Anticipation.

When I was little, there was a moment I just fell down on the floor and started to cry because I didn't want to grow up. Nothing was going on, no one was even around, I was just walking through my parents bedroom and I was in the doorway, frozen and distraught, that I was going to grow up.

As you can see, I've been prone to have problems with change.

Well, let's back up. I hate anticipation.

Confession: I hate balloons. Why? Because they could pop and if they do pop, I don't know when or how loud. I can't stand rubberbands. Why? Because, I assure you, there is someone around me who likes to snap rubberbands, I don't know when or how much it's going to hurt.

I had ridiculous amounts of anxiety until, literally, the day of my wedding. Then, my thoughts were "Yay!!! I'm getting married- it's the best day ever!!!" and I had the best day ever!


During the last part of my pregnancy with Gage, I started freaking out, "A baby is going to change our marriage, our life!" were my thoughts. Both are true, but it's not in a bad way like I was afraid. I went into labor and hours later I was crying my eyeballs out at the beautiful sight of our baby boy.

So it's all about the anticipation. Anticipating all that can happen between point A and point B.

All of these thoughts were sprung on by me getting my hair cut. I was going crazy because of whether or not I should do it (especially since my long hair was considered my best feature), but now that it's gone, I'm fine! It'll take getting used to. Seriously, I have to use a small fraction of shampoo than what I use to. So I think we can consider this a money saver, right? Haha.

I made a huge change and gave 10 inches of my hair to Locks of Love. I really encourage you to do the same if you can. It means so much to me to be able to participate in this charity and I hope it means as much to the receiver. I'm learning more about kindness and self-sacrifice and, and as small as it really was, I think this was really huge for my heart.

Every time I look in the mirror or mess with my short hair, I can be reminded that I need to be constantly finding ways to serve others because there are opportunities to share love and show people that you care ALL of the time...

Even if you're just giving a few inches of hair.

So I'll willing run through the anxieties of anticipation because it's just another way of bearing my cross. Of course my worldly, self-centered nature isn't going to want me to show the kindness of Christ. I can't let it win because I am a Child of God, and I better start acting like it.

Are there any specific charities that you want people to know about?

Our Simple Life

Is it bad that I've been daydreaming about chickens, eggs, cows, and farm fresh butter? Matthew and I are taking on another challenge of lifestyle change and I can't be more excited!

1) We've switched to cloth napkins and barely ever use paper anymore and 2) cloth diapers have been a great change. Simply due to Christmas time I haven't been able to sew enough diapers and inserts to do cloth full time, but plan to get it done when this wonderful season is over!
3) We now drink loose leafed tea and 4) we use baking soda and peroxide to brush our teeth, no toothpaste to be found here and my teeth feel so much cleaner. 5) I make Gage's baby food. Hm...I think that's it?

So next on our list of major and minor lifestyle changes consist of: 1) Making our own soap, 2) making our own (healthy!) bread, and 3) start a garden!

4) We are planning to get our chickens in the spring and somewhere afterwards, we'll be getting 5) a cow to eat and 6) a milk cow. It's a lot, and I know I'm looking at a lot of work, but that's why we're trying to make the change gradual so that we can slowly work all of these thing into our schedule and just make it all a part of our life.

I've never had "real" milk and butter before, and I'll be the first to tell you, I'm probably too excited about it, haha.

I look forward to raising Gage in this kind of lifestyle, I think it's a healthy way to grow, both physically and emotionally. Also, I may be taking on 2 more kiddos in the near future. I used to babysit them and I may be doing so again! If I do, I'm confident in knowing that my home will be a great environment for them. No cable and all.

I guess my success will never be in a college degree, which can bother me sometimes. I tell Matthew that I want to go to school for "general education", but he laughs and objects. There really is no sense in going to school with no end goal, so it would be a waste of money. I'm pretty sure my success is going to lie behind adorable kids, a little farm, and the best darn bread you've ever tasted.

So the "simple" life doesn't always mean "easy", but the easy route is not usually the one to go on anyways.

Love, Mommy

So this is it, huh? This is what it's like.

The love of a mommy.

My Little Ray of Sunshine is having his first run of sickness. Not entirely sure if it's the bug going around or if it's allergies. I'm leaning towards the latter. What I do know for sure is that I woke up to a little boy with puffy eyes, snotty nose, and a congested cough. He's slept 5 hours in naps today (which is a ton in comparison to yesterday), which is partially due to me laying down with him. He sleeps MUCH longer when he's cuddled with.

I kissed his little cheeks that had dried snot on them, I hugged on him and he shared all of his germs, and gnawed on his hand that was covered in slobber just because it made him cackle hysterically. I told him tonight, "I'm so glad I have you". Because I am.

I spend my days at home and we hardly go anywhere, but I'm having to learn how to actually spend time with him. Not just be in the same room. I'm working on it though. I want him to know that this mommy of his doesn't mind getting on the floor and crawling around. Seriously, what is better to do than the little things that make my baby grin from ear to ear?

Even though I've been lacking in the playing area, this kid literally makes my heart swell when I look at him. It's a new aspect of love that I'm getting to experience.

What's been your favorite part of mommyhood?

Thanksgiving and the Whole Christmas Season

It's late and I should be really going to bed. If not going to bed, then cleaning the house because we have my family coming over tomorrow for Thanksgiving, yay! We essentially only won by default....We usually have lunch at my parents but their house is under construction and we'll be going to my sister's house on Sunday- leaving my little family hosting the beginning of the Christmas season at our house!

This excites me :D

With this being our first holidays spent in our house, our first with Gage, and our first with just our little family, I'm being extra sentimental. Tomorrow we'll get to put up a Christmas tree (and fight Gage off all the while, no doubt). Ahh! I can't wait!!!

Matthew and I didn't get the "our first Christmas married" that I had dreamed of. Last Thanksgiving morning, we did set up a 4 foot Christmas tree in the living room. Our house was no where near done, but Matthew helped me decorate that miniature tree to make me happy. We didn't even have power in the house, but we put lights on anyways and had a drop cord from Matthew's parent's house to ours and our tree was lit up. It made my heart giddy to see it glowing next door.

But now we're here. In our home. The Christmas season is probably going to make me cry out of joy and relief that we're finally here, starting our own life. We finally get to create memories here and start our own traditions that Gage will get to grow up with. My goodness, where has all of the emotion come from? Haha! The past few holidays have not been enjoyable on my part, the experiences pretty bitter, and I'm ready to have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas! Seriously, let's do this ^_^

I recently discovered one major con of having no cable tv...No Christmas movies. What!? Time to dig out the radio...

Bring on the Christmas music!!!

Which Christmas songs get you into the holiday spirit?

Thomas Gage

My son Gage was not planned. Actually, it wasn't a very "convenient" time to be pregnant with trying to get into our own house, but did I ever consider abortion?

No.

After I found out I was pregnant, I spent my first few days in total and complete awe. I couldn't believe that God was using my body for something so amazing! I had this itty bitty tiny body growing in my belly; I can easily recall the feelings of those first few days. There were lots of tears, but simply due to amazement.

Sure I was one of those crazy women that absolutely loved being pregnant, but that doesn't make my cause less important- how can you justify a purposeful death on someone so innocent? Simple answer:

You can't.

To be clear, I am not trying and will not try to make anyone feel guilty if they have done this in their past. That's their sin and their's to ask God's forgiveness for. And He WILL forgive you! I say everything I do for the recognition that abortions are wrong and to prevent anymore in the future.

8 weeks

I was able to see Gage for the first time when he was 8 weeks along; 3/4 of an inch with a heart beat so strong. Boy, did I cry! It was my baby! Soon enough, I would find out that it was my son. Shortly after, I started feeling his little body roll around! Little hands and feet started poking around and my belly grew and grew while God intricately designed my child. Everyday he was learning something new, just like he is now outside of my womb.

A year ago, I was 22 weeks pregnant.

 

And a year later.

My little boy. So full of personality, screams, and, best yet, life.


Would you hire an assassin to kill someone for you? Then don't hire a doctor to kill your baby. Choose life.

I am PRO-LIFE.

My Weakness

If you were to ask me what my materialistic weakness is, I would answer, "dishes". I love dishes! I have 3 sets of dinnerware:


I got my first ones as a wedding gift! An eight place setting that is solid brown. It's so nice to have a big set!

These were also received as a wedding gift! A four place setting and the colors remind me of pottery.

I got my vintage dishes at a yard sale! I love yard sales. I don't have the whole set, but I have lots of plates and bowls. I looked them up online and found out that they were sold at Piggly Wiggly's in the 70's!

A few sets aside from dinnerware:

A pitcher and 6 glasses that I also received as a wedding gift! AND I just found out this past Sunday that my grandma-in-law's grandma had a set just like it! How awesome!??

And another favorite is my Princess House canisters! I'm not quite sure where my love of glass canisters stems from, but these are perfect! Best yet, they were all kindly given to me!

I adore all of my dishes so much that it's crazy, but it's my "thing". Though I love them all, I'm not afraid to use them. If I'm going to have something, it's got to do more than sit around and collect dust. Hoarding? Not my "thing".

Last, but not least, my favorite kitchen utensil is a wooden spoon. It's sturdy, doesn't melt like the plastic, and is just perfect in every way. Seriously, it makes cooking feel more home-y than it already is :]
I've even converted Matthew to liking wooden spoons!


So there you have it, a whole post dedicated to my favorite thing, dishes.


Oh...and then there's fabric. I love fabric!

What's YOUR "thing"?

Simple Saturday: Slow Down

Let's look at the polar opposite of last Saturday: This has truly been a simple Saturday.

Sure, we've done a few things with me accomplishing some normal housework and Matthew changing the oil in his truck, but that's it. The work we have done has been so leisurely; "normal" house work is so easy going for me. All of this to say, take a break. Pick a day and push for nothing.

In this busy world, you have to step back. Just stop. Let it go.

There was always something going while working on the house. If we weren't working on it, we were talking about it. If we weren't talking about it, we were thinking about it. If we were completely away from the house, we were at some kind of event and there was always something happening. Even when I was doing nothing, there was still the stress weighing me down and because of that, I had one two many breakdowns. And that is putting it nicely.

In the few days of being "done" with the house, it has not gone unnoticed that there will always be something. And I mean always. There will always be something to steal time away from my husband, always something to divert my attention away from my child, and always something that will  tamper with my temper.

God blessed us with the power of free will, to choose. It's up to you how you live your day to day life and what you let rule it.

In the past few days, my focal point has been to catch up on time lost with Matthew and the time we've had together has been amazing! In fact, we just finished watching a movie we rented since we're trying to catch up on all the movies we have missed in theaters.

Time together, time at home, and time to just stop is so crucial to a simple life. I'm realizing now, more than ever, how important it is to slow down. Funny how I say this right before the Christmas season starts up :]

Daily living and simple sorting:

If you're so busy that you can't get everything done, you probably have too much on your plate. Instead of stretching yourself out so many ways, do just a few things and that way you can do them whole heartedly.

Gage in a pile of leaves, on a day that I decided to slow down.

What is keeping you from slowing down?

Welcome Home

That's what all of this feels like now, that I'm finally at home. The feeling that I've been wanting to experience for 2 1/2 years now!

We moved in here in August, but relaxing in a chaotic mess is nearly impossible for me, coming home to work leaves no room to settle into a routine, and family time just didn't happen. All of these things were very frustrating, straining on relationships, and tempted sanity to be lost. I told Matthew that not only should we celebrate being done with the house, but we should also celebrate the fact that our marriage survived it!

Oh, and when I say "done with the house" it doesn't actually mean done. Just means that we get to close our construction loan with the bank and start paying a mortgage! Should that really be so exciting to me? After so long of just paying interest and our house not getting any closer to belonging to us. Yes, a mortgage is exciting!

Tuesday after lunch, the house was given the "ok". That night, we celebrated by taking Matthew's parents out to eat! We have had many people to help us out on the house, but Matthew's dad has spent more time and energy on it than anyone. Also, my  mother-in-law and father-in-law allowed us to live with them for a year until we were able to move into here. I don't think I will ever be able to let them know how grateful I am for how much they have invested in our lives.

So here we are, finally at home and putting together our own lifestyle. Creating memories within these walls, listening to the rain against this green, tin roof, and getting to play in the biggest yard that I've ever had. This is what we get to do now. Would we do it again? I'm not quite sure. We have talked about it several times and we are leaning towards "No, we probably wouldn't do it again." This house took a lot of (literal) blood, sweat, and tears.

But at this given moment, I'm really glad that we were stupid enough to do it.

Before...While it was on the way to our property.

May 2010

After!!!

October 2012

Major Changes:

Outside:
Roof reconstructed, new roofing, new vinyl siding, front porch, back deck and center front door covered.

Inside:
New plumbing, new wiring, dining room and living room swapped, new flooring (in living room, laundry room, kitchen, dining room, and bathroom), wall between kitchen and dining room removed, wood stove between kitchen and dining room removed (and will be installed downstairs), "closed in back porch" turned into the laundry room/mudroom, wall between 2 bedrooms removed to create master bedroom, and basement changed from partial basement to full.

And we have more projects down the road, but for now we're just going to breathe for a little bit!

Do you think we should have a house warming party?

Simple Saturday

Yeah...I really have nothing this week.

The word "simple" has been replaced by "chaos". And I mean raw chaos.

Painting trim, touching up paint, sewing diapers, trying to get rooms situated,  normal housework, and tending to my child have been filling my days. A little bit of everything and you can't tell I've done a thing. Seriously. Dirty clothes and laundry that now begs me to fold it. Pots and pans taunting me. A dining room that looks 75% like a dining room again...

For whatever reason, the front porch has been one of my favorite things!

There has been nothing simple about this Saturday. Haha!



It's hard to believe that in a few days this should be all over. My brain will be able to throw out the question "Will we have to get another extension?" and toss the phrase "It has to be done for the bank". Matthew and I will be able to invite people over and actually hang out with everyone regularly again. Shoot, Matthew and I will be able to hang out regularly again! It's going to be a whole new lifestyle when we're done with the bank.

The appraiser should be coming Tuesday and hopefully all will pass and this mess can be finalized. Once this is over with, I see a huge burden being lifted off of us. We'll have less stress to carry and more room to breathe.

You know, I just realized what this Simple Saturday is about:

Daily living and simple sorting:
Don't move a house!

Have you ever moved a house or taken on a "fixer upper"?

Simple Saturday: Every little bit counts

"Every little bit counts" has been my motto for a week or so now. If I pick up just one piece of trash, get a brief chance to wash two dishes, and quickly fold three towels between grunts from Gage , I'm beginning to think it's great! I'm learning to think more like "Go Me!" instead of "I need to get more done, I've hardly made a dent in what needs to be done..." and with those negative thoughts, the stress heightens.

I want to avoid stress, not self inflict it. Which, I might add, I'm very good at stressing myself out.

The sad truth is that most people aren't going to notice the small l things. No matter how amazing that square inch of sparkling cleanliness is, chances are, you're going to be the only one to admire it. Even Matthew will come home from work and I'll ask him,

"Isn't the house looking better!?"
Matthew: "Yes it does, baby" He'll say with a grin.
"You can't even tell a difference."
Matthew: "I love you, baby"

(Matthew laughed when he read that because it's just THAT true)

That is a very frequent conversation, but it doesn't hurt my feelings any. I know what I've gotten done and I'll take my feelings of accomplishment either way. With the house in the middle of everything, I've laid down the ambition to get everything perfect. Being unrealistic with myself has made me set goals too high and unreachable and have left me disappointed with myself and, again, stressed.

Making unattainable goals applies to more than just housework, no matter what area you  set a standard too high in, it's not good to do to yourself or anyone else.

I have a chart up on my fridge and I'll jot down when I think of something specific to do. If it's late one night, I'll write it down for the next day so that I can forget about it until tomorrow. When things aren't coming together and I reach the state of panic, my dear husband will ask me, "When can we take care of the problem?" I'll answer, "Monday". He'll say, "Why worry about it before Monday? There's nothing you can do about it until then." I married one smart man ;)

Daily living and simple sorting:

I know God wants us to take care of the things He's blessed us with, but I also know that the shape of our homes does not have any eternal value.
So just do what you can and take it in stride, "every little bit counts". After telling myself that so much, I've been actually getting more done! Most likely due to my more positive outlook.
Yes our homes should generally be presentable, but don't let it reach such a priority that it interferes with more important things- like just sitting down to talk to your husband or playing with your kiddos.
And if you want, I'll come admire that square inch of cleaning you got done ;) 

Do you get all your cleaning done at one time or does "every little bit count"?

Delight In Today

I've noticed as each night begins, I hold Gage and look at his sweet face as if I have been deprived of it all day. Each frustration I had prior to bedtime and every challenge of parenthood just fly away. I look at my son and see the face of pure innocence. It takes my heart to a place that I can't explain. The innocence won't last forever, but I'm breathing it in while I can.

I've said, for a while now, that I can't hear God. I would tell Matthew, "Along with hardly being able to hear people, I must be deaf to God too". Had I done something so awful that He had to stop speaking to me? I would pray. There was silence. I would listen. Nothing. It would upset me deeply because I didn't understand.

Recently, I have felt the phrase "Delight in today" come out of nowhere. Just those three, very simple words. Not to sound dramatic, but I honestly would feel this gentle whisper in the most impacting way.

Delight: 1: a high degree of gratification : joy; also: extreme satisfaction.

Take delight in today. Be satisfied with today...Delight in today.

I'm beginning to think that I never stopped hearing God, I just never recognized when He was speaking to me. I stopped crediting Him for the "inspiring thoughts" I was having. But these words have stilled my heart. I feel them in the moment when my mind is speeding down my to-do list and I am rushing about my day, but, most often, the words come to my heart when I look at my son. He looks at the fan and grins, kicks, and grabs his toes. Lets out a chuckle, a few babbles, and reaches for the nearest thing that he can put into his mouth. He certainly takes delight in the day. While seeing his pure delight, I hear the words spoken again.

God is speaking to me and I hear Him and, that too, takes my heart to a place that I can't explain.

Simple Saturday: Give Me a Sign

If you're like me, if it's not written down, it was never a thought. So I typically try to scribble thoughts down on the nearest piece of paper or make a "note" in my phone. Other time I get more elaborate.

I make signs!

When we lived down at the trailer, we had a lady bug infestation (Side thought: if I had to choose an infestation...it would be lady bugs) the ladies stayed in our master bathroom. Hardly ever venturing out. I made a sign of a lady bug crossing and had a stick figure man angrily about to step on a lady bug, and I had a slash across the picture. You know, so people knew not to kill my little friends. They weren't hurting me!
Sign number two: "Don't flip off switch!" because that switch, whitch was next to the light switch, was controlling the outlet that our computer was plugged into. I mostly made that sign for myself, because I kept habitually flipping it off. Hahahaha!

Last, but not least of the signs at the trailer; we had two sinks in the master bathroom and one leaked if you turned on the faucet. Therefore I drew that comic strip of sorts showing the consequences of such action. Which including tragically flooding our trailer. The leak was that bad. Kind of.
Oh and be sure to take note the portrait of my lovely Cat and the person merrily washing their hands...before they destroyed our home.

 

 

Now we're home and the signs live on. A picture of an onion singing "Don't you forget about me" because I wanted Matthew and I to remember to get a slice of onion that fell behind the stove.

I got on my hands and knees one day and polished our wooden kitchen floor and it became a danger to step foot on it. So before Matthew got home from work to risk his life to walk into the Kitchen...

All of those examples to say, signs are very helpful for you and everyone else who enter your household. It's something to be goofy with or can be a kind word of caution.

I've worked in a couple of restaurants and both were notorious for having signs on every possible surface. They were mostly from the bosses so they were, well, bossy. Needless to say, they weren't always pleasant.

Signs can be hateful or signs can be a way to say "GET THIS DONE!!!" in a nicer way than sometimes our voices can.

Daily living and simple sorting:

When your "honey-do" list is ever growing and the length is getting out of control and pushing you to your limits...Make a sign, tape it up near the area the task is to be done, but most importantly, make it fun! Easier said than done, but don't let frustration get the better of you! My husband is very prone to simply forgetting to do stuff, but I'm not much better! So I enjoy jotting down stuff and making the humor as corny as possible. I mean, how often do you flip off switches?

Have you made silly reminders for your home?

Safe Haven

When Matthew and I were about to get married, I told him that I didn't really want to have tv. He wasn't sold and said that we needed to have at least basic cable to keep up with the world and I responded by pointing out that junk comes on even the most basic channels. We have now concluded that internet is enough to stay in touch because on tv commercials can be bad enough on their own, kids shows have so many innuendos, and just flipping through channels is a dangerous feat. When I said I didn't want to have tv, I really meant it, but it was somewhat unnerving to do something against the "norm". Even for something this simple.

• We didn't have cable at the trailer because we were only living there temporarily. 
• We had cable while living with my father-in-law and mother-in-law, and I was addicted to the food channel; I didn't know how I was going to live without it! 
• Now that we're in our house we're too broke cable isn't a priority. When we do get something, it'll probably be Netflix. 

 I was afraid of how I would do without the "noisemaker", but the tv has only been on 5-10 times in the almost 2 months that we've lived here. There are many movies and shows that we have to be watched and even more cds to listen to. No thanks, though. I've actually gotten to where too much sound/noise is overwhelming for me, I can't seem to focus! Matthew put in a cd one day to listen to while we were cleaning and I kept asking him to turn it down...turn it down...just turn it off. That's a sign that I'm getting old, right?

I could even listen to the radio, but I keep forgetting about it. So my home doesn't have music playing, actors speaking, or unnecessary images pouring in through a screen.

As I sit here, I hear the washer go off, the baby monitor buzz, and cars passing by the house. Oh, and me typing this. Throughout the day, I hear my child scream, squeal, and laugh. My mom on the other end of the phone and my phone receiving texts. My husbands voice and the quiet in between.

I'm not afraid of silence, though I was afraid that I would be afraid! In such a busy world,  it's my goal for me to make sure our home is a safe haven. Trying to make it a calming environment, from the sounds that are about it, to my attitude that I have in it.

What are ways that you've made your home a "safe haven" for you and your family?

Simple Saturdays: Beating

...the expiration date.

Simple Saturdays: KISS

In case you haven't heard it before, KISS is the acronym for:

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

 

The first time that I heard that used was in my karate class during self defense practice. Some students were making the take downs harder than they had to be. Others were trying to use fancy techniques in efforts to look awesome. Then they would be overcome by the "attackers" and they didn't look so awesome anymore. So my instructor say to remember to KISS. It got a lot of laughs, but it definitely stuck!

For me, a simple life correlates with a frugal life. I am greeting frugal living with a lot less tension and dread now. So even when we become filthy rich (hahahahaha!), I plan to continue pursuing this lifestyle. With less wanting and more "making do" with what I have, I find myself pursuing things that I never would have given a second thought: Cloth napkins? Cloth diapers!? Re-usable toilet paper!?!?

No re-usable toilet paper...Just no.

But I am in the middle of sewing some cloth napkins out of some scrap material that my mom gave me, I just got my supplies to start on diapers, and I have even considered making flannel baby wipes. I also plan to start putting Gage's frozen food into containers instead of plastic baggies (because I use those things like they're going out of style). The only thing that I haven't gone fully Eco-friendly with is grocery bags. We shop at Aldi, so we have to use re-usable bags then, but at Wal-mart they tend to put nearly one item in each bag, so they make up for the bags I don't get at Aldi.

Have you ever seen the Disney movie Wall-e? This may be taking it to extremes, but when I last watched it, it occurred to me that we could really be pushing this beautiful world that God so lovingly created for us...To a pile of trash.

Daily life and simple sorting:

I think that it's a good general rule to live by that my recycle bin should be more full than my trash can. Make sure that you're recycle bin is conveniently placed! You're more likely to do it if it's practical for you. Also, switch to as many re-usable items as you can. That way, you spend less money replenishing, making you more frugal and therefore...living simply.

Like how I circled that around?

What are some ways that frugal living simplified your life?  

The Lost Art of Homemaking

I am passionate about staying at home and being a housewife! I believe it's where I belong and it's what works for us. I temporarily worked outside of the home in the beginning of mine and Matthew's  marriage, but I hated getting home after him and getting started on supper so late. I wanted to be able to greet him at the door and welcome him from work with the smell of a meal already prepared. *Insert image of 50's housewife here*

With a child in the picture, it's more like this: working on supper when Matthew comes through the door and trying to keep baby Gage content while I try not to let everything burn. Half the time, I'm even in my pajamas.

So needless to say, I haven't really nailed the art of being a homemaker yet, but the desire to perfect it is there. I love to cook, but I'm still learning to cook. Sewing is so much fun, but I'm just now starting to sew without my mom's (incredible!) help. I actually enjoy cleaning, but tools and construction mess dictates the household right now. The right side of my kitchen is the cleanest place in the house, but that has to be the case or there would be no cooking from this lady. Cooking without an inch of counter space? No, thank you!

When I search around the Internet and stumble upon other blogs I find so many women who do everything! The cooking, baking, cleaning, sewing, and ultimate child rearing and, to be honest, I get slightly green with envy. But what's turning colors going to help with anything? So it's just something I shoot for now and I accept that it's trial and error...with quite a few errors.

I used to fear that I would be unsuccessful if I stayed at home. It's like I'm throwing my life away, I would think. I wanted to go to school and I didn't even want to major in anything, I just wanted to go and become smarter. It was all about success

It took me a while before I realized that it was my calling to stay at home because even when it was in the back of my mind, I didn't want to believe it. I kept on using the word "Successful" when I talked to Matthew about what I wanted to be. My self-value was based on how the world saw me and I felt like if people saw me as unsuccessful, I was worthless.

God worked on me long enough and I finally got past that point and accepted my calling. Do I regret it? Absolutely not! Also, I do not feel "lesser-than" just because I am a stay at home wife and mom. It is my calling and I have peace now that I'm not running from it.

You don't have to be a stay at home wife/mom to be a homemaker...

Are you keeping the art of homemaking alive?

You may change your baby's diaper...

 But your baby changes your ways, your heart, and your life.

Feature: Simple Saturdays

Simplify.

It's a word that keeps coming to my mind as we try to settle into our house. There's stuff everywhere, we have no system, and we spend so much time trying to catch up with the big stuff (or pondering how to get the big stuff done) that we have no time to enjoy the little stuff. At this point, it feels like we're spinning around in a circle and getting nowhere fast.

Solution:

This feature will be my motivation to make progress, to share that progress with you, and hopefully give you insight on how to simplify your lifestyle as well.

Lets start with the mountains of possessions I own.

I am prone to become sentimentally attached to, well, everything, but I recently read that having a cluttered house causes more stress with being crowded and uses more energy because you have to find everything amongst the mess. That piece of paper that I need? Oh, it's in that stack with ALL of the other pieces of paper that I need...eventually. So I have to dig through, make a bigger mess, and start stressing even more because I can't find it and I need it at that very moment. Comes to find out, it's in the other stack of papers that I need.

True story.

My current battle is clothes because, you see, I'm 4'9" and the only way I have grown in the past 10 years was when I was pregnant and my belly grew out. So between not having to get rid of any clothes since I didn't grow out of them, getting hand-me-downs from people who did grow, and then finding the random clothes that I had to have...I've accumulated a enough clothes to equate to Mt Kilimanjaro.

Well, not quite. But almost.

Here's a glimpse into my clutter:

Here's Gage's nursery...Needless to say, he doesn't sleep in here yet.
Most of the clothes left in there now are his and they clothes that had been given to him! (So thankful)

Part of our living room, which has become our laundry room and storage room.

It takes a lot for me to tell myself "I don't need this" because everything I have has a story. A significant event happened while I was wearing the outfit. Like the day Matthew came to pick me up to hang out for the first time in a very long time I was
wearing my jeans with a hole in the knee, my long sleeved turquoise sweater, and my mom's silver scarf. That was the day that mine and Matthew's story really started because he realized then that he liked me as more than a friend. I, on the other hand, did NOT like him like that! And look at us now: married and just had our first little boy. Yeah, I didn't like him at all. ;)

Though there will be some clothes that I will not ever get rid of, I can't be so attached to every article of clothing that I have. Or so attached to anything in this world, for that matter.

In a devotional I read it said, "First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence."* Those words stopped me cold and a whole new perspective of life was brought to my attention. I am still working on wearing those the eyes to see through all of the time, but I have grasped the concept well when it comes to worldly materials.

I need to simplify my possessions so that I can put more focus on Christ and what I need to do for Him. This life is for Him, not me.

As we were moving in and unpacking things I went ahead and filtered out everything I absolutely knew I didn't want; like the stuff that I hadn't used or worn in 6 months...or 5 years.

  For daily life and simple sorting:

 

 Create a "get rid of" stash for when you spot that picture frame that you'll never use or try on those jeans that aren't even comfortable. I plan to always keep a yard sale or Goodwill container so that as soon as we know that we don't need something, we toss it! Not let build up like it has now!

What are some ways that you stopped clutter from getting the best of you?

*The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Domestic Baby Food Manufacturer

Two things that I decided during my pregnancy was 1: "I want to make my baby's food" and 2: "I do NOT want my baby to have a pacifier". The first one happened...But not so much to the second one! Though, honestly, how much really goes as planned? Especially in parenthood.

I started making Baby Gage's food when he turned 5 months old and since then I have made him banana, zucchini, squash, carrot, pear, persimmon, pea, and sweet potato baby food! The kitchen is my favorite place in the house, so this is something that I thoroughly enjoy. Of course, there is the health perks of making fresh baby food and it is also very kind to our wallets. I bought zucchini at the farmers market for $3.50 and made 42 ounces of baby food leaving me with spending 0.33 cents per 4 ounce jar. THAT makes me happy!

 Matthew's mom, sister-in-law, and grandma went in together to buy us a Baby Bullet and I have loved using it! Homemade baby food became a lot less intimidating to me as a first time mom after receiving that gift.

Baby Bullet in hand, along with a rice steamer given by my mom, ice cube trays bought at the dollar store, and some ziploc baggies? I'm ready to rock out some baby food!

Sweet Potato Puree:

You'll need to peel the potato since their little bellies can't handle all

of the fiber in the peeling yet.

Chop it up however you please.

Throw into a steamer and go about your life for 35 minutes.

 

Come back and check tenderness by stabbing with a fork.

 

Toss the sweet potato and add about a cup of water into your blender or food processor.

 

Blend until your have your desired consistency of pureed baby goodness.

Spoon puree into ice cube trays, cover trays well with plastic wrap, and put them into the freezer until they have frozen solid.

Food for Thought: 1 ice cube = 1 ounce

Label your bag  with what it is and the date it was made.

Put the potato cubes in the bag and you're done! Now you have plenty of  sweet potato readily available in your freezer for whenever your kiddo wants an orange face.

I ended up with 24 ounces from one medium-large sweet potato resulting with 0.25 cents for a 4 ounce jar of baby food! Not bad at all in my book.

I didn't intend to make baby food just to save money, but it is definitely a benefit. A benefit that I never would have noticed before having to buy diapers!

Do you make your little ones' food?

What are some ways you cut corners with baby expenses without cutting the quality?

Taking Time for Tea

My tea set with a couples devotional book "Night Light" by James and Shirley Dobson

Matthew bought me a beautiful Chinese tea set just last Christmas and I had been wanting a tea set for a while! Needless to say, it thrilled me to the depths of my soul to open my gift and discover this along with a variety of loose leaf teas to try out.

Now lets back up.

All of the firsts in my life were joined with a lot of stresses as well. I have a problem with finding relaxation once I get caught up in the insanity of every day life, much less any additional chaos. Then I received this lovely tea set and ever since moving into the house, we've put the tea set into a lot more use with almost nightly doses of hot tea. Just recently, we started doing our couples devotional during our "bedtime tea". The devotional has questions to ask each other at the end and allows us the opportunity to talk about more in depth subjects. It gives us a window into each other's walk with Christ and where we stand on different matters. I've loved "Night Light" by James and Shirley Dobson! I definitely recommend it.

Every night I put our little boy down for bed and begin to run around like a crazy lady trying to catch up on housework that I missed out on during the day, Matthew begins making the tea, and once it's finished steeping, we sit down together and talk. Focusing on nothing except each other and in no time a wave of calm washes over me. It's amazing what some quiet conversation, alone time with my beloved husband, and a hot beverage can do! It is one of my favorite times of the day.

Sencha Green Tea is the hot tea that we are currently enjoying and, like most teas, has loads of health benefits (Here's more about Sencha tea) I'm not talking about the good ol' southern sweet tea that we used to love. Two cups of sugar per gallon? That was us. Now our regular refrigerator tea is white tea with one cup of sugar, So light and, in my opinion, way more refreshing.

But with this fall weather coming, I'm about ready to break out the hot apple spice tea! Yum!

What helps you wind down?

Hello, Blog. We meet again!

A year and 2 months later- here I am! I died off of here after only 2 posts. Wow, what a blogger I am!

Here I am, to try this out again.

Only a month and a half ago, my dear husband and I finally got into our house. Actually, my dear husband, our little boy, and I finally got into our house! Not long after my last post, I found out that I was pregnant and we moved in with my father-in-law and mother-in-law (Due to numerous reasons).
Let me tell you, the past year has been one crazy trip! First year of marriage, first pregnancy, first time living with another family, we became first time parents, and currently settling into our first (hopefully only) home with our own little family.


So now that I'm back, I will certainly be telling about our many adventures in trying to get into this house, showing before and after pictures of rooms and projects, and give you ideas on what NOT to do when trying to restore a house. We got to learn from experience what not to do.

In addition to that, I want to share my heart on marriage, parenthood, and my walk with an awesome God and I look forward to finding the blueprints to my life in the process.

By the way, super delicious apple cake:


Ingredients:
2 beaten eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel (I just added a little lemon juice)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice*
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup cooking oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups peeled, chopped apples
1 cup chopped pecans*

Directions:
1: Allow eggs to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a 10 inch tube pan (I used 2, 9 inch round pans); set pan aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, lemon peel, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Set aside.
2: In a mixing bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in apples and pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s).
3: Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 1 hour or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake on rack. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar. Cover; store in fridge.


This is a an easy, fail proof, and crowd pleaser cake! Really moist and yummy and definitely a winner for me. With fall just around the corner, you now know what to do with some of those apples you will be getting.

*Did not have ingredient on hand and simply omitted.

(Recipe credited to Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book, my favorite and most used cook book!)