Want to be more in contact

With those you love.....like the old days. Well visit www.ruvacards.com and look at all they have to offer. Personally I adore the *Flower Power Note Cards* so maybe you should expect a little note from me in your mailbox. These are some of the cutest cards and stationary available and not very costly either.

Try for your chance to win at one of my favorite mama's blogs ~~ http://mommainflipflops2.blogspot.com/2009/07/ruva-cards-review-giveaway.html

Good Luck!

New Site To Earn Money

EcoStore USA Giveaway

Check out this website: (www.ecostoreusa.com), they have tons of cheap natural products that can be shipped for free if you spend $25 or more. Personally, I would like to try any or all of it as the price is great and it looks like they have good products.

You can also try to win by visiting: (www.ourlifeupstate.com/2009/07/ecostore-usa-review-and-giveaway.html?showComment=1246764960429#c2774156955055580614). This is a great blog reviewing products and also fun, exciting giveaways.

Farm Town (my notes)

Planted grapes at 4:00 pm, 7:15pm.

Planted coffee at 7:15pm.

1st set of grapes harvested at 8:20pm.

New Contest for Cute Clothes

Trendy Twin Giveaway.

See barefoot mama's website. http://www.barefootmommies.com/2009/07/trendy-twin-shop-review-giveaway.html

Au' Natural

Thinking about saving the environment (cloth diapering) and what not, I've decided that I may try a few "home-made" more natural cleaners in my home.

I've looked at several sites online and have concluded that most people use the same ingredients in each specific product, so I am not going to credit anyone (or any site) in particular, but they all came from the web.

All Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts vinegar and water (distilled) in a spray bottle. I plan to add a few drops of Lavender Essence Oil as well for a fresh smell instead of a vinegary one.

Mop Solution: 2 drops of natural dish-soap mixed with 1/2 bucket of vinegar and hot water.

Glass Cleaner: Wash windows with soapy water and then clean with an equal mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. (Leave out any oils)

Bathtub/Shower Scrub: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 3-5 drops of a natural dish detergent.

Toilet Bowel Cleaner: Let 2 cups of vinegar sit in toilet bowl for 3o minutes to 1 hour and then scrub with toilet brush. Heavier stains, let set overnight.

Wood Polish: Mix 1 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon juice (fresh is best).

Laundry Soap (from www.ehow.com): Depending on how much laundry soap you'd like to make, you'll have to measure out your ingredients. First, chop up a bar of soap (or several for bigger batches) into small chunks. Again, this soap must be PURE soap like Ivory brand, castile soap or homemade soap (not melt and pour or glycerin soap). You can also use a laundry bar soap called fels naptha.

1. Cut enough to measure 2.5 oz of soap. If you don't have a kitchen scale, 2.5 ounces of soap chunks will fill approximately a one cup measure.

2. Put the soap chunks, little by little, into the food processor or a good blender. Chop until the soap forms little balls.
3. To the blender\processor, add 1 cup of borax, 1 cup of washing soda and 1\2 cup of oxy clean (optional) for every 2.5 oz of soap. DO NOT ADD MORE SOAP! It may look like there's not much soap as it gets powdered, but don't be tempted to add more.
4. Run the blender\food processor until the powder is mixed through and soap chunks are powdered and mixed in. At this point you can add a couple of drops of essential oil if you'd like it scented and mix again. REMEMBER: Adding too much essential oil to this mix will stain your clothes, so it keep it at only a couple of drops! Dispense into an easy to use container.
5. To Use in a Regular Washing Machine: Add 1 TB per small or lightly soiled washload or 1.5-2TB for heavy or large, to the washing machine BEFORE adding clothes. Allow it to agitate a little before adding clothes.
   
6. For HE Washing Machines: Follow the instructions in your manual. For some HE machines, you can add the powder directly to the powdered detergent dispenser, for some the manual will tell you to add the powder directly to the washer itself. If you use the correct soap, this is a low sudsing detergent and thus can be used in HE.

Gro Babyb

I got a Gro-Baby in a sample pack I ordered, and love them very much. They dry nicely and don't take as long as I expected them too. I am excited about the new colors they have and probably will order more soon.

http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/grobaby%E2%84%A2-ic-11_16.html

Baily Graduates

Slide Show 49 pictures.

Dallas Newborn

Okay, so its been an interesting holiday break. On December 22nd we left Quincy and began our 6 hour journey to Seaside to my mom's house. Halfway there I get a phone call and its my mom saying she tripped and thinks she broke her arm. Needless to say, I sped almost all the way there, not to the point where I was careless though. After arriving I took her to the ER to find out that YES she had broken her arm in two places. The next day was the doctors appointment with the orthopeadic doctor, and on Christmas Eve she had a same day surgery to place a titanium rod and nail in her arm. Christmas was great, and she was in great spirits (and pain) but my boys had a great time, and we had a great meal that thankfully Billy helped me with making.

So on Saturday after Christmas I brought Billy and oldest son (Leo) halfway home so that things could be taken care of at our home, as well as me and my youngest staying to help my mom. This was hard. I missed Billy and Leo dearly this whole time. Also, even though I know she needed my help, I felt like I was being used for my services. Now looking back, she didn't ask hardly anything of me, I just think I was homesick. But on a bright note, I had a great time with her and am glad I got to spend that time with her, although Baily drove us nuts most of the time.
Yesterday morning I get a phone call from a distressed Billy, his grandfather in TN is dying in the hospital and he wants to leave with his family (by car) to go. After arranging for Leo to stay with my dad, he left. I came home today to an empty house, besides Leo and am lonely and feel guilty for leaving my mom so soon. I tried to have my mom come with me, but she didn't want me to have to drive her back in a week....it really wouldn't have bothered me though. She did promise to come either right before or right after my little one is born though, so that makes me happy.

I have talked to Billy several times, and he seems to be doing well on his cross country journey, but I haven't seen him in a week and I miss him. I don't understand how you military wives do it. On the good side, my niece is staying with me and the boys for 2 days, so I am not completely alone! He thinks they will be back next Saturday, but I think it will be longer, I'll deal with it I guess.

I am also feeling very selfish. My baby shower was supposed to be next Saturday....and its off! So petty, but it makes me kinda sad. I'm sure my SIL's will make it up to me though. They know that I really don't want to be all alone 8 months preggo, but family emergencies DO come up, and I understand that.

Okay, enough rambling. I feel better for now. Also Monday I have another U/S and on Tuesday another Dr.'s appointment, so wish me luck. Thanks for reading.