Here's an update on my progress of going green. I found the fels naptha soap! Unfortunately, it is only sold in bar form. Yes, I grated a bar of soap. No, I will never do it again. The recipe (1 cup fels naptha, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax) works really well and it smells really good. However, the grating is just way too time consuming. I plan on trying a ready made detergent that is chlorine, phosphate, fragrance and dye free. I believe Arm n Hammer makes a good detergent. I am also still cleaning my bathroom with vinegar and baking soda and loving it! And am trying to remember that there is nothing that soap and warm water can't clean.
The main problem I am having with going green is the price tag attached! They can hike up the price just because they can put "organic" or "eco-friendly" on the package. I would love to buy all organic food and all natural soaps and cleaners but I can't afford it. Oh well, perhaps when I win the lottery...I guess I would have to play the lottery first!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I love this time of year!
There's a nip in the air...turkey dinners, candied yams...a general sense of good will. Of course all the children love Christmas gifts but a lot of adults don't like the commercialism of the holiday or the stress of expectations put on them. I say it is what you make it. You don't have to go broke to please your children on Christmas morning. You don't have to have a huge turkey dinner with all the fixings just because your family expects it. Do Christmas your way.
What do I love about Christmas? It's actually the season...not the day. I love that Thanksgiving is a day to thank God for the blessings that He's given you and not about what you did or didn't get. I love the Christmas songs on the radio, the glow of the lights on the Christmas tree, the smell of the cookies or the turkey baking in the oven. I love my decorations...I'm very sentimental and most of them are homemade or have a story behind them. My husband and I tried to pick up an ornament at each of our vacation destinations...a quilted pillow from Hawaii, a shield from the tower of London, Mickey and Minnie Mouse from DisneyWorld, etc. Most of all, I enjoy the time spent with family. I don't need gifts and I don't need to spend a ton of money on my husband and daughter. I need to sing the songs with them, to decorate the tree with them, to bake the cookies with them. I need to share the dinner table with them and my parents, brother, and grandparents. I need to open up my home to my in-laws...I need hugs all around.
Let's not forget that the real purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior! It's not about cards and gifts and commercialism. It's about the salvation that came with God in human form. So, let's enjoy the company of the family and friends that God gave us and praise His name for all of the blessings He showers us with everyday!
What do I love about Christmas? It's actually the season...not the day. I love that Thanksgiving is a day to thank God for the blessings that He's given you and not about what you did or didn't get. I love the Christmas songs on the radio, the glow of the lights on the Christmas tree, the smell of the cookies or the turkey baking in the oven. I love my decorations...I'm very sentimental and most of them are homemade or have a story behind them. My husband and I tried to pick up an ornament at each of our vacation destinations...a quilted pillow from Hawaii, a shield from the tower of London, Mickey and Minnie Mouse from DisneyWorld, etc. Most of all, I enjoy the time spent with family. I don't need gifts and I don't need to spend a ton of money on my husband and daughter. I need to sing the songs with them, to decorate the tree with them, to bake the cookies with them. I need to share the dinner table with them and my parents, brother, and grandparents. I need to open up my home to my in-laws...I need hugs all around.
Let's not forget that the real purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior! It's not about cards and gifts and commercialism. It's about the salvation that came with God in human form. So, let's enjoy the company of the family and friends that God gave us and praise His name for all of the blessings He showers us with everyday!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Important Things in Life
Time? What is time? I haven't got any to spare. Running around grocery and Christmas shopping, cleaning and organifying the house, spending some time playing with Baby E and talking to the hubby...the list goes on and on.
I'm sure you have all experienced it and feel the need for better time management. Managing my time down to the minute is the only way I can accomplish things like making a dedication dress for Baby E and making Christmas gifts. However, other things must be put on hold like designing and creating, blogging and tweeting, and updating my etsy shop. This doesn't bother me because I've come to the conclusion that the economy is hitting people hard enough not to buy what I'm selling. So, I'm doing a final craft show on Saturday and leaving my listings on etsy until they expire. If they don't sell, a lot of people will be getting purses for Christmas!
After all, isn't it family that matters most? Didn't I quit teaching music lessons to have more time for Baby E? I can still design and create. I have to...it's in my blood. I will just do it for my family. I am really looking forward to making toys for all the children I will have, clothes for everyone I love, and filling the house with homemade love!
Will I continue to blog if I'm not promoting? Maybe. We will see. Well, that is all the time I have allotted for blogging today. Next on the schedule...feed baby and self. I've loved sharing a piece of myself with you all and I hope you enjoyed my daily musings. God bless!
I'm sure you have all experienced it and feel the need for better time management. Managing my time down to the minute is the only way I can accomplish things like making a dedication dress for Baby E and making Christmas gifts. However, other things must be put on hold like designing and creating, blogging and tweeting, and updating my etsy shop. This doesn't bother me because I've come to the conclusion that the economy is hitting people hard enough not to buy what I'm selling. So, I'm doing a final craft show on Saturday and leaving my listings on etsy until they expire. If they don't sell, a lot of people will be getting purses for Christmas!
After all, isn't it family that matters most? Didn't I quit teaching music lessons to have more time for Baby E? I can still design and create. I have to...it's in my blood. I will just do it for my family. I am really looking forward to making toys for all the children I will have, clothes for everyone I love, and filling the house with homemade love!
Will I continue to blog if I'm not promoting? Maybe. We will see. Well, that is all the time I have allotted for blogging today. Next on the schedule...feed baby and self. I've loved sharing a piece of myself with you all and I hope you enjoyed my daily musings. God bless!
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