Time for a Tune Up!

"The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well" Lewis Carroll 

 Do you ever feel like Alice in Wonderland tumbling down the rabbit hole?? Some days I feel like everything is just wooshing(yes that's a word) by me as I grasp for a moment of sanity, while others days I feel like I've done nothing of use to myself or anyone eles.  Learning to balance time and energy sure is a job all in it's self!

I am slowly getting use to this SAHM thing, but I find that I am starting to get a bit depressed by it. Maybe it's that idea that school starts in a few weeks and for the first time in 25 years, I am not setting up a classroom. I am beginning to realize that I have identified my existence as 'Teacher". I never thought I would be lost without 20 small humans to care for each day!  I am now really trying to  focus on being wife and mom, but with my stupid sucky illness (MS) I know that I also need to take the time to care for myself and not get lost in the shuffle.

I came upon this great blog  from Roxanne at Haven of Home awhile back and I think it hits the nail right on the head.  Here's how she sums it up....

I realized something the other day. I take better care of my car than I do of myself.

Case in point:

If the Car gets new tires when they begin to be too weather-worn,
Then I should keep my finger and toenails up-to-date.

If the Car gets to go to the car wash regularly to keep in shiny,
Then my daily shower takes on a newer purpose.

If the Car gets its oil changed,
Then I should moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

If the Car has an outward appearance that is sleek and smooth,
Then my legs, underarms, and eyebrow area deserve the same.

If the Car's color begins to fade or (gasp) peel, showing the sheet metal beneath warranting a new paint job,
Then I should make sure my gray stays covered on a regular basis.
(Note: Others embrace their gray. Mine will be held at bay for many years to come.)

If the Car gets its fluids topped off routinely,
Then those 8 glasses of water each day are critical for me.

If the Car gets decluttered and neatened on the inside,
Then I should declutter the fat.

If the Car gets to have high-priced gas,
Then I should buy organic when possible.

If the Car gets its upholstery and rugs vacuumed,
Then I should keep my clothes in great condition.

If I want my chassis to last a lifetime, I need to pay it better attention.


Pretty good huh?  I am totally  guilty of this. I actually have a service that comes to my house every week to wash my car, but half the time I don't even brush my rat's nest hair!  Looking back on those awesome 50's wives, they may have been totally devoted to their Dear Husbands, but they always took the time to care for themselves.  My MaMaw died at 78 years old with a full set of make up on. she would NEVER have dreamed of stepping out of the house without being done up!

So to keep my engine running smooth here is what I am commiting too:

• Dry brushing before every bath/shower to remove the rust


• Moisturizing everyday to keep the "Dents" out.


• toping up my fluids by drinking water everyday (I really hate water)


• getting a monthly wax (the all over kind not just the brows!)


• mani/pedi twice a month


• weekly massage (don't hate me cuz your jealous!)


• Facial every two weeks


• Weekly shampoo/set at the salon


• Dye my hair ever 4-6 weeks (if my hair wasn't naturally this lovely auburn of course)


• start my engine everyday and by that I mean get my lazy butt outside for a walk every morning!


• use premium fuel instead of filling p with the fast food low grade crap


• get better tires (stop wearing $2 flip flops and get something better on my feet!)


• take her out for a spin (go out and have fun more often!)

Sounds like a lot of pampering tome.... HHMMMM maybe I am starting to like this SAHM stuff!

PS.  If it seems a bit over endulgent to you please remember I am in Thailand where I can get a massage, mani/ped, facial and shampoo for about $20.00 (for all)  Ahhh I love Thailand, even without Taco Bell!

Time for a Tune Up!

"The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well" Lewis Carroll 

 Do you ever feel like Alice in Wonderland tumbling down the rabbit hole?? Some days I feel like everything is just wooshing(yes that's a word) by me as I grasp for a moment of sanity, while others days I feel like I've done nothing of use to myself or anyone eles.  Learning to balance time and energy sure is a job all in it's self!

I am slowly getting use to this SAHM thing, but I find that I am starting to get a bit depressed by it. Maybe it's that idea that school starts in a few weeks and for the first time in 25 years, I am not setting up a classroom. I am beginning to realize that I have identified my existence as 'Teacher". I never thought I would be lost without 20 small humans to care for each day!  I am now really trying to  focus on being wife and mom, but with my stupid sucky illness (MS) I know that I also need to take the time to care for myself and not get lost in the shuffle.

I came upon this great blog  from Roxanne at Haven of Home awhile back and I think it hits the nail right on the head.  Here's how she sums it up....

I realized something the other day. I take better care of my car than I do of myself.

Case in point:

If the Car gets new tires when they begin to be too weather-worn,
Then I should keep my finger and toenails up-to-date.

If the Car gets to go to the car wash regularly to keep in shiny,
Then my daily shower takes on a newer purpose.

If the Car gets its oil changed,
Then I should moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

If the Car has an outward appearance that is sleek and smooth,
Then my legs, underarms, and eyebrow area deserve the same.

If the Car's color begins to fade or (gasp) peel, showing the sheet metal beneath warranting a new paint job,
Then I should make sure my gray stays covered on a regular basis.
(Note: Others embrace their gray. Mine will be held at bay for many years to come.)

If the Car gets its fluids topped off routinely,
Then those 8 glasses of water each day are critical for me.

If the Car gets decluttered and neatened on the inside,
Then I should declutter the fat.

If the Car gets to have high-priced gas,
Then I should buy organic when possible.

If the Car gets its upholstery and rugs vacuumed,
Then I should keep my clothes in great condition.

If I want my chassis to last a lifetime, I need to pay it better attention.


Pretty good huh?  I am totally  guilty of this. I actually have a service that comes to my house every week to wash my car, but half the time I don't even brush my rat's nest hair!  Looking back on those awesome 50's wives, they may have been totally devoted to their Dear Husbands, but they always took the time to care for themselves.  My MaMaw died at 78 years old with a full set of make up on. she would NEVER have dreamed of stepping out of the house without being done up!

So to keep my engine running smooth here is what I am commiting too:

• Dry brushing before every bath/shower to remove the rust
• Moisturizing everyday to keep the "Dents" out.
• toping up my fluids by drinking water everyday (I really hate water)
• getting a monthly wax (the all over kind not just the brows!)
• mani/pedi twice a month
• weekly massage (don't hate me cuz your jealous!)
• Facial every two weeks
• Weekly shampoo/set at the salon
• Dye my hair ever 4-6 weeks (if my hair wasn't naturally this lovely auburn of course)
• start my engine everyday and by that I mean get my lazy butt outside for a walk every morning!
• use premium fuel instead of filling p with the fast food low grade crap
• get better tires (stop wearing $2 flip flops and get something better on my feet!)
• take her out for a spin (go out and have fun more often!)

Sounds like a lot of pampering tome.... HHMMMM maybe I am starting to like this SAHM stuff!

PS.  If it seems a bit over endulgent to you please remember I am in Thailand where I can get a massage, mani/ped, facial and shampoo for about $20.00 (for all)  Ahhh I love Thailand, even without Taco Bell!

Old School Baby

Before Pickles was born I made a pledge to use only cloth diapers. since they don't have any of the fancy AIO here in Thailand, I spent a ton of time sewing diapers.  OM goodness they are soooo cute!  Unfortunately the whole thing has been a bust. We tried many different patterns and Google even designed his own before we could get a good fit, but we still have major problems. Basically we can't get the right fabric here to make the diapers waterproof and so wearing cloth means changing bedding or pads continuously!  Good Lordy the laundry that makes. Well,our motto around here is "Try, Try, Again" so, we instead of giving up on the whole cloth diaper bit we are going to give up the prefolds, and go old school.

So here is the new plan....

Back in May Dirty Diaper Laundry placed a flat diaper challenge.

Here are the rules:

• You MUST use Flats.Ok, no problem you can get them here.
• You MUST handwash them.  How is up to you.  (bathtub, sink, large wash tub, portable non electronic washing machine, or camp style washer (bucket and plunger- think churning butter) Again, no problem, we hand wash the majority of our clothes.
• You MUST air dry them.  (indoors or outdoors, makes no difference) Is there any other way??? (I haven't had a dryer in 10 years)
• You MUST limit your number of covers in rotation to 5 or less. Yikes, now I need to makecovers!
• You can use any detergent you want.  (Keep in mind that you still want cloth safe detergents)
• You can still use your nighttime diapers but I ask that you try to make flats work.  Maybe try a prefold wrapped in a flat.
• You can use disposable liners. Yeah helps for poop!
• You CAN’T use a diaper sprayer.  I thought long and hard about this one, but at an average cost of 40.00 this is one diaper accessory that is out of range for many families.  Dunk, swish, flush, or scrape! Sorry Not giving up my sprayer It's Thai culture
• You MUST start the morning of May 23 and end the evening of May 30. OPPS I'm a day late and a dollar short!
• You MUST fill out a completion survey about your experience.  Results will be published here and can be republished on your own blog. 

Can you believe that 400 moms took this challenge?? Holy Guacamole!

So, I am to late to do the formal challenge, but I figure it's never too late. Google and I have been contemplating this for months.  Prefolds are cool, but what ever happened to good 'ol diapers and rubber pants?? I used them for the Grown Ups and never had a problem, so why not use them now?  So in traditional 50's housewife style I am going to start my own little vintage baby challenge. Starting September 1st our little jungle home is going retro and using flat cloth diapers from now on.

Sorry if I don't blog for a while, I might be busy washing diapers!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... is a super cute little orange and white scooter that I am longing to ride!

I am thinking... that I am not sure how much longer I can take being immobilized.
I am thankful... that I have help in caring for my little Pickles

From the learning rooms... My lesson plans book is dusty

In the kitchen... Chicken cookin in the crockpot! Yum yum
I am wearing... a skirt and 
I am creating... a sign language book for the baby

I am going... to get on that scooter when no one is lookin!

I am wondering... what religion are the Duggars?? and with 20 acres of land, why aren't they farming and teaching their 19 kids to be producers instead of consumers?

I am reading... an awesome book called "The Book of Negros"
I am hoping... That by next week my MS relapse will be done and I can get on with my life
I am looking forward to... spending the next month learning to be a good wife
I am hearing...the water in my front fountain trickling

Around the house... lazy dogs are lying everywhere!

I am pondering... how I can get my hubby to go buy me paint for the living room...(I've changed the color twice in three months)
One of my favorite things...

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

(add your picture here)

February Baby Carbon Steps

When I found out we where getting a baby the first thing we did was run off to the mall. 23 years ago when I started giving birth to “the Grown Ups” I was young and dirt poor. I had to work two jobs just to buy diapers. This time, I’m all grown up can basically afford to buy anything and everything little Pickles could need. My first thoughts where all the stuff cool new stuff they have out for babies and how we needed them ALL!

Then I got to thinking, “Why?” Why is it so important that Pickles has everything brand new? She’s not going to care if someone else already wore her onsie, so why should I?  Is it more important for the baby to have a $500 stroller from America or for us to send the money on a plane ticket for Beans to come see her baby sister?

February’s goal for us is to refrain from buying new baby stuff. We are working to beg, borrow or buy, used baby clothes and any baby items we might need.

We have some awesome friends who dug through their storage and found some great things like this Cherry wood Basset Crib from the states, tons of clothes, and a cool Graco stroller/ car seat.

The stroller and car seat where a little faded, but other wise in great shape,  so my DH Google, dug down to his Indian roots and pulled out his alter ego “the little seamstress” and totally remodeled both stroller and car seat in a great cherry fabric. It turned out so awesome and only cost us about $30 instead of the $500 I had planned on spending. (and Beans gets to see her baby sis!)

So far we have got everything second hand  or made it ourselves. The only thing that I am going to buy is some new glass baby bottles, and  maybe a binky or two.  That cutie, over priced baby dress will just have to stay on the rack.  

Don't Wake the Baby!!!

Three months! I have been a new mommy for three months, and I haven't had a spare moment in THREE MONTHS!  Our bouncing baby girl came into this world unexpectedly April 6th. We had Taken Baby Momma to the hospital for her monthly check up thinking we had three more weeks to go. To our surprise she was in labor and dilated to 5cm. The girl never said a word. It completely baffles me. I have birth three babies and believe me I KNEW when I was in labor. three hours later we had our beautiful little girl Rosalin Olivia.

How had I forgotten how tiring babies are?? Maybe it's just because I'm no spring chicken any more. How did I ever take care of three little ones at one time, when this 8 pound ball on chubby single-handedly runs me into the ground every day?????  Oye vay!!!!

So for the past 9 weeks Pickles has been sleeping through the night from 8pm-6am. Yeah right? Well, it would be a yeah if she slept at least a little during the day.  Our little princess never sleeps longer than 20 mins during the day, and to top is off, if someone isn't holding her... she screams.  We are talking BLOODY MURDER SCREAM!  It is so hard to understand how such a smiley happy little thing can turn into Linda Blair in the matter of seconds.  Honestly it began to scare me.  Is there something wrong with my poor baby?  I even began to question Baby Momma's actions. What if she had been using drugs or drinking and we never knew????  I couldn't even imagine!  after 6 weeks of having to be held 15 hours a day, I am seriously thinking that Attachment Parenting folks are a bit crazy!  I mean, I love my baby, but my arms hurt, my back aches and I am going slowly insaine.

So.... I broke down.  First, I got cable TV installed. Now I can actually sit and watch something while holding Pickles and not feel like I am going to lose my mind.   And, as much as I hate to admit it, I hired a live in nanny/housekeeper. So now, I don't have to feel so quilty that my house is a mess and I haven't got ANT THING accomplished all day.  In my defence, my husband has been away in Africa for the past month and I was all alone trying to deal with screaming Mimi.

Now, at three months she is finally starting to give me a bit more time. Yesterday I actually finished painting my living room after three weeks! Pickles is finally calming down as we try to settle into a rhythm here in our jungle home and all the monkeys are happy...for now

Dating ABC's

After years of marriage you tend to start getting cobwebs in your dancing shoes. Google and I always have "date night" once a week, but it has really turned a bit routine (dinner/movie) and wasn't exciting the way it was meant to be. If you know us, you know that we had a very rocky year in 2009 and were separated for 7 months with me in Hawaii and him in Thailand. Thank you Love Dare for helping us fireproof our marriage! Being apart and the fear of losing our marriage really helped us to realize that the time we have together is a gift and should not be wasted.

So we started talking and came up with a new plan. First, we decided that instead off celebrating our anniversary just one time a year we were going to celebrate it every month with little mini monthaversary. To help us with ideas on things to do I came up with the idea of working through the alphabet (I'm such a teacher!) so each month we will do one or two things starting with the letter we are currently on.

Google thought this was a great idea and started going through the alphabet of restaurants we could eat at! NOT the idea! The things we do needed to be stuff that we wouldn't normally do. For example, we started all over for 2011 so this month we are on "C" and are taking a cooking class together and going camping.  Google doesn't know it yet, but next month I am dragging him to dance lessons to try to erase some of his white boy rhythm. For "E" maybe the elephant reserve, (of course he is going to say "eat"). The idea is to #1 spend time together doing things that we don't normally do and #2 get out and see more of Chiang Mai. We have so many awesome things here in this little town that tourist come to see, but as locals we never take the time for.  I can't wait to find out all the crazy adventures we might get into this year, and I look forward to spending time with my love! Any ideas for us???

B is for Boat....Scorpion Tailed boats!  http://www.scorpiontailed.com/

Mud huts shaped like boats and a river cruise. LOVED it! And the best part was that my DH planned it all himself!

Can't wait for this one!
Elephant Mahout!