It's the start of another week and yet another work trip for my hubby. His plane left this evening and he'll be home on Friday. So it's another week of just me and the kiddos. And I only work on Friday so far so it will be me and the kiddos from morning to night. It's gonna be a rough week but I know that we can make it through.
Now that my husband has been away on so many trips, I've kind of gotten used to it. It has definitely gotten a lot easier than it used to be. It gives me some time to myself. When he's home, all I want to do is spend time with him whether it's just sitting down in the basement while we're both on our computers or up in bed watching TV. So when he's away for work, it gives me a chance to kind of just have some me-time once the kiddos go to bed. I'm definitely not saying that I want him to travel for work more though. But I think it is definitely needed from time to time.
Another thing him being away motivates me to do is clean the house like crazy! I know he likes the house to be super clean and I do my best to keep it that way. So the day before he comes back from a trip I clean the house from top to bottom. Well, maybe not completely but I do my very best to make it as clean as I can! So since I work on Friday this week, I'll be cleaning like crazy on Thursday. Unless I work that day, then I'll have to push it to Wednesday. My hubby does so much for our family so it's the least I can do for him!
I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great week ahead of them!!
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Update on Big E!
So I just searched by blog and the last time I did an update about how potty training was going with Big E was August of last year. I wish I could say that there has been a difference since then, but there has not. She is still doing excellent with peeing in the potty with only the occasional accident here and there. But even though she knows where she needs to go poo-poo, she still won't go in the potty. Most of the time when she goes, it's in her diaper so it is at least a little easier to clean up rather than it being in underwear. But I'm completely stuck with what we need to do in order for her to start pooping on the potty.
A year ago I was so sure that she was going to go still be in diapers in high school!! Like seriously, that's how rough potty training was going!! But sure enough, she's finally learned that she needs to pee on the potty and not in her pants. So I know that she will eventually start pooping on the potty. I haven't' been too stressed about it because I know it will eventually happen. She goes number 1 more than number 2, so I think it's more important that she does that in the potty. And we go through a ton less diapers with her than we used to!!!
What tricks do you have for getting your kiddos to poop in the potty? I'm thinking I may start finding some books about pooping and just talk a lot more about how we are supposed to go in the potty. Or maybe even potty videos might work since she loves watching TV. Or perhaps a potty training app? I"ll try just about anything right now!!
A year ago I was so sure that she was going to go still be in diapers in high school!! Like seriously, that's how rough potty training was going!! But sure enough, she's finally learned that she needs to pee on the potty and not in her pants. So I know that she will eventually start pooping on the potty. I haven't' been too stressed about it because I know it will eventually happen. She goes number 1 more than number 2, so I think it's more important that she does that in the potty. And we go through a ton less diapers with her than we used to!!!
What tricks do you have for getting your kiddos to poop in the potty? I'm thinking I may start finding some books about pooping and just talk a lot more about how we are supposed to go in the potty. Or maybe even potty videos might work since she loves watching TV. Or perhaps a potty training app? I"ll try just about anything right now!!
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Go away sickness!!!!
So since I started using essential oils back in May of 2016, the amount of times that me or my kiddos have been sick hasn't been that much. As I may have mentioned in a previous post I did about oils, I'm not a doctor and I'm not allowed to say that Young Living essential oils prevent, cure, diagnose, or treat any illnesses or diseases. But using them to support our overall wellness has definitely been working for us!!! Just because my family or any other oily family out there uses essential oils, it doesn't mean we can never get sick again. It still happens but trust me, it is not as often as it used to be and it doesn't last for as long either.
Just last week, Big E and Little E both had some kind of stomach bug. They got them a day apart, one right after the other and only lasted for about 24 hours. Little E was the last of the 2 to get it and I hadn't gotten it so I thought maybe I was in the clear. Well, I woke up last Wednesday (luckily it was a day I had off), and I wasn't feeling too good. I wasn't surprised because just 48 hours prior to that, my mom got sick and she had been home with both kiddos during the weekend while me and the hubby went away.
So what are the steps that we take in our household to prevent any bugs from spreading to everyone else? Handwashing is definitely a must!!! And we do that with my homemade hand soap that I make using Thieves essential oil, castile soap, and water! I also make sure to clean the house like crazy with my Thieves all-purpose spray! Just a capful of the cleaner in a 16-ounce water bottle filled with water an I've got a cleaner that lasts me a few weeks or so, just depends on how often I use it.
I also diffuse Thieves essential oil any chance I get. I add a drop of Thieves vitality to my water for a little immune support. And I try to drink a little extra Ningxia Red, which is a wonderful supplement that a lot of people (myself included) drink an ounce of each day in place of a multi-vitamin.
With essential oils it's all about staying above the wellness line and there are so many great oils that help our family do just that!! I would love to chat more with you about getting started on your oily journey today so please don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have!!
Just last week, Big E and Little E both had some kind of stomach bug. They got them a day apart, one right after the other and only lasted for about 24 hours. Little E was the last of the 2 to get it and I hadn't gotten it so I thought maybe I was in the clear. Well, I woke up last Wednesday (luckily it was a day I had off), and I wasn't feeling too good. I wasn't surprised because just 48 hours prior to that, my mom got sick and she had been home with both kiddos during the weekend while me and the hubby went away.
So what are the steps that we take in our household to prevent any bugs from spreading to everyone else? Handwashing is definitely a must!!! And we do that with my homemade hand soap that I make using Thieves essential oil, castile soap, and water! I also make sure to clean the house like crazy with my Thieves all-purpose spray! Just a capful of the cleaner in a 16-ounce water bottle filled with water an I've got a cleaner that lasts me a few weeks or so, just depends on how often I use it.
I also diffuse Thieves essential oil any chance I get. I add a drop of Thieves vitality to my water for a little immune support. And I try to drink a little extra Ningxia Red, which is a wonderful supplement that a lot of people (myself included) drink an ounce of each day in place of a multi-vitamin.
With essential oils it's all about staying above the wellness line and there are so many great oils that help our family do just that!! I would love to chat more with you about getting started on your oily journey today so please don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have!!
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
The Voice is back!!!
And it's going to be better than ever before!!! In the past I've watched The Voice here and there, but I just couldn't get into in as much as I could with American Idol. As I mentioned in this post here, I used to be obsessed with American Idol!!!! So now why am I watching the new season of The Voice when I said that I was going to be watching the new season of Idol when it comes back? Two words for you: Kelly Clarkson!!!! Last night I had the chance to watch the season 14 premiere of The Voice and I can tell already that it is going to be a great season!!! I think the back and forth between the coaches is one of the best parts of the show!!!!
It opened up by showing Kelly walk onto the empty stage an pretend like they were announcing her name as the season 14 winner!! They also showed a little clip of her and Alicia Keys with Kelly saying, "I am married but I'm telling you what, if I liked women, I'd like Alicia!" Just the way she said that was so hilarious!!!
Adam Levine and Blake Sheltlon are hilarious as well!!! New for this season, each coach has a "Block" that they can use on another coach to keep a contestant from choosing to be on that coaches' team. Blake used the very first block of the season and at first tried to blame it on Alicia!! Then Adam goes, "The good news is, you're out of blocks. And you didn't get the dude which is even better!"
The first contestant I really liked was Brynn. She is a 14 year old girl from a small town and first heard a Kelly Clarkson song when she was 4! I immediately knew that the coaches would be shocked when they turned around and then talked to her to find out her age, and they were. And of course Brynnn chose Kelly as her coach. As Kelly said, the power of 14 was with her: Brynn is 14 years old, Kelly was wearing a "14" jersey, and it's season 14! Kelly is already off to a great start!!!
Some other contestants that made it through that I liked were Kelsea, Drew, D. R. King, and Kaleb. A funny thing about D. R. King: After his audition, he told us that he used to be a teacher. Kelly then proceeded to say that school teachers are underpaid and that it is a selfless job that needs to be applauded. He then proceeded to say that he wasn't happy doing that!
Kaleb is an awesome country singer that Kelly and Blake fought over. And it was a pretty good fight!!! Kelly brought up the fact that Reba is, as she put it, "my mommy-in law!!" But in the end, Kaleb decided to go with Blake.
Overall the season premier was great and I'm so excited for more!!! It's great that Kelly is on the show because in a way it's like she's coming full circle, back to the kind of start that she got. Now she gets to help other people out in a similar way that she was helped!!! Leave me your thoughts if you watched the show!!!
It opened up by showing Kelly walk onto the empty stage an pretend like they were announcing her name as the season 14 winner!! They also showed a little clip of her and Alicia Keys with Kelly saying, "I am married but I'm telling you what, if I liked women, I'd like Alicia!" Just the way she said that was so hilarious!!!
Adam Levine and Blake Sheltlon are hilarious as well!!! New for this season, each coach has a "Block" that they can use on another coach to keep a contestant from choosing to be on that coaches' team. Blake used the very first block of the season and at first tried to blame it on Alicia!! Then Adam goes, "The good news is, you're out of blocks. And you didn't get the dude which is even better!"
The first contestant I really liked was Brynn. She is a 14 year old girl from a small town and first heard a Kelly Clarkson song when she was 4! I immediately knew that the coaches would be shocked when they turned around and then talked to her to find out her age, and they were. And of course Brynnn chose Kelly as her coach. As Kelly said, the power of 14 was with her: Brynn is 14 years old, Kelly was wearing a "14" jersey, and it's season 14! Kelly is already off to a great start!!!
Some other contestants that made it through that I liked were Kelsea, Drew, D. R. King, and Kaleb. A funny thing about D. R. King: After his audition, he told us that he used to be a teacher. Kelly then proceeded to say that school teachers are underpaid and that it is a selfless job that needs to be applauded. He then proceeded to say that he wasn't happy doing that!
Kaleb is an awesome country singer that Kelly and Blake fought over. And it was a pretty good fight!!! Kelly brought up the fact that Reba is, as she put it, "my mommy-in law!!" But in the end, Kaleb decided to go with Blake.
Overall the season premier was great and I'm so excited for more!!! It's great that Kelly is on the show because in a way it's like she's coming full circle, back to the kind of start that she got. Now she gets to help other people out in a similar way that she was helped!!! Leave me your thoughts if you watched the show!!!
Sunday, February 25, 2018
The end of February is near...
Can you believe that the 2nd month of the year is almost over already? 2 months down and 10 more to go! So how is my year going so far? I think it's going pretty good. I've been keeping busy with substitute teaching and staying home with my kiddos on the days I don't work. I've also been busy reading in my spare time. I made a goal to read 18 books this year and I'm going to reach that goal and maybe even surpass it!!
I'm enjoying substitute teaching but I am so ready for something full-time!! And what is kind of crazy to think about is the fact that I'm still even wanting to work in the education profession. When I started college back in 2008 to start working towards my teaching degree, I never thought that I would have to be afraid to go to work. Sure there were school shootings in the past but there have been a lot more recently than there were in previous years. But I honestly don't know what I would do as a career if I didn't teach. So yes, I still want to be a full-time teacher with my own classroom. I don't want to get into a big debate about what needs to be done about the whole gun-situation, but something definitely needs to be done because students and teachers should not be afraid while they are at school.
I have been stressing less about having a clean house. There were a good 2 weeks or so where I had the kids pick up their toys before naptime and bedtime every single day. And I actually felt pretty good. I felt accomplished. But that has stopped and now we don't always get the toys away before naptime and bedtime. Most of the time, the only time the toys are all put away is when we are expecting company, which isn't that often. But I have been doing better with keeping up with the dishes and the wash. I think my new philosophy about cleaning is that as long as the household is fed, bathed, and clothed, and we aren't living in a complete mess, then all is good! As the kiddos get older I think it should be a little easier to keep the house clean because I will have their help. Or at least I hope I will have their help. But I also know that if I expect a clean house now and the kids grow up seeing that I expect that, they are probably more likely to help to keep it clean.
I've been slacking (yet again) with my blogging but I really want to get into a consistent schedule of writing and publishing posts. I think what is messing me up is that I don't have a consistent and regular work schedule. If I did, I would get home at the same time each day and then be able to make myself a blogging schedule so I can keep up with it and not slack as much as I have been. But you know what, I'm not going to let that excuse keep me from doing that. I'm going to start writing posts at least 2 days a week and then schedule them to publish for the upcoming week. On each day that I have as a "writing" day, I will be sure to get at least 2 posts written so that I'm able to have posts for you to read!!! As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm not sure how many followers I have out there but I thank anyone that takes time out of their busy lives and reads this! I know that time is precious and it makes me feel so happy that you take some of your precious time to read my thoughts!! Let me know if there is anything you would like to see more of on my blog!!!!
I'm enjoying substitute teaching but I am so ready for something full-time!! And what is kind of crazy to think about is the fact that I'm still even wanting to work in the education profession. When I started college back in 2008 to start working towards my teaching degree, I never thought that I would have to be afraid to go to work. Sure there were school shootings in the past but there have been a lot more recently than there were in previous years. But I honestly don't know what I would do as a career if I didn't teach. So yes, I still want to be a full-time teacher with my own classroom. I don't want to get into a big debate about what needs to be done about the whole gun-situation, but something definitely needs to be done because students and teachers should not be afraid while they are at school.
I have been stressing less about having a clean house. There were a good 2 weeks or so where I had the kids pick up their toys before naptime and bedtime every single day. And I actually felt pretty good. I felt accomplished. But that has stopped and now we don't always get the toys away before naptime and bedtime. Most of the time, the only time the toys are all put away is when we are expecting company, which isn't that often. But I have been doing better with keeping up with the dishes and the wash. I think my new philosophy about cleaning is that as long as the household is fed, bathed, and clothed, and we aren't living in a complete mess, then all is good! As the kiddos get older I think it should be a little easier to keep the house clean because I will have their help. Or at least I hope I will have their help. But I also know that if I expect a clean house now and the kids grow up seeing that I expect that, they are probably more likely to help to keep it clean.
I've been slacking (yet again) with my blogging but I really want to get into a consistent schedule of writing and publishing posts. I think what is messing me up is that I don't have a consistent and regular work schedule. If I did, I would get home at the same time each day and then be able to make myself a blogging schedule so I can keep up with it and not slack as much as I have been. But you know what, I'm not going to let that excuse keep me from doing that. I'm going to start writing posts at least 2 days a week and then schedule them to publish for the upcoming week. On each day that I have as a "writing" day, I will be sure to get at least 2 posts written so that I'm able to have posts for you to read!!! As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm not sure how many followers I have out there but I thank anyone that takes time out of their busy lives and reads this! I know that time is precious and it makes me feel so happy that you take some of your precious time to read my thoughts!! Let me know if there is anything you would like to see more of on my blog!!!!
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Sewing
In August of 2016, I got a sewing machine. This wasn't just any sewing machine though. We got it from Craigslist and it was a pretty old machine. The manual that came with it says 1962 on it!! And it came with a nice table that has 3 drawers for storage and some more storage underneath where the machine sits and where the pedal to make it work is.
Here are some projects I made. It's been a while since I made anything, so quite honestly these projects may be the only things I've ever made. Actually, I did make Big E a skirt to wear at the kiddos' birthday party last year and using the same fabric I made Little E something to sew on a onesie for him. But other than that I can't think of anything else that I've made.
Here are some projects I made. It's been a while since I made anything, so quite honestly these projects may be the only things I've ever made. Actually, I did make Big E a skirt to wear at the kiddos' birthday party last year and using the same fabric I made Little E something to sew on a onesie for him. But other than that I can't think of anything else that I've made.
While I have enjoyed making those items and I still use a lot of those items today, I have decided that I am going to give up sewing and sell my machine and all my fabric that I never used. I just don't have the time to sew anymore and I don't have the skill to make the projects that I wish I could make. Yes I know, practice would make me better, but it just doesn't give me joy like it used to.
My aunt was telling me recently that she got a Cricut for Christmas and she has just started using it and she loves it! I have seen Cricuts before and have always wanted one but now I really want one because it would allow me to create so much more than I would be able to do with sewing. I already have a secret Pinterest board of projects I want to make!! And I've been watching some videos from the Cricut website!! I want to be prepared for when I eventually get one!! Oh and when I have my own classroom someday, imagine all the projects I can make then!! So what about you, do you like crafting and if so, what do you like to do?
Monday, February 12, 2018
I love to read!
I love to read! I always have and I always will. When I was in school, I was one of those students that was almost always reading! When I found a book I loved (which was almost every book I've read), I just couldn't put it down. I read about half of the Harry Potter series (I stopped reading them once I got into American Idol, check out this post to read about my Idol obsession) and all of Twilight. Some of my other favorites I've read are: Marley and Me, The Last Song, Eat, Pray, Love, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Best of Me. I could write more but the list would go on and on.
I use the app Goodreads to keep track of the books I've read, am reading, and want to read. They have a feature on the app where you can set a goal of how many books you want to read during the year. I set my goal for this to 18. Last year I only read 13 books so I set my goal for this year a little higher. So far I've read 3 books!! (2 of the books I actually started in the middle of December, but I'm still counting them for have read them this year)
I'm actually thinking I might up my goal a little bit because I Think I may actually get to read more this year. If I keep at the pace I'm going with 3 books a month, that will give me a grand total of 36 books this year!
So now why do I love reading so much? I just love being able to escape from the real world for a little bit. Not that I don't love the real world because I definitely do, but it is great to just forget the things going on in your life for even a few minutes at a time and dive into a different world!! I love when I find a book that I can't put down, which like I said is almost all the time!! I am definitely hoping my kiddos enjoy reading as much as I do! My hubby doesn't like reading, in fact the only reading he does is on the internet or at work. But I'm definitely hoping that his dislike for reading doesn't rub off on them.
Here is my currently reading list:
I really need to finish reading that first one because I've been reading it since May of last year! Again, I didn't start it this year, but I'm going to count it towards the number of books I've read this year. Well, that is if I actually finish it this year!! And the 3rd book I'm really enjoying so far even though I'm not that far into it. I'm reading it for a book club with other people that are doing Young Living as a business. We are going to be reading one book a month up until June, so that will be a guaranteed 5 books going towards my total books read for 2018.
So far since I signed up for Goodreads in March of 2011, I've read 51 books. There may be some on there that I've missed because I actually didn't start tracking them on the app until 2013. I'm going to go through books in the app and mark them at read so I can get a kind of close estimate of how many books I've ever read! With the books I've added so far I'm up to 90!!
Leave me some comments telling me some of your favorite books that you would recommend for me to read!!
I also want to know whether you like to read a physical book or ebooks. I prefer ebooks because I think they are easier to read. I can take them anywhere easily which is great! But I like reading physical books every now and then as well. I just recently found the book See Me by Nicholas Sparks at Ollie's for $2.99!! I definitely couldn't pass up that awesome deal!!! As for ebooks, I get a lot of them through the Overdrive app where you sign in using your library card and then can borrow books for 2 weeks at a time! This allows me to read almost any book I want without having to spend any money!!
I use the app Goodreads to keep track of the books I've read, am reading, and want to read. They have a feature on the app where you can set a goal of how many books you want to read during the year. I set my goal for this to 18. Last year I only read 13 books so I set my goal for this year a little higher. So far I've read 3 books!! (2 of the books I actually started in the middle of December, but I'm still counting them for have read them this year)
I'm actually thinking I might up my goal a little bit because I Think I may actually get to read more this year. If I keep at the pace I'm going with 3 books a month, that will give me a grand total of 36 books this year!
So now why do I love reading so much? I just love being able to escape from the real world for a little bit. Not that I don't love the real world because I definitely do, but it is great to just forget the things going on in your life for even a few minutes at a time and dive into a different world!! I love when I find a book that I can't put down, which like I said is almost all the time!! I am definitely hoping my kiddos enjoy reading as much as I do! My hubby doesn't like reading, in fact the only reading he does is on the internet or at work. But I'm definitely hoping that his dislike for reading doesn't rub off on them.
Here is my currently reading list:
Nicole's bookshelf: currently-reading
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