Showing posts with label ramblings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ramblings. Show all posts
checking in
We are still here- but had a crazy week with Jason out of town on business, so not a lot of computer time. Also, said computer is locking up because it is nearly full and I need to burn photos and videos to CDs so I can get them off in order to upload a bunch from the camera. I plan to do this tonight, so look for some photos of the completed sandbox as well as some Maypole photos in the next day or two. Thank you so much for stopping in!
staying hydrated
As we move into warmer weather, I am trying to create some better habits in regards to drinking water. I saw an idea recently to help you remember to drink 8 glasses of water each day: put 8 pennies next to where your water glass sits, and move them over to the other side each time you empty the glass. I keep my glass right above the kitchen sink, and I decided to use plastic pirate coins left over from Stella's birthday party (They are still everywhere. Not a day goes by when I don't see those things around our house now!) because they are bigger and easier to stack, and they look cool next to my glass. This type of thing helps me so much, because I am a very visual person. There are days when I don't get them all moved over, but I know I am drinking more water than I was, so it's an improvement. I will often make myself stand there and drain the glass, just so I can move the coin over. It's funny, but it works!
For the kids, I have started filling up their water bottles with nice cold water and just putting them nearby as often as I think of it. They are much more likely to drink the water if it is right there and icy cold, and less likely to go looking for something sweet to drink.
pet peeve
You all know I don't spend much time on this blog complaining about anything. I prefer to keep this space about the bright side of life as much as I can. But I also want to make the world a better place and sometimes you have to speak up!
Recently I stopped at the small local grocery store to pick up just a few things. I don't shop there often, but when it is most convenient it works fine for a few necessities.
I did not have reusable bags with me, and was in a hurry so I wasn't paying attention at the checkout. And my purchase of SIX items was packed into FIVE plastic shopping bags. These bags were so obviously underpacked, that I felt like I was walking out of there with an armful of plastic and a few groceries.
Here is what these groceries looked like when I got home and re-packed them, just out of curiosity.
Does that really look like too much to handle? It actually looks EASIER to carry, if you ask me.
One bag. ONE. That is all it took. The milk already has it's own handle, and everything else fit into one bag and actually weighed about the same as the milk when I held it in the other hand, so nice and balanced. It just makes no sense to me why someone would put this many items into five bags for their customer to set in their car and then carry into their house. What a waste. Can the stores not see the cost savings to them in using less bags? Not to mention the post-consumer waste reduction in sending a customer home with one-fifth of the packaging material?
This happens more often than not when I am shopping, and not just at the little local store. Every once in a while I notice that a grocery bagger has actually used the space in the bags efficiently, and it surprises me. Guess it's time to start emailing some of my favorite stores and see if we can encourage some change.
Recently I stopped at the small local grocery store to pick up just a few things. I don't shop there often, but when it is most convenient it works fine for a few necessities.
I did not have reusable bags with me, and was in a hurry so I wasn't paying attention at the checkout. And my purchase of SIX items was packed into FIVE plastic shopping bags. These bags were so obviously underpacked, that I felt like I was walking out of there with an armful of plastic and a few groceries.
Here is what these groceries looked like when I got home and re-packed them, just out of curiosity.
Does that really look like too much to handle? It actually looks EASIER to carry, if you ask me.
One bag. ONE. That is all it took. The milk already has it's own handle, and everything else fit into one bag and actually weighed about the same as the milk when I held it in the other hand, so nice and balanced. It just makes no sense to me why someone would put this many items into five bags for their customer to set in their car and then carry into their house. What a waste. Can the stores not see the cost savings to them in using less bags? Not to mention the post-consumer waste reduction in sending a customer home with one-fifth of the packaging material?
This happens more often than not when I am shopping, and not just at the little local store. Every once in a while I notice that a grocery bagger has actually used the space in the bags efficiently, and it surprises me. Guess it's time to start emailing some of my favorite stores and see if we can encourage some change.
my kitchen window
This is one of my favorite spots in our house. I was thrilled to see this wonderful place to put plants when we first looked at the house, and it has proven to be a tiny sanctuary for me in our often chaotic life. Not only is it a safe place that is unreachable by small hands- therefore making it the perfect spot for beloved or breakable items- but it is also the center of the room I spend the most time in. Which makes it the perfect place to put things that are meaningful and beautiful to me. That way, when I am wringing out a rag to wipe sticky fingers with (again) or when I am scraping dirty dishes or draining pasta, I can look up and get a splash of color to make me smile, or I might notice something sitting there that makes me think of a friend or a place we've been or one of my kids. Sometimes a little boost like that is all you need to get through the rough parts of the day. Being surrounded by beauty- from the natural beauty of fresh blossoms to the quirky beauty of treasured souvenirs and the memories attached to them- makes the difficult times a bit easier and the wonderful times even sweeter.
Click on the picture above to see details about all the items in my window (mouse over to see the notes)
rainy day
It's super short, but we thought it was funny (and appropriate, since all we seem to have lately are rainy days...)
cleaning club: the blog
Cleaning Club is all grown up now and has a blog of it's own! Check it out at CleaningClub.blogspot.com.
crochet hook use #3167
Pulling out buttonhole elastic that has gotten sucked up inside the waistband of your kids' pants.
It's the worst- trying to retrieve that pesky stuff if it slips off the button. We have found that a few of our pairs have needed larger buttons installed in order to keep this from happening repeatedly. But when you need to get that elastic out quick so your kid's pants won't fall down, just grab a crochet hook and pull it right out. What a nifty trick!
It's the worst- trying to retrieve that pesky stuff if it slips off the button. We have found that a few of our pairs have needed larger buttons installed in order to keep this from happening repeatedly. But when you need to get that elastic out quick so your kid's pants won't fall down, just grab a crochet hook and pull it right out. What a nifty trick!
catching up a bit
Whoa. So it turns out I just need a month off every winter! Who knew? I am feeling back into the swing of things now that vacation is over and I have triumphed over a pretty nasty cold. I knew I was ready to get back to blogging when I started noticing tiny things that I wished I could share, if only I weren't so behind. So this will be one big catching up post, and then on to the current events and everyday life this week.
Decorating our tree:
Oragami cranes by Daisy for the tip top this year instead of a star. And berries that we actually found growing on the trees at the farm! So pretty.
And our Christmas Pickle. We hide it in the tree over and over again during the holiday season, and take turns trying to find it. Everyone has a lot of fun with it.
We visited with family and had lots of fun with cousins and grandparents
And had a very merry Waffle House Christmas breakfast before everyone headed back to TX and OK. This is one of our most beloved holiday traditions!
When we got home from Waffle House, our own family's Christmas began- with lots of presents to open from our MN relatives, and from each other. We spent the weekend playing with new stuff and settling back in to our quiet(er) house without all the extras. We had so much fun visiting but it was good to be on our own again too.
Stella lost a tooth on Christmas Day, and we went for a drive to enjoy the lights and a snack of fries and Frosties from Wendy's before bed.
The lights downtown always look just like a starry sky. I love it so much.
Well- that's just a quick wrap-up and some pictures of the kids. We had a really crazy but really great month, and I am looking forward to posting about some non-holiday related stuff that has been going on around here since. THANK YOU so much for coming back to check on us here even though I have not posted in so long. We appreciate every single reader we have! Happy New Year to everyone!
Decorating our tree:
Oragami cranes by Daisy for the tip top this year instead of a star. And berries that we actually found growing on the trees at the farm! So pretty.
And our Christmas Pickle. We hide it in the tree over and over again during the holiday season, and take turns trying to find it. Everyone has a lot of fun with it.
We visited with family and had lots of fun with cousins and grandparents
And had a very merry Waffle House Christmas breakfast before everyone headed back to TX and OK. This is one of our most beloved holiday traditions!
When we got home from Waffle House, our own family's Christmas began- with lots of presents to open from our MN relatives, and from each other. We spent the weekend playing with new stuff and settling back in to our quiet(er) house without all the extras. We had so much fun visiting but it was good to be on our own again too.
Stella lost a tooth on Christmas Day, and we went for a drive to enjoy the lights and a snack of fries and Frosties from Wendy's before bed.
The lights downtown always look just like a starry sky. I love it so much.
Well- that's just a quick wrap-up and some pictures of the kids. We had a really crazy but really great month, and I am looking forward to posting about some non-holiday related stuff that has been going on around here since. THANK YOU so much for coming back to check on us here even though I have not posted in so long. We appreciate every single reader we have! Happy New Year to everyone!
getting back to normal
I had really thought that the reason my blogging fell off so drastically last December was because I was burned out from NaBloPoMo. Obviously that is not the reason, since I didn't do it this year but have still ended up taking a big, long, unplanned break! I think I just try to do too many things this time of year, and something has to give. I end up taking a break from things that aren't as high on the priority list whether I plan to or not. I'll try to get some photos posted this weekend of all the stuff we've been up to in between rushing around and shopping and visiting with family. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
flashback.5
Some more random photos, this time they are pre-Lyle. And if you haven't seen them already, go check out the pics on Daisy's blog from the girls' trip with my parents. They are exploring in Florida and having a wonderful time! I am jealous (I've never been to FL) but enjoying the time as a mom of only 2 kids :)
[Daisy jumping]
[Hazel jumping]
[Stella in her star outfit]
[Daisy and Daddy]
[Jason & Hazel at the beach]
[One of my all-time favorites, Jason & Stella snuggling]
[Daisy jumping]
[Hazel jumping]
[Stella in her star outfit]
[Daisy and Daddy]
[Jason & Hazel at the beach]
[One of my all-time favorites, Jason & Stella snuggling]
flashback.4
A very random assortment of old photos.
[tiny toddler feet outside]
[Daisy with an ivy crown]
[YEEE HAAWWW]
[Grace & Hazel milking a very large cow]
[Cold. And UNHAPPY.]
[Sassy Stella]
[Daisy Superior]
[I just love this picture so much.]
[tiny toddler feet outside]
[Daisy with an ivy crown]
[YEEE HAAWWW]
[Grace & Hazel milking a very large cow]
[Cold. And UNHAPPY.]
[Sassy Stella]
[Daisy Superior]
[I just love this picture so much.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)