Advent Challenge

The Christmas season is upon us once again. Hard to believe, I know.

This Advent, take the time to reflect on what Christmas really means. Take the time to teach your children that there is more to Christmas than Santa, gifts and cookies. My friend, Kristy, shared a great way to focus on the true meaning of the season while teaching our children that it really does feel better to give than receive. Won't you join us?

Since we already have an Advent calendar (and it's already December), we're going to improvise this year. I'll be writing different activities on pieces of paper and adding them to a bowl. After we use our already existing calendar, I'll have my son choose an activity for the day. I haven't finished making my list yet, but I'll be sure to share what we've done each day.

What will you be doing?

The Greatest Pancakes...Ever

As a mother of a picky eater, I've learned that, when I find something that my son will eat, I need to make it as healthy as possible.

Enter the pancake.

My son loves pancakes! In fact, last weekend, while visiting my brother and sister-in-law he conned his aunt into making him pancakes for breakfast...and then had them again for lunch. Talks of hotdogs or chicken weren't phasing him. It rarely does anyhow.

While I was going through a cookbook to plan my monthly menu, I came across this recipe. It was in one of those church fundraiser cookbooks so I knew it had to be good. ;)
Here is my new favorite pancake recipe:

1 1/4 c. Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 c. All-Purpose Flour
2 T Brown Sugar (firmly packed)
1 T Baking Powder
1/2 t. Salt

2 Eggs
1 1/2 c. Milk
3 T Cooking Oil (or melted butter, margarine or shortening)

Thoroughly mix together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Beat together eggs, milk and oil until blended. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well.
Bake on hot, lightly greased griddle.

*I added a little flax in place of the all-purpose flour. Be creative and add other things like fruit (or maybe even chocolate chips?) I also made a few blueberry ones. Yum.

Enjoy!

Dryer Balls?

I've been using dryer balls for quite some time now as an alternative to icky, chemical-filled dryer sheets. (I didn't actually purchase mine on Amazon, but these look like the ones I have.)

While these do a great job at controlling static and shortening drying time, I'm not sure what they're made of. I don't like that. For all I know, I think I'm doing a good thing for our planet and my family by not using softener or sheets and these things could be made of PVC or BPA. Who knows?

When one of these fabulous little things finally bit the dust last week (nothing lasts forever), I started thinking about better alternatives.
An Internet search brought me to this page. There are many retailers that sell wool dryer balls, but they seemed pricey for a cheapskate like me. ;) If you're interested in making your own, the above link has great instructions complete with photos.
If you're not the crafty type and you just want to support a WAHM (work at home mom), this is a wonderful business!! I buy all of my laundry detergent from Crunchy Clean and absolutely LOVE it!

Eliminating dryer sheets and fabric softeners is an easy thing for us to do. Should we be worried about what the dryer balls are made of or is just using them enough? I really guess this depends on how eco-friendly you are hoping to be. I urge you to give them a try either way.

Paper or Plastic?

I'm a huge fan of those handy dandy reusable shopping bags. I keep a stack in my car at all times and use them for all of my shopping, not just grocery shopping. The ones I have are not cute by any stretch of the word, but they serve their purpose. I can't really complain for a functional green (in color and urban dictionary definition) bag for less than a buck.

While browsing at my local fabric store over the weekend, one particular bolt of fabric really caught my eye. When I touched it, I knew we were destined to be together. You see? This fabric wasn't really "fabric" at all. (I'm ashamed to say that I don't really know what that "paper-y" fabric is called. I'll be even more ashamed to learn that it's full of chemicals.) It was cute regardless and it's kept me out of trouble and behind my sewing machine for a day or so.

I didn't buy a pattern because, while I'm no sewing pro, I'm not a beginner and I knew I could wing it. They did have a simple pattern by Green Pepper there. I checked it out and used it as a guide when deciding how much fabric to purchase. ;)

Really, a reusable shopping bag can be made out of any sturdy fabric. While the "paper-y" fabric is sturdy and cute, I don't intend on making my entire collection out of this material. I would actually suggest something washable. After all, you're going to be toting fresh fruits and veggies in them one day, raw meats the next and then maybe even something non-edible the next day. It's best to have something that's easily thrown in the wash. We probably don't want to know what kinds of germs are lurking in those bags. *blech*

To make a bag of your own, first choose your material. Canvas? A mesh or netting? A funky pattern? Fabric scraps?

Lay out your fabric with the wrong sides together and the folded edge on the bottom. Cut your desired size. If you're using scraps, you may have to do a bit more sewing to get the body of your bag. If you're using brand new fabric, just leave the folded side on the bottom and cut a square/rectangle out.

If you want a pocket on the front and/or back, cut out a square or rectangle for that, too. I got funky with one bag and made the pocket a triangle. :)

Fold the top and bottom edges of your pocket over and hem them. You don't have to be fancy about it. Functionality over style here, folks. I folded mine twice (think rolling it and then pressing flat) just so I could eliminate the chance that it would fray.

Leave the sides of the pocket raw. The handles of the bag will cover them so it's just a waste of time to hem them. ;)

Do the same thing to the top and bottom edges of the bag itself. I made my seams about 1/2 inch. (Again, don't get too crazy and start to over-think everything. Just fold it over twice and sew.)

Sew the pocket onto your bag if you're using one. Just stitch the bottom of the pocket to one side of your bag. Remember that the handles will go over the sides of your pocket and it will be sewn on three sides. Don't get carried away and sew the top closed. That would make a pretty useless pocket. :P

Next, you'll need to attach your handles. You'll need a looooong piece of fabric or bias tape for this. Seriously, then handles were nearly two yards long on one of my bags. Make the long, thin strip of fabric into a circle. Make sure that it's not twisted at all. Hold them right sides together (if it's plain fabric, it doesn't much matter) and stitch the ends together. Go back and forth a few times just to ensure strength.

Spread the body of your bag out with the back of the fabric on the floor or table. You should have a pretty long rectangle in front of you. Lay your handles on top. Make sure that they cover the sides of your pocket (if you're adding one) and that they are even. Pin those suckers down once you have them in place! I loathe pinning, but don't skip this step or you'll likely be fetching your seam ripper.
Sew your handles onto your bag. You can do two straight stitches down either side of the handles or you can do a zig zag down the middle. Be creative with any "fancy"stitches you have, but remember to be practical. These handles are going to be lugging around some heavy merchandise.

Put the right sides of your fabric together and sew the sides shut. It's a good idea to double up here just for strength.

Now, you could stop here. Once you turn your bag right side out, you'll have a functional piece for sure. I like to make mine so they "stand up" by themselves. The cashier will thank you.

To do that, keep your bag inside out. Flatten the bottom of your bag and push the side out to make a triangle. (This part is really hard to explain without illustrations so you may need to visit this link if you've never done this before. Heck, it looks like a cute pattern for a quilted bag!)
Sew straight across that triangle, as the illustration suggests.

Turn your bag right side out and go shopping! Like I said before, I didn't get fancy with this. It's really just a functional bag to get me in and out of the store without having to take a plastic bag home with me.
I'll post a photo of my bag when I can get iTunes and my laptop to stop arguing. ;)

I did a little search for other patterns and found this great resource! There are some really cute patterns HERE.

If you really aren't crafty at all (Even though I promise this is super easy.) this link is a great resource for retailers and all other things green.

And this, here, should get you thinking in the green direction if you've been living in a bubble and don't know the impact all of those plastic bags have on our environment.

What plastic alternatives have you tried when you hit the stores? I'd love to hear!

A Batch of Clean

Our move has gone really well thus far. I have used this move as an opportunity to make some changes in our home. We have eliminated toxic cleaning chemicals from our home. Yesterday I jumped at the chance to whip up a few cleaners. Here are the recipes and a few photos of the process. It was super easy AND, better yet, the cleansers work just as well (maybe better) as the popular brands in the stores.





Here is what you'll need to make these three recipes:
Baking Soda
Distilled Water
Liquid Soap (Sal Suds, Dr. Bronners, etc. I used Biokleen because that's what I had on hand)
White Vinegar
Essential oils if you'd like. I used Tea Tree for its anti-fungal properties and Lemon for its fresh scent)
A bowl for mixing (that's my Pampered Chef batter bowl pictured)
Something to mix with
Measuring cups and spoons
A metal spoon to measure your essential oils (they'll damage plastic ones)









Mixing the soap and baking soda together. It's pretty clumpy and pasty to begin with.














When you add the water, it will thin out quickly. You'll get little bubbles and a nice, frothy mixture.












After you add the vinegar...you guessed it-it'll start to foam. It doesn't foam like a crazy science experiment so no worries. Just add and mix together.
Add the essential oils if you are going to.












Here's what you'll get: A toilet bowl cleaner, a furniture polish and a "soft scrub" cleaner.




















Here are the recipes:

"Bowled Over" Toilet Bowl Cleaner
From Karen Logan's book Clean House Clean Planet. I changed the name though. I didn't dig "Hollywood Bowl". ;)

1/2 C Liquid Soap
2 C Baking Soda
Mix to get lumps out
Dilute with
1/4 C Distilled Water
Add
2 T White Vinegar
1/2 t. Tea Tree Essential Oil (50 drops)

Pour into 22 oz. squirt bottle (I used an old Dawn dish soap bottle.)


"Dust to Dust" Furniture Polish
Also from Clean House Clean Planet
2 t Olive Oil (the lighter the better)
20 drops Lemon Essential Oil
1/4 C White Vinegar
13 oz. Distilled Water

Pour into a 16 oz. spray bottle (I bought mine at Walmart and Dollar General for a buck a piece.)


"Earth Paste" Scrub
From... You guessed it. ;)

1 2/3 C Baking Soda
1/2 C Liquid Soap
Mix
2 T Distilled Water
Mix
2 T White Vinegar

Put in a jar or container with a tight fitting lid. A squeeze bottle could work too but that could get ugly. An open-topped container seems to make the most sense to me.

Enjoy!

Happy Earth Day!

Here are some great ideas to celebrate Earth Day everyday!!


Truly, Earth Day should be every single day. Forty years ago, Earth Day was a fun way to teach kids (and adults) ways to be kind to the earth. Remember the whole "Recycle, Reuse, Reduce" chant they taught you in school? ;)
The term "being green" hadn't really come into existence yet. Today, however, even the youngest members of your family can help you live a healthy, "green" lifestyle.

Consider making even just one change today. Switch to more energy efficient light bulbs, start recycling or composting, plant a garden, or use Earth friendly (and family friendly) cleaning products. You'll be surprised at the results. I promise you'll "get something" out of your change. Chances are, you'll save a little green while being green.

Green Crafts

I was flipping through a current issue of Better Homes and Gardens when I came across a few cute ideas. These projects would be great to do with children to show them how to reuse/re-purpose things that you have in your home. The link above has tons of neat craft ideas. These ones just happen to use things you probably already have in your home.


LEAVE A MESSAGE
The first project is for a magnetic message board. Here's what you need:
A metal cookie sheet (Teflon or non-stick won't work).
Some sandpaper
Paint of your choice
Wallpaper scraps, tissue paper, gift wrap, construction paper... ANY kind of paper to decorate with

Rough up your sheet with the sandpaper.

Paint it and make sure it completely dries.

Now cut or tear your paper and glue it on the flat surface of your sheet (leaving the painted edges exposed). The magazines suggested spray adhesive but that's not my favorite. I would try Mod Podge. It works great and is easy to clean up with soap and water.

Buy cool magnets OR make your own. I "framed" Alex's artwork behind flat glass rocks for Christmas gifts last year. Mod Podge the paper or "art" on the back of the clear stone and glue on a heavy duty magnet with hot or tacky glue.
Another cute magnet suggestion from BHG was to cut out pretty pictures from magazines and glue them on all of those business magnets you have on your fridge. You can either cut them to the shape of your picture or leave them rectangular. <---Cute idea!

Have fun with this project! These make great gifts. Another spin on this particular craft is to buy either a roll or squares of cork and frame them. (This is what I did for Christmas.) Glue extra game pieces, pretty pebbles, buttons or beads to flat thumb tacks and tack on a cute message for your recipient.


SODA OASIS
The next project is making a terrarium. If you've ever made one as a child, you probably remember how much fun it was to watch your plants grow. What a great learning craft for kids of all ages! Here's what you need:

Glass container or clear plastic bottle
Small pebbles
Activated charcoal (available where aquarium supplies are sold)
Potting soil
Seeds or small plant clippings

Select your container. A mason jar, fish bowl or pop bottle will work. (If you're using a pop bottle, clean it well and cut off the lower 1/3. Save the top for the lid.)

Cover the bottom of your container with about an inch of pebbles (aquarium rocks work well too) for drainage.

Add a thin layer (maybe a 1/4 in.) of the activated charcoal to filter the water that you'll add.

Place 2-3 in. of potting soil on top.

Plant your garden! Ferns, begonias, cacti, succulents and moss will grow well.

Water your plants or seeds well and place a lid on your container. If your container doesn't have a lid, a piece of plastic wrap secured with a rubber band will work just fine.

Watch your terrarium come to life! Explain to your kids how it works. The water in the soil will eventually form droplets on the inside and top of your container. Once they get heavy enough, they'll fall like rain. This process will keep repeating.

**If you don't see this process occurring, add more water.


TEEN TIME OUT
The final project is a great one for older kids! Here's what you'll need to make your own decoupaged chair:

A salvaged wooden chair of your choice
Sandpaper
Scissors
Magazine clippings or pictures, old sheet music for your music lover, tissue paper, fabric scraps, etc. Basically any paper that can be glued. Let your teen get creative and use movie or concert ticket stubs, CD liner notes, photos of friends printed on lightweight photo paper...
Mod Podge
Sponge brush
Paint (optional)
Drop cloth

(I've actually done this with the top of a wooden bar stool. I cut out flowers and other neat pictures from magazines and decoupaged them to the top. They've served as everything from plant stands to actual stools in our home.)

Sand your chair to make sure the surface is smooth and ready to accept the glue. Wipe it clean. You can paint the parts of the chair that you won't be covering if you want to.

Cut or tear your images and gather your papers for decorating.
Sometimes it works getter to cut as you go so you'll be able to fill in gaps rather than having to rearrange your design a million times. Choose the system that works best for you.

Lightly cover the back of your image and the spot on the chair that you'd like to cover. Lightly cover the top of your image once you're sure you have it where you'd like it.

Apply two to three coats over the entire area once you're satisfied with your design. Use long, smooth strokes for a glassy finish or blot the area for a textured look.



Have fun and get creative! Share your craft ideas, too!

Ever Thought Of...

For some reason today, while doing laundry, I thought about the way my grandmother would have done certain tasks during her lifetime. Before you read any of these suggestions, think for a minute how it would have been for your grandparents or great-grandparents. Waaaay different, right?

DRYER LINT
First off, grandma didn't have a dryer. Well, she did. It was called a clothesline. She hung her clothes to dry year round, whether it be inside our out. Don't be scared to try the same thing. Line drying certainly has its benefits. Your clothes will be static free and the sun will "bleach" away any tough stains.
If you're like me and leave line drying your clothes to the warmer months, think for a second what you could do with that dryer lint... (I'll wait.)
One great idea is to leave it outside for the birds to take and use for nesting. Either leave it on the ground, in a bush or place it in a mesh bag (like the one your oranges come in) for them to pick out.
Another great use it to save it for kindling. If you have a fireplace you can certainly use this tip all year long. If you don't, keep a little on hand for those summer camp fires. ;) Add a little newspaper to it and you're cookin' in no time.

KLEENEX
I know this seems like an essential item. Most everyone I know has a box on the back of their toilet or in several places around the house. Tissues are certainly very handy but think for a minute if you could do without them. I bet you could.
Instead of spending the money on buying box after box that you literally throw away, try buying "hankies" to have on hand. Oddly enough, my dad always has one in his pocket during the winter months. I bet your grandfather did/does too.
Rather than throwing away a box full of tissues, just wash and reuse your own. Get creative with it! Buy a different color or pattern for everyone in the house. Visit the jewelry/accessory department and pick up a few bandanas or small cotton scarves.

PAPER TOWELS
I know they're handy. Trust me, I know. But think for a minute how many rolls you go through in one month. It's probably more than one. Try using dishcloths or rags to wipe up spills rather than using a paper towel and throwing it away. You're doing laundry anyhow, right?

PAPER PLATES
The only reason paper plates are "handy" is because we don't have to wash them. That's about it. Just use a real plate. Okay? The same goes for plastic cups and utensils. They're great for parties and get-togethers because we don't have to wash them afterward but is all that trash really worth it?

SPONGES
If you must have a sponge, look for a natural or biodegradable one. Here are several examples. Even better, just stick to your rags or dishcloths.

ZIPLOC BAGS
Plastic storage bags are so super handy. You can pack snacks, sandwiches, small craft items, toiletries for traveling, etc. in them. I'm not saying we should give them up entirely. I really do use them quite often. (Thankfully, they can be recycled.)
If you want to cut down on the money you spend on them, invest in BPA free plastic containers or glass storage containers. You don't have to be like my grandma and wash and reuse your plastic baggies. ;)

FOOD SCRAPS
This one really had me thinking today. I can promise you that my grandmother never threw food waste in the trash. The cows, horses, dog or barn cats were probably able to take care of just about any leftover food problem.
You can still do that today. Cows and horses love to munch on things like pumpkin, apple or corn. While our dog doesn't get the pleasure of "people food", yours might.
If you're in an animal free zone, think about starting a compost pile. You truly don't need to have a large space to do it. Even apartment dwellers can compost. If you really don't have the desire, someone you know probably does. Any composter would jump at the chance to receive MORE scraps to add to their pile.

SPEAKING OF COMPOST
Things like fruit scraps, vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, shredded newspaper, pet and human hair, leaves, weeds, dead flowers, and grass clippings (among other things) can be composted.
You want to stay away from meat products (they'll make your compost stinky and attract the wrong bugs) and any food that has been cooked. There are tons of resources out there for beginners. Check out my previous post with three very informative videos.

COMPOST TEA
Consider making "compost tea" instead of using chemical fertilizers on your lawn and garden. This method is safer for the environment, your home, your children and your pets. Plus, it's FREE people!

CLOTHING
Go look in your closet. What did you find? A bunch of stuff you don't wear? After you've gone through your wardrobe and made a pile of things that you don't like, haven't worn or can't fit into (most of us fit into ALL of those categories), don't just throw them out.
Look for old t-shirts that you can use for rags or dusting (worn out bath towels work great for this too).
Ask a friend if they're interested in looking through them. You may get lucky and they'll do the same for you. ;)
Donate them. Drop them off at a place like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Maybe your town has something like a shelter or extended need dwelling that can use such items. Maybe your church runs a program for people that have had a fire or have found themselves in a difficult financial situation. The possibilities are endless. SOMEone will want or use what you no longer do.
Don't forget your childrens' closets. Give gently used baby clothing to a Women's Center or a friend with a newborn. Trade clothing with a friend with bigger or smaller children. OR check out a resale or thrift store. You won't get a ton of money doing this, but you can be assured that someone is looking for that Winnie the Pooh sleeper.

BREAD
First off, you could make your own. Grandma did. Just sayin'...
If you aren't a fan of the ends of the bread (homemade or otherwise) toss them out to the birds, save them for bread crumbs or croutons or save one to put in your cookie jar to keep your cookies moist. Resist the urge to just throw it in the trash.

Take a look around your own home. What's the first thing you see? How could it be reused? Can it be recycled? (Even things like computer monitors can be recycled. Check your local recycling center to see what you need to do.) Is the particular item necessary? Could you replace it with a more environmentally friendly option?

I hope these suggestions have given you a few ideas of your own. I'd love to hear how you reuse or eliminate things from your homes!

It's a Composting World

I'm fairly new to the composting world. I won't lie. We tried it last summer without much success. We weren't very patient and missed a few key steps. I came across these videos and found them very helpful. I'm going to give it another shot. Won't you join me in cutting down on our waste?

A Friendly Reminder

Many of you know how obsessed I've become about car seat safety. Some of you probably haven't had the pleasure of engaging me in "car seat talk". That's about to change, my friends.

There are several things to keep in mind now that the weather is changing for the better. Here are some things to double check before your next road trip.

**First off, bulky coats aren't for car seats. If, by chance, you've kept your kiddo in their heavy, bulky coat all winter, now you know not to do that next winter. ;)

It's always a good idea to check the fit of the harness straps periodically anyhow, but an even better idea when your child starts to wear fewer layers. Make sure that you can't pinch any of the strap together with your fingers. BUT make sure that it's not too tight. The idea is for them to be safe, not cut off their oxygen supply. ;)
IF your seat CAME WITH strap covers, feel free to use them. If your seat did not come with them, DO NOT BUY ANY. Anything that was in the box when you opened that seat for the first time was crash tested with that seat. Anything you find in the aisle next to the car seats at the store wasn't. In fact, no one tested that stuff. Skip it.

Also, make sure that the chest clip is located-you guessed it-on the chest. A good rule of thumb is to keep it even with your child's armpits. The reason for this is because their tummies are so so soft. In the event of an accident, you wouldn't want all of the force from the crash to be absorbed by that pudgy little tummy, would you? Not only that, but the lower the chest clip, the easier it is to wiggle those shoulders out. Trust me, you don't want a wild toddler loose in your car.

**While we're on the subject of the buckle and straps... It's a good idea to make sure that the seat hasn't accidentally become unbuckled (if you're using a seat belt).
This may sound really stupid, but it happened to us. We had out-of-town guests visiting so we went touring around town. Generally, no one else rides in the back seat of our car so it never even occurred to me to check the seat belt. We had driven around for a day after our family left with Alex's seat unbuckled! My aunt had accidentally hit his buckle instead of her own when getting out of the car. Super easy to do.

Also, make sure you're using all your seat has to offer. If you have LATCH and aren't sure exactly what you're supposed to be doing with it, read this. LATCH isn't safer than a lap belt or vise versa. It's not which method you use, it's how well you use it. If you're following the directions in your car seat manual and car manual about how to install a seat (with either method) then you will be fine. Here are some common LATCH mistakes.

Please, please, please make sure that you're securing the seat in the vehicle properly! You can be so diligent about how your child is buckled in but if the seat isn't fastened properly it isn't going to do a thing to protect your child.

**Most of us carry around a snow scraper during the winter months. (Some of you are very lucky and don't have the honor.) It's so tempting to just toss it into the car when you're done using it, whether it be on the floor in the front or back seat. Please resist this urge. Snow scrapers are very sharp on the end! I heard a good phrase the other day. The woman said, "Don't leave anything unsecure in the car that you wouldn't hit your child with over the head." I'm fairly sure none of us would hit our children over the head with ANYthing. The items (including that snow scraper) that aren't anchored down in your car can simply become projectiles in an accident.
This spring, when you exile the snow scraper, take the time to exile other objects that could potentially fly around the car in an accident.

**On the subject of projectiles... With sunnier days approaching, it's really tempting to install a window shade for your little cutie. Resist that temptation. Suction cups are by no means fail proof. There's not a whole lot keeping those suckers (pun intended) stuck to the window.

Finally, there are so many good resources out there to help you with any car seat question or issue you may be having. Call your local State Police barracks and ask them if/when they do seat checks. Most stations do them at least one day a month by appointment. If they don't, they should be able to direct you to a location that does do checks.

We all know that we should never trust everything we read online BUT here are two of my favorite sites.
The Car Seat Lady and Car-Seat.org Car-seat.org has great resources if you're looking for a particular car/seat combination. Just type in the make and model of your car and the seat you have and I guarantee there will be posts to guide you in the right direction.

Little Professor

So my little man needs glasses. Even thought I knew that day would probably come eventually, you could have knocked me over with a feather when we found out this week.

Quite some time ago, I noticed that one of his eyes was crossing ever so slightly. It was so slight that Chris didn't even notice it when I pointed it out. He told me I was being Crazy Mom and I was seeing things. It wasn't until a few days later when he did it again that Chris noticed. See, mom IS always right. ;)

His wandering eye would only appear occasionally. In fact, I haven't seen him do it for weeks now. We wanted to be sure it wasn't something serious so we brought it up at a recent routine exam. We were referred to Dr. Nick Sala. Being the only pediatric opthamoligist in the Erie area, it's usually hard to get an appointment at that office. We were VERY lucky that there was a cancellation or we would have been waiting until April!

We went in half expecting to hear them tell us that Alex had a lazy eye. I was prepared for patching, etc.
Chris had a lazy eye and wore glasses during his first grade year. Chris' sister wore a patch AND glasses when she was in elementary school and still wears glasses now. Chris' mother had a lazy eye when she was a child and two of Chris' uncles had lazy eyes when they were young as well. Phew. Genetics aren't on this kid's side!
Nearly everyone on my side of the family wears glasses for nearsightedness.

When Dr. Sala told us that Alex was farsighted, I was shocked. When he wrote that prescription for GLASSES, I was even more shocked. It turns out that the occasional crossing we were seeing is simply his way of trying to bring things into focus better. (On a side note, it was good to learn that he does NOT have a lazy eye and he sees the same in both eyes.)

But my not-yet-two-year-old in GLASSES?!?

I played it up like it was the coolest thing in the world to wear glasses but when we got to the car, I cried. Chris looked at me like I was Crazy Mom again. I was just so shocked and I didn't want to think that my little boy was less than perfect. I know. Stupid.

I just started to think about how mean kids can be. I didn't want him to be picked on. I also didn't want people to look at him like he had some sort of handicap. They're just glasses for crying out loud! On top of all of that, I was worried that he wouldn't even wear them to begin with. We're talking about the kid that has had super cool Lightning McQueen sun glasses for nearly a year and JUST put them on for the first time a few weeks ago. He is soooo resistant to change and things that are out of his comfort zone. It takes him a while to warm up to the idea. He is getting better with that as he gets older but glasses are a huge deal in the comfort zone category.

We ended up at Walmart Vision Center to pick out glasses. While Kidspecs certainly had a wide selection of frames for the little guy, we just simply can't afford to pay $100+ for frames. Maybe when he gets older and his head and face aren't changing every six months! LOL

He wasn't overly thrilled with trying frames but he did it. I kept saying, "Too big." when we were trying them on so now that's what he says. I assured him that the glasses that they are making will be just for him and they will fit perfectly.

Looking back on the whole thing makes me glad that I was Crazy Mom. If I hadn't noticed that eye that ONE day, I wouldn't have mentioned it at his appointment (I don't think the Dr. was paying enough attention to catch it on her own...that's another blog) then we never would have gotten the referral and we wouldn't be where we are today.

I'm so thankful that we caught his vision problem when we did. Kids that young don't know that things are supposed to look differently (especially if that's how they've always seen them). They just learn to adapt and move on. I know that once he's able to see the world a little clearer, he's going to be so thrilled.

Please have your child(ren)'s vision screened. It's not too early. The advancements in this area are have come so far! Alex never complained about reading. He LOVES to read! He loves to play with his cars, trucks and trains and he can spot a lady bug wandering across the carpet even when no one else can. We had no reason to believe that he couldn't see well. It was ONE little thing that made us want to be sure. If we had ignored it, who knows....

It's hard to think that your child won't be "perfect" but, trust me, they still will be. Don't wait until they start school or complain that they can't see to read or play. Be proactive.

Breathing a Sigh of Relief

I am proud to say that I think we may have done it. We're about two seconds away from being homeowners!

After a really long, drawn out process with Mr. and Mrs. Seller, we've finally come to the end. While I can appreciate that they wanted to be sure they had a place to call home, they really dragged it out as long as they could.

Our next hurdle will be to have the home inspection completed. It doesn't appear that there will be any issues but stranger things have been known to happen to us. ;) We'll know more after it's completed on Wednesday.

Hopefully we'll be able to call Maple Avenue home sweet home soon.

Recipes

In light of my last post, I wanted to share a few new recipes. I've tried several of these (the All-Purpose cleaner is great) already. Just sharing the wealth.

VINEGAR RINSE
8 oz. white vinegar
8 oz. water
10 drops of an essential oil (optional)

Here is a great site with TONS of uses for vinegar (alone and in combination with other ingredients).

AIR FRESHENER
8 oz. water
25 drops essential oil of your choice

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
1 T dish soap (plain Dawn is great)
20 oz distilled water

EARTH SHAKER
(This works great in an empty grated parmesan cheese container)
Baking soda
15 drops of essential oil per cup, if you'd like.

Yes, you read that correctly. Just baking soda.

EARTH SCRUB or PASTE
2 c baking soda
1/2 c liquid soap (Castile works nicely and so does plain old Dawn)
2 T distilled water IF you're storing it in a container with lid
OR
1/2 c distilled water IF you're using a squirt bottle
2 T white vinegar, added last

The last two recipes are from Karen Logan's book, Clean House Clean Planet. It's very informative and has tons of recipes. If you're in the local area, the Blasco Library has two copies.

I'm a Convert

I am a huge supporter of anything that claims (and actually is) to be more environmentally friendly. I've always been into the idea of reusing and re-purposing things but since becoming a mommy, I feel even more driven.

I've shared in an earlier post about a few of the things that we do around here to help our planet and our pocketbooks. I'd love to hear what you do so please feel free to share/comment!

Our impending move has made me think about the changes that I want to make in our home. Since I'm the lucky (lucky?) one that does most of the cleaning, I think I should get to decide what to clean with, right? I am committed to making the switch with ALL of our chemical cleaning products. I just don't want those things in our home, on our counters and floors and lingering on all of our fabrics. Call us the Green's because I'm going all the way. LOL

Quite some time ago, I happened upon Crunchy Clean detergents. You can save the "happening upon" and just click here. ; )
I can't say enough about this detergent. Really. I can't. My first order was for the diaper detergent. I was in a diaper detergent rut and I was willing to try just about anything. Crunchy Clean saved the day (and the diapers) for sure! After falling in love with the diaper detergent, I was sure the regular detergent would be a winner too.

I love that these detergents are prepared by a SAHM in her cozy little kitchen. I love that she gets to stay home with her beautiful children while running a successful business AND help the planet. I *love* supporting businesses like that!

Now, as much as I love Crunchy Clean, I have to say I'm about two seconds away from being a make-your-own detergent convert. (Although I'll definitely stick with C.C. for the diapers.)

A friend of mine once made her own liquid detergent. I was turned off by the idea after hearing about the process. I wasn't into gathering empty jugs and containers, grating endless bars of soap, melting them down and then lugging all of the filled buckets and bottles (to an undetermined location) to store them. I just couldn't bite on that whole deal. Sorry, Miriah. ; )

At a recent MOPS meeting we made green cleaners. There were things like all-purpose cleaners and scrubs to make and take. Then there was the dreaded laundry detergent station. I figured I'd give it a try since most of the work was already done for me. I figured, why not?

Let me tell you. I'm hooked. I'm going to gather the ingredients and have enough on hand in case I can't find what I need after we move. I'm sold. It smells wonderful, it cleans great and it's sooooo cheap!!

There's no gathering of empty buckets and jugs or the ruining of your favorite stock pot. The powdered version of homemade detergent really is simple. Here's what you need:

*A container of your choice. You can use an old Cool Whip bowl for a small batch, a large ice cream bucket or even a gallon size Ziploc bag.
I happen to already have two glass jars that I use for detergents. One is for diaper detergent
and the other for "regular". They have air tight lids and looks really cute on a shelf in your
laundry room too. Really though, anything that is air tight will work great.

*A grater. I found that my Pampered Chef Rotary Grater works great. I'm also fortunate to have two of these so I can dedicate one completely to the world of soap grating. It sure pays to be a consultant, huh?

*Measuring cup (1 cup size)

*2 bars of Fels Naptha soap

*A box of Washing Soda

*A box of 20 Mule Team Borax

(I included links in case you can't familiar with these items. This way, you'll know what they look like when you go hunting for them. You can usually find all three of these things in the laundry aisle of your local grocery store.)

For a small batch: Large batch in ( )
Grate 2 bars Fels Naptha (6 bars)
1 c Borax (3 c)
1 c Washing Soda (3 c)
Mix together and store in container

Use 1 T for a small load, 2 for a medium and 3 for a very large or very dirty load.

I encourage you to give this a try. Really, what have you got to lose? At the very least, if you don't like the detergent, you'll have some great multi-purpose cleaning products on your hands. It won't go to waste either way.

Now go find something to wash. : D

Playing the Game

As I said in an earlier post, our move to Civilian Job Land is set. We are now in the process of negotiating an offer on a house. This, I didn't bargain for.

What a stressful time! I feel like I'm in the middle of a huge poker game. The only bad thing is that I don't have a clue how to play poker! This house isn't our dream home by far but, somehow, we've both fallen in love with it. It's hard to stop myself from imagining how this or that would look. I'm a dreamer. I like to pick out paint colors and make things my own. It's really hard NOT to do that yet.

We've had the seller's agent tell our agent that they intend to accept our counter offer. That was yesterday. I understand that the sellers are trying to find a home too. They didn't want to put in an offer on a home until they had one in our their current home. That, I get. It's just so hard to wait. I wanted to be in this house yesterday, not a month and a half from now.

So we wait. We play The Game and hope that it all turns out well. If not, I know there is another home out there for us. It'll just be hard to stop dreaming about this one.

Figures

So, guess who called today? Yep. Mr. Reserve Guy!

We've been waiting for *months* for a phone call with a recruiting positing. A terrific civilian job opportunity arises, Chris takes it and then a little more than two weeks later we get the phone call that we've been waiting for since September. That, right there, is our life story. Things like that happen to us all of the freaking time!

We've weighed the pros and cons of each position and each area. As much as Chris has always wanted to be stationed there (literally since day one of active duty), the civilian job is a better opportunity for us right now.

Civilian works means...
*Chris can gain some valuable work experience and further his career in a much more efficient way. He can stay current on all things computer easier when he's doing the job daily and not just one weekend a month. (Though he'll still do one weekend a month too.)

*The hours won't be as long or as stressful so we'll be able to catch up on all of the lost couple and family time.

*One state is six hours away, the other is about twelve. The probability of house guests drops dramatically after the eight hour mark. (Wait. Is that a pro or a con?)

*We know several people in the area and have family less than two hours away in two directions.

I think the biggest reason I'm so upset about not accepting the recruiting offer is because I was actually looking forward to going back to military life. It's the only thing we've known and the thought of being adults without it scares me a little bit.
The other reason is that I just feel bad for Chris. I know how much he's always wanted to be stationed there. Sure, we can always visit. It's just wont be the same.

So the move to Civilian Job Land is set. I'm excited about what's in store for us and will do my best to focus on the good things that will come our way. Dwelling on what could have been won't do any good. I know we've made the best decision for our family, but I can't help but wonder...What if...?

The End

I've taken quite a long break from this blog. I was starting to feel like it was the same old post again and again. Our lives were pretty much at a standstill and I didn't know what else to write about.

Since then, there have been several new developments.
In September I officially started my own photography business. This is something that I have wanted to do for several years but I didn't have the right equipment or resources. I am so glad things fell into place at just the right time for me to get things off the ground. God is good!
Check out my website or visit my photo blog!

We also have wonderful news to report! We are finally moving!! We've decided to go in another direction and not go with the recruiting. It was likely going to be another 3-6 months before an assignment came our way (nearly a year after the class) so we've gone the civilian route.
I am so happy that we'll be able to "start over" with our lives again very soon! I feel like everything has been on hold since we've been here. Living here has had its challenges for sure but I'm sure I'll think of all the great memories we've made here for a long time.
It has been a blessing to have our son spend a little over a year surrounded by his grandparents (both sets) and his great grandmother. Those are the kinds of things you take for granted when you live close, but miss like crazy when you live far away.

Our move will take us about six hours from "home". I'm hoping that this lends itself to some good, quality family time for the three (maybe four someday?) of us and the opportunity for visitors from time to time.

We're so excited about his new chapter in our lives! The end has definitely come here but, I think, it's just the beginning. I'll be sure to update during our transition.