towels.html" target="_blank">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">year of less blog</i></a> decided
they only needed one towel per family member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am thinking about this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll get back with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
mostly I don’t want to do laundry that often, but I also feel bad getting rid
of towels that people just bought us for the kiddos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe two towels per baby is okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I will get back with you when we decide!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sD2Uec9bwSo/USUihkpzkHI/AAAAAAAAAtw/CWmn0WzrNNI/s1600/kid+drawer+before.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-89351486670981086982013-01-27T11:35:00.000-08:002013-01-27T11:35:00.118-08:00Day 25: Project #2I have been planning this one for awhile. <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7sBsigkblk/UQQt8GCaTGI/AAAAAAAAArE/WrEcC-eEkmo/s1600/100_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7sBsigkblk/UQQt8GCaTGI/AAAAAAAAArE/WrEcC-eEkmo/s400/100_2198.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I needed a place to hang my necklaces in an orderly fashion, so one day I began perusing pinterest for some crafty ideas. I found a few little ways to hang hooks from wood that looked relatively cheap and cute. Then I had an epiphany when I was sitting on the toilet one day! (TMI...perhaps.)</div>
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We have this pretty painting in our bathroom that is canvas and pretty deep. There was plenty of room to add some hooks on the inside of it! So, I told my handy-man husband my idea. We would grab some little hooks to put on the inside of it and then hinges to attach it to the wall for easy access.</div>
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<br />He bought the hooks one day, but bless his poor soul, he is TOO BUSY to do anything handy-manish these days. So, I decided I could probably do half of it.</div>
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Here it is!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-za7crmaud0I/UQQvC1iE8hI/AAAAAAAAArY/tHXMyMkIAlo/s1600/100_2199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-za7crmaud0I/UQQvC1iE8hI/AAAAAAAAArY/tHXMyMkIAlo/s320/100_2199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the painting</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KN679hSSaIs/UQQvFduUYzI/AAAAAAAAArg/Z86_Oq6m2Bs/s1600/100_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KN679hSSaIs/UQQvFduUYzI/AAAAAAAAArg/Z86_Oq6m2Bs/s320/100_2200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The inside of the back</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pORzzy_y2Ws/UQQvNM0dFRI/AAAAAAAAAro/z88Yjgj2L7Q/s1600/100_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pORzzy_y2Ws/UQQvNM0dFRI/AAAAAAAAAro/z88Yjgj2L7Q/s320/100_2217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...with hooks!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBX3vnD3AnQ/UQQvXEdHd7I/AAAAAAAAArw/Bdz4RXK9-3c/s1600/100_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBX3vnD3AnQ/UQQvXEdHd7I/AAAAAAAAArw/Bdz4RXK9-3c/s320/100_2222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and now furnished with necklaces :)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GzIL_wPpTxs/UQQvXW1DlbI/AAAAAAAAAr0/NwvlaQpitms/s1600/100_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GzIL_wPpTxs/UQQvXW1DlbI/AAAAAAAAAr0/NwvlaQpitms/s320/100_2223.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Look how great it looks on the wall! You would NEVER know there were necklaces there! If I ever have any valuable jewelry, that is where it will be hanging...to protect it from burglars ;) </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-40320362279148671462013-01-26T11:18:00.000-08:002013-01-26T11:22:49.455-08:00Day 24: Hallway Shelf #1Our hallway, like our dining room, has built in shelves/closets/drawers. It is so nice to have these areas to store things like towels and beauty products! The problem is, we have an abundance of all of those things...<br />
<br />
Instead of a nice orderly space of storage, it has become a conglomeration of stuff strewn about.<br />
<br />
Our bottom shelf is the <strong>worst</strong>. It contains our everyday use things like deoderant, shaving cream and hair gel, along with a thermometer and some tylenol and things of that sort. I spend about thirty minutes each week straightening it up and re-setting-up tipped over bottles and cups. Then, as the week goes on we just start throwing things in there after each use and it becomes a shelf of junk. There is nothing orderly about it.<br />
<br />
So, I decided it was time for a change. I would only allow things on this shelf that we use frequently and they are only allowed if it still looks relatively simple and clean.<br />
<br />
Here are the results:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJe4dWTKFQU/UQQsM-329wI/AAAAAAAAAqo/OxQ9HEp_66Y/s1600/shelf+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJe4dWTKFQU/UQQsM-329wI/AAAAAAAAAqo/OxQ9HEp_66Y/s640/shelf+1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is a photo of the rest of the closet - to be worked on very soon:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ulyo5iJL-Vg/UQQsqoZUpRI/AAAAAAAAAqw/ntpP2i5Bitc/s1600/100_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ulyo5iJL-Vg/UQQsqoZUpRI/AAAAAAAAAqw/ntpP2i5Bitc/s400/100_2173.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see there are mainly towels and toilet paper. <br />
There are also random table linens and sheets tucked away in there. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-14549944423238122112013-01-25T11:03:00.000-08:002013-01-26T11:03:31.883-08:00Day 23: Matthew 7<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iuv796s2sI&ytsession=mKhnceaXXCAhLWeRrStmPI1NmK-v9g8ujh8QoYGGCnZU8N1zTHABMO_fWb31WpKmlKykvFJCO6nl22zy2A3TBK0XX1VdnxrYlKOk46YHtw9hU2nwBoUp9WM9DjM58HLWmbgHEnPQfUY7V-A4ixqT9zVCCRFUo2LnIMdarE5PFxWY-nQH8con3ZnR5VAqLG7LMRoijovnJmTMnsINW2W577vkb6np70vhDyeN-ma8yfU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1gmYfJ9GB4/UQQmmjGWNEI/AAAAAAAAAqU/CNPU7Avc1Es/s640/words+to+build+a+life+on.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click the picture for link to the song "Words to Build a Life On" by Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once more – my interpretation of the verses in Matthew
chapter 7, and some of my thoughts along the way <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">v. 1-6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t judge others, but when you do judge you will be judged
as you judge others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sweep off your own
porch before you go out sweeping others” – take care of the junk in your own
life before you go worrying about the junk in someone else’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be hypocritical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember a time
when I was really struggling with gossip and judging others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found that the more I talked about other
people, the more I either heard or suspected of others speaking poorly of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this is referencing the
judgment of God and not of others, but it really struck me hard at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
I also find that if I ever try to place judgment on someone else’s life or
relationships, etc., God is quick to show me some things that need work in my
own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep what is sacred, sacred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was in
high-school youth group, our small group of girls did a purity study through
the book, “And the Bride wore white.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
distinctly remember this verse about throwing your pearls to pigs – the book
talked about how your bodies belong to the Lord and how you are to keep them
pure and holy, not giving into any lustful temptations before the day you are
united with your husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(At least that
is how I am remembering it.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">v. 7-12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Live by the golden rule: Do unto others what you would have
them do to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your Father will take
care of you, ask, seek and knock; you will be given what you ask, find what you
are seeking and the door in which you knock will be opened (perhaps, not in
exactly the way you think it should be).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The golden rule seems
pretty simple, yet it is a constant struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These verses are a good reminder to be always very thoughtful of and graceful
with people, because that is what I desire them to do to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love how simple the following verses are as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask and you will receive, seek and
you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is a good reminder that God
desires human action.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">v. 13-23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Narrow is the gate that leads to eternity, but wide is the
gate that leads to destruction – enter through the narrow gate, you few who
will find it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Watch out for false teachers, you can tell they are false by
the way they bear bad fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">True vs. false disciples – Not everyone who talks to the
Lord will enter into heaven – but those who do God’s will, will enter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many will do many things in the Lord’s name,
but have never known Him personally; they will be rejected just as they have
rejected our Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m reading <u>Radical</u>
by David Platt right now and the chapter I just finished talked a lot about how
we, as Americans, have glamorized the gospel and made it so comfortable and
easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In response to verses 22 and 23,
Platt reminds us that Jesus was speaking to religious people, not pagans or
atheists, who were convinced they were on the narrow path but were instead on
the road to hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus speaks of a time
when people, lots of people, will be shocked to find out they never even knew
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“[T]he gospel demands and enables
us to turn from our sin, to take up our cross, to die to ourselves, and to
follow Jesus,” NOT to make a “one-time decision, maybe even mere intellectual
assent to Jesus, but after that we need not worry about his commands, his
standards, or his glory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We are saved from our sins by a free gift
of grace, something that only God can do in us and that we cannot manufacture
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that gift of grace
involves the gift of a new heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New
desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New longings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time, we want God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see our need for him, and we love
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seek after him, and we find him,
and we discover that he is indeed the great reward of our salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We realize that we are saved not just to be
forgiven of our sins or to be assured of our eternity in heaven, but we are
saved to know God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we yearn for
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want him so much that we abandon
everything else to experience him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is the only proper response to the revelation of God in the gospel.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen brother!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Platt also states that we
“cannot settle for anything less than a God-centered, Christ-exalting,
self-denying gospel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">v. 24-29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you hear God’s words and put them into practice, you
have set up for yourself a firm foundation; when you don’t put them into
practice, your foundation will crumble like a house built on sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus amazed the crowds with His teachings because he spoke
with much authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“These words I speak
to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to
your standard of living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
foundational words, words to build a life on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter
who built his house on solid rock…but if you use my words in Bible studies and
don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his
house on a sandy beach.” – The Message<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-11675512433675607612013-01-24T10:23:00.000-08:002013-01-26T10:33:32.712-08:00Day 22: Library vs. Bookstore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SQWTycMSKJY/UQQfrC6_dJI/AAAAAAAAApo/FV1XsXu3rnQ/s1600/bkstore+vs+library.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SQWTycMSKJY/UQQfrC6_dJI/AAAAAAAAApo/FV1XsXu3rnQ/s640/bkstore+vs+library.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Part of our year of less is borrowing when we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The library comes in very handy in the area
of borrowing books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/An-Experimental-Mutiny-Against-Excess/dp/1433672960/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359224821&sr=8-1&keywords=7%3A+the+mutiny" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LU5NTFnPLys/UQQgPWsMY0I/AAAAAAAAApw/RTmV5gW6xbQ/s320/7+by+jen+hatmaker.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had heard of a book called “7: An experimental mutiny
against excess” by Jen Hatmaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard from
a few people that it was really good and a great challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since beginning <em>the year of less</em>, a few
friends recommended I read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I
don’t have the book; instead of grabbing it from a local (not so local)
bookstore, I decided to see if our library either has it or could get it on
interlibrary loan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon requesting the
book, the library decided to buy it and put me at the top of the list of people
waiting to check it out <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
So, I am currently waiting to begin this book – which is probably good, because
I am currently reading through another book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V1arFnIEAPM/UQQg2mqSDsI/AAAAAAAAAqA/05VcznIPTL8/s1600/potty+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V1arFnIEAPM/UQQg2mqSDsI/AAAAAAAAAqA/05VcznIPTL8/s320/potty+time.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also checked to see if they had (or could get) that Baby
Signing Time: Potty video I spoke about in </span><a href="http://jessvillmer.blogspot.com/2013/01/day-4-one-thing-per-day.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">this post</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were supposed to get back to me after
doing a little research on that one; it has been a week and I haven’t heard
anything, so this ones a little "up in the air."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In regard to this post, my husband stated, “I hate the
bookstore, however, I always seem to be paying them both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charges to buy a book at the store or late fees for not
returning a book in time to the library.” Haha.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-90687103076066521702013-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:002013-01-23T12:13:12.857-08:00Day 21: Project #1<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our dining room closet that we cleaned out now has a
“project shelf”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where we set
stuff that we need to fix, make or do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the things on that shelf was a box full of frames.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the pictures I hung for Jack’s Baby Shower,
I decided to create a frame collage for a wall in our living room.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started by framing the pictures and rearranging them on
our bed to form a frame collage that I thought looked good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Zo6S477HE/UQAxtmvlRsI/AAAAAAAAAlo/MWbcC8ScwhE/s1600/100_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Zo6S477HE/UQAxtmvlRsI/AAAAAAAAAlo/MWbcC8ScwhE/s400/100_2152.JPG" width="400" /></a></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I took them to the wall:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxYxGCv48Og/UQAx8MufM3I/AAAAAAAAAls/qNU8GsWuAHI/s1600/100_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxYxGCv48Og/UQAx8MufM3I/AAAAAAAAAls/qNU8GsWuAHI/s320/100_2154.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Zo6S477HE/UQAxtmvlRsI/AAAAAAAAAlo/MWbcC8ScwhE/s1600/100_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It looks a little cheap…but that’s alright with me <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got a project done, a wall decorated and 13 unused frames
out of our project closet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">***Note from husband: I came home to my wife standing 4 feet in the air on a
chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had she fallen, I may have been a
widow with two cute babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
woman would have fallen in love with me and the kids and then she would have
regretted this for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please do not
attempt this at your home unless your children are capable of calling 911 while
blood is spewing from your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
you think you will land like a Siamese cat, but it is called an accident
because no one expects it or wants it to happen!***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-79851507062966524962013-01-22T11:05:00.000-08:002013-02-04T10:25:48.645-08:00Day 20: Cloth Diapers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned in the previous post, we cloth diaper our
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a new thing for
the year, I just wanted to use this space/time to go into a little bit more
detail and tell you why we do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
also my personal challenge to be less slothful and continue using them on a
regular basis. (You see, sometimes we get lazy and go a few days using
disposables.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We began cloth diapering shortly after we bought our first
home when our oldest daughter was 3 months old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My cousin first told me about cloth diapering, as she cloth diapers her
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also began my stash and
helped me learn all the ins and outs of the CD (cloth diaper) world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it weren’t for her letting us borrow all
she did, we never would have started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We aren’t huge environmentalists or anything – we just like
to save money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We started out using some prefolds with snaps and
covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Aimee (my cousin) sent us
some all-in-ones and we were in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our favorites were <a href="http://www.bumgenius.com/" target="_blank">bumgenius</a>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
husband only likes all-in-ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we
learned about pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are similar
to all-in-ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we had a little
stash, I began searching on the local facebook swap/sell/trade site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross, right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second hand diapers are
the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are so cheap!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I bought a few of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also invested in a huge stash of prefolds,
two wet bags and some cloth wipes from a friend of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now have a pretty wide collection of all sizes
of diapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I LOVE cloth diapering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is rewarding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only to know
that I am helping save our family money, but it is also nicer to know that less
chemicals are on my baby’s behind, less trash is being sent to the dump, they
are super-duper cute, and they are a bit addicting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also find it rewarding to fold them and organize
them nicely in the kids’ room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
okay, you can call me a freak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What don’t I like about cloth diapering?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Baby poop changes a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is
pebble-poop, I get excited because it drops nicely into the toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is runny-poop, I cringe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when it is poop-five-times-a-day-poop, I
cry…and then I use disposables for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously though, all the contact with poop is worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some photos of our cloth diaper collection:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zySoDzzvmP8/UQ_77ogKoyI/AAAAAAAAAsM/HAlEbvDle2Y/s1600/cloth+diaper+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zySoDzzvmP8/UQ_77ogKoyI/AAAAAAAAAsM/HAlEbvDle2Y/s640/cloth+diaper+collage.png" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-22597710901063997172013-01-21T11:04:00.000-08:002013-01-23T12:09:39.958-08:00Day 19: Cloth Wipes<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We cloth diaper our children (most of the time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought some diapers and accessories from a
friend who could no longer cloth diaper and she threw in some awesome re-usable
wipes that her mom had made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
double sided flannel and work great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
used them for quite a while with our cloth diapers and then just got lazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have decided to start using them again!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I first used them, I soaked them in a wipe solution
made of water, baby wash and tea tree oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It smelt nice and worked well. *** I (husband) think it smells great
until it is mixed with pee and then it really stinks!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She says “it is not the tea tree oil you
idiot, it is just the pee.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
smelled pee in a diaper before and it is the tea tree oil that stinks!!!!***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To save time and money, this time we will just use
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grabbed a handy little squirt
bottle, and each time we need a wipe we will just squirt a dry wipe
with the water and use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oiZbTyjX_dY/UQA4ZQQLIeI/AAAAAAAAAoM/nZfZeJ0rTzg/s1600/cloth+wipes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oiZbTyjX_dY/UQA4ZQQLIeI/AAAAAAAAAoM/nZfZeJ0rTzg/s640/cloth+wipes.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love using the cloth wipes with the cloth diapers because
then you can just throw it all into the wetbag and the washer together – no
need to make a trip to the trashcan!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
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</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span>This may gross some people out – but it is worth the
savings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wipes are not too expensive to
buy, but every little bit adds up, in your pocket and the landfills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-10532353862758596582013-01-20T11:01:00.000-08:002013-01-23T12:08:02.389-08:00Day 18: Handmade Cards<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Greeting cards are EXPENSIVE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure they are cute and have pretty colored
envelopes, but it is just not worth the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus, I love making things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I created the invitations for our baby shower; for 48
invitations it cost me $2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I would
have bought invitations it would have been $16.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qo9q4fdqak0/UQBCzRKJWaI/AAAAAAAAApU/GvqhdkbjLh0/s1600/invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qo9q4fdqak0/UQBCzRKJWaI/AAAAAAAAApU/GvqhdkbjLh0/s320/invite.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am making my own thank you cards as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a package of 50 plain brown cards and
envelopes, ready to be embellished, for $5.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgFM1JMMq-A/UQA1XZLs23I/AAAAAAAAAnA/B7Paar53Hq8/s1600/100_2161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgFM1JMMq-A/UQA1XZLs23I/AAAAAAAAAnA/B7Paar53Hq8/s320/100_2161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can see, the price difference is worth the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also adds a personal touch and increases
creativity!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Make your own cards!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are much more fun to get!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-80733924487587395062013-01-19T11:00:00.000-08:002013-01-23T11:50:53.197-08:00Day 17: Baby Shower<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oh7YIGBcYvY/UQAzeLP5nuI/AAAAAAAAAmY/S_BQlkHLynM/s1600/welcome+baby+jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oh7YIGBcYvY/UQAzeLP5nuI/AAAAAAAAAmY/S_BQlkHLynM/s320/welcome+baby+jack.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the opposite of the year of less – we had a Baby
Shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got some much needed items,
like an ear thermometer and some pacifiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had lots of fun and felt very loved by all our friends and
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncfDx9yTtLQ/UQAyStELBFI/AAAAAAAAAmA/HC39BH1NYbY/s1600/baby+shower+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncfDx9yTtLQ/UQAyStELBFI/AAAAAAAAAmA/HC39BH1NYbY/s640/baby+shower+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In preparation, we spent lots of time cleaning and preparing
food, so we did not have time to do anything related to the year of less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deal with it ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have something to admit though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I AM A
PERFECTIONIST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it has gotten the
best of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The shower was thrown by my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (THANK
YOU GUYS!) and I, for some unknown reason, decided to offer our home for the
location of the shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love hosting
and having people over, but our living room is not quite big enough for 25
people to sit comfortably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, after
the shower I felt miserable about the way I acted prior to the shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a perfectionist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this about myself and most of the time
I just brush it off as not a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of my
perfectionism, people feel like I am unpleaseable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing is good enough for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Knowing that I make people feel that way makes me cringe.<o:p></o:p></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The night before the shower I took it upon myself to
decorate and set up, even though I wasn’t in charge of the party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day I mopped (which I rarely do),
cleaned our dining room chairs, set up more, and made instructions for each of
the games we were to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I was
not in charge of this party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my
sister-in-law arrived I was whizzing around trying to get everything perfectly
set up because I knew Jack would need to nurse soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to do everything myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked several times how certain things
would be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to have
everything ready to go 30mins before the party started so we could be ready and
relaxed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that cupcakes were
being frosted as people arrived made me feel like a failure (even though I
wasn’t in charge of the party).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea
of the food/drinks not being ready to eat as people arrived made me nervous
beyond belief (even though I wasn’t in charge of the party).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband playing roller coaster tycoon for
a little bit the morning of the party made me rude, bossy and eventually made
me cry (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even though</i></b> there wasn’t much he could do for the party).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****(Justin's addition) I worked a ten hour day before and then took her on a
nice date and then cleaned the house until midnight the night before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fell asleep with our sick child and my
methhead (actually, starbucks-caffinated) wife <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
cleaned all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Little bit
overboard.****</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I yelled at my mother-in-law, made my sister-in-law
feel like crap and made my husband feel that no amount of help he gave me was
good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfectionism has turned me
into a perfect monster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am NOT perfect, by any means, but I do try to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to anymore.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A while ago I was reading a book by Dr. Kevin Leman about
birth order, specifically about firstborns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I picked the book up again at an attempt to figure out how to become
less of a perfectionist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I began
reading, I realized how perfectly he was describing me in his chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Don’t miss out on the wonderful opportunities that life has
to offer because of perfectionism.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jane got frosting and barbecue sauce on
her face, all I wanted to do was clean her up so she looked presentable for
pictures – all I needed to do was laugh it off and give her a hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my mother-in-law apologized about being
late, I told her not to worry about it with a tone that said it was not okay,
but what I needed to do was truly forgive her and tell her everything was
great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my husband helped me clean
the entire house, instead of staying up later to do all the deep cleaning I
thought needed to be done, I should have cuddled up in bed next to him with a
thankful heart for such a clean and amazingly loving husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve got some work to do in this heart of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scratch that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God has some work to do in this heart of mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good thing is, I am ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize I am being unreasonable in my
expectations of myself and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
realize I am controlling, bossy and rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I realize that I am the only one judging myself so intensely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Leman suggests excellence instead of
perfectionism; “Striving for excellence is reaching toward a goal that’s
attainable and not stopping until you get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s deciding <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m going to do things as well as I possibly can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Excellence is within reach.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please pray for me as I am on this journey to becoming less
uptight and perfectionistic, and more relaxed, thankful, loving and able to
enjoy the moments God has placed in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-76914945230330600312013-01-18T10:58:00.000-08:002013-01-23T11:41:41.553-08:00Day 16: Laundry Soap<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This one excites me a lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We cloth diaper and it is hard to convince my husband that we need a
special soap for the diapers that costs four times more than regular soap, but
will actually last twice as long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we
just use our regular detergent on diapers…which leads to build-up and horrible
absorbancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finally convinced him, and this year of less convinced
him, that it was time to make our own detergent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen a few different recipes on
different blogs and websites and wanted to stick with a simple one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose this <a href="http://www.elisaloves.com/2011/09/homemade-cloth-diaper-laundry-detergent.html" target="_blank">homemade cloth diaper detergent</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96XoFJpEXos/UQAzT-FKs-I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/PQbLZsoIETo/s1600/laundrysoap%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96XoFJpEXos/UQAzT-FKs-I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/PQbLZsoIETo/s640/laundrysoap%2521.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Three ingredients – equal parts of each.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Baking soda: $3.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Washing soda: $3.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oxygen cleaner: $3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">$10 for 24</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> cups = 384 loads!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I mixed some up and am keeping it in an old pickle jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have used it a few times and I love it so far!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You only have to use 1-2 TBSP of it per load!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did the math and that is $0.03 per load <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> That is less than half
the cost of the cheap detergent we used to use!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, and this detergent is not just for our cloth diapers,
you can use it on all your clothes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
one thing I don’t like about it is that it doesn’t have much of a smell and I
love the smell of fresh laundry…I hear that you can add essential oils to scent
it, but I don’t have any and frankly don’t want to spend more money, so will
not be doing that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108862254503989243.post-57504890595343400612013-01-17T10:57:00.000-08:002013-01-23T11:46:58.796-08:00Day 15: Taking our own photos<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As women, we treasure moments captured in photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband could not care less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although he loves to look back at photos and
really does treasure having them, he never wants to take them, be in them, or
pay for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have SO MANY friends who are amazing photographers and I
always desire to have pictures taken of every little moment of our lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, we cannot afford that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>((NO OFFENSE TO FRIENDS)) but having people
take pictures for you is pricey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is MUCH
more convenient than trying to tackle the kiddos myself AND take the pictures
myself, but alas that is what we can afford.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">SO, this time I decided to skip the argument with the husb of how
"photographers charge too much and we can do it ourselves" (and by ourselves, it
generally means by YOURSELF ;), and take pictures by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set up a “newborn shoot” for Jack in
December, a “Christmas shoot” before Christmas, and a “baby bro, big sis shoot”
the other day…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
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<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ic7lPvWXUM/UQA7QRuOJxI/AAAAAAAAAow/daqP3vy7B6E/s1600/4+by+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ic7lPvWXUM/UQA7QRuOJxI/AAAAAAAAAow/daqP3vy7B6E/s320/4+by+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newborn shoot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_ZJ72qlTTg/UQA7bGl4CrI/AAAAAAAAAo4/rk5O3FfqpBs/s1600/christmas+chaos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_ZJ72qlTTg/UQA7bGl4CrI/AAAAAAAAAo4/rk5O3FfqpBs/s320/christmas+chaos.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas shoot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNvRVh6gInQ/UQA6z2FJsXI/AAAAAAAAAoo/gOZyTDJJBjg/s320/100_2051.JPG" width="320" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">"we have matching onesies" shoot</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would have to say, they didn’t turn out all that bad, but
they were a bit stressful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, the coloring looks awesome solely because of the
editing program I use – for free, on the internet, <a href="http://picmonkey.com/">picmonkey.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We usually print at Walmart or Walgreens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We don’t have a fancy camera, I am not very artsy or
knowledgable about photo-anything and we don’t spend a lot on a fancy, much
better than me, photographer, but we do have photos of our children that will
last for a very long time. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*Justin's addition* P.S. My wife forgot to mention that I do not consider
“Photography” an art…. Sorry if that is offensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654949233595250514noreply@blogger.com0