I have been trying to be earth conscious for some time now...recycling, changing the lightbulbs, no papertowels, etc...but now I'm pretty sure I may drive us all crazy. But, we'll see. It's worth a shot and I'm happy to try anything once to see if it's doable, even if we have to alter our 'convenient' ways...just to make this world a better place for my boys, and their children in return.
Yesterday I put myself and hubby on the Opt Out list and took our name off lists for distributions of Catalogues...so hopefully within a few months our junk mail accumulation will be far less...We get so much! No joke! And most goes into the trash (shred first) or burned because our recycling doesn't take paper...crazy right? So, I'm working on making a shift and figuring out where I can take our paper because we accumulate a lot of it.
I'm challenging myself to not use the dishwasher for a week. GASP!
I will not buy anything new, only second hand as far as clothes, toys, etc. go (except for underwear and socks...blech).
AND I'm even going to give cloth diapers a whirl...yup! Just have to work on how to get them, where to get them, what I need, etc.
Oh and we've started switching off surge protectors...what doest that take an extra five seconds? So as of right now the downstairs is all off, the playroom is off and the living room...sweet right? Because, here's another new thing...NO MORE TV (during the day to start, I'm not sure I can give it up Cold Turkey)but typically I used to have it on for background noise, one on in the playroom, one on in the living room and sometimes...one on in the bedroom...ALL AT THE SAME TIME! I know, horrible!
So...here you go...here's a new fun thing to watch and snicker at...I may just drive us all crazy...but hey, saving the Earth is a Team Sport ya know?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I want to point out...
That my two boys are very different. I have had a small blond boy in this house for over four years now...two of them for a little over fourteen months and here is one of the (many) ways they are different. Not different in a good way, not different in a bad way...but different.
For the first time in the phase of my life that I refer to as 'Mommydom' there are toys EVERYWHERE. There used to be toys...all over the place because well, we had a lot. So when moms complained or mentioned that there were toys everywhere I was like..."Yeah, my house too...there's too many...get the kid a book!" Um, nope, that was a misinterpreted meaning to that phrase.
By everywhere...they mean...everywhere. For example, we spent the majority of the day today out of the house...and when we were in the house...the wee one's were either eating or sleeping (my kind of day!) however, upon my nightly clean up this evening I found:
In the kitchen - a stuffed pink pig, a truck, a large plastic fish and I'm sure there was a ball- because there is always a ball.
In the bathroom - there was a block, a Lightening McQueen and Superman was in the sink...hmmmmm
In the living room - more stuffed animals (dog is actually the culprit for the stuffies as my kids have many but do not play with them...dog on the other hand is quiet enamored with them and well..we are hoping that changes when he gets fixed - you do the math), more trucks and a yellow car....
In the hall - a half eaten chicken...uh huh. Yup, it's a toy. Plastic chicken from the boys play kitchen and well...damn dog!
I'm not even going to talk about the recycling all over the house...plastic bottles in my bed, one under the desk and even the egg package in the hall...oh and for some reason, my gym bag is now dumped on the office floor, the office trash is dumped out...and in the small trash can is a spoon...taken from a drawer in the kitchen. Nope, not even going to talk about that.
That doesn't sound bad right? Well let me tell you, I cleaned up before we went to the library and I believe Conor was on the prowl for all of 32 seconds before I convinced (read wrestled) him to put on his pajama's and a new diaper. Aiden was walking around with his new books from the library (One on India because he requested a book on the Taj Mahal and the other one is about Mount Rushmore...he went to bed hugging that one - I have no idea where he comes from so don't look at me...I hated geography and social studies and all that...shudder) so let's not think he has anything to do with this. He is also why I held the previous misinformed definition of 'toys all over the place'...NOT TO MENTION the fact that they have a playroom that I lock ...errr...I mean have them play in all day when they aren't eating or sleeping (at least I try to and kinda 'wish' I could lock them in...shhhh). So a word to the wise...all you moms out there who are also misinformed...be prepared!
Oh and by the way...when did this kid get tall enough to put things in the bathroom sink??? Man I'm in trouble...gypsies boy...Gypsies!!!
For the first time in the phase of my life that I refer to as 'Mommydom' there are toys EVERYWHERE. There used to be toys...all over the place because well, we had a lot. So when moms complained or mentioned that there were toys everywhere I was like..."Yeah, my house too...there's too many...get the kid a book!" Um, nope, that was a misinterpreted meaning to that phrase.
By everywhere...they mean...everywhere. For example, we spent the majority of the day today out of the house...and when we were in the house...the wee one's were either eating or sleeping (my kind of day!) however, upon my nightly clean up this evening I found:
In the kitchen - a stuffed pink pig, a truck, a large plastic fish and I'm sure there was a ball- because there is always a ball.
In the bathroom - there was a block, a Lightening McQueen and Superman was in the sink...hmmmmm
In the living room - more stuffed animals (dog is actually the culprit for the stuffies as my kids have many but do not play with them...dog on the other hand is quiet enamored with them and well..we are hoping that changes when he gets fixed - you do the math), more trucks and a yellow car....
In the hall - a half eaten chicken...uh huh. Yup, it's a toy. Plastic chicken from the boys play kitchen and well...damn dog!
I'm not even going to talk about the recycling all over the house...plastic bottles in my bed, one under the desk and even the egg package in the hall...oh and for some reason, my gym bag is now dumped on the office floor, the office trash is dumped out...and in the small trash can is a spoon...taken from a drawer in the kitchen. Nope, not even going to talk about that.
That doesn't sound bad right? Well let me tell you, I cleaned up before we went to the library and I believe Conor was on the prowl for all of 32 seconds before I convinced (read wrestled) him to put on his pajama's and a new diaper. Aiden was walking around with his new books from the library (One on India because he requested a book on the Taj Mahal and the other one is about Mount Rushmore...he went to bed hugging that one - I have no idea where he comes from so don't look at me...I hated geography and social studies and all that...shudder) so let's not think he has anything to do with this. He is also why I held the previous misinformed definition of 'toys all over the place'...NOT TO MENTION the fact that they have a playroom that I lock ...errr...I mean have them play in all day when they aren't eating or sleeping (at least I try to and kinda 'wish' I could lock them in...shhhh). So a word to the wise...all you moms out there who are also misinformed...be prepared!
Oh and by the way...when did this kid get tall enough to put things in the bathroom sink??? Man I'm in trouble...gypsies boy...Gypsies!!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fired...
I'm totally fired. Like super duper fired...No call...No Show...Fired.
I've been super behind in this blog thing huh? Like there's no way to catch up.
Stuff happened. Things were awesome. Some stuff was probably crap.
My garden has bloomed, gone crazy and is probably going to die from frost soon.
I have pictures but they are over there (nods head in direction of office down the hall) and hubby has this crazy arse set up working for him and I can't even go on the computer. Seriously. Crazy. For some reason there is the regular old desktop computer (you know, monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer down there on the floor) and in front of said monitor and said keyboard is *gasp* another keyboard...wireless...in front of said mouse is *gasp* another mouse...what the!! Oh and wait...I have to hit the second mouse to get the screen to pop up and use the second keyboard and oh wait...they aren't even attached to the computer...there's a laptop over there in the corner that these suckers are running and displaying on the monitor...Why? What's wrong with the laptop? What's going on? Why? Why? Did I say, WHY? So confuddled...me...
Boys are good. Update on boys - Aiden (4 now) happy as ever...doing his thing, going back to preschool and has a private speech consult on Friday to possibly get private speech therapy outside of the therapy he already gets at the Early Learning Center...woo. Conor (this many - 1) is freaking crazy! Love that kid, he cracks me up...but weeeeeeeeeee he is BUSY, TROUBLE, add a bazillion other words of that sort here and it will start to describe him. Spirited...is that the word now? He's a pain in the ass. But awesome, incredibly awesome (love ya kid but seriously you are a pain in the ass - I can say that a. because you probably will never read this - who thinks I'm going to keep this up until the kid can read? and b. if I do keep this up until you can read, you will forgive me, because I haven't sold you to gypsies yet over the past five years....trust me, the thought is there.
Dog is crazy and he really thinks he is one of our kids. I have to keep reminding Sam of that. He is super young...but he's whacked and thinks he's a child. I just have to remember that and give him lots of love...not throw him out a window or something.
Welp, I know you are fulfilled now. Finally I have updated my blog and you can breathe a sigh of relief to learn...um...nothing cause really, my life is all about the same sh*t different day. I get so bored of my own life I can't even talk about it...so let's think for a moment how enthralled you must be right now. Thanks though! I appreciate you taking a peep.
*PEEP*
I've been super behind in this blog thing huh? Like there's no way to catch up.
Stuff happened. Things were awesome. Some stuff was probably crap.
My garden has bloomed, gone crazy and is probably going to die from frost soon.
I have pictures but they are over there (nods head in direction of office down the hall) and hubby has this crazy arse set up working for him and I can't even go on the computer. Seriously. Crazy. For some reason there is the regular old desktop computer (you know, monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer down there on the floor) and in front of said monitor and said keyboard is *gasp* another keyboard...wireless...in front of said mouse is *gasp* another mouse...what the!! Oh and wait...I have to hit the second mouse to get the screen to pop up and use the second keyboard and oh wait...they aren't even attached to the computer...there's a laptop over there in the corner that these suckers are running and displaying on the monitor...Why? What's wrong with the laptop? What's going on? Why? Why? Did I say, WHY? So confuddled...me...
Boys are good. Update on boys - Aiden (4 now) happy as ever...doing his thing, going back to preschool and has a private speech consult on Friday to possibly get private speech therapy outside of the therapy he already gets at the Early Learning Center...woo. Conor (this many - 1) is freaking crazy! Love that kid, he cracks me up...but weeeeeeeeeee he is BUSY, TROUBLE, add a bazillion other words of that sort here and it will start to describe him. Spirited...is that the word now? He's a pain in the ass. But awesome, incredibly awesome (love ya kid but seriously you are a pain in the ass - I can say that a. because you probably will never read this - who thinks I'm going to keep this up until the kid can read? and b. if I do keep this up until you can read, you will forgive me, because I haven't sold you to gypsies yet over the past five years....trust me, the thought is there.
Dog is crazy and he really thinks he is one of our kids. I have to keep reminding Sam of that. He is super young...but he's whacked and thinks he's a child. I just have to remember that and give him lots of love...not throw him out a window or something.
Welp, I know you are fulfilled now. Finally I have updated my blog and you can breathe a sigh of relief to learn...um...nothing cause really, my life is all about the same sh*t different day. I get so bored of my own life I can't even talk about it...so let's think for a moment how enthralled you must be right now. Thanks though! I appreciate you taking a peep.
*PEEP*
Friday, June 20, 2008
Yup, digging in the trash again...
And here is what I got...
Ok, I wasn't really 'digging' in the trash, so please don't get too skeeved out on me.
I found these two dejected items (the lamp and the table) on the side of the road...in a ditch actually, covered in dirt and grass and sad sad sad...sitting in front of a house that is not nice...not nice at all (lots of mean signs - No trespassing and just broke down looking)...
Anyhow, here is what the table looked like...(click on it, make it big...blech!!)
Yummmm!!!!!
Here is what the light looked like...um well I forgot to take pics before I started spray painting...but notice the hideous gold and the sad sad lampshade.
Not bad for free...I just have to play around with the accesories some more...and no the clips (if you noticed them) on the lampshade are not staying, that is just until the glue dries. Oh and the lamp works even!!
PS - here is how the first picture really looked before I had to lighten it a ton so you could see the details...it's 9pm, not a good time for natural lighting... Go ahead, click on it for a close up (notice the whole in the wall we inherited from the previous owner and never fixed - used to have my dresser there) and the missing paint behind the chair from the boys rocking that thing like crazy into the wall the other day...and well a ton of imperfections...go ahead...I'm not scared notice them. But also notice how cute that golf fabric is, I've been wondering what to do with that! Oh and hubby says the lamp may end up in his office at work...I guess I'm not so silly after all picking up trash...
Oh and does anyone have a solution for spray paint trigger finger???
Oh and I made that little box, man I've been working on that for years...I'm still not done...the pattern is 'burnt' on...it's one of those things (wood burning) that I tend to put on a back burner for a long time...get it burner...man I'm hilarious.
Ok, I wasn't really 'digging' in the trash, so please don't get too skeeved out on me.
I found these two dejected items (the lamp and the table) on the side of the road...in a ditch actually, covered in dirt and grass and sad sad sad...sitting in front of a house that is not nice...not nice at all (lots of mean signs - No trespassing and just broke down looking)...
Anyhow, here is what the table looked like...(click on it, make it big...blech!!)
Yummmm!!!!!
Here is what the light looked like...um well I forgot to take pics before I started spray painting...but notice the hideous gold and the sad sad lampshade.
Not bad for free...I just have to play around with the accesories some more...and no the clips (if you noticed them) on the lampshade are not staying, that is just until the glue dries. Oh and the lamp works even!!
PS - here is how the first picture really looked before I had to lighten it a ton so you could see the details...it's 9pm, not a good time for natural lighting... Go ahead, click on it for a close up (notice the whole in the wall we inherited from the previous owner and never fixed - used to have my dresser there) and the missing paint behind the chair from the boys rocking that thing like crazy into the wall the other day...and well a ton of imperfections...go ahead...I'm not scared notice them. But also notice how cute that golf fabric is, I've been wondering what to do with that! Oh and hubby says the lamp may end up in his office at work...I guess I'm not so silly after all picking up trash...
Oh and does anyone have a solution for spray paint trigger finger???
Oh and I made that little box, man I've been working on that for years...I'm still not done...the pattern is 'burnt' on...it's one of those things (wood burning) that I tend to put on a back burner for a long time...get it burner...man I'm hilarious.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Trash to...uh...treasure??
So I saw this on the side of the road.
Brushed it clean, Spray painted it cream - but not thoroughly so as to make it look a little 'weathered'
And put it on the wall as a 'message board/bulletin board' in my office.
What do you think?
Shall I pop it back on the side of the road?
I was thinking I needed a little message board above my desk and well hey, free is better than whatever I would have spent being the usual consumer that I am...Use it people! Don't throw it away, make something new, something beautiful...all it takes is a little bit of time (and spray paint). Be a little green, a little thrifty, a little creative. Just think, this guy would be still sitting in a ditch somewhere, waiting to be thrown in the back of a trash truck...instead he's happily on my wall, holding my pretty things and notes about life.
Brushed it clean, Spray painted it cream - but not thoroughly so as to make it look a little 'weathered'
And put it on the wall as a 'message board/bulletin board' in my office.
What do you think?
Shall I pop it back on the side of the road?
I was thinking I needed a little message board above my desk and well hey, free is better than whatever I would have spent being the usual consumer that I am...Use it people! Don't throw it away, make something new, something beautiful...all it takes is a little bit of time (and spray paint). Be a little green, a little thrifty, a little creative. Just think, this guy would be still sitting in a ditch somewhere, waiting to be thrown in the back of a trash truck...instead he's happily on my wall, holding my pretty things and notes about life.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Stash Busters!!!
{Like Ghost Busters...come one sing it with me}
Ok my husband thought I'd lost my mind when I said I was stash busting...
I have one hundred thousand yards of random fabric that I have done nothing with...because I am weird. Here's the deal...I buy fabric I love, some I like, some I buy because it's cheap...and I look at it and admire it and think about how much potential it has to be something awesome, something beautiful. And then, I pack it away because I'm petrified that I'll F it up...create some wonky looking beastly thing that needs to go under the bed, or eaten by the dog and there goes my beautiful full of potential fabric. Silly right?
Yeah...I agree...
So I started to play around...I bought some plain white tea towels from the XMas Tree Shoppe the other day (love that place lots of trouble!) - only $1 each.
Stash buster! Go get some scraps (or cut them off yards) and voila...new pretty...towel. Ok, almost pretty. One of the reasons I have a hard time w/ my final products is I'm such a rush that I barely measure once...much less twice...and things end up wonky because of it...oh well...They work right? Cute right?
I was reading THIS BLOG last night and found this super cool idea to do with scraps...so of course I had at it...hers are gorgeous, mine is wonky...and I threw it on my dresser w/ too many frames behind it and I totally need to dust/washmirrors/frames/clean...whatever...
It's a little busy...so I may have to find a different location for it. Notice the fabric underneath it though...from the stash...i need to cut it to size but threw it on there to see how it would work, I like it I think, better than the top of that dresser which has seen better days and wasn't worth the cheap money I spent on it (I think I'm still paying for it actually on a credit card somewhere).
Oh and I also stuck some fabric in those two candle holders that are missing their middle child...(broke - dang kids)...because I never light candles in them anyway...
I do have to find something to do for window treatments in that room....I soooo want to paint it (lots of wood!) but I think window treatments will resist that urge, as painting it would probably take an entire lifetime and then I'd hate it and wish it could be it's natural wood again and well, that will never happen.
Ok my husband thought I'd lost my mind when I said I was stash busting...
I have one hundred thousand yards of random fabric that I have done nothing with...because I am weird. Here's the deal...I buy fabric I love, some I like, some I buy because it's cheap...and I look at it and admire it and think about how much potential it has to be something awesome, something beautiful. And then, I pack it away because I'm petrified that I'll F it up...create some wonky looking beastly thing that needs to go under the bed, or eaten by the dog and there goes my beautiful full of potential fabric. Silly right?
Yeah...I agree...
So I started to play around...I bought some plain white tea towels from the XMas Tree Shoppe the other day (love that place lots of trouble!) - only $1 each.
Stash buster! Go get some scraps (or cut them off yards) and voila...new pretty...towel. Ok, almost pretty. One of the reasons I have a hard time w/ my final products is I'm such a rush that I barely measure once...much less twice...and things end up wonky because of it...oh well...They work right? Cute right?
I was reading THIS BLOG last night and found this super cool idea to do with scraps...so of course I had at it...hers are gorgeous, mine is wonky...and I threw it on my dresser w/ too many frames behind it and I totally need to dust/washmirrors/frames/clean...whatever...
It's a little busy...so I may have to find a different location for it. Notice the fabric underneath it though...from the stash...i need to cut it to size but threw it on there to see how it would work, I like it I think, better than the top of that dresser which has seen better days and wasn't worth the cheap money I spent on it (I think I'm still paying for it actually on a credit card somewhere).
Oh and I also stuck some fabric in those two candle holders that are missing their middle child...(broke - dang kids)...because I never light candles in them anyway...
I do have to find something to do for window treatments in that room....I soooo want to paint it (lots of wood!) but I think window treatments will resist that urge, as painting it would probably take an entire lifetime and then I'd hate it and wish it could be it's natural wood again and well, that will never happen.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thayer Family Burial Yard...
I had mentioned a few days ago to some friends about a burial ground down the street from me and the funky things that happen here in my home. We have had weird occurances specifically with Conor's room, and his music...two different mobiles that played music...both with issues going off and playing music, with noone in the room (before Conor was born) or in the middle of the night when he was here...to the point of not shutting off no matter what we did, until we took it apart completely and removed it's batteries...oh and this was after it stopped working for weeks. Anyhow, that was a long spooky story that the small ankle biter attached to my leg probably won't let me get out...so let me show some pictures. (You can clicky the piccys to make them bigger...but your music will restart...bummer)
So here is what you see from the street. Down there, on the right...
What you don't see anything?
Nothing? Let's move closer...
Still not sure? See that sign? Little bit of a path?
Yup, that sign... Read it? Thayer Family Burial Yard...ca 1732
Here, let's get a little closer:
And some real close ups...
And do you see those ones that look blank? I thought they were too old, or maybe never carved because they are small and small signifies children, usually infants...but when I got around to the back of the burial yard I saw that they were carved...on the backside...only with initials, I'm still guessing that they were infants, especially since S. Ella D.'s was so pronounced and she passed away at a two years old.
I have to say I was pretty at peace looking at these. In wonder yes, awe perhaps that they are pretty intact for how old they are. There are some that are sad...especially the one entirely broken...others have fallen, most so you can still read them, one I couldn't...but it seems they are left alone by vandals or kids, or kid vandals, which is a nice thing. It had been very hot walking there, and I was sweating on my way back, but while I took these pictures I was nice and cool and a great breeze had picked up.
Honestly, it has taken me seventeen years to upload these pictures...Not only has the ankle biter gone to bed, I'm pretty sure he's off to college soon... I do have a ton more pictures I'd love to share, they all probably look the same to you...yup hey, there's another grave, but I totally find this interesting don't you?
But alas, I have no more time on this computer as I have to go get ready to take Ankle Biter to med school...few more pics though...while I do my hair... ;) ...
Notice the family behind my house...notice behind my family is a fence...
Yes I realize it's nasty back there behind my fence but for some reason there is no way to get back there besides jumping the fence and I get poison ivy just looking at it but wait... hey what is that back there?
Yup
So here is what you see from the street. Down there, on the right...
What you don't see anything?
Nothing? Let's move closer...
Still not sure? See that sign? Little bit of a path?
Yup, that sign... Read it? Thayer Family Burial Yard...ca 1732
Here, let's get a little closer:
And some real close ups...
And do you see those ones that look blank? I thought they were too old, or maybe never carved because they are small and small signifies children, usually infants...but when I got around to the back of the burial yard I saw that they were carved...on the backside...only with initials, I'm still guessing that they were infants, especially since S. Ella D.'s was so pronounced and she passed away at a two years old.
I have to say I was pretty at peace looking at these. In wonder yes, awe perhaps that they are pretty intact for how old they are. There are some that are sad...especially the one entirely broken...others have fallen, most so you can still read them, one I couldn't...but it seems they are left alone by vandals or kids, or kid vandals, which is a nice thing. It had been very hot walking there, and I was sweating on my way back, but while I took these pictures I was nice and cool and a great breeze had picked up.
Honestly, it has taken me seventeen years to upload these pictures...Not only has the ankle biter gone to bed, I'm pretty sure he's off to college soon... I do have a ton more pictures I'd love to share, they all probably look the same to you...yup hey, there's another grave, but I totally find this interesting don't you?
But alas, I have no more time on this computer as I have to go get ready to take Ankle Biter to med school...few more pics though...while I do my hair... ;) ...
Notice the family behind my house...notice behind my family is a fence...
Yes I realize it's nasty back there behind my fence but for some reason there is no way to get back there besides jumping the fence and I get poison ivy just looking at it but wait... hey what is that back there?
Yup
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