Conversations with a two year old

A story from my daughter. Mary was driving in the car yesterday with Brayden in his car seat in the back seat. Brayden was "screeching" -- not crying, just a high pitched yell he does in the car to aggravate the poop out of his mother. Mary said, "Brayden, do you know what Umma used to do to me when I made too much noise in the car?" (Uh-oh - amazing how this stuff comes back to haunt you.) Brayden stopped screeching and said, "Huh?" (translation: I'm listening...) Mary reached her hand back behind her seat and pinched his leg very lightly. (Yeah, I did that... just one more reason I never got a Mother-of-the-Year Award.) Shocked silence for a moment. Then, VERY loudly from the back seat: MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! MAMA PINCHED BRAYDEN! BRAYDEN HAS BOO-BOO! BRAYDEN NEEDS BAND-AID!!!! And on and on for the last 15 minutes of the drive home... Mary thought it was such a good idea at the time.... Another Conversation with Brayden: Jeff, Brayden and I were travelling on Friday in my car, which Jeff doesn't drive very often. We stopped at Walgreens so I could run in and use the ATM machine. As Jeff pulled out to leave, a car swooped in through the parking lot, and I mentioned a car was coming. Jeff said, "Wow - I didn't see him. There's a huge blindspot in this car." From the backseat: Umma! Brayden see blindspot? Me: No, sweetie - you can't SEE it -- it just means Umpa couldn't see to back up. Brayden: Umma! Umma's car broken and Umpa can't see blindspot? Me: No, the car's not broken. Umpa just couldn't see the other car coming. Brayden: Umpa has blindspot? Me: Yes. Brayden: Umma! Brayden see it! Brayden see blindspot! Me: Sweetie, there's nothing to see... Brayden: See blindspot! Me: No, sweetie, there's just nothing to see. You can't see a blindspot. Brayden: Umma! Umpa go in car. Umma go in Walgreens. Umma go in car. Umpa breaks Umma's car. Umpa has blindspot! Brayden see it? Me (frustrated): Brayden - ask Umpa. He's the one who said it. Brayden: Umpa! Brayden see blindspot? And on it went for another 15 minutes until we could distract him! Got to love it! DECLUTTER CHALLENGE UPDATE: I learned the hard way last week that I'm not expected to post photos of my decluttered items every day, but once a week on Friday. But don't think I'm not still decluttering every day! Here's what's gone out this week: Monday - VHS movies we've watched as much as we're going to watch -- off to Goodwill. Tuesday - Obvious garbage and broken things out of the kitchen junk drawer. Wednesday - Reference books I no longer use - off to Freecycle as these might be good for middle school and high school kids. If no takers, off to Goodwill. Thursday - From my hutch - Paper cups, plates and napkins leftover from my daughter's baby shower 2+ years ago. Off to Goodwill. If you want to join the DeClutter Challenge, you can find the info here. I stopped by the My Simpler Life blog today and once again found a great idea for those days I just don't know what to declutter next! It's a printable make-your-own declutter dice! Roll the dice and read what room or item you should declutter next. Don't you just love the way organizers' minds work?!

Back-to-School Essentials?

Admittedly, it's been awhile since I had to prepare my (now adult) kids for the beginning of the school year. But today, I was quite shocked to find a local retailer's ad for "Back to School Essentials" -- with photos of 1) an iPod, 2) a cell phone and 3) a personal Nintendo game player. Not 10 minutes later an ad ran on TV stating that amongst all countries, the United States is now number 25 in Math and 23 in Science... C'mon parents -- where are you?!? Times can't have changed all THAT much since the late 80's and early 90's. Are you actually allowing your child to take a cell phone to school? or an iPod? or a game player? Tell me it's not so... A neighborhood parent explained to me that her daughter had to have a cell phone to call home when she needed a ride after activities. Do schools no longer have pay phones??? And school administrators - where the heck are you? You sure were good at making rules when I was in school -- when and how did that change? Is education no longer your priority? Are you SO bent on being politically correct that you don't have rules against cell phones and iPod players? Shoot, we couldn't even chew gum in school without being threatened with expulsion... I can't imagine there's a whole lot of learning going on if the high school kids are sitting and texting each other or have earplugs clamped on their heads. This is all just getting too silly for words. I swear, common sense just doesn't come into play nearly as much as it used to. Don't want to go to jail? Don't do anything against the law! Want to have a good future? Get an education! Want to get a good education? Study! How hard is that to figure out?? For the very first time, I swear, I understand why so many people are homeschooling -- and Bravo to you who do. (OK, all of you except those who bought the book HOMESCHOOLING FOR DUMMIES -- if you had to read that book, you shouldn't be homeschooling.)

I'd like the gift of time

I think there used to be a commercial -- for a watch, I assume -- that said, "Give the gift of time." That's what I want. I want someone to give me the gift of time. June, July and August have been a bit bizarre -- a good kind of bizarre, because I got my house cleaned from top to bottom and a wonderful visit with my son and daughter-in-law -- but still, bizarre time-wise. I babysat 5 days a week for 3 weeks running in late June and July, then spent 10 days Spring Cleaning my house (more for me than for my guests, since I know they were coming to see us, not how clean our house is!), then more babysitting, some scheduled visits with friends, a weekend away, and now a bit extra babysitting while daughter Mary is recovering from having 4 wisdom teeth pulled. I don't know how women who work fulltime get everything done. Oh, I know I did it when I had to - worked from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm, took care of my kids, kept my house clean, got the shopping done and even had time to be a Brownie Leader and volunteer at the kids' school! I remember getting up at 4:30 every morning so I could get laundry in the washer before I left for work at 6am, packing lunches at night so I didn't have to do it in the morning, cleaning house on weekends. I know it can be done, but I did my time. That phase of my life is over and it's time to move on to bigger and better things! For me, "alone time" is a must-have. I treasure those days when I have nothing scheduled, a clean house, and no one asking me or expecting me to do a darn thing. Those are the days I spending quilting or sewing, or reading, or heck, I've spent entire days in front of the computer reading blogs or just playing games! And I love my "alone time". Aside from one or two days in the past six weeks, I haven't had much alone time -- and I'm craving it! I've got some new fabric in to start my Christmas projects, I've got unfinished projects I want to get done, I have audio books that are calling my name, and other books that want to nestle in my lap while I sit outside on the deck with a glass of iced tea. Hmmmmm....heaven. I wouldn't change any of my days in the past six weeks. I enjoyed every minute with my grandson, and most certainly loved every minute of visiting with my son and his wife. I don't regret spending almost two weeks Spring Cleaning my house, and I'm glad I could be there today for my daughter so she can rest and recoup from her oral surgery. No regrets.... just a bit of wistfulness. Jeff is going away on business the last week of this month, and I am declaring to the world that I am going on vacation -- right here, in my house, with no plans, no babysitting, no cooking, no cleaning and minimal blogging and computer time. I'm going to get up when I feel like it, go to bed when I feel like it, eat when I feel like it, go out when I feel like it, nap when I feel like it, answer the phone when I feel like it -- ahhh...doesn't that sound like heaven? I think all women need "alone time". Probably men too, but women definitely. We spend so much of our time taking care of others, helping others, doing for others, that time for ourselves is always on the back burner. Whether it's 15 minutes a day, or an entire week like I'm going to have -- it restores your soul and reminds you that there's more to life than caring for others and cleaning house and working. Do you get any time for yourself? And if YOU had a week alone, how would you spend it?

DeClutter Challenge Days 9 and 10

I didn't get a chance to declutter yesterday, as we were gone from early morning to late night (see post below), so made up my day today. This morning I decluttered my spices -- got rid of those that are old or that I never use. Oh, and for some weird reason a broken Halloween decoration was tucked in the back of my spice cabinet! So out that went as well! I also decluttered the top of the bookcase in my office. Besides dust, there wasn't much up there, except this CD box that my husband bought at a yard sale at least two years ago, and which has sat on top of the bookshelf since it first came into the house! Out, out, I say!

What I brought home from the World's Longest Yard Sale

My husband and I have been going to yard sales, auctions and estate sales for years and years. I'm guessing that close to 50% of what you see in my house has been acquired at such sales, especially decorative items. Yard sales are where I buy toys and clothes for my grandson. All great ways to save money on perfectly good "gently used" items at pennies on the dollar of original cost. On the other hand, I have a basement storage area packed with boxes of items that I bought at yard sales, auctions and estate sales -- buying them for "the deal" and not necessarily because they were items I truly loved or needed. Yard sales definitely contribute to the "clutter factor" around here. I approached our two-day trip along the Route 127 World's Longest Yard Sale with a new mindset. I went with a list! My list was 1) a vintage step stool for my quilt room, 2) a service for 6-8 of everyday dishes for the kitchen, 3)an antique bedroom suite for the master bedroom, 4) a treadle sewing machine and 5)anything quilt-related, not including fabric. I brought $100 cash with me and did not want to spend more than that unless I found a bedroom suite. We literally stopped at 200+ yard sales yesterday. I have to say, I was disappointed in the quality of the items we saw with a few exceptions. One man's junk is another man's junk in most of the sales we visited. So much of what we looked at was dirty, torn and broken! I did, however, have a few "finds": Two new iron-on transfer books (I do hand embroidery) and a pair of new dress shoes for Brayden. Total spent: $5.00. What else did I bring home? An eye infection! Despite using the anti-bacterial dry hand wash every time we got back in the car, somewhere along the line my hands came in contact with something they shouldn't have, then touched my eye. I'm prone to eye infections and luckily have medicine on hand. I did love travelling the side roads of Kentucky -- I'd forgotten what a truly beautiful state it is and I loved many of the small towns we drove through. The people were exceptionally friendly and for the most part, drivers were patient and considerate in backed-up traffic. We decided not to spend a third day at the sale, so we're home today with me catching up on laundry, ironing and Olympics-watching. I think while watching the Olympics I'll choose one of my new iron-on transfer patterns and work on embroidering some new pillowcases for the guest room. In the past, Jeff and I would have come home with the car loaded to the roof (and quite possibly some items actually ON the roof!), our bank accounts empty, and the family room full of boxes we needed to go through and sort. Instead, we enjoyed our trip together, came home with a few useful items, and I'm making a trip back to the bank to deposit the funds we didn't spend! Frugal yard-sale'ing -- who knew?!?

Declutter Challenge Day 8 and more

First, let me get the Declutter Challenge Day 8 out of the way. This evening I went through a file cabinet in my office, and found benefits handbooks for Jeff's job that have since been replaced with newer versions, plus information on a pension fund for a job I haven't worked at for three years! Off to the trash it all went... Brayden spent the night last night (in bed and asleep by 8:30 and slept until 8:30 this morning! I tell you, this child is too good to be true!), and we headed off for Ohio's portion of "The World's Longest Yard Sale"... The route we took is the same route the Mary takes to her house after picking up Brayden at the babysitter's (Kelly). As we drove down the highway and came near his exit, Brayden perked up and said, "Umma, turn right here", thinking we were taking him back to his house. I explained we weren't going to his house right now, and he said, "Mama turns right there every day after Kelly's." Not too bad for a 2 yr old! Unfortunately, someone neglected to send out the notice to Ohio that all of Route 127 is participating in the World's Longest Yard Sale. We got on to Route 127 in Hamilton, OH and drove southward, saw a total of 6 yard sales, 5 of which we didn't stop, and one we stopped at but didn't buy anything. We got down as far as the Ohio/Kentucky border, and decided "it wasn't meant to be" and headed to Sawyer Point in Cincinnati instead. They have two GREAT playgrounds, one of which is especially nice for toddlers. Brayden is getting quite brave and will now go down slides by himself and loves to swing. Our weather is gorgeous this weekend, with a break in the high humidity and 90 degree temps, so it was the perfect day to spend a few hours at the playground, and then walk along the river. Of course, I left my camera in the car...sigh. After the playground and a nice walk, we had a picnic in the park, which Brayden also thoroughly enjoyed. As soon as we got in the car, he said, "One more picnic, Umma??" Meaning, of course, "I loved it! Can we do it again SOON?" Bright and early yesterday morning, I went out on the back deck to drink my coffee (enjoying the quiet before Brayden arrived for the day) and this is what I found under the canopy that shades part of the deck. This is one busy spider because I know that web wasn't there 24 hours before. It makes you wonder if early man looked at a spider web and thought...Hmmm..I can weave like that... and thus, baskets and other woven objects were invented. Today, there was a rainbow of colors in the web. If you click on the photo you can see a larger version and a better idea of the fabulous colors involved. Tomorrow Jeff and I are having another go at the Yard Sale -- and hopefully we'll actually find a yard sale or two along the way! If I don't get Declutter Challenge photos up on Saturday or Sunday, I'll post them on Monday. Do you know you can watch the Olympics online?! More than 2000 hours of Olympic coverage that won't be on TV. Just go to http://www.nbcolympics.com to watch. Oh goodie, a new way to waste more hours of the day!

Eating dinner out on a frugal budget

When we decide to live our lives in a more frugal fashion, one of the first thing we're advised to do is limit the amount of money we spend on entertainment, including eating out. Paying as much for one dinner as you normally spend for a week's worth of groceries, just doesn't make sense when you're watching your frugal pennies. But what if you could eat out at one of your favorite local restaurants (or even better, try out a new restaurant) for such a low price that you can't even cook at home for the amount?! THIS OFFER HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH SUNDAY 08/10/08!! YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT DEAL! For the first time ever, Restaurant.com has announced a ONE DAY SALE of it's $25 gift certificates -- for just $2!!!! That's 80% OFF their normal GC price!!! At this price, you may want to buy several today -- for upcoming birthdays, anniversary, date night, co-worker gifts, etc.!!! First, check out the web site and see what local restaurants are available to you (you will probably be pleasantly surprised!). Then, with each gift certificate you choose, be sure and read the fine print -- some may have a requirement for the number in the party, how much total you must spend, etc. Some have no requirements at all. Click on the web link below and use the CODE WORD given. For the first time ever, Take 80% off 25 Gift Certificates. Pay $2 when you use the code FIRST.Now valid through 8-10-08.