A couple of weeks ago, I went to pull a towel out of the bathroom cabinet under the sink.  Normally, that’s not something I’d really write about, except THIS TIME.  THIS TIME a mouse took the liberty of using my cabinet space for it’s own…needs.  So, after much cleaning up and washing of things, I decide the little mouse really needs to…not live with me.  I’m super picky about roommates/housemates and I’ve always been very clear on where I stand in regards to my expectations about bathroom habits.  So, we set up a mouse trap.  With peanut butter, because APPARENTLY all mice (excluding this one) like peanut butter.  The peanut butter is still there, the trap is still open and I have no clue if the mouse is still here, or it just thought to stop by for the holidays. Nonetheless, I put some goodies on the floor, hoping the entice the little guy – and partially because I think peanut butter is really a lame offering if you’re going to snap someone’s appendage off…and NOTHING.  He had a chance to go through fudge and cookies and Lorelei’s snack mix…and nothing.

We’ve decided it’s a phantom mouse – one that may or may not be anorexic.

In other non-rodent news:

I was afraid that Lorelei was the only 2 1/2 year old that didn’t know her colors and ABCs – turns out she’s stubborn like me and we’re now playing a battle of the wills.   She KNOWS so much, she just doesn’t want to cooperate.  Well, at least that explains it…

Happy New Year everyone!

Welcome back!

Here are a few things on our Amazon wish list for Preschool Learning.  The books change often as it’s my goal to introduce 1-2 new carefully chosen books per week (we’re trying a new program that I’ll talk about later in regards to homeschooling)… (be sure to click the pictures)

$40.84 – It’s the Hooked On Phonics Reading Program for Pre-K.  Lorelei is having trouble recognizing letters (or, at least communicating that she’s recognizing them).  For the most part, I use a mish mash of things and develop our own curriculum but that’s not working for her at the moment when it comes to letters…so this is on the wish list…

$4.99  Hooked On Phonics NUMBERS workbook.  So far, she counts like this: 1,2,3,4,6,8,12, (and then a bunch of random numbers)

$10.99 – LeapFrog tag’s THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD.  This is definitely on our reading wish list.  Why?  Because I can only stand so much of “But, I can’t!!”  Plus, it’ll be a good time to learn about trains and such.  And, she can use her tag, which she already has.

$11.55  Amelia Bedelia as a child.  I love Amelia Bedelia, and Steven and I can’t wait until we can read the books to Lorelei but then we found a couple of “in her younger days” type of books and we’re super excited about these!

$10.08.  Who doesn’t love Richard Scarry?

$6.99.  It’s a movie, too, I hear…but, the book looks like an excellent learning tool for now!

So, that’s our wish list for January (hopefully) – And I’d love to have the hooked on phonics, but really I’d rather have the books first.  I have a feeling she knows some of her abcs, she just doesn’t really feel the need to cooperate when we’re studying together in that subject.

I need to clear the clutter – in my home, my brain, and my schedule.

My personality is one that likes to do many things and likes to be helpful – but the downside is that sometimes I fill my schedule with meaningless but busy things and sometimes I just clutter my life without really doing the things that mean the most to me.

About a month ago, I reached out to a friend of mine – I look up to her in many ways, one of them being her search for SIMPLICITY.  She’s promised to let me “shadow” her when she gets back from a trip to see how she manages a few things in her home.  In the meanwhile, though, she sent me this great recording from Preschoolers and Peace (thank you, Sara!).  Basically, Kendra Fletcher goes through her biggest organizational tips and what works for her (she’s a mom to 7, including a baby and a 3 year old!).

Then, I had my DUH moment.

I’ve been feeling SO busy, but if I look at my planner, it’s not too full.  I mean, 2 days a week I have physical therapy which lasts about a couple of hours (including waiting) and then, I clean one day a week and that’s pretty much it.  So, why does it FEEL like I have no time and why do I feel so STRESSED?

It’s because I have no schedule since we’ve moved.

It’s because our house is a disaster area…since the move.

It’s because I have no clue where most of our belongings are since they’re in one big pile (or so it feels) in the storage building…

It’s because homeschooling hit the backburner, and I feel like I’m wasting my daughter’s time…

It’s because our kitchen/dining room just shrunk and cooking is really intimidating me in this new kitchen since most things are stored out of my reach due to storage limitations and then add in a lack of counter space….

I’m feeling claustrophobic, and no wonder why!  It’s not that I’m too BUSY…it’s that I’m not organized.  –All I want to do is read or paint, but not do the things I NEED to do.

So, this morning, I dug out my Homeschool planner and made a plan for this week (I only do a week at a time so I can move forward or focus more on a certain area as we need).  We took a 2 month break with the bankruptcy and the move and such and I feel like such a bad mommy for not having structured learning time.  It’s not that she hasn’t learned anything, it just FEELS like I haven’t taught her on purpose.  Ah, guilt.  Isn’t it lovely?

Next, I’m going to spend today making up Cleaning Zones.  We adapted these from FLY LADY but toned them down a bit because I really don’t care if you can eat off my floors or not, as long as they are clean (for being floors).  Actually, I might think you a bit odd if you licked my floors anyhow.

Then, I plan to make a very lenient daily schedule for me.

And then… a meal plan.

A few things that make me (temporarily) happy:

fuzzy/super soft socks – I also have two blankets made out of this type of material and they are my FAVORITES.  They are what I run to when I feel my worst (or cold).

fat cute floral bird clips – they’re in the floral arrangement area at Michaels and I love these guys.  They’re fun and funky and colorful with cool feathered tails and wings!

warm vanilla sugar moisturizing anti bacterial handwash from Bath and Body works.  So comforting.

Organizational stuff for my craft room.  I love organizational stuff, especially for my craft room.

Book club.  –One of the highlights of my month, every month.  Yeh, I’m a nerd, so what?  I adore book club and the new books it introduces me to…and the lovely ladies I get to share them with.

caramel apple spice from starbucks.  Yum.

Food Network Magazine.  –Too bad it’s so expensive!

Red Box gift cards.  I don’t know if they even make gift cards, but they totally should.  20 movies for $20?  Now, that’s awesome!

soft, warm sweaters.  I LOVE cute, soft sweaters and wish I had more.  I think most of mine must have died and went to heaven or something, but they’re what I wear most during the winter.

There’s one thing we all have in common, it seems – despite our nationality or backgrounds, despite our religious or political affiliations and despite the amount of money in our pocket:  Happiness, or the pursuit of it.  We all want it.  Very few of us are where we want to be.

As teenagers, most of us were taught that there’s a natural succession of events that are supposed to take place:

You graduate highschool.
Go to college.
Get a job.
Find a spouse to spend the rest of your life with.
Buy a beautiful house with a white picket fence, or now – something with 3,000 + square feet, fence optional.
Have 1-3 kids.
Work 9-5 every day.
Go into a crazy amount of debt.
Maybe retire.
Teach your children to do the same.

My husband and I decided we’d skip a few steps, thinking we could move on to the rest of the “Plan” a little quicker – instead, we accidentally jumped off the train, altogether.

Turns out, that ACCIDENT might’ve been one of the smartest things we’ve done.

After some time (okay, lots of time) to think about it, the previous plan just doesn’t make sense.  Why work your butt off just to spend so much money so that you HAVE to work?  Sure, some people love their jobs and love working, but do you really like HAVING to work?  Do you love the thought each morning that if you decided you would rather do something else, move…that you couldn’t, because you had too many bills to pay – like that big screen tv you just installed over your hot tub?

And, for some reason, we’ve gotten into this mindset that BIGGER is better.  So, our houses need to be HUGE with state of the art impressive gadgetry…but, for what?  So we can work hard during the day and have almost no time to enjoy it?  And, is vegging out in front of the tv after a long, hard day at work really enjoying those things?

Does that make us happy?

How far does a good job, big house, big toys, lots of money and college degree go when it comes to happiness?  (If you have the answer, please let me know)

Does BIGGER really mean better?  Is MORE really MORE, or is it LESS?

Can we even be happy for more than just a while?  Is it possible?  And if it is, would we allow ourselves that luxury?

What does it even mean to be happy?  How do we get there?

I’m ready to find out.

Ashley’s on a mission.

Potluck Survival Guide by Cherie Kimmons

Price: $18.96, regularly $24.95

Put out by: Five Star Publications

At first glance, this book would normally never appeal to me – it’s subtitle reads:  “The Care & Feeding of the Athletic Supporter.”  As much as I look forward to my daughters being immersed in ballet and soccer and whatever else, the fact is that they are 7 months  and two.  But, then I read further and decided that this book would be the perfect fit for someone who goes to many church potlucks – not to mention the non-church functions that may require a hot segmented meal pieced together in moments.

I can bake a brilliant casserole dish, right up there with Martha Stewart, but I’ve never really learned how to store such goods when neither a cooler or refrigerator is handy and the goods would have to wait an hour (while you are busy doing other things) before being consumed.  Thus, I thought this book would be a great source of information…not to mention the possible recipes that could cheaply feed a small army.

When I received the book, I was impressed by the tidbits of information about nutrition for athletes and the types of foods to prepare before a game vs. after a practice.  I was not impressed, however, by the recipes themselves.  Most of them were the typical dishes usually presented at a potluck, and the others were suited for smaller crowds of 6-8 people.  I realize that I could easily multiply the ingredients, thus feed more people but I very much expected a book about potluck recipes to include recipes with inexpensive ingredients that feed lots of people.

The Potluck Survival Guide by Cherie Kimmons features fun illustrations and artwork throughout and is very easy to read.  I’d recommend it to a very new “soccer mom” who possibly missed out on the “Martha gene,” but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who is willing to do a little research about what their athlete should and shouldn’t eat before a big game or to anyone willing to do a quick search on cooks.com for a great recipe.

Links: http://www.fivestarpublications.com/book_detail.php?recordid=95

http://www.fivestarpublications.com/potluck/book.html

Stockings were needed, so I made these…from Goodwill sweaters.  I wish a couple of these had been in my size AND in good shape, because I would’ve probably worn them, but they’ll make good stockings.

A wreath for Lorelei from leftover sweater pieces.

Our tree.  It’s three feet tall and our decorations here are wee-little oranges.  We’ve eaten most of them now….  The star on top is made from scrapbooking cardstock paper I had.

There are, perhaps, two people in my life that I would consider my “best friends” at this point in time.

However, I may or may not mean to them what they mean to me in the same capacity.  And, I’m okay with that.

These are people that I could call in the middle of the night to watch one of my children while I take another to the hospital.  They are people who understand and are not offended when I simply offer cupcakes for their birthday.  They are women who love me as I am, imperfections and all, and WANT to spend time with me regularly.

I love them.

And then, there are other people who I care a lot about and have different types of relationships with to different degrees.  It’s only been in the last several months or so that I’ve grown to understand that relationships don’t have to model a certain example just to be meaningful.  You don’t have to both drink coffee into the sunrise sharing your innermost feelings.  You don’t have to hang out regularly.  You don’t have to know each other’s thoughts.  You don’t have to be so comfortable with each other that you would even take each other to an important (or not as important) doctor’s visit.

I have some friends who say the darnedest things, but they make me laugh and despite their knack at getting themselves into trouble occasionally, I enjoy their spirits.

I have some friends who are so full of energy, that I yearn to just be in their presence to just soak them up.  They invigorate me.

I have other friends who radiate kindness and love.

I have some friends who…

I have many different friends and until a few months ago, I was trying to fit them into this mold of sorts.  I thought that in order to have a meaningful relationship, it had to meet some sort of hollywood definition.  But, I’ve come to accept that some of the best friendships are those found in the unexpected.

I’ve learned not to push the quiet loving friends to accompany me to many activities.  I’ve learned not to be offended when they can’t.  I have learned to embrace their choice to pursue quietness and simplicity and even only invite them to things most important to me.

I’ve learned that some friends are no less of friends just because they aren’t perfect.

I’ve learned that so often we all mistakenly see some sort of elite circle that we wish more than anything to be a part of.  A circle so great and wonderful, that when you become a part of it, you realize it was just a mirage, not really there.  And then, you begin to wonder about another circle and if they would truly accept you  as you are.  But, eventually… you realize the circles are only figments of our imaginations, concocted by our own insecure minds.

Thank God for lessons learned and friendships forged.  So thankful to have been freed from myself and the stupid idea I was holding friendships up to, something which never could be attained.

I tend to find things when I’m MOST not looking for them…  anyhow, I think I like this

It’s an electric and cordless kettle.  Technically, I couldn’t care less if it had a cord or not but I guess it could be handy if the power went out but the fact that it’s electric and in just a moment I can have PERFECT water ready for tea…YAY!  I HATE microwaving my little cup of water and don’t even bother messing with a tea kettle on the stove because that takes forever.

I know.  Lazy.

It’s one of those things that’s kind of ridiculous because you could do the same thing a microwave but I think it’s pretty darn cool.  And, at $20 it could definitely be added to my Christmas list.

Just saying.

A couple of weeks ago, I got these…

Technically, I’m supposed to always wear them but I don’t really love WEARING glasses (or my face with them), but I wear them occasionally just to be able to read signs in the distance.  Okay, I wear them more than occasionally.

And, here is the wreath I made (with some help of very dear friends, Jolene and Debbie)!  I LOVE it!

I don’t have pictures of an advent calendar because it rained and I couldn’t collect the sticks I needed and I couldn’t find some of my supplies, so…yeh.  However, my friend and I stayed up til 10 pm or later sewing sweater stockings.  I still have to finish shaping those and putting on the finishing touches, so no pictures yet!  They’ll come soon though!

Other quick bullet point news:

-Aurora’s cough is getting better
-My back and neck is KILLING me.  Makes me want to just go to bed and sleep (although in reality, that doesn’t work)
-I get to have a massage today!  It won’t make the pain go away but after a few of these for therapeutic reasons, it’ll help ALOT.
-Steven and I still don’t have health insurance, and I’ve been looking into chiropractic care but DANG!  It’s SO expensive and they aren’t really big into giving discounts for anything!
-We are finally MOVED out!  We may make another run if we decide we want to grab something or another but otherwise… DONE!