Quiet in the midst of chaos

I think we've finally recovered from all the visiting and driving of two Thanksgivings and one Christmas celebration last weekend.

Now this weekend is my husband's birthday.

Next weekend is Miriam's birthday.

The following weekend we're hosting my dad's whole side for Christmas.

The weekend after that is actually Christmas.

And the weekend after that I'll be struggling to stay awake 'til midnight. Maybe I'll just go to bed and set the alarm.

No Plain Pony November Wrap-Up

We made it!

One thing I learned from all this? Although my hair is very pretty when it's long, I don't think it's the most flattering look for my face. So I finally got up the courage to get my hair cut the other night! And for the first time in ten years I even got (gasp) bangs! Okay, they're long enough that they're probably always going to be tucked behind my ear, but it's a start.

Keeping out the plastic junk

A few thoughts for your Black Friday.

1. If you're reading this you must not be out shopping. I'm not either - even if I wanted to, my husband forbid it. He's good at keeping my consumer tendencies in check! This year we're spending the day with family that we didn't see yesterday, but in the future (when they don't make it in) we plan to do our own Green Friday instead.

No Plain Pony November - Week 3

Anyone else a bit tired of this topic?

It's not that I'm tired of wearing my hair down - I think this challenge is successfully achieving the goal of getting me in that habit. It's trying to find new things to do with it. Especially since, as I mentioned last time, I am not skilled at bobby pin insertion. Give me a pony tail holder and I'm fine. But anything else and the results are not pretty. So that inspired a different challenge for this week: adding accessories to my hair.

The one who actually does it all

The only reason I can use cloth diapers with Miriam is because my husband helps fold the laundry every other day.

The only reason I can cook homemade dinners each night is because my husband empties the dishwasher in the morning, sets the table when he gets home, and does the dishes after supper.

The only reason I can get any sewing done is because my husband puts Miriam to bed every night.

The only reason I can frolic and play with Miriam all day long is because my husband is out there working his tail off.

So when people caution me that "It's not possible for a woman to do it all," I nod vigorously in agreement. The only superhero I know is my husband.

Quick Takes (80)

1

A few days this week I worked hard to actually get some housework done before getting online - and it was amazing what a difference it made! I didn't spend my whole time at the computer trying to avoid eye contact with my to-do list. So relaxing! Now if I could just get a handle on the email situation.

2

Speaking of housework, I think I'm going to give in and make a homemaking notebook. I've toyed with the idea but never had enough motivation to actually put a binder together. (Yes, that's been the biggest thing stopping me.) Today, however, I went to a moms group where they gave us binders and stuff to decorate them and I took that as a sign from God that it was time I got serious about this whole homemaking thing.

But now I have to actually put stuff in it. Do you have a home management notebook? Do you have any good links to posts about starting and organizing one? Please share!

No Plain Pony November - Week 2

I ran out of mousse this week.

This inspired me to add an additional challenge for this week of No Plain Pony November: try a new styling product.

I've got this half-full jar of coconut oil sitting on my bathroom counter. The coconut oil lovers out there tout its many benefits, including as a hair gel. But after my homemade deodorant debacle, I wasn't sure whether I could trust coconut oil. Should I really risk putting it on my scalp? I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it.