And My Journey Thru' Breast Cancer
Christmas eve came and went – and I woke up very tired the next morning because the kid didn’t wanna sleep on the eve and woke up extremely early on Christmas day excited to open her presents. We didn’t get to bed will almost 4am last night because Chloe kept waking up asking if it was time yet – or if Santa came yet. So it took us some time to wrap up all the presents we got for her and those from Santa. But it’s finally over and another 364 days to Christmas again !
If anything – Chloe is never too lazy to help us out to do anything – from dishes to taking down movie tags at the store – so PB wanted her to help out to wrap her grammie and grampie’s presents for Christmas. She was very happy indeed and did a very good job. I guess at 8 years old she can do pretty much anything albeit not perfect but who cares right? The lesson learned here is never to refuse a child when he or she wants to help. Unlike my mom – she was never happy with us helping her sweep or mop the floor – hahahha!! she either accused us of lying about the chore or doing it again herself – so we practically gave up. I never want my child to feel the way we felt with when I was young, Chloe need not prove anything to us at all.
So I want Chloe to grow up to be a self sufficient kid – but I sure started late. Like all parents – and especially the first time ones – we tend to hover and over protect our babies and seriously, that is quite normal because we loved our kids and we don’t know any better. As for me – there was no one to teach me – for my own upbringing was entirely different. But one thing I’m very proud of Chloe is – she learned to clean after herself (toys) when she was very young. She can mess up the entire room – but when it is time to clean up – she does a great job!
But the dressing up, bathing, picking her own clothing and pouring her own drinks – all these came only at a later stage – and I’m not ashamed to say that it’s completely my doing because I’m the helicopter mom. But for moms-to-be or the new moms out there – children are a lot more resilient and a lot smarter than we give them credit for and they are capable of doing a lot more than we think they can.
So I keep reminding myself – all the time – to help Chloe grow into a self-sufficient kid – so that she will develop her self-identity and to learn that she is a competent lil’ girl and worthy of her friends and anyone around her.
This year we are really late in putting up our Christmas decoration at home even though the ones for the store – was up straight after Halloween. I think that has to do with having Gary around – so I got lazy at home – plus we were busy trying to get Chloe’s birthday going. Our new X’mas tree this year was bought last year after Christmas – so we got this pre-lit tree cheap – less than 100 and it’s 7 ft tall. Chloe always have a good time – putting up the Christmas decoration – and we finally put up the trees and lights today. I can’t wait for Christmas to be over – and things can go back to normal. Thus far, it had been cold – but not terrible yet.
Yes! PB is only 39 and he turned 39 a few days ago – but I had completely forgotten the date – and only later in the day did i remember – muahahah!!! I’m guessing it’s because we are too familiar with each other that birthdays and Christmases or Valentine day is just another day to us. I don’t know about you – but after so many years together – the romantic and the heart beating part is not so much there no more. Don’t get me wrong – of course i love the man – but he is very the unromantic – if you get the drift! I don’t expect flowers and champagne everyday but mannnn!!! he doesn’t plan for stuff like that – quite boring right?
My mom used to say that a boring man is an honest man – but I have to tell my mom that she is not completely right – hahha!! the honest part is right – but mannn ..!! the boring can kill! but yes! he was this way when i met him and I don’t expect to change him – but really – if his form of romantic is bringing me and the kid out for lunch once a week and he is buried in his kindle – now I could smack him for that. So a little balance is good – some interest to be shown to the kid and I would be nice, hmmmmm … I’ve gotta think of a clever way to explain all the above to him without sounding mad or whiny.
Yes! we won a watch from Roots and it just arrived a few minutes ago. Are we excited !! for sure! it’s not just about the watch – I think it’s all about the winning. We are so lucky right? yup ! sure are! I had entered using PB’s account on FB – and little did I know we won!
I only took the picture of the box of the watch – how silly is that? I will take another picture of the watch itself and put it on when i get home.
PS : did I tell you I love my new domain – unlike blogsome – this allows me to host my own photos on the blog – I don’t have to host it elsewhere – making it so easy for me.
Image Source: Frugal Living
When it comes to being frugal and eco-friendly, many people may not realize the amount of laundry that they do can have a significant impact on their expenses and their energy-consumption. The average size household will do at least 7 loads of laundry per week, which totals around 400 loads of laundry per year. A load of laundry can use 20-40 gallons of water meaning a year’s worth of laundry will use 16,000 gallons of water.
That is not to mention the amount of electricity that will be used to wash and dry 400 loads of clothes, towels, and blankets.
When you are looking for ways to save money and reduce your family’s carbon footprint, the laundry room and your washer dryer is the perfect place to start.
Pro Tip 1: Wash in Cold Water
By washing your clothes in cold water, you can cut the amount of electricity you use by more than half! The average load of laundry washed in hot or warm water, uses 4.5kWh of electricity (about $0.68 per load-$265/year) whereas a load washed in cold water uses a mere 0.3kWh ($.04 per load- $16/year). [Source]
Pro Tip 2: Use Other Drying Methods
The clothes dryer is a major culprit in raising electric bills. Any item that generates heat uses more electricity to operate. Use a clothesline to dry your clothes or hang them from hangers on the shower rod in the bathroom. Clothes will take longer to dry; however, you will save a great deal of money on your energy bill.
Pro Tip 3: Avoid Expensive Detergents
Yes, expensive detergents smell great and will leave you with the impression that your laundry is clean because of the way it smells. However, cheaper, economy-sized laundry detergents contain the same basic ingredients and will work just as well.
For half the price, you can purchase larger containers of laundry detergent and your clothes will be just as clean. Furthermore, there will be less packaging to recycle or toss out. You can also choose eco-friendly detergents. Environmentally-friendly ingredients to look for include grain alcohol, coconut plant oils, rosemary and sage.
Pro Tip 4: Top Load Versus the Front Loading Washer
If you are still using the outdated washing machine that you bought ten years ago, chances are you are wasting a lot of water. The average top load washer uses almost 40 gallons for one single load of clothes. A front-load washer only uses about 20 gallons per load.
Upgrading to a new washer can dramatically reduce the amount of water that you use in your home and is an eco-friendly choice.
Pro Tip 5: If It’s Not Dirty, Don’t Wash It!
Okay, this does not mean that you and your family should wear dirty clothes just because you are trying to reduce the amount of money you spend on laundry. Just make sure that you are not washing clothes that are not dirty. If you wear your nice dress slacks for an hour and then change, they most likely will be fine to fold up and put back in the drawer.
Some other tips to try:
– Cut your dryer sheets in half (or omit them altogether). This way you can cut these dryer sheet costs by half!
– Dilute your laundry detergent. By keeping an extra detergent bottle aside, you can fill it half way with detergent and the other half with water.
– Use vinegar instead of fabric softener. ¼ cup of fabric softener (for big loads) saves money and does just the trick.
By paying a bit more attention to how, and when, you do your laundry, it will be completely possible for you to save hundreds of dollars each year. This will help reduce the impact that your family has on the environment by cutting water and energy usage as well. Everyone likes to have clean clothes to wear, but this should not come at such an expensive cost and it really does not have to.
Canadian really got talent – and as I watch this group played at the Farmer’s Market 2 weeks ago – I can’t help but think that this people sure got guts and perseverance. I’m not too arty farty like – but I do love music a lot – I remembered going to the Symphony – everytime a friend was in town from US or Australia. Those were the good ole days! unfortunately, for me PB is only into the heavy metal kinda of music – but I can’t stand them because they are so loud and had lots of foul languages in them. I do love this group – sometimes the groups playing isn’t so fantastic and I don’t stay and listen – but acknowledge them nevertheless.
Chloe will be 8 yrs old in a month time – mannn! time really flies – and I have to keep reminding myself to enjoy her as much as I can before she becomes and adult and leave me – to have her own life. I’m busy preparing not only for Chloe’s birthday but for Christmas as well – and looking back at the last 7 years, I’ve learned so much from bringing Chloe up. One thing for sure – is the realization of what my own mother must have gone thru’ while bringing me and my siblings up on her own. I learned not to be too critical of her and I learned to love Chloe a lot more – and because of my own father’s non-participation in our life – I made sure that PB plays a very important role in Chloe’s life. As I did not have grandparents to dote on me – I hope that Chloe’s paternal grandparents would – unfortunately, they spend so little time with her – so much so – I’m afraid when she grows up – she might not be closed to her grandparents. Chloe is a happy and sensitive kid – she is doing well in school and most importantly is healthy. I pray for all good things for her – and want her to be a good person and many, many more years of watching her grow.
Many of us remember when educational toddler toys began and ended at alphabet blocks and pull-string toys that emitted animal sounds. These days, however, the emphasis on encouraging your children to use their minds from an early age means that the field of educational toys has exploded. There are some wonderful toys out there created specifically to feed your child’s brain from infancy onward.
1. OLLO Action Robot Kit
If you want to give your child a head start on those mechanical engineering programs you hope to inspire him or her to delve into later, this OLLO kit is an excellent educational toy. Five different pre-planned robots can be built from the same pieces included in the kit, including a windmill, walking T-Rex, dog, and more. There are also plans not included that can be looked up online. All of the designs work on a single AA battery.
2. Creative Puzzle Peg
Intended for children 18 months and over, this unique puzzle toy goes a bit further than your typical sort-and-stack toy. It encourages problem-solving skills and helps to develop fine motor control. The base comes apart in four puzzle-piece shapes and each piece has a post featuring small nubs. The included brightly-colored shapes stack on the posts, but they first have to be manipulated to move the opening of the shape over the nubs to get it down to the bottom.
3. First Time Gear Clock
This child-friendly clock is based on the first mechanical clock’s design. It teaches how gears work, as well as how to follow directions, and encourages cognitive development. The color-coded set of directions shows your child how to assemble the 27 parts into a working clock that runs for over eight hours without requiring a battery.
4. Mozart Magical Cube
The popular theory that Mozart’s music helps to improve spatial-temporal reasoning in infants and toddlers continues with this toy. This is a bit more than a music box, though. It features five large buttons that are easy for small hands to work, each of which plays a different instrument – piano, violin, flute, harp, or French horn. A sixth button plays them all in a choice of eight of Mozart’s compositions while the toy flashes to the tempo.
5. Chinese Magnetic Poetry
In a world where everything and everyone is connected, being multilingual has never been more important. Many schools are teaching foreign language from preschool on up now. This magnetic poetry kit builds on this by providing an array of 140 double-sided magnets with a simplified Chinese character and its pinyin pronunciation on one side and the English translation on the other, allowing for vocabulary-building. The set comes in a hard plastic case to keep them organized.
Learning just got more fun!
