Goodbye 2008!

Well, after some sad and dramatic family happenings, I'm looking forward to 2009. I'm hoping that with a new president, we'll get a better economy, better health care, and sound environmental action.

I resolve to get more organized and to adopt new ways to live greener in the new year. I plan to start a garden this spring AND compost pile. We have curbside recycling where I live, but I'm excited to have to put even LESS in my trash bin. I need a way to keep the kids out the garden though. Nathan planted some apple seeds last week and DROWNS them with water every day!

I truly hope that you all have a safe and happy New Year! I'll see you in 2009 with a super sale on children's items....just wait until I tell you about the CPSIA....

The best laid plans.....

It begins in August. Where will we go for our Christmas card picture? What color will we wear? Once the color is decided...what specifically will everyone wear? Then, we must schedule, of course, the photo session AND haircuts 2 weeks prior. Then, the shopping of the perfectly coordinated outfits (so that they look natural and not TOO coordinated).

Finally, the day arrives. Without fail, someone will have majorly injured a very visible body part the day before. Or, one year, someone in my family decided to cut her own hair the day OF pictures. In case you haven't guessed, the annual Christmas card photo is easily in the top 3 stressors in my life.

This year was no exception. We did outdoor shots in the late afternoon sun in October. The trees were beautiful. The lighting was beautiful. My children? Goofy smiles. The baby was cranky (because it was late and dinner time and almost bedtime). Katie was flat-out crying. For no reason. Cuz, she's Katie. She cries for no reason. That's how she rolls.

So, without further ado.....here is our Christmas card picture. Taken tonight. In front of my tree. By me. No stress. No preparation. No pricey price tag. No injuries. No self-inflicted haircut. No crying.

Merry Christmas!

(from left, Katie, 6; Nathan, 4; Hannah, 10; Autumn, 1)

Tie shoes

Every day, Katie comes home with a tattered piece of yarn from her napping rug (she's in Kindergarten) tied to her velcro shoes. She's 6 (as of last month) and thinks she must now have shoes that tie. It's all she wants. Every day. Shoes that tie. She can't tie, by the way. She just twists it into a mess. But, that's beside the point.

It made me think about what to get ALL my children for Christmas. And, I thought I'd share my own rule of 3. Every year I get my kids one thing they want, one thing they need, and one thing I want them to have. It's not as hard as you might think to get them to narrow down their wish list to the one item that would make their lives complete. The thing they need is often clothes of some sort. The thing I want them to have is sometimes a book that I loved as a kid. Or a keepsake of some sort. Or anything that I think they would like that might not have occurred to them already.

So, I'll get her tie shoes of course! I'll have to tie them everyday. And, technically it fulfills rule 1 AND 2. But, I suppose now I'll have to buy her a new napping rug.

Vegetarian Bubba

Okay, so my husband isn't a Bubba (Bubba = redneck), but he did grow up in the midwest eating meat three times a day. So, I'm just letting you know how I plan on modifying our meals this week using less meat.

Tonight is taco night. Well, I picked up some corn tortillas so that we can have tostadas instead. We've not done that before. Maybe the kids will like the pizza-esqueness of it. Tomorrow is southwest black bean and tortilla soup with corn bread. I am making a shepherd's pie later in the week, that instead of making meatless, I just plan on using half as much meat. Meatballs with bbq sauce will be lentil patties (a recipe from my friend Dayna) with bbq sauce. Seriously, do you even taste anything but the bbq sauce anyway. And, of course, there's always pancakes and eggs for dinner, or quiche florentine, etc.

Let me know if you want any of these recipes. People are always asking how I can feed a family of 6 in a way that makes everyone happy. I know the kids will adjust to eating less meat, I just don't know about my husband :)

Can't we all just get along?

Okay, the election is over. Whether your guy won or lost, it's over. Do not disregard your friends, family, people simply because you support different arbitrary groups of basically-the-same politicians. Love your country, support your leader (when he's making wise decisions), love your neighbor and forgive him his trespasses, learn to voice your opinion in a non-preachy way, and appreciate the differences in all of us that make this country a beautiful mix of people, ideas, and beliefs.

One of a kind....

So, 15 seconds into my project, I remembered why I hate minkee. It sheds like CRAZY! I have thousands of little brown fuzzballs all over my house. But, look at Heidi. Isn't she cute? I absolutely love this Michael Miller fabric! I'm so glad I found another use for it.

We had a dachshund when I was little. According to my mom, he was the worst dog EVER! But, I loved him, because all kids love dogs, and I never had to clean up after him. More memorable however was my grandpa's dachshund, Heidi. He called her "Heidi Tidy Bow". Yeah....I don't know why. She was so fat, her belly dragged the ground. Poor Heidi.

Anyway, this Heidi is available for purchase through http://www.earthbabyboutique.etsy.com
and it might just be a one and only, because I truly hate sewing minkee.

Felt Food

Katie was playing "restaurant" this past weekend. After about the 9th tray of paper cookies, I decided to make her some felt cookies. I also plan on buying her and Autumn the Rose Petal Cottage for Christmas, so the fake food will get plenty of use.

Here is my first batch of felt cookies. I already have wool felt on order, so I plan on making better quality ones with bamboo filler for my etsy store.

About Me

I have always felt strongly about environmentalism. I remember the FIRST earth day! WAYYYYY before it was an acknowledged semi-holiday. My husband recycled when it was decidedly "uncool" to do so. So, the "green" movement is really not a movement for us.

I did, however, become a little more concerned about our planet and the products we consume when I had children. My oldest is a sassy 10 year old girl, followed by a 6 year old girl, a 4 year old boy and a 1 year old girl. I began cloth diapering when my youngest was born, followed by making my own cleaning products, followed by making earth-friendly toys and baby products. I am now researching my meat options, whether it be going vegetarian or just finding good, organic, humanely killed beef and chicken. I'm not sure where THAT particular road will lead me, but feel free to tag along and see where it goes.