Summerstead

Board and Batten Coat Hooks

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:00 +0000

My husband informed me that he wants a coat rack by the front door. A free standing coat rack. I nearly laughed in his face.

A free standing coat rack? In our house? He clearly forgot who he's living with. It would be used not only for hanging our coats and hats, but also as a toy, a weapon, and it'd be the perfect sized chew toy for Bernie (our St. Bernard, whose real name is Odin). I imagine that a few windows would be taken out, and our interior walls would have a few windows put in.

Before he could go pick out something horrendous, I got busy and made this:

First, I marked off the area where I wanted the B&B, and painted the wall in that area.

The wood was VERY hard, so I pre-drilled the holes. Since I was using finishing nails to attach the 1/2 x 2s, I drilled 3 tiny holes in each board. On the 1/2 x 4, I laid out the hooks where I wanted them, and marked the screw holes to attach the hooks to the wood. After drilling those holes, and using the hooks as a guide, I drilled a 3rd hole centered below each set of the hooks' holes.

I measured 4 feet up from the top of the baseboards, centered, and leveled the 1/2 x 4, and screwed it into place. On each end, I attached the rosettes. I know I should have used finishing nails on those, but I didn't. I was worried about being able to see the nails too well, so I used carpet tape!

I then nailed one 1/2 x 2 on each end, just under the rosettes.

With the third, I centered it under where the middle hook was going to go, and put it there. I screwed in the hooks, and I was done!

Sources, Costs, & Notes:
1/2 x 4 (3 feet long) - Menards, $3
1/2 x 2 (4 feet long) - Menards, $3 each
3-1/2 Rosettes - Menards $3 each
Hooks - Walmart, $2.27 each
Paint Color - Muslin by Color Place (Light Base, Formula: C-2, T-4, L-8)

You could easily make this cheaper. The wood I used was a higher grade and well sanded wood because they had it in the perfect size that I was looking for when doing this small project. If I had done a larger area, I would have used either MDF or lower quality 1x4s and 1x2s. Also, the only rosettes available in the size I needed were in wood. MDF versions are cheaper.

Grab-N-Go Cereal

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:32:00 +0000

We throw away sooooooo much cereal. Every single day, at least 1/2 - 1 Cup of cereal gets thrown away. It drives me nuts! The boys tend to fill their bowls so full of cereal that there's hardly any room for milk! My constant nagging of, "Start out with just a little - you can always get a little more" hasn't gotten through their thick skulls, so I've been tempted to just stop buying cereal all together.

This morning, Awesome asked me to explain the nutrition facts to him. As I was explaining everything, an idea came to me, and as soon as the boys were dropped off at the bus, I got busy.

I poured 1 cup of cereal into Snack Size Ziploc bags, and put them in a basket (big thanks to my grandma for her ca-ra-zay basket collection!).

Now, the boys can just grab a baggie with the right amount of cereal for their bowls, and if we all oversleep (it has happened, and more than I'd like to admit!), they can just grab a baggie on the way out the door!

Love Letters

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:25:00 +0000

All last week, Kindra hosted her 2nd annual Be Mine Bonanza. If you missed it, you really should check it out! It was seven days of talented ladies showing off some wonderful Valentine's Day inspired crafts. Tuesday was my turn to show off what I made. Focusing more on the romance of Valentine's Day, this is what I came up with...

Last year, I showed you how to make some pillow forms and pillow covers. This time, I decided to do something a little different. Thinking of the kinds of things I love (simplicity, all things vintage, history) and things that I don't particularly care for (lots of heartsy stuff), I came up with some wall art that is inspired by old letters, including a letter my great-grandpa wrote to my great-grandma during WWI.

Today, I'm going to show you how I created both versions above.

For the one on the left, you will need:

12x12 Scrapbooking Frame

12x12 Scrapbooking Paper

8x11 Scrapbooking Paper or Printer Paper

Tape

Xacto Knife & self healing mat

Ruler

Pencil

Printer

Embellishments

First, if your frame is black (like mine), but you want it a different color (like I did), just spray paint it. Decide on a poem or song that you like. I chose Etta James' "At Last" because that was the first song my husband and I danced to. Below, you'll find some links to PDF's for At Last, What A Wonderful World, I'll Be Seeing You, It Had To Be You, As Time Goes By, and It's Been A Long Long Time. Or type and print your own (font and template info found below). I printed mine on some textured card stock, and I love the way it turned out.

Take your 12x12 scrapbooking paper, measure and mark lines 2-3 inches from each side. I did mine at 2 inches, but I wish I would have gone with 2.5 or 3 inches.

I apologize for the poor quality photo - not a good day for taking pictures!

With your Xacto knife (or scissors), cut the middle out. Take your printed song, center it (it's okay if the words on the edges don't completely show), and tape it in place. If you have a little bit hanging over the bottom, just cut it off. Add any embellishments, attach your paper to the frame backing, and pop it all into the frame.

For the frame on the right, you will need:

11x14 frame with 8x10 mat

18" Baker's twine

Heat & Bond

Fabric

Paper, ruler, scissors, and pencil for making template

First, you will need to pick out your song that you want, then print and frame it like you would a picture. I printed mine on plain white cardstock.

Now, the no-sew mini bunting. Cut a piece of paper at 1x3 inches. Then, mark the half way points on each side, and draw a diamond shape using the halfway marks as a guide, and cut the diamond out.

Next, cut (5) 1x3 strips of Heat & Bond. Iron the shiny/non-papery side of the Heat & Bond strips to the wrong side of your fabric(s) and cut them out.

Then, trace the diamond onto the papery-side of the Heat & Bond, and cut out your shapes. If you want scalloped edges like mine, you'll need to use pinking shears or a pinking rotary blade. With wrong sides together, fold your fabric diamonds in half, and iron the bottom half. Slip on to your baker's twine, and iron the rest. I spaced my mini pennants about 1/2 inch apart. Since the bunting is light enough, you can just tape it to the back of your frame.

I've already printed out the lyrics to some of my (and my family's) favorite songs that I plan to periodically switch out. I'll also change the background & embellishments in the first frame, and the bunting on the second one to fit the song and/or season!

Sources, Costs, and Notes:

For the printed song in the first frame, I used the "Justify" alignment, and knocked the margins down to .5. You may also have to adjust the header and footer (I set mine at .3)

Font - Jane Austen, free from dafont.com

12x12 Frame - Hobby Lobby, $19.99

12x12 Paper - Hobby Lobby, 59¢

8x11 Paper - Hobby Lobby, 39¢

11x14 Frame with mat - Walmart, $14

Baker's Twine - Bella Creationz, $8.95/160 yards

Fabric - my personal stash

Heat & Bond - Hobby Lobby, about $3/yard, I think
At Last - Vertical Horizontal
What A Wonderful World - Vertical Horizontal
I'll Be Seeing You - Vertical Horizontal
It Had To Be You - Vertical Horizontal
As Time Goes By - Vertical Horizontal
It's Been A Long, Long Time - Vertical Horizontal

Thanks again, Kindra for hosting this event, and inviting me to be a part of it! And, thanks to all of you for checking out this lil tutorial o' mine!

Guess Where I Am

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:07:00 +0000

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm hanging out over at Kindra's today, sharing with everyone how I made these:

Come on over and say "HI!" While you're there, prepare to be inspired by all of this year's participants!

Be Mine Bonanza

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Oh, my! Things have been ca-ra-zy around here! So much to do, with almost no time to do it. Have you ever had one of those days where it feels like every time you turn around, you have another thing piled on your plate? That's been the last few months for me.

A big thanks to all of you who emailed to let me know my feedburner sign up wasn't working. I think it's fixed, now, and I signed up those of you who sent me emails asking me to do so. You should have received an email authorizing your subscription (or should receive one soon).

Between my plate being piled up through the roof, and trying to fix this whole feedburner thing, I have dropped the ball, and almost forgot to let you all know about a great event going on this week. It's Kindra's 2nd Annual Be Mine Bonanza!

It started yesterday with Kindra's tutorial for some great Sweetheart Ornaments. I'm thinking it's time to dig out my mirror spray paint and some spare frames, and dig through my craft supplies to see if I have any little mirrors in my stash!

Today, Christina shared how she made an adorable Throw Pillow. Considering my ongoing addiction to cute pillows, I probably should have bypassed this post. As it is, I'll be going through my fabrics today, and since I won't be able to decide on just one, there's a good chance that my mom, sis-in-law, and nieces will also be finding a version of this pillow in their homes/rooms!

Tomorrow is my turn (so be sure to check it out!), and the rest of the week looks a little like this:

Wednesday - Tiffany

Thursday - Sarah

Friday - Michelle

Saturday - Gwen

I have never really decorated for Valentine's Day because I'm not too big on the hearts-y, pastel-y stuff, but the tutorials that were posted during last year's Be Mine Bonanza have not only inspired me, but they've made me look forward to decorating for Valentine's Day! I can't wait to see what the rest of this week brings!

What's for Dinner?

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Every weekday, between 4:00-5:30, I hear "What's for dinner?" at least 6 times (more on weekends). Keep in mind there are only 4 of us who live here, and I almost never have to ask myself this question. So, yeah. Because everybody thinks they're starving all the time, and nobody listens, I have to answer the same question a minimum of half a dozen times in an hour. I'm hoping that since we can all read, I will not longer have to answer, "What's for Dinner?" Instead, I'll get a workout as I constantly point to our new menu board!

I used the same, super easy method that I used for my Perpetual Calendar and the boys' Chore Charts.

Supplies Needed:
10x13 Frame
2 sheets 12x12 scrapbooking paper
Printer & Printer paper
Scissors
Dry Erase Marker
Glue/Double stick tape
Regular scotch tape
Ruler & pencil (or paper cutter with ruler if you have one)

Cut the "header" paper (the green paper I used behind the M-E-N-U letters) so that it measures 3 x 10 inches.

Cut the body paper so that it measures 10 x 10½ inches.

Print and cut your letters.

Take the back off your frame, and lay your body paper in the frame so it butts up against the bottom. Then lay the header paper in so it butts up against the top of the frame. Tape the 2 pieces of paper together where they overlap. Mine overlapped about ½ an inch.

Take the papers out of the frame, and attach your letters. Pop it back in the frame, attach the back of the frame, and you're done!

Sources, Notes, & Costs:
Frame - Walmart, $5
Scrapbooking Paper - Hobby Lobby 59¢ each (I got them on sale for 1/2 off)

To download and print a PDF with the letters I used, click here. The smaller letters are 1 inch circles, so if you have a punch that size, it'll make it go a lot faster!

**I think I fixed the PDF link so you don't have to log in or create an account in order to be able to us it. Sorry for the inconvenience!**

Simple Tree Skirt Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:14:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is only days away, which means Christmas is right around the corner! Every year, I go in search of the perfect tree skirt for our tree. I want something pretty, but really busy, and I want it to be reasonably priced. I've never been able to find a tree skirt that fit all three criteria, so I decided to make my own.

*I have actually added a really cute pleated trim since this picture was taken. I'll get a new picture taken soon. It just adds an extra bit of prettiness!*

This tutorial is for a tree skirt that measures about 36” in diameter. For mine, I decided to use only a single layer of fabric, but I’ll include instructions for a skirt with a top, batting, and underside.

Materials:
1 1/8 - 2¼ yards fabric, pre-washed
If you want a different fabric for the top and bottom of the skirt, you’ll need about 1 1/8 yards of each fabric.
1 Fat Quarter, pre-washed OR 3½ yards bias tape
Coordinating Thread
Batting (optional)
Pencil
String
Ruler & Yard stick

Instructions:
1. Fold your fabric in half, right sides together. Then fold in half again.

2. From the folded corner, measure out 18” along each side, and a few spots between the two sides. Make a mark at each spot.

3. Tie your string to your pencil. Place your pencil on one of your marks, then pull the string to the corner.
Hold the string in the corner while you draw the lines from dot to dot. I found it is easier to make short dashes instead of one long line.

4. Cut along your line through all four layers.

5. We have an artificial tree, so my inner circle is only 1¼” diameter. (If you have a real tree, you will want to make yours larger. Just measure the diameter of your trunk and divide that in half to figure how far from the corner you need to measure for the inner circle.) From the corner, measure out about ¾” and make your marks.

6. Draw your lines to connect the dots.

7. Cut out the inner circle, then unfold your skirt half way.

8. Slip your scissors between the two layers, and cut along one folded edge from the outside to the inner circle.

9. If you want to add any kind of embellishments, appliqués, reverse appliqués, etc to the top of your skirt, now is the time to do it.

If you’re just doing a single layer, skip to #12.

10. This is a quick and easy way to cut the batting (you can also use old towels, mattress pads, etc) and backing fabric. Lay the backing fabric right side down. Layer the batting and top of tree skirt, and pin together.

11. Using the skirt top as your pattern, simply cut around it through the batting and backing fabric.

You can go here to find a tutorial I posted a while back on how to get several yards of bias tape from just one fat quarter.

12. Once you have your bias tape ready, all you have to do is sew it along the rough edges, and you’re done!

Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Thank you, Veterans.

Your courage, strength, and sacrifice mean more than you will ever know.

Day 31 - A Thought to Ponder

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:30:00 +0000

"You have to make peace with yourself.

The key is to find the harmony in what you have."

Naomi Watts

Day 30 - The 5 Languages

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:12:00 +0000

I have a niece who is somewhat challenging. She is extremely smart (maybe too smart) and can be very stubborn. And, she can throw a fit like none I've ever seen before. Don't get me wrong, I love her dearly. She's sweet, fun, spunky, and awesomely hilarious. But, when she gets in one of her moods, it's sometimes best to just duck and take cover.

In an effort to try to create a more peaceful environment, my brother did one of the things he does best. Research. He came across some books to help better understand your family. They're called "The 5 Love Languages". There are several books including ones for couples, apologies, children, and parents of teenagers.

The 5 languages are: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, and Acts of Service. Everybody needs to receive a little of each, but after taking a quiz, you'll find out which two are the most important to you. Those two are the languages that you need to "hear" the most from those around you.

The books go into more depth about everything, but you can take the quizzes here for free! We haven't read the books, but the boys, hubby, and I have all taken the online quizzes, and we're so glad we did. People tend to do for others what they want done for them. Different people have different needs, though, and these quizzes will help you find what your loved ones need from you.

I can tell you that since we took these quizzes, we have been able to create a much more harmonious family dynamic.

Day 29 - Make Memories

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Not so long ago, the boys and I had a wonderful conversation that nearly brought me to tears. They had gotten together, and decided to sit me down for a talk. The way that day had been going, I was expecting them to tell me something that would give me more stress.

They looked so serious when we sat down at the table to talk. Then, they told me how much they appreciate the memories I help make for them. They love that I went to their scout camps with them this summer, and they love it when I take them to the local museum and the living history museum about 45 minutes away (buying a membership for one also gives you a membership for the other - probably the best $45 we spend every year). They enjoy the picnics we take and the games we play.

Making memories with and for your kids isn't difficult at all, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Kids just want to spend time with their parents. If you're at a loss for ideas, just think back to when you were a kid, and try to do the things you remember. Don't get stressed out, and don't try to make everything just perfect. Learn to laugh when things don't go as planned (like when you get the plates and food all set out for a picnic, and the sky that had been perfectly clear all day decides to open the flood gates), and let the kids help make the plans.

Day 28 - Soak It All In

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:16:00 +0000

One of the best pieces of advice I received when I got marries was to take just a couple of minutes for yourself, and just look around and soak it all in.

Every once in a while, I still do that. I'd love to remind myself every day how lucky I am, but I get busy, so I it's not often that I have a chance and remember to take a few moments to really soak it all in. "It" is my life.

We're not rich, and we have our fair share of struggles, but my husband and I are able to provide our boys with a warm bed at night and we can keep food on the table. While Bug and Awesome don't get everything on their Birthday and Christmas lists, they do get enough to make them feel as though it was a good Birthday or Christmas, by 7- and 10-year-old standards.

We're luckier than a lot of people, and it's important that we all know and appreciate this little fact. The important thin is that we're happy. And, it makes me especially happy when I catch my husband or one of the boys just sitting back and soaking it all in.

Day 27 - Know Your Limitations

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:27:00 +0000

I had all but 1 day of my 31 Days planned, and at least most of those posts written (or at least started). Except today.

Last Friday and Saturday were the dates for a local Haunted House. My sis-in-law is part of the town's improvement committee, and since we did such an AWESOME job for Bug's Halloween themed 7th birthday party (including a haunted house we set up in 1 day in a small conference room), she was asked, about 4 years ago, to plan one as a fundraiser.

We get to use an old 100+ year old school whose last classes were held in 2006-2007. The first year, we used the basement, but we now use the upstairs area that includes a couple of classrooms, a gym, and a stage (and a few long hallways).

I usually have a role in our haunted house (I missed one year due to migraines), and we have a blast. Each year gets better and better, even though attendance was down a little this year. Usually the farmers are finishing up the harvesting season by now. This year, they're right in the middle of it. People have also finally realized that we don't tolerate rude and disorderly drunks, which has also cut down a little on the attendance. I think this is the first year we haven't had to kick anybody out! Yay!

Jigglypuff Snugglypoops (left) has been our fearless leader the last 2 years. He's played by my rock star nephew, Holden. He's incredibly witty and hilarious, which makes it hard for us to keep a straight face when we're trying to scare people! Jigglypuff Snugglypoops (or "Killer" for short) leads our guests through their worst nightmares (and an UBER AWESOME vortex - I'll have to see if I have video of it somewhere, it's soooo cool!) so they don't get lost. This year, we also had Bongina (right) bringing up the rear. No matter how hard Killer tries to keep the groups together, there are always stragglers, so we have found that it's best to have someone follow behind. Bongina was created and played by J's fearless uncle Mike.

The HH ran Friday and Saturday night from 8 to midnight both nights. When we say 8-midnight, it means that as long as people get their names on the list before midnight, they get to come through. This means that we end up running till 1 or 2am. And, after visiting with the other haunters and munching away on soups, crackers, candy, and cookies, you don't get home till at least an hour after the last group of hauntees comes through.

If you're like me, and are usually in bed and asleep by 10pm most nights, this will kick your butt. For a week. I'm still recovering, which means the housework has been suffering a little. So, yeah. I'm definitely learning what my limitations are. But, I do think that a one week hangover is definitely a worthy price to pay for being able to scare the bejeezus out of people!

Day 26 - Go Off The Grid

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:10:00 +0000

Several years ago, I believe it was 2005-2006, we had an ice storm. It was baaaad. While the town 15 miles away got some ice, they didn't get what we did. We lost power for several days. I would have loved to take my family into town to stay at my uncle's house, but it was impossible to get there. We barely made it to the in-laws' house 5 miles away.

Why did we leave the safety and coldness of our own home? Because they had an attached garage, and a wood stove in that garage. There were 11 of us living in a 2-bedroom house for about 3 days (my sis-in-law & her family were there, too). That 5 mile drive was one of the longest and scariest drives of my life. The road was covered in ice, so we didn't dare go any faster than about 20 miles/hour. And, as if the ice wasn't bad enough, the phone/electric poles had snapped in half, so we were also trying to avoid the poles and lines on the road.

Even though almost all of us have gas heating, our thermostats are electric. Jeremy, the boys, and I slept, huddled together, under a pile of blankets, in two twin beds pushed together, and we were still cold. I don't think it ever got above 0 degrees the entire time we were at the in-laws'.

My father-in-law & oldest nephew slept out in the garage to keep the wood stove loaded. It helped a bit, especially when they got the garage up to 105 degrees!

We spent our 2005-2006 New Year's Eve in the garage, and we all went to bed by 9:00, because we got bored! That made me realize how much we depend on electronics to entertain us. Don't get me wrong. I love the internet, Netflix, and my ipod, but we learned some valuable lessons.

Despite the cold, the boys had a blast. Well, Bug did. Awesome was only 20 months old at the time. He seemed to have a fun time, though! We all dug out our cast iron pots & pans so we could cook on the wood stove in the garage. I think we ate better during that ice storm than we had in a long time. When you cook with cast iron, you have no choice but to cook with real food! We played several board games, and spent a lot of time just chatting and hanging out.

Since then, J, the boys, and I try going off the grid one or two evenings a month. All electricity (except what is needed for heating and cooling) is shut off. When it gets dark, we light candles, and we just hang out. We do what we did during that storm. Just play games and hang out. Sometimes, I teach Bug & Awesome a simple song on the piano, too. It's just a good time, and it really helps us reconnect and grow as a family.

Going off the grid is not only beneficial to the environment, but it is a great way to recharge our family.

*I took several pictures during that ice storm, but I'm not sure if I have any on a CD. I'll look, and will upload any if I can find them.

Day 25 - The End

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:04:00 +0000

The End by Pearl Jam

Day 24 - A Thought To Ponder

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:13:00 +0000

"Harmony makes small things grow,
lack of it makes great things decay. "
Sallust

Day 23 - Time

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:50:00 +0000

After two super late nights of scaring the crapola out of people, my brain is a little tired/fried. I thought I had today's post all planned out, but I can't seem to remember a single thing. Instead, I'll share with you one of my favorite quotes.

via Pinterest

And then one day you find

Ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run

You missed the starting gun.

From Time by Pink Floyd

Day 22 - Granola or not?

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Not sure why, but it seems that as soon as people find out you're pregnant, they feel as though they can try to run your life. Even complete strangers will tell you what to do, how to do it, and only a horrible mother wouldn't follow their advice. Some super granola people get vicious, and I wasn't prepared for some of their comments. Lucky for me, I have an awesome mom, and she convinced me that I had no reason to feel guilty.

When the boys were babies, I was all about ease and convenience. Looking back now, I would change a few things.

Breastfeeding - I didn't do this. I bottle fed both Bug and Awesome, and nothing short of a life-and-death situation could make me change my mind. I am not comfortable with breastfeeding, and I didn't want my baby misinterpreting my unease. It appears that many pro-booby fans seem to think that those of us who bottle feed just toss a bottle in our baby's mouth and disappear. That's not the case. I held my boys while I fed them, and I could look in their eyes just as well as a booby mom.

Cloth Diapers - Absolutely not. Wet diapers would be okay. Poopy ones would probably just get thrown out.

Baby Wearing - I honestly didn't know about this until Awesome was too big. If I had known about slings and such when the boys were babies, I totally would have "worn" my baby. Maybe not to the bathroom or while driving (yes, I have seen this), but I would have worn the boys around the house, or used a sling in place of a stroller sometimes.

Elimination Communication - I know that some people swear by this, but I just find this idea a bit silly. I think it's the parents that get trained, not the baby.

Homemade Baby Food - This is one thing that I wish I would have done. It's much cheaper and healthier than buying baby food.

I started out not being a granola mom at all. If I had a baby now, I'd be semi-granola. Whether or not you were/are a granola mom, don't let anybody make you feel guilty about your choices. You make your decisions based on what you are comfortable with. If you try to do what everyone else wants you to do, you're just going to be stressed out, and that's just going to cause more tension in your baby's life. A tense baby is an unhappy baby. And, if baby's unhappy, EVERYBODY is unhappy.

Day 21 - Get Outside

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:33:00 +0000

I'm not an outdoorsy person. I like the comforts of being inside. However, I do try to get outside a little everyday (and I make the boys spend at least 15-30 minutes, minimum, outside every day). Sometimes I take a little walk around the neighborhood. Sometimes I just sit for a bit, either at home or at the park, and read or just think and temporarily escape housework and other responsibilities. I find the fresh air so invigorating.

It's amazing what a 15 minute break from your day-to-day life can do for a person!

Day 20 - All I Can Do Is Write About It

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:16:00 +0000

I know it's Thursday, but I'm going to file this post under Tuesday Tunes, anyway. There's a reason I'm posting 2 tunes this week, but I'll explain that in a bit.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is probably most well know for singing "Sweet Home Alabama", "Tuesday's Gone", and "Free Bird". Like many others, I love those songs. But, my favorite song is "All I Can Do Is Write About It". It reminds me how lucky I am and how I should appreciate and take care of the things I have.

On this day 34 years ago, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost their pilot Walter Wiley McCreary, co-pilot William John Gray, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, back-up singer Cassie Gaines, Cassie's brother and the band's guitarist Steve Gaines, and lead singer and songwriter Ronnie Van Zant. They were on their way to Baton Rouge when their plain ran out of fuel and crashed in a swamp by Gillsburg, Mississippi.

Day 19 - Finding Harmony in Your Marriage/Relationship

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:23:00 +0000

I am not a marriage counselor, and I know I still have a lot left to learn. However, I do want to share with you a few things that I have learned, most of these things were learned when Jeremy and I came dangerously close to splitting up. As a last ditch effort to save our marriage, we brainstormed, and came up with a few ideas. It worked, and we are now stronger than we have ever been. There are two things that we used to consciously do every day. Now, we do them automatically and effortlessly.

1. Look each other in the eyes at least once. I don't mean just looking at your husband while talking to him, I mean really look him in the eyes. Sometimes we say I love you, sometimes we mention something we appreciate about the other person, and sometimes we don't say anything at all.

2. Touch each other at least once. It can be a hug, a cuddle, holding hands, or just a touch on the shoulder.

These two things are so simple, and are really just common sense. By doing these two simple things, we let each other know that we love each other, we're here for each other, and we appreciate each other. We talk more, love more, and laugh more, which helps us raise happy, healthy boys.

My great-grandparents after about 50 years of marriage.

We look forward to sharing a long and joyful life together, just like our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Sometimes doing the simplest things can make for the happiest marriages.

Day 18 - Rise

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

This was easily one of the most uplifting, inspiring, and depressing movies I have ever seen.

If you haven't already seen Into The Wild, you should.

"Rise" by Eddie Vedder from the Into The Wild Soundtrack

Day 17 - A Thought To Ponder

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:47:00 +0000

"Happiness is mental harmony; unhappiness is mental inharmony."
James Allen

Day 16 - Finding Harmony in your veggie garden

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:04:00 +0000

I don't know much about gardening. I do know that when planting flowers, I should always plant perennials because the die within 2-4 weeks after planting, but they almost always come back the next year!

I also know about the 3 sisters. Do you?

They are corn, squash, and beans. We should thank Iroquois Indians for figuring this out and sharing it with us. Corn makes a great ladder for the beans to climb on. The beans not only strengthen the corn stalks by climbing them, but the beans also fix the nitrogen in the soil for the corn and squash, which helps with the feeding demands of the corn and squash. The squash acts as mulch by keeping most weeds away and keeping the moisture in the soil. It also helps protect the shallow roots of the beans and corn!

Day 15 - Finding Harmony in the Grocery Store (and Bank!)

noreply@blogger.com (SUMMERSTEAD) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:48:00 +0000

To say that I hate grocery shopping is a gross understatement. I truly despise having to go grocery shopping. To make it feel a little less hell-ish, I've come up with a routine.

Tip 1: Make a menu. Since I have to drive "to town" to get groceries, I try to only have to do it once a week at the most. We decide on our menu for the week. We make specific plans for all 7 suppers, and lunches on the weekends (and days the boys are home from school). J and I also decide what we want for our lunches during the week, which usually consist of sandwiches, leftovers, or freezer meals (see yesterday's post).

Tip 2: Decide on a budget and make a VERY specific list, including estimated prices. I use a steno pad. In the right hand column I list the meals we have planned for the week. Then, I go through the fridge, freezer, cupboards, and pantry to figure out what we have and don't have for each meal. Next to each item, write down an estimated amount that either the item costs or that you are willing to pay for it. Since we budget $100 per week, I try to keep my list cost below $95 because there's usually something I forget. Also, keep an alternate list of 5-6 of your family's favorite meals and the ingredients each meal requires. I write this list on the last page or back cover of my steno notebook since I take the whole notebook shopping with me. And one of the most important lessons I've learned about grocery shopping? STICK TO THE LIST!

Tip 3: Take cash to the store, and ONLY the amount you've decided you want to spend. This will help you stay under budget, and help prevent you from becoming a hoarder.

Tip 4: As you shop, keep a running total (estimated values) of what your cart items cost. ALWAYS round up. That way, you're sure to have enough cash once tax is included. If you have extra money, pick up some of the items on your alternate list. This has saved us a couple of times. Like the time our monthly bills were $200 more than usual. Since I had been able to pick up enough items on our alternate list to make a week's worth of meals, we were able to cut our weekly budget down to $60-75 that month.

Hope these tips