Eco-Friendly
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I've been fixated over the past week or so with these two websites:
SkinDeep (via the Environmental Working Group)
Body Unburdened
Being a mom, I'm obsessive compulsive about what things my child touches, eats, breaths, etc. Up until a week or so ago, it never dawned on me what other things she's exposed to.
The diaper cream we use to help soothe her, the baby soap we use to bathe her with, the candles I light to make our home smell good...and so on.
Also, a couple of years ago, I watched this documentary: Tapped
After watching, I was opposed to buying or using water bottles. However, I've neglected my vigilance on being anti-water bottles in the past month. With the move and using well water at our new home, the hubs purchased cases and cases of individual water bottles. Needless to say, once they're gone, they will not be allowed in our house again.
The baby only takes two to three bottles per-day now, so I'm going to invest in glass bottles. That's what today's Body Unburdened blog was about: End Your Relationship With Plastic.
Glass it is!
I made a couple of other smaller changes in our routine for now...
Purchased Tom's of Maine for myself and the hubs!
Most deodorants are "antiperspirants" and an active ingredient in them is aluminum (often in the compound form “aluminum chlorohdrate” or “aluminum zirconium”). There is a direct correlation to the use of antiperspirant and Alzheimer's disease...the more antiperspirant that was used, the more likely the person would develop the disease. Research is being done to find out if breast cancer is also linked to the use of aluminum. Body Unburdened gives good examples of other deodorants that are available. I got the lavender and he got the clean confidence! Ha!
One thing I LOVE about the SkinDeep site is that you can key in any product in the search field to find out information regarding your personal care items. They have over 62,000 items cataloged! It lets you be more informed on what you're bringing into your home and what ingredients are used. Common sense, the fewer number of ingredients, the better.
So we opted for California Baby which has a rating of 1 with 'limited' data...this is good. :)
I hope you choose to look into what things you're using in your home...what cleaning products you use, shampoo, etc. There's still so much research I feel like I need to do until I have a better handle on this. Don't get me started on what we're eating and the 2013 "dirty dozen" and "clean fifteen" list I just read about regarding produce in our grocery stores! I'll save that for another post!
Until next time...
The Big One
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I've been reliving this time last year over and over in my head. "Ok, so this was about the time I started having contractions." ... "Around now was when I was admitted." ... "Remember the nurse told us 'Doc said we can have a baby today.'" ?!?!
Time really does fly. I remember the day she arrived like it was yesterday though. I never want to forget it. When we went to the hospital a year ago, we thought for sure we'd be sent home...it was 8 days before my due date. But sure enough, little C-Bear wanted to join the world!
What a year it has been! Filled with laughter, tears, smiles, sleepless nights, hugs, snuggles, struggles, kisses...an awesome year! I am beyond blessed to call this little girl my daughter. Beyond blessed to share her with her amazing daddy. Beyond blessed to raise her up to love Jesus.
C-Bear's big hoopla party first birthday extravaganza is this weekend. Praying for no rain but the forecast calls for it. This is Ohio though, so we'll see. The three of us are celebrating today with a picnic in the park!
Happy first birthday, Cookie! Mommy loves you!
Gah! Check out Crystal Jo Foto's blog today! Thanks for the birthday post, Miss Crystal Jo!
I'm obsessed with the above photo from her one year photo shoot with Crystal Jo Foto! Ahh!
Life is Too Short
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“Life is too short for half-hearted connections and meaningless run-throughs.”
-Karen Kingsbury
"Life is too short to be anything but real with the cast of characters God has placed in the story of your life. Love well, laugh often, and find your life in Christ. Don't hide away or be a follower. Be the wonderful unique person God made you to be, and know that your purpose will always be best when defined by your faith in Him."
-Karen Kingsbury
Our House
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A lot of sweat, tears, money, creativity, etc.; went into this little place. We purchased it from an 80+ year old lady who was living on her own & couldn't manage it. As you could imagine, certain things hadn't been touched in a couple years.
It was built in the 50's. The location is perfect, just down the street from a church. Great neighbors. We remodeled the bathroom, re-did the hardwood floors, laid white base boards throughout the house, renovated the kitchen, put in new windows, painted the exterior of the house...the list goes on.
All of that, included with the fact that my baby is eleven months young today...is making me a mess today.
Here is our little gem:
Here is what we get to put our own stamp on in just a week & a half:
More space so we can (Lord willing), have a bigger family.
From the outside, our new house looks great, right?! It is in need of a lot of TLC. The windows are original & will need replaced. The electrical is bad (BAD). The carpet in the entire house is being replaced...they have two cats, two dogs & are smokers. Siding & a window needs fixed from a sketchy DIY reno they tried...the window is shattered. Let's leave it at that. We're having duct work done next week...again, animals & cigarette smoke are not the greatest combo. BUT because this home was in such poor condition, is what made it feasible for us to purchase.
I will most definitely take photos of before & after shots. I'm excited about getting my hands on this place but nervous because it is a lot of house! It's more than twice the size of where we are now. And when we remodeled our current home...we didn't have a baby!
Wish us luck! I hope to write more later but know that I'll be doing fun house stuff...cleaning, packing, moving, painting...wohoo!
This Past Week
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As I previously mentioned, I congratulated a group of students who were being inducted into the NHS & NJHS within my school district. It was such an honor. I think my presentation went over well...even if I did talk a little quicker than I had liked because I was a tiny bit nervous. Ugh. It was great to meet students afterward who wanted to get a photo with me...me! Haha. Haven't felt that "popular" for four years or so! Little did they know, I'm an old has-been, working wife & mother! The ONLY photo I took that night is this one:
This is a story I read to them, which I heard resounded with quite a few:
I Am Your Attitude, by Tiffany Bradley
I can be kind and positive, I can be nasty and negative, I can make a heart or break a heart, I can make you cry or feel ashamed, I can be tolerated if I am good.
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
I can make you look bad, I can stop you from receiving things you want, like a job, a loan, a scholarship, even friends. I can make you look pretty; I can get you things that you never thought you could ever have.
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
I can make you loved. I can make you hated, it's all in your approach, I can start you off good, and finish you off great. I can make the man say "I loved him, he was great, we'll accept him to our school." Or "thank you, we'll hire you." I can even get you denied or fired, it's all up to you.
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
I can give you potential, I can get you ahead, I can make your day or I can destroy your day!
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
I come in many different languages, vogues, preppy, or plain; I am a reaction, a defense, an opinion, a charm, a characterization, and a first impression!
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
With all the many places I've been, and all the people that I've come across, I always manage to be the star that shines the most. I'm always the one to stand out before every other. I'm always the first thing noticed!
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
I can be kind and positive. I can be nasty and negative; It's all up to you and your approach on life. I am all these things above and more, but it's up to you to decide on how to manage me!
I AM YOUR ATTITUDE!
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I got back home last night, just in time to put my baby girl to bed! I was in Mansfield all day yesterday where I served on the judges panel for the "Miss Ohio Sweeps" competition. Miss Ohio Sweeps is one final opportunity for young women to compete for a scholarship & a spot on the Miss Ohio 2013 stage this June!
There were 18 incredible young ladies I got to meet yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised with each and every one. I was super excited & nervous for this opportunity, having never judged a MAO local. I have judged in other local systems, but this was a whole different ballgame for me...& I loved it!
Here are some photos from my day yesterday...
With the beautiful Elissa McCracken, Miss Ohio 2012.
With the sweet Cecili Weber, Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen & newly crowned Miss Capital City.
Be blessed!
Oh, Tuesday
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It's Tuesday. Oh Tuesday. Tuesday's are good for me. I have time to actually shower in the morning because the hubs is still at home. So Tuesday...I thank you for allowing me to sleep in. Wash my hair. Put some makeup on. Or...should I thank baby girl for that?! ;)
I did take extra time this morning to prepare for a presentation I will be giving this evening to the South Western City Schools National Junior Honor Society award and scholarship recipients! I was asked to be the guest speaker a few weeks ago and I'm very honored. I'm excited to congratulate these teenagers in their efforts to have good character and change our world!
I haven't presented in front of such a large group in at least a year! Since before baby, I'm sure. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited to have the opportunity to empower the young people in my community.
I'm also extremely excited about an event happening this weekend...it's a FIRST for me. I'm not sure if I can share, so to be safe; I'll wait until after! But I'm so geeked about it. :) Sorry no photos for this post. I will share some next week after these two events.
OH...and we sold our house all ready! God is SO SO SSOOO good! I don't want any "haters" but it was on the market less than THREE days when we got TWO offers! Wohoo! We will be moving mid-April! So...I don't know how much time I'll have to blog but I will try. My posts have all ready been very scarce.
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If you're on Facebook...there's a "Miss America Class Updates" page that has an album with photos from the 2013 Miss America Homecoming in New York this past weekend. I know Miss Ohio 2004, Amanda Beagle was in attendance!
MAOT & MA (photo from MA Class Updates on Facebook)
Items for Sale
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We began looking at options for our "forever" home in December. With every intention to take the next year and get our home ready to put on the market and save money. What do ya know...we found a house we will be putting an offer on TOMORROW!
With that said, I am (again) selling LOTS of items. If they don't find a good home, I will likely donate to the Salvation Army of Central Ohio again. The listings on Craigslist are at the bottom of this post.
Please email me if you're interested! Thanks!
Grey Tahari: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3640063093.html
Houndstooth jacket: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3640071619.html
Ruffle blouse: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3640079124.html
Cocktail dress: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3576269991.html
Black cocktail: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3576276857.html
Black with pink: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3576267292.html
Gold shoes: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3576281481.html
White shoes: http://columbus.craigslist.org/clo/3576284510.html
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