Outtakes: Finally got those Christmas Photos taken!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?