Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense

Holiday Grand Plan - Week Seven

>> Sunday, October 11, 2009

Photo from puttytat's photostream on Flickr

Here we are starting off week seven already. How was your week last week? Did you get as much done as you had hoped? I did a little better this past week. Didn't get everything done on my list but that's OK. I got a lot done, and the house is getting there. One thing I didn't get done last week was my fall/Thanksgiving decorating. The kids haven't said anything about it so I don't feel too horrible. But I am determined to get the stuff out this week and decorate for Halloween. I am going to do it. I love decorating but the box is at the back of the storage cabinet and I am dreading digging it out - that's why it isn't done yet. This week I will do it though. The kids will be glad I'm sure, since they are starting to see other houses start to get decorated.

Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving. This year is the first year ever that it will be just us. I am really looking forward to a nice, relaxing day. No pressure to cook and make sure the house stays clean for company. Just going to enjoy the day and cook a Turkey. Whenever everything is done we will eat. Should be a nice day. Check back tomorrow to see what we are having. :)

The Holiday Grand Plan focus for this week is on the Guest Bedroom. I don't have one of those so I will not be doing that room. I'll be working on Flylady zone 3.

My goals for the week are:

*Holiday Prep*

Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.
Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.
Buy two canned food items from menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive).
Buy 1/8th of TO BUY gifts. Save all receipts, note return policy before buying. Ask for gift boxes
Wrap and label packages. If needing to ship, get some shipping boxes now and store packages in them.
Work at least 1 hour a day on homemade gifts.
Decorate for Halloween.

*Chores - Flylady zone 3, for me that is the Bathroom & Bean's room *
     1. Bathroom
          - Wash rug, linens & shower curtain
          - Wash walls
          - Dust vents & fan
          - Wash light fixtures
          - Clean window, windowsill & screen
          - Scrub tub, toilet, sink & counter
          - Clean & organize cabinets and drawers
          - Empty & wash trash can
          - Sweep & mop floor

      2. Bean's Bedroom
          - Wash walls
          - Wash curtains & blinds
          - Wash light fixtures
          - Clean windows, windowsills & screen
          - Wash bedding & pillows
          - Vacuum & flip mattress
          - Straighten drawers & closet
          - Dust furniture
          - Clean under bed
          - Sweep & mop floor

Hopefully I am able to get a lot of this accomplished. I'm thinking if I can get the bathroom done during the week, then on Saturday Bean and I can work together and get her room shiny.

What are your holiday prep plans for this week?
Are you starting to feel more relaxed about the up coming holidays?

Be sure to stop over and see how my friends who are also doing the Holiday Grand Plan are making out with their goals.
Candace at Diary of a FlyBaby
Diane at DianeDenmark {Recipe for Christmas Cake to bake next weekend}
Pippa at A Mother's Ramblings

My List of Breastfeeding Books for World Breastfeeding Week

>> Thursday, October 8, 2009

Photo from Jellywatson's flickr photostream

This week is World Breastfeeding Week in Canada. I thought in order to have a little celebration on my blog for it, I would give you a list of a few books that I think are great resources for breastfeeding. I will include books that are great for the new mom to read while pregnant and to reference with questions after the new baby arrives. I'm also going to include some books that would be nice to read to siblings before the new baby comes, especially if they have never seen mom nurse a baby before.

Breastfeeding Books for Mom (and dad too!):

First up is Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding. I feel this book should be required reading for all pregnant women. Not only does he give fantastic breastfeeding advice, but he also covers the dangers of formula feeding. He gives you the facts about formula so at least if you decided you don't want to breastfeed you will be making an informed decision. When it comes to breastfeeding he takes you through just about any problem that you might encounter and helps you through it. When I read this book while I was still pregnant with my youngest, for the first time I felt I could actually breastfeed and succeed at it. I've been breastfeeding him for 18 months now, and I definitely credit this book.
Dr. Newman also has a website that you can reference for great advice even if you don't own the book. He has videos on the website that can really help if you are struggling with a proper latch as well.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from La Leche League International was the first book I ever read regarding breastfeeding. When I was pregnant with my first child my mom gave me her copy to read. A lot has changed in the book from then until now (like no longer are they telling you to toughen up your nipples with a towel) but a lot is just the same as it was then. From this book I learned the most important advice any new mom can learn - rest, breastfeed and rest. Don't try to do it all. This is really important in those early days as doing too much can really have effect on your supply. I feel this is also a great book for dad's to read. They will learn a lot about what they can do to participate in the breastfeeding relationship and they will also learn how to be a good support to his wife when she is breastfeeding and things he can do to make it a little easier on mom.

Breastfeeding Made Simple was recommend to me by my public health nurse, who came to visit and help me often. Those first few weeks after I had my youngest were so hard. It seemed like if there was a problem we were going to go through it. On one of her visits she suggested I read this book because it really explained the reasons some things happened. Once I understood why some things were happening I was able to fix them or if it was a good thing I knew to keep doing what I was doing. It was a great book and it really helped to have a simple resource on hand when my hands were full of baby.
Breastfeeding Made Simple also has a website you can check out to see if you would be interested in purchasing the book and you can find some great information right on the site if you need help today.

Books About Breastfeeding for Children:

This book is written from the perspective of a nursing toddler. It's a nice sized board book with 24 pages. It's not a very pretty book but it's a great book for the young one that isn't ready for paper pages yet. I think it's a nice book if you are having a baby and you have a toddler that has never seen you breastfeed before.

This is a really sweet book that shows a mom nursing her baby in bed, in a park and it also shows baby wearing. It also shows animals nursing their babies. Just a nice book to show how natural nursing is for everyone!

So those are my books that I think are good to have at home if you are going to be nursing a baby now or in the future. What books do you think are helpful to other mom's that are going to breastfeed?

Wordless Wednesday - World Breastfeeding Week

>> Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Cupcakes I made for World Breastfeeding Week, but also work for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Wordless Wednesday is sponsored by GeneaBloggers,
but the main site for WW entries is here.

Crafty Tuesday - Halloween Pencil Holders

>> Tuesday, October 6, 2009

It's Crafty Tuesday again! Have you done any crafting this week? I decided to do a Halloween craft this week. I wanted to do a craft for Thanksgiving but I couldn't think of something...yet. Might try working on something this week for Monday (our Thanksgiving) and then tell you about it next week.

This week I made a Halloween Pencil Holder. I thought this might be great for my daughter's class. Something other than the usual candy treats she'll end up bringing home. I only made one today to see if she likes it. I may try making a couple different things and then let her pick. Also need to see if my son, who is in grade 7 this year wants to take anything in to school. He may be past doing that but I should still ask him.

What you will need:

Paper cutter
Scissors
Adhesive
Stampin' Up!® Scallop Circle Punch
Stampin' Up!® 1 3/8" Circle Punch
Stampin' Up!® Batty For You stamp set
Stampin' Up!® Basic Black stamp pad
1 Sheet Stampin' Up!® Pumpkin Pie Cardstock (8 1/2x11)
1 Sheet Stampin' Up!® Basic Black Cardstock (8 1/2x11)
1 Sheet Stampin' Up!® Whisper White Cardstock (8 1/2x11)
1 Sheet Stampin' Up!® Ghostly Greetings DSP (12x12)

What you need to do:

Cut your Pumpkin Pie cardstock so it measures 6 3/8" x 3 5/8".
Turn your paper long ways (so it is tall) and score it at the following intervals: 3/8", 1 5/8", 2", 3 1/4". Then turn the paper 90 degrees (so it is wide) and score just one end at 3/8".
On the end that you just scored, make a cut on each of the score lines. You can cut off one of the little tabs at either end if you want to.
Fold on the score lines and then apply your adhesive and attach. You now have your pencil holder. Now let's decorate!
Cut a piece of your designer paper to measure 3 5/8" x 1 1/2" and attach to the top of your box.
Use your scallop circle punch on the Basic Black card stock
Using your Basic Black ink, ink up one of the stamps from the Batty for You set and stamp it on the Whisper White Cardstock. Let dry.
Use your circle punch and punch out your stamped image.
Use your adhesive and apply your stamped image to the black scalloped circle. Apply adhesive to the back of the scallop and attach it to your pencil box.
Put your pencils inside!

Hope you liked this week's craft & don't forget to come by next week to see what we'll be making. Now go have fun and get crafty!

For a picture tutorial on how to make the pencil holders check out Laurie's site Just Give Me Stamps.

For more Crafty Tuesday ideas:
Diane at DianeDenmark - Halloween 2