Small Things

Well, Hello There

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

A very wonderful and smart woman, whom I love and admire very much, told me that I need to post. I said I was feeling sheepish about posting after so long; that its like when you don't call your friend for long time... after awhile you get anxious about calling (even though you want to and know you should) because you'll have to explain how super-lame you are and then apologize profusely for being such a lame-o. She said to just get on here and pick up where we left off as if I'd just posted yesterday. So... here I am!

Wasn't that a lovely post yesterday? Ok, I'm not good at playing pretend. I know this, and now so do you. I'm pretty sure that Punkin believes this to be my biggest flaw. But I'll fake it for you cause I love you, and I miss you, and gosh-darnit I'm awesome like that!

This summer has just flown by! The girls and I have spent our days in the garden tending to the vegetables or hunting for bugs.

Punkin had her first swim lessons while Bunny and I lounged by the pool or, more accurately, had splashing contests and spun around like crazy people on inner-tubes.

I'm sure she did *some* lounging... I mean, it probably took a few seconds to take this picture

Punkin's first swim lesson!

We've taken trips to the park, and walked (but more often driven) to visit Cherry Mash and the Boynado and ~~splash around in their pool with them~~ let the kids splash around while the Mama's drink cocktails and take turns bitching about all things Mothering.

We've been on adventures to Fairytale Town, ArtBeast, and Funderland. We've had icecream for dinner (where Punkin lectured me on the importance of eating healthy foods before eating "fun foods."), lunch (no such lecture was required this time because we ate sandwiches first), and snack (because its summer, duh).

Kyla takes a trip down The Old Woman's Shoe (slide) at Fairytale Town

Bunny driving the Pumpkin Carriage

We've visited with family...

Bunny goofing around with Aunt Dix

The girls all giddy from a weekend visit from Auntie Amber & Uncle Brian

...and had friends over for a tea-party.

Cheers!

We've stayed home, too.

Where I've parked the girls in front the the TV for appalling stretches of time so that I could work on the master-bed/bath-remodel-that-is-taking-far-too-long-and-occasionally-makes-me-want-to-burn-down-the-house-to-start-fresh, and so that I could sew-things-that-will-likely-stay-in-the-sewing-closet-unfinished-forever. But we still managed to have a little fun.

PB&Js at the campsite (aka: the dining room)

All things told, its been an awesome summer... the last two months have flown by and I'm starting to feel the onset of the End of Summer Blues. Thankfully, I have you all to get me through it.

Props where they are due

noreply@blogger.com (majordamage) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:04:00 +0000

I know I was supposed to do a guest blog here, talk about our shared birth experience etc. but you know what, I will be the first to admit, I put things off, it happens. So instead, I just wanted to do a small post about an amazing person. I have no idea how she does what she does. She juggles being a Mommy, cook, house keeper, student and life partner. I know it's not always easy for her. Life for us these days is crazy, from corralling kids in the morning to staying up late studying for things that give me a headache when I read them, she does it all with style. She manages to keep a smile on her face...most of the time. I know it's hard for her especially when she wants to do nothing more than just sit with me and the girls to relax, but can't. I know things will slow down eventually and be better than they are now.

I love you Mama, Papa. :)

Well, Hello There

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:02:00 +0000

Good Morning!

Ok, its morning here at least. And the sun is shining for the first time in days. Its a beautiful morning! And, no, I haven't forgotten about you.

I walked away last month expecting to take a few days off; needing a few days off. Then days turned in to weeks and weeks became a month, and here we are. It was nice to have a break from Small Things. I needed some time to gather myself and figure some things out. And during that time I discovered some things that I didn't really expect to discover.

1) I realized that I had started blogging for the wrong reasons. I started this as a way to share my experiences along this journey through life and Motherhood with family and friends. And, somewhere along the way, I shifted my focus. I started writing things not to share, not from my heart, but as a way to get more people here. I'm not going to lie... it'd be absolutely wonderful to do something I love (like blog) AND bring a bit of (much needed) extra income in to the house. But that shouldn't be the focus here, so, from now on, I promise to keep it real (as they say).

2) Along those same lines, I realized that Mindful Mondays hasn't become what I hoped it would - A place where I get to reflect and have a chance to hear (ok, read) other people's thoughts and reflections as well. Turns out, it was just a designated time for me to ramble on about my own thoughts. The thing is, though, I'm one of those people who is painfully aware (at times) of her own thoughts already. So... without further ado, I have decided to kill Mindful Mondays as a "thing" and just continue rambling on as usual on whichever day it strikes my fancy!

3) By nature, I am not a horribly consistent person. I don't do laundry every, say, Thursday. Or clean the bathrooms Saturday morning. So, it wasn't realistic of me to expect me to blog certain days or times. So, here's the deal... I'll post what I want, when I want, and if you don't like that then, just go ahead and click on that X. And I hope you find what you're looking for out there on the interwebs (I mean that with love, and write it with a smile on my face).

4) I think about you guys all. the. time. Seriously. Its bordering on obsessive. I write at least half a dozen posts to you all every day. In my head. But, my time is outrageously full right now. So, sadly, those posts go unwritten.

For those of you who are still here, HEY! I'd love to sit here and say there will be some dramatic and wonderful changes here at Small Things. But the truth is, even though I love you, I'm probably going to be a little neglectful over the next 13 weeks. I hope to see you soon! :)

~ Mama

Land of the Free(ish)

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:45:00 +0000

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Today is the day our country celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. and as I sit around eating pancakes with my family (Papa makes delicious pancakes!), I find myself thinking about the man who told the world of his dreams. I admire him. Its hard not to. What he did in America, for America, was amazing. But what is even more amazing to me is how relevant so much of his message is STILL.

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men." ~ MLK

While we can choose on this day to read (or listen to) some of his words and take them at face-value, feeling smug and proud that some of his dreams have come true, it would be failing his memory and our country if we fail to acknowledge that so much of what Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for has failed to come to fruition.

Racism, hatred, discrimination are still very much alive and well. A black man may now drink from the same fountain as a white man, or sit next to a white man on a bus. But Americans everywhere are loosing freedoms First¹, Fourth ², Fifth ³, Sixth⁴, Eighth⁵ and Fourteenth ⁶ Amendment rights are increasingly sacrificed in the name of anti-terrorism.

Homosexual, Trans-gender, and Bisexual Americans are discriminated against everywhere, every day.

Arabs and Muslims are profiled, held and deported with no or little cause; they suffer the effects of racism continuously; even from our government.

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." ~ MLK

The education our youngest citizens receive fails them more each minute as programs are cut, teachers are restricted, and fear, hate and ignorance over-power the ideas of intelligence and character.

"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him." ~MLK

And the idea of nonviolence, of loving our fellow human beings, has been replaced with fear. Good people continue to remain quiet in the face of injustice, and ignorance is still very much alive.

So, today, I choose to speak out against injustice, violence, hatred and fear. Because that check promised to us by our Founding Fathers is still marked insufficient funds. Because the dream did not, and should not, die with the man. Because America should be the land of the free; not the land of the free-ish.

1. First Amendment: Gives citizens the rights of free speech, peaceable assembly, and freedom of religion.
2. Fourth Amendment: Protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure
3. Fifth Amendment: Says we shall not be "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" and protects citizens from being held without charge
4. Sixth Amendment: Provides the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to know the nature of accusations against him/her, the right to be confronted with any witnesses, and the right to defense.
5. Eighth Amendment: Protects us from excessive, bail and fines. And protects us from cruel and unusual punishments.
6. Fourteenth Amendment: Interpreted as protecting the rights of all citizens providing equal protection to minority citizens.

**The transcript and video of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech, delivered August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC can be found here.

** A thoughtful account of the rights and freedoms being infringed upon can be found here.

{Swoon}

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Yesterday, I dropped the girls off at the local KidsPark so that I could peruse my favorite store in peace. I love Habitat's ReStore. Its super awesome! They have funky, fun, different stuff. Most can be salvaged easily by a little T.L.C. and I get to feel like I'm doing something good when I spend Papa's hard-earned cash on something that would otherwise be called "junk."

I went in search of a light fixture. Something to replace the awesome ceiling fan we had in the master bedroom since it decided to crap-out on me. We don't have an extra couple hundred bucks to plop down on a pretty new light fixture. While I was searching the store for hidden treasure, I came across this awesomeness.

Aren't they pretty?!? And there are two of them. And they are the most precious shade of blue. I l.o.v.e. these lockers! But at $200 each, they are a bit out of my price-range. So, I continued my search for a light and I found this beauty.

Ok, yeah, I know, its not really beautiful. But look at all that potential! No, seriously. Ok, well, I'm not a big fan of the 90s tract home brass either (in fact I removed it all from this home just 7 years ago). But, bear with me, it'll be awesome, I swear! All it needs is a little of my favorite thing - spray paint.

I started by cleaning it really well. Then I lightly sanded the whole thing with some fine-grit sandpaper. Next, I crumpled up little pieces of paper and shoved them (gently) in to the light-screwy parts. Finally, I grabbed a can of Rust-oleum's American Accents Aqua in Smooth Satin Finish {because it matches my gorgeous quilt (made with love by Leesy-Lou) featuring some beautiful Amy Butler fabric.}

I tested the spray on a different surface (the drop cloth would work) to make sure it was spraying well, and started in an inconspicuous area of the lamp to see how it held (the top of the chandelier, where the chord comes out and goes to the ceiling). I liked what I saw so I did the arms and small areas using short bursts and making sure to coat it lightly and evenly. For the larger portions (like the big ball on the bottom) I used longer bursts and even movements to ensure the same.

About half-way through the first coat

I let the first coat dry and then hit it with a second coat using the same techniques; hanging it up to get the very bottom of the ball-y part (yes that's a technical term) smooth and even. Then let it dry for a few hours before bringing it in the house and commanding the tall, manly person to install it.

Here's what it looked like before installation. Just chilling outside getting its "dry" on.

The best part? All things told, this cost me exactly $21 and only took about an hour (plus installation time)!

{You'll have to wait for future posts to see it in all its glory because this beauty has inspired a little bedroom makeover - so stay tuned!}

MM #13: Yeah, I got nothing

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:50:00 +0000

Oh. Em. GEE! Its Monday again already?!? I just can't believe how quickly time is passing. I had forgotten. I had forgotten that being a SAHM is a job that never ends. I had forgotten how much time laundry, food prep, child care, cleaning and errands can eat up. I had forgotten the part where you work from before sunrise to well after sunset without breaks, or thanks, or even a moment of peace.

I had forgotten how wild and crazy and mostly wonderful this ride is! My Punkin-Pie-Baby-Girl has turned 5! And something about 5 seems SO MUCH OLDER than 4. (I have no idea why). My Bunny-Boo is turning 3 this week. THREE years since my baby was born, and I'm starting to feel like one of those Mom's; you know, the ones without infants in her arms, or toddlers hanging from her legs. I'm starting to feel, like, well, ME again. Its weird. Mostly because the last time I really remember seeing ME, I was younger and thinner and much more clever. But, here I am, recognizable.

Its wonderful. And scary. To remember Who I Am. To realize how lost I was. I know there are Moms out there who manage to keep themselves intact even after they have kids - even with infants. I admire them. I have been known to analyze them in an effort to figure out just what it is they do. But, I've found nothing - no secrets to Hanging On To Yourself Whilst A Baby is Hanging On You.

There are no words of wisdom, or questions for reflection today. Just some ramblings. You see, usually, by the time you-all see these words here, I've been working on them for a bit. But, this week, nothing I had prepared, nothing I had thought of; nothing seemed to reflect where I am right now. And so, I'm left with only this to say:

Hello World, its me - Amie!

MM #12: Social Networking

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:00:00 +0000

I love the interwebs! I love Twitter, I love Facebook, I love blogs. I love (virtually) meeting new people, I love having access to so many awesome people and their awesome thoughts. You may say, I'm a fan.

But is Social Networking the same as socializing?

Sure, it fills a void that some of us feel; but only a little bit. And as we are busy half-filling our Yearning for Connection Glasses, what are the opportunity costs?

Year-end Review in Photos and Posts

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:43:00 +0000

To say that this year was difficult for me (us) would be a gross understatement. There have been problems with the mortgage company (thanks a lot California property values), Papa and I have struggled through problems in our relationship (the mortgage company may, in hindsight, have had a lot to do with this), I started taking 12+ units per semester, the list goes on. So the girls and Papa and I have spent a good part of this year adjusting and struggling to get through it.

2010 has been a year of struggle, friendship, mindfulness and growth. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this place, here, at the end of the year, where I can reflect on the year and say: "We made it through, and we're better for it."

I have a lot of hope for what 2011 will bring to us. I hope for many Small Things to cherish. I hope for peace, love and simplicity. I hope for a house filled with joy and laughter, and I hope our friendships will continue to blossom.

There are a few people who deserve special mention. These people were beacons in the dark, and without them, I'm certain that I would not be sitting here thankful (in part) for the experiences I've had.

Cherry Mash took me under her wing and taught me how to laugh, and how to suck it up with style and grace.

Uncle Sharles grew on my heart like a tumor... he appeared in my home one Saturday and just. kept. coming back. I love him deeply and am eternally grateful for what he has done for my girls, Papa and me over the last year.

My parents supported me with exceptional tenderness and stamina when I most needed it, and continue to support my family in wonderful ways not the least of which is taking our girls in to their home once a week and spending valuable time with them.

And over the last year Papa has loved me when it was hardest, worked his butt off to make our home a better place to live, and shown me that, sometimes, people do change.

Our year in Photos and Posts:

January

{Opening Birthday presents with Kampa}

February

{Livingroom Pirate Ship ala diningroom chairs and newspaper hats}

March

{Licking the beater is the best part of baking cookies}

April

{Hunting for eggs at "Ms. Michelle's School}

May

{Dining table giggles for no apparent reason}

June

{First blossoms of the summer - Bell Pepper plant}

July

{A Sunny Day Stroll - stopping to smell the roses}

My Triumphant Return to Blogland

August

{Treasure bags for collecting beach-side goodies}

Mindful Mondays: Compassion

My Little Sicky

September

{Bunny Boo after swimming at the Boynado's 3rd(!) Birthday}

Camping Trip Success

More Pismo

Pismo Wrap-Up

October

{The Set up for S.O.S}

Things I Should Be Really Awesome At

November

{Conducting the train at Fairytale Town}

November was a big month for Mindful Mondays...

The Daily Grind

Thankful

Balancing Act

December

{Christmas meets the fireplace}

Yeah, Ok...

Friendship (ala Reverb10)

Blessed

I started this blog in March of 2008 as a way to share our life, our photos and our experiences with family and friends who we don't see often. In April of 2009, I disappeared from here and it took me a full year and three months to find my way back. I've very glad I have. Thank you for following us along our journey.

(a special thanks to Scary Mommy for the idea. For more links to year-end reviews, visit her site and click on the links at the bottom of the post)

Blessed

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:44:00 +0000

Tomorrow morning I will wake up and have my cup of coffee. Somewhere between sips 3 and 4, Punkin’ will wake up and wander out of her room all bleary-eyed. I’ll say (as I always do) “Good morning Angel!” and I’ll set her up on the couch: pillow, bear, blanket. Then I’ll turn on the TV. Zoe will wander out of our room and join her sister on the couch: pillow, baby, blanket. They’ll sit and watch TV until they feel that burst of energy that will carry them through the day seemingly without wavering. I’ll make breakfast while they are both cozy on the couch. I’ll get a goofy smile on my face as I listen to the sounds of Papa in the shower because it comforts me to hear him in there and I always think that’s silly.

In short, tomorrow morning will be just like every other morning.

Almost.

Tomorrow morning is the 5 year anniversary of the day I became a Mama. Five years ago tomorrow, I heard her cry for the first time. I smelled her head, I watched Papa cry tears of joy, I saw my own Mother transformed into a Kamma. Five years ago tomorrow, I fell in love with a beautiful, crazy, bundle of awesome and started on this wild ride.

Four and a half years ago tomorrow, my sweet bundle of awesome did her twelve millionth totally amazing thing: she rolled over. It was truly remarkable: you should have seen her form!

Four years ago my baby became a toddler. That moment I had waited for (with bated breath) finally arrived. She took her first tentative steps and I was floating. on. air. Three minutes later (I swear!), she was doing laps around the house, and getting in to everything! Thirty seconds later, the word “No” was cemented in to my daily vocabulary.

Three years ago tomorrow I got to watch her personality blossom. Her sense of humor, her wonder and excitement, her incredibly loving heart… each amaze me more every day.

Two years ago tomorrow the horrible I-Kinda-Want-To-Return-You-To-Sender Threes hit us hard. She did all the things I was sure she wouldn’t do… she tantrumed and refused to listen. She wrote on the walls with pens, pencils, sharpies and crayons. She destroyed furniture, carpets, clothes, cabinets, counters, toys, blankets, and my sanity. She and I walked through the trenches of toddlerhood together and survived. (Amazingly)

One year ago tomorrow, she became obsessed with Arts and Craps (no that’s not a typo), she potty trained herself and she started becoming this {gulp} KID. Its cool and scary and wonderful. Four is a fun age.

Tomorrow my baby will be FIVE. Five years old. Five years old. (Nope, doesn’t stop looking weird if I type it more)

So, tomorrow morning, after coffee is consumed and girls are settled (pillow, lovey, blanket), I will make my baby {5 years old} a big-girl birthday breakfast (which is apparently dry Cheerios and cheese crackers). And I will sit at the table and watch her eat it and think to myself “How on earth have I been so blessed?!”

{My Punkin-Pie Angel Girl was born December 28th, 2005 at 8:01pm. She weighed 7lbs 6.4oz and was 20 inches long}

Mindful Mondays (holiday break)

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:58:00 +0000

Mindful Mondays is taking a break for the holidays. If you need some mindfulness in your life, head on over to Reverb10 and reflect on the daily prompt(s).

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.

-Mama

MM #10: Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:37:00 +0000

Want to know more about MM? Go HERE

Last night I had a blast! I went out with a friend who's shared pieces of my life with me for nearing two decades. We had a couple beers and talked over the loud music while munching on peanuts. We talked about the old days when we were young and hanging out in front of coffee shops; him playing the guitar and me singing various tunes from Concrete Blonde and Tori Amos (among others). We had fun. The "performance" aspect of that rarely bothered me then, but now... oh, now... performing in front of people is absolutely terrifying to me.

I don't mean to sound conceited here, but I can sing. I do alright, anyway, pretty sure I'll never win a Grammy, but I'm ok with that. I'm happy with my current shower and car performances. And my audience is pretty darned cute too!

Last night, while we were munching on peanuts, the Karaoke started. And this friend, remembering the old days, convinced me to get up there and sing. Christmas is right around the corner, and his birthday just after, with one performance I could kill two birds, he says. So, I submit my card. They call my name. And I stand up there shaking so hard that I'm pretty sure I'm going to shake apart right there on the stage. But I sang. I sang the best I could. And I'm pretty sure I bombed (that no-Grammy thing is pretty much set in stone now).

As I walked off stage shaking and defeated, a strange thing happened... I felt different, better, new. Don't get me wrong I still didn't see any award-winning performances in my future. BUT.... I had done something that scared the hell outta me. I had done it mediocre-ly, but I had done it. I had faced a fear and survived. And it ocurred to me; its through these moments that we spend outside of our Comfort-Zone that we grow the most. Yet we fight it so hard; we fight tooth and nail, sacrificing things that are important to us, just to stay in this Zone when all it takes is putting yourself out there, shaking things up a little, and diving in to the unknown.

What can you do to shake things up a bit?

Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:48:00 +0000

"How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst? (Author: Martha Mihalick)"

It happened gradually, the way most of my friendships do, I can't even really tell you how we met. I remember overhearing a conversation she was having on the patio of my favorite coffee shop and falling in love with her. I remember thinking to myself: "Self, (cause I'm hip like that) Self, she's awesome. We (and I mean, of course, the royal we) should know her." I interjected a little something in the conversation and swiveled my chair around to join in, but mostly, I just listened. (I'm shy, what?) I have no idea if I made much of an impression that day or not.

Fast-forward a little bit and, over a blossoming Facebook friendship, she announced they were moving. So, I told her how awesome ~~we are~~ our neighborhood is. Thankfully, they ended up buying a house right by us. (Finally someone cool in our neck of the woods)

Moving is a lot of work. A nearly impossible amount of work without kids and she has a kid, so I offered to watch him cause ~~I wanted to suck up a little~~ I'm cool like that. I fell in love. The Boynado is, simply put, wonderful. How could he not be with parents like his?

Our friendship grew through struggles; confidences were shared, and I've come to regard her as one of the most awesome people to have ever blessed my life. She's talented, smart, generous, loving, giving, beautiful; a wonderful Mother, Wife and Homemaker; AND she's amazingly funny. I get to learn from her every day. Me, my life, my partnership, would not be the same without her. Words could never express the gratitude I have to [insert entity here to whom I should show gratitude] for introducing us.

Cherry Mash shows me every day what it looks like to have grace under pressure. She shows me that struggle doesn't drown out laughter. She shows me that love and friendship accept you and love you for what you are. She gives me an ear to talk to and a shoulder to cry on. She answers my calls at 5am and at midnight with exceptional patience and love. And, when I need it, she tells me to "suck it up" with equal tenderness and sincerity. She is, in one word, fabulous.

Turns out, she comes with a wonderful entourage too. Her husband, M, is kind, smart, generous and loving; and an amazing father and husband. Her close friend, "Uncle Sharels", is funny, smart, entertaining, kind... I could go on forever here so I'll just say this: The time he spends with our family is priceless.

Over the last year, a tradition has grown among us. A weekly meetup that we like to call S.O.S (shots on saturday). Papa and I both look forward to it all week and lament its passing every Sunday afternoon. The girls gauge the days of each week by the distance it is from those Saturday visits, and the first question they ask every. single. Saturday morning is "when is Uncle Sharels coming?"

This year, my family grew. Not in the ways its grown in past years; a partner here, a baby there. This year, I let some wonderful people in to my life and my heart. And this year, I was blessed with new people to love; new people to cherish. And I am better because of it.

**Prompt provided by Reverb10

A meetup with Elmo

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:31:00 +0000

On Sunday the girls and I had a party to attend, but first we made a pit-stop to a friends house to meet... Elmo!

Punkin and the hostess (Mia) were all about it. Bunny was not so sure.

Three days later and Punkin and (surprisingly) Bunny are still talking about it. Just look at the joy in those little girls' eyes!

WFMW: Dirty, dirty lining

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Showers get dirty. Its just a fact of life. One we resolve ourselves to while donning those attractive yellow gloves and holding our "weapon" of choice. We aim at those moldy/scummy walls, we spray and we scrub. At the end of all that scrubbing, we get to stand back and marvel at our work. Then, suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of that dirty, dirty lining. That scummy, moldy plastic shower lining is ruining your view! What can you do? Well, you can do what my amazingly frugal mother does and scrub it by hand. You could do what my less frugal buddies do and throw it out in favor of a new one. OR....

OR you can throw it in the wash. Yep, that's right. You can just take that thing down, toss it in the washing machine and have a shiny clean shower liner just after the spin cycle! I discovered this trick one desperate day not long after I moved in with Papa. You see, I inherited my mother's Frugal gene and I just wasn't willing to buy a new liner, but I also wasn't willing to scrub it by hand. So, this led me to the washing machine. I figured the worst thing that could happen would be that I would have to pick little bits of plastic out of the machine before the next wash. The best thing that could happen? A clean curtain; and that's exactly what did happen!

Here's what has worked best for me:

Wash it alone on a regular cycle with warm (not hot) water. Throw in some OxyClean, or PineSol (about a capful) [its worth noting here that a quick wash with a cap of PineSol can also take care of those soured clothes forgotten in the washer for too long - thanks for heads up G'ma Dee]. In a pinch, laundry soap will work, but it tends to leave a film behind and won't get those really yucky spots quite as clean.

Let it run through the whole cycle. When its done, run a second spin cycle. When that's finished, do not put it in the dryer. I have never, in fact, run it through the dryer so I can't tell you exactly what horribleness will ensue, but plastic and heat are not really friends, so unless you feel experimental, I wouldn't recommend it.

When you take the liner out of the wash, it will be wet; and wrinkly. Shake out as much water as you can over the washer, then carefully carry the liner to the bathroom. Then hang it up, straighten it out (the wrinkles will relax out after it has been hanging for awhile) and you are done! Easy-peasy clean curtain liner.

That's what works for me! What works for you?

down to the wire

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:09:00 +0000

Hey fabulous readers! There is just one more week left in the semester... then a week of finals. The end of the semester is always super crazy, but this semester is particularly challenging!

I'm doing well in my classes (in case you were wondering) and have a decent shot at another straight-A semester! So, I'll be taking a break from Small Things to keep up with my papers, exams, speeches and presentations.

I will miss you... I'd rather be spending time with you here (promise).

Stay tuned, though, because I will be back when the break begins! Check back on Monday December 20th for a new Mindful Monday! Hope to see you all here, and looking forward to your fabulous posts!

Love,
Amie

WFMW: Holiday Gifting on a Budget!

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:54:00 +0000

Works For Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are That Family. Click on the graphic at the bottom of this post to check it out.

I was hesitant to do this post because there is already just. so. much. good information out there. But, in the end, I decided that maybe, just maybe one of you would have an "ah ha!" moment, or giggle, or run off and tell everyone what a goober I am... anyway, as long as you're happy, I'm happy. Right?

Right.

In case you're new here, or you just don't pay attention, I have been a stay-at-home-mom since I was pregnant with Punkin'... what's that, now? Almost six years. (oh my! how the time does fly). So money's been tight around here for awhile. Living on one income requires some creative thinking, especially when it comes to holidays when over-spending can be very easy to do. I am now also a full-time student which strains the finances even further. So, being careful about what we spend at Christmas time is vital in our house. Here's what works for us.

Set a Budget
make it attainable; don't set yourself up for failure. On the other hand, if you're feeling kind of adventurous, you could be fun to set it a bit lower just to see if you can really cut back. Be realistic, but frugal at the same time. Don't (please, please don't) spend money you don't have just to buy stuff for people. If the lack of an expensive present is all it takes to get people upset with you, then you are better off without them. No, seriously. {end rant}

Make a list
of everyone that you would like to buy a gift for. Next, brainstorm things each person likes to do: hobbies, priorities, tastes etc. Example: Mama - hobbies include typing incessantly on her keyboard, a (not so) secret love affair with chocolate, and she's always babbling on about those girls and ~~some dude named~~ Papa. Those hobbies and such can really help you recognize the perfect gift should you stumble across it in the dollar bin (don't scoff, its happened to me before).

Get Crafty
If you're crafty or you like to bake; if you have children that would enjoy making some of your presents, go ahead and think of things you could make for someone. I'll include a list of homemade gifts we've given below. But, here's where you get to be creative!

If you need a present for Grandma, get out the scrapbooking tools, and let the kids make her a calendar (you can have it bound inexpensively at an office supply store). If your kids are a little older, have them write (or narrate) a story about something they did with Grandma (or fill in the name of special person(s) here) or about why they love Grandma or about what makes Grandma so special! Type it out for them, or let them write it, and then hand over the pictures, stickers and whatnots so that the kiddos can illustrate it.

My first Christmas with Papa, I took photos of the places we had gone on dates. I printed and framed them along with a letter to him declaring my undying love and devotion. That series hangs in our livingroom and reminds us of our history.

Give the Gift of Time
If you're not crafty, or you don't have the time, or you don't think your gift-reciever would like something crafty (who are these people), then consider giving a gift of Time.

Take your best girlfriend out for a cup of coffee and a pedicure (I'm not talking about one of those $100 spa pedicures (unless that's in your budget)). Print out a little coupon for your friends offering free babysitting for a date night (you could include a gift card here if its in your budget).

My neighbor when I was growing up used to gift the kids in her life a trip somewhere during the summer - like camping. She'd set it all up and then give them the details at Christmas so they had something to look forward to later in the year.

I'll tell you right now, my favorite gifts from Papa didn't cost him more than $20 (if that): 1) a coupon book that he printed up for me that included coupons for massages, rainy day cuddle sessions, and dates. 2) Last year he gave me a "date in a box." It included a log for the fire, some cheese and crackers, and a wonderful note.

The most important thing here is creativity and thought. Anyone can go to a store and buy that CD (does anyone even use those anymore). Only you can give a gift from your heart.

How We Do It
And here's that list I promised you.

For Acquaintances and Neighbors I do what my Dad did and bake. A lot. Cookies, fudge, cookies, divinity, cookies... did I mention cookies? And then we wrap them up on a plate, in a basket, in jars, and we give them to folks who we want to give something to but aren't particularly close with.

For friends and family: In addition to some of the things I mentioned up there ^, here are some inexpensive gifts we've given in the past

Cookies in a jar
Homemade soap - red and white striped with peppermint oil... it was fun, and easier than I thought it would be!
Picnic Blankets - yes I sew; SewMamaSew has some awesome ideas over on their blog.
Massage Oils - Papa is awesome at this! All you need is some almond oil, some essential oils and a nice container to gift it in.
Infused Olive Oil - Again, Chef Papa is awesome at this. And, again, all you need is some olive oil, some herbs and a nice bottle to gift it in. (Be aware, there is a right and a wrong way to do this. Check out this link for more info and if you choose to use fresh herbs make sure that the recipient knows it needs to be used!)
Infused Vodka - Its popular, its yummy and its the perfect gift for your favorite ~~alcoholic~~ entertainer! (A search led me to this on the Real Simple website)
Homemade apple butter with a loaf of homemade bread
A gift basket of homemade jams, jellies and preserves
A basket of fresh produce from the garden (or farmers market)
Handmade clothes, blankets, and baby toys-n-stuff (free tutorials can be found with a simple search)

Wishing you all a budget-friendly and festive Holiday Season!

That's what works for me! What works for you?

**If you have a post, or will have a post, about homemade gifts, gifting on a budget, or creative ideas for gifts, I'd love it if you would link up below! (this linky list will stay open until the 23rd of December so keep 'em coming!)

Sweet Shot Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 07:39:00 +0000

hosted by My3Boybarians.... click the button at the bottom of this post to head on back over there!

Sometimes between when class is out and when I have to go get the girls, I study. Sometimes, I read a book or write a paper, or knock out a PowerPoint presentation. But, today, I went outside and the air was crisp and the sinking sun was blanketing the earth in its yellow rays. So, I grabbed the camera and I went for a walk.

Sac State is a beautiful campus with beautiful trees, Oaks and Redwoods, all nestled next to the river. So, I went up the walking trail, past the levee, and across the foot bridge

and on the other side I fell in love with this mangled looking tree as it basked in the sunset.

I took a few more shots, a few deep breaths, and then headed back to campus to load up the girls and start our journey home.

Today, I reveled in the Small Things: A brisk walk, an evening sunset, some quiet time to be introspective. I fell in love with nature, and then I remembered what makes life so wonderful - the beauty and the joy.

How will you revel in the Small Things today?

MM #9: Thankful

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.

~W.T. Purkiser

Thanksgiving is awesome for so many reasons: the food, the time with family, taking time to remember what we are thankful for in our lives.

Now that Thanksgiving is passed, I hope you enjoyed your time with family, and took that time to really acknowledge the things you are thankful for.

How did you spend your holiday?

As for me, I spent a good part of this weekend (when I was awake) wallowing in self-pity because I missed out on all the family fun. I got hit HARD by some bug or another on Thanksgiving evening and have been in bed, mostly sleeping, these last 4 days. I suppose I needed that; to mourn the loss of those plans we had.

I wanted to frolic with my girls at Apple Hill, I wanted to curl up under my hand-knitted blanket next to a warm fire and read stories, I wanted to build forts, watch movies and get some Christmas cheer in our home. Instead, I slept through most of the weekend, quarantined in the bedroom by myself, and listened to the sounds of my family echoing down the hallway.

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

~Eric Hoffer, Reflections On The Human Condition

Have you counted your blessings?

Even though I am sad to have missed out on what we had planned, I still have plenty to be thankful for...
I am grateful to have:

family that loves and supports me
a home that keeps us warm and safe
little girls' laughter
tiny shoes to trip on in the doorway
Uncles and Aunts to share Saturday nights with
hot tea, cold water and fluffy pillows
handmade gifts to keep me warm and remind me of family and friends in far-off places
so many wonderful bloggers to follow and learn from
all of you. I may not hear from all of you, but I appreciate every single one of you. I hope you will keep coming back; I hope you find your voice; I hope we become fast friends.

* And an Honorable Mention for Papa for holding down the fort this weekend while I was laid out in bed.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

~William Arthur Ward

How do you express your gratitude?

**Thank you for stopping by! If you're new to Mindful Mondays, follow this link, for rules and instructions on linking up. I'm looking forward to reading your posts!

Friday Fill-Ins #201

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:38:00 +0000

So...here we go!

1. Three things I must have on my Thanksgiving table: food, family, friends.

2. Even before dinner, I was sacked out on the couch.

3. This is the first Thanksgiving in a long time that I've been sick.

4. Punkin's excited to decorate for Christmas now that Thanksgiving is over.

5. Oh, man, thankfully it's the end of this semester soon and I get to spend some time with my girls at home.

6. I may never perfect the art of balancing health, family and school.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping, tomorrow my plans include resting and Sunday, I want to be all better!

**Update: Sunday morning I am feeling a little better, but, sadly, not all better.

Yeah. Ok, I see what you're talking about.

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:54:00 +0000

Papa (or rather Chef Papa) really stepped in it when he fell for me. I love familiar tastes. I like pork chops to taste the way they do in my head... the way they did last time I had them, and the time before and the time before, and the time... well, you get the idea. Chef Papa has a fancy degree that hangs in the kitchen and says that he can make delicious pork chops 4000 ways and you will love them every time (or else). I do my best, really I do. But, I want my pork chops to taste like their "supposed to", and when they don't its a little hard to feign excitement over a dish that anyone with taste buds would rant and rave about. I accepted this about myself a long time ago. Chef Papa is still coming to terms with it.

I also like to eat familiar things a specific way. Which provides Chef Papa with endless amusement. He comments on it, he memorizes the technique so that he can analyze performances, he tells people about my Kit-Kat eating technique laughingly... I'm pretty sure that I've become the side-show in this house. All these years I've thought he was over-reacting a bit. I mean, doesn't everyone eat things a special way?!? Its the best way to do it. I swear.

Enter yesterday afternoon.

Yeah, I know, the orange ones deserve to be eaten... would you like them?

I'm sitting there, browsing the interwebs and, well, getting into the girls' halloween candy (what? there are choking hazards in there!). And as I sorted the skittles by color, making sure that the orange ones were well apart from the others, it occurred to me... Papa might (just might) be a little bit right. Just a little bit.

Is it just me? Or do you have a funny way of eating something too?

Sweet Shot Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:31:00 +0000

hosted by my 3 boybarians. Click the button at the bottom to check it out!

** If you're looking to make your shots a little sweeter, head over to Baked Bree's Picture Holiday Giveaway

MM: The Daily Grind

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:28:00 +0000

"Any Idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out."

-Anton Chekhov

We tend to really admire the people who handle themselves with grace in a crisis. I think that's right, to admire the behavior we would hope to exhibit. But, Chekhov's right, it is the daily living that exhausts us all - the kids fighting, the laundry piling up, the piles of toys everywhere, the dishes that are never done, making food, cleaning up from meals, making food, cleaning up from meals...

its exhausting! And no one is perfect, we all stumble through some days.

So, here's my question for you: What does living gracefully in the day-to-day look like?

To me it means ending each day with a smile; knowing when we close our eyes at night that we've shown love to the people we love; being patient and kind more than we are short-tempered and rude; and curling up at the end of the night knowing that we've done the best we can to live each day in the ways that are important to us. (and if the laundry and dishes are done, well, that's just gravy)

What does it mean to you?

** I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section! If you've blogged about this on your own site, please link up!

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 20:44:00 +0000

Is it too early for a mid-life crisis? I mean, I really hope that his is not the middle of my life. Maybe a quarter-life crisis? But then, I'm too old for that.

I just keep thinking. You see, I'll be graduating this Spring with a Bachelors in Business (Entrepreneurship to be precise). And Business makes sense to me - its easy for me - the path of least resistance. But the thing is this: the thing is, I've loved writing for as long as I can remember. And not term papers, memos or statistical analyses. I love writing: the kind of poetry or prose that explodes from your soul and leaves you feeling both empty and fulfilled once the words have safely reached paper.

I love design and art. I love to create. Since I was 10 years old, I've dreamed of being a photographer. I would take my neighbor outside (she was 5) and pose her among the trees and flowers blooming in our front yard and click-click away with my father's old Nikor. In fact, everything I can remember being really excited about doing had a strong creative component to it.

I appease this creative side of me here by writing little blurbs for the world to read and taking the best photos I can to add depth to these words. But the void is still there. I don't have enough time for it, its the background. Its the part of me that gets pushed to the side to make room for Success. And I hate that. By some hidden societal objective, the part of me that feels most "Me" is getting stifled, and I don't know how to change it without jumping off one of the many bridges I've built.

The end of my path is so close and I feel I should be more excited and hopeful for the future. Instead, I wish that I could go back 15 years, holding that acceptance letter to art school in my hand and tell that little-me to have the fortitude to choose the path I want even though the support for those dreams would have been less. Instead, little-me listened to Reason.

And where is Reason now? She's sitting there saying "I told you so" with that smug little look on her face while Me is slowly starving. Reason doesn't even know how wrong she is and she never will because there are too many people standing around patting her on the back.

I can't help but wonder. What is the point of life - this brief moment we spend here - if it is lived according to Reason's rules. Reason says that money, stability, responsibility, goals and achievements are what's important in life. And Me is wasting her last breath screaming at me "AND THEN WHAT?! WHAT WILL YOU AND REASON DO WITH ALL THOSE THINGS ONCE I'M DEAD?"

Here's my problem: I don't have an answer for her.

Friday Fill-Ins: #200

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:04:00 +0000

Its been awhile since I've participated. 10 whole weeks to be exact (where, oh where has the time gone)! Happy to be back with you all again. Here we go!

1. Why does everything seem so much harder at 7 am?

2. I see the world with wonder and amazement.

3. Thank you for visiting me, I love having company here at Small Things!

4. Christmas is my favorite holiday because it is filled with warmth, love and joy; also because I get to bake a lot ;).

5. I am SO done with this semester... I have a bad case of senior-itis

6. People are amazing because we can be anything that we make up our minds to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing up the laundry (ok, not really looking forward to doing it, but looking forward to the being done part), tomorrow my plans include editing and rewriting my final group report for HROB, writing a speech to inspire for COMS, lots and lots of reading (from textbooks) and writing a author research paper for Multicultural Children's Lit, and Sunday, I want to take my babies to Apple Hill (please, weather, cooperate...please)!

Sweet Shot Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (mamarolf) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:39:00 +0000

Fall is here and Oh-so-beautiful! I'm pretty sure that Fall is Sacramento's prettiest season. So many trees and all their glorious colors. I've taken to carrying my camera around with me just in case I need another picture of a tree-lined street.

I took this one while on a walk with my girls, collecting treasures. I just loved the way the sun was shining through the leaves. There was a slight breeze, the sun was sinking lower in the sky and there was just a hint of a nip in the air. We frolicked in leaves and gathered rocks and sticks for our collection. And then we headed inside to a nice warm home and the wonderful aroma of Chef Papa's dinner.