Sunday's Shopping Trip

It's my lunch break and I'd like to talk about something lighter than yesterday's post:) While I'm prefacing things, I'd like to say: Sorry for the teeny, odd font. Blogger/my computer/the universe changed yesterday and I can't fix it. I bet my charming hubby can! If I remember to ask him tonight.

I'm buying a new computer in a couple of months to fix this issue:)

So SUNDAY: I went shopping. Without my boy. OOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGG!!!!! I know it's only been 6 months that he's been alive out of my uterus, but what and AMAZINGLY unproductive 6 months it's been!! A cozy, delightful, cuddly, playful, happiest-6-months-of-my-life yet very unproductive. Even though I packed and unpacked my household/belongings 3 different times to move, bought a distressed house (following a trend), cleaned and fixed it, and am now happily residing there, it's been hard. And I only have ONE kid!!! Imagine how much I'd be complaining if I had more!

That's all to tell you I felt more productive in 3.5 hours (10:30 AM-2:00 PM) away from baby C than I have in a while. I went to 4 FOUR 4 (4!!!) stores in 3.5 hours. I haven't gone to more than 2 consecutive stores in 6 months. In case you don't know this: once you have a baby, your life revolves around your little pumpkin's sleep schedule! My beautiful boy sleeps so well in his swing or in my arms, and occasionally the carseat if he's uber tired. He doesn't like shopping trips too much though.

Back to the point: I went to Lowe's first. The thing I love about Lowe's, Home Depot, and our local hardware store is the customer service. We go to those places because every employee you pass asks if you need help. SOOO nice when you are wandering around a store bigger than a football field (I think?) (PS- our hardware store is tiny, like a preschool football field). We used to go to Menards ALL THE TIME but finding someone to help you there is like putting C to sleep unswaddled: tough. So: I like customer service in a hardware store:)

Then I went to Kohls. Exchanged some gifted clothes C can't wear due to sizing, got him more much needed onesies for free (basically!). Good service again:)

Next, off to Old Navy. C's wardrobe is getting bare. Sure, he doesn't need a lot. 4-5 short sleeved onesies, same for long sleeved onesies, a couple pants, couple shirts, few pjs, and socks. But he's outgrowing them. And I wanted 1-2 more outfits for cuteness' sake;) So I shopped Old Navy's sale and spent the rest of the exchanged money:)

Last stop: JoAnn Ect. Why I keep shopping here is BEYOND ME. Please remind me to nevernevernever go back! I think they hire only grouchy people. I think they hate their customers. Wish I didn't like the sale prices so very much! Took me 20 minutes to get fabric cut and check out. At this point I HAD to get home. C naps for me, only me, and just me. And he needed a nap.

So I'm FRANTICALLY driving home to my hubby and babe. I hate it when J has to care for C when he screams. The baby will accept no one but Mommy for sleeping. It's a phase! One day DADDY will put him to sleep! And Mommy will drink wine and read in the evenings:)

What's the point? Get all your shopping and errands done now, while you don't have kids. And if you do have kids? I guess we'll wait 5-10 years until shopping becomes easier.

Garage Sales!

This morning I went garage saling and got BABY STUFF!!!! Yay!

Cool Finds: 

1. A like new Boppy and a My Breast Friend. For $4:) I plan to do a comparison and make a final call once and for all about which works the best for breastfeeding. And make fun of their names. A LOT. 
2. Tiny socks. Oh so tiny. Will his feet really be that small? Will the socks really stay on his feet? Will they get stuck in other stuff in the wash (as they did today) so that I'm pulling tiny socks out of my pants a week after laundry day?
3. A SNOWSUIT!!! Because my baby will obviously want to play in the snow in January when he is 4 months old.
4. Toys:) So we're trying to stick to wood or stuffed toys. Don't want little guy putting plastics and chemicals in his mouth. I'm going to be one of those kinds of moms. Heck, I'm just that kind of person. Organic, local, natural all the way, baby.
5. Cloth diapers. Not at garage sales, just more came in the mail. So I had to sit and sort through my supply once again. And wash some of them. And fold them and organize them again since there is nothing more important to do in my life.  

Good day:) Cold day. Cheap day:)

My Top Five

You ever used Slickdeals? Oh my gosh, I love Slickdeals! I also love Amazon's MP3 department, mainly because they have a different album for a low sale price each day. I LOVE SAVING MONEY.

These are the tabs always open in my Camino browser: Facebook, Google Reader, Amazon MP3s, Yahoo mail, and occasionally, Blogger. Everything else comes and goes but those 5 remain the same:)

EPA, Used Items, and Thoughts

[Cartoon by Steve Greenburg]

The EPA on Friday declared that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases sent off by cars and many industrial plants "endanger public health and welfare," setting the stage for regulating them under federal clean air laws.- NPR

Wonderful! Government and regulations can take a long time to be implemented but at least we're getting closer! I hate for government to get bigger and impose itself on more of our lives, but I think in this situation, it is warranted. How else are we going to get factories or automakers to cut down on chemicals they dump in our air, water, and land? I don't like 28% of my money being taken by the government but when I hear they will invest it in high speed rail across the US or in forcing industry to cut down on emissions, I feel a little better. I'm willing to pay a bit extra for food grown without chemicals, cars that get great mileage, or electricity that is produced responsibly. Many people have bigger issues (jobs, kids, housing, etc.) to worry about than the environment. I don't, so I'll take on this seemingly trivial load and cheer it on!!! Yay for a president that at least gets that we need to change how we are treating the wonderful planet God gave us! Stewardship involves more care and regulation than we have shown!

A blog I read was discussing buying only handmade clothing and how it benefits people and businesses locally, rather than a sweatshop in China. She (the blogger) committed to buying only handmade items from now on.  Well, with my limited personal spending budget of $75 a month (for eating out, clothing, shoes, visiting friends, library fines, etc.) I really can't commit to buying handmade. However, I am, from last week forth, buying only USED ITEMS!!! This does not apply to underware and probably shoes. Any clothing will be bought from Plato's Closet, Goodwill, or garage sales , which won't be that big of a change. I am a very cheap person when it comes to mostly everything so I already seek out good deals. I'm going to carry my Used Items pledge over to the house and try to find anything we might need (tupperware, circular saw, food processor). I've found how to get an RSS feed for a specific Craigslist search and just check my Google Reader instead of going to Craigslist every day. Now I know exactly when someone posts a sell of something I am looking for!

Thoughts

When you visit a strange church, do you ever think about how to do communion? Some churches allow you to reflect and pray before drinking and eating. Some churches like you to get the tray, grab a cup, gulp it down, slam it back on said tray, and send it on its way. I was visiting KY several months ago and was sitting with my new cousins. One of them whispered to me "Sarah, how do they do communion here?" I was confused at the question and had to watch the people in front of me, then whispered back the answer. Communion can be a bit confusing in a new environment. 

We're planning a road trip to New York and Maine this summer. I feel so overwhelmed being forced to pick, unseen, the best places to visit in an entire city or state. Maine is giant!! New York City is much smaller but oh so compact!!

It is 71 degrees today! And sunny! I need to go outside soon! Anyone know where the degree key is on a keyboard? Never have found it in 27 years. 

I will be 28 next Saturday!! My birthday! I love my birthday. Last year I felt that I didn't deserve the attention I received from family and friends on my birthday. Bad time for me. This year I will love and bathe in it:) Good time for me!!!!

As soon as I get home from work, I sit on the couch (teaching 29 kiddos keeps me on my feet all day), check out my websites, and eat pumpkin seeds and almonds. Next week I plan to add walnuts to my routine since I need more omega 3's. I love nuts:)

Yesterday I saw a mouse get strangled by a boa constrictor and eaten. Weird and mesmerizing. I also was given a Coldstone Creamery sundae. Delightful!

That must be all for today, I need to go outside and construct a compost bin using my overwhelming amounts of wit, fortitude, and power. Have a delightful day!!

My Rainboots

So I found a great deal on shoes last weekend on Sears' website. I bought these DELIGHTFUL rainboots ($9!!!!!) that I wore around the house last night. Is there anything nicer than 4 new pairs of shoes? Yes, if all of them fit and are as delightful as the rainboots!!