Future Blogger of America Learns to Pose

Time for the easy-peasy blogging Sunday link-ups.  Answer a few questions.  Show What I Wore Sunday.

First here's what I wore.    Elsa is learning how to pose for What I Wore Sunday pictures as well. FBA (Future Bloggers of America). 

Don't know why I'm leaning weird.

Shirt: Super old...maybe even from my aunt's closet which means it's from the 70's!

Skirt; Old Navy

Belt: Old

Shoes: Given to me

Elsa's Dress: Given to us

Elsa's shoes: ThredUp

1. How did you get your name?

I was named after my maternal grandmother. And, I have TWO first cousins who have little girls (one is still in utero) that have the middle name "Amelia" named after that same grandmother.  When I was growing up, I knew NO ONE named Amelia.  No One.  However, in the past 15 years or so, the named has really gained popularity.  I'll never forget the first time I ran into a little kid named Amelia.  It was over 10 years ago, at the playground, and I kept hearing a dad calling his little girl "Amelia."  It was pretty surreal, because I've NEVER heard anyone say the name "Amelia" and not be calling ME.  NEVER. Since then, I've ran into a few other Amelias and it's still weird.  I can't get used to not being the only "Amelia" around. 

My middle name is Marie, and I was named after the Blessed Mother. 

2. Do you have a set time for prayer in your day?

      

We say prayers at night with the kids.  Otherwise, not so much.   I've been trying more to pray throughout the day.  Usually if I need something  Dear Lord, please don't let me kill anyone today or St. Anthony, help me find the wallet (St. Anthony failed us, we never did find it and are in the process of replacing everything).    And, I tend to read a lot of prayer requests...on blogs or facebook, so I try to say a quick prayer for the person right then and there (otherwise I will forget). 

3. Did your mom work or stay home (or both)?

She stayed home.  Although she worked at home as a writer.  She published this book when I was in middle school and this book when I was in high school.  And, she has since published several more books. 

4. Do you vote?

Most of the time, yes.  I'm not crazy about the voting push that everyone does though.  I hate it when people are all, vote, vote, vote, it doesn't matter who you vote for, just vote.   First of all, it DOES matter who you vote for.   

I tend to think that people should only vote if they are generally informed.  I've skipped voting for questions on polls because I didn't feel like I could make informed decision. Oh...and if you're voting for the wrong man or woman, STAY HOME.  <wink>

5. What's your favorite drink?

Water is what I drink 99% of the time...but I really enjoy a good glass of wine, a frozen latte or a good cup of coffee.  I drink those  rarely.  I'm not a huge fan of things like soda, lemonade, iced tea, juice, etc. 

6. How are your photography skills?

I think they are fairly decent for someone who only owns a simple, point and shoot, digital camera.  I do know some good photography tricks (using light, angles and distance that help take decent photos).   But, I don't have a fancy-schmancy camera so I haven't put too much time into learning.   Someday I would like to. 

So..that's all for now.  Happy Sunday!

Why I Deserve a Good Housekeeping Award

Did you know that my mom has a blog?  She does.  And, she recently posted an excellent post...about monsters and penance.     In that post, she makes the claim that no one in her family has ever received a Good Housekeeping Award.

Well........we'll just have to do something about that. 

To prove that I deserve the Good Housekeeping Award, I took seven pictures of my lovely house...a house that no doubt rivals House Beautiful.

1.

Look, look...the dishes are WASHED and NOT IN THE SINK.  And there is ONLY ONE out of place cup on the side.  And, the soap dispenser is only a FEW INCHES away from where it should be.  Those napkins on top of the microwave...totally contribute to the House Beautiful Look...no?

2.

Now...let's open up the cabinets...shall we?

Sure, sure..anyone can stack their dishes with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on the top.  It takes someone with some real pizazz to stack their dishes with the smallest on the bottom and the largest on the top.  It shows a certain level of daring...no?  And those sseemingly haphazardly placed bowls and cups...that's not haphazard..that's artistic dish stacking license. 

3.

Now...check out this kitchen table. 

This may look like a mess..but it's actually all part of my disaster preparation efforts.  One never knows when they will need peanut butter, Vitamin C, scissors or a garlic press.  One must ALWAYS have those things available at a moment's notice.  After all, what if we are attacked by aliens and they telepathically give us starvation induced scurvy?  Now, we can crush up our Vitamin C, mix it with peanut butter, use the scissors to attack the aliens and our lives will be SAVED. 

4.

Insect repellent artistically framing the kitchen window.  Good housekeeping if I ever saw it.   And if you look super closely, you can see the baby swing hanging from the clothesline.  Genius!

5.

Everyone is always talking about how overweight and sedentary Americans are.

Well..do something about it!

Put an exercise step in front of your laptop!  Keep it there at all times....so you can step and exercise while staring at a screen.  This should give me double points in the Good Housekeeping contest.  Not only does the step provide exercise, but those Latin books (just trust me..those are Latin books you see), make me look smart.  Looking smart for guests is an important part of good housekeeping.  Keeping a few Latin schoolbooks out in plain sight is an easy way to give the appearance of intelligence to all your visitors. 

6. 

The closest actually has clothes hanging up in it! On hangers even!  Is that not award worthy?  And, those hanging down straps from those bags up there....that makes for super easy grabbing of the desired bag.  I mean, having the straps hang down like that is actually a safety feature.  If I can't easily grab the bag I want, I might have to dig through them all....and they could all fall on top of me, and I could suffocate under a pile of assorted backpacks and reusable grocery bags. It's a real danger I tell you.

Of course, I'd be remiss without mentioning the school books on those shelves.  They are perfectly arranged to provide easiest access to the best books.

7.

Naked doll (the heart overlays are because this is a family-friendly blog) hanging upside down off an unmade bunk bed?  Pure decorating genius, don't you agree?  And that change purse there...well one never knows when they might need change in the middle of the night, better keep it handy! Along with the open backpack at the end of bed.  Better to keep it handy rather than put it away.

As you notice...there is a theme to good housekeeping. Keep everything out in plain sight so you can easily reach it at a moment's notice.

I'm sure you agree that these photos definitely prove that I deserve a Good Housekeeping Award. Who is going to give it to me???

(Linking up with the other 7 quick takers).
 

I Hate Naps!!!

Naptime, you are not my friend.

I know I know...this puts me at odds with just about every other mother out there.  

Every other mother seems to love naps. 

 I hate them.

Even after 4 kids, I still can't figure them out. 

The problem is I'm too loosey-goosey and unstructured to consider naptime sacrosanct and never leave the house during naptime.

And, I'm too uptight to be all, whatever, take a nap at 4:00 PM and then stay up until 10:30 PM, no problem. 

Which means that naptime is always a constant struggle, once my babies get past the age of just napping everywhere and all the time.  

Oh sure...on days we don't leave the house until at least 3:00 PM it's fine. 

 But, if we go anywhere before 3:00 PM, it's a pain in the you-know-what because it means that depending on how much sleep the toddler got the night before, she could fall asleep anywhere from 10 AM to 2 PM (only napping for 45-60 minutes).  And, 45-60 minutes isn't long enough to get a decent break, so all the hassle of getting her down for a nap (usually involves 15 minutes of nursing and slinging) and scheduling it around other activities doesn't seem worth it.  

But, she still needs it. 

Belly hanging out and all

Taking her in the car to go anyplace could easily end up in a 10-minute car nap that as my mom would say "doesn't cut the mustard" but totally precludes any longer nap for several more hours..which leads to the aforementioned 4:00 PM nap and up to 10:30 PM  scenario.    And lots of times, we want and need to go places before 3:00 PM. I refuse to have my older kids miss out on coops or park days or field trips or classes because it interferes with naptime. 

 Which means we have to cram naps around other activities, since she is now mostly too old to nap when out and about.   

Going someplace in the morning, means she is likely to have that 10-minute car nap on the way home.  

Going someplace in the early afternoon means we have to somehow cram nap and lunch in before 1:00 PM.

Staying home all the time is boring. 

And so, I eagerly await the day when she gives up naps all together.  

Anyone else with me?  Or am I the only weird, nap-hating mother out there?

5 Natural Remedies to Keep In Your First Aid Kit

Summertime means that First Aid Kit gets LOTS of use.   Or at least in my house it does.  It seems as though someone always has some sort of cut or scrape or bug bite or rash going on.  Or something.

Most first aid kits contain your basic stuff....band aids, tape, gauze, cold packs. gloves, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, wraps and those weird curved scissors/clamps that I've only ever seen used in surgery.  What ARE those used for anyway?

Well, I've got a few other natural remedies I like to keep in mine.  When I actually remember to keep my first aid kit stocked that is.

So, here are a few of my favorite natural remedies to always keep on hand.

1. Castor Oil


Yes, you read that right....castor oil.  Most people only think of castor oil as a last, last, last, last, last, last, last resort for constipation.  But, did you know that it has so many other uses?

Castor oil has very powerful drawing actions.  It's a bit messy, but put it on bug bites, scratches, scrapes, cuts and rashes as it helps draw out toxins.  Furthermore, the castor oil itself has anti-microbial activity.  And, although it's a bit messy, it is very effective at relieving itching from bug bites or poison ivy.

2. Iodine Tincture

Before there was antibiotics, there was iodine.  Iodine is the stuff that veterinarians used to scrub down the skin before performing surgery.  So, you know it's powerful.  It's an antiseptic, not an antibiotic (so no worries about increasing antibiotic resistance) and is EXTREMELY effective at killing bacteria and yeast which makes it perfect use for rashes, cuts and scrapes.

My toddler had a few spots from a rash that just weren't clearing up.  Maybe it was bacterial, or yeast or MRSA?  Whatever it was they didn't clear up until I started putting a little bit of iodine mixed with castor oil on the spots.   After starting that, they cleared up right away.

That same toddler also had two splinters lodged in her foot. After removing the splinters, the spot stayed swollen and red...until I started putting castor oil and iodine on the wound.  Within 1 day of using iodine and castor oil, there was considerable improvement and reduction in the redness and swelling and her foot healed quickly.

The only problem with iodine is that it does stain (although we've always been lucky at getting stains out).

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Yes...good ole' hydrogen peroxide. It stings, but it's very effective at clearing out wounds, especially if you are on the go.  I like to use this on all cuts and scrapes as it really does a bang-up job of killing EVERYTHING in there.

4. Arnica

This stuff is amazing at reducing pain, swelling and bruising, from any bumps or other common childhood injuries.  Especially good for toddler bumps to the noggin.   Incredibly effective.  Always keep some on hand.

5. 

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has extremely strong drawing and absorbing powers.  It is sometimes used internally in hospitals to treat poisoning.   Those same drawing powers make it excellent for topical use.  Make a paste by mixing activated charcoal with water and apply to bug bites, insect stings, poison ivy, poison oak, acne or other skin issues.  The charcoal will draw out and absorb the bacteria or poison or toxin.   Warning..this is a bit messy....but all the good home remedies are messy.

*Disclaimer:  I'm not a doctor.  This is not medical advice.  This is just my own opinion and experience.  Use any of these natural remedies at your own risk.  And, I should probably tell you to consult your doctor before using any of these.

**: Disclaimer: Links are affiliate links, so if you click through and buy...I get like a penny.  And, all pictures are from Amazon.con

Linking up with Heather for 5 Favorites. 

What I Wore Sunday with Questions about Weird Stuff

Well, well, well, it's been a few weeks since you all have had the pleasure of seeing what I wore Sunday.  I know, I know...your Sunday was just not complete without knowing that.  It's been a bit crazy with attending an out of state wedding, then a long-distance move, then attending an out of state family reunion.  But...things are somewhat normal now.  

So, here is what I wore today (linking up with FLAP) with some photo-bombing, crazy-face making kids. 

Actually, it was 69 degrees when I walked outside to take this picture, so I ended up wearing a jacket, that I later took off.

I have no idea what's up with that one-foot pose.   Looks cool..though, huh? (humor me, please). 

shirt: Newport News

skirt: thrifted

belt: older than the hills

sandals: given to me

Jacket: Thredup (if you use that link, you get $10 to spend for free..and so do I. Winning.  So, go get yourself a free dress or something as there are lots of things available for less than $10).

Now...I'll link up with Kendra and answer her questions. 

1. Have you ever walked out of a movie?

In a movie theatre...no.  But, I have fallen asleep during a movie in the movie theatre..so I still missed it.  I think that movie was Lord of the Rings...the Fellowship of the Ring....but you know..I was sleeping.   In my defense, I was third-trimester pregnant with Heidi so obviously tired. 

I have walked out of movies that I was watching in college dorm rooms with friends in college....one in particular comes to mind.  Let's just say that it wasn't very good.  I have no qualms about walking out of a movie that I find too intense or too violent or too disturbing or too sexual or too scary or too whatever.   I've also walked out of scary ghost stories during campfire time, so clearly I have very little tolerance for scary things and very little shame or embarrassment about leaving if I don't like something. 

2. What do you most often use for blogs and blogging: desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone?

The only one of those I own is a laptop...a Chromebook. So, I do all my blogging on that. 

3. Have you ever had anything stolen from you?

Not that I can remember.  That probably says more for the fact that I have almost nothing of value, than that I am careful with my stuff.  Because I'm not..super careful that is. 

4. Do you identify as a member of a particular ethnic group? 

Italian, even though I'm only half Italian.  My mom is 100% Italian and we spent more time with her family so I identify more as being Italian.  Plus I have darker hair and olive skin tone...so I look Italian. 

5. Do you abstain from meat on Fridays?

I try to, although I'm not super strict about it (outside Lent)...but I do try to make a general point of not eating meat on Fridays. 

6. Seen anything weird lately?

Define weird.  Our entire life is weird.  I mean, we've had 3 long-distance moves in the span of about 13 months.  How much weirder can you get?

 Elsa has had some weird symptoms lately....a swollen eye (due to a stye),  random bumps (most likely bug bites), a VERY delayed onset of whooping cough symptoms about a month after everyone else had it (after being treated with antibiotics...so no she's not contagious), odd diaper rashes (cleared up with iodine and castor oil) refusal to use the potty (okay, maybe that is not that weird) and starting the terrible 2's about 6 months too early (okay, not that weird).    Probably, I'm the weird one, because I put castor oil and iodine and my kids' diaper rash.  It works though. 

And that's all for today...hopefully I'll have more posts up this week. 

7 Ways America is Still Great

Happy 4th of July!!  I hope your day is filled with food, festivity and fun.

A lot of people are really down on the good ole' U.S of A.   I tend to be one of them.  I will admit my patriotism tends to lag a lot at times.

But, there are lots of GOOD things about our country.  And, the 4th of July is the perfect time to celebrate those things!

1.  Free Public Libraries

While public libraries existed even in ancient times, Ben Franklin is credited with starting public libraries in America.   And, they are pretty cool.  All sorts of books and other media you can borrow, all for free.  I love free stuff.  And libraries just keep getting better..there is interlibrary loan and downloadable materials.  Shh...don't tell...but I still use my library card from places we no longer live to borrow kindle books.

2. Denim

With Hello Kitty shirts on top.  What could be better?

Seriously, denim was invented in America.  And everyone loves denim.  They just do.  I would be willing to bet that at least 98% of all Americans own at least one article of clothing that is denim..whether that is jeans, a jacket, a skirt, a jumper...just about everybody wears denim.   It goes with just about everything, is universal, can be dressed up or down, and unless you are talking about denim jumpers, is generally a very flattering material.  We all love denim!

Update: I have been informed that denim was not invented in the United States, that it was invented in Europe.  LEVI's were invented in the USA though.  I still think of denim as being an American thing...you know..cowboys and all.  Plus, I've been told that in the USSR during the 80's, jeans were a symbol of american capitalism/freedom and were banned for a period of time.  They had to be purchased on the black market...so that makes them an iconic American item, right?

3. Apple Pie, Hamburgers, Deep Fried Twinkies, Need I Say More?

You just have to love American food.  I mean hamburgers?  Who doesn't love a good hamburger.  Even vegetarians love hamburgers which is why they sell those things called veggie burgers.  Americans are crazy for hamburgers....because they are goood.

And, apple pie...who doesn't love apple pie?

Actually, I don't think my dad loves apple pie.  But, he also doesn't wear denim, so he is an anomaly for sure.

And, let's talk about another distinctly American food.  Like deep-fried Twinkies...something I am sure is no doubt found only in America.  Now, I've never eaten a deep-fried Twinkie and I probably never will....but still, doesn't the idea just sound so delicious and disgusting at the same time. The paradox of American food. 

4. Football 

Actually, I Hate Football. 

But, a lot of people love it.  I mean, A LOT of people LOVE it.  My football loving hubby had to explain this to me, but football isn't just about football.

Football is a community activity.  Football brings people together.  If you watch the football game on Sunday afternoon, you have something to talk about with your co-workers on Monday.  People bond over football.  It's weird...and I don't get it...but that is what people do.  So, I guess anything that brings people together is a good thing.

5. There is still some semblance of religious freedom.

They haven't managed to take away all our rights to religious freedom just yet. And, compared to other parts of the world, we still have it pretty good here in America. 

6. Homeschooling and Education

In America, you can homeschool.
 In Germany, you can't.
  I'm glad that America believes in enough freedom to give parents the right to educate their children however they deem best...whether that is public school, private school or homeschool.

And speaking of education...the public education system in America is pretty amazing.  It has it's faults...that is for sure, but how great is it that EVERY child in America is able to be educated FOR FREE.  EVERY CHILD....FOR FREE.   That's way better than a lot of other countries. 

7. In America...the poor are rich. 

We've had times where our family income was below the poverty line (coughlawschoolcough).  And you know what...compared to most of the world, we were rich.  We were super rich.   We had a safe, comfortable house to live in, central air conditioning, plenty of food, working vehicles, cell phones, laptop computers.

In America, we think being poor means not being able to afford Disney vacations or a new vehicle every few years or for every kid to have their own bedroom.  People think they need 2000+ sq feet homes for 4 people and if they can't afford that, they are poor.   We say we are poor all the time, but what we really mean is that we can't afford luxuries. Even for people who really can't afford necessities (like food) there are plenty of government programs and food banks and soup kitchens that offer assistance.   If you are going to be poor, you're a lot better off being poor in America than being poor in other parts of the world.

God Bless America!

Happy 4th of July!

Linking up for 7QTF

The Sandman is Coming

Cari has resurrected Theme Thursday!

Today's theme is sand. I haven't joined in several months, but since I've spent most of my life living near the ocean (until now that is) I have about a zillion sandy photos.

This is one of my favorites.  It was taken in February 2013 in Naples, Fl.  John had his 5th birthday party at the beach and his little friend's dad made this sandman (that's his hand there).

Isn't it great!  Clearly it was not made by a Bentrup as the Bentrups are not artistic.