Bloesem Giveaway

Bloesem hand knitted these baby booties to give away on her blog!
http://bkids.typepad.com/intro/2009/12/what-can-you-win-text-what-do-you-do-textthis-giveaway-ends-sunday-20-dec-and-winner-will-be-announced-monday-21-dec-he.html

Judy Needs Google

I typed "Judy needs" into Google and here is what it came up with:

1. Judy needs her morning corree (yes, there was a spelling error)
2. Judy needs to go to anger management class
3. Judy needs to Get Out of the Shelter
4. Judy needs to pay her taxes at the Insider
5. Judy needs tumor removed
6. Judy needs a television set
7. Judy needs your math assistance
8. Judy needs counseling
9. Judy needs to run for president of the US
10. Judy needs a job

Several of these are right on.

Just like ours...

I found this video via Jenny at Good Mom/Bad Mom

Henry is the same way with his toys.
Baby playing time lapse video.

Grosgrain Store is Open

Grosgrain's store is officially open. Here is the link to super cute girl's clothes.
GROSGRAINSTORE.COM

My Sense of Humor is so Juvenile

I just commented on someone else's blog and the anti-spam word was "adinho". TeeHeeHee.

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am so excited that Grosgrain will be selling her creations soon! Maybe, just maybe, she will make a few boy items - I hope I hope. She is giving away 3 skirts with matching tops to celebrate! I am so impressed. Bibs and Burps are the best I can do for now.
My mom is coming tomorrow to give me the respite time to finish his costume and maybe a few bowling shirts.

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Grosgrain is giving away this handmade gown! It even has period underpinnings and hand made flowers on the front. Go check it out! Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

12 things I did while the market crashed

I saw this idea on Happy Things and decided to write a list of my own.

1. said Happy Birthday to my big boy who turned one
2. ate another chai cupcake. Yummy Yum!
3. reorganized my end table drawer
4. tossed old coupons
5. walked in circles and circles and circles with Henry the Fifth
6. played cars and trucks
7. lay my new-to-me freecycled fabric out on the lawn to sun and chlorophyll out the mustiness
8. uploaded birthday pics to flickr
9. re-learned some ASL with a Baby Einstein video
10. shared some cows milk with Henry the Fifth
11. gave the baby 100 kisses
12. catnapped with the baby big boy

Operation Undergarment

Operation Undergarment is a giving opportunity organized by a group of moms who adopted children from Kazakhstan. Karaganda Kids is asking for packages of new underpants and undershirts for children ages 2-5. These will be sent to the orphanages in Kazakhstan for the children who have yet to be adopted.
I learned about Operation Underpants via friend Muriel, SIL to good pal Julie.
Click on the link to go to the Karaganda Kids site. Packages of undergarments can be sent to this address:

Operation Undergarment
1894 Techny Court
Northbrook, IL 60062

This is a neat idea to help out kids with something they really need. Muriel has helping organize and publicize this all while being super-preggo and now with a tiny one at home in addition to he beautiful adopted daughter.

Friday Giveaway by Sweet Life in the Valley

Sweet Life in the Valley is giving away a set of trash ties. But hurry, ends tonight!

Vermillion Rules Giveaway

Vermillion Rules Monday Giveaway your choice of magnets from Daisy Mae Designs!



My favorite is the Monkeys of course.

Grosgrain Sleepytime Nightgown Giveaway

Another Grosgrain giveaway! This is so sweet!

Vermillion Rules Friday Giveaway

Vermillion's Friday Giveaway is a free card design by less ordinary designs on Etsy.

This is my favorite. How cute!

The Chai Story

This is a story about an unsafe dog toy. If you have it get rid of it.

Warning, the story might make you cry.

The Chai Story

via Rare Bird Finds and Apartment Therapy

Sassy Apron Giveaway by Vermillion Rules

Vermillion Rules is sponsoring a giveaway of a cute hand made apron from Etsy shop Sassy Apron.



Click on the photo above to link to the giveaway!

Ditch the Disposables Challenge

I am doing the:

Check on the: cloth napkins, reusable grocery bags (so many hubby had to give me a reality check to stop buying more), reusable water bottles

(except hurricane kit), using microfiber dust rags (me trying, hubby not yet, but would if I ask),
using Foogo thermo and BPA free reusable baby dishes.

Plan:

1. finish making cloth coffee jackets
(it's a step in the right direction)

2. really need to suck it up and
invest in cloth diapers (brand?),

3. interesting idea she has on cloth swiffers - I
will try it with the microfiber clothes we have

4. finish making hankies for baby from old flannel sheet.


Right now I am uncomfortable with cloth wipes for my own butt (and that whole pee
on your veggie garden thing Crunchy Domestic Goddess did. maybe someday. maybe...not.)

Addendum (Crash Course) - baby Henry has his first diaper rash. So I am using washcloths and water to clean his rear. Poor guy is not very happy!

NieNie recovery fund

Blogger Stephanie of NieNie was in a terrible plane crash. She is recovering from burns over 80% of her body. her husband has burns over 30% of his body.

Her sister has stared a fund for their recovery and their 4 children.

Updates on their recovery can be found here.

101 Things in 1001 Days

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Start Date: August 22, 2008

Midpoint: January 4, 2010

End Date: May 20, 2011

My List

Completed Goals in Green

Health and a Little Vanity

001. Blog a post about each 101 (/101)

002. Run twice a week for 3 months (3/3)

003. Then run 3 times a week for 6 months (2/6)

004. Then run 4 times a week for 9 months (0/9) (2014 done for 3 months, now hip injury to rehab)

005. Swim at least twice a week for 3 months (3/3)

006. Reach goal weight of 135 pounds (In progress, down 25 since Feb 2014)

007. Get Lasik or PRK surgery (done)

008. Eat 5 fruits and veggies daily for 4 months (/120)

009. Have my teeth whitened (2014 using Sensodyne whitening for past 2 years. Good 'nuff)

010. Get glasses in new Rx (got lasik instead)

011. Weight train 2 times a week for 2 months (2/2)

012. Do home exercise program for knee pain daily for 2 months (0/2) (Change to rehab hip and shin splints once PT started)

013. Use my skin care system and otherwise leave it alone for 2 months (1/2)

Competition, Athletics, Getting Outdoors

014. Go orienteering with our son (3 times)

015. Find 20 Geocaches (8/20) 

016. Hide a Geocache

017. Compete in 5 sprint triathlons (3/5, plus 1 team duathlon and some foot races 2009) On hold for preggo. (Completed 3 in 2014 plus running races. 2015 goal 3 sprints, 1 oly)

018. Complete another Half Ironman (2016)

019. Go for run or ride on Dismal Swamp canal (done several times)

020. Take baby hiking (done - olympic mountains)

021. Take baby to neighborhood park each week (completed in chesapeake)

022. Swim with Belugas

Family

023. Have another baby, twins or quadruplets. 1,2 or 3 boys. 1 girl. Charlie, Willy, Jimmy and Annika Louise. (Feb 14, 2011 had a baby boy named Peter Tristum)

024. Do three 10 minute sessions of therapy a day with the baby (9/1001- no longer applicable, he is ahead of schedule/milestones) (2014 'Baby' is now 7. Aspergers. New goal, daily therapy/exercises.)

025. Do baby massage 3 times each week (done, now replaced with reading)

026. Adopt a dog - on hold for 2 years per family decision (still on hold)

027. Fill out the baby book

028. Teach my son to swim (Aspergers delaying this goal. By end of summer 2015)

029. Join a mommy and baby class or play group- Kindermusik at the YMCA

030. Take baby to an aquarium (done Chesapeake)

031. Get the rest of my stuff out of my parent’s basement (still pending, complete 2015)

032. Help parents eBay excess tchotchkes (ebay, sell, donate, complete in 2015)

033. Plan my son’s first birthday party including guests, homemade cake, and fun gifts. (successful party)

034. Switch baby to cloth diapers at home - progress, bought some fuzzibunz, Abandoned, he outgrew them. Pottytraining now. (Done. Henry in some cloth as baby. Cloth diapered Petey for 9 months.)

035. Play a board game with husband each week (25/143)

Mental Health and Mental Floss

036. Finish vision board (Done 2014, revise New Year 2015)

037. Finish reading the books in my pile o’ books on the nightstand (still illiterate. 2015 read Autism books. Pleasure reading 3 nights/week.)

038. Record my dreams 4 times per week (2/572)

039. Meditate at least 15 minutes per day (while the baby is sleeping) for 2 months (0/2) (2014 purchased Tara Brach CDs, still a goal)

040. Start my day taking the baby for a walk or run instead of turning on the TV, and make this a habit for 2 months (0/2)

041. Post my blog once a week for 25 weeks (3/25) (renewing this goal)

042. Take a photography class

043. Use the library for 1 out of 3 books I think I want to buy

044. Take 5 CEU courses (4/5) (complete 2014. Goal 2015 3 courses)

045. Learn HTML - Progress: bought this book, talked with a programmer.

046. Figure out how to use Twitter - completed 8/27/08

047. Learn to use Photoshop

Sewing and Crafting

048. Make OT equipment for baby (done)

049. Sew 11 outfits (1 per 3 months) for baby (2/11)

050. Sew 3 skirts for me (3/3)

051. Refashion a vintage dress

052. Refashion a vintage skirt

053. Sew 10 quilts for CHKD (one every 2 months) (0/10)

054. Complete wedding scrapbooks

055. Complete travel scrapbooks

056. Finish mending pile in sewing room

057. Make 6 coffee sleeves (6/6 plus more)

058. Make a pin cushion with silica sand and wool

059. Organize vintage button collection

060. Embroider 6 tea towels (0/6)

061. Learn to crochet amigurumi

House and Home

062. Frame old and family photos- Progress: frames purchased, photos in process of organization

063. Embroider a quilt for our bed

064. Reupholster the antique couch and chairs with a mod fabrics (done 2012 in Washington)

065. Print travel photos to frame

066. Mop the kitchen once a week for 1 month (0/4)

067. Reupholster 2 office chairs (0/2)

068. Finish the Hurricane Kit (re-do after move 2015)

069. Go thru my magazines, cut out what I want to save, put clippings into binders. Progress: Freecycled collection of SHAPE mags and Bon Apetit, completes Aug 2010- recycled most

070. Freecycle, donate, sell or otherwise get rid of at least 2 items per week. (/143)

Be a Better Human

071. Donate to NPR (yearly done)

072. Donate to SPCA - blankets so far

073. Donate to American Red Cross

074. Donate to CHKD

075. Donate to American Heart Association

076. Donate to La Leche League

077. Resume donating blood every 8 weeks

078. Sew quilt for Dr. Gilbert

079. Use reusable shopping bags at least 75%of the time for 3 months (3/3, now a habit)

080. Get in touch with 4 old friends (4/4)

Travel to Exotic or Ho Hum places

081. Go fabric shopping at Tomato in Japan

082. Go to Australia

083. Visit brother in Colorado other than his wedding

084. Visit other brother

085. Baby and I will ride the train to Maryland to see my parents

086. Baby and I will ride the train to New York to see my in-laws

087. Go to Vancouver

088. Go to NYC garment district and SOHO to shop my favorite stores

Shop or Obtain by any (legal) means

089. Obtain a Gocco print maker (now looking at a yudu instead)

090. Find one more farm chair for kitchen (they require re-gluing every 6 months. Replaced with IKEA)

091. Choose a silver pattern that coordinates with forks

092. Get a blackberry or other mobile device (hilarious!! Have a smart phone)

093. Buy art from Etsy for a baby girl’s room (Had a boy, bought Submarine art.)

094. Buy Art from local artist in Hampton Roads, possibly from the library collection

095. Buy cute reusable shopping bags once i meet goal # 79 with the re-purposed totes I already have. I cheated a little and bought green bags from the commissary, Barnes & Noble, and a tote benefiting the Arts Council here.

096. Get the napkins that match the French table cloth (done. World Market, not French linen)

Cooking for the Gourmet and Every Day

097. Make 4 recipes with miso in my fridge (3/4)

098. Make baby’s mangos

099. Make baby’s carrots

100. Finish organizing my recipes (Finish 2015)

101. Cook a vegetarian/vegan meal once a week (0/143) (renew this goal 2015)

Cool Kids Room

If the baby's room was bigger than ours we would build him this. (via BloesemKids)

CopyCat (me)

I borrowed the idea for monthly photos in my sidebar from good friend Julie. Her blog is private, so no link here.