Domestic Diva

Introducing Gunner Cannon

2012-02-01T11:33:00.001-05:00

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Yep, that's my belly

2012-01-07T16:03:00.001-05:00

Juliet's Christmas Dress 2011

2011-12-26T14:49:00.000-05:00

With a budget of around $10 I whipped up a new Christmas Dress for the resident fashionista. The red dress came from a dress from two years ago that I restyled and re-hemmed for an all new look. The waist got made over with a rhinestone strip for about $2. The white faux fur jacket was about $3 for the fur and $2 for the white lining. We had the black tights and the shoes where $2 from a children's consignment store. We found the headband on sale at the Gap for a couple bucks. She looked stunning for Christmas Sunday church!

Custom Burp Rags from Cloth Diapers

2011-12-26T14:09:00.000-05:00

I've had so many babies now that all the cloth diaper burp rags have become cleaning clothes. I use them with harsh chemicals and do not want to get them mixed up with the ones for the new baby.

Beach Baby Carrier Canopy

2011-12-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

I had never seen such a thing as a baby carrier canopy with my last 3 babies but I love the idea! Baby can sleep in peace without suffocating. Getting closer to being ready for the baby. If he came tomorrow, I think we'd be alright, but I still want to make him a small quilt for in his carrier and a larger quilt for his bed. I still need to dig some stuff out of the garage and do a little scrubbing. (The swing, baby bouncer, bath tub, high and exersaucer)

Beach Baby Car Seat Carrier

2011-12-16T13:47:00.000-05:00

Aloha baby! Beach baby's car seat is finally done- Whew! People ask why I don't make and sell car seat covers. The reason is - IT IS SO MUCH WORK! I will sell you this one for $1000 not a penny less. I'm figuring that this will be my only baby born at the beach so I should have some fun with my beach baby theme : )

My Notes from reading Financial Peace

2011-12-09T10:58:00.001-05:00

Dave Ramsey Financial Peace

1. Avoid worshipping "stuff"

2. Donate $ to a good Cause

3. Develop my Power over Purchase

4. Live Substantially below our income

5. Sacrifice now, so we can have peace later

6. You canALWAYS spend more than you make

7. The borroweris servant to the lender; so beware!

8. You must save money

No Way Around It-

Figure out our actual income and proceed to live far belowthat mark. It will take some timeto undo some of the messes we have gotten ourselves into.

I have counseled people who make $200,000 Annually andpeople who make $20,000 and they both spent it all. Yes the guy with $200,00 had bigger toys and moresophisticated bad investments, but the both had the same result --b-r-o-k-e.

Proverbs 21:20 "In the house of the wise are stores ofchoice food and oil, but the foolish man devours all that he has."

How many times have you gone out to eat or bought clothes oreven taken a vacation that you could not afford and you borrowed the moneythrough plastic purchases? This isbad, bad planning and use of your funds.

Plastic Surgery

Cut [credit cards] ups.

You do not have to borrow money to buy a car. Pay cash for one that is not quite whatyou want, start saving the equivalent of a car payment a month and very soonyou can drive whatever you want.

In order to get out of debt: quit borrowing more money.

Dump debt using the debt snowball from the small debt to thelargest.

You need to get mad. First, you need to realize that you can stop borrowing. You can get out of debt. You can have a happy and betterlife. It takes a lot of willpower,but it can be done. First lean tostop borrowing. Second, applyevery extra penny we have each month to a certain bill.

You and your spouse set your goals, work hard, work often, liveon little and get out (of debt) so you never have to talk to people whose solejob is to technique you again.

Pile up plunder. Save money. Have a goal ofsaving 10% of you take home pay. Save 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings. Never has a couple come to me for financial crisiscounseling that has an emergency fund of 3-6 months worth of expenses.

The safest way to double you money is to fold it over onceand put it in your pocket.

Disciplined savings will outpace any investment scheme.

First you have to do the written plan. When you write down what you are goingto do with money, you are making it and you behave.

Plan Your Escape!

The problem with prison breaks in they take a long time --too long. Digging a hundred yearunderground tunnel over a five-year period with a spoon sounds like it takestoo long and is too hard. Yet a bold plan requires a blueprint, tenacity,checking and rechecking every detail, thinking, praying , and digging everyday. Sounds too tough, but on theday that you are free and the sun of liberation hits you in the face when youfinally reach the end of the tunnel, you will forget. You will forget all those damp nights with the spoon and thedirt, you will forget the hopelessness you had to fight through. You will forgetall the "friends" who said it couldn't be done. You will befinancially free.

Write down spending every month before it happens.

Work everything with a five- and ten-year view; it is theonly way to keep you momentum when you are digging with a spoon. I don't think I can overemphasize thatthe written plan gives you power over the money that you have. The written plan is money empowerment.

Get yourself in great financial condition; get rich so youcan help the ones you love.

Step A: Keep your checkbook properly recorded and balanced.

Step B: Writeout the details - basically lay it all out and see where money is going andbudget. Envelope system- when westarted using the envelope system for food, our expenditures on food dropped byover $100 per month.

Step C: Commit to plan for 90 days. If you will stay with the 90 days, Ipromise that you will work the kinks out and you financial life will never bethe same.

Baby Steps

1. Pay minimumon everything until you have $1000 emergency fund.

2. Kill alldebt. Get mad and stay mad untilyou get out.

3. Save rest ofemergency fund (3-6 months worth of expenses)

4. 15% incometo retirement plan.

5. Startcollege funds for kids

6. Pay off yourhouse early

7. Get Rich,Personal finance is not a microwave, but a crock pot.

Lovin' Disney

2011-11-26T02:38:00.001-05:00

Camping In

2011-11-24T00:23:00.001-05:00

Charleston Dahhhrling!

2011-10-25T08:47:00.000-04:00

Wilmington, NC - Roadtrip!!!

2011-10-19T15:45:00.004-04:00

I used to think I wanted to live in Wilmington, NC. It was where I wanted to settle down and build my dream house. No- I'd never been there. Now I have. While it was great visiting our dear friends the Makepeace family, I'm not ready to pack up and move quite yet. I learned that Atlantic Beach is more of my dream town than Wilmington will ever be.

Run for it!

2011-09-30T09:52:00.002-04:00

We had a lot of fun hanging with my BFF Stephanie and co. this last weekend in Vero Beach.

Poor Brock

2011-09-08T22:44:00.000-04:00

Poor, poor Brock.

He is having such a hard time being the only one not going to school. He cries every morning when Juliet and Cougar get out of the car. This morning he was up early packing his lunch box with a granola bar. He must have decided that the reason he doesn't get to go to school is because he doesn't have a lunch box with him.

So we go to the car drop off and the safety patrol kid opens the car door. Brock, with his lunch box in his lap, yells, "I come! I come!"

Juliet and Cougar hop out of the car and shut the door. Brock was devastated. He cried all the way home. What am I going to do???

Happy Birthday to Me

2011-09-06T19:17:00.000-04:00

I guess 34 is the year that you no longer need anything new. I have always struggled with buying my grandparents gifts because they have either already had it and thrown it away or they don't want it. This year as I surveyed my birthday gifts, I noticed that each and every one of them was a replacement for something I already had, but has either broken or run out.

My ice cream maker of 11 years finally bit the dust this summer, my mother got me a new one just like it. Hopefully it will last another 11 years. We love us some homemade ice cream!

My ipod car radio adapter busted, so Chad got me a new one. Now he just needs to replace my blown out speakers so I can really enjoy it.

I ran out of perfume, so the kids got me a new bottle.

What a treat to know that I don't want anything. But I do have a long list of things I want fixed or replaced!!!!

The Calm Before the Storm - Hurricane Irene

2011-08-25T09:23:00.000-04:00

The skies deceive us this morning. The blue skies teasing us with an innocent looking rainbow. The promise of peace....

By Tuesday of this week the shelves were getting bare at the store as we stocked up for the worst. This is just a sneak peak at the supplies we gathered. We've printed off our evacuation directions. We are headed off to my aunt and uncle's home in Georgia. Hopefully our preparation will result in nothing happening!

Little Pink Beach School

2011-08-23T22:10:00.001-04:00

Juliet has been dying to go to the Pink Beach School since the day we arrived in Florida. Her big chance finally came. Cougar was so excited for his sister to start school with him that he ended up late to class so he could walk her to Kindergarten. So sweet!

We figured out that this will be the only year the two of them will get to go to the same school so they are going to try to really enjoy it. They are so excited that their lunch times cross over so they get to see one another during the school day.

Clutter update: I'm still getting a bag a day out. I have gotten out all I want to throw out, and have moved on to donations.

30 day clutter clean out

2011-08-17T00:08:00.006-04:00

Daddy don't look. You can't handle it. My goal is to get rid of a trash bag's worth of clutter everyday for a month. Starting with video tapes. I have a ton and no VCR = clutter.

I'm attempting a hard reset.

Everything I have will have to be moved to DC in a year. I have no money to move with and will likely have a home so tiny in DC that I would have no place to put anything. So the goal is to seriously par down.

I want to get rid of ALL clutter items and sell all of my someday I will need this tag-a-longs.

The 25 Year Quilt

2011-08-05T22:19:00.004-04:00

This quilt has been in the works for 25 years and today it is complete! My mother started making this for me when I was a little girl because I loved purple. After a while she gave it up and I picked it up. Whenever we would have a car trip or I'd come to town I'd pull out the quilt and work on it for a while. I am proud to announce that the project is finally complete!

Let Brock Eat Cake

2011-07-31T09:06:00.001-04:00

Caught in the act.

Let me take a moment to explain that Brock is celebrating his birthday in his diaper because we had just come home from a long day at the beach and the pool!

Daddy's Gift - He loved it

Mommy's Gift - He loved it too.

His favorite gift was his cars book full of cars

First year to blow out all the candles!

Pepper gets new digs

2011-07-27T21:26:00.001-04:00

Pepper's house was... just unacceptable. So we got her a new fancy place to call home.

Ichetucknee Springs

2011-07-26T13:31:00.003-04:00

Imagine a chilly icy spring water river under our rafts and tubes.

It really was a super fun time with the kids.

Honestly the best thing I have found to do on a hot day in Florida outside.

Brock was born to float down a river.

Juliet could wait to be done only to beg to start over again.

Meet Shilee

2011-07-25T10:51:00.001-04:00

Let it be known that i never throw any fabric away. Shilee the rag doll consists of:
Muslin: 1/4 yard: 84 cents
Shoes: Juliet's Dress she wore to Mitch and Elizabeth's wedding
Legs: Gingham from Cougar (age 9) baby room decor
Dress: Juliet's baking apron
Ruffle: Juliet's Easter Dress not this last year, but the year before.
Cheeks: Baby Charlotte's dress bloomers
Hairbows - Juliet's baby carseat cover
Hair: Dress I sewed for myself 4 years ago

Juliet named her doll Shilee. She made it up herself,

Stuffed Owls

2011-07-16T09:24:00.001-04:00

Stuffed Owls

In honor of Harry Potter this week we made stuffed owls. Each of the kids drew out what they wanted their owls to look like. Next they went though all the scrap fabric I never throw away and picked out their owls' outers. Finally we went and picked out felt for the eyes and noses. The kids have kept me busy cutting and sewing, stuffing and stitching, but just in time for the Harry Potter premier we all have owls.

Brock's owl will no longer feel lonely.

After we got home with Cougar from HP the kiddos were asleep in Juliet's bed. I guess Brock didn't like the idea of sleeping alone.

Wrapped Around her Little Finger

2011-07-11T20:28:00.001-04:00

Juliet cried when we wouldn't let her get the LelliKellys because we were shopping to get Cougar one pair of shoes since his toes busted through the front of his old pair.

She cried in the store.

She cried in the car.

She cried at home.

And until the next day when her daddy took her back to the store and got her the most beautiful shoes she has ever seen.

4th of July

2011-07-06T21:12:00.001-04:00

Some of our friends we met during medical school in Oklahoma matched for residency in Gainsville, FL just down the road. It was so nice to have them come visit on the 4th for a day of sunning at the beach, playing in the pool, watermelon and chili dogs!

We finished up the night by heading to the beach with the rest of the population to watch the fireworks off the Jax Beach Pier.
We met up with another Mayo Resident from OU named Siam and his wife on the beach.
Going to the beach for the 4th is taking a risk. It is really fun, but stupid dangerous. Not only is everyone there for the big fireworks, they all bring their own. It is absolute chaos. Bottle rockets are shooting off in every direction. Fountains are falling all over the place shooting into the sea oats and starting fires. The police are all over the place just watching the bedlam with lackadaisical passivity.
It is way fun, but way crazy.

Summer Days

2011-06-30T16:55:00.001-04:00

I'm trying to keep the kids occupied with creative activities, but these summer days are long!

One of the rare moments we've seen Chad since the summer began. Brock wouldn't even leave his side to go to bed.

Cougar had his first official piano recital. He made it through without a single mistake! We are so proud!

Swimming with Ms. Peg

2011-06-24T13:44:00.000-04:00

After a traumatizing week of swim lessons last summer Juliet became terrified of water. So this summer we invested in two weeks of Ms. Peg to fix our little problem. She's tough, she's fun, and she came to our pool. Juliet is not quite ready for the Olympics but is like a whole new little girl. Today was her last day of lessons, and I didn't think I was going to be able to get her to come back inside today!

Wild Blackberries

2011-05-30T22:43:00.000-04:00

This morning I took the kids on a bike ride since there was no school. As we were riding along we saw a large thicket of wild blackberries! We stopped and picked a few to snack on.

Around 7 this evening we got back on our bikes and rode out to the thicket with plastic containers for everyone. I can't decide if I felt like the Von Trapp family or Laura Ingalls Wilder, either way it was fun to hear the kids talk about, "What if a disaster happened and we became homeless, we could live on blackberries we pick ourselves!"

Or Jenny of the Prairie. Maybe I felt like Jenny of the Prairie.

We got home, washed our blackberries and baked a blackberry pie. I don't think they're ready to live on blackberries.

Amelia's Posh Party

2011-05-09T21:28:00.000-04:00

The party started with a luncheon by the beach at the family restaurant.

The girls then all walked over to the Fancy Nail Salon for Mani-Petti's. There is Amelia by the window.

Juliet is a pro at this.

We went down to bike by the beach that afternoon and it was an all around great day!

Ballet Recital Spring 2011

2011-05-01T13:47:00.001-04:00

Dolphin Dash

2011-04-29T23:59:00.000-04:00

Cougar has been preparing for the Dolphin Dash for the entire school year and the big event finally arrived!

He ran an 8 minute mile. Matching his personal best time.

Juliet was excited to find a classmate to watch with.

Yay, Cougar! Great Job!

The Problem with Princesses

2011-04-29T13:58:00.000-04:00

Disney has done us no favors, folks. This morning I roused my sleepy 5 year-old out of bed and carried her into the living room to watch the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton. I thought she would be delighted to see a common girl become a princess in real life before her very eyes.

I was wrong. She watched in awe at first, and then there was a transition in her attitude. Before I knew it, she is on the ground kicking and crying. It was a fit of tumultuous jealousy and pure rage.

Lately she's been telling who ever will listen that she will become a princess. I began thinking of how this could be possible.

1. Hubby and I could go found or conquer a country and place our selves on the throne - making her a princess. Not going to happen.

2. Possibly switched at birth? Being in the US it would be too hard to get switched with a royal baby considering we have no royalty here. So no.

3. Hubby or I could leave one another and marry into royalty. Since I love my husband and have yet to ever even MEET royalty. That won't be happening.

4. We could put her up for adoption and perhaps a royal family would pick her up. It happened to Moses, but not real likely.

5. Of all the ways for her to achieve princessness the most practical and the only one she could maneuver of her own doing would be to marry a prince. Still a toughy.

Even of the Disney Princesses, Cinderella and Belle were the only ones that were not princesses in their own right before marrying. However, Cinderella's father was a Duke, so she was by birthright already royalty. Belle was the only commoner to become a princess and she thought she was getting any ugly beast. Royalty was only a bonus.

My daughter's aspirations to become a princess places her personal value on status and name of her future husband. I would rather her spend her childhood aspiring to be her best self in her activities. I don't want to raise a gold digger; I want to raise a strong independent woman who marries a good man whom she loves.

I want for her the happiness in marriage I have. I met my husband when we were in our young teens, and I married him when his major was undeclared. I would have been just as happy if he had gone into farming rather than medicine. My husband doesn't define me; my children don't define me; I define me.

I know childhood is a time for dreaming without limits. Nonetheless, I want my daughter to focus on what she can do with her life, not how she can elevate her status through marriage. I want her to take fate into her own hands and dream of dreams that she alone can achieve. I hope to help her adjust her mindset and separate fantasy and pretend from dreams and goals.

The last thing I want to do as a mother is release into the world a young women who believes she deserves royal treatment and should receive unearned entitlements. Trust me, I know women like this and it ain't pretty as a princess.

Easter Sunday 2011- True Story

2011-04-27T22:21:00.004-04:00

Hey Kids! Let's take a picture before ya'll are covered with chocolate and marker.

Smile! Hey wait, One, Two... I seem to be missing a kid.

Brock! Come here Brock.

Brock! Please, smile for Mommy.

Come on, Man, ... fine, Brock, fine...

Juliet will let me take HER picture.

Stacie's Got a Gun

2011-04-24T18:18:00.001-04:00

We went trap shooting with my cousin Keri and her husband Perry while they were in town visiting this weekend. My shotgun was having some problems, so I had to borrow Chad's. It is crazy heavy and my arms a sore today just from lifting it. I did hit a clay pigeon. That was exciting!

New Website

2011-04-21T15:35:00.001-04:00

I have been rebuilding my website: www.thefamousstacie.com
and I am ready to announce it to the world! I am going to move my sewing and cooking projects over there and keep daily life, kiddos and some crafts etc... here.

I am hoping my website can link all my places together: YouTube, Twitter, Zazzle, Create Space and Blogger into one nice neat package!

Please come visit me at the all New www.TheFamousStacie.com

Poor Cougar, poor poor Cougar

2011-04-19T20:42:00.001-04:00

I am quite tempted to send the parent's of the kid that knocked Cougar down on the playground a bill. That wouldn't be very nice of me would it? People just don't do that right?! Half kidding here.

It was just an accident. Unfortunately, he will miss the last half of the baseball season. We paid for the whole season, I should add that to the bill.... He won't get to play the song he has worked so hard to memorize for his piano recital. No swimming at the beach, or the pool. Ho hummm

Tying up Loose Ends

2011-04-16T23:34:00.003-04:00

I started this scarf in November. Juliet had a short and reasonable Christmas list that included a purple scarf. Of course, I have to do everything the hard way and I never EVER quit no matter how hopeless the project may seem...

So at long last tonight I presented Juliet with her Christmas gift.

6 months later, a scarf made with love.

Trying on the Fashionista's Easter Dress

2011-04-10T18:54:00.001-04:00

I just finished the hem of the long awaited, I think I first drew the design in January, Easter Dress http://thefamousstacie.blogspot.com/2011/01/easter-dress-sketch.html. Juliet was waiting with drool on her face to get zipped into her fashion dream dress of 2011. She's ready to hit the runway!

Watch out Tyra

Here comes America's Top Model

Work it girl!

That's right

Show that camera who's boss!

Ummmm seriously?!

First Haircut (that did not require a headlock)

2011-04-07T11:19:00.000-04:00

How to Save Money on Gas

2011-04-04T20:37:00.003-04:00

(without moving or buying a new car)

At the Gas Station

Filll up in the morning while the ground is cool. Gasoline expands in the heat.

Put the trigger thingy in slow mode. This allows the least amount of fumes to escape.

When putting the gas cap on, turn it until you hear it click 3 times to avoid losing any gas from evaporation.

Drive Less

"No Doy," you say, I know, but hear me out. I might bring up something totally obvious that you might not have thought about yet.

Carpool. Impossible you say. So I thought, too, but sure enough we found somebody close by who wanted to carpool. Get out there and start asking, you could get lucky!

Minimize trips. I make a list of everything that must get done and find creative routes to get it all completed in one trip. Even if I have an hour between places I'll pack a picnic for the kids and stop at a park during the off-time. Find a work-out place close to your kids' activities. Plan detailed meals for about two weeks ahead to avoid running out to the store.

Say no to summer camps. They are expensive and require lots of driving back and forth. Find a pool close enough to bike or walk to. Every place I have lived I have been able to find a pool close by. I hope you can, too. Say yes to playing in the backyard and the neighborhood, bikes, scooters and big wheels, like when we were kids.

My bike

Ride a Bike, or like I like to think of it, ride your eco-friendly mini van. I pull my pile of kids behind me in a bright yellow trailer and my oldest son rides beside me on his bike. I once saw a woman riding her bike with one child in a front mount bike seat, another child in a back mount bike seat, and two more children in a bike trailer she was pulling behind her. My children and I have scouted out everywhere we can get to on our bikes and try to take advantage when we can.

Adjust Driving Habits

Driving aggressively wastes gas. Try to smoothly accelerate. Avoid breaking frequently and try to coast to a stop as often as possible. Using the breaks wastes the gas we just used to accelerate the vehicle.

Driving 60 and under gets the best mileage. Every five miles over 60 cost us an extra quarter right now per gallon!

Use Cruise Control when possible to keep from accidentally going faster than you want.

The Vehicle Itself

Take out anything that doesn't NEED to be in there. A heavier car uses more gas.

Regularly monitor your tire pressure. Get your own little gauge and look at the number next to the letters PSI. You want these numbers to come close to matching for your best mileage.

The A/C

Park in the shade when possible and always use windshield shades to lower the temperature inside the car. This makes less work for the A/C when the car is turned on.

When driving in town it is most efficient to lower the windows to stay cool. On the highways or at higher speeds roll up the windows and use the A/C to avoid drag.

Be Aware

Know exactly how much gas it takes to follow your normal routes. I know that each driving in and out of town costs me $1.50. I know that my husband's drive to work and back is about $6.

Pay close attention to your spending. Record when and how much you pay for gas. Record how long you can go between fill ups and set goal to extend that time range.

Bargain shop for gas. Every penny counts. Fill up when you are at Sam's or BJ's. Walmart usually has pretty competitive gas prices. Pay attention to gas signs and stop when you see a good deal.

Other Ideas

Stop at places that will give you a discount on a carwash.

Get a flying J rewards card and get a penny off every gallon.

Ditch the gas-guzzler and opt to rent an economy car for road trips. Bonus: You won't have all that mileage on YOUR car.

Save gas, ride a pony : )

*I am an expert on frugal and thrifty living. I gather information to allow my family income to stretch to its furthest length. I am not a car expert and I don’t work for Myth Busters so your guess is as good as mine.

Anything I missed???? Leave a comment!

Snow Cones

2011-03-30T11:11:00.002-04:00

Have I ever mentioned that I love snow cones? Do you love snow cones? There is something in that sugar sweet nastalgia that takes me back to walking in the hot Texas sun up to the neighborhood Minyard where the snow cone hut stood in the parking lot with Jordyn, Missy and my cousin Keri. There were so many flavors, like 300, in that little tiny stand. So many choices!

Snow Cones in Hawaii

Snow Cone Tongues

One of the most fun parts of snow cone eating is seeing what color your tongue turns. Will it be blue? red? brown? I've considered donating a mirror to Cindy, our local snow cone lady, just so my kids can look at their tongues.

In NYC they had their own take on the Snow Cone with the delectable Frozen Hot Chocolate. Yum! It tasted just like real hot chocolate... only cold and full of snow cone ice.

Frozen Hot Chocolate in NYC

We hit our local snow cone parlor once a week to ensure my kids get a good dose of sugary deliciousness.

Brain Freeze Bell at our local Snow Cone parlor that we visit each Friday afternoon after school.

Glamping

2011-03-28T08:32:00.001-04:00

Juliet wanted a camp out for her birthday.

It must have been the perfect time for a camp out. Not too hot; not too cold. I think we got the very last camping site left during spring break in the State of Florida. We camped out in south St. Augustine next to the beach.

Brock was a holy terror but we love him anyway! I put that tent up, btw...

St. Patick's Eve

2011-03-25T09:16:00.000-04:00

After putting Juliet to bed, I went in to check on her and found this:

A leprechaun trap.

She was very serious about catching this leprechaun...

But he must have gotten away

Isn't my strawberry pretty? I digress.

Childrens Art

2011-03-24T09:09:00.001-04:00

You don't have to tell me that my children are artistic geniuses... I already know : ). I'm not sure if it is my love runnething over, but I find that there is some sort of artist rawness that emulates from the art of children.

They have a boldness and freedom that few adult artist other than Picasso have been able to recapture. We adults feel a need for realism. Subconsciously we believe ducks should be white and look like a photograph of a duck. I love that my child artist believes a duck is just fine in red, yellow or green.

Gorgeous right?

Help! Around the House: A Mother's Guide to Getting the Family to Pitch in and Clean up - Book Review

2011-03-23T14:53:00.003-04:00

by Don Aslett

Sheer brilliance. It should be made into scripture, and I should be required to read from it each and everyday. I want to read all of his books as soon as I can.

I have taken about a page of notes for each book I have read on the subject of home management. I took about 10 pages of notes for this one. It was stock full of fresh, innovative, and motivating ideas.

The book is about getting all of the family to take responsibility in the upkeep of the home. Aslett teaches self-reliance and teamwork. "Cleaning creates a pattern of consideration." Who doesn't want considerate kids?

Two quotes I love:

"There is nothing wrong with making a mess. Mess is creativity's constant shadow. The problem is not in making a mess, but leaving it behind for someone else."

"Don't be surprised at how often a home must be de-cluttered. We cannot ask our children to clean the floor or do the dishes if clutter is obscuring the floor or the sink."

I love this book. So good.

Bitches on a Budget: Sage Advice for Surviving Tough Times in Style - Book Review

2011-03-23T14:50:00.002-04:00

By Rosalyn Hoffman

This is a great book for millionaires who want to feel like they are getting a deal. I'm not sure Hoffman really understands what a budget is because she kept giving splurge permission. She doesn't know my budget and no matter what the item is, she should be directing me to stick to the budget and that is that.

So, what I liked from this book:

She recommends using this poor economic time to acquire original art. Feed a starving artist. She suggests never buying a print again and only invest in the real stuff which is more affordable than ever right now.

I appreciate her grooming recommendation: "Razors still shave; tweezers still pluck." Great frugal advice!

When purchasing towels she recommends only buying white. My mother did that. It was a great idea. They always match and can be bleached. I personally have all navy blue towels. They don't show much dirt, but the shades don't match perfectly when I have to buy more.

She brings up alternate modes of transportation. While the bus isn't practical or money saving for a woman with 3 kids, she brings up bike riding. I once saw a woman on a bike with two kids in a trailer, one in a back upright seat and one in a front mount seat. Who needs a minivan!

Overall Hoffman made me feel un-hip and foolish for not recognizing all the artist, designers and labels she tossed around and dropped throughout the book. How very unchic I am! But somehow I felt that was her secret intention.

Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style by Marjorie Harris - Book Review

2011-03-23T14:48:00.001-04:00

She lost me at Organic. I'm sorry, but unless that "Organic" is followed by "that I grew in my garden" and not prefaced by "Certified" she has lost all credibility with me.

The only thing that stuck out for me from her book was her definition of a frugal house. I'm sorry, not Harris' definition, but she quotes her friend Margaret Atwood saying, "Keeping a frugal house is about keeping your home in order without having to pay other people to do it and without spending a lot of money. It's about doing things yourself."

What she said that I liked:

Know the difference between your needs and wants. To be thrifty you must be self-aware.

Get organized

Always have a budget for everything.

Get debt under control.

Do your research before large purchases.

Buy well and you buy once.

No shop therapy.

Make the most of what you have: Repurpose, repair, refit, reuse, recycle.

Don't throw good money after bad.

You don't need to spend a lot to create great experiences.

Quell the desire for acquisition. Just get what you need to be complete.

Modest Florida Summer Fashion

2011-03-21T11:24:00.000-04:00

As the heat is kicking in down here in Florida, I am reminded that I have NOTHING to wear. The Florida heat in the summer is like a toasty day that wraps around your body like a hot steamy blanket. Somehow I managed to get by in Oklahoma with jeans and capri pants in the summer, but that doesn't cut it here. Most people where cheekers bikinis and whimsical short sundresses each and everyday but that won't cut it for LDS standards.

How's a Mormon Girl to survive! Knee length shorts are a fashion buzz kill that I find intolerable. Skirts, while fashionably acceptable, can be binding and accidentally indecent when dealing with a two year old all day.
All I can think to do is invent/design something for me to wear. If anyone has any suggestions on clothing or websites to keep me modest, comfortable and fashionable at the beach this summer please leave a comment.
Otherwise I will keep you posted on what I come up with.

Bunny Tea Party

2011-03-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

North Beach Art Walk

2011-03-16T21:06:00.001-04:00

One year ago I tried to enter the North Beach Art Walk. They turned me down and hurt my tender artistic feelings. A couple days ago they called and asked me to participate in their new venue. My pride came close to saying no, but my spirit told me to go for it. I painted a couple new beach signs for tomorrow night.

Juliet painted this one. She calls it "Alligator Eats Surfer."

Bunny Birthday Invitations

2011-03-04T20:05:00.001-05:00

Invitations hop out on Monday for Juliet's Birthday Party. Our bunny, Pepper, will be making an appearance.

Outtakes: Finally got those Christmas Photos taken!

2011-02-27T20:37:00.000-05:00

We had a very inspiring lesson in Relief Society back in December that inspired me to put off what ever I could in December until January. The point was to enjoy Christmas, not overbook.

I told myself I could put off Christmas photos of the kids in their Christmas clothes until January. As we get ready to embark into March... still no pictures.

Getting Pics of the Kids is, like, so stressful, right?! (And here you are expected to take ALL photos at the beach! Such a mess)

I had to have them dressed for church any way today so I figured it's now or never. We just went downstairs and started clicking away.

The "good" pics are on facebook. Behold the outtakes:

Making a fur vest

2011-02-26T08:56:00.000-05:00

Draw it out on tissue paper.

Cut faux fur

Sew

A luxurious satin for the inside.

Put her in it and take her to a party.

Rock it out!

Mess Prevention Mantra

2011-02-25T11:48:00.001-05:00

If you open it, close it.
If you take it out, put it back.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you move it, put it back.
If you unlock it, lock it.
If you use it up, refill or replace it.
If you break it, fix it.
If you can't fix it, find someone who can.
If you borrow it, return it.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
If you're done with it, put it back.
If you don't know where it goes - ASK!

This about sums it up. This is a little mash-up of wisdom from Ann Landers and Don Aslett, and I love it, and I want to hang it like a carrot in from of everyone who lives in my home. Perhaps I'll have them memorize it...

Random Cannon Fun

2011-02-23T10:39:00.001-05:00

It wouldn't be fair to say February was ALL terrible, just pretty terrible on certain days.

We went out to Hanna Park and enjoyed hanging out at the beach. Cougar and Chad hit the dirt bike trails.

Chad had a kickin' birthday party with Alisa and Rob at the Rodriguezs' house. I doubt I wrote or spelled that right...

Juliet made puppy ears on her head band with socks and rocked the look at the Pine Wood Derby on Saturday. My mom got to be with us for her birthday!!!

At least our noses are clean.

Book Review: The Accidental Housewife

2011-02-21T21:18:00.000-05:00

The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time by Julie Edelman.

Overall, I felt like I didn't learn anything from this book. It was housekeeping at it's simplest level. In fact, I think that 90% of the information in this book falls under the category of common sense.

She did have a few cute quotes throughout the book. The overall voice of the author seemed to be trying to hard to be funny. It was even painful at times. Edelman used alcohol and drinking references constantly throughout. She calls herself an accidental housewife, ergo, I'm assuming she hasn't fully accepted her present occupation.

What I liked in the book was a chart of all the laundry signs and what they mean. I also found the lists of available donation sights helpful. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Dress for Success, Glass Slipper Project, Baby Buggy, and Children's Aid Society.

Pages 62 and 63 has a list of laundry stains and how to treat them. I haven't tried them out myself, but could be a good reference.

I wouldn't seek out this book. Let me keep reading and reviewing to find a true gem or two.

New Endeavor: Home Management Exploration

2011-02-20T22:24:00.002-05:00

We are almost all well from the dreaded flu. We are all faithfully taking our vitamins and we'll see how it goes...

I have contemplated my Domestic Divahood of late. It has occurred to me that unconsciously I have created systems of organization and home management over the last 9 years. And perhaps others have also created systems; maybe better than mine!

I want to take on a new endeavor. I am going to start reading all the home management books I can get a hold of. I will go book by book reading and evaluating and reporting back to this blog my reviews of said books.

In staying true to my frugal, cheapskatedness I am known and loved for, I will not be buying any books whatsoever. I will borrow from my local library and will get what I can from inter-library loan. I will borrow from friends, neighbors and relatives.

I will learn all there is to know about being the best Domestic Diva I can be. Then I'll see if there's anything new I can add.

Rising from the Vortex

2011-02-15T10:28:00.001-05:00

It's been a rough week, to say the least. Chad and I both lost our grandfathers and our pregnancy this week.

The hardest part about times like these is pulling up from the nose dive; trying to change the direction of the life flow.

I feel like one of those cartoons with my heels in the ground melting and burning my shoes as I'm pulled in a direction I do not want to go, but with no power to stop.

As insult to injury, while all this has been going on, our family has had the flu. Now that I'm beginning to heal and feel deeply out of control, I have decided that I may not be able to keep family members from dying, but that I'm tired of getting sick. I will control my own destiny and I refuse to get sick any more!

Chad says that's like saying that I refuse to see another cloudy day.

Maybe, but today I am taking a trip to the pharmacy to by multivitamins (which I already take everyday), vitamin C, tons of hand sanitizer, orange juice and … well, I don't know what else.

What else should I get on my quest to take control and never get sick again?

Chad's Birthday- 33!

2011-01-26T15:12:00.001-05:00

I love how excited the kids get about birthdays. So much thought and planning goes into each member of the family's birthday. They remember our birthday before we do on the morning of! They are so sweet and so cute.

A Cake Divided. The kids think Chad's favorite cake, German Chocolate, is just plain gross. It's not the cake that is so offensive, but the coconut pecan icing that turns them green. Therefore we must compromise!

Happy Birthday to the Birthday Boy!

Easter Dress Sketch

2011-01-24T12:20:00.003-05:00

It seems like the Christmas Dress just got finished, and I feel compelled to start plans for this year's Easter Dress.

Thanks to a congress held in 1923, the eastern churches adopted a modified Gregorian Calendar and decided to set the date of Easter according to the astronomical Full Moon for the meridian of Jerusalem.

Got that, Okay!

Thus, Easter this year will occur on April 24th.

That is very late as far as Easter is concerned. But you can't explain these things to my right brain which keeps me up late into the night concocting Easter Dress ideas.

This is what I've got so far:

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

My Broccoli

2011-01-20T13:12:00.001-05:00

I grew that all by myself. I am also growing cabbage and lettuce and cilantro. I'm such a big girl.

I have a new calling at church. I am Enrichment Leader. Tonight is my first activity. It was already planned. The lady teaching it is not answering her phone. The topic is Winter Gardening. I am no expert, but I at least have a garden so I guess I'm plan B!

NYC - All the Pretty Lights!

2011-01-04T16:47:00.001-05:00

It has been on of my dreams to visit New York at Christmas time. Chad surprised me this year for our anniversary by making this dream a reality.

Christmas Eve Cookies

2010-12-24T19:17:00.000-05:00

Whoo wants an owl?!

2010-12-21T18:13:00.000-05:00

Each of my kiddos is getting something made by me - especially for them for Christmas. I had this idea to make Brock a stuffed owl from an owl Juliet made in preschool out of construction paper. I'm not sure Jules is going to be willing to give him up!

Christmas Dress Done at Long Last!

2010-12-19T23:39:00.001-05:00

She's ready for the runway.

Dress Envy

Christmas Cookies

2010-12-19T23:34:00.000-05:00

We baked all day! We made all of our yummy favorites...

While I was mixing sugar cookie dough, Brock decided to help out with the cookie cutters. He utterly destroyed the whole batch. Then he went into the bathroom and cut his hair. And dropped my computer external speaker down the disposal. Big day Brock.

Divas, Dirt, Dang Long Lashes and Deer

2010-12-13T21:01:00.000-05:00

Tangled

2010-12-13T20:59:00.000-05:00

We Stuffed a Bunny

2010-11-20T16:32:00.000-05:00

4 Days Off School

2010-11-14T22:03:00.004-05:00

Brock is obsessed with baseball right now. He has worn Cougar's batting helmet for 6 days straight!

We had fun at the County Fair.

We did some chillin'

We enjoyed the Veteran's Day Parade. We saw our new governor Rick Scott!

Umbrella Girls

2010-11-01T22:59:00.000-04:00

Flower Mosquito Net Canopy

2010-10-29T14:06:00.005-04:00

Reason 1,873,328 I am so glad I have a girl! Mosquito nets are just so chic! Mama came to visit and we got working on this project and I just got it done today

Oh, I also finally covered Juliet's lamp.

My Baby took my Lovey

2010-10-23T00:53:00.007-04:00

Teddy entered my life the day I was born. I've seen pictures of me as a baby sleeping with teddy. Teddy went to the college dorms with me. Moved into the sorority house with me. Teddy is whom I snuggle with on Chad's call nights. Only something very unexpected seems to have occurred.

Yes, that's teddy.

You can never guess what item will become that special lovey. For Cougar it is Meow, his stuffed cat. Juliet loves her princess blanket though she has many special stuffed animals she cares for.

Brock has never attached to anything up to this point. And he chooses my lovey for which to attach.

My feelings are mixed.

Somehow I managed to sneak him back tonight. Do you still have your lovey?

Unicorn Costume

2010-10-21T21:45:00.004-04:00

And it is done!

Juliet's POV of the Family

2010-10-18T13:20:00.003-04:00

Daddy: My Daddy is Chad. He's my Daddy. He goes to work at the doctor. He fixes people because they have emergencies when blood comes out of them.

Mommy: My mom always be's nice to me but sometimes she puts me in timeout. She doesn't work she just goes to the workout place. She likes me to sleep with her because I'm a little girl.

Cougar: He only likes to play hide and seek with me and that's all he likes.

Brock: He fights my bunny because he's so crazy. He just tackles it. He's two and had a chocolate cake.

Juliet: Now let's talk about me ... see how beautiful I am? I like to play with my toys. I like to play with my pet bunny that's real.

Camping IN

2010-10-16T08:51:00.003-04:00

Like Unicorns, they don't exist.

2010-10-15T10:58:00.007-04:00

We couldn't find an affordable Unicorn Costume so I am, like the Fairy Godmother, trying to make one out of a pumpkin.

Juliet's Plan

A work in progress.

The head is done.

On to the rest now...

Poetry

2010-10-08T11:34:00.002-04:00

by Cougar Cannon

I love sugar;
I love bread.
I wear underwear
on my head.

In art class Cougar made a poetry book for all his deepest sentiments. This is what I found written inside.

It's been a month since my last confession...

2010-10-03T10:59:00.003-04:00

What a month it's been! We moved into our new home in "The Gates" from our hut at the beach. It was a lot of work, but worth it!

And we went to Disney! I love Florida

Beach Cruiser

2010-09-03T18:45:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday to ME!!! I've been hinting for about a year now! Chad and the kids are soooo sweet!

And they got me PINK roses to match!

Our Medical Journey: Residency

2010-09-03T14:53:00.002-04:00

Undergrad seems like a lifetime ago. Medical school is a distant past. The real world feels like the distant future...

It's a resident, is what we are. The transition from Med School to residency seemed stark although we didn't move until after internship year. We stayed with the University of Oklahoma for Chad to do his Surgery year.

I went from too much Chad in 4th year med school, to who was that Chad guy that used to be my husband?
At that time, we were living in Oklahoma, but I felt like a filthy rich somebody that year. Our rent was only $600 a month for a lovely home and for the first time in 4 years we got a pay check. Hey kids lets go get ice cream! No, not from the grocery store!

The next year led us to University of Tennessee where we bought our first house and Chad learned he did NOT want to be a radiologist.

Three months later I was laying on the floor upstairs in my master bedroom gripping the carpet screaming NO!!!!!!!! as the movers piled all my belongings in a moving van. It was raining outside. I got drug away, anyway.

Even the movers laughed as they pulled up to our 916 sq foot cinder block hut in Florida. It's been a tough year. The good news is that Chad loves anesthesiology. Cougar loves his school. And I actually love living in Florida and get to move into a new house in 12 days and counting.

One of the most difficult parts of going from Medical School to Residency is learning that Loan companies lie. Learning that all those loans that they promised wouldn't come due until AFTER residency are forcing repayment. As if residency doesn't pay poorly all ready. It is a very aggravating challenge.

I am very proud of Chad for all of his hard work to get where he is now. While I didn't always get my way, I know that we are where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to be doing.

Juliet's 1st Day of School

2010-09-01T16:29:00.006-04:00

I's been bein' industrious

2010-08-28T17:34:00.008-04:00

I had a baby shower to go to and was low on cash at the moment, so I went through my fabric scraps and put this together. It was a big hit! Yay!

Florida does have rainbows! Who would have thunk?!

My chic paint job was looking rather shabby. So, I zenned and embraced. I painted the outdated drawer pulls "cake batter" same as dresser. Then attacked all edges with sandpaper revealing the mahogany underneath. Now we're "shabby chic"!!!

Our Journey: Medical School

2010-08-27T10:37:00.008-04:00

Medical School, gosh, seems so long ago! But not really. Everything is just so different now.

Chad had several options for medical school. He chose OU because it was in-state and MD. Both very good choices in retrospect.

I remember Chad saying I was a snob for not wanting to live in the cheap apartments in OKC. I wanted to live in "The Village." The lovely town homes on campus that were not cheap. I said fine and we drove to OKC a couple weeks before school started to look at his cheap apartments he found online.

Chad learned a lesson that day. Large cheap apartments downtown are not for young white doctors' families. I had set up a tour with the apartment manager. As we went on our tour, I swear people were coming out of their apartments, looking at us and slapping baseball bats against their palms. He couldn't wait to get out of there! But I made him stay for the complete tour. The apartment they showed us had marks from a crowbar up and down the sides of the door!

Fortunately, I had also made an appointment with the nice Town Homes on campus. I got my way that day.

It was really fun living on campus. I saw Chad far more that any other wives saw their husbands and since Cougar was only 2 I wanted him to see his dad as much as possible. We made good friends and had a lot of fun. Frequently, we would have husbands on our couches crashing because they didn't want to drive all the way home during test block week. I'm so glad we lived on campus.

When another little one, Juliet, came along she slept in the hall and we were out of space. Chad went to Tulsa for the last two years of school, which was also nice because that is where we have family. Third and Fourth year were like a big party. Chad had good friends that also came to Tulsa and lived close by. We enjoyed it very much.

We lived in Loan Utopia. Borrow, borrow, borrow. Our motto was, "What's another 10 grand?!"

Food Stamps, Wic and Medicaid got us by on what we couldn't borrow. We managed to come out of Med School without any credit card debt. HA! I was Soooo proud. Pride has a way of humbling us. Residency is a whole different ball game folks.

Surf Camp

2010-08-23T12:38:00.003-04:00

It's not everyday you get to live at the beach. At least that's our attitude. We probably won't live at the beach forever, but let's enjoy it while we do! Cougar had an absolute blast at Surf Camp.
I've never seen him take so much to any kind of physical activity. His surf coach honestly did not think he would be back after the first day. He hit himself in the head with the surf board at least 20 times.
But sure enough, he was back with determination on Tuesday. He caught a huge wave that all the other kids were afraid of and felt like a super star. He wanted to go to bed as soon as we got home so it would be time to wake up and go surfing again.

Hilton Grand Vacation

2010-08-13T11:24:00.001-04:00

Playing with water.

Brock's new tall chair.

Sharing a bed.

Doll House

2010-08-11T09:07:00.005-04:00

The kids are having tons of fun with the new doll house Granny Cheryl sent.

Juliet says thank you!

Cougar gets caught!

Wild Bunny Chase

2010-08-05T14:08:00.003-04:00

Bunnies are so chic!

Pepper disappeared today. I sliced her a piece of apple and called and no Pepper came running. So we all went searching. No Pepper. We hadn't seen Pepper since before the UPS guy came, so we could only determine that she must have slipped out the door. Several hours go by. The kids are crying. We have searched the neighborhood on foot and by car. No bunny. The kids say a little prayer that we find the poor bunny.
Chad turns to go down the hall and, low and behold, there sits a little white bunny.

Smile

2010-07-28T01:23:00.001-04:00

My kids make me smile : )

Brock "Cullen"

2010-07-20T09:33:00.002-04:00

Brock just rolls out of bed like this~

I'll Catch it, and I'll Cook it, then I'll Eat It

2010-07-18T00:58:00.010-04:00

Juliet saved her money for a month to buy a fishing pole. I have been taking her to the beach to fish and we have caught nothing.
The family reunion has a fishing tournament put on by Juliet's Great Uncles Doug and Dick. Under their expert guidance Juliet finally caught her first fish and BOY was she proud.
The fish went into a bag in the fridge and she pulled it out to show everyone including the Park Ranger that came by our cabin.
Uncle Doug cooked it up for her tonight and she ate it all.

Blood, Sweat and Sod

2010-07-05T20:30:00.001-04:00

I don't even want to talk about what a nightmare laying the sod was.

Brock beat some punk kids down at the Pool on July 3rd.

What's up with my veggie garden? Growing great, producing NOTHING.

Juliet is so proud she "jumped" in at swim lessons.

Bird is the Word

2010-06-27T14:08:00.005-04:00

I took the kids to get frozen yogurt at the Town Center while we waited for Cougar's baseball camp to get finished. We had fun shopping. Except Brock. He didn't have fun. He hates shopping with Mom and Juliet. What a boy.

That is a bird in my car. A bird flew in and got trapped. I opened every door and window, but the stupid bird insisted upon banging itself into the one unopened with. Have mercy!

Kessa's reject fabric makes a home in my kitchen as Roman Shades. I thought it might help the kitchen not be horrible. Unfortunately even with new appliances, granite counter tops, a pretty paint color AND Roman shades, it's still horrible. Chad says a new house would make the kitchen look better.

He's right.

Softening the blow with Pepper

2010-06-15T08:59:00.007-04:00

We named the new bunny Pepper because it looks like someone spilled a Dr. Pepper on her. I took the poor deceased bunny's body back to the pet store and got this little rascal in exchange. The goal: Keep Bunny Alive

The bonding process is complete.

Poor Sassy

2010-06-14T08:17:00.002-04:00

To the horror of the entire family Sassy died on Saturday night. We do not know what happened to her. She just wasn't looking right and we took her into the bedroom and laid her on a towel and talked to her and petted her. She was gone in a minute.

The kids are traumatized. They have been crying for two days. I have to take the faulty pet body back to the pet store today, because it was under warranty.

Poor Sassy, poor Kids, poor Mommy

Honey Bunny

2010-06-07T12:11:00.003-04:00

Sassy thinks she owns the place already and Juliet believes Sassy belongs to her. I think the feeling is mutual... or interchangeable.

These two are peas in a pod. Sassy isn't getting much cage time in. She rode to school with us in the basket of the bike. Laura, the cross guard, was like, "What the?...."

But since when do I do anything like a normal person, like drive a car? or get a dog? or let the bath water just go down the drain?

Memorable Mermaid Memorial Day

2010-06-05T23:05:00.006-04:00

Juliet is a mermaid washed up on the shore!

Her favorite babysitter, Maddie, is there to assist.

Brockzilla!!!!! ArGGGG!!!!!

Where's the rest of Cougar? Where did Cougar go???!!!!

Supersize my Beach Bag

2010-05-29T07:56:00.005-04:00

With a diva needing a crown, water shoes, sunglasses, mermaids and her own beach towels x 5 there wasn't a beach bag on the market that could get our entourage to the pool or beach and back.

Project!

So I took the idea of a beach tote and supersized it!

The final touch was adding a funktified pocket to the inside for cell phones and keys.

Spring Baseball Comes to a Close

2010-05-28T08:18:00.004-04:00

Cougar had a great season as #1 for the Phillies. This season he got his first Home Run! Playing baseball was a great way for him to make some new friends here. The big Beach Town baseball complex is across the street from our house which made practice and games super convenient. He had so much fun. He can't wait for baseball camp this summer and fall baseball. Go Cougar!

How my Garden Grows

2010-05-26T09:30:00.006-04:00

This is my new trellis. I built it out of electrical pipes and trellis netting.

Tomato. I painted it red because it gave it flavah.

Green Beans

Snow Peas