With lots of leftovers from last week and a determination to fit the $8.95 indian buffet in this weekend as a post church "reward" we're having a very low key food week.
Breakfasts::
low sugar instant oatmeal
cranberry orange scones (from frozen dough made months back)
lemon blueberry pancakes (frozen from last weekend)
eggs
cereal
Lunches::
egg salad (of course!)
ham and cheese sandwiches (from leftover Easter ham)
yogurt
minestrone soup (Trader Joe's) and grilled cheese
Dinners::
fish and chips (Trader Joe's frozen battered cod and sweet potatoe fries)
tacos (with penzey's taco seasoning, my favorite!)
tater tot casserole with frozen mixed veggies (duggar's recipe, it's been too long)
Easter leftovers (PW's scalloped potatoes, ham and asparagus)
bolognese (frozen from a few weeks back) and salad
Indian (!!!)
pad thai take out or frozen pizza
Snacks::
mini banana muffins
raisins and crackers
cereal
fruit and yogurt
cheese sticks
total:: $97, including two new hand soaps for the bathrooms (Trader Joe's has the best!) I know I'm making up for a big week last week but we still have enough wiggle room for at least one take out meal and a frozen pizza for back up. There are going to be a few late nights this week for Ian so I'm thankful for the flexibility in the menu.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Hump Day Nuggets:: De-Plan
Like most other type A's out there, I'm a huge planner. I have a planner (of course), red and brawny, leather and loved.
Every year when I agonize over which planner to get I kind of laugh because really? my life is totally predictably planned. The girls' few organized activities each week are easy to keep track of, playdates are such events these days that they stick firmly in my mind, and vacations and getaways? oh how they are thinning out.
So here I find myself, filling my beautiful red planner with grocery lists, budgeting scribbles, mealsplans and craft ideas. It's become a sort of journal for me, much like this blog has. One of the things that I miss most about my pre kid self is writing, time to reflect and the mindspace to make sense of it all. It's nice to have a place to jot and remind, if only a few words or sentences.
Perhaps it's this, that my planner is filled with nonsense, that I find myself frequently without plan. I even go so far now as to de-plan, thin out too full days to make room for the magic and fun that almost always accompany a few spare hours. I'm learning to love just being in each day, letting it move along as it will. Good thing too, for as I look forward to the coming months, the luscious spring and long hot summer, we have so little planned. No trips coming up, no visitors any time soon. Truth be told it feels nice to just be here. For right now that's all the plan I need.
Nuggets::
In all honesty after the whirl of get-ready-for-florida crafting was done I was ready for a break. My fingers were a bit weary of the needle and back tired from the hunch over my sewing machine. But Easter's proximity to the end of our spring break has allowed for no such respit, and I have to say it feels good to keep plugging along.
Oh goodness these dresses could become addicting. So simple and quick to make with an easy playful fit, and the girls both adore them. I adore that they have two new dresses that should take them through kindergarten for about $5 each.
I found this newborn kimono pattern in my beloved Weekend Sewing book and I wish I had at least 3 more newborns to sew it for. So easy and cute and I hope a bit practical.
Nuggets::
Our first REAL garden! Ok, so really this is the third, but it feels like the first. We planned this year, drew a whole diagram, laid out seeds, broke fresh ground, put up a tiny wire fence, spread fresh soil and planted. We have rows! 2 rows each of butter lettuce, fingerling carrots, and snap peas (with tomatoes, swiss chard and green beans soon to follow). We scattered poppy seeds and planned a lot for our pumpkins (pumpkins!!!). Our two raspberry bushes are looking healthy and strong. We have spent every morning of the past week in our backyard, marveling and digging and playing.
Now just keep your fingers crossed that we get some real results!
Nuggets::
In the spirit of de-planning we have been doing just that since our arrival home last week. When the girls chose not to nap yesterday we simply filled the afternoon by pumping up bike tires, readjusting helmets and taking the burley and bike for it's inaugural ride. When the girls napped extra long on Monday I took the afternoon to delve into new projects, tracing and cutting jammy pant patterns, sewing the kimono top, ALWAYS working on Louise's spring sweater (I promise you'll have it soon sweet dumpling!) And today when we had an hour before lunch, after music garten and yard chores were complete? I pulled out the barbasol, and well, we had fun.
Everytime I do this I wish I did it more, VOW to do it more. SO easy to clean up (hand the girls a few soft clothes and rub it away, give them a little spray down in the tub), and so fun for everyone. Ainsley loves writing letters, shapes, and short words in her space while Louise could just slap and smush hers all day. I get a little into it too :o).
Nuggets::
Coming off of a vacation has been historically tricky for me and the brood. It's hard to come home to a house, even a clean house, that needs so much done. Laundry, unpacking, getting back into schedules and OUT of the "anything goes" vacation mentality.
For us this year it's been weaning Ainsley off the ipad. We shamelessly let her play one of her new Toca apps (SUCH great apps) or watch PBS kids show clips to get her to calm and fall asleep. It's been tough convincing her that that was just for vacation and most days we don't watch any TV or play on the ipad at all. I've found it's been relatively easier this time around to get back into our normal groove, mainly because I don't mind the whining and fighting as much as I used to. Sorry, milk or water only. No shows. No ipad. How about this beautiful crayon box and this nice white sheet of paper? Oh, ok mama. That sounds pretty good.
After so much OVER planning in the arts department and wishing they were more "into"it, we're there. Full on into crafting and mark making just because it's so dang fun. Both girls gravitate so easily to the art box and craft drawer and it's rare that a morning or afternoon doesn't go by when we don't make something, just for fun, because they love it so. Ahh. Be still my art major's heart.
Nuggets::
This year I'm trying to plant real grass seed in the girls' easter baskets. The kit was $4.99 at our local toy shop and I figured that's less than I spent on the spanish moss I got last year. I sure hope they start sprouting soon!
We are preparing for Easter as much as we can in the week we were allotted between Florida and the holiday. After last year's Easter Jesus fiasco I've been determined to get the real meaning of this holiday down for Ainsley. This year I opted to try out one of Ian's childhood books Kiri and the First Easter. While I am weary of giving Ainsley information that she can't process and in doing so frightening her we've talked enough about death lately (namely when she left an entire pail full of wiggly woos out overnight only to find them movement-less the next morning) that I know she understands it as best she can and it's so important for us that both our girls understand that this holiday is about so much more than Easter bunnies, eggs, and candy. This book is amazing. It of course talks about Jesus dying, but more about his rising and what that means. How he was such a special man, the best man, in rhyming soothing words that Ainsley soaked in.
I am thankful that this year our girl gets is so much more and in her prayers at night even thanked God for Jesus because "he is the best man God, and we love him so much". In fact she gets it SO much that when I cheerily suggested that we "plant" some jelly beans on Easter Eve and see what grows overnight she smartly replied "Oh mama. Jelly beans aren't seeds. They'll still be jelly beans. That is very silly mama." Yes Ainsley, it indeed is.
With these de-planned days we've had so much fun. Today I am thankful for no plans other than a good 4 miler for me when Ian gets home from work. I am thankful for one more weekend of relative laze with my family before Ian jumps in full throttle to final-months-of-PhD mode. I am excited for so many things today, for the hope in our garden, the sun outside, the freedom of our hours and the weeks and months ahead just here.
Happy Wednesday!
Every year when I agonize over which planner to get I kind of laugh because really? my life is totally predictably planned. The girls' few organized activities each week are easy to keep track of, playdates are such events these days that they stick firmly in my mind, and vacations and getaways? oh how they are thinning out.
So here I find myself, filling my beautiful red planner with grocery lists, budgeting scribbles, mealsplans and craft ideas. It's become a sort of journal for me, much like this blog has. One of the things that I miss most about my pre kid self is writing, time to reflect and the mindspace to make sense of it all. It's nice to have a place to jot and remind, if only a few words or sentences.
Perhaps it's this, that my planner is filled with nonsense, that I find myself frequently without plan. I even go so far now as to de-plan, thin out too full days to make room for the magic and fun that almost always accompany a few spare hours. I'm learning to love just being in each day, letting it move along as it will. Good thing too, for as I look forward to the coming months, the luscious spring and long hot summer, we have so little planned. No trips coming up, no visitors any time soon. Truth be told it feels nice to just be here. For right now that's all the plan I need.
Nuggets::
In all honesty after the whirl of get-ready-for-florida crafting was done I was ready for a break. My fingers were a bit weary of the needle and back tired from the hunch over my sewing machine. But Easter's proximity to the end of our spring break has allowed for no such respit, and I have to say it feels good to keep plugging along.
::Ainsley's spring sweater::
::it's her new outdoor staple,
who knew sunshine yellow goes with just about everything?::
::knit top dresses::
::Louise's "ooh!" face::
::new baby sewing
I know it's customary to wait until you've sent the gift to share it,
but I just couldn't resist. Sorry Adrian and Rachel!::
Is it wrong that lately I'm realy craving another baby, mainly so that I can make stuff for them?
I found this newborn kimono pattern in my beloved Weekend Sewing book and I wish I had at least 3 more newborns to sew it for. So easy and cute and I hope a bit practical.
Nuggets::
Our first REAL garden! Ok, so really this is the third, but it feels like the first. We planned this year, drew a whole diagram, laid out seeds, broke fresh ground, put up a tiny wire fence, spread fresh soil and planted. We have rows! 2 rows each of butter lettuce, fingerling carrots, and snap peas (with tomatoes, swiss chard and green beans soon to follow). We scattered poppy seeds and planned a lot for our pumpkins (pumpkins!!!). Our two raspberry bushes are looking healthy and strong. We have spent every morning of the past week in our backyard, marveling and digging and playing.
Now just keep your fingers crossed that we get some real results!
Nuggets::
In the spirit of de-planning we have been doing just that since our arrival home last week. When the girls chose not to nap yesterday we simply filled the afternoon by pumping up bike tires, readjusting helmets and taking the burley and bike for it's inaugural ride. When the girls napped extra long on Monday I took the afternoon to delve into new projects, tracing and cutting jammy pant patterns, sewing the kimono top, ALWAYS working on Louise's spring sweater (I promise you'll have it soon sweet dumpling!) And today when we had an hour before lunch, after music garten and yard chores were complete? I pulled out the barbasol, and well, we had fun.
Everytime I do this I wish I did it more, VOW to do it more. SO easy to clean up (hand the girls a few soft clothes and rub it away, give them a little spray down in the tub), and so fun for everyone. Ainsley loves writing letters, shapes, and short words in her space while Louise could just slap and smush hers all day. I get a little into it too :o).
Nuggets::
Coming off of a vacation has been historically tricky for me and the brood. It's hard to come home to a house, even a clean house, that needs so much done. Laundry, unpacking, getting back into schedules and OUT of the "anything goes" vacation mentality.
For us this year it's been weaning Ainsley off the ipad. We shamelessly let her play one of her new Toca apps (SUCH great apps) or watch PBS kids show clips to get her to calm and fall asleep. It's been tough convincing her that that was just for vacation and most days we don't watch any TV or play on the ipad at all. I've found it's been relatively easier this time around to get back into our normal groove, mainly because I don't mind the whining and fighting as much as I used to. Sorry, milk or water only. No shows. No ipad. How about this beautiful crayon box and this nice white sheet of paper? Oh, ok mama. That sounds pretty good.
::here's my octopus mama. he has so many legs I can't even count them. He has ALL the legs. I'm gonna hang him on the fridge because he's so pretty and he's my friend and I want to see him all the time. Hey? Could I draw some pictures for my room? For that big blank wall so I can look at them before I go to sleep. I want to draw Daniel "D-A-neel" Ok mama?::
After so much OVER planning in the arts department and wishing they were more "into"it, we're there. Full on into crafting and mark making just because it's so dang fun. Both girls gravitate so easily to the art box and craft drawer and it's rare that a morning or afternoon doesn't go by when we don't make something, just for fun, because they love it so. Ahh. Be still my art major's heart.
Nuggets::
This year I'm trying to plant real grass seed in the girls' easter baskets. The kit was $4.99 at our local toy shop and I figured that's less than I spent on the spanish moss I got last year. I sure hope they start sprouting soon!
We are preparing for Easter as much as we can in the week we were allotted between Florida and the holiday. After last year's Easter Jesus fiasco I've been determined to get the real meaning of this holiday down for Ainsley. This year I opted to try out one of Ian's childhood books Kiri and the First Easter. While I am weary of giving Ainsley information that she can't process and in doing so frightening her we've talked enough about death lately (namely when she left an entire pail full of wiggly woos out overnight only to find them movement-less the next morning) that I know she understands it as best she can and it's so important for us that both our girls understand that this holiday is about so much more than Easter bunnies, eggs, and candy. This book is amazing. It of course talks about Jesus dying, but more about his rising and what that means. How he was such a special man, the best man, in rhyming soothing words that Ainsley soaked in.
***************
With these de-planned days we've had so much fun. Today I am thankful for no plans other than a good 4 miler for me when Ian gets home from work. I am thankful for one more weekend of relative laze with my family before Ian jumps in full throttle to final-months-of-PhD mode. I am excited for so many things today, for the hope in our garden, the sun outside, the freedom of our hours and the weeks and months ahead just here.
Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Meal Plan 4-2-12
Florida budgeting went surprisingly well. We did splurge on one nice dinner out for Ian and I (oh goodness that grouper was worth it) but otherwise stayed right on track. Yes!
Upon our return from FL I splurged a bit on a few nice weekend meals and restocked the pantry and freezer. We ate shrimp scampi with rice and flank steak. Both so good and there's enough flank steak left for fajitas!
Now onto this week's meals::
grilled cheese and Creamy Tomato Soup (TJs has the best!)
feta and spinach quiche
kielbasa and Pioneer Woman's Broccoli Casserole
Betsy's Pasta and salad (shrimp penne with tomato cream sauce) also Pioneer Woman
Corn and Cheddar Chowder (frozen from months back, also Pioneer Woman)
leftover Chicken Spaghetti (um, also PW...goodness I'm obsessed)
frozen pizza or chili (chili is in the freezer)
I also purchased Easter food with this batch. We're hanging home with us 4 and Auntie Sonya. I'm excited for a low key holiday with yummy food!
Brunch:: Eggs Benedict with PWs hollandaise, prosciutto, tomatoes an spinach
Dinner:: 1/4 spiral sliced glazed ham from TJs, Delmonico's Potatoes (I made this ATK recipe last year and they were RIDICULOUS!!!), sauteed asparagus, cornmeal biscuits
Dessert:: Banana Cream Pie and fresh whipped cream (what else?)
This whole lot ran us $160, not bad including all the special holiday food and restocking I had to do. What's on your Easter menu this week?
Upon our return from FL I splurged a bit on a few nice weekend meals and restocked the pantry and freezer. We ate shrimp scampi with rice and flank steak. Both so good and there's enough flank steak left for fajitas!
Now onto this week's meals::
grilled cheese and Creamy Tomato Soup (TJs has the best!)
feta and spinach quiche
kielbasa and Pioneer Woman's Broccoli Casserole
Betsy's Pasta and salad (shrimp penne with tomato cream sauce) also Pioneer Woman
Corn and Cheddar Chowder (frozen from months back, also Pioneer Woman)
leftover Chicken Spaghetti (um, also PW...goodness I'm obsessed)
frozen pizza or chili (chili is in the freezer)
I also purchased Easter food with this batch. We're hanging home with us 4 and Auntie Sonya. I'm excited for a low key holiday with yummy food!
Brunch:: Eggs Benedict with PWs hollandaise, prosciutto, tomatoes an spinach
Dinner:: 1/4 spiral sliced glazed ham from TJs, Delmonico's Potatoes (I made this ATK recipe last year and they were RIDICULOUS!!!), sauteed asparagus, cornmeal biscuits
Dessert:: Banana Cream Pie and fresh whipped cream (what else?)
This whole lot ran us $160, not bad including all the special holiday food and restocking I had to do. What's on your Easter menu this week?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Back Home
I'm pushing it I know, starting a post at 2:39 in the afternoon, well into my two girls' deep afternoon post vacation slumbers. Yet here I am typing away because I'm almost giddy. We're home.
If you've read my blog for a while, or know me or talk to me at all, you know what a redundant struggle this new home has been for me. I found myself bumbling and embarrassed when people asked me where we're from while in Florida "Minnesota! well, um, originally. We've lived just outside of Chicago for almost 5 years. So I guess Chicago!" I felt silly, rambling on when the inquirer was just posing a polite conversational question. What do they care about this home identity crisis that I still seem to be struggling with? they don;t and shouldn't, and quite frankly it made me realize that I need to once and for all get over this. Its gotten completely ridiculous.
Truth is, it's gotten harder and harder to leave this home of ours. I teared up when I had to say goodbye to Ian in Florida, very uncharacteristic for me, half because I knew how much we'd all miss him, how HARD it was going to be without him there, but also because I was jealous. No fair! He gets to go home.
When the plane touched down in Chicago, a freshly awakened Ainsley and oh so squirmy Louise both stilled. "Oh mama, I think I see daddy's work!" They both grinned as we clomped down the long stairs to baggage claim, unburdening our bags and hearts on our man we so missed. The cool air felt delightful as we walked to the car, the drive so much greener than a mere 10 days ago. Rather than hurry and scurry to unpack and organize last night I just sat with my family, drinking it all in. I love our home.
This morning us girls all rose before the sun. At first I was excited for my easy 5:30 arousal, sure I'd get a good hour to myself before the rest awoke. Then I heard Louise's gleeful morning chirp and Ainsley's holler for love and us three enjoyed our dark quiet house in warm jammies and cozy snuggles. It was perfect.
One of the greatest beauties of a trip and time away is the perspective it lends. I feel so refreshed and energized, despite the different kind of exhaustion travelling with two little ones brings. I am over the moon to plant our first real substantial this-could-actually-feed-us-for-some-of-the-summer garden with the girls this weekend. I am giddy to try my hand at naturally died Easter eggs this year with the girls (beets, blueberries, blackberries, spinach and tumeric should do the trick!). I am eager to delve back into the many projects I left undone a mere 10 days ago. I am motivated to buckle down and continue to plow forward in this place, making do and making fun, economizing creating and enjoying.
For this is the life we lead here in this home, simple and easy and fun, and today I am oh so glad for all of that.
If you've read my blog for a while, or know me or talk to me at all, you know what a redundant struggle this new home has been for me. I found myself bumbling and embarrassed when people asked me where we're from while in Florida "Minnesota! well, um, originally. We've lived just outside of Chicago for almost 5 years. So I guess Chicago!" I felt silly, rambling on when the inquirer was just posing a polite conversational question. What do they care about this home identity crisis that I still seem to be struggling with? they don;t and shouldn't, and quite frankly it made me realize that I need to once and for all get over this. Its gotten completely ridiculous.
Truth is, it's gotten harder and harder to leave this home of ours. I teared up when I had to say goodbye to Ian in Florida, very uncharacteristic for me, half because I knew how much we'd all miss him, how HARD it was going to be without him there, but also because I was jealous. No fair! He gets to go home.
When the plane touched down in Chicago, a freshly awakened Ainsley and oh so squirmy Louise both stilled. "Oh mama, I think I see daddy's work!" They both grinned as we clomped down the long stairs to baggage claim, unburdening our bags and hearts on our man we so missed. The cool air felt delightful as we walked to the car, the drive so much greener than a mere 10 days ago. Rather than hurry and scurry to unpack and organize last night I just sat with my family, drinking it all in. I love our home.
This morning us girls all rose before the sun. At first I was excited for my easy 5:30 arousal, sure I'd get a good hour to myself before the rest awoke. Then I heard Louise's gleeful morning chirp and Ainsley's holler for love and us three enjoyed our dark quiet house in warm jammies and cozy snuggles. It was perfect.
One of the greatest beauties of a trip and time away is the perspective it lends. I feel so refreshed and energized, despite the different kind of exhaustion travelling with two little ones brings. I am over the moon to plant our first real substantial this-could-actually-feed-us-for-some-of-the-summer garden with the girls this weekend. I am giddy to try my hand at naturally died Easter eggs this year with the girls (beets, blueberries, blackberries, spinach and tumeric should do the trick!). I am eager to delve back into the many projects I left undone a mere 10 days ago. I am motivated to buckle down and continue to plow forward in this place, making do and making fun, economizing creating and enjoying.
For this is the life we lead here in this home, simple and easy and fun, and today I am oh so glad for all of that.
Melaleuca
I've been dying to do this post for a few months. Remember my announcement that we were switching our house over to a more economical, green clean? Well I was so giddy with excitement (still am actually) that I didn't want my sheerly praiseful ramblings to overshadow the fact that this stuff is AMAZING.
I was reticent to sign up because Melaleuca is kind of a unique program. You have to be signed up by someone who works for them, who then gets a commission for anything you buy. I was a bit weary of both of these aspects, it seemed a bit pyramid-schemy to me. It's odd these days to find a company who relies solely on word of mouth for advertising and passes the money on to it's customers. Kind of neat once I figured it out.
The other catch is when you sign up you agree to spend a certain amount (point value) each month. I'm still not quite sure why this is, perhaps to make sure it's worth the while to sign up, but let me tell you, if anything I have to hold back each month to only spend the minimum because I love the stuff (and really use it) that much!
But this means I have to plan. I can't load up on everything one month, because the next month I won't need much and would have to just buy my 35 points (about $50-$60) worth of products anyways. I actually love this because I LOVE planning. So the first month I got all the basic cleaning stuff. Stain removers, all purpose cleaners, dishwasher soap, disinfectant, bathroom cleaner. The next month I got toothpastes, more dishwasher soap, lotion, shampoo, bath bars, and vitamins. Last month I loaded up on mineral suncreens, aloe, ibuprofen and children's acetaminophen. This month I'm excited to try out the laundry soap, kids shampoo and of course more dishwasher soap.
I kid you not, every single product we've tried is amazing. I know it may be silly to get so excited about cleaning supplies and other household products but I can't help it. They've been the bane of my existence for quite some time. One I learned that there are traces of formaldehyde and LOTS of weird animal fats in most baby lotions and soaps I was horrified and started buying the girls' stuff at whole foods, scouring labels to find the gentlest most natural products. The catch? this stuff is expensive. I understand why people buy the bulk target brand baby stuff because it's so much cheaper. I felt kind of defeated and frustrated. And don't even get me started on the household cleaners. The chemical smells from my old standbys really bothered me once I had little ones underfoot and the greener cleaners just never seemed to clean all that well. I've been amazed that not only is the melaleuca stuff green and smells amazing but it works as well if not better than any bleachy chemically stuff I've tried. The ONE product I find I miss is my softscrub and I've remedied that by sprinkling some baking soda in the sink or tub, then spraying the tough and tender cleaner (far and away my new favorite) and scrubbing away. I haven't missed bleach since.
One more perk? See those teeny bottles in the first photo above? Melaleuca has figured out how to make their stuff 4-6x concentrated so you get the pure product, no water added like most other cleaners, and mix your own spray bottles. ONE of the bottle above will easily make 4-6 spray bottles worth. And the cost? $5.69 for my favorite cleaner, this means each spray bottles worth costs about a dollar. Talk about economical.
So slowly we're converting our whole house, no chore seeing as this company makes just about everything you'd need for your home. They even have their own pharmaceutical company so you can buy your medicene cabinet staples through them (and guess what? they're cheaper!). With a little planning and LOTS of self restraint (no more imprmotu target or costo runs for this mama!) this move has been more than worth it for our little family. Getting that pacakge every month is like a little mini Christmas and I feel so good knowing that our home is free of chemicals that could harm ourselves or our girls AND it's really clean too!
And to end, a few of my favorite products...
Laundry Stain Remover...works every time.
Glass Cleaner...works and smells better than windex, in my humble opinion
Tough and Tender all purpose cleaner...I use this for everything, it works well and smells SO good
Wood polish...I've even sprayed some on scratched on our wood floors, it works SO well
Sun Shades Sunscreen...the spf 45 spray was our favorite in Florida...so easy to put on the girls and worked really well...and of course SMELLED SO GOOD!!!
Diamond Brite Dishwasher Soap...this is probably the main reason I finally switched over, i COULD NOT find a green dishwasher soap that worked and really hated the other harsh cleaners...that fake lemon smell was just too much, this stuff works better than any other product I've found, green or not, I am a convert for life thanks to this stuff.
Lemon Brite hand washing soap...works and smells SO good (am I beginning to sound like a broken record?)
Body Lotion...amazing!
Vitamins...I've gotten back on the vitamin track with these and haven't had so much energy in I can't tell you hoe long
Shampoo...did I mention for the first 6 months you get to try products for free? Last month I opted for the shampoo and love it...it smells amazing and works really well on my crazy curly hair.
Sensitive Whitening Polish...we get the girls' toothpastes from here too, all really good!
Ah, so you see. They have just about everything and we love just about everything. Thanks for listening to me gush. I just can't help myself.
I was reticent to sign up because Melaleuca is kind of a unique program. You have to be signed up by someone who works for them, who then gets a commission for anything you buy. I was a bit weary of both of these aspects, it seemed a bit pyramid-schemy to me. It's odd these days to find a company who relies solely on word of mouth for advertising and passes the money on to it's customers. Kind of neat once I figured it out.
The other catch is when you sign up you agree to spend a certain amount (point value) each month. I'm still not quite sure why this is, perhaps to make sure it's worth the while to sign up, but let me tell you, if anything I have to hold back each month to only spend the minimum because I love the stuff (and really use it) that much!
But this means I have to plan. I can't load up on everything one month, because the next month I won't need much and would have to just buy my 35 points (about $50-$60) worth of products anyways. I actually love this because I LOVE planning. So the first month I got all the basic cleaning stuff. Stain removers, all purpose cleaners, dishwasher soap, disinfectant, bathroom cleaner. The next month I got toothpastes, more dishwasher soap, lotion, shampoo, bath bars, and vitamins. Last month I loaded up on mineral suncreens, aloe, ibuprofen and children's acetaminophen. This month I'm excited to try out the laundry soap, kids shampoo and of course more dishwasher soap.
I kid you not, every single product we've tried is amazing. I know it may be silly to get so excited about cleaning supplies and other household products but I can't help it. They've been the bane of my existence for quite some time. One I learned that there are traces of formaldehyde and LOTS of weird animal fats in most baby lotions and soaps I was horrified and started buying the girls' stuff at whole foods, scouring labels to find the gentlest most natural products. The catch? this stuff is expensive. I understand why people buy the bulk target brand baby stuff because it's so much cheaper. I felt kind of defeated and frustrated. And don't even get me started on the household cleaners. The chemical smells from my old standbys really bothered me once I had little ones underfoot and the greener cleaners just never seemed to clean all that well. I've been amazed that not only is the melaleuca stuff green and smells amazing but it works as well if not better than any bleachy chemically stuff I've tried. The ONE product I find I miss is my softscrub and I've remedied that by sprinkling some baking soda in the sink or tub, then spraying the tough and tender cleaner (far and away my new favorite) and scrubbing away. I haven't missed bleach since.
One more perk? See those teeny bottles in the first photo above? Melaleuca has figured out how to make their stuff 4-6x concentrated so you get the pure product, no water added like most other cleaners, and mix your own spray bottles. ONE of the bottle above will easily make 4-6 spray bottles worth. And the cost? $5.69 for my favorite cleaner, this means each spray bottles worth costs about a dollar. Talk about economical.
So slowly we're converting our whole house, no chore seeing as this company makes just about everything you'd need for your home. They even have their own pharmaceutical company so you can buy your medicene cabinet staples through them (and guess what? they're cheaper!). With a little planning and LOTS of self restraint (no more imprmotu target or costo runs for this mama!) this move has been more than worth it for our little family. Getting that pacakge every month is like a little mini Christmas and I feel so good knowing that our home is free of chemicals that could harm ourselves or our girls AND it's really clean too!
And to end, a few of my favorite products...
Laundry Stain Remover...works every time.
Glass Cleaner...works and smells better than windex, in my humble opinion
Tough and Tender all purpose cleaner...I use this for everything, it works well and smells SO good
Wood polish...I've even sprayed some on scratched on our wood floors, it works SO well
Diamond Brite Dishwasher Soap...this is probably the main reason I finally switched over, i COULD NOT find a green dishwasher soap that worked and really hated the other harsh cleaners...that fake lemon smell was just too much, this stuff works better than any other product I've found, green or not, I am a convert for life thanks to this stuff.
Lemon Brite hand washing soap...works and smells SO good (am I beginning to sound like a broken record?)
Body Lotion...amazing!
Shampoo...did I mention for the first 6 months you get to try products for free? Last month I opted for the shampoo and love it...it smells amazing and works really well on my crazy curly hair.
Sensitive Whitening Polish...we get the girls' toothpastes from here too, all really good!
Ah, so you see. They have just about everything and we love just about everything. Thanks for listening to me gush. I just can't help myself.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
O, Sanibel.
Spring breaks have changed yes? Those loungy snoozy dreamy lying in the sun days of youth are gone. O, they are gone.
In their place are vacations filled with activity and bustle, new sleep routines and rules, testing all of our flexibility and patience, and in the end? a whole lot of fun.
It's so bizarre and wonderful to vacation at a place with my family as a grown up mother and wife, that I vacationed at as a child for years. My toes still tingle as I swim with the girls over the big mosaic turtle in the pool, my nose remembers that first gulp of salty air as we cross the bridge from mainland florida to paradise, my skin remembers that hot sun, my tastebuds the grouper...O! the grouper.
While it's taken a bit to get used to this new groove of vacationing with little ones I'm realizing it allows me to see this place I so love in a whole new way, with the renewed zeal and excitement of youth. I'm spoiled rotten.
Don't get me wrong, it was hard. I can't even count how many times I was told by other parents (with a look of empathetic remembrance on their faces) "oh boy, do I remember vacations at this age!" "you're doing good mama!" "been there, it's so hard" Because truthfully, we hardly sat down. After Ian left and I solo parented for 4 days, plus air travel day with 2 mobile dolls, I can officially say I'm spent. But you won't hear me complaining (except for that moment when I broke down when Louise ran wildly off with lasagna hands all over Aunt Gail's beautiful white beach house). I feel so blessed to be able to do this with my family, for this time and these memories. Thankful for the hard exhausted sleep that met the girls each nap time and the calm and rest it allowed us all. Glad for the action, the biking and swimming, running and playing, shell finding and wave jumping. We did it all.
O, Sanibel. You never cease to amaze and inspire. Thank you thank you, and now? a little vacation from the vacation is in order :o).
::our little water worm was sans floaties by the last day, still far to go before true flotation and swimming, but eager and ready...so proud::
::post nap woes, animal crackers quickly helped::
::deep end synchronized swimming with grammy::
::family wave jumping::
::tide pool running::
In their place are vacations filled with activity and bustle, new sleep routines and rules, testing all of our flexibility and patience, and in the end? a whole lot of fun.
::our second littel water girl, jumping off ledges, walking off of deep steps,
she kept us on our toes this one did::
::"Hi Bop!" Louise's new favorite exclamation::
::ah, family::
::Louise loved doing the stairs like a big girl, no crawling down for this little lady::
::Ainsley with the big kids playing shuffleboard::
::sisters! minus Kelly :o(::
::Louise's curls erupted on Sanibel::
::popsicles and frozen grapes were the favorite snacks,
Griffin was very interested::
::Ainsley and her pool pals! We hardly saw that child while down at the pool,
she was far too busy with her new friends::
It's so bizarre and wonderful to vacation at a place with my family as a grown up mother and wife, that I vacationed at as a child for years. My toes still tingle as I swim with the girls over the big mosaic turtle in the pool, my nose remembers that first gulp of salty air as we cross the bridge from mainland florida to paradise, my skin remembers that hot sun, my tastebuds the grouper...O! the grouper.
While it's taken a bit to get used to this new groove of vacationing with little ones I'm realizing it allows me to see this place I so love in a whole new way, with the renewed zeal and excitement of youth. I'm spoiled rotten.
Don't get me wrong, it was hard. I can't even count how many times I was told by other parents (with a look of empathetic remembrance on their faces) "oh boy, do I remember vacations at this age!" "you're doing good mama!" "been there, it's so hard" Because truthfully, we hardly sat down. After Ian left and I solo parented for 4 days, plus air travel day with 2 mobile dolls, I can officially say I'm spent. But you won't hear me complaining (except for that moment when I broke down when Louise ran wildly off with lasagna hands all over Aunt Gail's beautiful white beach house). I feel so blessed to be able to do this with my family, for this time and these memories. Thankful for the hard exhausted sleep that met the girls each nap time and the calm and rest it allowed us all. Glad for the action, the biking and swimming, running and playing, shell finding and wave jumping. We did it all.
O, Sanibel. You never cease to amaze and inspire. Thank you thank you, and now? a little vacation from the vacation is in order :o).
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