Silent Night
Holy Night
Son of God
Love's Pure Light
☺
Holy Night
Son of God
Love's Pure Light
☺
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Frugal Friday--use cloth
I know, you've heard me say it over and over, cloth diapers, cloth menstrual pads, cloth this and that and everything else. But today I just want to take a couple of minutes to mention some easy switches that anybody can make (most of them are even ick-free!).
Paper towels --> wash rags. I saw a paper towel ad the other day which boasted that the pt in question could be rinsed out in the sink and re-used, "just like cloth!" and I thought, um, why not just use cloth?! Old t-shirts/sweatshirts, cheap washcloths, or cut up raggedy old towels all make great rags for wiping up messes. I use a dishcloth (ie, a kitchen cloth with the squares/stripes in it) for messes on counters or tables, and I use rags for messes on floors. If it's a mess that would potentially lead to contamination (such as raw meat juice) then I rinse out the cloth in hot water, and take it straight to the laundry. I keep a little tub next to my washing machine for holding wet/dirty cloths until wash day. I wash them in their own little load on HOT, and voila, they're all clean again!
I do have paper towels in my house, and they get used for one thing: greasy foods. That's it. One roll lasts positively ages!
Disinfecting wipes --> see paper towels Sure, spray a little something on them if you want, but really, washable is good!
Napkins --> washcloths
Diaper wipes --> cloth wipes. If you are already washing cloth diapers, then cloth wipes are a logical choice, because you can just drop them in the pail with the diapers! Scraps of flannel, velour, sherpa, birdseye, or terrycloth can easily be serged, zig-zagged, or hemmed to become nice soft baby wipes. Some folks use those thin little "baby washcloths" or cut up old flannel receiving blankets. My mom had a set of washclothes that were designated for diaper duty. Wanna know my favorite thing about using cloth wipes? When I'm ready to use them, I just run them under a little warm water in the sink--warm baby bum!
Kleenex --> cloth nose wipers. Some people do folded handkerchiefs or hankies, but I have always hated the idea of blowing my nose multiple times into the same cloth, and especially of carrying around the slimy snotty cloth in between! My solution? Single-use cloth kleenex! use it once, then drop it in the wash! I took an old t-shirt that was getting holes on the edges, and cut it roughly into squares of about 6x6in (some are as large as 8x8--I didn't measure, I just cut!) They don't fray, so there's no need to hem them or anything--just cut and go! I keep them in a wicker basket on the back of the toilet, and the used ones go in a mesh lingerie bag by the laundry hamper. (On laundry day I just zip it shut, the whole thing goes in the wash--no touching snot! When it's done I just dump the fresh clean cloths back in the basket!)
(you'll notice that I have two baskets--one is for nose-wipes, one is for bum-wipes...they are color coded, so nothing ever gets wiped in the wrong place) (the white hose there is my diaper sprayer) The most beautiful thing about using old t-shirts is that if a wipe ever gets truly nasty, well, I don't feel bad about throwing it away. ☺
Disposable Baby Washclothes --> normal washcloths I just have to ask, does anyone really use the disposable already-have-soap-in-them baby washcloths? Are they insane?!
and here's the grand finale, but please at least read through my explanation before you roll your eyes and declare me insane!
Toilet paper --> bum-wipes (aka "family cloth") First of all, I already have a diaper pail, so anything that would end up on my cloth is the same as what would already be in that pail... Second, I don't use them to wipe so much as to dry...I use a little sprayer like this to wash myself, and then the cloth dries me off. Trust me, it keeps me so much cleaner than that papery stuff, no bits left behind or any of that...and oh, it saves a small fortune too!
Paper towels --> wash rags. I saw a paper towel ad the other day which boasted that the pt in question could be rinsed out in the sink and re-used, "just like cloth!" and I thought, um, why not just use cloth?! Old t-shirts/sweatshirts, cheap washcloths, or cut up raggedy old towels all make great rags for wiping up messes. I use a dishcloth (ie, a kitchen cloth with the squares/stripes in it) for messes on counters or tables, and I use rags for messes on floors. If it's a mess that would potentially lead to contamination (such as raw meat juice) then I rinse out the cloth in hot water, and take it straight to the laundry. I keep a little tub next to my washing machine for holding wet/dirty cloths until wash day. I wash them in their own little load on HOT, and voila, they're all clean again!
I do have paper towels in my house, and they get used for one thing: greasy foods. That's it. One roll lasts positively ages!
Disinfecting wipes --> see paper towels Sure, spray a little something on them if you want, but really, washable is good!
Napkins --> washcloths
Diaper wipes --> cloth wipes. If you are already washing cloth diapers, then cloth wipes are a logical choice, because you can just drop them in the pail with the diapers! Scraps of flannel, velour, sherpa, birdseye, or terrycloth can easily be serged, zig-zagged, or hemmed to become nice soft baby wipes. Some folks use those thin little "baby washcloths" or cut up old flannel receiving blankets. My mom had a set of washclothes that were designated for diaper duty. Wanna know my favorite thing about using cloth wipes? When I'm ready to use them, I just run them under a little warm water in the sink--warm baby bum!
Kleenex --> cloth nose wipers. Some people do folded handkerchiefs or hankies, but I have always hated the idea of blowing my nose multiple times into the same cloth, and especially of carrying around the slimy snotty cloth in between! My solution? Single-use cloth kleenex! use it once, then drop it in the wash! I took an old t-shirt that was getting holes on the edges, and cut it roughly into squares of about 6x6in (some are as large as 8x8--I didn't measure, I just cut!) They don't fray, so there's no need to hem them or anything--just cut and go! I keep them in a wicker basket on the back of the toilet, and the used ones go in a mesh lingerie bag by the laundry hamper. (On laundry day I just zip it shut, the whole thing goes in the wash--no touching snot! When it's done I just dump the fresh clean cloths back in the basket!)
Disposable Baby Washclothes --> normal washcloths I just have to ask, does anyone really use the disposable already-have-soap-in-them baby washcloths? Are they insane?!
and here's the grand finale, but please at least read through my explanation before you roll your eyes and declare me insane!
Toilet paper --> bum-wipes (aka "family cloth") First of all, I already have a diaper pail, so anything that would end up on my cloth is the same as what would already be in that pail... Second, I don't use them to wipe so much as to dry...I use a little sprayer like this to wash myself, and then the cloth dries me off. Trust me, it keeps me so much cleaner than that papery stuff, no bits left behind or any of that...and oh, it saves a small fortune too!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Facebook Nurse-In
You know what a nurse-in is, right? It's like a sit-in, only with nursing. ☺
When someone says or does something rude to a breastfeeder, the militant lactivists (lactation activists) of the world unite and go stage a nurse-in. I've always wanted to join one, but never had the chance...until now. So what if it's just a virtual nurse-in, it's a nurse-in, and I'm there!!
<------ I posted this picture on my facebook profile, along with the status "J likes to nurse her kiddo in public, and would like to remind Facebook and everyone else that she has a legal right to do so!" Why are we doing this? Well, a lot of facebookers have been flagging breastfeeding photos as obscene, and facebook takes them down. Now I am a staunch believer in utilizing a certain amount of modesty and deorum when nursing in public, however the only way to normalize nursing in public is to NURSE IN PUBLIC, and a little boob flashing is bound to happen from time to time. Nope, I didn't post a boob-flashing picture, (although I thought about posting this one...Wolf said the other one was better though, and for FB, I had to agree...) but lucky you, you get to see it here. ☺
So, if you're on facebook, and believe in nursing, take a few minutes to go change your profile picture and status to join the nurse-in!
ETA--new status says "J thinks Facebook's sidebar ads show more skin than most breastfeeding pictures...who is 'obscene' now?!"
When someone says or does something rude to a breastfeeder, the militant lactivists (lactation activists) of the world unite and go stage a nurse-in. I've always wanted to join one, but never had the chance...until now. So what if it's just a virtual nurse-in, it's a nurse-in, and I'm there!!
<------ I posted this picture on my facebook profile, along with the status "J likes to nurse her kiddo in public, and would like to remind Facebook and everyone else that she has a legal right to do so!" Why are we doing this? Well, a lot of facebookers have been flagging breastfeeding photos as obscene, and facebook takes them down. Now I am a staunch believer in utilizing a certain amount of modesty and deorum when nursing in public, however the only way to normalize nursing in public is to NURSE IN PUBLIC, and a little boob flashing is bound to happen from time to time. Nope, I didn't post a boob-flashing picture, (although I thought about posting this one...Wolf said the other one was better though, and for FB, I had to agree...) but lucky you, you get to see it here. ☺
So, if you're on facebook, and believe in nursing, take a few minutes to go change your profile picture and status to join the nurse-in!
ETA--new status says "J thinks Facebook's sidebar ads show more skin than most breastfeeding pictures...who is 'obscene' now?!"
Kwanzaa
I will be the first to admit that I don't really know much about Kwanzaa, but it starts today and goes through Jan 1, and for those of you who do celebrate (I know at least one of my readers does!), Happy Kwanzaa!
(and if you'd care to enlighten me a bit on the background or traditions of Kwanzaa, or what you do to celebrate it, I'd love to hear!)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
(see other reflections on Christ at Internet Cafe Devotions)
(This is not my favorite vocal version of the song, but it is an awesome and moving video compilation)
By the way, if you'd like to see a nice little collection of nativities, I posted a treasury of them here. ☺
(This is not my favorite vocal version of the song, but it is an awesome and moving video compilation)
By the way, if you'd like to see a nice little collection of nativities, I posted a treasury of them here. ☺
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Nativity
This movie is awesome: simple and powerful. (Although I did also love "The Nativity Story" which came out a couple of years ago.)
For what it's worth, Hebrew has several forms of asking for something (or several forms of "please"). When Joseph is asking at the door of the inn, he uses the word "bavakisha" which is the strongest form... somehow knowing that adds something for me.
For what it's worth, Hebrew has several forms of asking for something (or several forms of "please"). When Joseph is asking at the door of the inn, he uses the word "bavakisha" which is the strongest form... somehow knowing that adds something for me.
And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night...
There are many Christmas stories, and many that I like. My family always read several on Christmas Eve, and now I read some of those same ones to my children...but today I want to share just one favorite--my very favorite Christmas story.
It's a true story: the story of Christ's birth from the perspective of those who were living in the Americas.
Around 5 BC, a prophet named Samuel had come to warn and teach the people. They had become forgetful of the teachings of the prophets, and were not following the Lord. Samuel told them that within 5 years the Savior would be born in Judea, and that they would know of His coming because a sign would be given: a day and a night and a day with no darkness. Many people believed Samuel and began to follow the commandments, and to look forward to the coming of Christ, but others did not believe, and they harassed the Christians for their belief. I now quote from 3 Nephi 1, with the key parts highlighted if you are only going to skim it [full text here]:
Again I am reminded of light as a symbol of our Savior. A bright star, a night as bright as day... I've written here of my struggles with depression, and they are ongoing, but my posts through the holidays have turned my focus away from the darkness and toward the light. I have decided to give myself the whole season (of winter) to ponder and focus on light, so hopefully I will continue to post some of my thoughts over the coming weeks.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, filled with Light and Love!
It's a true story: the story of Christ's birth from the perspective of those who were living in the Americas.
Around 5 BC, a prophet named Samuel had come to warn and teach the people. They had become forgetful of the teachings of the prophets, and were not following the Lord. Samuel told them that within 5 years the Savior would be born in Judea, and that they would know of His coming because a sign would be given: a day and a night and a day with no darkness. Many people believed Samuel and began to follow the commandments, and to look forward to the coming of Christ, but others did not believe, and they harassed the Christians for their belief. I now quote from 3 Nephi 1, with the key parts highlighted if you are only going to skim it [full text here]:
And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.
But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.
And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.
And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass.
But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.
Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.
Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, [the current prophet] saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both fof the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.
And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.
And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.
For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.
And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.
And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.
And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, filled with Light and Love!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Still Her Little Child
One of my favorite Christmas songs...
OK, so, I actually like this musician better but the graphics on it were not as good...so maybe listen to the other one while watching this one. ☺
OK, so, I actually like this musician better but the graphics on it were not as good...so maybe listen to the other one while watching this one. ☺
Christmas Songs
Not all Christmas songs are created equal. Some are glorious carols, some are silly, and some are just plain bad. I've always known that I like some better than others, but this year I've been thinking about which ones I like, and why... and you know, it's almost exclusively the sacred carols that I love.
I don't care for the love songs that masquerade as Christmas songs (like Blue Christmas or Winter Wonderland). I don't like the depressing ones (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas has got to be the worst song ever, did you know that the original lyrics were? They are BAD! But I won't post them here to taint you in case you like the song.) I don't mind Frosty and Rudolph, but given the choice I'll play something a little more grown up like Silver Bells or Bring a Torch Janette Isabella. I don't like the naughty ones (like I'm Getting Nuttin or Santa Baby). I don't like the ones that don't make sense to me (I Saw Three Ships being the classic example). I actually am very tired of We Wish You a Merry Christmas and I have never liked The Christmas Song. How sad am I?!
I guess I am like Mae, who can't turn on the radio at this time of year...
What do I love?
O Holy Night (The chord on "Fall" at the beginning of the chorus gives me chills every time!)
Silent Night (partly because I can sign it...I need to learn it in German though)
What Child is This (which used to bug me because it's not an AABB rhyme scheme, and I was too young to pick up on the ABCBDD pattern, so I thought it was a lame song for not rhyming...but now I get it and I love it)
The Wexford Carol
Carol of the Bells
One King
O Come O Come Emmanuel (I don't know why, since the minor key always feels a little depressing...but I just think it's beautiful)
Still Her Little Child (Ray Boltz)
Mary Did You Know
Mary's Lullabye (Tonight You Are Mine) (a lullabye from Mary, singing that He is a king, and will do and be amazing things...but for tonight he is her little baby)
What are some of your favorites?
I don't care for the love songs that masquerade as Christmas songs (like Blue Christmas or Winter Wonderland). I don't like the depressing ones (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas has got to be the worst song ever, did you know that the original lyrics were? They are BAD! But I won't post them here to taint you in case you like the song.) I don't mind Frosty and Rudolph, but given the choice I'll play something a little more grown up like Silver Bells or Bring a Torch Janette Isabella. I don't like the naughty ones (like I'm Getting Nuttin or Santa Baby). I don't like the ones that don't make sense to me (I Saw Three Ships being the classic example). I actually am very tired of We Wish You a Merry Christmas and I have never liked The Christmas Song. How sad am I?!
I guess I am like Mae, who can't turn on the radio at this time of year...
What do I love?
O Holy Night (The chord on "Fall" at the beginning of the chorus gives me chills every time!)
Silent Night (partly because I can sign it...I need to learn it in German though)
What Child is This (which used to bug me because it's not an AABB rhyme scheme, and I was too young to pick up on the ABCBDD pattern, so I thought it was a lame song for not rhyming...but now I get it and I love it)
The Wexford Carol
Carol of the Bells
One King
O Come O Come Emmanuel (I don't know why, since the minor key always feels a little depressing...but I just think it's beautiful)
Still Her Little Child (Ray Boltz)
Mary Did You Know
Mary's Lullabye (Tonight You Are Mine) (a lullabye from Mary, singing that He is a king, and will do and be amazing things...but for tonight he is her little baby)
What are some of your favorites?
Monday, December 22, 2008
Not Me Monday
I ran into this blog carnival weeks ago, but this week I have an entry, so here goes...
Not Me Monday is where we all share things that we certainly didn't do this week (because it would be terrible to admit if we actually did do them, right?!)
So, I'll be brief:
I didn't let my kids eat cookies for breakfast today (because we didn't have a whole bunch of them sitting around from the cookie exchange yesterday), and I definitely didn't eat cookies for breakfast myself.
I don't have more than half of my Christmas sewing to do, because I have not been spending all my time focused on trying to finish knitting the little Bear's sweater (which actually really isn't a gift, it's just something I want to get done). (One cuff to go!)
And I absolutely didn't decide to scrap the family christmas letter this year, only to change my mind on the 20th and throw together a digital one....naw, definitely did NOT do that!
See what everybody else didn't do by visiting here!
Not Me Monday is where we all share things that we certainly didn't do this week (because it would be terrible to admit if we actually did do them, right?!)
I didn't let my kids eat cookies for breakfast today (because we didn't have a whole bunch of them sitting around from the cookie exchange yesterday), and I definitely didn't eat cookies for breakfast myself.
I don't have more than half of my Christmas sewing to do, because I have not been spending all my time focused on trying to finish knitting the little Bear's sweater (which actually really isn't a gift, it's just something I want to get done). (One cuff to go!)
And I absolutely didn't decide to scrap the family christmas letter this year, only to change my mind on the 20th and throw together a digital one....naw, definitely did NOT do that!
See what everybody else didn't do by visiting here!
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