Thursday, April 30, 2009

Still Not Done

So, I jumped in with both feet. Into a Do-It-Yourself project. While my husband was on a sales trip for a week. I will post some before and after pictures for you soon (not quite in the after yet, still trying to finish some things up). I will also post the list of everything I did, on my own, without my husband even knowing what I was doing!! I am very happy with the results so far.

But today, I am making dinner for my friend (and fellow poster on this blog, Erin) who just had her second baby girl on Monday. I am making the Chicken and Dumplings from Smitten Kitchen (love her!) and starting on the Cinnamon Rolls from Pioneer Woman. I have checked out the Pioneer Woman occassionally. Lately though, I have been diving deeper into her site and she has a lot of great stuff. I am pretty excited about this recipe because it makes SO MUCH!! Which means there will be plenty for the new family and for this family!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Top 10 Favorite Things Today

1. Amoxicillin: The wonder drug that has so easily transformed my snotty and cranky 2 year old into a fun person to be around.
2. Step-ups and Lunges: Performed ALONE at the gym. Booty-burners, very rewarding.
3. Kiehl's Unusually Rich- But Not Greasy At All- Hand Cream: Comes with SPF10 which is good for these days in the garden.
4. Neopolitan Ice Cream Sandwiches: Because it is freakin' hot and I'm freakin' lactating.
5. California Couscous Salad: Uses cilantro from aforementioned garden and requires minimal use of the stove top which is key in these aforementioned weather conditions http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1194611
6. $12.99 Inflatable Baby Pool: allows me to spend 10-15 minutes in the garden uninterrupted.
7. Multigrain Cheerios: In the purple box (obviously marketed towards the feminine persuasion, as noted by my husband). Whatever, they taste damn good.
8. Brunch out with ladies for upcoming babies. Whatever will we do when we stop breeding????
9. http://www.instructables.com/ Nothing more than a total time sink, but the geek in me can't stay away.
10. Retreats to a certain someone's beach house where, while our young-uns frolic in the water, we clink our beer bottles at 11:30 am on a Monday and remember that these are the payback stay-at-home-mom days for all those 'other days'.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Anyone up for a Road Trip?


Modern Economy is having one of their sales again. Not online this time, but at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The bummer is that it is Saturday, May 2. That's right, the same day as the last day of Hospice du Rhone. Anyone up for blazing up there in the morning and getting back here in time for the Grand Tasting at 3:00pm? Why do all the good things always happen on the same day?!?!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Another New Favorite Website

I am a Do-It-Yourselfer.

Sort of.

I like to find great ideas to do around our house and then I like to give the instructions to my husband and let him Do-It-His-Self!

I was not always this way.

I was extremely independent.

I had my own tool box, and it was not pink (not that there is anything wrong with that.) I could hang my own shelves - correctly. I could fix my car when certain things went wrong (this was probably more out of repitition, but still - I could do it!) When I started my own business, I was the one that had to fix the toilet when unpleasant conditons would arise.
And now, I start out doing the Do-It-Yourself project with my husband, but then it is snack time, and then it is lunch time, and then diapers need to be changed, and then someone falls down, and then it is naptime (yay!) and I can get back to the project, usually just in time for the clean-up.

I hate the clean-up part of a project.

Most of the time, no matter how badly I want a project done, I will wait until he has the time to do it. He has been really busy lately and no time for projects!

But now I am even worse than that. Now if something breaks or requires a screw driver - I wait until he gets home. How lame is that? Part of it is not so lame, because battery replacement usually requires a screwdriver and, well, sometimes I need some peace and quiet. But other than that, pretty lame - especially when I KNOW I can do it.

So, I am taking a cue from Gabrielle over at Cultured Nativity regarding her recent post on PMS (Pre-Mommy Self). She came from a one direction and I am going a totally different one, but still PMS! And on that note, I am going to share an inspiring site for you.

TipNut.com My New Favorite Website.

This website is full of all kinds of stuff. I love it. Want to know how to make your own laundry detergent? I probably won't ever do this, but, hey tell me anyway! Need 12 beauty hacks from your kitchen? Maybe, money's been tight, I may have to start doing double duty on kitchen staples. Need a spring cleaning guide and checklist? Absolutely!

Since I am relatively new to this Homemaker Profession, as a single full-time job. I found the following tips extremely helpful (and nice reminders to keep in mind while going through my busy day!)

From the following article:
http://tipnut.com/rewarding-homemaking/

10 Secrets To Rewarding Homemaking

1. Know: You are a Home Manager, not a slave, martyr or responder to chaos. Each day is a fresh start with new things to accomplish and feel pride for. Even though deep down I know this, sometimes i need to be reminded.

2. Realize: Actively managing your home is one way to nurture your family and their environment. There will be positive reflections: a more harmonious household, a little more eagerness attending to household chores, more appreciation and gratitude. I have started to clue into this recently and I think this is compelling me to put a little more effort onto my job.

3. Be Proactive: It’s easy to get sucked into despair (and resentment) when your home is in constant shambles. Keep on top of things daily if possible and work in chunks of time on busy days. Again, recently started to notice this too - I feel less exhausted and more inspired if the house is in order.

4. Establish Routines: Remember Mondays for laundry, Tuesdays for Ironing, Thursdays for Shopping, etc.? Routines work and work well! Schedule household routines that will serve your household best. This I need to do. Not the ironing part, but being on top of things a little better. I work well with deadlines and a schedule - so maybe I won't hate laundry so much if I spread it out over the week. Sounds promising, we'll see if that works out.

5. Clean As You Go: Pick up and clean as you go, this makes less “piles” of work waiting to be done. Again, something I need to work on and feel as if I am getting better at. But I am a procrastinator at heart.

6. Appreciate: The shabbiest of homes can be more comfortable and welcoming than gilded show homes. Neat, clean & harmony will always shine bright–appreciate your home and what it has to offer. This is my ultimate goal.

7. Daily Treat: Each day do an unexpected nice thing for someone in the home (like having coffee ready in the morning or make a favorite dessert) or add a lovely puttery treat to your home. Hmmm, I am good at the cooking favorite dinners and special treats, but I really like that my husband makes coffee every morning.

8. Delegate: Three people each doing a ten minute cleaning chunk accomplishes 30 minutes of cleaning in 10 easy minutes, good managers are good delegators. Choosing tasks that compliment a person’s ability as well as personality and preference will go a long way. I am looking forward to this! SO, the 4 year-old has become very helpful in her ripe-old age so I am starting to utilze her helpfulness to my advantage...putting away her laundry (we are still working on the folding), picking up her toys, taking her plate to the counter, etc..

9. Entertain Regularly: Years ago women would hold weekly bridge parties and afternoon teas. Socializing was looked forward to and friendships flourished, but you also made darn sure the house was presentable. This is a great technique to regularly “force” a well-kept home. You could entertain a few friends for an afternoon tea, a weekend bbq, or have family visit for a few days. My husband and I learned a long time ago that this worked well for us. Our yearly barbeque is yearly catalist for getting at least one of our major outdoor projects done each year!

10. Be Kind: Gruff, impatient, bitter, biting words and attitude will undo and damage all that you accomplished with the above. Enjoy serving your family, your home and yourself–your job as a home manager will be more rewarding and successful. Always a nice reminder - one that I need from time to time.