I'm a slacker...

Wow...over a week since my last post. I must have been busy, but I don't really know what I was doing. Apparently I spend most of my time keeping very busy doing nothing. Amazing how that works...

I did finally get to make homemade soft pretzels with my kids last Tuesday. After all the build up to do it, it didn't quite turn out as I was envisioning it. After the first one, my daughter decided that it was too much work to roll out the elastic dough and she wasn't going to do any more. And my son had no interest. Therefore I rolled them all out, boiled and baked them by myself. Hmmmm...sometimes things just don't go as planned - not a memory making baking activity with the kids after all.

We did, however make dipped pretzel butterflies this week that turned out darling. Super easy too and both kids wanted to participate. You get some vanilla melting dip and then dip a straight pretzel and two small twist pretzels and arrange them on parchment paper to form a butterfly. While the vanilla coating is still wet you can decorate with sprinkles and colored sugars. They turned out really cute and the kids were able to dip and decorate. Perfect project for spring! And yummy, too!

My new laundry system is working out splendidly! The kids are putting their clothes in the basket and when it is full I dump the whole thing in the wash. (See post from Saturday, April 5) Boy, I wish I could get back all the hours I've spent sorting and re-sorting laundry!

I'm still working on the spring cleaning around my house. I am excited for small accomplishments like organizing my shoes in my closet, yet I feel that by the time I finish organizing and cleaning everything, the first things I did will be messed up again. I feel like I can never have everything all organized and clean at the same time. And yet I've had fun times with my kids drawing, playing games, baking and giggling. I've relaxed and watched movies with my hubby when I could/should have been doing the dishes. And as I think of these times, I am reminded of some words of wisdom from Erma Bombeck - she wrote:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
by Erma Bombeck

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television -and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...
but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.


Sometimes I need to slow down and remember the things that are most important and let the other things slide by. When my life comes near an end, I'd like to have as few regrets as possible. How about you?

Sunday...A Day of Rest???

At 8:40 pm, I am wondering where my weekend went. I thought Sunday was meant to be a day of rest...

My husband and I just finished hauling out at least 12 big garbage bags full of donations for Big Brothers Big Sisters. They do a neighborhood pick up every so often and tomorrow is the day, so I thought I'd take advantage of the convenience of not having to load up the van to drop off our donations. I spent most of the weekend cleaning out kids rooms and toy cabinets, closets and drawers- itemizing and bagging it all up. It feels good to get it cleared out! Yet, I feel like there is still so much more to go through. I didn't even get to my closet. I guess there is always next time. I am wondering if anyone will be sifting through the bags at the street tonight.

If you read yesterday's blog, you'll know I spent yesterday doing laundry. Back to work tomorrow and I'm not ready! I wanted to spend time designing my blog header. I was going to make homemade soft pretzels with my kids (guess the dough will keep in the fridge for another day or two). We did just finish watching Superman II with the kids. A too short escape from the weekends work.

With all there seems to be to do...how do mom's make time for it all? Do you have any time saving tips or ways you make time for the really important things like making pretzels with your kids? I'd love to hear about them. Drop me a comment and maybe other moms can gain some helpful tips, as well.

I'm off to enjoy the last fleeting hours of the weekend by tucking my kids in bed and relaxing with my hubby. Hope you had a great weekend with a few moments of relaxation for yourself.

Laundry! #@@!$!%

Well...today I am doing some laundry, but I've decided to tackle it in a new way. You see, laundry is the thing I HATE to do. I'd rather pick up dog poop than do the laundry. I don't mind putting it in the washer and then even getting it into the dryer. No, it is the sorting before getting it into the washer and the the hanging, folding, and putting it away in each family member's appropriate closet/dresser after it comes out of the dryer that I hate. I have been known to wear a whole load of laundry by just getting it out of the dryer every morning and not actually hanging it up!

A few weeks ago I read in a magazine a tip from another mom that suggested that instead of all the sorting and re-sorting, just put one laundry bag/basket in each kid's room and when it is full put the whole thing in the wash...no sorting by color, nothing. REALLY? Could this be done? What about all the laundry rules I learned from my mom? Of course there are some tips that go along with this, such as putting a cup of white vinegar in with the clothes to keep the colors bright (or colorsafe bleach, I guess). Also, don't wash a brand new pair of black pants in with the load (dugh!). Also, I wash in cold water to save energy, anyway.

So...would I be brave enough to go against the grain and give it a go? YOU BET! It's only kids clothes anyway, right? Who cares if they aren't in pristine condition. Last week I finished up the mountains of laundry I had been doing it the "old fashioned" way and put one empty basket in each kids rooms. Today I started with the "new" way of doing laundry. And let me tell you, I am a new woman! Granted, I am not all of sudden Cinderella doing laundry while I whistle and sing with little blue birds flying around me, however, I at least do not want to scream when the dryer stops!

The clothes look great...they are nice and soft from the vinegar. (I have been using vinegar in my towels & sheets for a while now, as it makes them so nice and soft.) I also got a great clothes rack on wheels that I can have right by the dryer and hang the clothes up straight out of the dryer. Unfortunately, we live in a two-story house and I can't just roll the rack to the closets, but it still is a time-saver for getting the clothes hung. And the folding went much easier too, as everything from the load that needed to get folded all went into the same dresser.

And as a bonus, I also have made up my own, homemade wrinkle-releasing spray that works like a charm! Great for the kids school clothes...no ironing necessary for most things. I just spray as I'm hanging and give each item a few tugs.

Homemade Wrinkle-Releaser Spray
1 part liquid fabric softener
1 part white vinegar
3 parts water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle.

Wow...I can't believe I can write so much about laundry! Thanks for reading. If you have any great laundry tips and time-savers, please leave a comment! I'd love to hear more ways to make this task less of a chore. Who knows, maybe I will turn into that happy, singing Cinderella after all.

It's just the beginning...

Well, I have decided to join the millions of people who are recording all their thoughts, tips, and just plain ramblings by creating a blog. I am sitting at my computer and can hardly see the desktop, due to all the papers to be filed and craft supplies to be put away. I wonder how long I will be able to blog without feeling too guilty that I'm not cleaning my house!

I am a wife, mother to two children and a graphic designer. I love design, digital scrapbooking, tech gadgets, music, movies, arts & crafts, cooking and being creative, so I guess my blog will talk about all of these things.

As I am just getting started setting up my blog, stop back soon, as things will be added and changing often!

Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me!