And now for something different…

All Request Kitten wants YOU to write in with your comments, questions, and requests. Your wish is Kitten’s command! Well… not really, but it sounds good.

What would you like Kitten to write about? What piques your interest?

Leave your requests below and Kitten will do her best to fulfill them.

Go on, challenge Kitten – she’s not a’scared!

Photo credit: Ferocious Little Cat by boogyman.

I’ve always enjoyed learning new things – back in the ’80s I badgered my hairstylist into telling me how perms worked, just because I wanted to know. So I was surprised when this topic ended up being more of a challenge than I thought it would be.

1. Power Point

No, I don’t know how to do a Power Point. Yes, I know it’s incredibly easy, I just haven’t taken time to learn how yet. I need to set aside the time though, because Power Point has long been a standard part of presentations, and cuz it’s kind of embarrassing to admit that even though I know html and css I haven’t ever done a Power Point.

2. Balance

I know I’ve said this many times before – proof that I haven’t mastered it yet. I see myself as a plate spinner: I get one area of my life going, then have to rush to another before it crashes, then another, and another, but can never keep them all going at once. I’m confident I can learn Power Point in 2012; but am not so sure about Balance.

3. Yoga

Princess has been raving about her Bob Harper Weight Loss Yoga DVD, so I thought I’d to give yoga a try. I’ve also heard so many good things about yoga, especially for maintaining strength and flexibility as you get older, so I figure it’s a good idea to start while I’m still young. This is definitely do-able… maybe it’ll help me finally find Balance in my life too.

 
What about you? What three things do YOU want to learn in 2012, and why?

Photos: Powerpoint from www.chemistryland.com, Balance from www.hybrid-cluster.com, Relax by duchessa.

This is a guest post by Melissa C. of Blog Content Guild, who has offered to share some eco-friendly birthday ideas with us. This is not a paid post; the only benefit I received (besides the great tips) was time saved from having someone else write the post.

Anyone who has ever been to a child’s birthday party has probably noticed that these are not usually the healthiest events in the world. You may have taken the time to find the perfect theme for your child’s party, getting some awesome Disney character or Mario Brothers party supplies for your little one, but, inevitably, the kids will usually end up sitting in one place watching a movie or playing in the sandbox, then move to the table to grab handfuls of cake, candy, and pizza.

These parties are not only unhealthy, but harmful for the environment, too. When it’s all over, we throw away uneaten food, paper plates, plastic knives, and left over party decorations. However, birthday parties don’t have to be wasteful or harmful to the environment. Make a change by following these tips for your next party:

• - Instead of providing the children with cake and greasy pizza, think of a healthy alternative. Spaghetti with a vegetable based sauce can be a fun alternative to pizza and instead of sugary cakes, try an angel food cake with a yogurt-based filling or fluffy chocolate icing.
• - Depending on the size of your party you might even want to turn the food into a fun activity for the little party animals to enjoy. Try making a healthy snack like granola bars for the kids to enjoy. You can let them help with the mixing and, of course, the eating.
• - If you’ve ever cleaned up after a kid’s birthday party, you know about all the paper or plastic plates that get thrown away. You should know that you have alternatives to styrofoam plates, which take 5,000 years to biodegrade. In comparison, paper napkins take less than six months to biodegrade. Bamboo is also a cheap and chic alternative to styrofoam and plastic plates. Companies like Bambu make very fashionable disposable dinnerware from the plant which is one of the fastest growing on Earth.

Planning a child’s birthday party should be fun. Take the headache of waste out of the equation and you will throw a great party that you won’t have to feel guilty about!

~ Melissa

Thank you for those great tips, Melissa! And thanks for your time; we’d love to have you write another guest article again some time.

5. Kid Hugs

Almost nothing lifts my spirits like a hug from on of my kiddos, grandkiddos, or child care kiddos. They know it and are quick to offer some “hug therapy” whenever I seem to need it… and even when I don’t. Kid hugs rock!

4. Cleaning

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but cleaning brings me peace. OK, maybe not the physical act so much as the final result, but you know what I mean. I can’t breathe surrounded with clutter and dirt, but a clean house brings me peace. June Cleaver, you ARE my hero.

3. Christmas Music

Yeah, I know I’m probably the only person in the world who listens to Christmas music year-round. I’m OK with that. It makes me happy and doesn’t hurt anyone. My kids haven’t been officially diagnosed as crazy because of it… yet.

2. Coffee

Mmmm…coffee! Just the aroma of a freshly-made latte calms me. I sip HOT! and tension gives way to the sensation of sweet warmth flowing down to the center of my body. Coffee therapy – cheap and delicious.

1. Teacher’s Arms

There’s no place on Earth I’d rather be than in Teacher’s arms. No matter how small or large the crisis – a broken dish or my grandma dying – when Teacher wraps his arms around me I know everything will be OK.

Well that’s my list, simple as it may be.

What five things bring you peace?

Photo credits: Cafe Love by scottsnyde, Christmas Ornament by kristja, Clean Home 2 by lusi

1. Get back to blogging at least three times a week.
It’s just a matter of discipline and self-control to make myself write – even if I don’t feel like it.

2. FINALLY shed those last five pounds.
Another matter of discipline and self-control to think about what goes in my mouth. Hmmm, I’m noticing a trend here…

3. Keep the house clean cleaner.
It’s not that hard to take an extra minute to put things where they go instead of stashing them someplace. More discipline and self-control.

4. Exercise.
Ugh. I don’t like to exercise but I know it’s important for my health. This’ll require vast amounts of discipline and self-control. I’m not looking forward to it.

5. Get organized.
The last time I really felt on top of things was seven years ago, when Jo-Bear was five. It’s high time I get organized again – no more “day late and a dollar short” for me! Discipline and self-control? You betcha!

What about you?
In 2012, come heck or high water, YOU are going to…

The other day I got an email from BlogHer.com, inviting me to participate in their Life Well Lived editorial program by answering this question:

How do you care for your hair in the colder, drier months?

That really made me think, and I realized that the only changes I make for winter are purely cosmetic: style and color.

Generally in the spring and summer I go blonder…

Then brunette or red the brighter the better in the fall and winter.

Then I started thinking again… Wisconsin winters are notoriously cold, with freezing dry air outside and hot dry inside. Maybe I should take better care of my hair during the winter.

I did some research, and found these tips for beautiful winter hair. Most of them are pretty common-sense, but it can’t hurt to go over them again:

1. Use the right kind of products. Ask your stylist which products are right for your hair, and buy the highest quality products you can afford. If you can’t afford salon products, ask for “over the counter” recommendations that will work with your hair type and style.

2. Don’t go outside with wet hair. Obviously if there’s ice outside it’s cold enough to freeze water – including the water in your hair – so take the extra time to dry your hair before you go outside. Not only is it better for your hair, it’ll keep your head warmer too. And we all know that if our head is warmer, our whole body is warmer, right?

3. Protect your hair with a hat, scarf, or conditioner. I know, those three don’t seem to go together, but here’s the deal – I can’t wear hats. Or scarves. Some people look adorable in hats, can take them off, tousle their hair, and be Victoria’s-Secret-model gorgeous. Hats make me look bag lady frumpy, and after I take it off I’m more Don King than Victoria’s Secret. Not the look I usually go for. Those of us who can’t wear hats can protect our hair by using conditioner every day. If your hair seems really dry use a light-weight leave-in conditioner.

4. Use heat sparingly. Wash your hair in cooler water, switch to a cooler setting on your hair dryer, and save the curling iron or flatiron for special occasions. When you do need to use hot styling tools, apply a heat-activated conditioner first to help prevent damage.

5. Stop static by applying a light coat of hairspray after you’re done styling. If you don’t normally use hairspray, spray your hairbrush then run it through your hair – you’ll avoid both “helmet head” and static.

For more suggestions – including my favorite tip of all – check out BlogHer’s Life Well Lived Cold Weather Hair Care post, and add your own tips.

While you’re at BlogHer be sure to enter the $250 Sweepstakes. Someone’s going to win – maybe this time it’ll be you!

1. I’ve never jumped off anything higher than the monkey bars.

Actually, I’m not sure I’ve even jumped off those; I’m not a big fan of heights.

2. I’ve never lived alone.

I lived with my family until I went to college, then I had a roommate, then a second roommate I had more in common with *waves to Patty* then I got married. I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I’d lived alone between college and marriage, but I wouldn’t give up a day with Teacher to find out.

3. I have never visited Ireland.

Or Venice, Scotland, New Zealand, England, Mexico, Maine, Washington, Colorado. Or any of the other states and countries I’d love to see someday. Someday…

4. I have never broken a bone.

I’d never had surgery either, until a couple of years ago. And I’d like to keep it that way.

5. I have never ridden a horse well.

In high school I got to ride my first horse. I was doing OK until she took off across a cornfield with me hanging on for dear life. I haven’t felt the urge to get on a horse again since.

6. I’ve never gone to jail.

Except for our 8th grade field trip and I don’t think that counts.

Oooh, oooh – I do have a favorite quote about jail: “A good friend will come bail you out of jail, but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying…’Dang, that was fun!’”

7. I’ve never run a marathon.

Or even a half-marathon, although Teacher and I walked our third half-marathon this past September. I was a sprinter in high school but have never been fond of long-distance running. It’s a lot of work.

8. I’ve never slept on the couch, or made Teacher sleep on the couch.

Not that I didn’t try when we were first married; I just wasn’t successful. I think that’s partly why our marriage is so strong.

9. I have never done drugs.

Seriously. I can look my children straight in the eye and tell them that I’ve never done drugs. Not every parent can do that. I’m proud that I can.

10. I’ve never found balance in my life.

I’m like the plate spinner at the circus: I focus on one aspect of life until another starts to wobble, then I pour my efforts into that one until the next one threatens to crash. Someday I’ll find balance… I hope!

Thanks to my good friend, Cricket, for thinking up this blogging challenge; it was fun, and made me think at the same time.

How about you; what are 10 things you’ve never done? Post your list and leave a comment below with a link to your blog!

Nicole did it again – it’s all her fault!

A couple of months ago Nicole’s little sister had a baby boy, and Nicole ordered a mother’s necklace with the baby’s name and birthstone for her.

I was quietly jealous; I’ve wanted a mother’s necklace for a long time, but my children’s birthstones are a problem:

As much as I love my children and was thrilled when each of them was born, their birthstones don’t look so hot together.

It doesn’t help that I’m not a red/white/blue sort of girl; I’m more purple/blue/green sort of girl. I guess I should’ve planned out the kids’ birth months better.

Anyway, when the necklace arrived Nicole showed it to me and I instantly turned Grinch-green with envy. It was simple, and beautiful, and perfect: a small silver disc with the baby’s name hand stamped along the bottom and a blue crystal hanging above.

I want one too! Pouting.

But there’s that little red/white/blue problem. And wouldn’t six separate discs mush together into one unreadable lump?

What’s a poor mama with necklace envy to do?

Go shopping, of course!

I browsed Fireweed Impressions’ Etsy store where Nicole got her sister’s necklace and found a possible solution: a layered necklace with a large disc on the bottom, a medium disc in the middle, a small flat heart on top, and a pearl bead hanging above. Perfect!

I convo’d Fireweed Impressions and asked if they could fit all of my children’s names on a necklace like the layered heart one. Several convos later we’d come up with the perfect design. I’m not telling what it is though – you’ll have to keep reading to see it!

When I’m excited about something I have as little patience as a kid waiting for Santa. Luckily I didn’t have to wait long – even though it was a custom order coming from Canada it arrived in just over a week!

Like most of my Etsy purchases, my new necklace was prettily packaged. Opening a package is always fun, but opening a package from an Etsy seller is extra-special. Don’t believe me? Check out my package from Silver Daisy Designs!

And here it is:
Drumroll…
Ta-da! My new mother’s necklace!

Names have been blurred to protect the innocent my poor mom-stop-embarassing-us-already family.

I absolutely LOVE it and have worn it almost every day since it arrived. Not only does it have all my children’s names, Teacher’s and mine are on the top disc, and there’s no red/white/blue in sight. Perfect!

Life is good.
Family is better!

Summertime has finally arrived in Wisconsin! You can tell from this photo of Little Guy because:

• He was finally allowed to wear shorts.
• His lips are stained popsicle red.
• His skin is still pasty winter white.
• He has that “I spent all day outside” glazed look in his eyes.
• Both knees are sporting brand-new bandages.

Every summer I stock up on bandages from Walgreens; with so many children around we go through them like crazy!

Have you stocked up for summer yet?

Check out my Walgreens Review and Giveaway – you could win a $100 Walgreens gift card from BlogHer. That’ll get you a TON of bandages, sunscreen, or whatever else you need for summer!

The contest ends June 30 so be sure to enter before then, and good luck!

Day 03 – Something you have to forgive yourself for.

When Teacher was in graduate school we lived in post-World-War-II apartments, owned by the school. There were six apartments in each building; three floors with two apartments on each floor and a staircase between. Each apartment had a laundry hook-up and storage area in the basement, which could only be accessed through an external door.

St. Louis is known for hot and humid summers, and one summer seemed to be worse than usual. My best friend besides Teacher, of course and I set up a good-sized pool in the parking lot behind the building. The pool was big enough that several adults and children could soak without infringing on each other’s personal space too much.

The high temperatures, lack of shade, and heat reflected off the black-topped parking lot heated up the pool to the point that cold water had to be added every day. We hooked several hoses together until we had enough length to reach from one of the laundry sinks to the pool.

We weren’t stupid – we knew that even though we were on the outskirts of St. Louis we were still close enough that crime was a definite possibility – but we got complacent, and to be honest, we got lazy.

Tired of rolling up the hose and locking the basement door every night only to unlock the door and unroll the hose again every morning, we neglected to put away the hose a couple of days. It was one of those things that you know you should do, but don’t.

You can probably guess what happened next… one night someone walked right in the unlocked door and stole a bunch of bikes – some valuable, others not so much, and none of them ours.

I felt awful.

I felt sick.

I wanted to turn back time and lock that stupid door.

I wanted to crawl into a hole and not come out until the school year was over and we’d moved away.

One of the other couples that lived in the building had their valuable mountain bikes taken. The afternoon after the bikes were stolen the wife knocked on our kitchen door, wanting to talk about the theft.

She was understandably very angry and berated me for being so irresponsible.

I couldn’t defend myself; she was right. I’d been irresponsible, lazy, thoughtless.

All I could do was apologize profusely and ask her forgiveness, which I did, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

Even now, almost 20 years later, I still feel awful when I think about it.

I wonder if she remembers and holds a grudge, or if she’s forgotten.

I suppose I could track them down and find out, if I really wanted to.

I’m not sure I do.

What would I say? “Hey, remember the time your bikes were stolen in St. Louis? Well, I’m the one who left the door unlocked. Are you still mad at me?”

I think I’ll pass. Hopefully they’ve forgiven and forgotten.

I just wish I could.

Past Days:
Day 01 – Something you hate about yourself
Day 02 – Something you love about yourself

Future Days selected from the following:
Day 04 – Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 – Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 – Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 – Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 – Someone who made your life miserable, or treated you like dirt.
Day 09 – Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 – Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 – Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 – Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 – A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 – A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 – Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 – Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 – A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 – Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 – What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 – Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 – (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 – Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 – Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 – Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 – The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 – Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 – What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 – What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 – Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 – A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.