A Special Post.

My little girl, "RB", turned 2 yesterday.

She is so wonderful, and although she's reached the 2s, so far it hasn't been too bad. A little fussier than normal, and trying to find out more of her limits and individuality, but I find, either because this is the 3rd time through it, or because she's more mild, it's much easier now than it was for E and C.

We had some family and friends help us celebrate, and I did my normal "thing" for the birthday and made a cake. I made a cupcake-cake. Now, I like my cakes to match the theme, if there is one, either whatever seems to suite the child most or to match the presents for birthdays. For RB, I didn't know what direction to go. She's my, so far, more "girly" daughter. She's never shown interest in princessy stuff, and she didn't seem to have a favorite toy category (like C did for the past 2 birthdays, this year was Thomas the Tank Engine, last year was Lightening McQueen, or E who had her horses this year).

So I went for a "symbol" of what made me think of her. For C, it's boy stuff in general, for E, it is ducks, bunnies (used to be a nickname), and now horses. For RB, I always think of flowers or butterflies. I picked butterflies, and decorated the cupcakes as a single cake with a large purple butterfly. It's not great, but it's not to bad. I'll post a picture(My first Blog Picture) later. And now I find myself thinking "Oh, hey, I could do this (What did you think I would tell my plan for my creation THIS early to Independence Day?). So, Stay tuned for the next posts from One Crazy Lady, as I get knee-deep in schooling, work, sewing, and cake decorating this week. Maybe after that I'll do some fiber-processing and get to post about THAT! Thanks for reading!

Added Note: As you can see, I added the picture! Let me know what you think, and suggestions for improvements!

The Importance of a Schedule.

For those of you that know me, really know me, you know I have struggled with getting the right balanced schedule up and running. This week I have come to realize on a more spiritual and nurturing level just how important scheduling and routines are.

I was reading some blogs on Monday, especially the one I recently started following, too many kids in the bathtub, reading some past posts. I found myself pulled to THAT level of organization, without the aid of a hired hand assisting, and to that level of CALM. I have a lot going on at any given time, and it's hard to keep up if I'm not doing the right balance, and some weeks it seems that the whole balancing act is so teetering that I come very close to breaking a few proverbial dishes. So I read on. I do FLY Lady, and it really has helped TONS, but I found myself trying to do all or nothing, no matter how I tried to pace myself. Her system isn't flawed, it's just my impatience with myself. But anyway, on Monday I wrote up a routine on the white board I used many months ago for the Letter of the Week program (Although I no longer use it, I highly recommend it for new to home schooling mothers with very young children). I'm so proud of myself. I've gone a full 5 days of sticking to my routine and yet still being able to do things like a spontaneous errand in the afternoons.

We are still working on the bed time thing, but I've been waking them up promptly at 7:00 am, with an immediate breakfast (we'll see if that adjusts at all in time). I got them dressed complete with hair and teeth by 8:00, which was morning chores/clean up time. School starts at 9. Before their schooling, I'm sad to admit was hit and miss, and more miss than hit. This week we schooled Tues-Friday, although I am planning on doing it Mon-Saturday, with Saturday only being a light review day. I know, I'm an evil mom. I'm schooling my kids throughout the summer, 6 days a week. And the oldest child is 4 years old.

And how are they handling the summer being "stolen"? They are loving it! I decided today would be a treat, and no school today, so we did our review day yesterday. Tonight at scripture study they told me they "wanted to go to school tonight". E is making sure progress on her phonics, which is really heartening since they really weren't sticking before. Her numbers are getting there, and counting is more accurate. Shapes are better, as are the colors. C is having a bit more of a hard time, as he is resisting bedtime the hardest and he keeps getting timeouts during class time for disruptive behavior. I will be watching to see how/if that improves as the schedule becomes more routine. RB is also doing better with shapes and colors, (not focusing as much on phonics seeing as too how young she is). They are better behaved all around and get more outside time as a result.

The best result: I'm doing a much better job of being a decent Christian, and a decent mother. I am somewhat calmer, and feel more put together. Even though my house isn't too much cleaner, it feels more loving, kind, and tidy in an odd sort of way. Life is good.

My week in which I canned for the first time.

This week has been most interesting for me. A few days ago, I went and ran errands that I normally would have spaced. I actually got a packaged mailed off in time for it to reach my father in time for Father's Day (that was HUGE for me, let me tell you). One of the local grocer's chains in my area, a town south, had a special sale on Strawberries and Raspberries. So I got 2 flats of each, $9.99 a pop. Then I went one town further south to take advantage of a Joann's sale. I was able to finish getting the fabric I needed to finish outfits for myself, my husband, and C for a wedding coming next month. I had so much fun! I bought far more than I had planned on, but I saved more than I spent! Now how often can you say that? My fabric was 50% off, and I got some decorating items for the house, they were almost half price, knitting needles that were clearance, some yarn and pony-tail bands to dress up, some beads for jewelry, and a little tin to temporarily keep the beads in while I'm focused elsewhere.

So my NEW adventure this week has been making Jams! I was so terrified that I would be like Amy March whose jams/jelly's wouldn't Gel! lol. Yeah, no worries there! I made 1 batch of strawberry jam Tuesday night, made a few more and a couple of Raspberry on Wednesday. We did a little sampling on Thursday- yea, the first batch of Strawberry jam we are calling "Strawberry Jam Candy" as its a little too thick to be considered jam.. but it's YUMMY! Both types are really delicious, and I'm super thrilled at the results of my first "Jamming" Session. Which brings us to today. Keep in mind I have not been able to thoroughly finish off the strawberries I bought yet, I'm switching recipes to one with more ingredients and yet simpler. Today, my darling husband bought 3 more flats of Raspberries, and 5 more of Strawberries. Wow.

So tonight I'm spending time getting the house clean so tomorrow I can finish putting away all these berries. They are very tasty and I am enjoying the process but holy cow, talk about volume for a first timer!

But hey, we should have a "Berry" good time of it!... OK, bad pun. I'm done now. Happy Canning!

A rant about people giving unneeded comments concerning long hair

Hi There! Thanks for checking back in on me. Today I feel like talking about hair. Not just any hair, women's' hair and the length they choose and a why that's been on my mind. Now me, personally, I have about waist-length hair. I've been avoiding cutting it for a while now, but I have noticed something I find rather peculiar. The last month or so, since it reached the length it is at, whenever I wear my hair " down" like in a pony tail or just with a simple hair band, I get comments of " You should really think about getting your hair cut shorter." or " You would look so cute with one of those short, trendy do's".

My question is this : Why are so many people pressuring me to cut my hair? Oh a little note: Most people who are mentioning this are women with short hair. Now, on the other spectrum, Most women who either have long hair or HAD long hair ( and for my purposes, long hair is bra-strap or longer, shoulder length is medium) Say don't cut it, you will regret it, and it takes a long time to grow back".

I have worn mostly medium length hair, and I've had it shorter. My thing is just this: I love styling my hair in different fashions. Most of the short hairstyles out there that are 'different" 1. are done on young girls/teens, which I most definitely am not in that category. 2. Don't look like an "every day" wear-if-you-are-scrubbing-something AND "go-out-on-the-town-with-only-enough-notice-to-dress-your-kids". I like hair to both, be somewhat age appropriate AND situation appropriate. Now, you can do this with Medium-length hair, but variety is lacking. I mean, sorry but you can only style 4-5 inches of hair so many ways. Oh, and for the unavoidable comment, for myself, I'm NOT going to get my hair dyed or unnaturally highlighted. If I want highlights, I can spend a few sunny days at the park with my kids and viola, it's highlighted. Along with that, no perms. I did get one previously. The look wasn't worth the damage it did to my hair.

Now, I've heard some interesting arguments for cutting my hair "you can just cut it shoulder length, that's still long." You have already heard my counter for that one. But my favorite is one I heard just yesterday. I was on the phone, discussing plans for an up-and-coming wedding, and the subject came around to hair styling. Now, I have my plans laid for my hair, subject to change and opinion after practice, a lace-french or dutch crown worn headband-style with the center of my hair done with accent braids, maybe some hair jewelery (butterflies or something, we'll see). I mentioned that I was practicing braiding french and crowns, and she said "If you are going to wear your hair up all the time, why not just cut it short?" My reaction was... HUH?!?!?!? So If I choose to wear different braids and up styles, which I have taken to both because I LOVE the look, and to avoid comments, I might as well cut it? Sorry, but that doesn't make much sense.

Now for those that are arguing about the TIME involved, let me run you some facts. Long hair SHOULDN'T be washed as often as medium to short hair is. I wash it about 1 time a week, condition 2-3 times, if you do it right, your hair isn't dirty/greasy. So that's some saved time. now for those that wash hair daily, and style in the latest fashions, a lot of you spend 15 or more minutes getting your shorter hair just so. For medium length, it may not take long, if you decide to do it wet-ish, but you are still limited, and I get bored with the same stuff day after day. Now, here's a run down of MY daily hair routine.

I brush it out thoroughly, maybe 2 minutes, max of 5 if it's tangled. I can do a variety of different buns, basic braids, french braids, dutch braids, and twists. very basic stuff takes less than 5 minutes. More fun stuff may take 10, and if it's a completely new look that I haven't researched, it can take long, but a new look that I've thoroughly researched and know HOW to do it, just have never APPLIED it, it may take 15. Some of my hair styles that I'm learning to do now the first go are longer, but they won't always be that long. So in 7-20 minutes, typically, I can do 1 of hundreds of looks that look age appropriate AND situation appropriate.

Take today. Today I decided to go simple and plain-ish. I brushed it out.. it wasn't tangled. I did a "modified' french twist... modified in that I twisted it from about the nap of my neck, to high-ish pony tail position, pinned it in place, and left the rest hanging is it looks like a flipped ponytail outwardly.Total time on hair- 5 minutes. I did do a good dose of hairspray so it lasts. I think I'll call it my french-twist pony. Oh, note to anyone who tries it, the do will settle down a bit it looks right at pony tail - height.

So here's my thing. If you like short hair, Good for you. If you are satisfied with your hair, good for you. If you like medium hair, good for you, if you like longer hair, Good for you. But people, if someone asks you how their hair looks, they are generally talking about the STYLE they are wearing, not LENGTH. Unless they say some variant of "how does long/short hair look on me" DON'T mention, hey, did you ever think of cutting your hair. It kind of gets ... yeah..That's like saying to someone who is pregnant "did you ever think about going on a diet?". Huh? I'm not fat. Huh, my hair doesn't need to be fixed, dope, leave me alone... Yea. That's what my 'rant' for today is. Let's play nice.