Simple Woman's Daybook - January 18th

Outside my window . . .darkness. No wind for a change, it was really roaring this time last night. It was cold enough today that the puddles stayed frozen, not that it mattered as my kids didn't get much chance to play outside

I am thinking . . . my little girl is almost all grown up. I know she has a long way to go, but man she's made leaps and bounds in the past year. She can be such a gem to be around.

I am thankful for . . . my family. We've had such a great couple of days. I really feel like things are they way they should be.

From the kitchen . . . whole lot of nothing. We had a lot of left overs so I didn't do a lot of cooking today. Sad. My kitchen feels cold!

I am wearing . . . wet socks. The boys' bath got a little crazy, apparently.

I am creating . . . a to-do list. I'm trying to make my mornings go a little smoother the day a week I go to work!

I am reading . . . A Thomas Jefferson Eduction: The Phases of Learning. A very interesting idea. I'm not sure I'm prepared to go the distance, or that it'll be a fit for my family, but I like a lot of their information.

I am going . . . to have a bath. Such luxury! I should scrub the tub before I get in, but I may run out of oomph. Maybe I should have the tub-scrubbing listed during the morning, rather than last thing. It may get done more regularly!

I am hoping . . . the library books I've requested come in this Thursday. I'm all afire with this whole Thomas Jefferson thing haha!

I am hearing . . . my daughter and husband tease each other. Scott is learning how to braid a ten-strand rein and Tawny is helping him get started.

Around the house . . . . things are mostly ready for bed. I probably need to pick up a million little cars in the living room and sweep the floor, but other than that, done!

Favorite things . . . good books. I just can't live without them! My ipad may be my downfall as I can buy and read a book in mere seconds whenever and wherever I have an internet connection.

A few plans . . . I've been starting a simple little calendar time with Silas to introduce months of the year and days of the week. I've also included a little daily schedule so he can see what's coming up that day. It's really good for me as it increases my accountability. I often think, "right, today I'll set them up with play dough while I cook supper rather than putting on a movie" and then fail to follow through. This way we can all see what's coming up next and they love it! Also, this Saturday we'll be welcoming a new dog for Mississippi, if you can believe it, and we have a birthday party to attend.

Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY - January 14, 2011

Outside my window... it's pitch black, but there's a strong wind blowing.  A warm wind, my husband tells me.  It went from -10C to above freezing.  Our glorious 8" of snow is now slush!  

I am thinking... of my baking list tomorrow.  I like to have a selection of cookies and treats available to my family all week, so tomorrow I'll be making raisin oatmeal cookies for Oliver, orange cranberry muffins for Tawny, chocolate chip cookies for Silas and cornflake squares for Scott.  I think we'll be eating the muffins fro breakfast!

I am thankful for... our current financial situation.  We're by no means wealthy, but the fact that I can buy Tawny glasses and make myself a dentist appointment is a big deal compared to where we sat this time last year! 

From the kitchen... I made chicken masala for supper tonight, with couscous and asparagus.  A big hit all around.  The asparagus was a perk from work - I spend one day a week packing bins full of organic produce for delivery and 3 hours a week creating a monthly newspaper for our delivery clients.  In return, I get a weekly bin of leftover produce free of charge!  Really encourages me to eat healthy in order to use up all of our produce before it goes bad and the next week's box arrives!

I am wearing... knitted slippers.  I'm not sure why, as it's getting warmer and warmer in here as both the weather outside continues to warm and the stove downstairs continues to send warm air up here.  They did however, keep my socks dry while I was helping the littles get out of their snow gear!

I am creating... a calendar time board for Silas.  He's been so interested in calendars, love to cross days off, and is always asking me what's going to happen today, what day is it, what are we gonna do tomorrow, when is it my birthday etc.  So I'm putting together a board that will help answer those questions in a visual way so he can refer to it himself all day long.  So far, it's been a great success!

I am going... go snuggle with my hubby and finish watching a newly found copy of Empire Records.  This movie cracks me up and reminds me of highschool - the fashions, the slang, the music.  So great!

I am reading... The Happiness Project.  So interesting!  I identify with her so much and her musings, information and findings have inspired me to try a few of her resolutions.

I am hoping ... to take the boys to my mom's for a bit of sledding tomorrow after baking.  I hope there will be snow left!

I am hearing... Empire Records in the back ground and Scott laughing and chuckling in the background.  An oldie, but a goodie!

Around the house... cleaned out our dvds and vhs's.  I have a whole grocery bag of dusty and duplicate movies to donate to our library.  So smug when I can cart some stuff out - less to dust and organize!

One of my favorite things... juicy fruit gum sold in the plastic cans.  It satisfies my sweet cravings without the added sugar.  Perfect thing to get me through the evenings.


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FOR TODAY - January 4, 2011

Outside my window... Darkness.  It snowed earlier today, and since dark fell, another inch or two has landed.  Fresh snow lifts my spirits.  Springlike weather simply makes me slightly annoyed with Mother Nature to tease me, as I know Spring doesn't really arrive until at least April, if not May or even June.

I am thinking... I should hurry off to the next thing.  I need to start setting a timer every time I sit down at the computer, otherwise way too much time is wasted.  I'd like to clean my microwave and my bathtub before a soak in the tub and bedtime.  So tired!

I am thankful for... the wonderful health and happiness we as a family have enjoyed this past year.  What a blessing!

From the kitchen... I was busy today!  The little ones and I made two different types of cookies, and then I made a really nice roast chicken dinner later on.  Mmmmm, and warmed up leftover home-made pizza from yesterday at lunch time.

I am wearing... Standard jeans and long sleeved shirt.  Nothing fancy.

I am creating... a reading list for the year.  I believe I will be joining in on another reading list, but of course, adding more!

I am going... to get to work soon!  Shouldn't be on here for so long in the evenings!

I am reading... The Birth House.  Have only just begun, but I am really enjoying the writing style and character so far!  It's also the first book I've read on my iPad.  So exciting!  I'm also still working my way through Building Moral Intelligence.  So interesting.   I hope to base my Character Education plans for Silas on both it and the Family Virtues Guide.  Coming soon.

I am hoping ... Oliver sleeps well tonight.  He's had a cold for the last few days and hasn't slept well, especially past 430 in the morning.  Makes for a tired (and sick) mama!

I am hearing... nothing.  Sleeping children mean a silent house!

Around the house... all the Christmas decorations are now taken down.  Now if only I could track down a few of the missing gifts.  How does one lose a cardboard box full of musical instruments and an apron?

One of my favorite things... Hot chocolate made with canned milk and extra sugar, with rye bread for dipping.  My Opa taught me, my sisters and all my cousins the fabulous joy such a simple little thing could provide.  But as I'm working to lose a few pounds, I've been restraining myself.  I've even gone so far as to put the half a loaf of rye bread back into the freezer!

Outside my window... It's clear, frosty and cold - and dark.  As usual I'm writing this well after my kidlets are in bed.  I just lit the fire to warm the house up before bed.

I am thinking... about my hard-working husband.  He drove five lambs to market today, stopped by Lee Valley to get hardware for a kitchen he's building and picked up our new (to us) car.  He left well before eight this morning and isn't back yet (at nine tonight!).

I am thankful for... the thoughtful friend who GAVE us her old car.  It's been very well-maintained and even though it's older than our current vehicle it has 100, 000 LESS km, as well as four doors and a working trunk!  I'm so excited!  Our little family has long since outgrown my well-used two door cavaliere!  I'm also thankful the second thoughtful friend who drove down with my husband to drive our truck back home for us - sacrificing a day off at this busy time of year!

From the learning rooms... Silas can now identify the letter sound of every letter in the alphabet except for D/d, E/e and Y/y.  So exciting!  I had no idea he knew so many of them!  I've ordered a few books to guide me along teaching to read as that will probably come in the next year or so - neato!

From the kitchen... absolutely nothing!  I've been sick all week so I've served uninspired meals and leftovers.  Today was such a busy day, then we went to my parents' for dinner as it was my dad's birthday.  So dismal in there, I must make amends tomorrow!

I am wearing... warm clothes.  I spent a lot of time outdoors today and I haven't had a second to change into anything more comfortable.  Funny I come here to blog but don't consider myself to have spare time lol!

I am creating... My creations are finished!  Silas and I made ten Christmas Cards for an international card swap and mailed them out yesterday.  I've already written both my family's Christmas letter as well as my extended family's Christmas letter.  I hope to get a chance to make some wreaths for my door, my parents' door and possibly my grandparents' and sister's doors as well in the coming week.


I am going... to check the fire soon.  It's chilly in here and I'd like it to hurry and warm up so it's more welcoming for my husband.  I also need to put the puppies in their crate downstairs for the night before some opportunistic coyote has them for a bedtime snack!

I am reading... Monsterblood Tattoo book 3.  Can you believe it?  I'm embarrassed to write that out here but my husband really enjoyed it, so I ordered a copy for him as soon as it was in print.  He wanted me to read it so he had someone with whom to discuss it.  But shhhhh . . . don't tell anyone!  I'm actually kind of enjoying it, as I did the first two books in the series.

I am hoping... for a serene, restful Christmas.  It sounds like this year we don't have a Christmas Eve engagement, rather an afternoon engagement (read early bedtime for the littles!), as well as only one dinner on Christmas - again in the afternoon, rather than evening (as opposed to TWO, and again, read early bedtime for the littles!).  Instead, this year, we'll have dinner with my parents on Boxing Day rather than Christmas, followed by a small gift exchange with extended family that evening (read late bedtime for the littles lol!).  One late night out of three will be such a blessing!

I am hearing... Our oldest dog snoring.  He's semi-retired, although he won't admit it, and lately he's really began to snore!  I like it, it's a comforting sound somehow.  As long as it's not in my bedroom at night!  Whoops!  And the puppies barking! I'd better go check that out . . . There!  Puppies safe and fire stoked.

Around the house... It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas.  We won't get our tree or do our major decorating until this weekend, but there are definite signs here and there.  From the stockings drying in the laundry room to the Christmas books on our reading ledge - I'm getting excited!

One of my favorite things... A long hot bath.  Maybe where I'm headed next?

A few plans for the rest of the week:  A half birthday tomorrow with a good friend and her six month old daughter.  Not a party with cake and gifts, per se, but an excuse to get together with kids at a great little bakery in town (partly owned by a mom my own age - love it!).  My mom is coming to help me with some house projects - need to get a to-do list worked out, and of course, the tree and all the decorating!  As the wrapping is practically done, I'm hoping to enjoy the season with my boys making cut-out cookies and wreaths, crafts and memories!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... 

These are my grandparents.  They've been together for more than sixty years!  Isn't that amazing!  I love them to pieces and hope to live a life as full as they have.  I've always felt a special bond as the three of us are born within four days of each other and have always celebrated our birthdays together.  This picture was taken at the birthday supper at my parents'.

For Today… Tuesday, November 30th

Outside my window... It's once again pitch black.  Funny I started this in the few last minutes of naptime, hoping I'd have a better comment, however my littles awoke as soon as my fingers were poised to type (of course)!

I am thinking... how amazing it is that December starts tomorrow!  My favorite time of year!

I am thankful for... the fact that I finished the kids' advent calendar.  I splurged on Fisher Price toys: the Nativity set, the Inn set and the Wise Men set.  I then fashioned a hanging 18-shoe pocket organizer into an advent calendar with the four bigger items in gift bags, their numbers afixed.  So pleased!  I really want my boys to learn the meaning of Christmas, even if we're not a religious family. 

I am wearing... what I call my practical town clothes.  Nothing fancy, but new enough not to be relegated to ranch-wear only.  Long sleeve shirt and blue jeans.  Wow.   Wishing I had more winter skirts, but I'm building my wardrobe up slowly.   Love being a girl!

I am remembering...the excitement of using those cheap little chocolate advent calendars.  They have those too, let's just hope they like the nativity advent calendar as well (better yet, let's hope they like it even more, and it brings the story of the Navity alive for them.  Reaching even higher, I hope this can be the beginning of a new tradition for them to remember and anticipate and enjoy!)

I am going... to pick Tawny up from town as soon as my dear husband returns to care for the boys.  We're doing a little Christmas shopping tonight!

I am reading...Nanny Returns.  Nothing too deep, but fun and relaxing.  If it wasn't for the fact that my mom loaned it to me, I could very well be bookless.  Things are already busy!

I am hoping... I have time to get a good chunk of my work-related stuff done tonight, as well as the shopping, sensory bin (see below) and scrubbing the bath tub tonight.  Think I can do it?  Three guesses which one this procrastinator drops if necessary.  Actually, you may need the three guesses, cause the tub AND the work related stuff are almost equally unappealing.  Almost.  Have I mentioned how much I dislike scrubbing bath tubs?

From the learning rooms… Not too much to report really.  We only really do Tot School/Preschool when Silas doesn't need to nap as soon as Oliver (or I don't need the full hour and a half to myself to get a few things done!) so it hasn't happened too often lately.  I AM creating a new sensory bin tonight!  Christmas Theme (of course) and I'm pleased as the Fisher Price toys arrived in a ton of packing peanuts, which I've never had before.  Will be great to add to the bin!

Noticing that… 

From the kitchen… Butter Chicken in the crock pot!  Smells wonderful!  I've never made it in the crock pot before and I'm really looking forward to it.  I try and use the crock pot at least twice a week.

One of my favorite things: All things Christmas!  I always try and have a good chunk of my shopping done at this point so I might have more time to enjoy time decorating, baking and creating traditions and memories - especially with the little ones!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Let's see, work tomorrow (a necessary evil as I get paid in free organic produce and at-cost organic dry goods and body products lol), followed by errands and work-trade with my mom on Thursday.  I helped her wash the walls and dust all the pictures and carvings in her main room at her house and so on Thursday she'll come to my house and take my boys for a walk and a visit with my sister so I can get some more organizing and maybe even wrapping done.  Kitchen cupboards on the to do list and possibly my oven!  Friday is StrongStart day - not sure which one I'll go to this week.  One has a more structured program and the other has 45 minute gym time.  Not sure which one will appeal more by then!  Saturday is baking day - must make a ton of cookies!   And when will I get the pine boughs and pine cones collected?  String up the new LED light string I bought for outside?  Saturday?  Perhaps.

A picture to share:  

I don't really consider myself crafty, but I did have a good time felting a simple cover for my new iPad recently.  The boys enjoyed it too.  Just wanted to share this litte tidbit!

FOR TODAY: November 23, 2010


Outside my window is pitch black, again.  Earlier though I would have seen a beautiful, cold, pale blue sky with a glittery sun.  Actually, there's an almost-full moon tonight, and it reflects beautifully off the snow.  It's so cold outside though, I'm afraid there's not a lot of time for contemplation or even admiration while outside before your fingers, toes and nose get too cold!

I am thinking I should go feed our wood stove one more time before bed . . . maybe he'll be warm enough to start easily in the morning.

I am thankful for my husband who chops wood every evening after a long day's work, then throws the blocks down the concrete steps into the basement so I don't have to go outside every time I need wood.

From the learning rooms: I've got Silas's Quiet Time nook semi-set up.  So far he's used it once - every other time he hasn't fallen asleep during nap time, we've been out of the house!  Still have a lot of cozy final touches to add, but I think it's going to work in the end!

From the kitchen: My wonderful husband did the dishes tonight - at least most of them.  He tends to overheat after a short while and gets too grumpy to finish up.  But most of them are done and I'll finish off the strays after breakfast tomorrow.  Yay!

I am wearing three shirts layered over one another.  I was out all day today and it was cold!
I am creating a calendar for Silas and I to use daily.  I'm just gonna wing it the old-fashioned way and create one from poster board and laminate a bunch of numbered squares we can dot-velcro on.

I am going to bed!  I'm so tired my eyes don't want to stay open.  But I was determined to get this done at least, I've been such a slacker as far as my blogs go.  Sigh.  My iPad is so wonderful, problem is I use it too much now!
I am reading Pride and Prejudice.  Free on my Free Books App.  Love it (the app, that is, I've only just started the book and can't say for sure!).

I am hoping the snow doesn't completely melt away this weekend when the temperatures rise again.  It fell, then dropped to -20 degrees Celcius, so my boys didn't get much chance to play in it.

I am hearing "How to Train Your Dragon".  It was left on when my husband went to go walk the dogs before bed.  Love that he loves that movie so much!

Around the house things are falling apart little by little.  Really want to say that I'm planning on staying home for the next week, but can't.  Prior commitments call.  Can't wait until Sunday, when I have three days in a row at home.

One of my favorite things has to be my iPad.  Sorry for repeating myself, but right now it's true.  I can have my writing, calendar, to do lists and routines, contacts, internet, reading - in short EVERYTHING - with me all the time!  Love that!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Country Christmas in town this weekend and I am selling Usborne books at a booth in the Civic Centre Friday night and Saturday.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... no picture today, maybe I'll add it later.  Why does it always turn out to be more complicated than it should be?


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Some thoughts on Clothing

As I mentioned months (yes, months - you know how summers  go!), I wanted to talk about clothing and modesty.  I've spent the summer thinking about this a lot, whenever I found myself a few moments for a mind wonder (while doing dishes for example).  I view modesty as a way to exhibit your self-respect.  I don't do it because the Bible says it the right thing to do, but because I do.  By specifically setting a goal to dress modestly, despite the latest fashions, I feel more purposeful.  By dressing with modesty in mind, I feel more confident in myself and my appearance.

Additionally, another of my goals in modest dressing is to feel more feminine.  This is new for me, and a complete surprise!  The media is full of over-sexed goddesses wearing barely there clothing and they have everyone thinking that is femininity.  I've discovered that by wearing skirts, modest shirts and my hair in a feminine way, I feel more feminine.  Not girly, I mean a more grown up, beautiful, capable woman.  Who'd a thunk?

Here are few of the parameters I've set for myself.  Keep in mind that they are not hard and fast rules, merely guide lines.  One thing about setting absolute rules that I don't like is once you've set the bar, it's easier to look down on those who fall below it.  So here's what I've come up with during my summer time musings:

-Avoid tank tops, especially those with spaghetti straps.  I don't like seeing other people's underwear, I don't like showing mine off.  I do have a few of these still in my drawer, but I mostly confine myself to wearing them around home or with a sweater.
-No shorts.  I don't like shorts anyhow, so this wasn't really an issue for me.  One of the reasons I don't really like them is that if they're not super short, they seem so masculine.  I mean, long board shorts come down to the knee, but most of them, put on a man, wouldn't seem all that out of place.  So no shorts.
-Lots of skirts.  I'm not going to say that pants are off limits, but I'd like to wear skirts more days of the week than not.  With cold weather coming, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep this up especially as my budget is still limited and I mostly have light summer skirts.  But it is something to strive for.
-Modest pants.  Today this seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it?  I wear mid-rise jeans that aren't too tight around the seat and legs, that fit well and are in good repair.  I'm not interested in gaps around the middle!
-Shirt bottoms need to go well past the top of my pants and skirts.  Additionally, I'm only buying crew-neck shirts, or very modest v-necks.  Cleavage is not cool.   I'm slowly building up an inventory of these types of shirts, but I must say that long ones are much easier to find than crew neck styles!

I admit, I've made exceptions when it comes to weddings.  Mostly because I bought a pretty dress and a couple of dressy tank tops at the beginning of the season, just before I began to consider modest dressing and I just can't afford to buy new things whenever it pleases me.  To compensate, I wore them with a light wrap.  In the future I'll look to buy dressy clothes that fit in with my new guidelines.

As for nightwear, anything goes.  That's between me and my husband.  When I leave my room, I throw on an ankle length house coat and feel perfectly within my limits. For swimming I've not really put a ton of thought into this.  I don't swim much, and I don't wear bikinis.  I may, in the future sometime, buy a suit that is higher up in the front, but for now will make do with my one peice.  I usually have a sundress on over top when I'm not actually swimming anyhow.

It's also important for me to note that I've also been more lenient at home.  I have town clothes and at home clothes, I always have.  That's the only way I can make my clothing budget work.  Some things that I've deemed to short or too revealing have been relegated to home wear, and that works so far.  As more time goes by, I'll will probably lean toward making my entire wardrobe more modest.

Sot that's kind of how this whole thing has been working for me.  It's a bit of work in progress, I'm sure I'll be tweaking this as time passes.  I've been so surprised at how dressing intentionally has made me feel.  I walk taller, I'm more composed, I make an effort to keep my hair tidy and put make up on every day.  I never would have guessed that it would have that effect!  And I like it!  It's made me a better mom, and a better wife.  Everyone's happy!