Confessions

Since I have blogged about my attempts at natural beauty and cleaning solutions, I feel the need to confess when I use a commercial alternative. Because I know you're all out there hinging on my every thought on the subject. So this blog post is brought to you by my fear of hypocrisy.

Baking soda shampoo - 90% usage rate. It has really helped that I repurposed a big conditioner bottle to use for my homemade shampoo. Because it holds so much, I feel like I can use a lot each time and not have to worry about refilling the bottle every time I bathe. Using more of the solution helps with the itchy scalp. And I don't really mind dousing my head with cold water during the summer.

Homemade laundry detergent - 100% usage rate. Seems to work pretty well.

Homemade dishwasher detergent - 0% usage rate. I think I screwed up the last batch by trying to mix it in the box. I think my ingredients got layered instead of throughly mixed. As a result, I was washing several loads with borax, then several loads with baking soda. My dishes were getting chalky. I got tired of re-rinsing, so I just went back to Cascade. When I get close to running out of that, I may try the homemade again. But this time, I'll mix it in a bowl first, then funnel it into the box.

Lanolin chapstick - 100% usage rate. Love it!

Homemade deodorant - pfththtbth! Let's not even go there in this heat.

Oil-cleansing method for my face - 100% usage rate. Can't say enough wonderful things about this!! Of all the natural things I have tried in the last year, this one sounded the strangest, but has definitely been the most beneficial and worthwhile. If you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out.

Double-edge safety razor - 30% usage rate. I probably feel the most guilty about this one. Every time I use my expensive, plastic cartridge refill, I feel my own words burning in my ears. I confess I was over-zealous on this one. I do love the frugality of the razor refills for the safety razor, but I can go a lot faster with the modern one. Since I rarely have time to gingerly coax the razor across my skin, I find myself bypassing the safety razor for the more expensive alternative. On days when I do have the luxury of more than ten minutes to shower and shave, I choose the safety razor to help save on the expensive refills.

Coconut oil for my hair - 100% usage rate. Seems to work well as a leave-in conditioner for the ends of my hair

Pure cocoa butter for lotion - 0% usage rate. I don't think I even blogged about this one because it was such a flop. I've read great things about the moisturizing properties of cocoa butter and how pure cocoa butter is even better. So I found some and forked over the dough for it, but it's practically impossible to use. It's so solid in it's container, that I have to scrape it out with a knife. Then, I would need to warm it in the microwave in a glass bowl to make it spreadable. Of course, you have to wait for it to cool because who wants to rub hot oil on their skin?! But don't get distracted and forget about it, or you'll have to start all over. Not worth it.

Ah, confession is good for the soul. I know I feel better now.

Love Me Tender

I was feeling pretty cruddy yesterday morning and A was so sweet. I laid down on the couch for a few minutes to recuperate from C's morning circus and let the pounding in my head subside. I told her my throat was scratchy and she ran away. I basked in the silence for a moment and then almost cried when she returned with a damp wash rag for me to put on my throat. Isn't that sweet?!

She played very patiently with her little sister on the floor while I rested on the couch. She paused to bring me a blanket and lovingly spread it out to intermittently cover both my toes and thighs, but not at the same time. She asked if she should bring the thermometer, but I told her that wasn't necessary.

When J got home from work, he banished me to the bedroom to rest, but not before A asked him for a cup from the cabinet. She's so proud that she can fix a cup of ice water from the fridge and usually has one waiting for Daddy when he comes in the door each evening. But this time, I was the honored recipient. Then she ran to get me another rag for my throat.

Thank you, God, for tender moments that help sustain us through less-than-pleasant personality phases. I shouldn't be amazed that You can love me well through a preschooler.

It Could Happen to You

God likes to humble me. That's one of the many reasons He blessed me with children. I have a tendency to stare blankly with my head cocked to one side when I hear mothers describe crazy things their kids do. Your son put a rock in his ear? What made him do that? Why would your daughter use lipstick to paint her wall? This sort of nonsense doesn't happen at my house. Your toddler took her dirty diaper off and carried poop around the house?! Where were you while this was going on?

Well, to be perfectly honest, I was reading a rather intriguing blog post about how guilty I should feel for using antibacterial soap (is any commercially-available product guilt-free and safe for consumption these days?). And in my defense, I'm fighting a sinus infection, so my brain is a little fuzzier than usual. So when C walked in to the kitchen this morning to put something in the trash, I was glad she announced it so that I could check to make sure that it really was trash before she threw it in. Why, yes dear, the trash can is a good place to deposit the poop from your diaper. What the heck?!!

And yes, she was walking around in nothing but a diaper so she had easy access. When I went to get her out of her crib this morning, she had super-soaked her diaper and I had to strip her down immediately, then change the sheet. I decided to wait until after breakfast to put play clothes on her. I thought I was saving myself some laundry. She has never before indicated an interest in taking her diaper off, although she has randomly landed on the tabs and pulled them open when I'm changing her. So I should have known she was capable.

I guess while I was engrossed in my blog, she did her business and decided to investigate. I'm soooo glad she made a bee line for the trash can. The mess stayed contained in the diaper and on her person. I whisked her off to the bathtub and hosed her down, making good use of a disposable washcloth sample I found in the cabinet. Once clean and dry, I locked her down in a onesie and a pair of overalls for good measure.

While she was in the bathtub, she begged to rescue the bathtub baby hanging from the shower hose to dry. I gave it a good squeeze to confirm it was dry and handed it over. She likes to feed her baby dolls whatever she is eating in her high chair, so I buckled her and the baby doll in and gave her a waffle. When I came back to her with a juice cup a few minutes later, her tray was full of water, she was soaking wet and a small pond was forming on the floor. Apparently the baby doll was not dry and more importantly, it's secret identity is a ShamWow!

So to recap, before my breakfast this morning, I stripped a urine-soaked baby and bed, washed a poopy baby, and mopped stale bath water off part of my kitchen floor. Don't laugh...it could happen to you. Or it already has and I laughed. And for that I am truly sorry and humbled. Next time, we'll laugh together.

New Seeds Album

So the folks over at Seeds Family Worship are working on album #6, "Seeds of Character." Looks like they fund the production price of each album by getting backing through pre-sells and donations. They asked if I could help spread the word about this new project, so I'm giving it a shot. All six of you should go look at their project page by clicking on the little widget on the side of my blog. For whatever editing reason, I couldn't get the whole of it to display. All the more reason to go look at the real site, which is much nicer than the cut-off version I can show you.

If you aren't familiar with Seeds, this would be a great opportunity to learn more. I really love their music for families. All scripture, including the reference, authentic music (no synthesizers) and no obnoxious children's choirs. I listen to it sometimes without the girls in the car. Oh, and I think the discount code they originally gave me is good through the beginning of August. So if you want to buy an existing album from their store, use code SKELLEY and get 20% your purchase. If you're in the market for quality family music, I haven't found any better than Seeds. (Please let me know if you do.) End shameless plug.

Big Dose of Funny

Okay, I had to stop reading the comments on this blog post because I was starting to cry from laughing so hard. Go read and get a good dose of the best medicine. (Please note that given the subject matter, not all comments are g-rated; but they are all hilarious!) I'll go back and finish reading them about five minutes before nap time and that will see me through.

Subarban Snapshots: Why Having a Toddler is Like Being at a Frat Party

Free Books!

I'm all about the free, especially when books are involved. So yesterday, we went around town collecting reading logs for our summer reading. Of course, our local library has a summer reading program. For A's age, the expectations are pretty low--just color in a train car on the log for every day that you read. There's a prize if you turn in a completely colored train by August 31. The prize was not disclosed, but it's still motivating for a preschooler.

Half Price Books has got the best deal going by far. To receive their reading reward, you read at least 15 minutes a day for 5 days and return your completed log each week until July 31. You can get a $3 Half Price shopping card for each log you turn in. (You have to turn the logs in on a weekly basis.) And, they let me take a log for C, too! So, 2 kids x 8 weeks x $3... I think that comes to $48 in free books from Half Price!! Awesome!

Barnes & Noble also has a reading program. The reading log says it is for grades 1-6, but I asked at the information desk if my preschooler could participate and they said, "Sure!" You have to read 8 books by September 7 to choose a free book from their designated list. The books are geared toward elementary-age readers, but we're reading easy chapter books to A, so she should be able to find one that looks interesting.

Happy (free) summer reading!

Two-a-Day

I don't know what is involved in a football practice two-a-day, but at my house, it refers to a really long, hot day of outdoor activities that necessitates two showers in one day.

My Saturday started with a shower so I could be presentable for a visit with a sweet friend here in town who gave birth to twins last week. Little miracle babies, they are, and so precious.

I left that visit and got home in time to swoop up the rest of the family to go sledding. Yes, we went sledding in Texas in June.

Okay, so the video isn't that good; but I think the dramatic Elton John music more than makes up for it. (The music was playing on a loudspeaker, I didn't add that lovely touch.)

It's a local phenomenon, brought to you by the university ski team. Yes, Texas apparently produces ski teams. Who knew?! I sure didn't. What's even more fascinating is that they practice on white astro turf. I kid you not. Man-made mountain, white astro turf, high-pressure water hose to get it all wet, and you can sled in Texas in June. It took a couple of rides with daddy for A to get brave enough to go by herself, but she eventually did it and had a blast! I, too, scaled the heights of artificial wonder, but that video shall remain on my hard drive.

We were all quite sweaty from our sledding adventure, so we came home to cool off and have lunch. Then we all napped quite well before getting ready for a backyard birthday party. Can I just say that these friends are going to be the coolest teenagers in high school? You know you got major mommy mojo when you fill a wading pool with red jell-o for your 3-year-old twins' birthday party.

Notice C picked the cleanest spot to get in? Notice she doesn't really want to put her toes down? Notice the lack of other children? You would think something like this would be a blast for little kids, but I think I saw more grown-ups squishing it between their toes than kids. Now, the wading pool full of chocolate pudding was another story. Neither of my girls would get near it, but a few kids did full body pudding wallowing. There were also pools full of plain water, also lots of fun.

And a slip-and-slide that would not stay plugged, no matter how hard A tried to cover all the holes.

A very gracious party guest painted lots of faces, and the superhero mask to seemed to be the most popular choice. Of course, A wanted her mask to be pink.

Top off all that fun with an ice cream sundae bar, beautiful cupcakes, and a candy buffet for filling treat bags and we were done! Back home, the girls went straight into the bath while I pulled supper together. Needless to say, I caught my second shower after the girls were in bed. Day like today only confirmed my choice to eliminate the natural deodorant. And now it's time for squeaky clean me to go to lay in my crazy comfy bed, with my climate controlled air and count my blessings. 'Night, ya'll.

Still Here

Never fear, we're still here. I've been absent from blogging for a few weeks, through no particular effort of my own. I guess that's the problem...no effort = no blog posts. I knew it had been awhile since I wrote a post when my neighbor called to check and make sure we were okay. Have I mentioned we have great neighbors? She said her granddaughter follows the blog and hadn't seen a post in a couple of weeks and now that we can park the car in the garage, it's hard to tell when we're coming or going. So she called to make sure all was well. (Thanks for looking out for us, O family.)

I remember when we first moved here and J was traveling so much, I was so lonely. I told him once that every time I came in the door I hoped someone had left a message or sent an email, someone to notice that I was here or not here, to see that I existed and mattered. I'm so very grateful to be growing relationships with my neighbors and friends, and to know that they are looking out for us and thinking about us.

Last weekend, my incredible hubby watched the girls for two nights (!!!!) while I stole away with my mom, sister, and sister-in-law for a girls' weekend away. We had a great time; saw a movie, did some window shopping, ate yummy food, did lots of talking. Pictures were taken, but they won't be posted here.

While I was gone, J was Super-Fun Daddy. He took the girls to the splashpad, over to friends' for supper, even threw a birthday party for A's teddy bear including homemade cupcakes, homemade pizza and at least two dozen balloons. And he had most of it cleaned up by the time I got home. Did I mention he's amazing?!

The weekend before last, we were out of town for my niece's birthday party. Lots of fun with family. I'm so grateful that my girls have little cousins their age to grow up with.

Somewhere in there, J started playing softball with a team from our church. He's also trying to wrap up a few final client projects at work so that he can move forward with the idea that has been funded.

See? We're still here, doing our usual thing. Not much new, just hotter. I'll try to pick up the pace a bit on posts, though, so as not to cause any further alarm. Perhaps I'll work on another right now.