Seven Quick Takes Friday!

 

 

 

It’s Friday!  Cue the music!

–UNO–

Baseball season started this last week for the boys, and it is taking me a second to adjust to the fact that we are gone from the house on Tuesdays and Thursdays from about 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

In case you were wondering, the youngest two are super pumped about being up two hours past their bedtime.

The people sitting around us in the bleachers are super pumped, too.

“Buy me some peanuts and craaaaaaacker jacks.  I’m praying this lady won’t ever come back!”

Last night, E stepped up to bat:  she ran away from me eleventy times, spit at me, and then threw her sippy cup directly at my face in a fit of rage.

She was OUTTA there.

–2–

When people say things like, “Technology is stupid,” or “I think technology is the scourge of Satan,” I generally want to punch something in disagreement.

Yesterday, I skyped with Ruth from Loreto Rosaries and her BEAUTIFUL family who I will most likely never meet face-to-face because they live clear over in the beautiful state of Virginia.

When you read someone’s blog and chat back and forth with them over Facebook for two years, you start to feel like you “know” them.

“Meeting” Ruth via Skype was SO fun, and one of the first things I said was, “You have an accent, Ruth!”  Because when you read someone’s blog or chat back and forth with them over Facebook for two years, you also feel like you know exactly what they sound like.

Like, I’m sure you all think I have a British accent, but I’m so sorry to disappoint.

It’s Australian instead.

–THREE–

With all of this talk of kefir flying around blogs, facebook, homeschool groups, and my brain, I bit the bullet and ordered some.

Because nothing says “Nutty Professor Mom” like messing with friendly bacteria in your kitchen, am I right?

It can also produce the sound of crickets at a family gathering when you bring it up–always an added bonus!

ANYways, my kefir grains should be here soon, and I can hardly stand the wait.

Did you read that in an Australian accent?  Because you should have.

–CUATRO–

In an effort to get my hypothyroidism in check, I have actually done a little experiment the last few weeks.

And that experiment is called “Do I feel like crap every time I eat carbs/sugar?”

My hypothesis:  ”Yes.  Yes, I do.”

My results:  ”Yes.  Yes, I do.”

My conclusion:  ”Yes.  Yes, I do.”

Therefore, cutting carbs/sugar out of my diet isn’t even for the purpose of losing weight anymore.

It’s so I can actually get out of bed in the morning and function with a smile on my face.

And then I got all humble and was like, “Hey!  Check me out!  I’m onto something here with thyroid and diet!  I must be the only person who has figured out this connection!”

But I was wrong.

–V–

Tonight, my friend who has eight children is hosting a “Mom’s Night Out” because her husband is taking seven of the kids to Colorado for a wedding.

She’s got a brand new baby and the house to herself–HOLLA!

This makes my first Mom’s Night Out in–let’s see here–carry the two, divide by four…

Ever.

Tomorrow, my husband is hosting a Men’s Game Night over here.  That means frozen pizza and being holed up with the kids in a bedroom with Netflix for me–HOLL–oh, wait.

–SIX–

Our brand new budget officially kicks in on June 1st.  The husband and I have already had two meetings to chat about it, and I have to say:  It’s somewhat of a relief off my perfectly toned shoulders to know exactly where every penny is going.

Who knew talking about money could be so depressing and yet so fun at the same time?

–7–

Sometimes, things happen that I can’t get out of my head.

Like, when our local meteorologist committed suicide.

Or when KC Chiefs player, Jovan Belcher, killed his girlfriend and then himself in front of the coaching staff and general manager.

It took weeks for me to NOT be able to think about those things every time I closed my eyes.

Many prayers were said for all of the people involved.

So, when I watched this last night, I bawled.  Truly, truly bawled.  (Spoiler alert:  it’s not about suicide).

And then my husband found me crying.  And then I tried to re-tell the story, while crying at the same time.

What an absolutely remarkable kid, and what an incredibly inspiration.

I have listened to his song “Clouds” all day on Spotify yesterday and today, and I can’t stop thinking about him, his family, his amazing spirit and attitude.

Many prayers have been said for his soul and for the people in his life who are missing him.

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine unto him.  May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

Check out more Seven Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary!

Happy Friday!

Thrifty Thursday: 25 Uses for Coffee Filters

Ready for some nifty tips that will cost you only $1.00?   Cue the music!

I found these tips on Facebook of all places.  Hat tip to whoever came up with this list!  And remember–coffee filters are only $1.00 at Dollar Tree, and I’ve heard you can get 1,000 of them for $1.00!
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome… Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.  (I’ve also heard they clean computer screens exceptionally well, too!)

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.  (I just bought a digital kitchen scale, and this worked GREAT for a recipe I tried!)

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11.. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great “razor nick fixers.”

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.  (I’ve been trying to figure out how you wouldn’t get baking soda in all of the kids’ shoes!)

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds.. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use as a disposable “snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.

Five Favorites: Baby Edition!

“These are a few of my five favorite thiiiiiiiings…”

 

–ONE–

Once upon a time, when D was a baby, he would not eat the baby food from a jar.  Feeling like a culinary genius in the kitchen, I began making his baby food.  I then maybe took it a step too far, thinking, “Why would moms EVER feed their kids from a jar?!  How disgusting!”  because I’m humble like that.  So, enter B.  Who refuses to eat homemade baby food.  Of course he does.  He gives me a look of, “WOMAN!  WHY ARE YOU FEEDING ME THIS POISON?!” before spitting it out.  So, when I found a new brand (which is a TINY bit more expensive, but not much–and it’s certified organic), I was SO pumped.

 

The combinations, like, “Pear, Kiwi, and Spinach” make me feel like I made it in my own kitchen, but I don’t feel too guilty since it’s organic and so fun to squeeze out of the pouches.

B now looks at me like, “WOMAN!  GET ME ANOTHER POUCH!  THIS STUFF IS DELISH!”

 

–TWO–

Target brand baby wipes.  

Holy cow.  My husband had to run to the store last month because we were out, and he brought back the generic Target wipes.

Softest.  Wipes.  EVAH.

 

 

–THREE–

Remember that baby, B, I was telling you about up top at #1?  Well, he has also refused to take a bottle his whole life, nor would he take a sippy cup from the age of 6 months when I tried to introduce it to him.

Once again, a look of, “WOMAN!  CRAZY MUCH?!”  would be a fitting description.

After polling other moms, I purchased two new sippy cups at the store the other day:  Avent and Nuby.

After a few minutes of obvious confusion and disgust, he took very well to the Avent sippy cup.  I haven’t even tried the Nuby cup because why fix it if ain’t broke, know what I’m sayin’?

Sold.  

 

–FOUR–

 

“Flip” diaper covers.  I wrote a post with some comparisons back in the day, but I’ve now had ample time to realize:

Flip covers are seriously the best.  I love the way they fit the kid, they have stood up to a LOT of washings, and, uh, I just really love the way they fit the kid.

No leakages.

Wait…what?  You don’t use cloth diapers?!  Do you realize how many chemicals you’re exposing your baby to, not to mention how much dinero you’re wasting every–

Just kidding.

Diaper on, mamas.  Diaper on.

 

–FIVE–

Coconut oil.  Oh, you’re so good for everything.

But you are my most favorite of all for diaper rash problems–which only seem to creep up when my kids are teething.

Smear a little of this on, they never complain, and the rash is gone within a day.

 

Check out more Five Favorites over at Moxie Wife!

Teach Me Tuesday: Stop Complaining…

“Teach Me Tuesday”–it doesn’t always have to be about school-age kids!  You’re never too old to learn something new…or learn it again.

Yesterday was not our best day in this house.

After getting pretty much no sleep the night before due to the power going out, coming back on, going back out, coming back on, a baby being up three times and a 2 year-old waking up in the middle of the night, my morning started with my 4 year-old puking.  Luckily, he gave us warning, we gave HIM a bowl, and he can aim like no other.  (He’s the only kid who can aim, by the way).

Thinking it was a mixture of the heat, running around at a picnic the night before (more on “orienteering” later!), and having some chocolate cake when we got home to celebrate Pentecost, I wrote it off as, “Too much heat/cake” and went about our morning.

Until he puked again.

And then his little sister joined in the fun.

Sigh.

Fine.

Not heat/cake.  Stomach bug.

Quarantined in a bedroom with bowls and a movie, the day progressively got worse due to the fact that my 4 year-old NEEDS to eat upon waking or any trace of a happy disposition goes bye-bye, and the lack of food was causing some pretty awesome mood swings, arguing, and tears.

“WHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY do I have to stay in the ROOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM?!”

Assuring him that it wasn’t a punishment, I tried my best to explain that it was just because he was’t feeling good and needed to hang out for a little bit with a movie until he felt better.

“I FEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLL FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!  I’M DONE THROWING UUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!  I PROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMISE!”

(Yak attack 2 seconds later).

I stripped bedding, washed bedding, washed soiled clothes, cleaned bowls out with Clorox wipes every 30 minutes, and started to feel very frustrated at the whole situation.

Looking at the clock and seeing it was only 9:30 in the morning didn’t exactly help.

I have signs printed and placed around the house to help give me a reality check when I need one.

Like the one on the fridge that says “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.”

Or the one above the trashcan that says, “Somewhere out there, someone will always have it worse.  Stop complaining.”

And in the late afternoon, there was another opportunity to see how my frustrating day–in the whole scheme of things–is nothing compared to what others face.

Moore, Oklahoma was hit with a tornado that wiped out sections of the entire city–including two elementary schools taking a direct hit.  There are parents who STILL have no idea where their child is or if their child is going to make it.

(Photo credit:  Sue Ogrocki)

A day of vomit?  Wouldn’t trade it for a second of what anguish these people and parents are feeling in Oklahoma.

And then I was reminded last night that a co-worker from my college days is going through an incredibly rough time with their second baby.  On the day Delylah was born 9 months ago, she was suddenly rushed up to Children’s Mercy Hospital here in KC, and they realized Delylah had some holes in her heart and some valve/pulmonary artery issues.  For the next 5 months, she lived at home and the family enjoyed their “family time” knowing that Delylah would be undergoing open heart surgery when she was six months old.  After an extensive stay in the hospital after her surgery, she was finally released.  But now she’s back up here at CMH because a small cold has turned into a huge respiratory problem for her, including a fun day where they had to “bag her” because her oxygen saturation levels were at 60 (they never want them below 80, and that’s being generous).

Delylah’s mom has pretty much lived up here at CMH, 2 hours away from family.  She has watched her baby girl undergo tests, poking, prodding, PICC lines, I.V.’s, surgery, and now a respiratory issue to boot.

A grumpy kid who vomits?  Please.

I’m not trying to say that a day of vomit isn’t frustrating because we’re human–we have emotions.

I’m not trying to say that our frustrations should be squashed and ignored because they ARE real, and we ARE allowed to feel them.

It’s just another reminder that while your husband might have worked super late last night, someone else’s husband isn’t coming home at all.  If your child was vomiting, someone else’s child is stuck under rubble in a school that collapsed around him.  If you have a headache, someone else is currently in an O.R. for surgery.  If your child is particularly temperamental, someone else’s child is hooked up to a ventilator.

Everyone has their own sufferings–some greater and some smaller.  But to think that OUR sufferings are just the worst, or OUR sufferings aren’t like the sufferings of others, or OUR sufferings are so unique no one would EVER know what it feels like, or that we have just suffered SO much in our life, no one knows what THAT much suffering is like–it’s just not true.

Somewhere out there, someone always has it worse.

And our sufferings can start to look very trivial in light of what others are going through.  And we should thank God that our sufferings are what they are because there are people out there with much bigger crosses to carry.

“A cross that we receive from God is for our eternal salvation.  Crosses help us if we accept them.  If you deny a cross, you might be denied the graces to carry the cross, and you will have to carry the cross alone.”  –Canon Denis Buchholz

 

I’ll be the first to admit that I run from suffering.  I allow myself to feel frustrated, I complain, and I forget something:

What we DO with our sufferings–no matter how big or small–is what is most important.

When your husband stays late at work next time, thank God that you HAVE a husband who will come home.  Offer up your frustrations for the anonymous wife out there who doesn’t have a husband coming home.

When your child is vomiting, thank God that you have a regularly healthy child.  Offer up your frustrations for the anonymous child out there who is hanging on by  a thread.

When you’re irritated that your house isn’t as big as you would like it, give thanks to God that you DO have a house.  Offer up your frustrations (or envy) for an anonymous homeless person or someone who just lost their entire house in a natural disaster.

How much would the world change if people just stopped feeling sorry for themselves, quit complaining, and instead used ALL of their frustrations, sadness, and tears to offer it up as a prayer for someone else less fortunate?

There is power in prayer.

How many opportunities do we get every.  single.  day.  to offer up those small (or big) frustrations for someone else less fortunate?

Put your life on pause for a moment, and just give thanks to God for everything you DO have, for all that you have EVER had.  Say a prayer for those who have it much worse than you.  Offer up your entire day for the victims, responders, and city of Moore, Oklahoma or for that little baby in the PICU, or for that homeless guy down the street or for that baby that is about to be aborted in a death clinic somewhere around the world–and for the mother.

“Somewhere out there, someone else has it worse.  Stop complaining.”

Seven Quick Takes Friday

–ONE–

My angelic 11 month-old decided in the past couple of days that he can only scream at the top of his lungs, and he wants nothing to do with being put down.  This has made for a lot of Bjorn-wearing (he suddenly hates it) and pacing around the house like a madwoman this last week.  My husband walks in to find me nearly in tears every night after work–isn’t he so lucky?!  Anyways, in the course of pacing, there has been a lot of singing and music-listening-to in this house as well in an effort to calm him down.

Enter Barney and Ted.

My apologies at how you will now still be singing this at 11:00 tonight when you’re trying to go to sleep.

–DOS–

Yesterday, I opened up the dishwasher in the morning to unload it and begin piling in the breakfast dishes.  As I opened the door to the dishwasher, two spiders ran across the door.  One looked directly at me, made that slicing motion across his thorax, and he screamed, “YOU’RE MINE, LADY!” as he scurried off with hysterical laughter ringing throughout the land.  I screamed and threw a plate.  No one else in the house even blinked.  (Thanks, kids!  Just want to point out your moth freak-out that occurred last week, but a spider?!  Man up, Mom!)  Therefore, the dishwasher was put on “code red high level alert” and was left untouched the rest of the morning and afternoon.

So much so that I even went and bought paper plates from the Dollar Tree in an effort to let us actually sit down at the table rather than huddle around the stove like barbarians.  (But, hey–at least I didn’t call the husband at work this time and demand he come home and kill it like I did in ’08 with the wasp, am I right?)

Anyways–as I finally gathered enough courage to open the dishwasher last night, that @*#&*^@&$@** of a spider took off running across the dishwasher door again, just taunting me.

But he made a fatal mistake by falling onto the floor in his ego-filled scamper.

He was introduced to my shoe.

And I may or may not have yelled, “YEAH!  YOU SEE THAT?!  I WILL NOT BE STOPPED!  THIS IS YOU, SPIDER #2, IF YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING TO TERRORIZE ME IN MY KITCHEN!  ARE YOU IN THERE?  DO YOU HEAR ME?!”

The kids now think Spiderman lives in the dishwasher.

–THREE–

After the first spider sighting where I sealed up the dishwasher like a crime scene, I went to hang the cloth diapers out on the line.

The most vile of creatures reared his ugly spawn-of-Satan head Apparently it was “National Taunt the Housewife Day,” and I didn’t get the memo.  A wasp decided to buzz around me (ninja moves?  Check.)  and then rest on every.  single.  clothespin.  I.  needed.

I may or may not have looked to the Heavens above and shouted, “IS THIS A JOKE?!”

–CUATRO–

While ready to torch the entire house and all of the flying/crawling insect/arachnid creatures  While taking the time to enjoy a little nature outside, P shouted, “I SEE A WOODPECKER!”  We normally have a woodpecker who lives in a certain tree in the backyard, but this was a different tree.  Glancing over, I saw this:

And, since I’m so in tune with nature and obviously majored in Birdwatching with a minor in Bird Identification, I said, “I don’t think that’s a woodpecker.”

And that is precisely when the thing started pecking the crap out of the tree.

Standing really corrected, we retreated into the house for a little Google Search Party while my four year-old was shouting, “I THINK IT’S A SKUNK!”

And that’s when Google told me a little secret.  And that secret was:  ”The name of this bird will make you feel sick and gag for some reason.”

And then Google said, “Congratulations.  You just saw a Hairy Woodpecker.”

And I was like, “WHAT?!”  (*gag*)  ”WHAT IS WRONG WITH BIRD-NAMING PEOPLE?!”

THIS is a hairy bird:

Even THIS is a hairy bird:

But a black-and-white woodpecker can’t be called the Black-and-White Woodpecker because…?  Was it just too much after doling out the name Red-headed Woodpecker to its cousin?  Did the bird namer just give up?  ”Hey.  That bird has normal-looking feathers.  EUREKA!  You shall be known as the Hairy Woodpecker from this day forward!”

–FIVE–

If you’re still reading this after that last little audubonic rant, I commend you.  Get yourself a cup of coffee and some chocolate.  You deserve it.

In other news–speaking of hair–I took a page out of Camp Patton’s book and ordered the Remington Hair Wand (once again–I need to chat with the person who named this)  to try and curl my hair.

 I figure I’m 30 years old.  It’s time I put on my big girl pants and try to actually curl my own hair.  I know. I see your pat on the back, and I raise you one fist bump.

The hair wand, due to the fact that the entire thing gets over 400 degrees, comes with its very own black glove so you can try to avoid third degree burns as much as possible.

One.  single.  glove.

I resisted the urge to blare some “Billy Jean” while in the bathroom trying this thing out.  Did I want to hike up my skirt a bit and do that awesome kicky-move?

I’ll never tell.

–VI–

After completing my awesome dance moves curling my hair, my 6 year-old said, “HEY!  I like your hair, Mom!  Now you have a tool that makes your hair have wrinkles and one that takes the wrinkles out!”

Yes, “curling iron” and “flat iron” could be described that way, son.

It reminds me of when his father and I were talking about getting married and the topic of engagement rings came up.

“Do you like gray or yellow?”

White gold or gold.

I can’t make that up.  I assured him that I did NOT like yellow.  That I REALLY liked gray.

“Get me a gray one.”

–7–

Tonight, we are heading over to some friends’ house for dinner.  Wife is 37 weeks pregnant.  They have home births.  I have been assured that if she should go into labor, they will just pull the birthing pool out to the backyard so the husband can continue grilling.

Dinner AND a show–my favorite!

For more Quick Takes, head on over to Conversion Diary!

Thrifty Thursday: Your Own Personal Assistant

It’s Thrifty Thursday!

Cue the music!

Whether you work outside the home or stay at home with your children, life can get pretty hectic.

When it comes to keeping my house on track, I have mainly been an “in general” person.  Write out the things I want to get done, and then figure out when to get them done during the day.

Sometimes, though, life gets a little more complicated.  Baseball enters the schedule twice a week…for two kids.  Children’s Catechism is on Tuesday while First Holy Communion Prep is on Saturday.  I need to make four phone calls today without the baby shrieking in the phone while the 2 year-old pulls on my leg and is crying.

I fired my personal assistant last year because she was imaginary.

I hired a new personal assistant today, and her name is Parchment.

(I call her Parch for short.  She doesn’t mind.)

She’s not flashy.  She doesn’t look like a typical assistant.  She’s just pretty plain-jane.

But she is helping me organize my day by the hour now, and I never thought I would need that kind of organization written down.  It’s helping, though.

So, I thought I’d share Parch with you.  She’s pretty awesome.

(My apologies if you start your day before 6:00 a.m.  If Parch tried to get me going before 6:00 a.m., I would shred her to pieces.  Literally.)

Your Daily Schedule

Wednesday in the Wardrobe: “Dear Shannon…”

 

 

It’s Wednesday in the Wardrobe!  Cue the music!  (Does anyone else hear the opening of “The Simpsons?”  ”Dear Shannon…”)

 

 

Dear Shannon,

 

Whether it’s the boy in high school who told me I was fat (size 5, people!  SIZE 5!), having four c-sections under my belt, or dealing with a thyroid condition that is currently causing me to gain 14 pounds every night while I sleep, I have always (and still am) been really self-conscious of my stomach area.  If I can zip up a hoodie over that mid-torso area, I’m pretty happy.  Zip hoodies, however, are not always the most appropriate piece of clothing for some events.  What styles out there are best at giving the mid-torso area a slimmer and flatter look?  

 

Sincerely,
Delena

 

 

“First, let’s talk diagonal stripes,” Shannon says.

 

 

 

“The diagonal stripes on this shirt lend a slimming look, breaking up the stomach area to give the eye a sense of a flatter tummy.  Throw a camisole underneath, some simple nude ballet flats (a versatile must-have for any wardrobe!), and just a little pop of color with the bracelet!”  Shannon explains.

 

“Next up, try a Peplum top,” Shannon suggests.

 

 

 

 

“The Peplum top helps hide the belly while the statement necklace brings attention up towards your face,” says Shannon.  ”This Peplum blouse can be found at Target for an extremely reasonable price:  $7.48.  Complete this breezy care-free look with simple black wedges and a pair of sunglasses.  You’re good to go!”

 

“Now that you have seen how to pair the blouses in an outfit ensemble, here are different styles of shirts to check out for a slimming and flattering look on the tummy area,” says Shannon.

 

 

 

 

“These shirts all work well to hide a belly,”  explains Shannon.  ”Belts helps narrow your waist while a bubble hem allows the fabric to flow freely. All can be worn w/ a grey maxi skirt. Or even a black pencil skirt for a dressier occasion.  These shirts can all be found at Target or Dorothy Perkins.”

 

As always, a huge “thank you” to our resident mama fashionista, Shannon, for her helptful tips!

 

 

 

Do you have a question for Shannon?  Perhaps it’s a blouse you just don’t know what to pair it up with or an event you’re going to, but you don’t have a clue what to wear.  E-mail your questions at   delenatodolist@gmail.com, and we will feature your question with Shannon’s answers in an upcoming “Dear Shannon!” post!