~Count Your Blessings~

Steps to a Healthier Home (Plastics)

I finally did it.

I have been pondering and hem-hawing for some time.

But today I did it.

I went through my cupboards and loaded up a bag of plastics. And THEY ARE GONE.

(Note there are a few more plastic items up top...those are rarely used and not really exposed to extreme temps. I will prob get rid of these soon too. Baby steps. And that big red Gladware is just holding the pastic lids that go to the glass containers.)

 

I have known for some time about the potential and probable dangers of using plastics in my kitchen. Why it took me so long to act on that info, I do not know. I read this article this morning and that finally got my butt in gear. I decided it was time to do something about this...

 

Into the bag they go!!

 

 

Well, most of them went anyway. The hardest to part with were these cups.

I have been using those plastic hospital just-had-a-baby cups for 10.5 years now! What was I thinking!!!??? We loved using these giant cups for maximum water intake and ease of use. But we are just gonna have to find something else, cuz they are GONE! 

 

I struggled with what to do with all those plastics that were still in decent condition...do I trash them? Seems wasteful. Do I donate them? No, if they are not safe for my family they are not safe for someone else's. GOT IT! Put them in the recycle bin! YES!

 

So today I recycled one large bag and one small bag of plastics. Some kids cups, some Gladware, some food containers. A few of the nicer Tupperware pieces were hard for me to part with. So I re-assigned them to a new job. No longer do they hold food or get put in the microwave, frig or dishwasher (and therefore exposed to extreme temps making it more likely that the chemicals will leach.) But instead have been moved to the pantry where they can hold pre-packaged foods and offer a bit more organization.

 

I headed out to Tar-jay and spent around 50.00 to replace some of the most used and most dangerous items. Here are a few pics of the plastics I am phasing out (left) and the new glass replacements (right.)

It especially hurts to get rid of those sweet little melamine plates the girls use. But melamine is a nasty little chemical so it has to go.

 

(Yuck - just look at that white corrosion on the Gladware on the left! That is exactly what is most dangerous and why I am doing this.)

 

I will admit that plastics have their place and serve in a great many beneficial ways. (e.g. My kids stay safer in the car with those plastic car seats keeping them secure.) And even though plastics are often convenient and frugal, I feel they are not a safe risk to take in my kitchen. 

So BUH-BYE Gladware and Tupperware...maybe you will be recycled into a sturdy car seat and get to carry a little lovey around this world. :)

Cheerios, Chubby Cheeks & Change

As I scooped Micah out of his car seat the other day, I was stunned by the amount of Cheerios that were under his bottom. I giggled to myself and pondered a few of the ways that my life has changed since bringing home our Kaity-Bug 10 1/2 years ago. I dare say that no amount of pre-baby crumbs and dried out fries compares to the vast number of Cheerios and Goldfish crackers my van has seen since having children. I realized the other day that it would be IMPOSSIBLE to make our van look "clean" again. No amount of detailing would remove the fact that four kids frequent those back seats. 

Once upon a time I vowed to never be a "mini van Mom." I wanted to always have an SUV or sedan to get me from A to B. Well, let me tell you that not only did I change my tune but now I love that van. SSHHH. Don't let the 20 something me hear me say that. :)

No, since we welcomed Chubby Cheeks and Cheerios into our lives and hearts I would say that nothing has been the same as it was before. Thank God for that.

Last night some dear friends told us the great news of expecting their first child. I am excited beyond belief at how they will discover a whole side of themselves they never knew. Parenting changes you. It makes you into an entirely new creature. It rocks your world. 

I don't say that in the scary sense. I know that I am a much better person now than I was pre-Kaity. My heart actually feels different and my focus and priorities are altogether something else. I had always read in the Bible that "children are a blessing from the Lord." And now I get to live that out every day as I seek to serve, grow, teach and love these four amazing little people I have been given. Discovering each day that it's not just about all the wonderful things kids bring into your life. But it's also about the way they shape you and change you and mature you and grow you. 

I love the way God is using my children and parenting together with my Hubs to refine me. What a gift to be blessed with something so wonderful, magical and beautiful as an instrument of growth and change for me.  God certainly allows some not-so-lovely things to grow and change us too. But WOW - am I ever grateful that He chose to grow me in this way too. 

So not for many many more years will I have a Cheerio free van and no chubby cheeks to smooch and pinch. Thank you, Lord. I relish this time so much more when I think of it as a gigantic present He sent just for me. 

 

ten on tuesday

1. We had a surprise snow fall this morning and it was so lovely! Our weather has been way warmer and dryer than I would like, so this was a nice change.

2. I got about 2 hours of sleep last night and it was miserable. Not because of a baby or any sick kids or anything. Just pure insomnia with a dash of anxiety thrown in for good measure.

3. 2 hours of sleep makes for a delightful afternoon nap however.

4. I made my friend K's Amazing Brownies for dinner plans we had that fell through. What makes them amazing you ask? You make the box brownie mix as directed, but then you toss in some cinnamon and some instant coffee. Y.U.M.

5. I think I may be reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for the rest of my life. It is not that I am not enjoying it, it just seems to be taking FOREVER.

6. We had a triple date night with 2 of our very best couple friends last night. Fondue + Friends = FUN!

7. Have you ever had dark chocolate with spicy red chili in it? I had some the other night at a friends birthday party and it WAS GOOD. Lindt Excellence Chili...give it a whirl. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

8. My girls have been knee deep in Advanced Reading Challenge projects and Science Fair Project prep and experiments. It is all good and fun stuff, but it sure can sap up time and energy pretty fast.

9. I suppose it may be time to put away all my Christmas wrap, bags, ribbon and such. :)

10. I think I may start some crochet Christmas projects this week. Yep, Christmas. I hope to make about 10 of these things I have in mind and I really want to take my time and do a nice job and not feel stressed. Why not get a jump on it now?

--Sorry for the lack of photos...I was feeling too lazy. :) Have a great week!

 

1/12/12

Here is the first of many 12 on 12 projects to come - I hope. (And only 4 days late is not half bad. :) FYI - I remembered that I wanted to do this project at about 10:30 at night after being out all evening with my Hubs. So, this is what I had to work with on very little brain. :)

1. A Butter Braid raising for the morning.
2. A magnet from my sister.
3. Louis
4. Weekly menu - DATE NIGHT
5. A new wire apple basket
6. A friendly snowman waving hello.
7. Joel's bamboo plant
8. Mini coffee mugs for my mini me's - (for hot cocoa of course)
9. Sheets day
10. A cool winter nightlight/air freshener
11. My seasonal display
12. A picture of a picture of my sweet girls from Nov. 06-ish 

13 Months

ten on tuesday

1. So this is what Megan and I looked like when we left the house for bunko the other night. I told her that had we been going out together in the 80s that we would have spent hours PURPOSELY making ourselves look like this and then thought we looked GOOD. (I had to help her a lot as she was not EVEN ALIVE in the 80s...she has no idea what she missed out on.) :)

 

2. Doesn't it feel good to spend inordinate amounts of money on things like American Girl Dolls and then find them laying on the floor like this? {sigh}

 

3. Here is my current library book stack. You sensing a theme here? Organizing, healthier living and saving money. Yep, big priorities for us this year.

 

4. I love love love taking the time on a Sunday or Monday to plan out meals, to-do lists and grocery lists. The Type-A me adores this kind of planning and organizing.

 

5. These things make me happy...new mascara and label-making. Yep, I am a super-dork.

 

6. Last weekend I knocked out that dreaded filing and whipped the paper clutter into shape around here. I set up a couple new systems to help me stay organized. For some reason, paper clutter just bogs me down and I have yet to implement a system that works well for me. We shall see... Now that we have a rental property and all the tax and repair stuff that comes along with it, I really need an efficient  setup.

 

7. Mmmmm. Puppy chow ala Megan.

 

8. A gift from my Bug. I {{heart}} her creative and artsy side.

 

9. For some reason, Micah greatly enjoys clearing this shelf of my cookbooks and making a huge mess of them. [sigh]

 

10. I eat a lot of cuties. A LOT. They are the perfect snack. And adorable too. :)

ten on thursday

1. Tonight is 80's theme at Bunko. I am planning to do my makeup bright and my hair HIGH! Should be fun!

2. I decided to embark on another 365 photo project. I really enjoyed it the last time I did it and I love that it captures a tiny bit of our lives every day. See the album on the right.

3. 65 degrees here today! I am still surprised even after living here all my life that we get near 70 degree days in Jan. But we always do.

4. I am going to attack my filing this weekend with a vengence. I feel like the rest of my house is pretty well in order right now (well, except that basement/playroom area - YIKES). I have had a little extra energy this week and have been motivated to get the Christmas clutter under control. It feels good!

(This counter has not been this clean since we moved in!!)

5. No idea where that energy is coming from though. It is NOT from extra sleep, to be sure. Micah has been a maddening little sleeper lately. (e.g. up for the day by 5:30 a.m, minimal napping, awake last night from 1-3 a.m.) UGH! I am tired.

6. Here are the cute cotton swab snowflakes the girls made last week.

7. Look at this cool wire rack I scored at Costco this week. I love it! I am considering getting a couple more to store bathroom/random counter stuff in also. The picture on the box had rolled up towels and jars of q-tips and such in it and it was ca-ute!

8. Love this little stinker so much!

9. It was sure hard to be done with Christmas and get back into a routine this week. I miss my girls! We just had the best vacation together. (Well, except for my stinkin' foot issue...which seems to be pretty well healed up finally. YAY!)

10. We got tickets to take Joel's parents to see My Fair Lady in February. Should be a fun date night with them!

Happy Thursday!

Megan & Cory

My sis asked me to to snap a few engagement photos of her and her fiance. Here are a few of the best.

The Year Past and Future

I don't generally like "resolutions" per se, but I wanted to take the time to sum up some of the things I feel like I/we have done well this past year and also make some goals for this brand spankin' new year.

2011 Accomplishments

For Myself
Started flossing regularly.
Started getting up early to shower and read my bible. 
Made menu planning more of a priority.
Set up a weekly errand routine that saves time, gas and money.
Stopped getting (and craving) Starbucks and now I actually prefer the coffee I make at home.
Started eating oatmeal. (I never have cared for it much, but now I have a Steel Cut Oats recipe that I love.) 
Drinking WAY less soda. 

As a Family
Nightly reading/devotion time.
Dropped extra activities and made being home together a very high priority.
Family game night and movie night.
Watching less TV overall.
Eating out less.
Regular date nights. (Very important for the overall family dynamic as well as our relationship.)

------------------------------------------

2012 Goals

For Myself
- Moisturize my whole body daily. (I am really good at face moisturizing, but get lazy with my body. I just FEEL better when I take the time to put on lotion in the morning.
- Doing another 365 project. I think it is a great way to journal our lives and sharpen my photography skills.
- Finish 24 books this year.
- Learn more about my camera.
- Intake more calcium and water daily.
- Intake less sugar.
- Nap less.
- Craft more.
- Walk/Run? more. (Yikes - that may be a lofty goal, since I despise running.)
-  Organize and keep up on paper clutter better.
- Read to my littles more often. 

As a Family 

- Actively seek to glorify God in all we say and do. Especially in how we treat one another. (e.g. Less sarcasm, more encouragement and praise.) 
- Continue making family bible time each night a habit.
- Come up with a service project that we can all feel passionate and excited about.
- Fill our family money jar and donate to a worthy cause.
- Pay off all our consumer debt by the end of the year.
- Give more stuff away and bring less stuff into our home.

Have you decided to set some goals for this new year?

 

 

Handmades and Crafties

We have been busy busy busy around here these last couple weeks making fun crafts and handmade Christmas gifts. Here is some of our work.

 

Joel made his Dad a knitted hat. It turned out a bit big, but he did an AMAZING job! And in only 2 days!

 

Kaity made both Micah and Joel hand drawn, framed pictures. Joel's was a football. Micah's was a teddy bear.

 

The girls and I made these fun winter jars. Love them. I like that we can keep these out long after the Christmas decor gets put away.

 

The girls also made some fun q-tip snowflakes and we tried some unique paper snowflakes too.

 

Kaity also made jewelry and pillows for me and her siblings and aunties.

 

Kaity and I got crackin' on a project that we bought supplies for - ahem - about 4 years ago. (eeep)

 

And my very favorite gift this year...made by Joel...these precious silhouettes of my babies. LOVE.

 

How have you been feelin' crafty these days?