Sneaky Peeky

I've been a busy mama working on my first Silhouette/sewing machine project.

I think I'm obsessed. ;)

The project isn't finished yet.  I've had to figure out my machines as I go... which has been fun, but time consuming.

Additionally, I keep forgetting to get things.  Like pinking shears.  I thought to myself, "I don't need those for this project; I'll get them later."  You know, to avoid spending a bunch of money right off the bat.

Well, as it turns out, I do need them. :|

So, I'll be going out tomorrow to get them and hopefully finishing my project over the weekend.

I'm so excited to share it with you guys... but for now, I'll leave you with this sneak peek!

Enjoy!

Shampoo Free

I have to say that I am intrigued by the idea of not using shampoo.

Enough so to want to try it.

I came across this idea while browsing Pinterest one day.  Actually, I found a link to natural face cleansing, which I've started (and LOVE).  Linked from that post was the one about going off shampoo.

The idea is that shampoo gets rid of the oil that your scalp makes.  And now you're thinking, "Well, duh!"  BUT... that oil is good for you.  It protects your skin and keeps it from drying out.

It's like a never-ending cycle:  you wash your hair to get rid of the oil, but your scalp responds by creating more oil.  The more you wash, the more oil is produced.  I'm simplifying it a lot, but if you're interested in more information, read Tsh's original blog about it here.

With this natural shampoo-free method, you use baking soda and water to cleanse your scalp.

Baking soda!

Instead of stripping your scalp of the oil it works so hard to create, baking soda only removes the dirt and sweat.  It takes a few weeks, but gradually your scalp will get used to not having to produce as much oil and it'll only make what is needed.

Tsh actually has some other great suggestions for all natural beauty products.  Like using lanolin as lip balm?  Who knew??  And coconut oil as lotion or moisturizer?  I'm in awe.

I'm all about all-natural stuff.  Ask anyone!  And when you can do all natural and save money?!  Count me in!!

Anyway.  I'm way excited about trying out this new method of hair care.  I would have already switched over, but for the fact that I had just bought a new bottle of shampoo before I found the idea. :| Lame, right?  And when you consider that I only wash my hair 2-ish times a week, this stuff is lasting for.ev.er!

I'm contemplating giving my shampoo to Drew when he runs out so that I can switch.  Then when we're completely out of shampoo, I'm going to see if he'll switch with me.

We'll see. ;)

I'll keep y'all updated as the year progresses!

Goals for the New Year

So my post is two weeks late.  I was out of town for Christmas/New Year's and am just now getting back into the swing of life at home.  Don't judge. ;)

Last year, my only resolution was a reading list.  I read most of the books on it, so I'm quite proud of myself.  I think the only one I haven't finished is Jane Eyre... mostly because we moved when I was half-way through and I just kept forgetting to pick it back up. :/ It will get finished eventually...

But Drew and I made a couples' resolution apart from any personal resolution that we might make on our own.  Stop arguing.  And I like to think we did a pretty good job with it.

We still have fights and, yes, even the occasional argument.  However, I like to think we've banished the argumentative spirit from our home.  It's been a process that hasn't been perfected yet, but we're still working on it.

We still disagree.  A lot.  But we have learned that there are better, more productive ways of resolving our conflicts.  We talk.  We try not to get upset or angry when we do.

I won't lie.  It's still hard.  We are argumentative people.  I know that I still get in moods where I disagree with everything that Drew says.  (Drew calls them "contrary moods.")  But we are working, striving.

And we are succeeding, slowly but surely. :)

This year, I've decided to set some goals for myself.  Not resolutions, mind you.  Goals. The difference?  Resolutions are vague and usually too lofty to achieve.  Goals... well, they're:

SO.  Here are a few of my 2012 Goals:
- Go 'poo free... for so many reasons.
- Read a daily devotional book for moms.
- Fully decorate my house.
- Blog more, starting with once a week!- Craft (with my new sewing machine and Silhouette Cameo)!  This is broken down into more specific goals in my head... like make clothes for my kids, make gifts for my family, make custom decor for my house, et cetera.

I probably have more, but I'm running out of time.  There is lunch to be made for my hungry boy!  More details on these goals and more to follow soon! :)

Christmas

Well, I'm alive... adjusting to having two little babies slowly but surely! :) I've been so blessed to have two very easygoing babies (although Gabriel is becoming less so as he gets older).  Hallie is already sleeping 7-8 hours at night!  I can't complain!

Gabriel loves his baby sister.  At first, he didn't really know what to think of her, so he basically ignored her.  But now he loves to give her hugs and kisses.  He also loves to steal her blankets and pacifiers. :| He tries to share everything with her, including his food and drink.  I've tried telling him repeatedly that she's too little or that she doesn't like it, but it hasn't sunk in yet.

When I'm not busy with one (or both) of my little munchkins, I've been attempting to get my house ready for Christmas.  I'm going for simple this year, mainly because of Hallie, but also because this is my first Christmas to actually be at home!  Drew and I have been traveling every Christmas.  So yeah, I practically have NO decorations.  I'm compiling ideas for next year, though!

This is our first year to put up a tree.  I'm quite pleased with the finished product, although it definitely needs more lights and ornaments before it's perfect.  Somehow I let Drew talk me into getting only two boxes of lights instead of the four that were in my cart.  And, wouldn't you know, I ordered on Amazon, so it wasn't like I could just go out and buy more. :|

Gabriel "helping" decorate.  I'm so glad I didn't buy glass ornaments!

I actually did almost all of my shopping online this year.  Whoever thought up Amazon is my HERO.  I'd much rather shop in my jammies from the comfort of my home than brave the crowds with two babies.  In addition, everything is delivered to my front door, rather than me having to lug it up three flights of stairs.  Win win!

Most of the gifts were delivered today... which means I get to start wrapping!  Yay!  Christmas wrapping is one of my favorite things to do!

Baby Girl

Little Miss Hallie Ruth is here!  Yay!

When my due date (November 4) passed with no excitement, I convinced myself that my baby girl would be a week late and would make her appearance on 11-11-11!

Thus, I was pretty surprised when I started having contractions at church on Sunday morning!  I didn't say anything to Drew until after the service because I didn't want to freak him out.  He's the type that would get all worried and be all, "Do we need to leave? I think we should leave!" :)

After church, I told him that I was having contractions, but for some reason it didn't register with him that I meant real ones (I'd been having regular Braxton Hicks for weeks).  Guess I shouldn't have worried!  When he finally realized that I thought labor had started, he reacted predictably.

Although my contractions were pretty irregular, we went ahead and called the midwife who recommended we come on in to the birth center.  Apparently with second babies, labor can pick up pretty quickly.  We arrived at the birth center around 3:30pm and Hallie was born that night at 10:48.

A few minutes old.

One day old.

Eleven days old.

So now, I'm a happy, busy, tired mommy of two precious munchkins. <3

Gabriel loves his sister!