Other Goals for the New Year

I have written about a few of my goals for the new year and to stay along those same lines, I have a few more to add.  I am going to be more frugal about what I spend my money on.  I have way too much credit card debt and I really need to stop spending.  I know that we don't need to have a lot of the things that I spend money on, so now it's time to stop buying them.

I am going to very quickly limit the anount of times that we eat out.  I had thought it was a nice treat for the kids, and ok for me too, but I have a feeling it is more than a once in a while treat.  I have a feeling I do it way too much!

I do well with getting hand me downs, or at least getting stuff for cheap for the kids.  We went a little crazy over Christmas and with their birthdays coming with in the next month and then a month and a half later,  really need to think about what we spend our money on.  I really want to make a lot of their gifts, but there is just not always enough time.  I am hoping to use frecycle a lot more and use it for the things that I need so taht I don't have to spend a lot of money and also help the environment by re-using thigs that still have more wear in them.

I have already written about organizing and meal planning and I hope that this will also help with saving money.  I know it will.  It will help with saving time and money.  I will be able to go grocery shopping and know what I need to buy for the week and not buy food that will only go to waste.  I am hoping to eliminate certain foods from my diet and that too will help with saving money.  I will not be buying processed foods.  I will try to make everything from scratch or at least most things. 

My latest 2011 goal is to save money and reduce my debt!

Happy New Year,
Amy

Organizing

With the new year coming, my goal is to start organizing my life!  I need to organize my week so that I know what I am doing with the kids.  I need to have a plan to get housework and laundry done.  I need a plan so that I can enjoy my hobbies and have my supplies where I can get at them.

I have started a paper organizer that I plan to look at every day to figure out what needs to get done that day.  That is what I would do if I were working, so I am going to still run my life as if I were working.  I am going to get a schedule down so that I know what to expect when.  A friend of mine recommended putting all the different events that are available on the calendar so that I can have options on what to do on what ever day.

I am going to meal plan for at least a week and maybe even a month at a time so that grocery shopping gets done quickly and efficiently and we will hopefully save money!  I will make sure that there are things in the freezer to thaw out in case there is a crazy day in my life (and I never have any of those, right?) and I don't get to cook dinner.  We will be eating out a lot less and eating way more healthy foods.  I will hopefully lose weight in the process. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I really need to build in time to exercise.  I think that if my body were more toned, I would look better than I do right now.  Hopefully I can find a way to build in exercise with the kids so that they see it as fun and not as a chore!

My goal is to have a place for everything and always put everything back in it's place so that the house and our lives stay neat and organized!

Amy

Craziness of Life

So, this is the second post between my 2 main blogs that are fairly similar to each other.  Today was just a plain crazy day.  For some reason, I felt extremely stressed, but I have no idea why I felt extra stressed today.  My husband is going back to work Monday after being on Christmas vacation, and my goal is to get a schedule (albeit flexible) in place.  I am hoping that with a litle bit of a schedule, I won't feel so stressed at times.  As much as I hate to admit that I like schedules, I actually lilke to plan out how my day, my week is going to look.  I am not a spontaneous person, but I also know that I don't want to be too rigid.  I absolutely have to plan my meals and my household chores!  I really want to plan my days with the kids so that they don't go crazy, and I don't go crazy trying to figure out how to keep them occupied.  There are a few things that I want to add into our day, like arts/craft projects, dress up, some preschool type activities, some exercise activities to get out some energy, and most definitely some quiet time/nap time.  As much as I know that I should start this schedule now, I am definitely going to wait til after the new year.  I need to get all our EI dates into place and then plan around that and my work schedule.  I am hoping to schedule some play groups so the kids can get together with other kids and maybe I can even get together with some moms! 

I am also starting my gluten free dairy free diet today.  So far, I have done pretty well.  I went to a gluten free bakery nearby in Belmont and I know that there was dairy in what I ate.  I also added butter to my dinner, but I am not going to go crazy over it!  Hopefully this will help me overall, and I will feel better physically and mentally.  I am hoping that I will get a little more energy/desire to do the things that need to get done, like clean the house and cook dinner.  I am hoping that I am not so foggy.  I am hoping that I have less digestive issues.  I may feel worse before I feel better, but here's to a lifelong change to overall health.  I think being more scheduled with help with all of my goals!

If ayone one has some good scheduling ideas for 3 toddlers, please pass them on!

Thanks,
Amy

Newest Projects

So the holidays are over and I can breathe a sigh of relief.  Just a few more days and the new year will begin.  This means New Year's Resolutions, as much as I hate them.  My biggest resolutions this year are:  to eat healthier and to get a routine for my day down so that I can have more productive time to create, plan healthy yummy meals, play with my kids, and have a clean house.  I already have a number of projects to work on.  there are the multiple quilts that I have been planning on making, the doll and doll accessories that I want to make, a couple of car caddies for the boys, scrapbooking that really needs to get done, and I'm sure so much more.  One of the things that I need to do to be able to have time to create is organize my supplies and maybe make a place for the kids to play while I create.  I have a few ideas in my head that i need to put into practice.  I am also working on an organizing system to help me plan my days so that the things that need to get done, get done on time and then hopefully I can have more time to do the things that I love to do!  I am hoping for an ipad soon.  I should say, I am getting an ipad for my Christmas gift as soon as it fits into our budget.  I am hoping that it will help me maintain my organization better than my hand written planner that I am planning in using. 

I can't wait to get started on all the different things that I want to make.  I love to create!

Amy

Christmas Plans

Since Christmas Eve is tomorrow, then Christmas the next day, I'm sure I won't be writing much.  I still ahve some sewing to do for the holidays.  Hopefully it won't be very extensive and go very quickly.  Nothing like waiting to the last minute, as is usual with me.  There's really only 1 thing that I need to finish and that is the blanket for my baby (18 year old) sister.  I have had a fleece panel for a few years now and I have embroidered her name on it, but haven't finished the edging.  That is the first gift that I need to finish.  I have a few winer sacks to finish and they should go quickly, really just short straight seems.  Then the only other thing is the felt bow tie pasta that I want to make for the kids.  Simple enough, just time consuming.  The worst part of all this is that I am sick and I have little to no energy to complete these things as well as the cooking that I need to do.

For the cooking, I need to finish the truffles and hope they came out ok.  I need to make the nuts, which shouldn't be that hard.  Then there is the coffee cake for Saturday that should be baked tomorrow as it says it is better if it sits over night.  Then there is the bean and rice dish, which is really easy, but I made up the spice mixture as I went along and never wrote anything down.  I hope that this time it comes out as tasty as the last time I made it.  Then Saturday morning, I need to make my casserole.  Once the kids are in bed tonight, I don't think it will be bad, I just need to get the energy to complete things.

I have a couple of more gifts to wrap.  I need to order my husband something online.  Other than what I've listed, I think I am in better shape than in the past.  I can't wait to see the kids faces and hear them Christmas morning.  It is going to be so awesome to watch them open their gifts since they get toys now.  And 1 month from today, the twins will be 2 and we will have more gifts.  Maybe that's when I can give my daughter her handmade doll from mommy!  I'll jsut need to figure out something for my son!  Then a month and a half later my older son will be 3.  I can't believe I've been a mom for almost 3 years.  It's carzy to think about.  I'll have to figure out a handmade by mommy gift for him too!

Merry Christmas,
Amy

Food

Food is one of my biggest struggles.  Along with organizing and housework, food is something that I will always have to work on.  I love food!  I love food that is not good for me!  I really want to eat healthy, but I start off good, then it all goes to pot!  I think sometimes my lack of organizing really gets in my way.  I tried to do good this week and did better than I have in a while with meal planning. Today I went to the mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping and by the time I got home, I never made dinner.  I am trying to move toward a more vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, both from a animal rights perspective and a health perspective.  My husband, for various health reasons, is supposed to be eating a more plant based diet.  This is also something I have been wanting to do for sometime now, so when he was told to limit his intake of animal protein, I thought it would help me get to where I need/want to be.  It has and it hasn't.  With this being Christmas week, I haven't really pushed myself to be really good, but I really should be.  I will be doing moer menu planning after Christmas.  I have one for this week, but I just didn't fallow it today.  I don't want to give my self a break, because everytime I do, I feel like i am just giving myself an excuse to be unhealthy.  So, I am going to hold myself accountable!  I am going to start eating correctly.  I am going to make and follow a meal plan every week.  I am going to start following through with my beliefs!

This will not be the last you hear about my food journey.  There will be ups and downs, but hopefully more ups.  I am going to be accountable to myself and I am going to hold myself accountable for following through with mybeliefs and desires to be a healthy eater.  I will be eating more homemade foods and be hopefully trying new vegetariam/vegan recipes and I will be totally eliminating the foods that aer on my allergen list from my blood test.  I really should also meet with the dietician to talk about how I should be eating.  Hopefully my next posts about food will be positve ones with the changes that I want to make!

Merry Christmas!

Amy

Handmade Christmas

As I've written, I had a plan to have a handmade Christmas.  Due to my lack of organizational skills, I have a somewhat handmade Christmas.  I have completed 3 aprons for the kids.  I have 3 wine sacks to sew, which should tak eno time to complete.  I made silhouettes of the kids for my mom and step-father.  I have a couple of handmade faux food items for the kids that I have to complete.  I had wanted to make a doll for my daughter, but I don't think that it is going to happen before Christmas.  I had planned to make a quilt for my husband with pictures of our life together since we got married 3 1/2 years ago, especially since we got engaged on Christmas, but that too may be a work in progress.  I may be able to give him some pieces that I complete, but there is no way that it will be even remotely completed by Christmas.

I think I may be totally running out of time, given that Christmas is a mere 3days a way.  At this point, I am going to complete the wine sacks since they are easy, work on the quilt for my husband, and last but not least, maybe even finish a blanket that was meant for my baby (18 years old) sister many Christmas' ago.  Even this is a little overwhelming to think about given that it is Tuesday and Christmas is Saturday.  I have an errand to do after work, then it is home to sew at least the wine sacks and clean off my bed.  The other problem is that I am starting to get sick, but I just need to push through it and do what needs to be done so that I can have things finished or at least started enough to have something for Christmas. Unfortunately there is also all the cooking that I have to do, but that shouldn't be too bad.  I think I may have actually organized all that.

I continue to work on organizing my life. I may get a subscription to Real Simple, since it was a recommendation in one of the comments.  I'm not exactly sure what I want to use for an organizing tool, but I am researching and using what I have access to at the moment.  maybe next year, if I get organized, I can have a more handmade Christmas.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas,
Amy

Christmas Week

So here we are, the final few days before Christmas.  Am I ready yet?  Let's see.....  I have most of my gifts wrapped.  Most of my cards are mailed out, but there are a few that have not gone out yet.  Again, I need to be little more organized with my list, but I am better.  I still have to get a gift for my husband, maybe 2, one from me and one from the kids.  And then, there is my little 18 year old sister.  I have little to no idea what to get her.  I need to get to the mall, but I'm not sure when.  I am thinking I may try to go later after the kids go to bed either tonight or tomorrow night, depending on when or if my husband needs to go out.

I still need to cook, but I think I have a pretty clear plan for that.  I think I am going to make the spiced nuts Thursday, the coffee cake Friday, as well as the Indian spiced beans Friday.  We have to make lemon cookies for Christmas Eve also and I am not sure if my husband or I will be doing that.  I am thinking that I will bake with the kids Tuesday and Wednesday and pass out some things to the neighbors (just something little).  Then Saturday morning, I will make the egg casserole so that it will be fresh and hot that morning.  Unfortunately, the only healthy food item I am making is the Indian spiced beans and rice, but after Christmas, I need to get on top of my healthy eating.  I am still going to try to be good this wekk, but I am not going to drive myself crazy.  The other thing, is that I need to clean the house for Christmas.  We are having my family over for Christmas breakfast, and if I do things right, I will spend a little time each day cleaning, instead of waiting til the last minute to clean the whole entire house.  May this way too, I will get myself on a good cleaning schedule that will work for the rest of the time, not just when we are having company.

I have gotten a couple of of good suggestionson time management.  I now just need to figure out what is going to work for me.  I have some ideas, but I just can't decide what is the best route to go.  Google calendars seems like a good idea.  I like the idea that I can sync to my husband's calendar if I choose.  I like that I can use it on an ipod, even though I don't have one yet (but would love to get one soon).  I do have to look more into it.  I like having both the technology based organizer as well as the paper, so that would mean that I would probably print out what ever I put on the calendar in the computer.  I just need to fine tune things.

One thing that I want to plan into my day, and I mentioned this to my husband, is time to be creative almost daily, even if it's only for a short time.  My goal is to limit my television watching, or if there are shows that I just can't give up, to find something to do while I am watching them so that I don't just veg out in front of the television.  He and I both enjoy making things, him in his woodshop and me all sorts of things.  I also, like I said in a previous post, want to start making things to donate.  I have enough supplies that I don't think I would even have to spend money.  that way, I could enjoy making things, use up some of the spplies that I have on hand, and donate things to someone in need.

I have a lot of goals for the new year, but they are all things that need to happen.  I'd like to say that they are New Year's resolutions, but I know that often, people end up not following through when they wait until New Year's to make changes.  I am starting to work on these now, and hopefully, things will just start falling into place once I have a plan in place.

Have a great holiday and keep the organizing tips coming.  Also, any tips on meal planning, grocery shopping, and saving money on food are totally welcome. 

Amy

Organization

How was I ever an organized person?  Looking at my life now and looking at my life as a child and a teen, you would never know that I actually strive to be neat and organized.  You would never know that I was once a healthy weight and in shape.

Thinking back to my undergraduate days, I remember being extremely organized to the point of having multiple styles of calendars so that I knew what was happening on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.  When I work at one of my nursing home jobs, I was extremely organized to the point one of my co-workers always knew that I would have copies of required paperwork to give to her.  I also knew exactly where my social work CEU certificates were located and always knew how many I had and need to finish.  There was a time in my life that I had certain clothes in certain drawers.  I had to fold certain clothing items certain ways.  I even had to hang certain items certain ways and in certain places.

Now, if you looked at my life, you would say that I was a mess!  My bedroom looks as if it should be on the show Clean House.  Ok, it's not that bad, but it makes me feel that way.  Lately, I just get so overwhelmed with what I have to do, I just don't do it. 

I need a way of getting my life in order.  I was at Staples the other day, and given that it is almost a new year, I started looking at organizers.  I am trying to decide what kind of organization system is best for a mostly SAHM who works part time and needs a good stategy for getting household tasks completed.  I love the idea of a planner, but is that really all that useful not being in the professional work arena full time?  I did get a comment from a previous post that said to use outlook.  That's an awesome idea, except that I don't have a pc, I have a Mac.  Also, as much as I like technology, I still really like to write things.  Why, I don't know.  There is just somethign about the act of hand writing something that I really like.

My next task is to research planners for SAHM that will help me get organized in the different areas of my life.  I'd love to plan out household chores, weekly meal ideas, crafts that need to be made and completed, birthday cards that need to be sent, etc.  If anyone has ideas, I am more than interested.  Please pass them on.  I will also make sure that I post about any interesting ideas that I find, and what I ultimately plan choose.

Happy Holidays!

Amy

Handmade Christmas

Christmas cards are stuffed and addressed and ready to be mailed.  No, I didn';t make them this year, though I really wanted to!  I already have way too many projects on my to do list, so I gave up on that project.

The projects that I have to complete are many and I have waited way too long to really have this be a handmade Christmas.  I have 3 wine sacks to sew, which shouldn't be that difficult to do, it's more a means of setting up the machine and sewing.  Along with that I want to make 3 wine bottle stoppers to go along with the wine that I buy.  These may be more time consuming as I either need to do polymer clay or turn them on the lathe (which I haven't use since before grad school 4 years ago).  I have a few felt food items to make for the kids as well as some aprons.  I also want to make them some scrubs to go along with the doctor kit that we bought them.  I also want to make a doll for Eva Rose and then I need to decide on projects for the boys.  I may have to put some of these projects on hold as there are definitely ones that I need to finish by Christmas.  I have the patterns to make silhouettes of the kids for my mom and step father's gift.  I just need to get the black paper to cut them out of and then attach them to the frames that I just bought.  I also want to make a simple scrapbook for my grandmother as she is in a nursing home out of state and failing.  She hasn't seen the kids since March of 2009 just after the twins were born (they were 6 weeks old and Michael had just turned 1).

Wow just reading that list is making my head spin.  I really want to have a handmade Christmas, but I have procrastinated way too long and I may have to put a lot of things on hold.  I know that I can get a few more things done, I just have to prioritize what I have and when I have time to complete these projects!

Looking at this list and thinking of everything else that I have to do, makes me go back to my ADD issue.  I really need to get organized and plan my days accordingly.  I start lists, but then never use them.  I make too many lists and really need to just stick to one.  Does anyone have a good system on getting organized with household tasks as well as appointments, as well as a way to keep track of projects that need completing?

Happy Holidays!
Amy

ADD and Getting Things Done!

I am some what wondering if I have a little issue with ADD.  I have never been formally diagnosed and as far as I know, it was never an issue when I was a kid, but then again, I don't think that many people were diagnosed liek they are today.  Thinking back to being a kid, I can definitely see that I may have had some signs of this.  Mainly it was surrounding homework and schoolwork and keeping my room and house clean.

Now as an adult, when I look at some of the signs of adult ADD, I can definitely see myself having some of these issues.  I get easily overwhelmed, I very rarely start and finish a task, my brain always seems to be thinking of something (I can never truly meditate because no matter how hard I try, I can never stop my mind from thinking about all sorts of things that I have going on or that I find interesting), I get easily frustrates and angered, and many others that I can't think of right now.  Even if there is no clinical diagnosis of ADD, I think following some of the suggestions from people who suffer will automatically help me to deal with things.  One thing is my diet.  I am in the process of giving up dairy, wheat/gluten, and I should probably add in there sugar too, as well as trying to eat less meat (which I am doing way better than I thought I would), and definitely less processed foods.  I am having a terrible time sticking with my diet plan completely though.  The other thing that sounds somewhat crazy, is to look through a paper towel tube when I start to clean.  What this does is gives you a small area to focus on instead of looking at the whole room and getting overwhelmed.  I also need to be better at focusing myself when it comes to projects.  Often times, I start a project and then move on to another one because something else seems more interesting.  Because of this, I never seem to get really good at one thing.  I am only average at everything I try and sometimes average is a little strong.  I don't know if list help people with ADD or if it is just one more thing that just makes you feel like you are organized and able to get things done.  That's actually another area that makes me think I have more of an issue than just sheer laziness.  I start making list and trying things to get organized, but I never seem to follow through.  I really need to look up more on how to help deal with adult ADD other than meds.  There is no way that I want to go on meds, and I don't even know if I have ADD, I just can see myself as having some tendancies.

I have some craft projects that I have been working on for the kidlets and other people too.  I will post pictures later.  These are definitely things/reasons why I started this blog.  I wanted to have less involvement with commercial stores and gifts and everyday items.  I wanted to start eating healthy and less processed foods.  I wanted to start using things I make myself for cleaning and beauty products.  Christmas this year will have some store bought items, some hand me down gifts (which I am so thankful that we have gotten from people), and some handmade gifts.  I am really excited for the handmade gifts for people and I am really excited to start working on getting myself out of this funk that I seem to be in!

Happy Holidays!
Amy

Getting Back to Living the Life I Want

I started this blog as a way to talk about a lot of my beliefs in the way I want to live my life.  I think, somehow, I have gotten a little off course.  I have also recently read a fellow bloggers recent post, http://thefragrantmuse.com/, about blogging about our whole selves, not just what the blog is supossed to be about.  I have many blogs, but I think that this blog is one that can encompass the whole me.  It can encompass my family and the craziness (http://thiscrazylife-amy.blogspot.com/), my belief in living a wholsome, natural life and my love of creativity (http://thehandmadeandnaturallife.blogspot.com/, http://thecreativelifeproject.blogspot.com/), and my desire to cook and eat healthy (http://trialsandtribulationsofhealthyeating.blogspot.com/).

Even though I will continue to write on those other blogs, I will try to write about the whole me here.  This blog is about my belief system, and all the other parts of my life help to define my belief system.  My husband has helped me to learn about eating healthy and using natural treatments vs only medical.  Because of him, I have reached out and wanted to learn about so much more.  I am interested in essential oils and how they can benefit us, not just from smelling pretty and nice, but how they can help keep us healthy.  I am interested in using natual cleaners for my home and my body, and for my family.  I am interested in how being creative can help us physically and mentally.  I am interested in learning more about using alternative treatments in my social work practice vs just using traditional talk therapy.  I am interested in healthy eating.  I am interested in how a more plant based diet maybe more beneficial for me vs a more meat based diet.  I am interested I finding out how to cook interesting, tasty, healthy meals that not only satisfy the stomach, but also the soul.

I would love to lilve a life with less tv.  I know I can, I just need to do it.  I have plenty of things that can and will keep me busy.  I never used to watch tv, then all of a sudden, I am totally addicted to certain shows, though a lot of those shows are starting to grate on my nerves and I could very easily give them up.  Fortunately and unfortunately, I have the veria channel that has a bunch of holistic alternative shows that I am so interested in.  Unfortunately, I have seen them often, but still really enjoy watching them.  My newest goal is to watch less tv!

So here, youwill find posts that are about all the different pieces of my life tht make me who I am.  We are all multifaceted humans and should show that off.  You will read about my family.  You will read about my eating difficulties and accomplishments.  You will read about my creative projects.  What you are really reading about is ME!

Amy

Newest Gift Ideas

I really need to go through my polymer clay books.  I was going to do a scrapbook of the kids for my mom for Christmas and I still may, but I am thinking that I also want to do a polymer clay transfer project also.  I guess I really just want to do all sorts of projects and the more that I can give away, the better.  I am planning reading some of my project books and trying some projects and figure out what to do with them.

I made a new meal tonight.  It was out of my one of my vegetarian cookbooks.  It was supossed to be a croquette, but I just made it into a regular grain and bean dish.  Basically, it consisted of red lentil, brown rice, red quinoa, sweet potato, celery, and onion, with a little garam masala and curry powder (my 2 favorite spices).  I stupidly didn't plan my time and didn't bring any to work, but I did taste it before I left and I thought it was good.  I plan to eat a bowl once I get home.  My sister, who was babysitting, said that Thomas and Eva Rose ate 2 bowls and Michael wanted nothing to do with it.  We'll see what my husband thinks of it! 

I know I have another blog for my food issues, but very qiuckly, I am having a really hard time fully eating the way I should even though I don't feel good after I eat.  You would think that I wouldn't want to feel sick and that it would be enough to make me want to eat healthy, but it's not.  I just need to be better at doign what I am supossed to be doing.  You can read more details on this at http://trialsandtribulationsofhealthyeating.blogspot.com/.

Amy

Christmas Projects/Food

I am starting to make my Christmas cards tonight.  For a few of them, immediate family, I will be quilling pictures and gluing them to the embellished cards.  For the other cards, I will be just rubber stamping simple designs.  For all the cards, I will be adding the kids' Christmas picture with Santa, once we get it!

I am also going to make some wine sacks/infused oil/vinegar sacks.  I am also going to make a scrapbook of the kids from the pictures from 2010.  I think I may suck it up and purchase the iscrapbook program, so that I can scrapbook a little more easily.  I also want to make a doll for Eva Rose and teddy bears out of my mother in law's old coat.  The teddy bears, most likely won't even be started til after Christmas and I want to give them to my kids and the nieces and nephew and my sister in law.  I want my husband to make the kids co2 cars for Christmas because they seem to love cars and I want us to make them something for Christmas this year, not just buy a bunch of commercial gifts.

I am also attmpting to cook more and to cook more healthy.  I have my own dietary considerations as well as my husband's.  Then there is the need to make things that the kids will eat and that is healthy.  We are trying to eat less meat for both health and eco-friendly reasons.  Eating healthy is always a process in my house!

Amy

Living a Handmade and Natural Life

Am I really following through with how I want to live?  Am I really doing what I said I believe in when I started this blog?  Sometimes, I'm not sure.  I am really trying hard not to eat out.  Partly because it is so expensive and we don't have the money and partly because of health reasons.  I have not bought any new clothes for me or for the kids lately.  I would so love to go shopping, but a) I can't afford it b) I don't need it and c) I really don't want to buy anything until I am at the weight that I want to be at.

Christmas is on it's way.  I am really trying hard to make my gifts for people.  I really want to try to limit the amount of money that I spend at stores making Christmas, at least for me, a lot less commercialized.  I know that I will be buying the kids toys from the stores.  I know that there are going to b  gifts for others that get bought at the stores.  I just hope that I can make sure that the gifts that I give people, including the ones I buy, are meaningful.  I don't just want to give a gift to give a gift.  I want the gift to either say something about the person that I am giving it to or be something meaningful from me, or something that the people really wants.  So, for example, I got my kids a Toy Story Mr Potato Head for each of them.  They love Toy Story 1,2, and 3.  I mean they really love these movies, and I love them too.  Plus, it's a great teaching tool for them.  They use a Mr. Potato Head in Early Intervention and the kids really like it.  I am also planning on making them something just from me.  I want my husband to make them each a CO2 car.  They all love cars and we can decorate them for out daughter and our sons.  I haven't decided what I am going to make them yet.  I have a lot of ideas, but I'm not sure what exactly I will decide on.

I am trying to eat more healthy and sometime I do great, and sometimes, I do horrible.  It's always a work in progress!  I am trying new foods and new recipes.  I have decided that I really like curry spices and garam masala.  I just need to get more comfortable with these spices and enjoy!  I made a chickpea stew the other night and added both of these spices, even though they weren't called for and it totally made the recipe.  I loved every bite I ate.  I just need to continue to make sure that I keep it healthy, fresh, and fun!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

Once again, Jamie Ridler at http://jamieridlerstudios.ca asks

"What do you wish to invite in?"

I wish to invite in peace.  I wish to be at peace with myself for all sorts of things.  Mainly, I wish to be at peace with who I am.  I am a quiet shy person.  I am a busy mom of 3.  I am not a neat freak.  I am someone who loves to somehow, find time to be creative.  I am not a beautiful model with a perfect body.  I have a handsome, fabulous husband and 3 beautiful, wonderful children who I love very much (I am totally at peace with where my life is with regards to my family).  I don't have a ton of friends, but the friends I have are very important to me.  I will probably never be the blogger with the most followers or with the most commenters.  I wish to be at peace with my ability levels.  Instead of always expecting to be the best at everything right away and limiting the things that I try, I want to enjoy the experience no matter what the out come!

I wish to be at peace with who I am!  What do you wish to invite in?

Amy

First Apron Swap

I think I am almost done with everything for my first Flirty Apron Swap.  I should be able to send my package out Monday or Tuesday at the latest, maybe even sooner.  I had so much fun with this swap and loved making my first apron.  I really enjoyed creating the tuck-ins also.  I've already posted my apron, but unfortunately didn't get pictures of the rest of the tuck-ins.  I chose the word angel and my tuck-ins are the following:

A-handmade quilled angel notecards

N-handmade needle case

G-ginger tea in 2 handmade tea bag carriers

E-angel earrings packaged in a hans stamped box

L-lavender,lemon,geranium,rosemary bath salts packaged in a hand stamped box

I hope my partner enjoys everything.  I look forward to getting my package and seeing what everyone else gets!

Amy

More Crafting

I have been working on my tuck ins for my flirty apron swap.  I am absolutely loving sewing.  I always enjoyed it, but am enjoying it so much more now.  I'm not sure why.  I am even using my cheap sewing machine because it is easier to take out and put away and right now I need all the time savings I can get.  So far I've made a tea bag cozy and will be adding ginger tea bags to it (am going to make 1 more to match the apron I made) and  a needlecase that matches the tea bag cozy.  I still need to finish my quilled angel notecards, angel earrings, and my lavender/geranium bathsalts.  I am thinking of adding more in, but I'm not sure what else.  I certainly don't want it to seem cheap.

A- angel notecards
N-needlecase
G-ginger tea with tea bag cozies
E-earrings (angel)
L-lavender/geranium bath salts

I will be making a few wine sacks for Christmas gifts, some play food for the kids, and I'm not sure what else I have planned.  I definitely need to complete a scrapbook for my mom for Christmas.  That will probably be my next project along with a couple of recipe cards for my sisters that have my grandmother's recipes.  Unfortunately, I only have a few since she made most of her recipes by the measurements she had in her mind.  I may do something similar for my husband's family, if I can find the time.  Then after the holidays, I will be making sure that I make at least 1 item a month to donate.  That's my goal at this point anyway.

I'll post pictures of teh things that I have made and the things that I plan to make soon!

Amy

Finished

Yay!!!!!!  I finished my first apron swap project.  Ok, I finished the apron portion, but still have a little more work to do on the tuck-ins.  I am so looking forward to finishing up and sending off the package.  I love making things for others, and then getting a great surprise in return!  I love swaps and really miss participating in them.  I am really looking forward to getting my apron, since I am doing a lot more cooking lately.  And with the holidays around the corner, I will be doing even more.  I want to do a good amount of baking for the neighborhood and get the kids involved.  I still need to complete the tuck-ins which will be
A-angel
N-notecards (angel)
G-ginger tea
E-earrings (angel)
L-lavender/geranium/lemon bath salts

I hope my partner likes her package as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

My first apron folded

A little of the front and most of the back side of the apron

When I was growing up, my grandmother used to always say, wear and apron when you cook or bake.  I can't wait to get my apron and start using it.  I may even have to buy a new book on apron patterns.  I love how my apron came out and I want to make more.  I want to make more that are even a little more challenging.

Lately, I am loving sewing.  I love almost every kind of craft, but lately  sewing seems to be my favorite thing.  I will be working on Christmas cards soon.  We need to get the kids their pictures taken with Santa and then get pictures printed for the cards.  Other than working on Christmas gifts, I plan to do a lot more sewing!

Happy creating!
Amy

Apron Swap

Even though life is crazy busy, I decided to participate in an apron swap.  I had been reading http://flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com/ blog for a while and couldn't wait for the new swap to open so I could join in.  As soon as I got the e-mail, I registered and went through my stash to see what fabric I had, hoping that I didn't need to spend money and hoping that I could decrease my stash somewhat.  I also am trying to make things for my tuck-ins from things I have at home.  I think I will be buying somethings at the store, but I think I have a few things at home that I can make and feel good about giving to someone.  I am really excited about participating in this swap and am looking forward to more swaps.

This swap means a lot to me, especially now that I am cooking more.  My grandmother, my mother's mother, who was a major influence in my life, always used to tell me to wear an apron when I cooked.  I never did.  I almost always got something on my clothes and should have listened.  Now that I have found http://flirtyapronswap.blogswap.com/, I am really excited to start wearing aprons.  Through the FAS blog, I found the blog http://cupcakeprovocateur.blogspot.com/.  There are so many cute aprons on there that have the classic feel, but also have a little flair to them also.  I am hoping to get some inspiration from this website and maybe even get an apron!

Amy

Feeling Like I'm in a Good Place

I wrote on one of my other blogs about how I can't seem to get a good following to any of my blogs.  For what ever reason, people don't seem to enjoy reading or commenting on any of my blogs.  I get a few nice, helpful comments, but not many.  One person commented that she blogs as therapy for her.  I've decided that I don't care if people read my blogs, if people follow me, if people comment, or even if people like what I write.  I started my blogs for me.  A place for me to write about the different adventures in my life, be it crafting, healthy eating, family life, etc.  I am blogging for me and not for others.  yes it would feel good to have hundreds of followers, hundreds of comments,  to know that others are interested in what I have to say, but in reality, I don't care!

This blog was started as a place for me to talk about living the handmade and natural life.  I have somewhat gotten away from that here and there, but overall, it has been about healthy foods, creative expression, and my dreams.  I want to get back to blogging about that.  I want to get back to writing about being creative, about healthy food choices, cooking at home from scratch vs buying more processed foods, eating more whole foods vs processed foods, getting the kids more involved with being healthy.

I think I am at that place where it is going to happen.  I am going to continue to write about my creative endeavors such as my new apron swap at flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com that I joined in with, my holiday projects, my crafting for charity (that will begin in the new year) and others.  I'll post a little about my whole food cooking, but wll most likely post more about that at my blog http://trialsandtribulationsofhealthyeating.blogspot.com/.   I also have http://thecreativelifeproject.blogspot.com/ that I want to start posting to also.  Then there is http://thiscrazylife-amy.blogspot.com/ which is all about family life.

I probably have too many blogs, but I am a little addicted to writing and reading blogs lately.  Maybe one day, I'll combine them a little more, but for now, I am off and running with my four, yes four blogs!  Oh, and I will definitely be writing abou tmy dreams here.  Not my nightly dreams, but my life dreams as well as other health interest other than just food, such as: aromatherapy, herbs, tea and anything else that my little mind can think of!  I guess any and all interest that have to do with living a balanced handmade and natural life!

Amy

Am I Following Through?

Am I following through with who I want to be?  Some times I wonder.  I know my beliefs.  I know how I should be living, but do I follow through.  Have I found my passion yet?  Yes and no!  I think my passion is to live as simply, as healthfully, and as naturally as possible.  Within that, I want to not be as reliant on big chain stores, but unfortunately, it seems that they are the only way to afford things sometimes.  I want to use thrift stores and second hand stores.  I have done well with getting the kids clothes from other moms.  It's more buying things for me that I need to be better at.  Also buying craft supplies is tough, because it is more convenient to go to a big chain store and get eveything you need all at once and it's unfortunately much cheaper.  I have a decent amount of supplies at home, and now I hopefully won't need to spend as much money at the stores, I need to use up what I already have (as I so often say)!

My goal is to make things for people this holiday.  I still have a lot to do, plus I am participating in an apron swap, ao that is one more thing to add to the list, but I am really looking forward to making things for people.  It may be as simple as making a wine bottle sack that the wine goes in, or the envelope that the gift card goes in, but there will be at least something handmade for everyone this Christmas.

I am always working to a healthier me and a healthier family.  I am trying to buy foods that are healthy, cook at home more often, and taking time to stop and think about what I am putting into my and my family's body.  I really need to get myself motivated to get the kids in the stroller and go for a walk.  It's just getting dressed and getting out there and then I'm fine.  I want to buy the "Whole life Nutrtion Cookbook" and follow that style of eating.  I have to continue to eat all the things I am wondering if I am allegic to until I test, then I can make the dietary changes that I want and may need to make.  I have another cookbook that I want to start using.  It's more cooking and eating with the seasons.  I think it will be a healthier way to eat.  i just need to go theough my books and get rid of them if I don't want them.  I will wither free cycle them or donate them.

I am trying to get rid of things that I don't need.  I don't want to be one of these people that has so many belongings, but really has no need or them.  I am close to having way too much stuff, but I am working on using it, getting rid of it and not bringing more into my life that I don't need.

I want to get back on track with only using cleansers that are homemade and naural.  I have stopped using shampoo on my hair so that is one less thing that is unnatural that I need to buy, use on my body, put into the environment.  I have been using a conditioner once a week and sometimes I use a vinegar rinse if I feel like I need it.  My goal is to find a way to make my own conditioner.  I make my own body cream, I am going to learn to make my own soap, and I will use more natural cleansers (think vinegar) vs chemicals!

I will continue to find time to be creative.  It makes me feel so good to make things.  I think it is really important to make time to do the things that we enjoy and I so enjoy creating!

Here's to following through with your passions!

Amy

Giving

So my last post was about crafting for good.  I am making a conscious choice to create projects and donate them to different charities.  I would love to get a group together to craft for charity, but I don't have time and I don't know who would be interested in doing something like this.  I may put it out on facebook and try to make a group thing, but it would be very informal.  Part of me would love to do something at a church or through an already established group or even meeting place.  Again, one of the biggest issues is time.  At least I can start with me and start trying to set up good examples for my children to follow as they get older.  At the age they are now, there is no way they could even begin to understand what I want to do, but if the practice is built into out family, hopefully it will be something that they will start doing as they are old enough to understand.

I will finish my plans for the holiday porjects that I have planned and then I will start planning what projects I am going to start creating with plans to donate.  I still have to decide what I am going to do for holiday gifts, but they will get done.  my goal this year is to give at least part of the gift as handmade, as simple as the package that the gift card comes in for teh teens who would never in a million years want something handmade.

Now to finalize the Christmas gift list!
Amy

Crafting for Good

I was looking at facebook this morning and one of my friends wrote about making prayer shawls.  I have been wanting to make prayer shawls, hats for preemies, and any other craft that I can donate.  I actually have bought books, printed things off the internet, and started projects that I had planned to donate to different causes.  Unfortunately, like most things, I haven't finished things.  I really think that I want to start this again.  Only this time, I want to actually finish projects and donate them.  Maybe, I'll even start a facebook thing about making things to donate.  I don't know that anyone will participate, but it maybe a nice thing to try.

Anyway, that is one of my goals for the new year and sooner if possible,
Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

It Wednesday again and time for Wishcasting Wednesday.  This week Jamie Ridler asks: "What do you wish to enjoy?"

This is an easy one for me to answer.  It may seem like a simple answer, but I want to enjoy life.  I want to enjoy life even though there may be some limitations.  Right now, I am looking at drastically changing my eating habits.  I have been trying to deal with potential food allergies/intolerances and have so far been unable to do what I need to do.  I have been doing a lot of research, and it seems like even if I don't have food allergies/intolerances, eliminating these foods seem to make people feel better!  I wish to enjoy life even though I can't have these foods that I absolutely love!  I have decided that my food issues may also be food addiction as well as allergies/intolerances.  I don't want food to control my life.  I want to enjoy food, but not if it makes me feel miserable.

There are other things that will help me to enjoy life, but right now, dealing with food issues seems like such a huge thing.  I am just going to look at it in a different light.  Instead of looking at what I can't have, I plan to focus on what I can have and really enjoy that and enjoy how eat right makes me feel.  I have started a new blog to document how changing my eating makes me feel.  It's over at http://trialsandtribulationsof healthyeating.blogspot.com  I hope to be writing some good things about how I'm feeling.  We shall see!

What do you wish to enjoy?

Amy

Keeping It Real With The Things That I Want To Accomplish

I've been writing a lot about all the things that I want to accomplish.  I've gotten a couple of comments about not over entending myself, and I so appreciate the comments.  I do have a lot on my list of things that I want to accomplish and sometimes, one of my huge down falls is that I do over extend myself and take on too much.  I am really trying to have more of a running list of things that I would like to accomplish vs things that I have to accomplish.  There are some things that are definitely more of a priority than others, and I think that I have my priorities straight (at least for now). 

My first priority is to get the house organized and cleaned.  I have certainly slacked off this past week or so trying to get my costumes completed (my own fault for waiting to the last minute) and now that they are completed, it's time to get on to cleaning and organizing so that things go smoother. 

My next priority is to get at least a weekly dinner plan together, maybe even a monthly.  If I can get a monthly schedule together, especially with the holidays fast approaching, maybe I can save my sanity, especially if I can remember to keep things fluid and not rigid.

My next priority goes right along with the one above.  I need to cook more often and cook healthier versions of what we eat.  I know how I need to eat to feel good, I just don't always understand why I don't always eat that way!  I am meeting with an allergist in a couple of weeks to discuss further allergy testing (food).  Again, I think I can say that I have issues with dairy, but I'm not positive and I don't know if there are other issues that I may have along with dairy.  After the meeting with the allergist, I'll know better what the next step is!

The next priority is to keep creating.  I know that this is going to be tough with 3 little ones, working part time, and trying to keep a house intact, but it is so important to my well being that I need to make this be one of my priorities.  I have set aside time every week on a Monday to create with a friend after work.  Again this is something that is somewhat fluid, but I think it is extremely important for me to keep.  Again, this goes right along with priority number 1.  If life is more organized, I will hopefully have more time to create.  The house will be taken care of, the meals will have been planned, the kids will be set (in bed), and my crafting supplies will be organized so that i can get to what I need to without searching high and low for what I want.  I will also plan and finish projects before starting a new one.  I will no longer leave things to the last second (literally it seems).  My past shows that I tend to wait to the last minute to start a porject, then I rush to complete it.  I have gotten better at getting the supplies I need before it's almost too late, but I still tend to start and finally finish at the last second!  Hopefully, that will be a thing of the past.

I have a long list of things that I want to accomplish, but yet I have them prioritized so that they will get done and I will hopefully be at peace knowing what needs to get done is getting done and then I will have time to work on things that will make be happy and keep me sane!

Amy

Newest Projects

So Halloween has come and gone.  I thankfully finished the 3 costumes that I was trying to finish for this Halloween.  They all came out really good.  I was so pleased.  We had a great time trick or treating around the neighborhood and loved sharing this holiday with the kids.

This was one of the costumes that I made

This was another one that I made

Family Halloween picture (I made the vest and skirt of my costume also)

I am participating in my first apron swap.  I can't wait!  I thought that after this rush on Halloween costumes, I wasn't willing to sew much more right now, but after I finished the costumes and all was good, I am ready to sew again!  I am joining in at http://flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com .  I am looking forward to getting an apron also.  I am trying to do more cooking and my nana always used to stay to always wear an apron.  I will certainly wear one now after I get my first swap and then I will try to make my own aprons too!  There is also a contest sponsored by http://www.etsy.com/shop/silverliningdesigns6 where a beautiful snowflake is being raffled to those participating in the swap.


I will be working on a few other projects too.  Hopefully some X-mas gifts will get done so that I can feel good about giving handmade things for the holidays.  I have a wine bottle sack on the needles and I am going to make a couple of scrapbooks for family members as well as an embroidering handprints of the kids.  I still have a bunch of ideas to figure out!

Amy

As an aside, I had a tough day yesterday with eating and really paid for it.  I felt pretty miserable last night and am really trying hard to eat the things that I should be!

Halloween Costumes and Food

I decided that Tom and I are going to dress up for Halloween also.  I have started my costume which is a gypsy.  I had planned to make myself and my daughter a gypsy costume and the boys pirates when we went to King Richard's Faire, but we didn't make it this year.  I am using my black under dress for the costume also.  I've made the over skirt already and just need to fix the hem and then it will be complete.  I am going to work on the vest tonight.  I need to make Tom pants, a shirt and the vest of the pirate costume and put the finishing touches on Thomas' costume.  At that point we will be done and we can have fun trick or treating to the neighbors and to our family's homes.

Making my Halloween costume has made me aware of just how much I really need to watch my eating.  I really was aware that I need to lose weight and get my body in better shape.  I have stopped exercising once my husband when back to work and our schedule got more complex, but I really need to get back on track with exercising.  I think I need to just get the stroller out and walk around our neighborhood.

I am definitely doing better with my eating, but I still need more work.  I am really going to try to focus on not having wheat and dairy and decrease my amount of refined sugar.  I need to incerease my fruit and veggie intake and while I was making chicken soup today and I thought that I really want to be more vegetarian (my long standing goal).  I don't think that the rest of the family wants to be eating vegetarian/vegan, so I may need to cook meat for them and eat less of it myself.

I also got together a little sewing/quilting kit that I can hopefully take along with me and have portable projects.  I have way too much to do, but if I can get myself organized, I think that I may be much happier when I can pull out a craft project and actually complete it.  I need to plan out how to get organized and actually do it vs just talking about it!
Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

It's time again for wishcasting Wednesday.  Jamie Ridler asks "What do you wish to shed?"  When I first read this, I immediately thought pounds.  I would love to shed about 30 pounds so that I will feel better all around.  If I were to shed even half that, I know that I would feel a lot better about myself.  I really think that shedding some of the extra weight that I have packed on over the last few years will help me feel better about how I look.  This in turn will, hopefully, give me more confidence all around.  More confidence, will hopefully lead to less insecurities.  I am under no delusion though, that how I look will completely take care of all of my insecurities.  I know that there is more here to deal with, but that is a subject for another time.

Eating healthier, and more homemade foods will help me shed those pounds.  In turn, I'll be following through with my goal of cooking at home, saving money, being more green, and maybe even being creative in the kitchen.  This whole process will hopefully help me to be more healthy overall and isn't that something we all strive for?

Amy

Craft Projects

I am almost finished with Thomas' halloween costume.  I tried it on him and it actually fit really well.  I'm not the best at sewing clothing so the fact that it looked good and fit makes me so happy!  I feel bad that I only made his costume, but then again, he is always the one getting hand me downs given that he has an older brother and his siter is the only girl.  Both the boys are going to be pirates.  I got Michael's costume from another twin mom and tried it on him today.  Man, was he adorable, like a little man.  Eva Rose is going to be a fairy.  I got a perfect dress as a hand me down.  I added a long sleeve top and some wings and it is perfect!  I just need to think if she is going to need a head piece, but I think no!  Probably won't keep it on anyway.

My other project that I am working on is a wine carrier for a Christmas gift.  I know the recipient isn't going to read this blog, but just in case I won't mention who it's for.  This will be my handmade addition to the gift giving season along with a bottle of wine.  I just now need to make sure that I can make gifts for everyone else in some fashion.

I am really into sewing lately, but also into knitting.  I need to get into scrapbooking and want to get a computer program so that I have moer opportunity to scrapbook and not have to take out and spend time doing traditional scrapbooking.  A friend of mine has iscrapbook and I think that is the program that I want.  I have been playing with a trial version and am really enjoying it.  I think you can still be creative and yet use technology to your advantage.

I have a lot of planning to do with regards to what projects I am going to work on and in what order.  I need to get some Christmas gifts made, especially since I want to make most of them.  I am now setting aside 2 hours every week to get together with a friend and create.  I am really enjoying having that time set aside.

I am now off to create!

Amy

Eating

So, as you all know, after reading my multiple posts about my potential allergies, I have been trying to eat better.  I have some good days and some not so good days.  I am doing really good at cooking my own food vs eating out all the time, I just now have to start eating a little healthier.  As I've written, I've been wanting to go vegetarian/vegan, but I know that will never truly happen.  I have totally resigned myself to the fact that I will always be what I've heard referred to as a flexitarian.  I will eat meat, as healthy the meat as possible, but my focus will be on beans and veggies from this point on. 

I have been trying to eat more beans lately.  Partly because I want to for health and partly because one of my husbands doctors has recommended that he eat more beans.  My husband is seeing a dietician soon (something I was supposed to so, but I chose to see an allergist) and she will be guiding my meal planning from that point on.  I have been trying to do better at meal planning.  I have gotten better, but I still have a long way to go.

I had a playdate with another twin family today and I got a ton of new recipes.  My friend made recipe cards from a scrapbooking software program, and now I want that program.  I can have fun with scrapbooking, but not take all the time and energy of getting out all the stuff to do traditional scrapbooking.  I can also now have fun with recipes too!  One more porject to add to my list of things to make is a recipe box.  I saw the one my friend had, and now I want to paint one to put all these lovely recipe cards in, especially since she said she will make me copies when she puts together more recipes.

My goal for the week is to use what food I have in teh house til payday on Thursday.  No more eating out for me.  I am also going to go through the fridge and clean out all the old stuff.  I will be doing soem meal planning for all 3 meals, not just dinner and also snacks (even some thing as simple as dry cereal will be planned).  My friend used dry cereal for snack today and said she does it often.  Why I feel like I need to have real snack food is beyond me.  The kids loved the cereal and even did great sharing!

My final goal is to really stop the wheat and the dairy from my diet.  I have noticed that I am having more gi issues, now that I am paying attention to how much of that stuff I am eating.  I don't know if it because I am more focused on it, or if I am just eating too much of it.  Either way, I now can see why I need to eliminate it and hopefully I'll feel better.  I am seeing an allergist in 3 weeks or so.  I will be having the skin allergy test to see if it correlated to the blood test that I had done.  If so, I will definitely be eliminating these foods forever.  I just hope that I don't eliminate them before the appointment only to find out that I need to be eating them prior to having the allergy test.

This post is a little all over the place, but I guess that's where I am, a little scattered.  One more subject to throw out there is that I am planning on starting to hand piece some quilt squares so that I can have some quilting projects on the go.  Hopefully this will be fun and not tedious!

Amy

Creative Inspiration

I've decided that I love reading blogs!  I especially love reading creative, health, and food related blogs.  My newest blog that I love to read is http://newdressaday.com/ .  I literally just started reading this blog today after seeing the blog owner, Marisa Lynch, on The Early Show this morning.    This blogger decided that she was going to make a new dress every day out of things that she finds at thrift store, flea markets etc.  She stated that she decided to do this most likely since she was turning thirty, she was laid off from her job and she was inspired by the movie Julie and Julia.  So far, she has done a dress/article of clothing a day, and from what I can see, she hasn't spent more than three dollars on the item that she refashions.  She is a total inspiration to me.

After seeing this blogger, I started to get re-energized about my blog that I had started January 1st.  Unfortunately, that blog did not go the way I planned.  Why I thought that I would have time to create very day with three little ones under two (at the time I started this), I have no idea.  Initially, I had the same inspiration as Marisa Lynch, the movie Julie and Julia.  I started out thinking that I would at least work on a project every day hopefully completing these projects sooner than later or letting them become UFO's, unfinished objects.  Unfortunately, this was too much for me to take on and I just stopped.  I kept up with my other blogs, but let that one fall by the wayside.  I plan to start that blog again.  I may not write every day, but for my own sanity, I plan to attempt to craft every day and post comments and pictures as often as I can.  This blog is at http://thecreativelifeproject.blogspot.com/ .

I plan to be creative, finish projects, use the supplies I have, and get organized while doing this.  I think that using what I have is going to be a huge deal.  I have so many supplies and unfortunately thay are not as organized as they could be so I often go and spend more money and take up more space than I should.  Using what I have and if I don't have the exact item that I need, I will look to see if I have an alternative so that I can be a little more green with my crafting.

As an aside- I have been cooking mroe and trying out new recipes.  I am loving trying new things, so I am really being creative in different areas of my life.  I am also working hard at eating healthier and I do well sometimes and then other time not so well.  It is always a work in progress and will probably always be something I struggle with.

Amy

Creative Projects

I have a ton of projects in the works.  First and most important are the kids' Halloween costumes.  I need to make all of Thomas' pirate costume, wings for Eva Rose, and a pirate hat for Michael.  I have to decide on what I am making people for Christmas this year.  I have a few ideas mostly scrapbooking and knitting, that I think will go over really well.  I may even try some jewelry too.  Unfortunately, I have all these ideas and not enough time to do them.

I have plans to get together with a friend weekly so that I can spend at least a couple of a week creating.  I just have to plan what to work on first.  In the past when we have gotten together, we have done similar projects, or at least the same craft.  I am thinking that this time, we can do what ever we want depending on waht each of us needs or wants to work on.

I'd like to spend more time creating.  I'd love to spend some time going through my supplies and prganizing them better, so that I know what I have and what I need to get.  I would love to know where to go to get what I need when I need it, instead of spending way too much time trying to figure out where things are.  I need to get a little more organized in my daily life (which is starting) so that I can maybe I can multi-task a little.  I am spending way too much time watching tv with out doing anything productive.

I will find time to get more creative and get more organized so that I can be more creative!

Amy

Careers

I never thought that I'd admit this, but I really don't mind going to work.  I wish I didn't have to, but I am overall enjoying my job.  Though, I have to admit, I had a situation at work recently that really makes me wonder if I really want to continue down the road of social work.  The situation wasn't directly related to my job, but it reminded me of some of the politics regarding utilization of people's insurance and the questionable ethics of some nursing homes.  I have seen it before, and I know it often happens, I just hate that business gets involved in people's lives.  I won't say more than that except, it is making me think that I really want to branch out on my own and do something that utilizes my social work background, but that maybe uses my love of creativity.

I often write about how I love to be creative and how I wish that I could make a living at this.  I do like working with people, so I don't think that I just want to pursue an artist's life in a studio by myself.  I have these visions of working with people using creativity as a therapeutic tool, just not in a clinical way.  I would love to show people that finding a way to be creative can help with stress.  I actually wrote a paper in grad school about using scrapbooking/journaling as a therapeutic tool in working with older adults and their families and those dealing with end of life issues.  I was actually able to tie it into the therapeutic modalities that I believed that I would use in practice.  At this point though, I'm not sure that I want to deal with the whole insurance situation.  I would rather use my social work background as a way to work with people, again not clinically, but I would at least be able to refer someone if I thought they needed more help.

Sometimes I think I would love to go back to school and get out of social work all together.  I think I would love to pursue a career that is more of a holistic nature, even though as a social worker you are to look at the whole person.  In reality though, that doesn't happen the way I would want it to.  I want to learn more about cooking and eating healthy (eventhough I don't always follow my own advice), aromatherapy and how it can benefit mind/body/soul, art therapy, journaling as therapy, yoga and other mind body activities, and anything else that is similar in nature.

I really do like my job and the agency that I work for.  I love the hours and the people I work with.  This is one of the few times that I can say that even though I don't like going to work, it's not because I don't like the job.  The reality is that I don't like going to work because life would be easier if I only had to take care of my kids.  Unfortunately, I need to go to work to help pay for things, and it is nice to actually use the degree that I spent time and money getting.

One day I really will figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday (a day late)

I'm a little late with this one, but I really love writing these posts so I am doing it a day late.

Jamie Ridler at http://jamieridlerstudios.ca asks:

"What do you wish to fly free from?"

 It's really amazing how each week I seem to answer different questions with almost the same answer.  I wish to fly free from my fears, my doubts and my insecurities.  These are nothing new, but are things that I have carried with me for most of my life.  For what ever reason, I often don't feel like I am good enough in most things that I do.

1.) Now that I am a mom, I often doubt some of my instincts and always seem to be looking to others for advice.  I am getting better and trusting myself a little more with that, but I still have my doubts.

2.) I am often afraid to try new things.  I always want to be good at what ever I do and I often don't remember that there is a learning curve to new things.  My husband often gets frustrated with me (and has over the last 17 years) reminding me that I don't need to be perfect the first time that I do something and that it often takes time to become proficient at it.

3.) I have the best husband and even though I am getting better at it, I often have insecurities about why he wants to be with me.  I know he loves me and have never had someone (other than my family) love me truly for me and not want to change me.

4.) I often doubt my abilities at the things I love to do.  Sometimes, I wonder if this is why I never allow myself to get really good at one creative area.  I often go from one creative thing to another, often because I am so intrigued and want to learn something new, but I really need to focus on one thing and get good at it before I try something new, especially if I really enjoy it.

I love participating in these posts, and sometimes, often, I don't get a chance to reply to others.  please know that I truly hope that what you wish for comes true!


Amy

Dreams

Now that fall is here in MA, we have been spending more time outside and spending time at fairs.  being outside and doing all kinds of fall activities reminds me how I love this time of year.  I feel so much more energized with the sun and the cool air.  I love the crispness, the smell, the coolness that just makes you smile (ok it makes me smile).  I think the first time I really realized how much the weather affected me was this past spring.  I thought that I was just getting old and starting to hate winter and the cold temperatures.  When fall came, I realized that I hate the extremes in weather.  I am not a fan of winter and even more so, not a fan of summer.  I like the mild temperatures that allow you to spend time outside feel comfortable, not too hot or too cold.  As much as I enjoyed srping this year, and that is mostly because I was finally able to get outside with the kids after being cooped up all winter with 3 little ones, 2 of who weren't walking yet, I still really love fall.

As I said, we have gone to a couple of country style fairs and it is really making me think that some day, maybe I really want a small farm with a few animals, a garden, a studio, and maybe even a little cafe (I've already mentioned the sudio and the cafe).  I would love to have a farm house style home with a wrap around porch, a barn that could house sheep and chickens, a small studio where I could spend my spare time creating crafts that I love and maybe even teach a few simple classes, and then there is the idea of a cafe.I would love a small cafe where I could serve people healthy tasty food that they could enjoy on a budget.  That is probably a pipe dream since there is no such thing as healthy on a budget or so it seems, but that is my goal/dream.  I would love a place for creative people to get together and talk and create.  I would love to encourage people who didn't necessarily feel creative to join in and be with people who are creative individuals.  I would love to share this with my husband and my children.

I want my children to grow up in a world where people are kind, where people help each other, where people know their neighbors, and on and on.  I want my children to enjoy nature.  I want my children to create things and not just look to the large stores to meet all of their needs.  I want my children to explore and enjoy all life has to offer.  I want my children to be able to look up to the people around them as great roel models.  I want to enjoy time with my husband and my children.  I always want my children to know how much I love their father.  I want my children to be healthy and happy.  I think that the place in my dreams would be a wonderful place to raise children.  Unfortunately, my dreams are not realilty and  I'm not sure that they will ever come to fruition, but I can always have dreams and hope that some where some way a little piece of my dreams comes true.

This is not the most well written post, but I wanted to put into words some of the things that I have been feeling.  Maybe somewhere along the way, I'll be able to get these thoughts into more of a cohesive wording. 

Amy

Food Update

On Monday, I started to eliminate a few types of food from my diet.  In case you don't know, I had a blood test a while ago that showed that I have multiple allergies.  Unfortunately, they are all foods that I love and crave!  Along with that, this blood test is known for it's false postives.  One of the areas that I showed an allergy was certain cheeses and cow's milk as well as wheat, gluten, and yeast.  There were a few others also, but these are the ones that I am going to have trouble living without, at least initially.

The next step, according to my PCP is to meet with a dietician and do an emination diet.  Unfortunately, now that I am working, scheduling appointments is extremely diffcult with 3 little ones.  My PCP suggested that I eliminate the foods on the test that scored a 3, so that is what I decided to do.  I have been tryin gto do this since I got the results about 1 month ago, but have failed in everyway possible.  I finally attempted it this Monday and I have succeeded so far.  This is absolutely huge for me.  I have never gone this long without wheat, gluten or dairy.  Since it's only been 4 days, I'm not sure if I have noticed anything yet or not, but I will continue to remain as strict as I can.  I do have a dinner Saturday, which could prove difficult, but not impossible.  If, for some reason, I do poorly that night, I will get right back on the horse and eat the way I am supposed to.

I have attempted an elimination diet in the past and I believe you have to be off the eliminated foods for around 3 months before you start re-introducing them back into your diet.  With that, I assume that I won't really feel any changes for a little while longer.  I really do need to make an appointment with the dietician, I just need to find out when I get get a sitter or I need to take time off from work.

So, for now, I am eliminating foods, researching a gluten free, casein free diet, and will also start researching elimination diets.  I will get an appointment with the dietician as soon as possible and figure out the best way to go.  There is the fear that the dietician will want to do another test, but I will have had to have been eating the things that I am eliminating.  That will be better than having to do the elimination diet, but if I am eliminating things, I'd don't necessarily want to add them back in after I have eliminated them for a good amount of time.  I guess that means that I should really get the appointment sooner than later so that I figure out what is necessary.  Now that I think about it, I guess I could actually e-mail the dietician and see if she would have me start eliminating foods or if I should wait until I am able to meet with her.  I guess I am really glad I decided to write about this.  It has helped my thinking process a bit!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

Again I am joining in with Jamie Ridler at http://jamieridlerstudios.ca for Wishcasting Wednesday.  This week Jamie asks:

"Where do you wish to grow your confidence?"

Unfortunately this is a question that I really need to answer.  I have always had an issue with my confidence level in all areas of my life.  I tend to feel like I can't do things or do them well enough.  I wish to have confidence in all my abilities.

Most specifically I wish to grow my confidence in the following areas:

1.)  In raising my children

2.) In my career

3.) In my diet

4.) In my creative abilities

5.) In my dreams

Overall I wish to have confidence in all things that I try to do!

Where do you wish to grow?

Amy

Where I'm At

Diet:

I have been talking about cutting out wheat, gluten, yeast, and dairy for some time now and finally I am on day 2 of cutting out these pieces of my diet.  I am actually doing alright dealing with the cravings, though that is not to say that I haven't been craving bread and dairy products, I'm just feeling like I have to do this for my health.  I am trying not to just replace the dairy and the wheat and gluten, rather I am looking to eat more fruits and vegetables to replace the thing that I think are making me feel miserable.  I am still researching alternatives to these potential allergens so that when I am really starting crave these foods, I have things that I can eat and remain on the diet.  Any good recipe suggestions are very much welcome!  Since I am trying to eat better and eliminate these foods from my diet, I am also cooking more and eating out less.  I am hoping to get to some good farmer's markets and get some good seasonal foods.  In the process of all these changes, along with feeling better, I am also hoping that I will start to lose weight (I have already seen positve progress in the short 2 days).

Creativity:

I have been really bad at making time to create.  I am trying to use any small amount of time I can find to make things and feel like I am able to enjoy creating.  Last night I got together with a friend to do some cake decorating and even though the decorating didn't go well, it was great doing it!  I am really hoping that she will want to make this a weekly thing.  It will make me set aside time to create and also be with a friend!  I am trying to plan out Chistmas gifts so that I can make things ahead of time and give people things that I have created indtead of store bought gifts.  When I started this blog I talked about getting away from commercialized products and using more handmade items in my home, for me and my family, and to give as gifts.  I have been doing fairly well with this, but can always do better.  I just need to plan what I need to make and set aside time to make these items. 

I am very much looking forward to tomorrows post.  Since it is going to be Wednesday tomorrow, I will be writing my post for "Wishcasting Wednesdays" from http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/ .  I love these posts as it prompts me to think about things I want out of life and puts it in words vs just in my head.  I love Wednesdays!

Have a great Tuesday!
Amy

Diet

Once again, I am writing about my diet struggles, only this time I have postive things to say.  Today was the first day that I probably ate the way I should eat.  I had no wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, or cheese which are the main foods that I am attempting to eliminate.  I am hopeful that by starting and having a good day, I will be more able to follow this diet and I'm even more hopeful that I will feel better.  Today I ate a ton of apples.  I am on my 3rd right now.  I am pretty impressed with myself, given how difficult this has been in the past.  I figure, take it one day at a time and I will get there.  The more I do well, the more I'll want to continue to do well.  I know that I still need to meet with the dietician and get more educated on what I should be eating, but I know the basics.

I know that this is not going to be an easy road to go down.  I absolutely love my bread and pasta.  I also really love ice cream and cheese, which is why I can say with almost full certainty that I have an issue with dairy.  I know how I feel after eating a lot of dairy, mainly ice cream and cheese.  I will so miss eating those foods, but I will not miss how miserable I feel after I eat them. 

I am also interested in seeing if I don't notice as many symptoms since I have been having issues for so long.  I often winder if they have just become the way life is and I don't know how to feel different.  I will admit that I have had worse symptoms in the past where they definitely caused much more harm then how I feel now.  I often wonder if it related to the stress that I was under at the time, if I was eating that much worse at that point in my life, or if my body has changed since then.

I need to plan for the next 2 days until I get paid and can really go food shopping.  I am all set for dinners, but I am not sure what I will eat for breakfast or lunch.  I do have some gluten free mixes that I should use since they are exteremely expensive and I don't want to waste money or food.  I will be spending some time attempting to educate myself on how I need to eat.  I will also try really hard not to replace what I can't have, but to eliminate the things I can't have with things that are healthier and more whole food oriented.  I know that I will need to have options for those times when the cravings set in and you need something to take the edge of without making yourself feel horrible.  I just need to make sure that I don't rely on these foods.

Please keep me in your thoughts as I attempt to eat the way I should be so that I hopefully will feel better!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

It's Wednesday again, my new favorite day of the week.  I am once again joining in with Wishcasting Wednesday at jamieridlerstudios.ca

This week Jamie asks "What do you wish to step into?"


I wish to step into my dreams.  What are those you ask?  I'm not totally sure, but as I often write about, I wish to have more time for creativity in my life.  I think my dream is to have creativity and crafting be a part of my career.  I think I would love to have a studio with maybe a small cafe where I can have open studio time, classes, a place for people to get together with friends and benefit from being creative.  I still have to think about what this really entails and how to best go about making it come to fruition, but it is something I often think about.

When I was in grad school, my final paper was to be about stepping out of the box with regards to traditional social work therapy.  I wrote about scrapbooking with clients, specifically older adults and those at the end of their lives.  I actually found a researcher at the University of Alabama (I think) who was researching the therapeutic benefits of scrapbooking.  I would love to learn more about art therapy and maybe get certified to be an art therapist.  That way, I can use my social work degree and also my love of creativity.

I want to step into my dream of having creativity be a part of my career and have a studio where I can teach people the benefits of being creative!

I am also going to post this at my new blog http://amy-fratto-designs.blogspot.com   My new blog was started to post about my creations so I thought that it would be good to copy any post that pertain to creativity there.
Amy

Failure Follow Up

So far I got one response to my Failure post.  This response made me think that maybe I could just cut out dairy (cow) and wheat and gluten.  I am wondering if this may make things easier if I can have some things that are not crazy.  At least there are a ton of gluten free sites and even some gluten free dairy free blogs that I maybe able to look towards for some help in remaining on the right type of diet.   I know that something makes me feel horrible and I would have to say that cow's milk is definitely something that affects me.  I can't say for sure now if wheat and gluten make me also feel horrible.  I am hoping that getting rid of these foods will not be as limiting as getting rid of all the allergens in theallergy test.  As always, this is going to be a work in progress.  It will be interesting to see how I do with these changes.

Thanks Momma B for the suggestion fo slowly eliminating things and seeing how I do with that!

Amy

Failure

Why am I such a failure when it comes to eating the way I should be.  I know that I often have stomach issues, but really could never relate it to certain foods except dairy products.  Now that I have been tested for allergies, there are so many more foods that I need to check to see if are true allergens.  Why is it that I can not stop eating these foods long enough to see if I truly have an allergy to them.  I feel like a complete and total failure when it comes to food intake.  I guess this must be what a drug addict or alcoholic feels like on some level.  I know it isn't the same, but I truly crave these foods and I know that they make me feel horrible.  I just need to bite the bullet and start doing what I need to so to be healthy.  I had to eliminate something (substance that I craved) when I was in grad school for my substance abuse class.  At the time I chose caffeine.  Not a bad choice at the time, but thinking back I wish I had done something more like wheat.  According to my blood test (which there are many false positives supposedly) I need to cut out cantaloupe, cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, cottage cheese, egg yolks, gluten, malt, cow's milk, rye, tuna, watermelon, wheat, brewer's yeast, and baker's yeast, and maybe even yogurt.  Because of these potential allergies, it is even more important that I cook my own food and eat healthy.  I am on the path to eating correctly from here on out.  I know that there will be more failures, but I will always get back on the horse and do what I need to do for my health.

As for creativity, I still need to get better at creating.  I am making the cake for my mom's birthday.  I can't wait to play with the decorating.  It's going to be fun.  I can't wait to get better at making time to create.  I am working on a knit dishcloth for my husband's aunt and I will be giving her a pattern book for her to make things from.  Hopefully she'll like them.  I am also thinking that I don't really want to sell things I create, but I actually want to teach others the benefits of living a creative life.  Some day I'll figure out what my passion within creativity really is.

I'm off now to get the kids dressed and go to the natural grocery store with them.  I need to plan my meals and start thinking about how to be healthy for me and my family!

Amy