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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Summer!

I don't know what it is about this time of the year. The month of April/May... but there's something about it that leads to me not blogging. Like, at all.

This past month... I don't even know how to describe it. I've struggled with chiropractic issues and hormonal issues. I've taken numerous (negative) pregnancy tests. I've had a baby who had surgery, then had 10 days of heckish recovery with a movable drain in her leg. I now have a baby who is teething 4 molars at once and has turned from a loving, sweet, patient natured kiddo to a demanding, temper-tantrum throwing, extremely touchy terror. I've moved my baby from a crib to a toddler bed. I've had my house spotless and then let it go back to disorganized mess. I've lost four pounds, gained three back, and then lost two more (hint: I'm still down three pounds). I've been slightly obsessed with reading about vaccinations, ways to boost your fertility and researching Wii games. I've congratulated numerous people on their pregnancy announcements on facebook. I've cried in the car after buying a pregnancy test at Wal-mart (just making sure my Amazon tests were accurate) and having the Wal-Mart clerk checking me out tell me she'd taken one a few hours earlier and got a positive, only to find out mine was still negative. I've started working out 30-60 minutes a day. I'm becoming a grilling queen. I managed to get Rows for Remembrance up to date.

I've been busy. And I've neglected this space. I didn't write when I needed to... I've held back feelings and emotions because I didn't want to make people feel bad, or anger people who don't agree with me. But I need to write FOR ME. And I'm going to start. So there may be some changes around here.... I may touch on some more controversial issues... but I also hope to blog more about my little princess and her daily escapades.

So Hi... again. Welcome back Shaina, welcome back.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

a repeat post

I'm really, really struggling right now. I'm actually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm praying to continue going this way.

Hormones (thanks PCOS), emotions, my hubby getting a new job that completely screwed up my schedule... All of these things added up to just push me over the edge. Into unorganized madness.

But I'm working on it. I'm slowly purchasing some organizational tools, and I'm tackling one room at a time. I'm trying not to let it get the best of me.

I've attempted Fly Lady in the past, and not really had that much luck. I get stuck on that stupid shiny sink! ha! The problem is that sometimes Carl doesn't make it home until 9-10, and Keevia is sometimes in bed by then. If you wash dishes in our house and K is asleep, she WILL wake up. So the dinner dishes are in my sink in the morning. Which I realize isn't a big deal, but still. Also, it's SO SLOW. I don't want an overnight fix, but a week long fix would be great.

So, I'm attempting a week long fix. My house has 8 rooms. (Master Bedroom, Guest bedroom, K's bedroom, kitchen, living room, master bath, K's bathroom, and our laundry room). I'm assigning one day to each room, and just going to tackle that room (and the kitchen counters/dishes) that day. The laundry room doesn't get its own day because I have to do several loads a week, so I'm in there a lot.

Sunday: Master Bathroom
Monday: Master Bedroom
Tuesday: Living Room
Wednesday: Kitchen (also trash day!)
Thursday: Guest Bathroom
Friday: Guest Bedroom
Saturday: Keevia's Bedroom

Each day that room will be cleaned. Vacuumed if vacuuming is required, trash emptied (also emptied on Wednesday), toilets scrubbed, etc etc etc. Hopefully, in the intervening days it won't go to hell in a handbasket, but I think getting cleaned once a week will be astronomical.

I have GOT to get some of these tubs out of my guest room closet and finish unpacking (yes, we've lived here a year), the guest room. I DESPERATELY want to move my office into that room.

I'm also struggling with emotions over infertility. I'm getting angry at myself (not for having trouble getting pregnant) but because I know ONE thing I could be doing to help myself get pregnant and I simply don't do it. Exercise. So super simple. And I'm starting to get pissed at myself. Maybe if I get mad enough, my Clemons stubbornness will set in?

So, I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. If I can manage to write more, I stay happier. I'm currently writing a novel as well, which has occupied a lot of my brain power. But I'm trying.

Maybe once my house is organized, my brain will be too?

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Home-Made Laundry Detergent

So, I blogged about this before. But I can't find it. And I changed my recipe. And I've been getting a lot of questions about it, soo... here we go!

P.S. I swear upon Keevia's Wiggles DVDs that I'm going to be blogging more soon. The end.

1 (or two if you double) rinsed out LARGE laundry detergent containers (I used a Purex Naturals)
1 Cup WASHING soda (yes, you can use Baking, but Washing works better. Look for Arm & Hammer DYE FREE, FRAGRANCE FREE... I found it at Meijier)
1 Cup Borax (some people leave this out, read up on it, try it out, then decide)
1 Bar of Soap (Ivory or Kirk's work best for me!)
Hot Tap Water
Funnel (look in the automotive section)

Grate your bar of soap. Put in a kettle and JUST cover with water. Melt slowly until no more lumps (this may take around 20-30 minutes depending on your grating skills). Meanwhile, using a funnel, add the washing soda and the borax to the CLEAN container (Just a note, you CAN use empty gallon water jugs, but the lid stays on the laundry detergent bottles better, and you have a measuring cup as the lid!), then add the soap water once it's melted. Fill with hot tap water.

You are DONE! This stuff cleans my husbands clothes, so you know it works! Any questions, just ask!