As anyone to reads my blog knows, baby boy Samuel is due May 12 of this year. I've already started researching cloth diapers and plan to use them with my babies.
One very useful site is http://allaboutclothdiapers.com, where I've learned more than I thought there was to know about cloth diapering and what's out there to use. There are so many options, its a bit overwhelming at times.
Currently, Autumn of allaboutclothdiapers.com is sponsoring a give away for blue jeans that are designed to fit over cloth diapers. I love the idea of cute jeans for my little boy and a chance to try some without needing to buy would be beautiful. So, this blog entry is an entry for a pair!
So, those of you who have little ones, check out this giveaway: http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/cloth-diaper-friendly-organic-jeans-review-and-giveaway/
Rachael's ponderings and ramblings about life, teaching, gardening, knitting, home keeping and the various other topics and hobbies that prompt her interest.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
February Goals
Since we are only 2 (3?) days from February, I figure its about time to start thinking about next month's goals. Its too early to put out anything but winter veggies, so no garden goals yet. Those will come in March. However, I do have some yard ideas. Okay, here goes!
(a) Finish the Crazy Colored Dr. Who Scarf (no choice, really, the Gala is Feb 26)
(b) Finish Feb Lady Sweater
(c) Plan/start baby sewing and knitting (with some specific goals for what to finish and win)
(c) Maintain a semblance of kitchen care routine
(d) Add routines for the bathrooms:
Swish and Swipe regularly (every other day?)
Twice a month (once a month?) deeper cleaning -- floors, bath tube, and shower curtain
(e) Start a yard-care routine
Pull weeds 20 minutes a week (I need to get outside more, anyways)
Plan spring plantings, herbs, flowers
Clean up perennials (cut back, etc)
More than Jan, but I found it pretty easy to work on Jan's goals and am ready for a bit more. I'm getting the hang of full time teaching and getting some routines established for school (or semblance of routines!). And now I'm off to finish my various Saturday tasks!
(a) Finish the Crazy Colored Dr. Who Scarf (no choice, really, the Gala is Feb 26)
(b) Finish Feb Lady Sweater
(c) Plan/start baby sewing and knitting (with some specific goals for what to finish and win)
(c) Maintain a semblance of kitchen care routine
(d) Add routines for the bathrooms:
Swish and Swipe regularly (every other day?)
Twice a month (once a month?) deeper cleaning -- floors, bath tube, and shower curtain
(e) Start a yard-care routine
Pull weeds 20 minutes a week (I need to get outside more, anyways)
Plan spring plantings, herbs, flowers
Clean up perennials (cut back, etc)
More than Jan, but I found it pretty easy to work on Jan's goals and am ready for a bit more. I'm getting the hang of full time teaching and getting some routines established for school (or semblance of routines!). And now I'm off to finish my various Saturday tasks!
crazy weeks
This last week was crazy, but in a fun-sort-of way. It was the local Mock Trial competition. This is a competition for high schoolers that is a sort-of trial where each team provides advocates and witnesses and lots of direct examination and cross examination goes on. I agreed to be faculty sponsor, as it sounded interesting and something I might enjoy doing. But, as the semester advanced, I struggled to get my mind around what the trial looked like and how I could help the students prepare. I did a lot of making copies, checking grammar and encouraging the students, but little direct involvement.
But now I have seen it in action. On Monday, we had 2 rounds: 415 pm and 615 pm. It was a looooooonnnnnnng day, with a normal school day topped with adrenaline filled competition. But for our first ever time to compete, we did pretty good. We certainly gave the first team, Midway, a run for their money and made them work. The second round wasn't as much fun, but we did well. (BTW, I don't know what rounds we won and what we lost, though I hope to find out at some point). Tuesday was less busy with only 1 round at 615, and Wednesday had only 1 round at 6 pm. There was a pizza party Wednesday evening at 8 pm where they announced the finalists who competed Thursday evening. The two schools who advanced, Midway and Waco High, we excellent teams and certainly deserved the chance to go to the state competition. But, in getting to compete with both at some point, I have a much better idea of how to help our students become even better. I had a ton of fun and am totally on fire to do this again next year if I can (schedule wise, etc). Add to a good performance that two of our students were nominated for "Best Witness" and another received "Best Advocate", and we feel we did the best we could of done.
However, it meant late nights (for me) each of three nights. For the students, as teenagers, it wasn't so bad, but poor preggy teacher was struggling. It was 1030 Monday night before I got to bed, 10 on Tuesday and 1030 or 11 on Wednesday. Compare that to my more normal 930 bed time! No dinners were made this week, I ate tons of junk food for dinner (pizza, chick-fil-a, granola bars -- none too bad in themselves, but not that good when that's all you're getting). And I was hardly ever home (or so it felt) this week. Its all done now, which a part of me quite glad of, and I was out cold by 9 pm last night and slept a good 10 - 10 1/2 hours.
And now that its back to a more normal schedule for me (but not Hubby, he's at a Philosophy of Religion conference for most of today), I will make my list for Saturday/Sunday and see what I can get done! Also, I hope to think about what I want to work towards in Feb (goals and sorts) and get a post up about that, but we will see.
But now I have seen it in action. On Monday, we had 2 rounds: 415 pm and 615 pm. It was a looooooonnnnnnng day, with a normal school day topped with adrenaline filled competition. But for our first ever time to compete, we did pretty good. We certainly gave the first team, Midway, a run for their money and made them work. The second round wasn't as much fun, but we did well. (BTW, I don't know what rounds we won and what we lost, though I hope to find out at some point). Tuesday was less busy with only 1 round at 615, and Wednesday had only 1 round at 6 pm. There was a pizza party Wednesday evening at 8 pm where they announced the finalists who competed Thursday evening. The two schools who advanced, Midway and Waco High, we excellent teams and certainly deserved the chance to go to the state competition. But, in getting to compete with both at some point, I have a much better idea of how to help our students become even better. I had a ton of fun and am totally on fire to do this again next year if I can (schedule wise, etc). Add to a good performance that two of our students were nominated for "Best Witness" and another received "Best Advocate", and we feel we did the best we could of done.
However, it meant late nights (for me) each of three nights. For the students, as teenagers, it wasn't so bad, but poor preggy teacher was struggling. It was 1030 Monday night before I got to bed, 10 on Tuesday and 1030 or 11 on Wednesday. Compare that to my more normal 930 bed time! No dinners were made this week, I ate tons of junk food for dinner (pizza, chick-fil-a, granola bars -- none too bad in themselves, but not that good when that's all you're getting). And I was hardly ever home (or so it felt) this week. Its all done now, which a part of me quite glad of, and I was out cold by 9 pm last night and slept a good 10 - 10 1/2 hours.
And now that its back to a more normal schedule for me (but not Hubby, he's at a Philosophy of Religion conference for most of today), I will make my list for Saturday/Sunday and see what I can get done! Also, I hope to think about what I want to work towards in Feb (goals and sorts) and get a post up about that, but we will see.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
January Goal Updates
From a previous post:
As for kitchen habits and routines.... well.... I flaked on the weekly menu this last week, but I never had to scrounch for a last minute meal. The fridge still needs to be wiped down, but I got the pantry nicely organized and sorted. In the process, I found I had 2 extra jugs of soy sauce, 3 unopened mustards, 2 extra jars of mayo, and a slew of other extra items. I aim to keep on extra on hand, but I definitely over-purchased. Luckily, none of it will spoil, and now its organized so I know where everything is at.
Today, I spend time in the master bed room. There were several stacks (hot spots) and hand-me-down baby items stacked around the room that had no home. With my new pillow, there was a stack of pillows in one corner and a end table that had been moved to make room for my new table and workspace (ooo, need a picture of that!). I organized a bit of the closet shelves and made room and put many of the items in the newly created space in the closet. I put clothes away (Hubby did laundry yesterday, Thank you Hubby!), and changed the bed sheets. I also used my flylady feather duster and brushed down the walls and corners (where I can reach). Got a good number of spider webs that had grown.
I like the flylady zones for cleaning your house, I just need to personalize them. Its hard to find time to get all done that I want to get done... the knitting, sewing, planning, etc. Ah, well, all in good time.
So, for January 2011... my goals are:
(a) Finish the "February Lady Sweater". I've only got the sleeves left, even if I am feeling frustrated with them.
(b) figure out or develop and establish good kitchen habits, including sorting out the pantry regularly, cleaning out the fridge regularly, and do a menu weekly (with shopping list). I am not too far from the weekly menu and shopping list (it happens on most weeks), but the other two need work. My pantry is scary to look in right now and the fridge needs some wiping down.Its well past the half way point in Jan, and I think can give a reasonable update. The "February Lady Sweater" isn't going to get finished, though it is close to done.
For school, there is an auction in mid-February and teachers are asked to supply a teacher-treat for the auction. I quickly got started and planned out a "Crazy Colored Dr. Who Scarf". Its well on its way and I should have a nice, long scarf by auction time.
As for kitchen habits and routines.... well.... I flaked on the weekly menu this last week, but I never had to scrounch for a last minute meal. The fridge still needs to be wiped down, but I got the pantry nicely organized and sorted. In the process, I found I had 2 extra jugs of soy sauce, 3 unopened mustards, 2 extra jars of mayo, and a slew of other extra items. I aim to keep on extra on hand, but I definitely over-purchased. Luckily, none of it will spoil, and now its organized so I know where everything is at.
Today, I spend time in the master bed room. There were several stacks (hot spots) and hand-me-down baby items stacked around the room that had no home. With my new pillow, there was a stack of pillows in one corner and a end table that had been moved to make room for my new table and workspace (ooo, need a picture of that!). I organized a bit of the closet shelves and made room and put many of the items in the newly created space in the closet. I put clothes away (Hubby did laundry yesterday, Thank you Hubby!), and changed the bed sheets. I also used my flylady feather duster and brushed down the walls and corners (where I can reach). Got a good number of spider webs that had grown.
I like the flylady zones for cleaning your house, I just need to personalize them. Its hard to find time to get all done that I want to get done... the knitting, sewing, planning, etc. Ah, well, all in good time.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
School back in session
Well, school starts back tomorrow. I really don't feel prepared, and I'm already feeling behind. But, I must remember that I can keep up. I did while being so tired from first trimester fatigue and that has passed. I'm feeling much more energetic, even with a shorter night's sleep. A good friend is in town, staying with us, and we were up late talking. She is a night owl, big time, and I love a good conversation. Bad combination when I've got to get up early.
I've been keeping my sink shiny for 2 nights now. I know this isn't much of a habit yet, but its a start. I had my week's menu done by Sunday, grocery run done on Monday and I've done well with dinner's this week so far. A good start, I think!
Not much done on the sweater, though. Gonna have to get started, and soon, if I'm hoping to finish it by the end of the month. It odd how intertwined all of life is. To have more time to knit, I've got to use my time at school well and get school tasks done there. Oh, the discipline required!
In other news, I got a new pillow! Its huge! I'll get a picture up soon, I promise.
I've been keeping my sink shiny for 2 nights now. I know this isn't much of a habit yet, but its a start. I had my week's menu done by Sunday, grocery run done on Monday and I've done well with dinner's this week so far. A good start, I think!
Not much done on the sweater, though. Gonna have to get started, and soon, if I'm hoping to finish it by the end of the month. It odd how intertwined all of life is. To have more time to knit, I've got to use my time at school well and get school tasks done there. Oh, the discipline required!
In other news, I got a new pillow! Its huge! I'll get a picture up soon, I promise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)