Ramble On Rose

Back

2010-05-12T21:47:00.002-04:00

I keep thinking of non-Mollie related things I want to write about, so I guess it's time to pick this blog up again.

In case you haven't noticed, this blog doesn't have a particular theme. It is just my ramblings about topics that are on my mind. So today's topic is juice. I admit that I like it. I prefer it to plain water. Actually, my favorite drink (besides beer and wine) is sparkling water with a splash of juice.

My kids, Lucy in particular, like juice, so I do buy juice. I only buy 100% juice, I always try to cut it with water to lessen the sugar content, and I laugh when I read how many servings of fruit this juice contains. Seriously? Juice is liquid sugar. They have taken fruit and removed most of the healthy stuff (fiber), so why does it still count as a serving of fruit?

There are some fruit juices out there that have fruit or vegetable puree added; I can appreciate the nutritional value of those. I think using diluted juice as a thirst quencher is okay, but I seriously question the health claim that juice is a serving of fruit. There are a lot of studies about juice consumption and health so I'm off to do some research. I would like to find a comparison of people who ate the same number of fruit servings, but one group ate whole fruits and the other got theirs through juice.

I'll let you know what I find out.

Maternity Leave?

2010-02-22T20:49:00.004-05:00

Oops. I thought I scheduled this post for weeks ago, turns out I scheduled it for 2011. Yeah. This is what happens when you have 3 kids.

Anyway, with the arrival of this not-so-little "little guy", I just haven't had time to keep up this blog AND Mollie's blog (www.allaboutmollie.blogspot.com).

I'll be back when Liam starts sleeping through the night... stay tuned.

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Fire

2010-01-06T22:11:00.004-05:00

We've been having fires every night this week because it's been chilly! It has been in the low 20's at night and a little higher during the day. Yeah, nothing compared to Boston (or Moscow, Toronto, etc), but pretty cold for the Deep South.

Matt and his dad cut down a dead tree in the yard a few weeks ago. We have now burned up all that wood, plus all the fallen limbs from our yard. Matt is anxious to cut down another tree (we have lots and some spindly and unhealthy).

My submission to the photo challenge this week, though, is a photo I took on Christmas Eve. Our whole neighborhood puts out luminaries and it is gorgeous. It is peaceful. Calm. Perfect for Christmas Eve. We walked with the girls in the wagon and enjoyed the soft luminaries lining both sides of the streets.

Be sure to check out the other photos in the flickr pool. There are some fabulous flames!

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Brown (catching up from last week)

2010-01-06T17:42:00.004-05:00

Last week's photo challenge was "brown". To me, that means chocolate!!

My mother-in-law made these "unbaked" chocolate cookies. They are delicious!

Here's the recipe:

3 C rolled oats
1 C shredded coconut
1/2 C cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C sugar
1/2 C milk
1/2 C butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix sugar, milk, & butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper until cool and hardened.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Feet

2009-12-23T22:56:00.005-05:00

At 9 months pregnant, I can barely see my own feet. I was hoping to have some brand new itty bitty feet to take photos of this week, but it was not to be. Mollie and Lucy cooperated though by putting their feet together while they were watching Frosty the Snowman. I kinda like it.

Here's another play in Photoshop:
To check out other interpretations of the challenge this week, check out the other photos in the flickr pool.

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Road

2009-12-16T21:23:00.003-05:00

Another photo of the beautiful Botany Bay Plantation in South Carolina. It is part of the Edisto Land Trust. We only had time to briefly explore it by car, but I can't wait to go back on foot!

Check out other entries in the Flickr group.

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Cold

2009-12-10T14:56:00.005-05:00

Yesterday it was 80 degrees here. Yes, 80. I could not bring myself to post about cold. Today is a full 35 degrees cooler. Much more like it. Still, the visions of cold that I have involve frost, snow, ice, etc. none of which are occurring naturally anywhere within a 200 mile radius.

My entry for this week is entitled "Cool beans". Frozen black beans, that is. I cook dried beans in big batches and freeze them to use later. I pulled some out and they had a lovely layer of frost on them.

I tried a few other shots before the beans. First, I was just trying to get a picture of my freezer. I hate my freezer because it's so skinny and it's always full and hard to find stuff. Here it is in all it's un-glory:

And yesterday, I captured this tree hanging on to it's last few leaves in the parking lot of Target. While I was wearing a short sleeve T-shirt and had the air conditioner on. In December.

It sure does look cold, doesn't it?

Sew

2009-12-06T09:59:00.007-05:00

I finally made time to do some sewing yesterday! I've been doing little bits here and there, mostly mending, but yesterday I finally did two projects!

The first was an apron to give as a birthday gift (excuse the crappy photo- the batteries in the camera were dying). I love how it turned out! And it was so easy (except for the waistband- got to learn a better technique for that). I did the gathering by zig-zagging over a gimp thread and it worked splendidly. I think I want to try using a gathering foot for my next ruffle project.

My second project was a dress for Mollie. I picked up a second hand T-shirt for her and found some (on sale) snowflake fabric. I don't love it, but Mollie does. I didn't get a photo of her in it before she went to bed... now I'll have to wash it and snap a picture later this week.

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Fork

2009-12-03T13:17:00.004-05:00

This week the challenge was fork. I was figuring there would be lots of forkfulls of turkey or fancy table settings. Other fork-y things that came to mind were forks in the road, pitchforks, tuning forks, and Rock Shox. Yeah, the suspension fork on my mountain bike. I had to wait until today to take the picture because it's been raining cats and dogs for the last few days. Finally the sun is out and here's what I got:

Be sure to check out other interpretations of the them at the photo pool on flickr.

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Green

2009-12-03T12:53:00.004-05:00

Last week I was without internet and with both children full-time- making the photo challenge an extra-big challenge. Actually, I got the photo taken, but the challenge was uploading it. So here we go, a week late. I tend to take a lot of pictures of chlorophyll (as in foliage), so I challenged myself by trying to photograph green dye diffusing in water.

Then, while we were on our Thanksgiving trip to Edisto, SC, I took this photo at Botany Bay plantation. It felt like the whole place was tinted green, so I'm including that here too.

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Water

2009-11-18T15:30:00.003-05:00

So, I liked this week's topic, but my challenge was time!! I think I need an assistant- I wanted to take a photo of one of my favorite ways to consume water: Earl Gray tea. But, I just couldn't get the image I wanted without a second person to pour the hot water. Couldn't get the 5-year-old or toddler to do that!

So, my images are of fall colors on the Savannah river. For some reason, my colors never look as vibrant after I upload the photos to Blogger. Anyone know why?

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Zipper

2009-11-11T14:18:00.004-05:00

I admit I was feeling uninspired for this week's post. And I don't really like either of the photos I came up with, but, here goes.

I took this picture of Mollie in her favorite winter coat. She was not happy about the coat being a bit too small or that I zipped it up all the way. I got one quick shot and this was it.

The focus was off and I just wasn't happy with that photo, so I decided to take a picture of my all-time favorite zipper. It's from a toddler "busy" book that my grandma made for me in the 70's.

I thought it would be more interesting if it had some "toddler hands" in it, but Lucy just wouldn't cooperate. Apparently, the zipper page isn't her favorite.

So, I'm not entirely happy with either photo this week, but I tried!

Shutterboo Photo Challenge: Candy

2009-11-08T18:05:00.004-05:00

I decided to participate in this weekly photo challenge from shutterboo, just for fun. And to help me get back into posting on this blog.

Last week's challenge was candy, so here's my contribution. This is Lucy enjoying one of Mollie's Halloween lollipops!

Fall

2009-11-05T17:19:00.002-05:00

Notes about right now

2009-09-19T16:49:00.004-04:00

I've see this list on numerous blogs, so here's my take:

Making : an effort to put the dishes away
Cooking : banana bread
Drinking : Earl Grey tea with milk
Reading: some really trashy James Lee Burke book that I can't even remember the title of
Wanting: to have things settled
Looking: for houses in Charlotte
Playing: Trouble with Mollie (the game with the popper)
Wasting: time dealing with stupid administrative issues
Sewing: an apron as a gift
Wishing: for a cure for cancer
Enjoying: the cooler weather and the feeling of fall
Waiting: until the kids go to sleep to grade exams
Liking: the space in our living room, now that I moved the sofa back a bit
Wondering: why cranberry red is such a popular paint color in the south
Loving: how much Mollie and Lucy care for each other
Hoping: that the new baby will fit into the family without too many growing pains
Marvelling: at the crap that's on TV
Needing: a babysitter
Smelling: the baby powder I put down as a deterrent to the ants
Wearing: stretchy black skirt, T-shirt, Cure Leukemia bracelet, no shoes
Following: my heart
Noticing: cobwebs everywhere
Knowing: my priorities
Thinking: about the huge list of things I have to do (let alone want to do)
Bookmarking: quinoa recipes
Opening: the doors to let the breeze in
Giggling: at Lucy wearing at least 20 sets of Mardi Gras beads, a dozen bracelets, and nothing else!
Feeling: like I need a day off

School Lunches

2009-09-02T22:12:00.004-04:00

Here's an update on the bento box lunches:

Week 1: Mollie hardly ate anything. I think she felt overwhelmed by too much food, too many containers, etc. I experimented with using muffin cups instead of lidded containers, but then some foods took on the flavor of other foods and the pretzels got soft; in short, it didn't work.

Week 2 (and beyond!): We received a lovely (and timely!) package from my friend, Lauren. It contained a simple Sigg lunchbox and foil stickers to decorate it with. And a drink bottle. My first reaction was that it seemed small. As it turned out, it works great! It holds the perfect amount of food for Mollie and it comes home completely empty almost every day!

I had saved some BPA-free baby food containers and they fit perfectly inside the box. A typical lunch includes any combination of:

protein: Babybel cheese, yogurt, peanut butter sandwich, hard boiled egg, bagel & cream cheese
veggies: carrot sticks, sliced bell pepper, steamed broccoli
crunchies: animal crackers, graham crackers, trail mix, pecans, pretzels
fruit: grapes, apple slices, berries, dried fruits, applesauce
drink: water, milk, or juice

She also gets a small snack (packed separately), usually crackers or dried fruit. And occasionally she gets a treat (small pieces of candy or a few chips).

Now that I know she knows how to open everything and has time to eat it, I might experiment with a few new foods. Thanks for the box Lauren- it has been a success!

I've gotta get me one!

2009-08-17T21:12:00.003-04:00

I saw this motto on someone's blog recently (I'm sorry, I can't remember where I saw it) and thought, "Crap! That's my motto!" So, tonight I was ~~working~~ wasting time on the internet and I came across retroplanet.com. They have this dishtowel and some other vintage-inspired items. I am particularly enamored with the dishtowels...

http://www.retroplanet.com/PROD/26676

Bento

2009-08-08T14:51:00.003-04:00

So, Mollie starts kindergarten on Monday! We decided that she will bring lunch from home, at least for the first week or so. The school lunches might be okay, but I am afraid that they are not big on fresh fruits and veggies and I think Mollie would choose PB&J every day. I shouldn't pre-judge, but I'm guessing the sandwiches are not made on whole grain bread with low-fat peanut butter.

So, I'm thinking of trying a bento-style lunch. You know the cute little Japanese boxes with small servings of different items? Mollie loves going to salad bars because she can select small amount of a variety of foods. And she is big on presentation, so I think it might work. I'm getting inspiration from Shannon's blog: What's for lunch at our house?

Now, I've just got to find some containers that will work. I am headed out grocery shopping and keeping my eyes peeled for just the right box. If I don't find something, we'll use some of the yogurt containers and small Tupperware that we have here and see how it goes.

Happy Half Birthday, Lucy!

2009-07-22T10:54:00.003-04:00

Lucy is 18 months old today!

She is such a joy! For such a small person, she has big presence. Doors don't close, they slam. She doesn't take one crayon, she dumps all 64 of them out. She doesn't just pet the cat, she lays down on top of him.

Her absolute favorite thing to do is play with balls. She likes little bouncy balls and big beach balls, glittery balls and bakis (basket)balls, golf balls and baseballs; she likes balls. We have to avoid the big bins of bouncy balls in the store because she gets really excited (legs pumping and yelling, "Ball! Ball! Ball!" ) and then upset if we don't buy one.

She also enjoys balloons (bwoons), shoes, combing her hair ('pitty'), and reading "Moo, Baa, La La La!" by Sandra Boynton. She makes some good funny faces and adores Mollie.

My favorite thing is how she will just walk into the room and squeeze my legs in a hug! Happy 18 months, little Lu!

Printmaking

2009-07-02T21:15:00.004-04:00

We were inspired by this post at whip up (linked from A Crafty Crow, a GREAT website for creative kids' projects) to try printmaking using fruits and vegetables today.

Mollie's friend Bella joined us and it was a lot of fun! We tried both acrylic craft paint and washable crayola paint. Both work well, but it was best to thicken them up a little with some flour (to a paste consistency).

The fruits and veggies we used were things I had around the house that were a bit past prime:
garlic
onion
apple
butternut squash
asparagus
lemon (my favorite, by far)
bell pepper

Slice the produce, make the paint paste, dip the produce in, and make prints! It helped to have some sponges to wipe off excess paint; a light coat of paint works best. The girls enjoyed touching the different fruits and veggies and discussing which textures make the best prints.

The produce manager at our grocery store said he would give us some of the expired veggies to use next time. I would love to try a pomegranate, star fruit, and corn on the cob. You don't have to waste the whole fruit/veg either- you can just use a thick slice and eat the rest! If you use non-toxic paints, rinse and throw the produce on your compost pile after painting.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T12:01:00.007-04:00

to Matt, my dad, Charlie, Blake (Mollie's godfather), Bill (Lucy's godfather), Sam (Lucy's honorary godfather), C.T. and all the dads and father figures out there!

We are remembering my grandpa George; this is our first father's day without him.

Fun (and free!) Online Photo Software

2009-06-09T22:51:00.011-04:00

One of the fun things about digital photography, is playing with the pictures! If you haven't tried it yet, you should check out Picnik. You can do all sorts of fun things with your photos. Best of all- it's easy! Here are a few examples:

Original

Orton-ish

Black and White Focal

1960's

These transformations took about 5 minutes, in total, since I just used the stock effects. I haven't tried printing them yet, but I'm interested to see how they turn out.

For those interested, I still haven't figured out how to photograph fireflies... they are so ethereal anyway. Maybe they aren't meant to be caught on film.

Photographing Fireflies

2009-05-31T13:36:00.005-04:00

Summer in the South is not what I would call pleasant. There's the heat, the humidity, and the bugs! However, there are some good things- the fragrant gardenias, the creamy white magnolia blossoms,

and fireflies (yes, they are bugs too, but in a completely different category than roaches, ants, and mosquitoes).

The fireflies are my favorite part of summer, but capturing them on film (or digital storage media) is hard! Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking slow shutter speed and wide aperture and a tripod.

Mother's Day

2009-05-15T10:20:00.003-04:00

I had a nice mother's day with Matt, Mollie and Lucy in Columbia, S. C. We saw the "Turner to Cezane" exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art and enjoyed the sunny day in Columbia!

Sewing Round Up

2009-05-05T09:41:00.007-04:00

Well, I never manage to do as much sewing as I would like (there's all that dinner-making, diaper-changing, and actual work that gets in the way), but I did manage to do a fair amount of sewing in April. I didn't manage to post any of it!

Besides the stroller liner and the shirred dress, I turned a T-shirt into a romper (part of my effort to practice sewing knits) and modified a few of Mollie's dresses.

The T-shirt romper did not turn out great. When I cut out the crotch (ew, crotch.) I did it with the shirt folded in half, thinking that would make it perfectly centered. Um, no. The shirt was all wonky so the crotch was off to the side. That meant I had to make a bigger cut-out than planned, the the legs turned narrower than I wanted. Not so good for my chunky baby! I will definitely be trying this again though as we have an ever-growing supply of T-shirts and the whole thing only took about 20 minutes. I followed these basic instructions, but I reinforced the crotch and put snaps on it instead of velcro.

The other project - dresses (sorry for the blurry picture). Mollie got some hand-me-down dresses that are CUTE. But she won't wear them because they are not fancy enough (is she really my child?). Some fabric yo-yos, buttons and rick-rack fixed that!

Flower Power

2009-04-26T23:03:00.003-04:00

Fuchsia, one of my favorite flowers. One hanging basket adds some much needed color to my shady yard. I have heard they are easy to propagate from cuttings, so I'm going to give it a try. Who knows? Maybe by summer I'll have 2 hanging baskets!

More on bias tape

2009-04-24T13:23:00.002-04:00

I curse the bias tape, but I love the bias tape. It's an odd relationship. Fortunately, the web has lots of tutorials that have helped me deal with the bias tape. Here are a few I have referenced recently:

-the Dread Pirate Rodgers method for joining the ends of double fold binding (she says it's foolproof, but I screwed it up several times-- I must be worse than a fool!)

- this tutorial by creative little daisy is a cheap way of making your own bias tape

Pleased as Pie

2009-04-23T17:17:00.004-04:00

I just finished this stroller liner! It went together really quickly except for the very last part- joining the ends of the bias tape. You would think it wouldn't be that bad, but it took several tries and more than a little cursing before I finally got it.

This liner covers up all the food stains on the stroller, it is washable and reversible, and was made using things I already had in my sewing stash. Perfect!

Earth Day

2009-04-22T10:53:00.003-04:00

I was going to title the post "Happy Earth Day", but this Earth Day I'm feeling more concerned than happy. I see people (myself included) making small and large changes to reduce their own environmental impact, but I don't think it's enough. I think that our impact on the environment is both personal and political and it is motivated by another kind of green: money. If I keep going, I will get into a funk, so changing gears...

I was doing a little research and came across the term "bright green" environmentalist. Looked it up on Wikipeida (of course). What color green are you?

Earth Day always reminds me of my days at UC Davis when Earth Day was celebrated with the Whole Earth Festival... think patchouli, flowing patchwork dresses, funky arts and crafts, etc. One year Kelsey and I were on the Karma Patrol; our mission: non-violent crowd control. We saw Big Brother and the Holding Company perform and their speakers were powered by a HEC (Human Energy Converter), a big hay filled wagon filled with sets of bike pedals. Sit in the wagon, pedal away, listen to music. It was fun. I'm pretty sure there's nothing like that in Augusta...

Flower Simplicity

2009-04-14T21:42:00.005-04:00

We spent this weekend at a little house on Matt's grandparents' property. We call it "the lodge", "the lake house", or "GG's clubhouse". It is a simple cinder block house filled with an eclectic mix of antiques, family mementos, and vintage utilitarian items (the vacuum and iron are at least 50 years old). It is a great little hideaway, surrounded by woods and the lake.

When we got there, the weather was dreary and the sideboard contained a basket full of fall leaves and acorns and the table had a dark brown cloth. It felt like autumn, not spring.

Mollie and I wanted to decorate for Easter, so after coloring eggs, we went on a flower hunt and here are the results:

No "before" pictures, but trust me, the simple dogwood, spirea, and violets made the house feel like spring!

April = Sewing Month

2009-04-13T21:50:00.003-04:00

My friend Nicola thinks April is going to have a sewing theme for her, so I've decided to jump on the bandwagon since I've got some projects going. Nothing finished for now, but I've got an 'almost' sewing project instead.

This one shows off Mollie's creativity. She wanted some new clothes for her doll, Lucy (creative, huh). I had just made her some doll diapers (see previous post for instructions) and didn't have time to make doll clothes at that moment. So Mollie asked if she could have some fabric and tape and she went to town!

Here is Lucy decked out in her outfit by MollieDesigns.

Almost Post

2009-04-09T09:13:00.004-04:00

It seems like I'm blogging in my head all the time, but few ideas actually make it to ~~paper~~ the internet (ether, binary code, what have you). What have I been up to?

To give you a hint, here are a few links I've been enjoying:

-how to make a diaper for a doll from Skip to My Lou

-simple (and good!) whole wheat bread recipe from King Arthur flour

-tutorial on shirring by Pink Fig Patterns

Lots more going on... including less time at the computer!

It's here

2009-03-24T15:22:00.006-04:00

Some people write messages in snow or mud, but here in Georgia, we get to write things in pollen (that is a brick on my front porch in the picture). The pollen hangs in the air like smoke and makes even the non-allergic feel crappy.

The upside: the blossoms! Everything is blooming; the dogwoods are drop-dead gorgeous (except for ours which gets too much shade).

I couldn't resist a little poetry (from Emily Dickinson):

1333
A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King,
But God be with the Clown—
Who ponders this tremendous scene—
This whole Experiment of Green—
As if it were his own!

Cheap Thrills

2009-03-12T21:43:00.003-04:00

Lucy loves to pound on my laptop keyboard and I've given up trying to use the computer while she's in the room. But my friend Michelle gave me a brilliant idea the other day- get Lucy her own keyboard. So, tonight I got one at Goodwill for $1. I cut off the cord and it's perfect. I won't let her play with it by herself because she might be able to get one of the keys off (choking hazard), but now I might be able to use my own computer for a little bit while she's in the room!

Bonus: Mollie loves it too. She already has our old telephone (with the cord cut off). She definitely likes to play with toys that are realistic, so why not let her play with the real thing?

Congrats to Katie and Blake

2009-03-11T09:59:00.011-04:00

They are the proud new owners of one of these:

Not this particular model... this is Lucy standing in.

A little girl, Claire.

Welcome to the world, little one!

Spring is near.

2009-03-09T10:30:00.002-04:00

5 Years of Mollie

2009-03-06T08:52:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday Mollie!

You have grown into such a wonderful little girl. You are funny, sweet, thoughtful. You have your own sense of style. You are stronger than anyone else I know. You are my hero. Daddy, Lucy, and I love you so much!!

The Saga of the Toaster Oven

2009-03-02T10:34:00.002-05:00

Our old, well-loved Toast-R-Oven died a few weeks ago. I did my best to try to find a suitable replacement. I wanted something basic to make toast, waffles, open faced sandwiches, garden burgers. I wanted something cheap. Nothing digital. No convection feature. Since the beloved Black and Decker worked so well for 8+ years, I decided to purchase the "new" version.

What I got was a real piece of crap. It burns everything and the heating element doesn't turn off, even when the timer goes off. The casing gets really hot. It is a cheap, dangerous fire hazard. So I'm in the market for a new, new toaster oven. Any suggestions?

Weather

2009-03-01T16:22:00.002-05:00

My parents have been visiting (hence the blog absence) and are trying to leave... but their flight was canceled. So, they got on another flight. And now that flight is canceled! All of this due to ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. In Georgia!

Happy St. Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T14:15:00.004-05:00

More stuff

2009-02-13T12:43:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking about stuff (material goods, things we own, etc.) recently. For a lot of reasons: the environment, the economy, the space, my carpets. We had our rugs cleaned and had to move everything out of the living room and master bedroom. We've moved the essentials back in- the bed, sofa, coffee table, TV- and that's about it (too tired to finish). And guess what? I like it that way! There's so much room for the kids to play and it just feels more spacious.

I came across this article (click here) on Yahoo! Finance a few minutes ago, and it speaks to me. Materialism is rampant in this country. I fall victim to it myself. For me, Target is difficult to resist. I walked in there the other night to buy a replacement carafe for our coffee maker (ours broke) and as soon as I walked in the door I felt like I had to also buy a spring-y blouse, a Valentine tablecloth, and a new purse. I resisted the temptation, but it was really hard. Target has genius marketing people. They make you think you need to redecorate your entire house for every season and holiday. What? I still have brown pillows on the sofa? That's sooooo last fall! What I really need are "spring" pillows. Um, yeah.

My name is Sarah and I am a sucker for advertising.

Anyway, I agree with the basic tenets set out in the article. They remind me of the WWII era slogan:

"Use it up, wear it out,
make do, or do without."

Words to live by.

What to do with the baby stuff

2009-02-12T11:22:00.004-05:00

My mom sent me this article (click here) from Seventh Generation; it's a guide to recycling infant clothing and gear.

We all know babies grow fast and most baby stuff is outgrown long before it's obsolete or worn out.
This article lists resources for unloading your baby gear, and for finding used/recycled clothes and gear.

The highlights:

"Buy only what you need! If you underestimate, you can always supplement later."

"Seek used items wherever possible."

"Don't let your inner sentimentalist talk you into saving everything as keepsakes."

That last one is the hardest for me!

Mashed Potatoes, Anyone?

2009-02-08T23:23:00.002-05:00

I try to avoid processed foods and buy fresh, local foods as much as possible. If I can make something at home without it taking up most of my day and making a big mess, I probably will.

But... I have discovered the joy of instant mashed potatoes. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it. I had never made instant potatoes until a few months ago. Here's how it happened:
During one of Mollie's steroid binges, she demanded mashed potatoes. So, I got potatoes, boiled them, smashed them. She didn't like them. She wanted the kind they have in the hospital, so we tried instant. Cheap, Publix private label, homestyle potato flakes. I can't remember if Mollie liked them (something about gravy...), but Matt and I enjoyed them. Less time. Less mess. Fewer spoiled, sprouting potatoes.

I will probably stick to the real thing for the holidays, but for our occasional mashed potato eating needs, I'm going with instant.

Lemony Goodness

2009-02-02T22:55:00.005-05:00

For Lucy's birthday this year, I made lemon cream cupcakes (click for link to recipe). I've never made a lemon cake before and these were good! They were a little dense (any suggestions to make them lighter and fluffier?), but the flavor was delicious.

Lucy sure enjoyed them!

Buying Used

2009-01-29T09:09:00.002-05:00

In an effort to be "green" and frugal, I try to buy used items or make do without as often as possible. There are some items where I think buying new is the best way to go because 1) I will get a warranty, 2) the item will (or should) last longer than something bought used, 3) the "ick" factor". These would be things like kitchen/laundry appliances, mattresses, and (some) upholstered furniture. Used underwear, socks, etc.... definitely out.

My friend nea has taken this further and started a year of NBN (no buying new). Cool!

Recently, I bought a used playpen/travel crib for Lucy because of several upcoming weekend trips. The playyard is in great shape, had all the pieces except for the user manual (which you can get free on the website), but cost about 73% of the new retail price. The price seemed high to me, but there are extenuating circumstances. We don't live in a huge metro area, so the selection of used baby items is limited. I wanted a specific brand (safety reasons). I ended up buying it because I didn't want to shell out the additional $$ to buy new.

What's been on my mind is... what is my motivation for buying new versus used? If the used item cost the same as the new item, I would have definitely bought it new. So clearly, my motivation is more economical than environmental, right? I need to spend some more time considering my motivations. The best thing would have been to borrow one... but I don't know anyone to borrow one from!

Updike

2009-01-29T08:34:00.003-05:00

John Updike died on Monday of lung cancer at age 76.

He is one of my writer heroes. After studying his short stories in Am Lit at UC Davis, I was drawn in. His prose was eloquent, genuine, and exceedingly comprehensible. He could describe the ordinary in a genteel and witty style.

Sadly, I haven't read any of his novels. The good news is that he was so prolific, I have a lot of novels to choose from. As soon as I finish this Grisham book, I'll pick one up.

Any Updike recommendations?

Time flies

2009-01-22T09:38:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Lucy!!

We are so lucky that YOU are a part of our family. Your first year has not been easy; a lot of your "firsts" were overshadowed by Mollie's illness; you spent a lot of time in the stroller at the hospital or clinic. But, you brightened every day with your sweet disposition and cute smile! I can't bring Mollie anywhere without hearing, "Where's Lucy?"

Now, you're almost a toddler. You always find ways to get through our security (baby gates). You babble, you're curious, you love to eat. You follow me around the house like a little lamb and pull on my legs when you need a hug. I love that you still look like a baby, but you're growing.

I remember your birth like it was yesterday; how they wouldn't let me hold you right away because you had the cord around your neck and needed oxygen. But after those tenuous first few moments, you went about the business of being a vigorous little sister.

We love you so much kiddo! Happy Birthday!

The Inauguration

2009-01-20T12:31:00.003-05:00

At our house, Obama became our President in the midst of quiet, peaceful snow flurries. I was actually in the car with two sleeping kids for the swearing in. I listened on the radio because I find that I really listen and pick up the inflections and the meaning of the words more than when I'm watching TV. The tears running down my cheeks really surprised me. Then, of course, I ran inside and watched it on TV.

Matt asked me why I was crying; I'm not really sure. I'm think part of it was some relief that Mollie's counts are good and the clinic visit went well. But it was definitely more about the inauguration than about Mollie. Here's what I told Matt,

"I guess because we're a step closer to equality. Because Bush is out of office. Because now, maybe, we can have a more appropriate response to 9-11. Because Mollie and Lucy will never remember the time before we had a "brown" President. And because I'm happy. We needed change. Even if our daily lives don't change, the mood has already changed and the last 8 years are history."

I think, at this moment, I am proud to be an American. I haven't felt that way in a long time, maybe ever. But I think Obama represents some of the best America has to offer. Now, we'll see what if he can help us change America.

Blog neglect, Atheism, and Favorite Christmas Gifts

2009-01-17T09:11:00.010-05:00

OK. I am a neglectful blogger. I think it's because this blog doesn't really have a theme, I've been busy keeping up with Mollie's blog, and, well, I kind of got sidetracked by Facebook. But.... I'm going to make the effort to update this blog more often. I like it. I like writing random thoughts about politics, family, news, travel, food, etc.

So, atheism. I heard report that ~50% of Americans would not even consider voting for an atheist for President. I don't put much stock into these kinds of polls, but it got me thinking- would I? Personally, I don't care what the President's religious views are, with two caveats; she should have good morals and should not let her religion (or lack thereof) directly interfere with her leadership. In fact, I would almost prefer not to know the president's religious persuasion. I don't like the "God is on our side" mentality. So, yes, I would consider voting for an atheist for President-- a lot of other things to consider ahead of religion though.

Finally, a little late, but I wanted to mention a few of my favorite Christmas (or birthday) gifts.

1. "Nerdy" T-shirt from my brother

2. Lucy and Mollie necklace from Matt

3. Russian baby toy (for Lucy)

Baby Stuff

2009-01-03T19:58:00.004-05:00

Seems like every week I find out another friend or family member is pregnant (or just had a baby and I didn't even know they were pregnant -oops!). Anyhoo, I thought I would list some of the baby items that I like best. Bonus: all of these are under $25. Click on the link to see a picture/where to buy. Most of these can also be obtained at your local baby superstore.

Garment extenders (Add a size) These are great because they extend the life of your onesies. In my experience, babies grow in length faster than in girth so these really do work. They are also excellent for getting onesies to fit over fluffy, cloth diaper butts.

Jamtots wetbags These zippered bags are perfect for cloth-diapering on the go, but they are also great for carrying and storing sticky bibs, washcloths, feeding utensils, and dirty wet clothes in the diaper bag. Keep one stocked with a diaper, some wipes, and a pacifier and it's perfect to keep in the pocket of your stroller.

Tilty cups BPA-free and easy for babies to use. Better for babies oral health (those valves are not good news according to the American Dental Association).

Bumkins Superbib Simply the best bib. Good shoulder coverage. Easy to clean. A pocket to catch stuff. Need I say more?

Bath hammock Stick one of these in the Ikea tub and you've got a good way to bathe a newborn.

Ikea tub I like this tub much better than the gimmicky ones in the baby superstores because it is simple, easy to clean, no bumps/weird positioners. It works great for the older baby and even works for a toddler. Sit it inside your regular tub, fill it up, and use less water.

Mesh basket for dishwasher I prefer these to the hard plastic baskets. It can fit anywhere in your dishwasher and all kinds of things fit inside- bottle rings/nipples, baby spoons, straws, lids, etc.

The one thing I really couldn't live without, is my Maclaren Quest stroller. No, not under $25 (in fact, quite a bit over), but absolutely one of the best "baby" investments. Mollie is almost 5 and still rides in it when the need arises.

Now, if you want to get all this stuff, you might have to hurry. According to this article (click here) , the recently enacted Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is going to put a lot of baby product manufacturers out of business. This law creates a stricter standard for lead in children's products (yay!). I am all for improved product safety, but I have been hearing a lot of bad press about how this law is going to be implemented. Primarily, I am concerned about the availability of handmade and second-hand toys, clothes, diapers. The third party lead testing and certification required by the law is very costly, and small manufacturers cannot afford it. And it's retroactive, so forget about buying all those great used toys/clothes for a while. If you're interested in the issue, here's another good article to read.

A New Year's Wish

2008-12-31T13:08:00.004-05:00

"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions."
~ Joey Adams

Seriously, though, I wish everyone health and happiness in 2009.

Thank You

2008-12-28T23:29:00.002-05:00

Anita and Lauren, you have outdone yourselves. A package full of goodies just in time for Christmas (and my B-day). And not just for Mollie and Lucy, but for me too! I love it all. The handmade (cable-knit even) hat! The Listology book. Journal. Chocolate. Soap.

Mollie was overjoyed at the buttons, shells, and bath toys. And Lucy loved the wrapping paper and bows.

You're the bestest!

Down

2008-12-17T23:05:00.002-05:00

I hate that Mollie has a life threatening disease.
I hate that she has been in the hospital for nearly a week and can't even leave the room.
I hate that Matt and I haven't had a moment alone in over a week.
I hate that I am missing out on this fun stage in Lucy's life.

Sometimes it all seems surreal, like I will wake up tomorrow and everything will be back to normal. No clinic, no hospitals, no cancer. It breaks my heart to see everything that Mollie has to endure. That our family has to endure.

Right now I feel like breaking every window in the house. Instead, I will try to sleep. To rest and get ready to entertain, console, monitor, and love Mollie in the hospital tomorrow.

Sisters

2008-12-11T20:55:00.005-05:00

The cute little hats were made by RGW! And out of yarn made from recycled plastic bottles, no less.

Now that Lucy is on the move, she's also more interactive. Mollie is really enjoying this. She can always get Lucy to laugh by surprising her. She loves to "read" to her. She loves to bring Lucy new toys and show her how to use them. She always checks with me to make sure they are not too small. Every once in a while I hear, "Mama, Lucy is boddering me!" Most of the time, they play together very well. Tonight, Mollie was gathering all the ingredients (link-a-dos and teething rings) to make donut soup while Lucy kept trying to pull electrical cords out of their sockets. Mollie would make sure to let me know that Lucy was going for the cords (even though I was right there) and would try to block access.

Yup, got to "baby proof". Mollie was never interested in all those forbidden-to-babies things like cords, sockets, cabinets, bookshelves, drawers. Lucy is interested in all those things.

Mollie still likes to participate in caring for Lucy- picking out her clothes and shoes, washing her face, feeding her. She even wanted to decorate Lucy's bedroom for Christmas. It is so sweet. In return, Lucy is very sensitive to Mollie's emotions. She laughs when Mollie laughs. She cries when Mollie cries. The last two weeks she's been in the room when Mollie was getting her chemo shots, and as soon as Mollie started crying, Lucy would too.

I am sure they will have their share of fights, but for now I'm savoring the sweetness.

She can crawl, she can crawl, she can crawl!

2008-12-08T10:18:00.003-05:00

Got to go catch her so more later.....

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

2008-12-06T11:49:00.004-05:00

Today is the feast day of St. Nicholas. Mollie put all of our shoes out last night to see if St. Nick would stop by. Sure enough, he did. He filled them with fruit and candy, stickers and a snowglobe (and Matt was lucky enough to get a bottle of Sierra Nevada).

The St. Nicholas Center has a good website with a lot of information about the feast day and how it is celebrated around the world.

Every year, the commercials and store decorations make me start to have Christmas anxiety and stress. After reading a little more about Advent, I am feeling more relaxed (about the holidays, not in general though). We have our Advent calendars up and Mollie takes great joy in opening a door each day.

My goal for the weekend is to get out outdoor lights up because Christmas lights are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. Our neighborhood is very dark (as in, there are not a lot of street lights) so the lights just give it a more cozy feeling.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

2008-12-02T22:07:00.003-05:00

I feel like I've been on it and can't get off! The last few days have been full of ups and downs. Nothing particularly major, or surprising. I think I'm just tired. I have a to do list a mile long. The holidays are coming up. I fear Mollie will have to be in the hospital on or around Christmas (that is when her blood counts are expected to be the lowest).

I'm just going to leave it at that. Oh, and I made sure to vote today, after spending 8 hours in clinic with Mollie, and Martin lost the Senate race! (In a runoff to GOP candidate Saxby Chambliss).

I'm feeling so "bleh" right now, it's hard to write.

But, Thanksgiving was wonderful (even though the "button" in our turkey didn't pop for the second year in a row). We enjoyed eating in our dining room for the first time ever! It was great to have my parents visiting and helping out with Mollie and Lucy (and dishes and cooking, shopping, electrical updating, etc).

Thankful

2008-11-26T11:52:00.002-05:00

I am thankful for so many things this year, but mostly I am thankful that we are here, celebrating Thanksgiving.

This year has been incredible and crazy. When Mollie was diagnosed with leukemia, my top 5 priorities pulled way ahead of the other priorities on the list. I am so thankful to my friends and family for recognizing this and not putting pressure on us.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I like the food and flavors, the decorations, the warmth. But mostly I just enjoy spending time with family and having no agenda. We don't have to go anywhere. We are just going to enjoy the day.

10 Month Old Lucy

2008-11-22T09:44:00.005-05:00

And Happy Birthday to Lauren!

Wow! 10 months has gone by in the blink of an eye!

Lucy has a great personality. She is not quite crawling, but manages to get around by rolling or scooting (Mollie says she slithers). Peek-a-boo is her favorite game followed by pat-a-cake and "this little piggy went to market". She can sense the energy level in the room and gets really excited when everyone else is singing/laughing/dancing. She can clap and sometimes waves "bye- bye".

Lucy has four teeth now. She has always loved to eat and last week she developed the skill of feeding herself, so now we just put food on her high chair tray and watch it disappear: pears, grapes, pancakes, crackers, meatloaf, chicken, pasta, peas. You name it, Lucy will eat it.

Lucy's Crib

2008-11-20T22:44:00.008-05:00

Sorry for the blurry picture- Lucy's room is tiny and it was hard to focus.
And yes, those are Lu's chubby little legs in the lower left corner.

Nea posted about some of her collections-vintage/embroidered linens in particular. That's also a love of mine and I mentioned that I had made a "crib skirt" for Lucy's crib out of some old linens.

I had this blue gingham fabric shower curtain from when we lived in Boston and I simply laid it out on the mattress support. Then, to cover the short end, I pinned two embroidered hand towels (the pins are way under the mattress so not accessible to little hands) to the shower curtain. It has a vintage "feel" event though it's not vintage. It would be really cute to do something similar with a bunch of vintage towels sewn to a piece of muslin. Katie, watch out- I might get crafty before that baby is born!!!!

WTF???

2008-11-12T19:49:00.002-05:00

Grandmother gives birth to daughter's triplets

Story Highlights

Jaci Dalenberg, 56, offered herself as a surrogate as her daughter waited to adopt
Dalenberg said she wasn't frightened to be pregnant at her age
The triplets were born Oct. 11 -- more than two months premature

I understand a mother's love runs deep, but this is strange. Surrogacy and IVF kind of bother me in general though.

Sewing Tip

2008-11-09T17:09:00.003-05:00

For those of you who sew, I found this great video about applying bias binding. For some reason, I have never done it this way and I usually end up cursing.

So, without further ado, here is the link to the no swearing bias tape method.

Doing the Right Thing

2008-11-08T12:07:00.001-05:00

I get frustrated with the various religious institutions in this part of the world because they seem like they are mostly about showmanship: beautiful families dressing their kids in matching, clothes (a post in and of itself) and showing them off every Sunday. They support vacation Bible school, anti-abortion activities, and other events that promote very conservative values. It often seems like these churches lack charity, understanding, and acceptance of those who don't fit the mold.

But today I saw something a little different. One of the biggest (and probably richest) Baptist churches in town was offering free oil changes and car washes to single mothers only! Very commendable.

New China Cabinet Brings New Problems

2008-11-06T13:29:00.003-05:00

I love our new dining room set (pictures coming soon), but since unpacking all of our china and glassware, I have discovered a new problem: our china pattern has been discontinued!

If you see any pieces at second-hand shops, antique shops, craigslist, etc., let me know! I have five place settings (enough for Thanksgiving this year), but I would love to get a few more.

The pattern (pictured above) is Westport by Waterford. Expensive, I know- that's why we only have 5 place settings. But I really love it!

Hope

2008-11-04T23:17:00.004-05:00

Today's historic election brings hope on so many levels.

I am concerned about the huge task Obama has ahead of him, but I am happy.

America has spoken and I have hope!

As I write this, McCain is congratulating Obama and his supporters are booing. I feel sorry for McCain. I think he wanted to take the high road with his campaign, but ended up cowing to the RNC.

happy list

2008-11-03T21:39:00.004-05:00

Nicola and Anita will appreciate this (if they haven't discovered it already):

the Things to Be Happy About website.

Anita introduced me to the book, 14,000 Things to Be Happy About, and it inspired Nicola and I to start our own happy list that has continued to be updated for 10+ years .

I've posted about the happy list before, but it is so great it is worth mentioning again and again. It is very therapeutic. It is simple to write in and fun to look back on. It's a diary of sorts, but there is no need for context.

My additions for today:

the local library
mint chocolate chip ice cream
a good lecture
being cozy inside on a rainy day
friends who bring you food
people who are "handy"
the BBC

I have had the "real" happy list for quite a while now... guess it's time to send it back to Nicola. It will be on it's way soon!

Getting Things Done Weekend

2008-11-02T22:04:00.005-05:00

We have had a fun and productive weekend. We've celebrated my dad's birthday, trick or treated for Halloween, barbecued, had our first fire in the fireplace of the season, and had a nice dinner out. Mollie and I also had our German lesson and Mollie went to a play with her friend Bella.

My dad has been here visiting since Tuesday and he has been a fabulous help. In addition to reading to, playing with, and being "entertained" by Mollie and Lucy, he also helped rearrange our storage room (no small feat), replaced some 70's brown shutters with light-filtering shades, hung a bed canopy in Mollie's room, and uncovered at least several square feet of concrete by clearing the leaves off the driveway and trimming some bushes! Wow, I'm tired just writing that.

We also purchased a beautiful new (to us) dining room set from an estate sale- table, chairs, and china cabinet. This is our first dining set ever, so I'm in the process of unpacking dishes that we had stored away. Mollie can't wait to have a fancy dinner in our dining room sometime soon.

Matt did some major trimming, wood cutting, and cleaned off the deck. You would think with all the recent yard work that our yard would look fabulous, but I think it would take a crew of 6 two days to really clear out all the weeds, ivy, dead trees, etc. Right now it can only be described as a "natural" setting.

I am trying to declutter- I have a pile of baby gear ready to be shipped off to Katie and Blake and have designated a few things as attic-bound.

So, most of these things are still works in progress, but at least they are in mid-late stages, rather than stuck at the beginning, or worse, not even started.

Tag, You're It

2008-10-29T23:01:00.006-04:00

I got tagged by bookyg to write 7 things you don't know about me. Since I don't know who's reading this, I don't know what you don't know. But, here goes.

1. I didn't vote in the last presidential election. (I had to travel at the last minute- too late for absentee voting. I don't feel that bad since I lived in MA, which went blue (of course) anyway.)
2. I haven't slept uninterrupted for more than a 6 hour stretch in over a year.
3. I never wear a watch.
4. I wish I had gone to law school. I guess I still could, but I've got some other things I would rather do.
5. I hate wearing shoes. Flip flops all year long baby! (or birks)
6. I still don't know what I want to be when I "grow up".
7. I smoke. Gotcha! I'm just kidding. But, in college, Alex, Kelsey, and I used to roll our own cigarettes at parties because we thought it made us look cool. It totally did. But seriously, I think I have smoked about 22 cigarettes in my life.

I am tagging Anita, Justin, and Amy. I don't think I know 7 bloggers but I will add more if I think of it.

The steam roller

2008-10-26T10:01:00.003-04:00

At nine months old, Lucy is in the 75th %-ile for weight and height. No surprise, since she eats everything in sight. She can't quite feed herself yet, but she grunts to let us know when she's hungry or wants more. Her favorite food seems to be ravioli with tomato sauce, but she also puts her 3 teeth to good use eating Cheerios, goldfish, and graham crackers.

She can pull herself up to standing with a little help and loves it once she's up. She's still not crawling and gets around by rolling, like a steam roller, across the floor. It's time to babyproof because she is curious and has long arms that can reach!

She is very much downward oriented- she likes to sit in her highchair and drop things off the side. She then looks at what she dropped, looks at me, and bursts into tears. Ah, gravity.

Lucy is easily entertained by peek-a-boo, the itsy bitsy spider, and Mollie. She says mama, dada, and squeals with delight at the sight of dogs. She really loves dogs. We have no idea why.

So, she's perfectly normal if a little on the large side (I can barely squeeze her into size 12 months clothes).

Papa George

2008-10-26T09:30:00.004-04:00

Mollie called Papa her “grandpa who lived in a hotel” because her only memories of him were when he was at Mercy.

I wish she and Lucy could have known Papa in the prime of his life- when I knew him as a child. I have so many memories of working in the yard with him, digging, pulling weeds, planting bulbs, raking the sand around the big Maple tree. He always took an afternoon nap. And made the best banana milkshakes.

He wasn’t very good at telling jokes, but he had a good sense of humor. He used to tell Matt that he was like “a bad penny that always returns” and he had that little glimmer in his eyes while saying it. And I think we all know better than to take any wooden nickels.

He taught me how to do handstands underwater in the Russian river. He taught me how to paint a room. To plant seeds. To make paper hats and paper airplanes. To care for plants. To look things up in a book if I didn’t know the answer.

He was so good at working with his hands . He was proud of his heritage and proud of his family. He was trustworthy and reliable. He was respectful of others and in turn was well-respected. I learned the value of these traits just by spending time with him, usually afterschool, and watching how he worked and interacted with people.

He was confident. He always did things how he thought they should be done. Most of the time he was right, and he wouldn’t necessarily admit it if he wasn’t. He was a bone fide pessimist, but that was always balanced out by grandma’s optimism. He loved her so much.

Because they lived right around the corner, I got to spend a lot of time with him- carefree afternoons just doing stuff- riding around in the truck, picking boysenberries, playing in the playhouse. Most of my memories of him are tied to 3040 Arizona Street.

But after they sold the house and moved into Mercy, he had new lessons to teach. He retained his sense of humor and was always a graceful host. I think he taught us all how to age gracefully and to try to accept things the way they are.

Papa George made the most of his time on this planet. I know that we are all proud of the life he lived; his strength and determination will live on through his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Gasoline worries

2008-10-23T21:09:00.004-04:00

This summer, I was pleased to see that the skyrocketing gas prices finally had some effect on Americans. A Wall Street Journal report stated that 2008 was the first year ever that gas usage in the U.S. had actually declined.

Those of us who live in the South also experienced a shortage after the hurricanes, forcing people to come up with alternatives and conserve their fuel.

But now gasoline prices are plummeting and the pump isn't so painful. What effect will this have? Has the mentality changed at all? Or will people gradually slip back into their old ways and the conservation trend reverse?

Easy Peasy Dinner

2008-10-21T18:37:00.005-04:00

Need a quick, tasty dinner?

Here's my "recipe" for breaded chicken:

1 pkg. (about 8) chicken cutlets
about 1 cups of bread crumbs (crushed cornflakes work well too)
about 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing (anything wet will work here- eggs, pinapple juice, any salad dressing, etc).

Dip the chicken cutlets into the dressing and then dredge in the breadcrumbs. Bake in a preheated 350-400 degree oven for about 30 minutes.

You can serve these with rice or potatoes and steamed vegetables. Or on top of a salad. Or wrap them in a pita. The same concept works well with turkey cutlets, zucchini slices, eggplant slices, summer squash... you get the idea.

Easy. Flexible. Dinner.

Beyond Ridiculous

2008-10-19T00:29:00.003-04:00

Apparently I've been in the dark about something: J.Crew now has a line of clothes for children ages 2-10 (crewcuts) and a line of clothes for dogs (crew mutts).

The prices are unbelievable. What child needs a cashmere "everyday" dress?

And dog clothes? Seriously, I hate clothes for pets. That's what they have fur for people! But, I guess if you're crazy enough to buy clothes for your dog, why not spend $128 for a cashmere dog sweater.

One of my new favorite websites:

2008-10-11T15:37:00.002-04:00

Whip Up

It's full of wonderful, creative projects, patterns, and tutorials on how to do it yourself!

Last post on cloth diapers, I promise

2008-10-07T15:15:00.003-04:00

(well, for this week anyway).

I forgot to mention wipes. I really hate baby wipes. I don't like how they smell and they don't really do the job on big messes. Baby washcloths are much more effective. The terry cloth helps to grab the poo (sorry for the visual) and you can just use plain water. I have a stack of baby washcloths and keep a peri bottle filled with water to wet them. With Mollie, we used a wipes warmer filled with moist washcloths. Both systems work well and are way better than commercial wipes. Plus, you can just throw the wipes into the diaper pail with the diapers. Bonus: you can also give a quick sponge bath after the diaper change.

Just for laughs

2008-10-07T13:28:00.002-04:00

My friend sent this to me in an e mail and I couldn't resist.

The Cloth-diapered Behind- Part 2

2008-10-05T16:28:00.001-04:00

This is our system. The diapers have been very durable and continue to work well. I like to buy them from Wildflower Diapers or Diaperware.
So, here goes.

Newborns:
I think disposables are the easiest for the first few weeks because the babies are so small. Even the trimmest cloth diaper seems huge on a newborn.

Infants
Pocket cloth diapers can be costly to buy upfront ($10-25 each!). You might not want to buy the super fancy diapers in the smallest sizes because 1) they grow out of them so quickly and 2) they need 8-12 diapers per day.

For the first few months, we used cotton prefolds (4x8x4 ply, unbleached Chinese prefolds in the infant size) with diaper covers (Either Bummis or ProWraps). I think we had about 18-20 prefolds and 6-8 covers. We washed these every other day. If you have diaper rash problems, you can lay a piece of fleece over the prefold in the diaper and that keeps the baby's skin drier. I actually like diaper pins because I think they make the diaper fit and stay in place better. Matt was not a fan of pins, so he just put the diaper in the cover and fastened the cover. Didn't use the Snappi, although some people love it.

Older Infants through Potty Training:

Once the babe can fit in size mediums (for Mollie this was about 6 months, for Lucy this was about 3-4 months), we started using Fuzzi Bunz as our main diapers. I have 16-18 of these in size medium and wash every other day. The mediums fit Mollie for a very long time (until 18 months) and then we switched to size larges and didn't need nearly as many (10-12). These lasted Mollie through potty training (she was ~2.5 yrs); we have yet to see how long they will fit Lucy.

Fuzzi Bunz are pocket diapers, so you can stuff anything inside the pocket to increase the absorbency. I use an infant prefold and a doubler or piece of terry cloth. Microfiber inserts work well as doublers, but do NOT work well by themselves. I made a few hemp jersey inserts that are very trim and absorbent. These are my favorite inserts, but since we already had all the prefolds from the infant stage...

When the baby starts solid foods, we start using diaper liners. Ours are from Imse Vimse. It says they are flushable, but I routinely throw the pee-only ones in the wash with the diapers and they last through 3-4 washes!! I don't flush them!! If the poop is solid, you can just shake it off into the toilet. If it's not, sorry to say, I throw it in the trash. (Yes, I know you're not supposed to do this but at least I'm not throwing like 8000 disposable diapers in there too!)

Laundering and other info
We use a regular trashcan with a pail liner and put the dirties in there. I just dump the whole thing in the washer. First, I do a cold rinse/spin. Then I do a hot wash/cold rinse using Planet detergent and a little added washing soda. If there are still visible bubbles after this cycle, I do one extra rinse. I always line dry the covers and usually throw the inserts in the dryer (because it's so darn humid here).

I like diapers with snap closures (Fuzzi bunz) because velcro tends to snag on everything in the laundry. But, the velcro are a little easier to use, so it's a toss up. The velcro pocket style diapers are newer and I only have tried two. I have one bumGenius adjustable one-size. Lucy is on the largest setting right now, so unless she miraculously starts potty training at 9 months old, I think the one-size diaper will not fit her all the way through potty training. The other velcro diaper that I like is a Dry-bees. The sizing is very generous so I think a size medium will fit for a long time.

I don't recommend All-in-one diapers (AIOs). They take FOREVER to dry and I never felt like they were getting thoroughly cleaned.

Happy Birthday, Liv!

2008-09-30T18:45:00.006-04:00

Delicious White Cake (from my grandma's 1950 Betty Crocker Cookbook):

Lovely to look at . . . luscious to eat

Grease generously and flour . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 9" layer pans or a 13x9" oblong pan

Cream together until fluffy . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2/3 cup soft shortening (at least half butter)
1 3/4 cup sugar

Sift together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 2/3 cups sifted Gold Medal flour (or 3 cups Softasilk)
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt

Stir in alternately with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 1/3 cups thin milk (I just used non-fat)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond flavoring

Fold in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 egg whites (1/2 cup), stiffly beaten (I used powdered)

Oven Temp: 350 degrees
Time: Bake layers 30-35 min., square or oblong 35-45 min.

Pour into prepared pans. Bake until cake tests done. Cool. Finish with desired filling and frosting.

I use raspberry preserves for the filling between the layers.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

6 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 package (8 ounces)cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1. Place the white chocolate in a small glass bowl in the microwave oven on high power for 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the oven and stir with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until it is smooth. Set the chocolate aside to cool.

2. Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the milk, vanilla, and melted white chocolate, and blend on low speed until just combined, 30 seconds. Add the confectioners' sugar and blend on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 30 seconds. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the frosting is fluffy, 1 minute or more.

This makes plenty of frosting for the entire cake!

I want to live here

2008-09-29T21:47:00.005-04:00

I can't remember how I linked to this website, but I'm ready to move in to one of these cute houses. And if you click on "similar buildings," you can see how many other quaint woodland cottages there are. I think they are all in the U.K. and they definitely have a British feel. Maybe that's why I like them. They look like they are straight out of a fairy tale. They remind me of the Cotswolds. They also kind of remind me of Baggins End- the domes at UC Davis.

Photo courtesy of http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm.

Just in time for Halloween

2008-09-29T13:45:00.003-04:00

So, here's the latest on tainted/dangerous products coming from China: chocolate! Apparently, Cadbury pulled 11 of its Chinese-made chocolates (reportedly none were sold in the U.S.) because they were made with melamine-laced milk. For the full story, click here.

I've always been leery of candy that's not either boutique/homemade or a major brand (such as Hershey's), but Cadbury is a major brand. And those little Halloween treats that are "Not packaged for individual resale" also don't have the "Made in _______" label on them. And the larger candy bars don't necessarily have that either. Often they just have the name of the distributor. So, they could be made in China, Switzerland, or just about anywhere.

I admit that chocolate constitutes a large part of our diet, but we do eat other food items. This article got me thinking about where our other food comes from. I try to make as much food from "scratch" as possible. Very few of us can grow all our own food. Just about everyone has to purchase staples like sugar, flour, butter, milk. Most of us also purchase pasta, breakfast cereal, nuts, beans, etc. I just looked in my pantry and most of the items I looked at had no information about where the ingredients came from. Some were "certified organic" and were "grown in the USA" or "made from products grown in the USA," but most items simply had the distributor's information on the package. And, man, that's kinda scary. I can't believe I never noticed that before.

So, what to do? I think buy local is still the best bet. But sometimes it's a lot more expensive or impossible. For example, I've never seen any "locally grown" sugar in the market. Around here, there is only one farm share available and I don't think it would be very economical for us at the moment. So, organic is probably the second best choice.

Any thoughts?

Fuel

2008-09-25T18:15:00.004-04:00

Every station I saw today was out of gas. Last night there were long lines at all the stations, but we had no problem filling up in the afternoon.

At least the only place I have to go tomorrow is the Y. We could skip it if we needed to, but I am hoping this "shortage" is temporary.

Obviously, the world is going to run out of gas someday. I wonder if it's going to be like this? Or will there be a better solution?

Sorry to get all doom and gloom. This shortage just emphasizes the reality of global warming and the energy crisis.

Happy Birthday Matt!

2008-09-23T09:24:00.003-04:00

I bet cleaning up cat puke at 6 a.m. was a lovely birthday treat!

Spotted...

2008-09-22T00:32:00.004-04:00

Look closely at the sign.
Spotted by Matt. Picture by me.

The Cloth-diapered Behind- Part 1

2008-09-21T20:51:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking about this post for a long time. When I tell people that we use cloth diapers, I get reactions ranging from "Cool! Tell me about it..." to "What!!? Why?". Most people are somewhat interested in how it's done and have no idea how far cloth diapers have come in the last 20+ years. A few friends have asked about my favorite cloth diapers, my washing routines, etc. recently, so I thought this was a good time to post.

We use cloth about 80% of the time. Lucy's diapers are mainly the same ones we used with Mollie, making it very economical. I prefer "pocket" style diapers. Basically these are a waterproof outler layer (PUL) and a fleece inner layer. There is an opening in the back where you put the soaker- a regular prefold cotton diaper or any other absorbent material.

Why do I like the pocket diapers?
1)Easy to use- you can put the parts together when you take them out of the laundry and they are as convenient to use as disposables
2)Adjustibility- you can stuff these things with just about anything, making them very trim or super absorbent depending on needs

A note on washing.... the new water-saving HE machines are definitely not as good for diapers as the older water hogs. You have to run extra rinses to get out the soap (using more electricity) because of the low water usage. But I am guessing it is still more economical and environmentally-friendly than disposables, especially when you consider the raw materials, transportation costs, and manufacturing waste/by-products associated with disposables. I certainly appreciate not spending $40+ per month on diapers.

Why do we use cloth? I decided to do it for environmental reasons and to reduce Mollie's exposure to the nasty chemicals in disposables. Have you ever used disposable diapers and seen the little crystal/gel-like things they can leave behind (pun intended) on baby's skin? There are some other added benefits.... earlier potty training in some kids, they are not as stinky as disposable diapers (some people are surprised by this one, but it's just that they don't have a chemical-y smell), and they are cute.

Next time... my cloth-diapering routine and recommendations

Today

2008-09-19T22:12:00.006-04:00

It started off good. Woke up. Mollie dressed herself for ballet. We headed for the gym. I fed Lucy during the ballet class. After class, I took both girls to the child watch and worked out for an hour (swimming).

Then we went to lunch and ran a few errands. We got home and that's when things started going down hill. Lucy wouldn't nap, and Mollie wanted me to help her with art projects (Lucy and art projects do not mix). She finally got a late nap but then (duh!) wouldn't go to sleep at her usual bed time. Mollie and I had started baking cookies so between batches of cookies (listening to Lucy scream upstairs) and running upstairs to try to sooth her, I was exhausted. And Matt couldn't even come to the rescue because he was out of town for work.

Number of wardrobe changes for Mollie: 6

Number of band-aid changes for Mollie's tiny finger prick: 6 (at least)

Number of consecutive minutes of quiet (nobody crying, whining, or chattering): 7.5

Number of times I went upstairs to rock Lucy: a lot

Knowing that they are both asleep right at this very moment: priceless

Happy Birthday Lala!!

2008-09-12T20:29:00.001-04:00

4 years old- Wow!

In Remembrance

2008-09-11T00:05:00.000-04:00

Two headlights. Two teeth.

2008-09-09T10:13:00.003-04:00

The headlight on the Honda burned out on Wednesday, so I had it replaced. On Saturday, Matt said, "You know you've got a headlight out?" Yes, it was the other one.

Tooth #2 erupted in Lucy's mouth sometime between last night and this morning. Those two little teeth are every bit as sharp as her finger nails!

Here, she's putting those teeth to good use!

My little scientist

2008-09-08T17:10:00.002-04:00

This afternoon we were sitting on the deck by the pool (wow, that sounds much more glamorous than our old deck and old Nemo plastic pool).

I was trying to gather my thoughts for class tonight and Mollie was splashing around in the pool. I was listening to her talk to herself. She was saying, "Shells sink. Acorns float. Feathers float. Rocks sink." I looked over and realized she was "testing" each item as she said it. Now if only I could get my students to do that in lab tonight...

Grrrr!

2008-09-06T21:55:00.003-04:00

Lucy's been cutting a tooth and it finally came in today!

I'm sure she was ready for a yummy sausage dinner since we went up to the lake for a barbecue. Unfortunately, we forgot the sausages so we just had side dishes and appetizers. Good though.

Mixed Bag

2008-09-02T10:38:00.004-04:00

My mom is here visiting so I'm not spending much time on the blog, but I am working on a cloth diaper post for next week. These are just a few thoughts from the last few days...

Can you believe McCain's choice of running mate? I really, really, really hope they don't get elected. Matt thinks it's in the bag for Obama, but Bush got elected twice so I'm not so confident.

Was it just me, or did it seem like the media were just praying for Hurricane Gustav to bring death and destruction? They actually seemed disappointed that it was downgraded to a Cat. 2 storm that didn't destroy New Orleans.

2009 is the year of babies! I have 5 friends who are due in early '09 (and one in Dec. '08). I better get sewing!

In our own backyard

2008-08-29T10:23:00.006-04:00

Well, not exactly. But this beautiful park is just a mile or two up the road from our house. We spent the afternoon there walking, dropping rocks from the bridge, and playing at the playground. Mollie is frowning because she's carrying a bucket full of rocks (her choice).

I decided we needed to just get out of the house and it ended up turning into the most enjoyable afternoon. Funny how that works! I didn't prepare or plan at all- just grabbed the diaper bag and went out the door. We met a woman whose son had a brain tumor when he was little and is now in his 30's. Always good to hear those kind of stories. And Mollie played with a new friend, Mariah, at the playground. Mariah's mom and I had a good conversation too.

The Big List

2008-08-29T09:50:00.002-04:00

The major things we need to do around our house.... mostly for my own planning:

Dining room set
Replace upstairs bathtub/sink
Replace carpet downstairs (or clean as a temporary fix)
Replace/reupholster sofa
Clean up/organize the storage room
Deal with the yard (maybe hire someone to do this?)
Resurface the driveway
Think about replacing/repairing the storm windows/screens
Termite prevention
Master bathroom
Paint (inside)

Smaller (or less urgent) stuff....
kitchen curtains
shelves for Mollie's room
living room shades/blinds
move Lu's dresser upstairs
organize the office

A Birthday!

2008-08-27T21:54:00.007-04:00

Happy Birthday T!

If I were there, I would bake you a cake. But a picture will have to do for the moment.

Hope you enjoyed your day!

This cake can also be ordered from:
http://www4.mailordercentral.com/veryvera/prodinfo.asp?number=NL

Skirt

2008-08-26T11:15:00.004-04:00

I made this skirt for Mollie a few weeks ago and forgot to post the pictures.

The weekend

2008-08-26T10:23:00.004-04:00

The dryer was down all weekend. And it rained all weekend, so we couldn't hang clothes outdoors either. Thank you Michelle for letting me dry my laundry at your house Friday night! You saved me from the laundromat!

Still, Saturday went like this:

Matt and Mollie went fishing; Lucy had a poop-splosion. We went out and had a very nice dinner; Mollie at a lot; Mollie barfed when we got home. We cleaned up (threw away a hopeless rug) and went to bed; several hours later, Otis (the cat) puked.

Then Sunday we went into the hospital so I couldn't do anything about the laundry anyway.

At the moment, I am *enjoying* doing laundry!

Even with all that went on, it wasn't a BAD weekend. Everyone was in a good mood. We (almost) accomplished one of our goals for the weekend- getting Lucy a dresser. I've been looking around for a used one but I haven't had any luck. I walked into Babies R' Us on Saturday and there was a perfect sized chifferobe marked down about 50%! We picked it up (it actually fit in the Volvo- phew!) before going out to dinner. We managed to get it out of the car and into the house on Sunday morning and that's where we stopped. It is really heavy and we didn't want to kill ourselves trying to get it upstairs with no help. It is currently filled with Lucy's clothes, but.... it's in our living room!

I'm starting to think we just have bad luck.

2008-08-22T22:38:00.002-04:00

Seriously. This week, it's ants (constantly). Then the internet stops working. Now our dryer won't heat. We NEED our dryer. It's not even 2 years old. After reading about other people's problems with this particular model, I think it's probably the control board (something that will have to be "ordered"). Ugh.

We were just discussing what we might do this weekend- one of the few in recent memory where:
- it's not supposed to be blazing hot outside
- our daughter's chemotherapy is not making her feel sick
- we don't have visitors or other obligations

Well, I guess I have a date with the laundromat.

Can't life just give us a break??

Good news!

2008-08-16T23:33:00.005-04:00

Good news from Katie and Blake!
Sending you lots of hugs from across the USA!

Picture courtesy of Webweaver

Cheap thrills

2008-08-13T21:56:00.002-04:00

Do you feel obligated to buy something if you shop at a local shop?

We discovered a local nursery (Green Thumb West, for the locals) that has beautiful greenhouses, a few fish ponds, pottery, fountains, and wonderful plant displays. Mollie loves it. For her, it's almost as good as going to the botanical gardens (she loves gardens of all sorts).

We went the other day an she was pretending we were in the Hundred Acre Wood. I had no intention of purchasing anything, but I do like to look. So we just browsed around for an hour or so. And I left feeling kind of bad that I didn't make a purchase.

I like ~~shopping~~ browsing. I am pretty good at resisting the temptation to buy. However, usually I'm at larger stores that provide more anonymity.