New Dishes

Ok, so I have to admit to something.  I have a secret love affair going on.  Well, it takes place in my kitchen mostly.  I am a bit embarrassed to admit to it.  Let me just show you a picture.

Yes, I am in love with Bar Keepers Friend.  My Mother-in-Law introduced me to this miracle product many years ago.  I have found so many uses for it.  Let me show you what I discovered today.

See this plate.

I love my mismatched Pfaltzgraff dishes.  With one exception . . . the little silver marks that have shown up on my dishes over the past 12 years.  I have been wanting new dishes because these were really starting to look pretty bad.

Add a touch of Bar Keepers Friend.

Look at how it is actually working on my plate!!!

Can you see it?  Or maybe I should say that you can no longer see the marks!!  Look how great my plate looks now.

I will admit that there are a couple of lines that just would not come out.  But, they are hardly noticeable.  I wonder if I had been keeping them clean this whole time what they would look like.  Maybe no marks at all?  It did take me about 2 minutes or so per plate.  Not a quick process for someone who has 20 regular dinner plates alone!!  But, I am hoping now that I know my trick.  I can keep up with my dishes before they get so bad.  You may have already known this or have been doing this if you are an avid Bar Keepers Friend user.  But to this addict, I was super excited to discover this dish-changing technique.

I would love to hear or see pictures of your "new" dishes.

Diapering

I am not an expert at child raising nor do I claim to have the most knowledge about being a parent.  I have two kids, and I have learned a few things that have really worked for me (any many more that didn't).  These are just my experiences and my recommendations.  I hope that somehow and someway this could help a fellow mother in the trenches.  After all, we mother's should really help each other out.  This is one LARGE task!!

This is part one of my nursery break down.  You can read all about the "big list" here for more information.

I am going to start with diapering as it is the single thing that you will do more than any other for your baby - change their diaper.  My diapering list included diapers, wipes, wipe warmer, large diaper bag, small diaper bag, changing mat, and hand sanitizer.  Let me say a few things, and then I will dive right in.  I will stock up my diaper bags with these supplies as I get them.  Both diaper bags will include diapers, a small container of wipes, a changing mat, and a take along hand sanitizer.  I will of course put other stuff in there, but I am just talking about diapering at the moment.

Diapers - This is an intimate decision for each family.  My sister-in-law used the cheap generic diapers with all three of her kids.  She had a lot of success with them and swore by them.  I didn't make it through the afternoon with them.  For me, it was well worth the extra money.  A good friend of mine used cloth diapers with her 3rd.  One morning at her house seeing all the work involved, and I was sold.  I wouldn't use them unless my life depended upon it.  

We have used Pampers Swaddlers with our two children and intend on using them with our third.  Something better may have come out since numero dos was a diaper wearer.  I had such incredible luck with them that I couldn't imagine anything else.  We would try other brands or cheaper brands just to see.  We never had the leakage or blow out problems we did with some of the others.  (Your mileage and children's bodily elimination my vary.  This is merely my experience.)  The thing I liked about them the most is how incredibly soft they were.  I have sensitive skin, and it is important to me that things I put on my kids would be comfy and as non-irritative as possible.  So, the decision wasn't really a decision at all.  

Wipes - I bought a box of the Pampers Sensitive Skin wipes to start off with.  But, I will be honest here.  I only purchased them for my newborn because those little guys are so super brand new.  Maybe it is mental.  But, once those are gone and my baby has some days on earth behind him, I will switch.  You may be wondering why the switch.  Well . . . because those soft, sensitive wipes don't "wipe" as good as the others do.  And when you are wiping a BM, it is imperative to have something you can use with the best success.  When the initial super soft wipes are all used, I will switch to the Huggies Wipes that I can get at Sam's Club.  I am not sure if it is the "best" deal in town, but I am not buying wipes every other day.  And with a little one in toe, that is a great reason to purchase in bulk.  

I mentioned how I preferred one wipe over the other.  I find that the wipes that are smooth (regardless of the brand) just smear everything around.  If you get one that has a little quilting look, it does a better job at cleaning without smearing.  Maybe this is me and I need a little smooth wipe usage 101.  Yes, the smooth ones are probably a bit more comfy on the backside of a very sensitive area.  The other wipes are certainly not like using  a Brillo pad.  Ok, slight exaggeration, but ability to clean quick and efficiently is more important in this case than comfort.  

Wipe Warmer - Not much to mention here.  Except that I own one and think it is a great investment.  We used ours all the way up to potty training.  I don't know if one brand will work better than others.  All I know is that we got ours at Target over 8 years ago, and it is still going strong.

Diaper Bags - I am a utilitarian.  I will often chose convenience over style or fashion.  Ok, I almost always choose use over look.  That was certainly true for this purchase.  For both of my diaper bags, I chose Eddie Bauer bags from Babies R Us.  My husband is a very hands on dad.  So this type of diaper bag fits really well in our family.  These bags are also so easy to clean.  I bought two different sizes.  I have a large one and a smaller one.  

The large diaper bag will be used a lot in the beginning.  When you need to pack so many different things, it is handy to keep it all in one great big bag.  All newborns need blankets which can be bulky.  I like to keep a couple of changes of clothes because you never know.  Ok, I will get right to it.  I overpack for my wee one in the beginning.  You never know when you will need something.  And who can guess when engorgement will attack?  So, I always have extra breast pads in the bag.  I also carry my manual breast pump as well.  Which means I will also have a bottle with me or something to store the milk in.  You get the idea.  I pack a lot.  As my baby gets older, I will only use this bag for long days or overnight trips.  

The smaller bag is my go to bag everyday.  I will most likely wear this one out.  It is big enough to carry all the essentials without being so big it is a nuisance to carry.  I will typically carry mostly diapering items with me in this bag.  I may have a feeding item and a change of clothes depending on the outing.  As my infant becomes a baby and then a toddler, there is still plenty of room for snacks, toys, and other items if needed.  

Changing Mats - These are the mats that you can reuse (or you can get the disposables if it suits you).  You put them down before laying baby down in order to change their diaper.  I have a hard time with just plopping my infant down on a public changing table.  Maybe I have germophobia.  It is also nice to have when a conventional changing table cannot be found and you have to use a make shift area to change a diaper.  

Hand Sanitizer - Maybe this is just me.  But when I have a baby in my arms, it is super hard to wash my hands appropriately afterward.  I keep a small container in all of my diaper bags for use on the go.  I will also keep a bottle next to the changing table at home.  It keeps me sanitary without having to run to the bathroom to wash after each diaper change.  This is a great product to have around for these types of cases.  I always think a good hand washing with soap and water is the best way to go, but that isn't always easily accomplished with a little one in toe.  Again, I am not brand specific.  I will use whatever I get my hands on first.  I like the little ones that you can get at Bath and Body Works.  They smell so nice.  I also really like the kind with the aloe in it.  As I said, I am not too choosy.  

The Baby List and the Plan of Attack

Having already professed myself as an over organizer, I feel comfortable sharing "The Baby List."  First, let me say that there are baby lists, checklist, and such all over the internet.  In fact, mine is a little derivative from a couple that I found.  And it is also fused with my own experience, needs, desires, and my method of baby rendering.  I hope that my list may prove to be of some help as you explore your own "List".

I am due in the middle of May 2012.  I was going to the bathroom in December of 2011 (yes, sometimes the only place I can hear my own thoughts or reflect on anything in silence).  While there, I was praying/thinking.  It really came over me so strong. "Do not wait until the last minute."  My mind started racing.  "God, is my baby going to come early?  Why do I need to have everything done early?"  Ok, in fairness, my husband and I know we are procrastinators.  Anyone relate?  After praying for a while, I got nothing else.  All I know is that I was supposed to prepare early.  So, I decided I would do it.

I made my plan of attack.  I would make a list of all the things I needed to buy and do.  I would divide it up into 4 to give myself a month to make a portion of the purchases and get a portion of the things done.  It would divide the work and the money from all the purchases as to not over tax us at any one time.  Side note: we got rid of all of our baby stuff.  We pretty much needed everything.  Well, not exactly everything, but LOTS of stuff.

Here is a look at the progress that I have made over the past two months (ok, actually almost 3 months since I am almost done with the purchase part of my March list):

I didn't try to knock out a single category at a time.  I tried to divide up some of the big stuff so it wouldn't be so pricey in a single month.  I did research and went shopping.  As I found things I thought I wanted from my list, I would purchase it.  I did an attic sweep to find any and all things that we still had from our previous two kids (some usable - some not).  If I reclaimed something from the attic, I took the time to clean it up, repair it, or get it back to 100% operational.  I made it a goal to have 20 things purchased or "reclaimed for use" each month.

Now that I have talked about getting myself prepared, you probably want to see the big list.  Here is a straight copy and paste of my list:

Nursery Furniture 

Crib

Crib Mattress

Chest of Drawers

Changing Table

Rocking Chair

Bedding

Crib Skirt

3 Water Proof Mattress Pads

3 Water Proof Pads

3 Crib Sheets

5-7 Receiving Blankets

Nursery Decor

Mobile

Changing Pad

3 Changing Pad Covers

Trash Can

Storage Bins, etc.

Curtains

Wall Paint

Laundry Basket

Diapering - read the specifics here

Diapers

Wipes

Wipe Warmer

Large Diaper Bag

Small Diaper Bag

Changing Mat for both diaper bags

Hand Sanitizer

Safety

Monitor

Car Seats

Infant Car Seat

Convertible Car Seat

Car Seat Under mat

Toys

Strollers

Single Main Stroller

Entertainers

Swing

Activity Jumper

Bouncer

Baby Gym

Rattles

Play Yard

Play Yard

Play Yard Sheet

High Chair

High Chair

Booster Seat

Clothing

5-7 Sleepers

10 Onesies

Socks

3 Hats

Nursing and Feeding

Breast Pump

New Pump Lines

Pump Accessories

Breast Pads

Milk Storage Bottles

Breastfeeding Shaw

8 Nursing Bras

6 Bibs

12 Burp Cloths

6 Small Bottles

6 Large Bottles

Slow Flow Nipples

Fast Flow Nipples

Bottle Warmer

Bottle Drying Rack

Bottle Brush

Dishwasher Caddy

4 Pacifiers (2 of 4)

Baby Care and Grooming

Teethers

Nail Clippers

Brush and Comb

Thermometer

Bath

Bath Tub

Bath Sponge or Wash Cloths

3 Hooded Bath Towels

Toiletries

Body Wash/Shampoo

Alcohol

Cotton Balls

Infant Tooth Brush

Other

Clock

Lamp

Nightlight

Sanitary Pads

I am going to spend few posts diving into the list and showing you what I chose and why.  Giving you some thoughts and insights into my decisions.  Hopefully, you can take some of what I have done to incorporate it into your own thoughts, decisions, and needs.  

Sweet Daughter's Closet - Part 1

Ok, so I am trying to take my house back over.  Call it nesting (my husband does) or whatever.  BUT, something has got to give.  And it starts in the sweet girls closet.  I have always subscribed to "the little things" mentality.  It is the little things that make the difference.  Right?

Well, my daughter has a shoe problem.  Or rather there is an opportunity to come up with a better way to manage and store her shoes.

Here is what I walked into a few days ago:

I couldn't find anything.  Every time I pulled out a shoe I thought she would want to wear, 5 or 6 came crashing down on me.  It was miserable.  No wonder it takes her 10 minutes to pick out shoes every morning.  There HAD to be a better way.

I went off to Target and they had this shoe shelf on sale for $10.  So, I snatched it up.  There were also some small canvas bins on sale for $5.  So, those found their way in my basket as well.  Here is what the shoes look like now.

Oh, my!  So much more manageable!  It isn't a perfect solution.  Yet.  But it is heading in the right direction.  She is still left with 22 pairs of shoes.  Most of which are flip flops that have a new home in the two pink canvas bins off to the left.

So, now I can sleep just a little better at night.  Now to tackle the mess above the shoes hanging in her closet.  And then the mess lingering below the shoes.

My Review of Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player

Originally submitted at Toys R Us

The Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player lets you sing to your favorite tunes in Barbie style. Be at the height of fashion with your newest Barbie accessory! Live your rock star fantasy by singing to your favorite tunes.

Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player features:

• 2 microphones Sing with your...

Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player

Great for its intended Purpose

By sillyleann from OK on 5/20/2011

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy To Setup, Crowd Pleaser, Easy Controls, Doesn't Skip

Cons: No Line In Jack

Best Uses: Kids

Describe Yourself: Practical, Movie Enthusiast, Tech Savvy

Was this a gift?: Yes

I bought this for my 4 year old daughter. It has been a lot of fun to use. We have all enjoyed singing our favorite songs together. The controls are simple enough for her to use on her own. It is really nice to have separate volume controls for the music and the microphones. It also has some sound effects that we weren't expecting. She loves to sing and then hit the applause button when we clap to make it sound like a crowd. My 7 year old son likes to tell jokes and then hit the laughter button. This has been fun and a crowd pleaser for sure.

There is only one small speaker on this device. So no, the sound quality is just not that great. My kids don't seem to mind at all, but it is still rather dismal when compared to say a proper CD player. Surprisingly, the microphones do work rather well though.

Despite feeling that it felt cheap initially, this has really stood up to much use. So far, so good (it has been about a month now).

My biggest complaint is that there is no line in jack that would allow you to hook up an MP3 player. I knew this when making the purchase and thought it wouldn't be that big of a deal as the kids still have lots of CDs. However, I find it poor judgement in this day and time. I have had to burn several CD's of music for her which isn't a big deal. I just find that it should be easier by plugging in her MP3 player.

(legalese)

Does Cinderella Have a Car?

I just love the way the mind of a 4 year old little girl works.  My daughter giggles as she asks, "Mom, does Cinderella have a car?"  It cracks her completely up.  She is now in full fledge laughter.  I start to laugh too.  I mean can you imagine Cinderella driving down the freeway.

She continues, "How else does she get to her castle in Florida?"  Yes, my brilliant daughter has figured out that we just saw her in California, but her castle is in Florida.  She is trying to reconcile it all in her head.

As cool as a cucumber, I simply stated, "A princess would never drive to Florida.  I am certain she would fly."  We both laughed - I at a innocent, bright-eyed four year old; she at the thought of a princess having to fly.

My iPad, My Portal

I just thought I would share my experience with my iPad since all the buzz about the iPad 2.  I have had mine from almost the beginning.  I have a Wi-Fi only model.  I call it my portal to the world as it really has become the filter by which I live.  Sad?  But, true.  Could I live without it?  Most certainly I could as I made it 30 years before owning it.  Would I want to?  Not really!

In a nutshell, this little (or big if that is your perspective) device is the control center of all things Me.  I think the single greatest aspect about my iPad is how quick, easy and accessible it is.  When I awake each morning, I have the weather (so I can properly dress the family), calendar, to do list, and a few other key apps.  They are right at my fingertips and easily scanned at the very beginning of the day with only a flick of the finger and a minute or two.

I know there are iPad lovers who sing its praises.  As well, there are iPad bashers that will never see any good in it.  I think the truth (as always) lies somewhere in the middle.  It is not a perfect device.  It has limitations and is only as good as the user.  I also think this is where the greatness begins.  Ok, it is not perfect; we can move on to what it actually can do.  My iPad just works - every time, without fail, and with minimum effort.  I don't have to reboot it constantly nor do I hook it up to my computer very often (and not at all now that I can stream my iTunes movies to it).  There are many, many, many apps to do just about anything you could ask or want.  For the other 10%, my iMac is willing and waiting.  My iPad is a portal to something great, something usable, and something just fits into my life seamlessly.

Homeland 5/13-5/19

In order to get some deals or double coupons, you must have the Homeland One Card.

These are by no means exhaustive. These are just things I found and thought were exceptional deals.

Kraft Barbecue Sauce $1
-.75 coupon makes it free after doubling

Knorr Pasta or Rice Sides $1
-.60 on 2 (makes it .80 for 2 or $0.40 each)

Suave Shampoo $1
-.50 on 2 (makes it $1 for 2 or $0.50 each)

Sure Deodorant 2 for $4
(looking for the coupon - thought I saw one)

Green Giant Frozen Vegetables $1
-.50 on 2 (makes is $1 or 2 for $0.50)

I will be making a trip today or tomorrow. Happy Shopping!

Very Sweet Moment

So, I just walked through my bedroom. My son was laying on my bed. He said, "mom, I was just reading my bible." With joy in my heart, I examined the situation further. He was half sitting and half laying on my bed with a small red Gideon's new testament in his hands (mind you he doesn't read yet). "Oh, that is a good idea." I replied. He went on to explain. "Last time, God told me while I was sleeping that I need to read my Bible. (pause) Yeah, he said that he didn't have many bibles in his heart and that is why he wanting me to read it for him." Okay, so not perfect theology, but it is a start.

Stuck in the Twilight Zone

Okay, I will first admit that I have actually never watched a single episode of the Twilight Zone. But, in my mind, I am stuck in some kind of weird world where everything stops and everything flies by. I like to call it "chasing my tail". I run, go, and do without really getting anywhere. Maybe it was just all the holiday commitments between buying gifts (which in my opinion was 2.5 months well spent and my favorite part of Christmas) and family commitments both for the holidays and otherwise.

Personally, I think it goes back to my realization that I over-think EVERYTHING! Literally, I have conversations with myself as to whether or not I should go ahead and get up and go to the bathroom or would it be better to get what I am doing done quick and then go. My mind must make "an act of congress" before I even do basic bodily functions. I way the options, explore alternative measures, measure the costs of all bids, debate the issue way longer than it deserves and then usually end up coming to some resolution that really skirts the original issue.

So Sweet

4 year old to mom (with Bible in hand and sister at his side): MOM! I'm trying to read about Jesus and Madison is making it hard to learn about Church. She keeps saying read, read, read.

I'm Raising Chickens!!!

Well, not literally but definately figuratively. Tonight I watched in amazement as two children (ages 4 and 2) literally ran from room to room singing Christmas songs - just like Chickens with their heads cut off. Well, actually my son, the four year old, sang the songs. My two year old daughter just ran around and scream sang key words in the song - such as "jingle bell" over and over. I am not joking when I say that they did this for at least 30 straight minutes. I'm not sure at what point, but I began watching the clock wondering how long they could possibly go. I am convinced that they would still be running around on their 48th round of the Christmas reindeer song my son learned at preschool had my husband not walked through the door to break the monotony.

Afterward, my son goes and gets on my bed with a different pair of pajamas. When I walked in he said, "Mom, can I wear these pajamas (pointing to the ones he was holding). These (pointing to the ones he was wearing) are making me tired."

It's All For Sale

I have told you how I am selling all my clothes on ebay in an effort to start over and clean up my horrific closet mess. (which I am finding out is really about cleaning up my own life) So, in an effort to get out of debt and pay bills, I am selling it ALL! Well, okay not exactly all. We are going through the house and purging our cabinets, drawers, bins, spaces, and storage of things we don't necessarily need. Some of which we probably shouldn't have purchased anyway. So, eBay purchasers should be pleased that our loss will be their treasure. We need to finish Dave's baby step #1. We are selling stuff to reach our first goal.

Here is a short list of things going up for bid: DH's textbooks, my ipod video, my palm pilot, toys, movies, a digital picture frame, makeup, and much much more.

Woah! That somewhat sounded like a television add. I feel like I should be adding the proverbial "thats not all". Call in the next 5 minutes and you can have the kitchen sink too.

It feels good to clean up the mess and help out the family. Isn't it an odd phenomenon that purging yourself from things feels so good. These "things" I am getting rid of are the very "things" that I purchased in an effort to make me feel better or make life easier. Interesting thought!

Living Like No One Else

In line with my life clean up, I have begun looking at the "biggies" in life. For me, the "biggies" are those things that are so big that you MUST at all cost do it the best you can and with all the vigor you can. I have already mentioned my spiritual life and how I working on that. The other "biggies" in my life are my marriage, my children, and my finances. These are things that cannot be left alone and without attention or parts of my life WILL die.

Long story short, my husband and I decided to sit down and write out and tweak a new budget. In the spirit of money, I felt the urge to break out a book by Dave Ramsey that I had not previously read, The Total Money Makeover. About 5 or 6 years ago I read his book called Financial Peace but have not to date revisited his material (we have been doing the Dave Ramsey plan to the best of our ability since that time). I found this book very motivating and real. I really do want to live like no one else so that some day I can live like no one else. (You really need to read one of his books to fully understand that sentence.)

Wow! Isn't it amazing that when you start to really clean something up you start finding all these messes you never saw before. It is like cleaning out our linen cabinet a few months back. I am meticulous about how towels stack - that they all are folded exactly the same, stacked the same way, and placed in the cabinet a certain way. I wanted to re-stack towels and sheets (mostly the sheets). As I pulled my clean linens from the cabinet, I was shocked to find some sort of white dust lurking in the back. I think it must have been breeding on the spot because it felt like the more I cleaned the more I found.

Let me tell you, when I looked straight faced into our finances I was shocked, saddened, happy, excited, overwhelmed, depressed, and blessed all in a matter of minutes. I was shocked to finally put a number to my husband's school debt - much more than most people's homes. I was sad to see that our money wasn't going as far as I had hoped. Happy to know that although we have made some mistakes financially, we really weren't so bad if you took away the house and school debt. Excited to see that we can and will get out of it. Overwhelmed with what to cut, how to arrange the money so that it works, and putting numbers to everything. I was depressed to find out that until we get debt paid for we cannot have many extras that we had been planning for. And last, I am blessed to be married to a man who is willing to stand by "us" without blame and move forward.

I know many of you are thinking how did it go wrong with the Dave Ramsey, iron clad, tried and true method. Well, just as Dave would tell you LIFE. Thank God (literally and not in a derogatory way) that we had the knowledge from Dave before life's circumstances. We have debt; we aren't perfect. We have put life on hold for my DH to finish his training. We made hard and at times not perfect choices that we felt would put us right where we would want to be at the end of his school and training. We knew the risks; we understood the consequences. But, re-armed with a fresh take on old methods, we are ready to move forward. It is time to stop living in our self-made time warp and step into our bright future.

Although it may look weird, we are making the choice to live like no one else today so that someday we can live like no one else. It is funny how big of a role society plays on you. When people find out that we don't have cable TV we get many gasps. That is just one example of how we don't live like most people. I hope to make a change that will literally change my family tree permanently. I didn't come from money. In fact, my mom was a struggling single mom for years. She built my life on her back. Just as my mom gave me a leg up in life, I hope to leave a legacy for my kids that is routed in the word of God and one that is founded upon the idea of how to use money and not become trapped by it.

How I configured my Over-Simplified Wardrobe

If you have been following my Over-Simplified Wardrobe, I am going to explain how I came up with the numbers. Hopefully, you can do something similar and customize your very own OS Wardrobe. :) Enjoy! If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. I will do my best to explain further.

In a typical week I do these things:
Sunday - Church
Monday - SAHM
Tuesday - SAHM (errands) and Seasonally Bible Study
Wednesday - SAHM and Church
Thursday - SAHM
Friday - SAHM and Date
Saturday - SAHM
(SAHM - includes all my stay-at-home-mom duties such as chauffeur, cleaning, trips to store, bank, etc.)

So I figured on any given week for the most part I would need:
Sunday - Dress or a Skirt and Top & Every day Top and Bottom
Monday - ED (stands for Every Day) top and bottom
Tuesday - ED top and bottom
Wednesday - Dressier top and bottom & ED top and bottom
Thursday - Day Dress
Friday - Skirt or Dress Pant and Top & ED top and bottom
Saturday - ED top and bottom

In a typical week I would need:
6 Every day tops
6 everyday bottoms
1 dress
3 dressier tops
3 dressier bottoms
1 day dress

Here is what I thought. I would combine the tops to get more uses (Bible study days and errand could use a dressier than normal top). Hence the 9 tops with 3 being a little dressier. I could use one of the skirts for everyday and dressier occasions. So, I only needed 5 pants (shorts, capri's, jeans, etc.). I would do 2 dress pants which would leave 1 more dress bottom which I chose to make a skirt. Hence, the 2 skirts. A wanted to make sure that I had at least 1 great pair of jeans. In the summers where I live it gets well into the 90's and even 100's for many days straight. I would not normally wear jeans as part of any outfit. But, it would be nice to have at least 1 pair available for various purposes. Also, I wear a lot of yoga and athletic style pants. That would ensure at least 1 pair of jeans. The 1 day dress is self-explanatory - just a good dress for everyday purposes. The 1 dressier type dress is for church. I reserve my specialty capsule for occasional evening wear type garments. I added a jacket to each capsule as a layering and functional piece. I will need at least 1 shoe for every day and 1 shoe for dressier outfits. I wanted a minimum of 1 handbag (or purse - I guess that is what some people call them) that could go with all outfits if possible. The jewelry was just a reminder to accessorize. I am terrible at adding the small touches. If all things coordinate in my capsule then I am hoping that 2 necklaces, 2 earrings, and 1 bracelet will be okay. I could add an ankle bracelet for the warmer months.

The rationale behind the rotation is that I didn't want to have 4 separate wardrobes (one for winter, spring, summer, and fall). We get all 4 seasons each year. It is too difficult to try to change out every 3 months. Also, both spring and summer can be seasonally warm or seasonally cool or there other extremes. So, to simplify I decided to switch out only 1 capsule every 3 months leaving another to finish the transition from one extreme to the other.

The Phone Call from a 4-year old

After putting my daughter to bed the other night, I walk to the front of my house to find my adorable 4 year old on the phone. ???? Yes, puzzling indeed. It went something like this:

Son: I hurt my leg.
Other caller - no idea, because I cannot hear them
Son: Yeah, it hurts. It is my big foot.
Other caller
Son: I am not at the hospital.
Other caller
Son: I'm just at home.

Translation - My son was running through the house. Skinned the bottom of his big toe on the tacks that hold the carpet down between the carpet and tile. I put a band aid on it and all is well in the world again.

Kids can be so funny!

Why I am in a HEAP of Trouble?

Continued from yesterday. . . I decided it was time to regroup the external. I began a closet clean out. I am getting rid of all but about 15 pieces of clothing in my closet. It all started from a website I found while researching my new wardrobe attempts. (read all about it here: Jennifer Skinner's First Step to Wardrobe Planning) Okay, I know that sounds crazy, but I am going to do it. I am going to start by pulling out everything that either a) doesn't fit right or b) doesn't look great on me. Wow! I was amazed at what I found lurking deep in the hidden abyss. I am still hording things from when I worked. I am never going to wear those dress pants. Besides, every time I put them on, I feel like a teacher again. I want new emotions to go with my clothes.

So, it all MUST go!!!



This is just part of the pile. I decided that I am going to try to sell most of it on ebay. Well, at least the stuff that is still in good condition but may look better on a different body. So, I began photographing and folding.



Hopefully, I will recoup some much needed money to start from ground up. Well, my husband walked through the door late at night to catch me clearing out the closet. All I got from him was a slow uttered, "oooooo-kkkkaaaaayyyyy" with a hint of bewilderment.

The reason I am in trouble is because I am not going to have much to wear. Hopefully I can get to sewing and/or shopping to fill in some gaps.

I am in a HEAP of trouble!

Yes, pun intended. I really am in a heap of trouble. Let me start from the beginning.

A statement has been going through my head for a while now. It started well before my wardrobe worries. Someone stated almost in passing that a persons closet really shows the state of a persons life. That completely rocked my world for two reasons. The first is from a former employer. She told me that she always walked applicants to their cars after an interview so she could see inside their car. She always said it showed something about them.

Second, it the fact that both my closet and my car (or soccer mom mini-van) are disaster areas. I can blame it on the old "that's just who I am". But the fact of the matter is that I have always had a meticulous car and for the most part closet. Those were always two things that were always together. I cannot put a finger on when or where, but that is not the case anymore.

So, if I am going to make a change, it must start from within, first. And, I must begin to clean the external mess along with the internal mess. I am a born again evangelical Christian. I am a sinner saved by grace. I do believe that the Bible is the truth and the 100% word of God. So, I must start there. In fact, the Bible talks plainly about getting back to your first love. If I were to be honest, I would have to say that my life problems started with a foundation problem. Somewhere, my foundation has been allowed to deteriorate. I must at all costs renew and refresh my relationship with God the father.

So today begins a new quest. I am going to on purpose put God first in all I do. Seems simple enough. The Bible says that if we put Him first, all the other things will be added unto us. In Him, I live and have my being. What a great start!

Stay tuned tomorrow for why I am in a HEAP of trouble now!

The Over-simplified Wardrobe

As a self-proclaimed OS (over-simplifier), I have come up with an idea of wardrobing. This is 100% not scientific. I am not a fashionistic person. I have no real experience in wardrobing except a phD in google wardrobing searches. So without further ado, here is my wardrobe theory.

• It contains 4 capsules.
• Each capsule contains a set of clothing that will coordinate with each other. I do not subscribe to the belief that every top must match every bottom or vise versa. I do believe that each piece should be able to be worn with at least 3 things. No orphan separates are allowed. Clearly a dress doesn't have to match much except a jacket.
• Each capsule consists of: 9 tops (3 of which are slightly dressier), 5 bottoms, a pair of jeans, 2 dress pants, 2 skirts, a day dress, a dressier than day dress, a jacket, a pair of everyday shoes, a pair of dressy shoes, a handbag, 2 necklaces, 2 earrings, and 1 bracelet.
• Each capsule will be worn for 6 months. With at least one capsule changing every 3 months. So, at any given time, you will have 2 capsules to choose clothes from.
• Capsule #1 - Winter into Spring (warmest clothes I own) worn from November until April
• Capsule #2 - Spring into Summer worn from February until July
• Capsule #3 - Summer into Fall (coolest clothes I own) worn from May to October
• Capsule #4 - Fall into Winter worn August to January
• Specialty Capsule - This isn't really a capsule at all be a collection of a few extra items that every wardrobe isn't complete without - a little black dress, a trench coat, and a swimsuit.
• Every capsule could contain more items, but must contain the basic items. I really don't expect to only have 2 pairs of shoes to wear for everyday. But, that would be the minimum that I would need.

Much thought went into this. I took into consideration that most days are spent at home with the kids (from playing in the floor to cooking dinner to riding bikes to scrubbing bathtubs). I go to church a minimum of 2 times per week. Last, I will go on dates, family get togethers, mom's night out, or other low key social events.

The reason behind the added pair of jeans separate from my other bottoms is that in the dead of summer I will not be wearing jeans every day. But, it would be nice to keep a pair of jeans for an evening out or a morning bible study. Also, I separated dress pants out because I would wear dress pants on a date, but not necessarily during the week. This set of clothing works for me. You could change it to meet your needs.

The idea is that if you wear everything in your capsule in a given week that you only have to wear it every other week because you have 2 capsule available at all times. So, in theory you should only have to wear a top 13 times per year (each capsule is worn for 26 weeks - each capsule only needs to fill half of that because of the other capsule - so that leaves only 13 weeks). If you get creative, you will always have something fresh to wear - Year Round!

My Breakthrough Task

So, I am a huge fan of FlyLady. She has a whole method of things which I subscribe to in some general consensus. If you have never heard of FlyLady, you have to check her out at flylady.com. As part of her get organized theory, she asks that you get dressed to your shoes each day. A seemingly easy task for most. But not me. Since deciding to stay home with my kids, I have put my "look" or style on the back burner. The biggest reason is/was money. And couple that with the identity crisis of a on-the-go, never stop, ALWAYS going person. I immediately one day just stayed home. Again, a simple and rewarding task for most. However, it was a death sentence to me.

Fast forward three and a half years later, and that brings us to now, the present day. I have conceded to the fact that I am in fact a stay-at-home anything - not just mom. But nothing else about me has adjusted accordingly. Stupid I know. I would love to be one of those women that I envy who has it all together - clean house, decorated house, clean kids, fashionable kids, put together, never appears under pressure, knows the latest news, has the latest scoop, can sing all the songs to HSM 1, 2 and 3, you get the picture.

As per FlyLady rules, the first step is shining your sink. I have perfected the shinning sink to the point of true sink shine stardom. Nothing else in my kitchen may be clean (including all pots and pans and for some reason spoons) but the sink is spotless.

The second step is where her whole system leaves me in the dust - get dressed to your shoes. This simple step is the one place that keeps me stuck in the mud and muck of life, I am convinced. I have tried and tried, but no matter what I do I get stuck on number two. I am not a stupid person (actually self-proclaimed genius). I am a reasonable young woman who should be able to do a reasonable task. I truly believe that this one single step could be my breakthrough step.

FlyLady and all her minions proclaim that this one step has changed there life. I subscribe to the Tim Gunn theory of your outside is really a mirror to your inside. So, what does my outside say? Tired. Stressed. Blasè. Uninterested. Boring. A literal mess. Yes, these things all describe me at some point in most days, but they don't hit on the REAL me.