Adventures of a Butterfly Mama

Let's Cook...

2011-07-23T19:47:00.003-04:00

Something hit me on Wednesday, like a ton of bricks. I don't know what it was, but I know where I was - on the treadmill. It was there I realized that I hadn't cooked a 100% "made from scratch" meal in months. I'm not talking like spaghetti sauce from the jar or frozen chicken nuggets paired with a salad. I'm talking the kind of meal that includes making that marinara sauce from fresh tomatoes & cutting the chicken with my own two hands and a knife. Why?

As I did my 4 miles, I really tried to figure out why. Maybe because I have been too busy shuffling a young child from place to place. Maybe too busy with work. Maybe too busy with reading all those juicy books. Maybe I've just been too tired from life. But really all those are just excuses. And in my world, excuses are tools of incompetence.

So at the end of the nice walk on the treadmill, I knew what I needed to do. I came home, took a shower, picked up my daughter from math camp, & headed to the local library to check out the recipe book section.

I browsed for a little while, then made my selection of books that caught my eye & peeked my interest. & I have spent the last few days pouring over recipes - hoping to re-spark my interest in really cooking. I also made a plan...

First, is to get the recipes copied into my own personal recipe book (can't keep library books forever). Second, to restock my cupboard of the essentials needed to cook meals from scratch. Third, finish stocking my cooking equipment needs. & then to just start cooking - one recipe at a time.

Ecolicious & Lucky Butterfly

2011-07-20T22:38:00.006-04:00

Today we, my daughter and I, visited a new store in Charlotte, NC called Ecolicious. The store has only been open in their new location for about 2 weeks.

It took me a minute to find it, because I had their old address. But, I pulled out that my nifty little iphone & looked them up again. I discovered they had moved around the corner from their old address.

Picture taken from their Facebook page

Why did I seek this store out? Because I was looking for Lunchkins for my growing daughter to carry in her lunchbox this coming school year - she will be entering kindergarten. I did a google search for Lunchkins & found 3 stores that sold these products. I decided to check this one out because it was close to my favorite restaurant, Zada Jane's.

When I pulled up I was a little skeptical - the store is housed in a cute littlte house. And from the outside, you wouldn't know that this is one of the coolest stores ever!

The store had exactly what I was looking for. But, to my surprise they had something even better! They carry a line of locally hand-made snack backs, The Lucky Butterfly.

These cute little bags are made with organic cotton & are absolutely adorable. The only difference between these & the Lunchkins is that these have to be washed by in the washing machine versus the dishwasher.

I liked the patterns so much better than the Lunchkins line & we bought four!

After scoring these items we explored the rest of the store. They carry much more than just Lunchkins products. They had stuff for the laundry, body, baby products, some clothing items, & food products. They also even carried dog treats! I definetly will be back for the dryer ball with sented inserts for our laundry.

It is about a 25 minute drive from our house. Some people would question driving that far for some reusable bags, but I don't. The bags will be used over & over again, thus paying for themselves. We will not be buying plastic snack bags anymore (even though we were using the recycled kind).

So far so good...

2011-07-18T17:32:00.000-04:00

We have been plugging away with the homeschooling things for the last few weeks. & things are going well.

A trip to the local farmer's market.

Hunting for bugs

I have to admit we didn't do much 2 weeks ago because she spent the week at Grandma & Papa's house. But, in the world of a 5-year old, every day is a learning experience.

After some thinking, I did decide that we wouldn't have our scheduled tied to a clock. We are continuing to follows the daily schedule, but at our own pace. For example, some days we have had a late start to the morning because we needed the sleep.

I also spent some time deciding what my goals were for this experience. The following are in order of importance:

1. Know address & telephone number

2. Recognize numbers 50-100

3. Match numbers to number words (1-10)

4. Be able to recognize most of the Level I sight words

5. Write numbers 1-20 & all letters of the alphabet in lower case

I'm not sure if we will make all these goals, but we are working at our own pace on them. We are continuing to read lots of books & the library is one of our favorite places to visit.

So far, we have enjoyed every moment of being a homeschooling crew!

Recycled Clothes

2011-07-17T20:04:00.008-04:00

I buy almost 90% of our clothes from second-hand stores. My favorites are Goodwill & Junior League of Charlotte Consignment Store. There are several Goodwills close to our house, & I frequent them 2-3 times per month. I don't shop as frequently at JLC store, but I do shop their end of the season sales because the "thrift" clothes go on sale for up to 75% off. You can get nice pants, shirts, skirts, etc for less than $2.

If there is something I need, like a pair of pants, I will ALWAYS look in Goodwill first (usually all 3 stores) before I buy it new. My new clothes supplement my second-hand wardrobe.

However, I do believe that you can look good shopping second-hand. I don't consider myself to be someone who looks like they shop at Goodwill. If you saw me on an average workday, you would never have any idea that I have on head to toe Goodwill.

Don't be afraid. Try it you might like it. I know that not everyone will get on the second-hand band wagon like myself. But, I promise you if you give it a try, you will be surprised as to what you can find. I have friends who say "I never find anything". I also have friends who say "I would never wear someone else's clothes". My response to them is that I find lots of things with tags still on them, clothes that look like they have never been worn, and top of the line designer digs for cheap.

How do I do it?

I follow some simple rules when it comes to shopping second-hand...

1. Give yourself plenty of time. Never shop a second-hand store if you don't have at least an hour to spend in the store. Some people would disagree with me, but I don't think shopping is easy and it takes time to find that hidden

treasure. Which leads me to...

2. Comb the racks. & I mean comb them with a fine tooth comb. & sometimes you need to comb them 2 or 3 times. When I'm shopping, I touch almost every piece of clothing hanging on the racks. Why? Because when it comes to second-hand the racks tend to be packed full of clothes. If you just lightly skim the rack you won't be able to see all the clothes & you will miss that really cool piece. Touching the clothes helps me do the following...

3. Always buy quality! By touching the clothes, I can feel the weight of the shirt/pants. I can look at the label on the inside. Top of the line clothes have a different feeling than cheap clothes (like Wal-Mart brands). The cotton is almost always heavier/thicker, and the colors haven't faded. You don't have to know name brands to buy quality. Look at the piece of clothing, inspect it for holes, tears, & stains. If it looks too worn, but it back (unless you like that look).

4. By name brands. Why? They are almost always made of higher quality fabric, & will last longer. They also usually look better. People who have paid a lot of money for their clothes, tend to take really good care of them (like dry-cleaning only), & the clothes show it. Plus who doesn't like getting a pair of Ann Taylor jeans (retail $59.60) with the tags still on them for $3.50!

5. Put it in the basket/cart. Even if you don't think you can wear it, like maybe it's a small and you normally wear a medium/large, still put it on the cart. Maybe it's a color you don't like, still put it in the cart. Let me explain to you that size doesn't really matter in second-hand stores. People have worn these clothes. Therefore, they may have been stretched out or shrunk in the wash. Which means that even if you wear a larger, a small in a specific shirt my just fit. This leads me to...

6. Try it on! Don't ever buy anything in a second-hand store that you haven't tried on. Don't just try it on over your clothes, but go into the dressing room & really see if it fits. Also, walk out the dressing room and look at it in another mirror. Ask people if it looks good on you. The lighting in second-hand stores tends to be bad, especially in the dressing rooms. You will get a better picture of the clothes out in the light of the store. Some second-hand stores have a return policies, but most don't. & if they do, they usually only offer store credit.

7. Smell it! I know this sounds crazy, but I tend to take a whiff of the clothes when I'm trying them on. First, it will let you know if the clothes have been washed recently. Second, people do sweat. & I have come across some pretty clothes that smell pretty bad under the arms. Who wants to be looking good in their favorite find & then to realize the smell they are smelling is coming from their clothes Some smells you just can't get out!

8. Buy off season. I know this is something most moms do, but I have started doing it with my clothes too. I don't just shop for short-sleeve and shorts in the summer months. I still comb the winter racks during the summer. People tend to clean out their closets 1-2 times a year. & I have found that people tend to clean out their house & closets during the summer months. Therefore, you can find some really good items, like that really cool winter jacket, in the summer months.

Lastly, don't buy just because it's $3.50. This is something that I have had to instill in my daughter. I know it's only $3.50, but that amount of money over time does add up. If you don't think you are going to wear it or it doesn't fit just right or it needs a button/zipper, leave it.

Happy Shopping!

Oh... check out my new page called Recycled Clothes - were I have posted pics of some of my finds. This page will be updated with pics of new clothes every month!

Finding A Church

2011-07-10T14:17:00.003-04:00

As a part of my 34 things list for my 34th year (read original post here), I wanted to find a church. A place I felt welcomed. A place to raise my daughter in. A place that mirrored the world we live in. A place that preached the word & didn't get into politics of the secular world. I had some apprehensions about attending church.

My apprehension was rooted in my past so let me go back a little and explain...

I grew up in a somewhat Christian home. I say that because my mom was very into attending church, but my dad hasn't stepped foot into one in many, many moons. I can count on my hands and feet how many times I missed church growing up. In a lot of ways my world revolved around church. However, I lived in two different worlds at the same time. My "church" world was black and my other "secular" life was - in a word - very white. Growing up I could never figure out how to merge these two worlds. My church friends didn't understand my school friends, and vise versa. I felt very much stuck between two worlds for all of my adolescent life. Which isn't a great place to be as a teenager. So when I went off to college, I decided to explore different churches. Well, to my surprise a lot of the churches I visited where either black or white. There was no middle ground - so I gave up my search for a church. I didn't attend church again until I met my ex-husband, and even then I never felt at home.

When it came to church, I always felt like I was pretending. My true self was my outside of church. My friends came in a multitude of colors. My music was more rock than soul. & I could never get into that whole "wearing your Sunday best" idea when it came to clothes. In my search for a church, I haven't found a place that I felt comfortable in or a place I wanted to raise my daughter in.

A few months ago a co-worker/friend suggested that I come visit her church. After some thinking, I took her up on her offer. And to my surprise, I found the church to be very much right up my alley.

From the first time I walked into this church I felt at home. The congregation, the pastor, the music are all rocking! When I'm sitting in church, I look around & finally see the two worlds of my childhood combined & the future I want for my daughter.

Summer Homeschooling

2011-06-20T22:16:00.002-04:00

In yesterday's post I talked about wanting to do the homeschooling thing. Well, myself and my little one sat down & talked about it. She is very interested in continuing her "work" - that's what she calls it. So we came up with a schedule that I hope will work around her other committments.

Awake @ 8:00am

Breakfast & News

(my morning cup of joe & preparing for the day)

Morning Walk

(she loves to take pictures & wanted time in her day to do explore)

Math/Number work

(she decided that we needed to do numbers in the morning. However, we have swim lessons at this time for the next week & half. This will happen in the afternoon until July)

Snack Break

Reading

(on Tuesday/Thursday this will be Storytime at the Library)

Break - Play Time

Lunch & Nap

Writing

Afternoon Reading

Rest of the day is hers to do with what she likes!

I found this really great book at the library! It has all the areas that she needs to address - Language Arts, Writing, Math/Numbers, and Phonics. This will be my "bible" for summer activities.

I want for her to learn lots of things this summer, but I haven't come up with specific goals yet.

The most important thing she needs to know are: her address & telephone number. My plan is to spend the next few days figuring out what she already knows & where we need to go. Lots of planning to get done & lots learning to be had....

Summer is here!

2011-06-19T15:00:00.003-04:00

Summer has officially started. My last day of work was last Monday. We spent the last few days at the beach - I have posted a few pictures from those days below.

But tomorrow begins the real beginning of summer vacation & my plans are very big for this summer! This is my first summer since my daughter was born that I will NOT be working. Oh how I am looking forward to living my dream of being a stay-at-home HOMESCHOOLING mama. This has been my dream for a very long time & I know that I only get to do it for a few short weeks, but I'm going to make the best of it. We will enjoy the summer regulars - the beach, the pool, late night, etc - but we will continue with lots of learning this summer. We have been making big plans & will post about them tomorrow. So stay tuned to see what we have up our sleeve for the summer!

Pictures from the wonderful, relaxing beach...

Enjoying the summer breeze - the temperature was just right all week & no rain.

Searching for "whole" sea shells & it was such tiring work.

Splish, splash she was taking a ocean bath.

Made a new friend who enjoyed running in the water as much as she did.

& where was I during all this wonderful frolicking...

Right here in my beach chair - relaxing!

Yes, it's been a while...

2011-06-14T22:15:00.002-04:00

So it's been a while since I last posted! Actually its been 92 days. I seriously have thought about this blog & have tried to update it. But life took over. We have been busy ending the school year on such a positive note. I'm sorry I couldn't find the energy to share these things when they happened. But, my family life always comes first. & so much has happened over these few months.

Turned the big 5...

Had some fun days at her new school...

She told me she will greatly miss her friends & teachers.

This school was a God-send!

Began piano lessons...

Learned to hoola-hoop...

And by far her biggest accomplishment! Playing t-ball this spring...

She was the ONLY girl on the team! AND, one of the youngest! But she wowed the coaches & learned how to play ball with the big boys...

We did a lot... learned a lot... & worked hard almost all of the time.

I'm glad to be done with the daily grind of school, and back to taking pics and writing!

Yeah summer is here!

Yeah -100 Books & Counting

2011-03-13T11:42:00.003-04:00

Yes, we finally made it to a 100 books, actually 102 this week. That was before heading to the local library again. I have really enjoyed this challenge - even though we had to modify it a little (read original post here). It took us about 4 months to read a 100 books. Even with that said, this challenge is something we will continue for a long time to come. Or until we run out of books to check out of the library. I would like to read another 100 books before the end of the school year. & then another 100 over the summer months. Wish us luck!

My Happiness Project (part 1)

2011-02-27T16:05:00.002-05:00

Just finished reading the Nine rooms of Happiness by Lucy S. Danzinger and Dr. Catherine Birndorf. It is a funny, well-written book that is quite interesting. The premise behind the nine rooms is that each room represents a part of a woman's emotional house. The 9 rooms are divided like this: the basement, the attic, the bedroom, the kitchen, the family room, the living room, the kid(s) room, the bathroom, and the office. In the beginning of the book, you are asked to draw your emotional house and decorate it. This is to help you figure out which rooms are messy and where to begin to clean up your house.

I figured out a my messy rooms are: the basement, the bedroom, the office, and the bathroom. The rest of the rooms are pretty well made - nice and tidy.

Now the question is... which room to start in?

For me I think the road to happiness begins with me... So, the bathroom is the place to start.

I have let myself go since having my daughter almost 5 years ago. I remember the days when getting my hair done, keeping up with the latest clothes, and making sure I looked good before stepping out of the house were highly important. These days not so much! When did my priorities change? Why did I let this part of my life go so easily? How can I get this part of me back? Where did the single, ready to mingle Nikki go?

Therefore, I'm on a mission to resurrect parts of the old me. It took me 4 plus years to get here, so I don't expect to get it back over night. But it needs to happen! I need to make my health, my look, and my overall well-being a priority. I have a devised a plan for the next 6 months that will hopefully put me back on the road to the former version of myself.

Step # 1: Be positive about my body.

I absolutely hate looking in the mirror. I guess on some level I don't like what I see. People give me compliments, but they go in one ear and out the other. I haven't seen what they see - but now I need to change my attitude. This step may take a while....

Step # 2: Change my diet.

I have been reading the book Cinch! by Cynthia Sass a registered dietitian. It is a technically "diet" book, but she really focuses on a lifestyle change. She gives you a formula for meals. She gives simple meals (recipes included), and a food list to follow. This plan is a 30-day plan, but she talks about how to carry this over past the 30 days. There is also a 5-day jump start plan; 5 food for 5 days.

I have decided to start with the 5-day jump start plan. I did the grocery shopping today, and I'm going to start tomorrow. Follow me here over the next few days to see how I fair... Oh by the way, I have to give up my daily 2 cups of coffee - especially the way I like it. I can still have coffee, but I can't have it with my usual 6 tablespoons of sugar & 1/4 cup of creamer.

Wish me luck!

Our Weekend Pics

2011-02-13T13:42:00.001-05:00

My Vision Board

2011-02-11T22:49:00.001-05:00

I truly believe in the Law of Attraction from the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. If you put it out there, you will receive it. I usually do my vision boards on paper, with scissors and glue. But I was surfing the net, looking for some pics, and I came across this website: lifevisionboards.

On this website they give you the link to create a "Vision Board Mind Movie". At first I was skeptical, might cost me money, but I read through the post & thought I might give this a try. I'm always on my computer, so why not have my visions where I can see it all the time. The more I visualize these things, the more & quicker they will come to me. So I clicked on the link.

The link takes you to a very cool website, animoto.com, where you build a movie with your pics/images from your computer. They do have a free movie, which is about 30 seconds long. To me that's long enough to make my vision board a reality. It is very simple to do.

Here's what I came up with - vision for my life right now.

A Change Will Do You Good

2011-01-25T20:18:00.011-05:00

"Nothing endures but change." - Heraclitus

Change has been the theme of my life this past week. Some of them are choices & some are things that I had no control over.

1. I changed our living room around - moved the couch & my chair. We needed more room. Now O can have more space to ride her bike in the house & push her cars or babies around. I needed more space to do yoga & workout. Something I am meaning to get worked into the daily schedule.

2. I moved a bookshelf out of our living room into my bedroom. Needed a place for a light & all my books in my reading space - which is my bedroom.

3. I also changed things around at my daytime job, too. I work in a small space, but it's much bigger than the spaces I have worked in previously (in a room off the back of a stage). I was just filling a little claustrophobic & also needed a place for kids to work on the computer.

4. Changed the look & layout of the blog.

5. There have also been some changes in my personal life - the ending of an almost year-long relationship.

AND
6. My daughter starts a new school next Monday.

Yes, lot's of changes in a short few days. But, change is good!

Change allows me to start fresh - begin a new. A chance to do it all over again, but better this time. I believe that nothing is constant in life & we are ever-changing. These changes, some of them big & some small, will allow bigger & better things to enter my life.

Oh, I can't wait to see what will come of these changes.

A change will do a mind & body good!!

My Favorite Kids Sale

2011-01-18T18:28:00.001-05:00

It's that time of the year again. I dropped off my child's out-grown clothes & toys for sale at one of the biggest consignment sales in NC. It's the Kids Exchange, which takes place in my home town.

taken from their website: kidsexchange.net

This consignment sale is run by two sisters. They are extremely well organized & use many volunteers/workers to make it happen. & if you work/volunteer, you get to shop early. This sale happens twice a year (about six months apart), once in the winter & once during the summer months.

I first heard about this sale over 4 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. Back then, the sale was contained in 1 building. Now it takes up 3 buildings! It has grown so much over the years. Back when I was pregnant & that first year of my daughters life, I was able to outfit our needs for very little.

It is a 2 1/2 hour drive from our house, but its worth it.

It works like this:
1. You gather all your unwanted kids items.
2. Go to their website, register, & print your tags.
3. Tag your items as instructed by the manual.
4. Drop of your items at the fairgrounds inside specific buildings on certain days (This process is very organized & the building is well laid out for easy dropping off).
5. Pick up your unsold items after the sale (if you don't want them to go to charity).
6. Wait for your check to come in the mail.

It's just that easy! The hardest part is the taging, but if done over several weeks it doesn't take as much time as you would think.

It is one of the best ways to get rid of your unwanted kids items & fill your closets!

A Day @ Home

2011-01-10T14:29:00.003-05:00

The lone tree stands
Silently

The wind howls

Endlessy

Winter has come...

taken from A New Season by Nicole Annette Hofer

January is here! & it is here in full-force! The new year ended with a bang of snow. It is has snowed once again here. We have gotten about 3 inches, and they are calling for more along with a "winter mix".

I am sitting here enjoying my afternoon cup of joe & thinking about how fun this has been. I have really enjoyed the day off from school. It is fun being home with my child all-day. She was up before the crack of down & had some quiet time enjoying a movie. After which, we ate a late home-cooked breakfast. This is rare for us because we are always rushing to get out the house in the morning. Afterwards, she had some "school" time - which is writing her letters, doing a little 4-year old math, and reading. She spent a good bit of time on the computer composing her "emails" to her friends. We also went for a winter walk & made snow angels.

While on the walk, I realized how much my heart desires for this to be our regular routine. To not have a clock or "the boss" regulating our schedule. Just to have life come as it will to us & to do what we want, when we want. These days are too far & in between.

Why?

2011-01-03T21:35:00.002-05:00

It's the end of the first day back at work & I'm pondering why?

Why I have to work?
Why I can't make more money?
Why am I so tired?
Why have I gained 15 pounds in the last year?
Why can't I find a way to do what I want (stay home with my daughter)?

I know the answers to these questions. I know that I MUST work to keep a roof over our head, food on our table, and clothes on our backs. I know that I work for the state, so my pay will never be much more than it is now. I know that I'm tired because I work, because I'm a mom when I'm not at work. I've gained weight because myself & my health are not a priority & I'm stressed. Lastly, because there is NO way at this current moment in my life.

But, I'm not sure why I'm questioning it all today. Is today more significant than any other day in my life? Maybe it's because I have been at home for the last 10 days. Maybe because I'm not happy in my current job. Maybe I'm not happy with my current state in life. Maybe because I feel my daughter needs me in a way I can't give her because I have to work.

Oh, the whys of the world. I guess the real question is what I plan to do about all these whys and the feelings that go along with them. Not really sure at this point. Maybe right now I need to question it all, so I will begin to find those answers.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T12:56:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year to all!

There weather here is overcast & its supposed to rain the rest of the day. I am sitting in my favorite chair watching the fog lift out our living room window. As I sit here, I have been reflecting on the past year of my life & the new year yet to come.

A new year brings inspiration. Inspiring us to change something - about ourselves, our lives, our futures - to make it better.

I'm not one to make new year resolutions. But, I have been inspired to make a promise to someone who means the world to me - my daughter.

Over the holidays I finally got to read the November/December issue of Mothering magazine. & I was inspired by this one article in particular - Managing Mama Rage by Tera Freese.

Over the years, especially as my child grows, I have found myself getting angry. The times when I have worked a full day, come home to a messy house, have to cook dinner, and then to hear her in the bathroom messing in something she's not supposed to be in or having heard my named called for the umpteenth time. I have had outbursts I wish I could take back. This is something us mother's don't talk about. It's our dirty little secret. That we still get angry, even after giving birth to our children. It's not wrong to be angry! The question is how do we handle that anger when we feel it coming on. Especially when its our children who invoke it.

I have used the technique of walking away. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But before reading this article, I never thought about consciously attempting to breath during these times. Especially a specific breathing technique. She talks about two specific breaths: Snake Breath and Bumblebee Breath (from Yoga Pretzel: 50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids & Grownups). The Snake Breath involves taking a deep breath, breathing out slowly while making a hissing sound & holding it as long as your can. The Bumble Bee Breath is similar except you hum like a bee. The object is to keep your lips soft so you feel the vibration.

These breathing techniques seemed easy enough to incoporate into my daily routines. I have had the chance to use them over the last few days, especially when putting the new bed together. They worked & helped me pass through that moment of anger to find a place of calmness to deal with the matter at hand.

I promise to breathe all year long - especially in the heated moments.

New Year's Eve Noon

2010-12-31T17:05:00.001-05:00

Today we went into "town". At least that's what I call it. We live right outside of a major metropolitan area, Charlotte. So whenever we go into Charlotte to do something, I call it going into "town".

One of the major museums in Charlotte, the Mint Museum, was hosting a New Year's Eve Noon Party for children. The party was produced by Radio Disney. It appealed to my "cheap" side because it was FREE.

Basically the premise behind it was to welcome the New Year in early at 12 noon, instead of 12 midnight, for the kids. They even had a countdown to 12, along with all the horns and noise makers.

Along with all the music and dance party things. The children and their parents were allowed to tour the museum and all its offerings for FREE too. So we enjoyed playing in the Family Gallery! She played house & made lots of pictures to take home.

Ringing in the New Year kiddie style! Octavia couldn't handle all of the noise down on the main floor, so we had to head upstairs. Which in the end, had a better view of the happenings.

We then explored the different galleries the museum offers. Their craft + design gallery is filled with all kinds of things that are hand-made. She especially liked the 18th century dress that one of the statues was wearing, but I wasn't allowed to take a picture of it. Only my girlie girl would love a dress and purse like that!

The next picture, she took ALL by herself! She is my budding photographer. She was extremely interested in this piece. It is a glass sculpture, that is lit from the back with objects behind that you see through the front. It was very interesting.

Oh, this was my favorite sculpture, called Enstein (1988) by Judy Fox. Octavia kept saying that the baby was going to fall. She said the he wasn't listening to his parents & was going to get his butt in trouble. Oh kids say the darnest things - guess she just copying what she hears me saying.

It was a GREAT way to ring in the New Year! The rest of the night we will be relaxing at home with a good home-cooked meal. & maybe some fresh-made cookies with milk for a late night snack before bed.

A New Bed

2010-12-30T11:00:00.001-05:00

I have been promising my dear daughter a new bed for several months now. She really wanted this white bunk bed from IKEA. Every time we went to IKEA for something or to just play at their playground, she wanted to go & look at this bed.

Well she finally got it because Grandma and Papa are good to her & gave money for the bunk bed fund over Christmas.

It was an adventure trying to get this thing home. But I have to thank the worker at IKEA who helped me get it into my car.

I finally got it into our house. And it took me about 4 hours to put it together. Luckily she wasn't around to watch mommy struggle.

Here is the final product.

When she came home, she was so excited & has played in the room for last day non-stop.

The 100 Book Challenge - Change of Plans

2010-12-27T14:30:00.001-05:00

I love the idea of reading 100 books (check-out website), but I have found this challenge extremely hard. My schedule, both work and home, makes this a daunting task. I just haven't seemed to have the time to read 5-7 books per night, especially the length of books my child likes to read.

Therefore, I have decided to change this challenge to fit the needs of our family.

Our challenge is to see how long it takes us to get to 100 books. We go to the library every other weekend (due to budget constraints, our library is only open every other Saturday) & check-out of ton of books.

We started this challenge a couple of months ago in November.

I have been keeping track of the books we read. And have also added a column on the front page to track these books. As the list gets too long, the titles to our books will be stored on a separate page: The 100 Book Challenge.

I can't wait to see how long it takes us as a family to reach this goal.

A Snowy Sunday

2010-12-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

It's the day after Christmas. It has been snowing all day here. The snow is beautiful & it's been a long time since I have seen this much. But....

I am stuck at my parent's house, 2 1/2 hours away from my own house. Away from all the creature comforts of my own space. My child is sick, most likely strep throat, & there are no doctors' offices open. She is handling it like a champ & I hope we can get in to see a doctor tomorrow.

So, I am trying to enjoy the time away from work. Yet, I'm finding it hard to relax in a space that is not my own. Yes, I get to watch cable tv, something we don't have at our house, but it's not enough. I am craving my own space, my own bed, my own couch, etc. I have this believe that both fish and company begin to smell after 3 days; & we are going on our 3rd day here.

We did get to get out & have some fun in the snow. We built a snazzy snowman (atleast attempted it). The snow came up to her knees, but she really enjoyed it.

I'm just hoping that the roads become driveable tomorrow or atleast by Tuesday, so that I can head back to my house. Home Sweet Home!

34 Things for My 34th Year

2010-11-28T11:24:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I turned 34, not the big 30 or 35, but just plain-old 34. The 34th year is usually not that big of a deal for most people. But I feel like this year will be momentous. I am approaching this year consciously, with direction and conviction. I was inspired by Tara over at The Organic Sister and her 28 list.

I have been on this journey of self-discovery & I feel like this year will be the culmination of the last few years. I am beginning to find my way in the world. Therefore, I have created this list, 34 things, that I would like to accomplish this year. Some are big, some are small. But all will have a profound effect on my life.... Maybe good or maybe bad.... We will just have to wait and see.

This year I want to (in no particular order):

Save 3,000 dollars
Eat healthier
Exercise at least 2x/week
Live within my means
Get on a monthly budget
Paint 34 paintings
Make 34 pieces of jewelry
Walk on the beach for 5 beautiful mornings
Learn to accept the things I cannot change
Visit Asheville
Take a trip to Disney World
Buy local produce & meat
Meditate daily
Practice yoga
Begin teaching my daughter piano
Stop drinking sodas
Develop strength to deal w/negativity in my life
Organize important papers
Show gratitude for each day I am blessed with
Plant a garden
Learn to make homemade bread
Let my walls down
Find a church
Eat sushi
Create a bedtime routine for my daughter
Karaoke
Think positive thoughts about myself
Dance with my boyfriend
Lay underneath the stars
Breathe & then speak from my heart
Be silly
Let go of preconceived notion of what I am and Just be Me
Volunteer more
Open an ETSY shop

Thankful Thursday - Special Edition

2010-11-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

On this late Thanksgiving morning, I am thankful for many things, but I would like to give a special THANK YOU to all those people who make this world go round.

The farmers & migrant workers who grow & pick the food that graces our tables.
The people who work in the slaughter houses to bring us that much desired turkey, chicken, ham or whatever piece of meat you are eating today.
The truck drivers who bring the food to the stores.
All the people who work in the grocery stores stocking shelves & dealing with people who wait to the last minute to do their shopping.
The soldiers, both past and present, who have fought for us to have the freedom to celebrate this special day.
All the people who help others have a meal on this day & every other day of the year.
And, especially those who work the minimum wage/below minimum wage jobs on a daily basis. Because without you, this great country would come to a stand still.

For you, I am thankful. I hope that God blesses your lives & your tables this Thanksgiving day!

I'm still here...

2010-11-14T15:09:00.000-05:00

Hello, amigos! I still here!

This last month has been a whirlwind. It has flown by quicker than I would like for it. Between the colds, work, and worries, life is surely passing me by. That is why I took some time to off from blogging to THINK & PONDER.

I thought about whether or not I wanted to continue this venue. WHY? Because to blog effectively, you have to write alot. Now I love to write, but I also have a "day" job which is very time consuming. I also thought about home much of my personally life I wanted to put out there for the world to see, especially my daughter. After much pondering, I decided that yes I wanted to continue, but I would do it on my own terms. I also decided to stop pressuring myself to post everyday, its' just not do-able.

I also decided to change the way the blog looks. I felt like my blog had no direction, no purpose. So I changed some things around. I took away stuff and added lots of new things. The premise behind the blog is still the same - chronicling my life & my attempts to life it as simply as possible. But I want to focus on the "how" behind my life. How I'm able to manage 2 people living on a small paycheck, while remaining as green as possible. How I deal with other's expectations that I be further along in my career, life, and have more than I do. How I balance work life with family life.

I added 2 new pages - All About Homemade & All About Frugal Living. The Homemade page is dedicated to recipes that I use around the house to make items the "old-fashioned" way. The Frugal Living page is about all the ways in which I save money. Both pages are "works in progress", so check back often to see new items.

I also added lots of new things along the side. Many resources that I find helpful in my quest to live simply.

I thank you for standing by in my absence, and for visiting the sight now! I think I will be back blogging more often now. Not that life is going to slow down or anything, but I think I can find some time to escape and write. I hope to keep posting things that are interesting & informative that will keep this blog going strong.

My Hair

2010-10-19T17:06:00.007-04:00

I was listening to NPR yesterday on the way home from work & I heard this segment regarding Sesame Street. The segment was about a un-named African-American girl puppet who sings a song about how much she loves her hair. I only got to hear excerpts from the song, but it peeked my interest. So I googled it....

This song it absolutely beautiful! It is SO appropriate for my little girl who is struggling with accepting the hair God blessed her with. She watches TV, looks at books, etc. & sees girls who do not look like her. Even the black Barbies have straight hair. She so desperately wants to have that kind of hair. She tells me all the time that she "wants long hair".

I wish that there was a song like this when I was growing up. I struggled for many years with my hair & spent many years and LOTS of money trying to make it something it wasn't. A few years ago, I finally decided to accept what God gave me. It was liberating!

I want that feeling for my daughter! I don't want for her to grow up feeling like something is wrong with who she is because she doesn't have "long, straight" hair. Nor do I want her spending countless hours and money to make it that way. I hope that this song will help with my wish for her! I will play this song over and over in our house & the car.

this moment

2010-10-15T17:33:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-10-14T18:11:00.000-04:00

I am grateful & appreciative of the fall weather that has descended upon us this beautiful Thursday. It is the small things in life, like the changing of the seasons, that remind me God is in control of all things. I love this time of the year, and I'm thankful that God has blessed me to see another changing of the leaves.

The Puzzle

2010-10-13T21:39:00.002-04:00

Home girl, got a puzzle today from the treasure box at school. They get treasure for getting at least 6 sticks during the day for good behavior. Usually she just picks something like stickers or some toy. But today, she picked the puzzle. It's one of those little puzzles that you get from the dollar store - a 50 piece princess puzzle. It has the tiniest pieces (similar to the 1000 piece puzzles). She asked me in the car on the way home if we could put it together when we got home & I agreed. So we sat down to put it together while the pizza was in the oven. I thought, oh here we go - I will end up putting the whole thing together because she will get frustrated she can't do it. Low and behold, she surprised me! She put the whole thing together with almost NO help from me! I have 3rd graders who can't complete a puzzle. You go girl!

2010-10-12T19:54:00.000-04:00

Today I painted. Actually, it was late last night. Why is this such a earth moving thing that I had to blog about it? Well you see, I haven't painted in many moons. The many reasons/excuses I have given myself or told others for not doing so are as follows:

1. Don't have time.
2. Not motivated.
3. Not feeling creative.
4. I'm too tired to even thing about it.
5. I have other things to get done.
6. Etc. etc., etc...

But the biggest excuse was my low self-image as a painter. My self-esteem in this area of my life is very low. Maybe it's rooted in how I feel others see me. I have never really wanted to be a "big time" artist, but I would like to consider myself an artist & for others to see me that way. A few years ago, I was in a relationship with an up & coming artist. This relationship ended badly & put me in a bad head space. I allowed this to affect my desire to paint & create fears. I put my paintbrushes down figuring I would never measure up.

But last night, I put all those excuses & fears aside & pulled out the paints. I began with a painting that has been in my stack for over a year. Remember those excuses - that's the reason it never got finished. I began with that piece because I could see myself finishing it, unlike a new piece. I didn't finish before I got tired/sleepy (no where near). But, I am inspired - inspired to keep going. To give myself a little bit of time each day to paint, read, or create something that brings me pleasure. I put those fears in a little box & locked them away. I hope to never see them again. My new mantra is: I am an artist.

Fireworks (in process)

My Little Office

2010-10-11T19:14:00.001-04:00

Over the last few weeks, I have been working on simplifying my lifestyle. That included me cleaning & organizing our very small house. Well, I was able to get the office space cleaned out & organized.

If you can't tell my office space is in my kitchen, right beside the refrigerator. You gotta love small apartments. I still need to add a small file cabinet in this space to hold all those important papers.

I cleaned out all the papers & found a place for my computer. The one on top is my work computer (I'm dreaming of owning a Mac one day).

I took the stool back from my daughter's room because she doesn't use it. It's the perfect height for the work area (it also does great doubling as a step stool for me to reach the cupboards above).

The space also has a pull-out drawer. I decided to keep things like CD-Rs, paper, sticky notes, etc. in this space.

My hope is that this space helps me keep my bills, papers, etc organized. Hopefully simplifying my life in some small way - so I'm not fretting and hunting down those long-lost bills or important papers.

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-09T21:59:00.004-04:00

Today was a beautiful day! A little on the hot side for October, but beautiful non the less. We decided to take advantage of the weather & take a trip to Patterson Farms. We had a fun-filled day!

Tessa is a very old horse that the Patterson Family adopted & nursed back to health. She is over 20 years old, which is over 80 in human years. In the last few weeks, she has begun to loose weight & her handlers are doing everything they can to help her enjoy her retirement on the farm.

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-10-07T06:39:00.000-04:00

I am most grateful for the continued ability to buy organic diary products.

I made this commitment when my daughter was born that if I could buy only one "set" of organic groceries, it would be diary. Why? Because we eat A LOT of dairy in our house & its a stable in most kids' diets. I have kept that promise! We drink and eat only organic eggs, cheese, milk, butter, etc. God has blessed me to keep this commitment to my family & I thank him!

Randomness

2010-10-06T18:56:00.000-04:00

I have been meaning to post the pictures from the little get-away my boyfriend and I took a few weekends ago to the beautiful mountains in Asheville, NC

The beautiful hotel room we stayed in,

It rained all morning on Saturday, but the sun finally came out & I was able to go out and explore.

While exploring, I came upon this really cool festival that was happening.

It took place in the downtown section of Asheville.

We ate at one of my favorite restuarants.

The shoppe where I found a really-really cute recycled rice bag messanger bag.

And here's the bag.

The trip was beautiful, relaxing, and exactly what we needed. I only wish we could have stayed longer.

Bookworm Tuesday

2010-10-05T17:38:00.001-04:00

October's book is titled Made From Scratch - Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich.

Oh what a WONDERFUL book!

I found this book while I was browsing the "green" section of the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. I don't usually buy brand-new books, but I had to get this one. I started reading it while my daughter played in the kid section, and couldn't put it down (this was last Friday). I read this book over the weekend, and felt I needed to share it with the masses.

This book is one woman's journey toward a more authentic life. It is part memoir and part how-to manual that will inspire you. Jenna sets out to experience the satisfaction of keeping chickens, growing vegetables, making bread, and sewing her own clothes - all while maintaining her corporate day job. She doesn't live on a farm, but in a rented house. And, shows those of us who live off the farm how to incoporate homesteading into their everyday life.

Made From Scratch is as humorous as it is informative. This is one GREAT read and resouce for those setting out on the journey to the simple life.

Also check out her blog: Cold Antler Farm @ http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/

One Small Change

2010-10-02T08:40:00.000-04:00

For the month of October, I have decided to change our eating habits by cooking home-made meals 5 out of the 7 days of the week. My hope is this change will improve our health and my daughter's eating habits (especially vegetables).

Off to the grocery store we go....

this moment

2010-10-01T21:12:00.000-04:00

Mindful Monday

2010-09-27T19:26:00.000-04:00

Bearing in mind and being fully aware...

I'm on week 7 of the free e-course. I have stated in earlier posts, it has taken me some time to get through these weeks. Some of them I have not felt prompted to blog about. However, I feel I must blog about this particular week's topic: Making Changes that Become Habits.

The assignment for the week was to decide ONE of the habits you would like to chnage and get to work on it. I have lots of habits I would like to change. So I gave this assignment some serious thought - trying to figure out which ONE habit would have the most major affect on my daily life.

And the winner is: my addiction to TV.

Over the last 10-15 years of my life, TV has grown to be a big part of my daily routine. I watch way too much tv. I didn't grow up watching a lot of TV - one big TV in the family room that was usually hogged by my father. It seems as though the TV has almost grown to an addiction. I get got up in the nuances of it, and the time flies. Before I know it, an hour or two has passed and I haven't gotten a thing done. All because I'm watching some program on TV.

I have actually started on this habit already (a long time). But, I am going to make two small changes: (1) NOT turning the TV on before 6:30 during the week; and (2) Turning the TV OFF between 10am and 6pm on weekends.

I hope this little bit of change will help me let go off this really bad habit.

this moment

2010-09-24T06:50:00.001-04:00

Thankful Thursday {appreciative & grateful}

2010-09-23T19:31:00.000-04:00

I am thankful for the silly & funny things my 4 year-old daughter says. It reminds me not too take life too seriously all the time & to smile.

Mindful Monday

2010-09-20T21:18:00.001-04:00

This Mindful Monday takes me back to the Visionary Mom e-course which I have been attempting to complete over the last few weeks. I am on week 5 now. The title of this week is "When was the last time you asked for help?". After reading the post, it got me to thinking. It's been a long time since I asked for help. Especially when it comes to my daughter, and pursuing my dreams.

I guess I have always felt that my daughter is my responsibility and mine only. I should be the one getting her up, dressing her, feeding her, entertaining her, etc. As a single mama, I also see asking for help as a sign that I can't make it on my own. I don't go out with friends/boyfriend on a regular (no kids), go places by myself, vacation, etc because I don't feel like I can ask someone to watch my daughter. And, I will be honest too, I cannot just let anyone watch my daughter or be around her. I am so picky about the people she comes in contact with, that I can see how it limits my choices in 'babysitters".

Yes, I can see where this thinking is flawed. This thinking has lead me to feel over-whelmed and exhausted for some time now. I do feel like I need to change my mindset on this, and start to ask for "help". I think that I will have to start with something small. Like letting her god-mother or my boyfriend watch her for an hour.

Be Gone Clutter

2010-09-20T19:08:00.000-04:00

The quest to get rid of the clutter started yesterday. I was able to de-clutter my creative space. Which I hope will inspire me to be more creative. Here it is before...

I was able to get a much needed shelf hung. It has the things that I feel will be the most inspiring.

Finally finished & organized, including my paints.

A long time

2010-09-19T12:30:00.001-04:00

I'm not exactly where to start with this post. It has been a while, 10 days to be exact. I decided to take a little break - to live life, to breath, and to think.

My thinking has lead me to realize a few things....

I feel very challenged on the home front. Like I'm attempting to climb Mt. Everest and I just don't have the right equipment. With the starting of a new job, comes many many challenges. Our routine has changed, and I'm having a hard time adjusting to the new demands of life. With this new job, I don't have the luxury I have had over the last 2 years to come home before picking up Octavia from school (which gave me that much needed me time). And, I have been exhausted to the point that I can't keep my eyes open after we get home. My house is in shambles - the laundry has piled up, dinner is just not happening, cleaning hasn't happened, etc. Feeling this way has made me realize...

I need to simplify even more! I thought that I had really done that over the last few years. But being in the crisis of sorts, made me realize that I haven't done as much as could have. Which has lead me to consider the following things...

The house needs an overhaul. Things needs to be moved around & moved OUT. We live in a small 900 sq. foot apartment, and I feel like we are on top of each other. It's time to purge unwanted & unused items so I can create the space I want/desperately need.
The TV/cable has to go. I think that it has taken over our lives because we are so addicted to it, that we can't get other things done. I will be cutting the cable back to basic (13 channels) at the end of the month.
Get on a tight weekly schedule. This goes against every bone in my body, yet I realize that I need to do it. My life needs some order - which means I have to figure out how to get all that needs to happen in this house done between Sunday - Thursday night (weekend are reserved). Which means that each night of the week, I will have to complete some house chore, so it's not piling up to all be done at once.

So I'm challenging myself over the next few weeks to simplify, organize, and de-clutter my house and my life. In the hopes, that I feel less out of control and more open.

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-09-09T22:21:00.000-04:00

Oh, this Thankful Thursday I am most grateful for two things! First, that tomorrow is FRIDAY! It has been a long week (which is partly why this post comes so late in the day)! The beginning of the school year is always so hard - hard to get up again at 5am, hard to stand/walk all day, hard to balance work life and home life.

Second, I am grateful to my wonderful man who asked me to accompany him on a trip to the beautiful mountains of NC for the weekend. It could have not come at a better time! I need a chance to have some adult time. I love my daughter to death, but there are times when you just need some adult ONLY conversation and company. I am very much looking forward to some relaxation this weekend & breathing in the beautiful mountain air.

Bookworm Tuesday

2010-09-07T18:40:00.000-04:00

Browse this book

Add to my site

Buy this book

This month's book is Just Breathe by Susan Wiggs. I picked up this book while looking through the clearance section of the local bookstore. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

This is a feel-good romantic story about a wronged woman who gets out her own and starts living. Sarah Moon, a comic-strip writer is "happily" married Jack Daly. That is, until she finds him intertwined and naked with a businnes associate. The same one her husband bad-mouthed just several hours before. After five years of marriage, her husband's cancer, and infertility treatments, infidility was the last straw. She packs up her things and lives Chicago for her hometown of Glenmuir, California. Sarah uses her comic strip to vent her anger, hurt, and fustrations (the comic strip opens each section of the book). While living in Glenmuir, Sarah discovers she is pregnant and begins a beautiful friendship with her high school nemesis, Will Bonner.

Wiggs' book is full of emotion and tackles some serious situations, all nestled into a beautiful romance. This book is both heart-ache and celebration, and will have you crying and laughing with each turned page.

Adventure Weekend

2010-09-06T21:18:00.000-04:00

Formally known as Adventure Saturday.

I decided to change the title of this posting because we do lots of things on the weekend. And, it's not always on Saturday. I think this title will better suit this weekly post.

So our adventure this weekend took us to Raleigh, home of the grandparents. O had a great time playing at grandma & papa's house. In between the playing we enjoyed some of the local festivities the city had to offer.

Asleep on the way.... Such a good nap!

We made it! Now it's time to play.

My favorite thing to do at grandma & papa's.

A trip to grandma's & papa's would not be complete without a trip to the dance store.

Enjoying the African-American Cultural Festival...

A really cool place that we stopped by on the way. Never seen chairs this big before!

this moment

2010-09-03T06:47:00.000-04:00

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-09-02T20:40:00.000-04:00

This Thursday's thankfulness comes a little late, but not least in any way. I am so thankful this week for my lovely babysitter. She was available at the last minute to babysit my little girl for me, so I could attend an evening work function. She is a wonderful 19-year old who is great with my daughter & my daughter loves being with her. We are blessed to have her & her family in our lives.

Mindful Monday - Making Your Money Last

2010-08-30T06:48:00.000-04:00

In an earlier Thankful Thursday, I posted about being thankful for being able to make my money stretch over the last two months because I don't get paid during the summer. A follower commented that I should share my "tricks". So here are some of the things I did over the last few months to make my money go as for as I could:

1. Buy only what you know you will eat at the grocery store. In my house, we tend to buy more than what we need or in bulk. But for 2 people, I was just wasting money & food.

2. Buy on sale! And use coupons! I got strawberries one week at Target when they were buy one get one free (or get one box for 1/2 price) and I used my dollar coupon. I got a quart of strawberries for like a $1.00.

3. Combine errands on one car trip to save gas.

4. Cut the use of air condition at the house. I ran the air on 80 when we were not at home, and turned it down to 76 with fans on at night. On the cool days or when it rained, I just opened the windows. I also kept the blinds closed early in the morning when the sun shined the most into our house. By the way, we live in hot & humid NC.

5. Found free or inexpensive things to do with my daughter on the weekends. We spent most Saturdays at the Splashpad, which only cost a $1.00.

6. Buy second-hand. I did have to do some back to school shopping because I was starting a new job. But, I bought all of it from the local thrift store, which saved me more money than I ever imagined.

7. ATE AT HOME! I think that this was the biggest thing that kept us in the black. We didn't eat out very often this summer.

Creative Sunday

2010-08-29T20:58:00.000-04:00

I was checking out some different & new blogs today, and I came across one that really caught my eye: http://madelinebea.com/blog/

I love her energy! And I especially love the Creative Sunday post. I think that I will have to take this project on. I find that I'm so busy with my "real" life, that I have a hard time accessing my creative side when I do have down time. My hope with beginning all these lovely projects on my blog, I will be able to begin to reach into that side of myself more easily.

Therefore, here is my post for the creative prompt: illuminate - vb 1: To supply or brighten with light: light up 2: To make clear: to bring to the fore 3: To decorate with designs or pictures in gold or colors

Adventure Saturday {Sunday}

2010-08-29T15:21:00.000-04:00

Our adventure Saturday this week is really adventure Sunday. We didn't do anything yesterday worth talking about. Today we started our adventure by making chocolate chip muffins.

And our adventure continued with a trip to the local mall, which is right across the parking lot from our house. We walked there to keep from wasting gas in the car & started at the local play area.

My climbing monkey loving all the things she can climb on!

And then we just had to stop at the Disney store.

And finally we hit the book store.... to play and to read!

{this moment}

2010-08-27T06:40:00.001-04:00

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-08-26T06:12:00.000-04:00

This Thankful Thursday is an ode to one great mom and grandmother. I started my new job last week, and found out that I could not bring my daughter with me to the open house this past Monday. I do not have a very big support system here in the town where we live. So I picked up the phone, just hoping that my mom would drive 2 1/2 hours to babysit. And she did! I have to give her a big thank you for bailing me out at the last minute.

The Big Brain Dump & Tracking My Time

2010-08-25T21:51:00.000-04:00

So I am on week two of the e-course, which for me is week two only several weeks later.

The first part of this assignment was to track your time. And here is how I spend my days, at least Monday through Friday (based upon a 24-hour window):

33% of the time was spent at work
21% taking care/spending time with my child (getting dressed, bath time, reading books, playing games)
13% taking care of the house (washing clothes, cooking dinner, cleaning, making lunches, etc.)
25% sleeping (gotta get those 6 hours)
4% watching TV (gotta watch those Real Housewives)
4% driving in my car

Now this schedule varies on the weekends. I get to spend more time with my daughter.

I'm not sure how I feel about the amount of time I spend at work. Because I know that in reality I spend more time than the 33% because I am doing work at home once my child goes to bed. I do need to learn to let go of the house, laundry, etc. more. I think if I do that I will have more time to do other things.

The second part of the assignment was to do a brain dump (writing down all the things in your head - all the sutff you want to get done), and it was freeing. I completed this assignment right before bed, and I was able to sleep much better that night. I think that this is something I need to add to my daily routine.

Saturday Adventure + A Break

2010-08-25T21:31:00.001-04:00

I decided that I had to take a break for a few days. There are a lot of new things going on in my life, like starting a new job. The beginning of the school year is always a little crazy, but starting at a new school was like adding fuel to the fire.

Saturday Adventure was no adventure. Our adventures only took us to Red Robin for lunch, and the rest of the day we stayed around the house trying to catch up on sleep.

{this moment}

2010-08-20T08:06:00.000-04:00

She wrote her name for the first time on her own!

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-08-19T19:00:00.000-04:00

I am so thankful for making it through the summer without going totally broke. I don't get paid during the summer months, and I was able to make it through the summer & still pay my bills. I have been able to keep food on the table, a roof over our heads, and my daughter in school. Stretching a dollar is very hard these days, but I am so thankful for every one of them.

Adventure Saturday

2010-08-14T19:30:00.006-04:00

Our adventures this week take us to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We headed to the beach for one of our last go rounds before school starts back. The weather was absolutely beautiful! It rained on our way in yesterday (Friday), and today started out cloudy. But, the afternoon weather was just gorgeous. We spent the day in the pool and on the beach.

Enjoying the pool.....

Made a new friend, named Lilly. She was fun to play with.

Mommy helping me swim in the pool. I haven't quite got it under my belt yet.

Attempting to put my face in the water for the first time.

Enjoying the water and the sand beach side...

Making a sand castle!

The day has come to an end and it's time to head back to the hotel room for a good night's rest!

{this moment}

2010-08-13T16:44:00.001-04:00

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-08-12T09:41:00.001-04:00

On this Thankful Thursday, I have to give thanks for having a job in this economy! I give thanks to God for blessing me with this new job. He opens doors when you need them most, and closes other doors when they need it, too. Ten years ago, I would have never thought that teachers & those working for the public schools would ever be in jeopardy of loosing their jobs. But that's the case these days. God has blessed me to be able to leave one job (which was not healthy place to be), and move to another one without missing a beat or paycheck.

The Summer is Ending

2010-08-08T13:43:00.000-04:00

Oh, I don't want for this day to end because I officially go back to work this week. I have enjoyed my summer break, but it went by so fast. Now it's time to go back to working with children other than my own and being up before the sun comes up. But, I am looking forward to my last 3-day weekend at the beach that is coming up. I'm going to soak up all the sun I can to last me through the school year. Oh how fast the days fly as we get older.

Adventure Saturday

2010-08-07T14:41:00.001-04:00

Our adventures today took us to the local Splashpad. Octavia seemed to have a great time, and the weather was just right - not too hot, not too cold.

Taking a rest!

Silly faces after eating some snack....

My climbing monkey... She will climb and jump on anything!

I'm trying with all my might to climb this thing. I can do it! I can do it!

Look at me now!

{this moment}

2010-08-06T13:35:00.001-04:00

Thankful Thursday {grateful & appreciative}

2010-08-05T10:30:00.002-04:00

“Let us rise up and be thankful..." (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddhartha)
A Thursday ritual. A single word, a phrase, sentence or a paragraph telling what or who you are thankful for. If you're inspired to do the same, leave your gratitude or a link to your post in the comment section for all to see and find. - Butterfly Mama

I am so thankful for my beautiful butterfly, my daughter. Her smile makes my heart sing and her laughter brings tears to my eyes. She is my "miracle" child and God blessed me with the chance (and the awesome duty) to influence another life. I went through a lot to get her here (bed rest for 4 1/2 months), but all those sacrifices were worth it. My life would be nothing without her. I only hope that I can be as good of a mother as she is a daughter.

Why

2010-08-04T22:09:00.001-04:00

I started this on-line course on the Visionary Mom blog. The first assignment is to think about WHY we want more time in our day. What would you do with more time, what would your life look like, what are your dreams, etc....

So, I spent some time in meditation over this question and discovered that there is really only one thing that would make my heart soar. My life-long adult "dream" has been to have my own business: a shop that sells hand-made goods. If I had more time, I would love to spend it making this a reality. I dream of a place that I can sell both my jewelry, art work, hand-made bags and the goods of others.

Update to My Version of a Shopping Spree

2010-08-03T21:23:00.000-04:00

So last week I found some wonderful t-shirts for real cheap. But, I figured I needed to browse the racks to see if I could find any other good deals. It's almost time for me to head back to work, so I needed a few things to start the school year off with. And, I did get some good deals. I was able to purchase the following for $28 bucks (5/10 were desinger wears): 2 cardigans, a tank top, a sweater, 3 cotton shirts, 2 light sweaters, and a pair of trouser denim pants. I couldn't have gotten a pair of jeans brand new for that price.

Bookworm Tuesday

2010-08-03T20:17:00.002-04:00

This month's book is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I read this book, for the first time, over 2 years ago. But I recently picked it up again to re-read it. I loved it the second time around as much I loved it the first time.

Eat, Pray, Love is a wonderfully written, heartfelt memoir that hit my heart at it's core during a time in my life when I needed it most. Elizabeth writes of her journey to self-discovery. This wise and delightful book is the story of how she decided to leave her modern American life and all its trappings (husband, country house, successful career) to find instead what she really wanted in life. After a divorce and a bout with depression, she sets out for a year to study three different cultures while studying three aspects of her nature: the art of pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and the balance of the two on an Indonesian island.

This book is funny, thought provoking, and a definite page turner. I recommend this read to all. I can't wait to see if the movie lives up to the book.

Read an except

My Version of a Shopping Spree

2010-07-28T17:01:00.002-04:00

I love to shop at consignment and/or thrift stores! It's one of those little things I like to do to live a "greener" lifestyle. We buy almost all of our clothes and children's items second hand.

Yesterday, I went to visit one of my favorite consignment shoppes, the Junior League of Charlotte Warehouse. They are currently running their end of the season sales, so all thrift clothing this week is 50% off (over the next several weeks the discounts are even bigger). Normally I find good deals, but I think I found a really good one this time. It sparked me to go on a small shopping spree. I was able to get three (3)) t-shirts for less than a dollar. Actually, just $.81 with tax. It was a great find for me because t-shirts are a stable in my wardrobe.

A cool FREE e-course

2010-07-24T18:43:00.003-04:00

I was doing a little surfing of the blogs I like to frequent & I came across a new blog. This blog is offering a free e-course which is about increasing your time. Especially the time you need to follow your passions and dreams. This is something I struggle with daily, being a single mama. So, eventhough the course has already started I will be completing it. Check back to see how it's going.....
Check out her blog: http://visionarymom.com/

Our little recycling bag

2010-07-24T17:53:00.002-04:00

Over the last year, I have been pretty perplexed as to how my family can recycle given our circumstances. We live in a small 2-bedroom apartment with no recycling service close by. But, I was in Target the other day, and what to my surprise did I see at the front of the store when I was checking out? Several recycling bins for plastic, paper, and cardboard products. I was so excited! I now have a place to recycle that's not way across town from my house (which waste gas driving to & from). I immediately went home and started our family's recycling "bag" to take with us everytime we visit Target.

It's been a while...

2010-07-09T11:36:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's been a while since I last posted. I had such beautiful intentions when I started this blog to post every week, but then life took over. The last 2 months have been extra crazy! The end of the school year is always a little over the top, but this year was just beyond reason: too many kids to see, too many reports/paperwork to be written. And on top of all that, my computer crashed. Uhrggg! Anyway, I will do better! Atleast I will try, and trying is all that is asked of us anyway right?!

wishing I had this option

2010-05-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

For the first time in 25 years, a growing number of women are choosing to take time out of the workforce to care for their children. The proportion of working mothers who also had infant children declined from a record high of 59 percent in 1998 to 55 percent in 2000 - the first significant decline since the Census Bureau began publishing this statistic, in 1976. According to a recent Census Bureau paper, "Older mothers (age 30 - 34) and more educated women are increasingly likely to not work after their first child's birth."
US Census Bureau, Facts and Features: Women's History Month, CB02-FF.03, February 19, 2002 .
Barbara Downs and Kristin Smith , US Census Bureau, "Maternity Leave Among First-Time Mothers." Paper for the Annual Meetings of the Population Association of America , Washington , DC , March 29-31, 2001 .

Oh how I wish I had the chance to take time off from work and be a full-time mama! I never thought in a million years that I would be at this point in my life... working full-time, single, and attempting to mother a four year old. When you are little, you have dreams of what adult life would be like. I used to dream about the traditonal way of life... being married, 2.5 kids, a dog, in beautiful house in the country, and being a stay-at-home mama. Well that's not my life. But a girl can still dream, right?

However, I'm glad to see this change. I believe the most important job in the world is raising kids. And, I can attest to that fact that raising one while working is very hard. I think I would be a better mama if I was home more. I wouldn't be as tired, I would have the laundry done, the house would be cleaned on a more consistent basis, and would have more of that precious time I want with my daughter.

I'm constantly trying to find the balance between the two, and I'm not always that successful. My hope is to find more time to do that stay-at-home mama thing, while trying to keep food on our table. Wish me luck!

statistics taken from Mothering article @ http://www.mothering.com/green-living/juggling-career-and-home-albright-oconnor-and-you

Music In Schools

2010-05-17T16:55:00.002-04:00

The Gustavo Dudamel interview on 60 minutes last night was quite interesting. Gustavo Dudamel was a product of the social program in Venezuela where they teach children music. He is now one of the reigning stars of the classical music world. He believes that this program can do wonders for children and can make a difference to children here in the US.

I can't agree more!

I believe music can do wonders for children. I started playing the piano at four, and even though there were times I hated it, I thank God my mother made me. I don't think that I would be the person I am today without music in my life. The main thing it gave me was discipline, which is something that must be tought. I then applied all that "learned" discipline to other things in my life, especially work. It tought me that practice makes perfect! So keep trying. This is something I think is lacking in the children of today. I work with kids, and a lot of them feel that if something is too hard, they just won't try. No one is teaching them to keep going, push threw the rough spots, and in the end you will learn much more from the process than the finished product.

But with the cuts in funding to schools and most social programs reporting funding losses, it is almost impossible to implement this type of program across the school systems of America. I wish I could wave my magic wand, and make the funds neeeded to make this happen in every school in America. I wish Gustavo Dudamel and his program much success in America. I can't wait to see it make it's way too my small town!

In the beginning...

2010-05-16T18:36:00.002-04:00

So I have been thinking about blogging for a long time now, and I have finally found the time and patience to start one. I'm not sure where this is going, but for now it's a place for me to document the adventures of my life. I chose the title because I absolutely love butterflies. I also believe that children are like butterflies. They start off as caterpillars that we nuture and love with all our might, and they grow into these absolutely beautiful creaters that then fly away from the cocoon.

So wish me luck and I hope you come around often to check in to see what I'm up to.

-Butterfly Mama