My box of Mrs. Meyers' Clean Day products arrived yesterday evening. I felt like a kid at Christmas when I got home from church and found it waiting for me, and I anxiously opened the container.
I have to say that I chose their Lemon Verbena scent because I'm not into Basil. Lavender is ok, so I might try that scent next time... sometimes, it's overpowering. Geranuim? No, thanks. Baby Blossom is a possibility, as well. They have scent free products, too. I guess the smart thing would have been to order products in scents I think I'd like!
I used the bathroom products this morning: shower spray, cleaning wipes and the toilet cleaner. I like the shower spray. I LOVE the cleaning wipes! LOVE THEM. Why? They are thicker than Clorox wipes. They are biodegradeable. They smell lovely. The toilet cleaner was so-so. I think I feel this way because of marketing, to be honest. I've previously used the Clorox with bleach cleaner that is VERY thick and this toilet cleaner isn't very thick at all. It cleaned the toilet, so no complaints. I think I just need to be de-programmed from all the TV marketing! :-)
I've yet to use the window cleaner and the Sweet Pea kitchen cleaners. The Sweet Pea stuff smells just like garden. It's formulated to smell like that... like fresh picked sweet peas. Hubs really liked it. Me, not so much. He also said he thought the Lemon Verbena smelled like rest-stops. I don't agree, but that's his take.
For more cool cleaning info, visit Mrs. Meyer's sister company, Caldera, for some neat laundry tips:
http://www.caldrea.com/CaldreaInstitute.aspx?CategoryName=Professional%20Laundry%20Secrets
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
It's all intermingled.
This week, I've been trying to finish cleaning out the garage once and for all. We had a yard sale today and will have another on Friday. Tomorrow, we'll be in Lexington at Shriner's Hospital for an annual check-up.
To keep me inspired, I've been watching "Clean House" on the Style Network.
It's kind of weird to hear the hosts saying to the family what I keep saying to myself. "It's not the stuff that's important; it's the memories."
I have to admit that I have been pretty awful about associating memories or traditions to stuff. So-and-so gave me/my kids this. That is from my grandma's house.
And you know, I think that kind of thinking holds a lot of people back. Listen, the people who love you most should want the best for you. And the best is not holding on to stuff you don't use. It's not the things that matter; it's the people, and the most important people want you to be able to enjoy your home and, you know, be able to actually park in your garage. (Ahem)
So, while I'm not blogging, I'm busy trying to make a better life. But I promise photos of the bathroom and maybe even our progress in the garage!
For more inspiration, check out these awesome blog posts:
http://unfamiliarpaths.blogspot.com/2009/06/dealing-with-change.html
http://notinkansas.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/thoughts-about-our-best-year-yet/
To keep me inspired, I've been watching "Clean House" on the Style Network.
It's kind of weird to hear the hosts saying to the family what I keep saying to myself. "It's not the stuff that's important; it's the memories."
I have to admit that I have been pretty awful about associating memories or traditions to stuff. So-and-so gave me/my kids this. That is from my grandma's house.
And you know, I think that kind of thinking holds a lot of people back. Listen, the people who love you most should want the best for you. And the best is not holding on to stuff you don't use. It's not the things that matter; it's the people, and the most important people want you to be able to enjoy your home and, you know, be able to actually park in your garage. (Ahem)
So, while I'm not blogging, I'm busy trying to make a better life. But I promise photos of the bathroom and maybe even our progress in the garage!
For more inspiration, check out these awesome blog posts:
http://unfamiliarpaths.blogspot.com/2009/06/dealing-with-change.html
http://notinkansas.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/thoughts-about-our-best-year-yet/
Monday, June 29, 2009
Almost Finished!
A year ago this month we began our bathroom renovation.
A. Year. Ago.
Though my Hubby would argue that it was really the first week or two of July. When looking at 52 weeks ago, or 12 months ago, does a week or two really matter?
To be fair, I should explain that when we started the project, we had no idea what we'd have to end up doing. Like replacing the floor. Then, while I was taking down textured wallpaper, we discovered that we'd have to replace the walls, as well. So, to say that we've had to do a lot would be an understatement. When we sell our house, we'll be able to happily chirp, "The bathroom is really a new build! Everything in there has been replaced, even the walls and floor." What a selling point. lol.
Last night, Hubs hung the mirror. Still to be finished are:
1. Installing a light fixture over the mirror.
2. Hanging the photo over the towel bar. Yes, I'm prissy like that. I want something to look at in there. :-P
3. Installing the toilet paper holder.
4. Installing a small towel holder by the light switch.
When those are complete, I'll post photos. And hold a ribbon cutting ceremony, complete with refreshments. :-)
A. Year. Ago.
Though my Hubby would argue that it was really the first week or two of July. When looking at 52 weeks ago, or 12 months ago, does a week or two really matter?
To be fair, I should explain that when we started the project, we had no idea what we'd have to end up doing. Like replacing the floor. Then, while I was taking down textured wallpaper, we discovered that we'd have to replace the walls, as well. So, to say that we've had to do a lot would be an understatement. When we sell our house, we'll be able to happily chirp, "The bathroom is really a new build! Everything in there has been replaced, even the walls and floor." What a selling point. lol.
Last night, Hubs hung the mirror. Still to be finished are:
1. Installing a light fixture over the mirror.
2. Hanging the photo over the towel bar. Yes, I'm prissy like that. I want something to look at in there. :-P
3. Installing the toilet paper holder.
4. Installing a small towel holder by the light switch.
When those are complete, I'll post photos. And hold a ribbon cutting ceremony, complete with refreshments. :-)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
....Too Much to Do, Not Enough Time to Post...
Reasons I haven't been blogging:
1. Trying to sort through clothes, toys and what-not for an upcoming yard sale.
2. Either re-sorting or flopping on the couch and momentarily giving up after my "helpers" have unsorted the clothes, toys and what-not for the yard sale.
3. Pressure washing our fence.
4. Peeling from the sunburn acquired from the day spent pressure washing the fence.
5. Attending the wake and funeral of my grandmother's husband.
6. Being wiped out from nursery duty at church.
7. Finding good deals (Y'all won't believe the deal I got on a Macclaren stroller!).
8. Wishing and hoping and dreaming about a beach vacation, if Hubs gets a bonus this summer.
9. My job as the girls' social director.
10. Doctors appointments and routine bloodwork.
In the meantime, I'm going to respond to a comment from my most previous post:
Great reminder. I'm very struck by how different the tone is in this entry compared with your pre-pregnancy posts. God really has changed you in some profound ways, huh? You've been walking through a LOT of refinement in the couple years I've been reading your blog. It's encouraging to watch (read?)
First, thank you. I hope I'm growing and that I am learning the lessons God has been trying to teach me.
Second, infertility is so many things, one of the primary things being frustrating. And I used my blog to vent a lot of that frustration because most people I know don't understand. Not to mention that there was an odd baby boom going on all around me at the time, further aggravating the frustration.
Third, once you go through what we have, your priorities have so quickly aligned that things that used to bug the crap outta me don't so much anymore. Really, I think it's the perspective that comes along with a situation like that. Also, and so very importantly, through my pregnancy with Abbie, I learned that, in reality, we have no control over anything. The only thing we can do is put it (whatever it is at the time) in God's hands and wait. The answer isn't ours; it's His. The timing isn't ours; it's His.
As frustrating as that was for me during when we were trying to get pregnant, oddly, it's kind of refreshing now, because I've learned that when the only thing we can do is lean on God and trust Him, we best do it, because we'll drive ourselves crazy trying to fix it on our own. During my pregnancy, God did a work in me. Some people call it a gift. But basically, it's this:
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
People were actually kind of shocked that we weren't freaking out during my pregnancy. But, when God gives you a gift of peace, it might not make sense to a lot of people. Yes, we knew what the statistics were. Yes, we knew there was a chance our baby might not live. It was a process of leaning more on God and less on ourselves or even on modern medicine. Especially, it was a process of trusting more and more in God and His word.
No, I'm not where I need to be, but I hope I'm a few steps ahead of where I used to be.
1. Trying to sort through clothes, toys and what-not for an upcoming yard sale.
2. Either re-sorting or flopping on the couch and momentarily giving up after my "helpers" have unsorted the clothes, toys and what-not for the yard sale.
3. Pressure washing our fence.
4. Peeling from the sunburn acquired from the day spent pressure washing the fence.
5. Attending the wake and funeral of my grandmother's husband.
6. Being wiped out from nursery duty at church.
7. Finding good deals (Y'all won't believe the deal I got on a Macclaren stroller!).
8. Wishing and hoping and dreaming about a beach vacation, if Hubs gets a bonus this summer.
9. My job as the girls' social director.
10. Doctors appointments and routine bloodwork.
In the meantime, I'm going to respond to a comment from my most previous post:
Great reminder. I'm very struck by how different the tone is in this entry compared with your pre-pregnancy posts. God really has changed you in some profound ways, huh? You've been walking through a LOT of refinement in the couple years I've been reading your blog. It's encouraging to watch (read?)
First, thank you. I hope I'm growing and that I am learning the lessons God has been trying to teach me.
Second, infertility is so many things, one of the primary things being frustrating. And I used my blog to vent a lot of that frustration because most people I know don't understand. Not to mention that there was an odd baby boom going on all around me at the time, further aggravating the frustration.
Third, once you go through what we have, your priorities have so quickly aligned that things that used to bug the crap outta me don't so much anymore. Really, I think it's the perspective that comes along with a situation like that. Also, and so very importantly, through my pregnancy with Abbie, I learned that, in reality, we have no control over anything. The only thing we can do is put it (whatever it is at the time) in God's hands and wait. The answer isn't ours; it's His. The timing isn't ours; it's His.
As frustrating as that was for me during when we were trying to get pregnant, oddly, it's kind of refreshing now, because I've learned that when the only thing we can do is lean on God and trust Him, we best do it, because we'll drive ourselves crazy trying to fix it on our own. During my pregnancy, God did a work in me. Some people call it a gift. But basically, it's this:
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
People were actually kind of shocked that we weren't freaking out during my pregnancy. But, when God gives you a gift of peace, it might not make sense to a lot of people. Yes, we knew what the statistics were. Yes, we knew there was a chance our baby might not live. It was a process of leaning more on God and less on ourselves or even on modern medicine. Especially, it was a process of trusting more and more in God and His word.
No, I'm not where I need to be, but I hope I'm a few steps ahead of where I used to be.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Putting It in God's Hands
I have registered with two different work-from-home sites. I would prefer one over the other, since someone we know has worked with them and recommended the site. I'm looking into a few other options, including perhaps being part of a grant program that is recruiting people to become teachers in my state for high-risk/low-income counties in the subjects of English (my degree), science, math and foreign language.
But overall, I'm not worrying about it. I'm not thinking about it too much, even.
I think worry is a form of fear, and I don't believe fear is something God wants us to have. Also, after everything we went through with Abbie, I have learned to just put something in God's hands and leave it there. By worrying about something, it's like taking the matter out of God's hands.
In trying to imitate child-like faith, I try to put things in God's hands in the same way a child puts a broken toy into her father's hands. Ever notice how a child doesn't question how Daddy will fix the toy? The only thing she does is trust that he will.
I've told God my heart's desire. I've told Him that I'm open to whatever He wants for me, as well as my family. Now I'm just waiting for the answer.
But overall, I'm not worrying about it. I'm not thinking about it too much, even.
I think worry is a form of fear, and I don't believe fear is something God wants us to have. Also, after everything we went through with Abbie, I have learned to just put something in God's hands and leave it there. By worrying about something, it's like taking the matter out of God's hands.
In trying to imitate child-like faith, I try to put things in God's hands in the same way a child puts a broken toy into her father's hands. Ever notice how a child doesn't question how Daddy will fix the toy? The only thing she does is trust that he will.
I've told God my heart's desire. I've told Him that I'm open to whatever He wants for me, as well as my family. Now I'm just waiting for the answer.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Having a plan and a goal makes one feel better.
Ok. The fabulous and unflappable P.O. just left. She rocks. We're planning a sale for later this month.
It doesn't feel so impossible now. That's a REALLY good start!
It doesn't feel so impossible now. That's a REALLY good start!
Working with the organizer... again...
The professional organizer I hired last summer is coming back today.
*sigh*
It's not her; it's me. Actually, we didn't get our projects finished, and between crazy work for me and what not, we haven't met since September or October. Today will be pretty much us starting over.
I hate that I "need" someone to help me get my home the way I want it.
I wish I was a little OCD about my house. But, my pendulum swings the other way... not to mention that I am related to a hoarder and that kind of stuff is genetic (really! Someone told me that hoarding is on the same spectrum as OCD... long, long explanation as to why, but in short, people can get a bit overwhelmed with wanting to categorize all their stuff (the OCD part of it), so they just kind of shut down and do nothing... there are many other components to it, as well.. too much to list here).
But I'm not going to say it's necessarily in my genes. For me, my M.O. has always been that when things are really rough, I shut down a bit. I kind of wallow in a depressive state for a while, but when I finally want to dig my way out (literally and metaphorically), I get overwhelmed. I hate that about me.
I'm trying to re-frame the organizing thing... trying to look at is as "life coaching," because that's what it is. But I have to admit, I feel pretty pathetic about it. In a way, it's kind of like hiring a professional personal trainer. In a way, it's like hiring a maid, only on a much bigger scale. It's kind of like joining Weight Watchers. All these things help you reshape your life and improve your life.
In many ways, I want to reshape and improve my life. Those areas are my weight, my health, my relationships and my home. Wanting better is a good thing and I know that getting help in any of those areas really is a good thing.
But why do I still feel like a loser?
*sigh*
It's not her; it's me. Actually, we didn't get our projects finished, and between crazy work for me and what not, we haven't met since September or October. Today will be pretty much us starting over.
I hate that I "need" someone to help me get my home the way I want it.
I wish I was a little OCD about my house. But, my pendulum swings the other way... not to mention that I am related to a hoarder and that kind of stuff is genetic (really! Someone told me that hoarding is on the same spectrum as OCD... long, long explanation as to why, but in short, people can get a bit overwhelmed with wanting to categorize all their stuff (the OCD part of it), so they just kind of shut down and do nothing... there are many other components to it, as well.. too much to list here).
But I'm not going to say it's necessarily in my genes. For me, my M.O. has always been that when things are really rough, I shut down a bit. I kind of wallow in a depressive state for a while, but when I finally want to dig my way out (literally and metaphorically), I get overwhelmed. I hate that about me.
I'm trying to re-frame the organizing thing... trying to look at is as "life coaching," because that's what it is. But I have to admit, I feel pretty pathetic about it. In a way, it's kind of like hiring a professional personal trainer. In a way, it's like hiring a maid, only on a much bigger scale. It's kind of like joining Weight Watchers. All these things help you reshape your life and improve your life.
In many ways, I want to reshape and improve my life. Those areas are my weight, my health, my relationships and my home. Wanting better is a good thing and I know that getting help in any of those areas really is a good thing.
But why do I still feel like a loser?
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
I completely agree.
I found this post over at Cake Wrecks.
The post starts out with the following quote from Kanye West (no wonder I have no respect for him and cannot stand to hear his music). The post ends with some exquisitely made cakes that you really should see.
This past week I read a story on how rapper Kanye West is a "proud non-reader" and, despite the fact that he recently wrote a 52-page book of "Kanye-isms" that he would like you to buy and read yourself, he has "no respect" for books. Or to put it in his own words,
"Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph."
That's good, Kanye, since it's a right pain to get a book to even hold a pen, much less autograph itself. Anyhoo, after banging my head against the desk and weeping for future generations, I decided that today we should celebrate those authors and illustrators who made (and make) reading so much fun during our early years.
The post starts out with the following quote from Kanye West (no wonder I have no respect for him and cannot stand to hear his music). The post ends with some exquisitely made cakes that you really should see.
This past week I read a story on how rapper Kanye West is a "proud non-reader" and, despite the fact that he recently wrote a 52-page book of "Kanye-isms" that he would like you to buy and read yourself, he has "no respect" for books. Or to put it in his own words,
"Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph."
That's good, Kanye, since it's a right pain to get a book to even hold a pen, much less autograph itself. Anyhoo, after banging my head against the desk and weeping for future generations, I decided that today we should celebrate those authors and illustrators who made (and make) reading so much fun during our early years.
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