Anyone have boy stuff they're getting rid of? We've got 2 girls, so any boy stuff would be super!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
New Name!
I decided to change the name of my blog. The Myth of the Bad Mother was good for a while, but I felt it didn't reflect constancy in my life. Yes, I'm a mother, and that consumes a lot of my time, energy, and time... did I mention time? However, motherhood is only a part of who I truly am.
When I was working, I somehow acquired a nickname that was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I worked with ALL men, and they called me "dragon lady"! So, I turned it around and made it my own and became "Lady Dragon". I even made decals and put it on the tailgate of my truck!
After I married Mr. Wood, and we started our adventures together, we decided to name ourselves "DragonWood" and added the "Unlimited" when we branched out into sharing our many talents with those around us.
Since this blog is ultimately about me, I decided that the name "DragonWood Unlimited" really explains a lot about me; past, present, and my unlimited future!
I hope my family, friends and future friends who visit here will enjoy my insights and talents and feel free to pass it on!
When I was working, I somehow acquired a nickname that was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I worked with ALL men, and they called me "dragon lady"! So, I turned it around and made it my own and became "Lady Dragon". I even made decals and put it on the tailgate of my truck!
After I married Mr. Wood, and we started our adventures together, we decided to name ourselves "DragonWood" and added the "Unlimited" when we branched out into sharing our many talents with those around us.
Since this blog is ultimately about me, I decided that the name "DragonWood Unlimited" really explains a lot about me; past, present, and my unlimited future!
I hope my family, friends and future friends who visit here will enjoy my insights and talents and feel free to pass it on!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Hot Mess Craft Space!
What do you think, Becky? Is it a hot enough mess? LOL :oD
Monday, September 19, 2011
Emmaly's Miracle Unfolding
I believe we are witnessing a miracle.
Today we had our third visit to the Pediatric Orthopedist at Seattle Children's Hospital. To the right is her x-ray.
The doctor said Emmaly will NOT need hip surgery, and that he's never seen a child with the same condition NOT need the hip surgery. He also said she may not need the surgery to correct the slight twist in her femur which he was certain she would eventually need when we saw him 1.5 years ago.
Also, last time her leg length discrepancy was 4.4cm (about 1.8 inches). This time it measured at 4.6cm. He noted that if her deficient femur were truly growing slower, it should have been a greater difference in 1.5 years. His optimistic prognosis was that it is POSSIBLE that her deficient femur may catch up to the other one, and she may not need lengthening surgery!
The only surgery he said she was going to definitely need in 3 years or so is an out-patient surgery to correct her "knock knee". He gave us a prescription to have a shoe made with a lift to help her not have to walk on her right toes so much and hopefully reduce the pain she complains of, and sent us away smiling!
Thank you, Heavenly Father for these blessings!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
New Look, New Outlook
I decided its time to change some things.
My blog has a new look, and I have a new outlook.
A recent trip to visit family and friends out of state gave me a new view on life. It amazes me what some of us settle for in life, what some are willing to put up with in their home, family, and from others. I learned that I'm not doing too bad! I tend to be hard on myself a lot, I get depressed, and that leads to being unproductive (for me).
Without getting into too much detail, my observations over the last month have lead me to some conclusions which have given me my new outlook:
1. I am a GREAT mom! Not perfect, but NOT horrible like I thought.
2. I am a GREAT wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter and friend! Though I don't have the corner on those markets, I wasn't giving myself enough credit before.
3. I am stronger when I depend on my Savior, Jesus Christ. All I can do is NOT enough without Him!
4. I know myself!
I had a discussion with a cousin a few weeks ago. He said, "You don't know me." I replied, "No, but I know myself". We spoke about how many people are afraid to know themselves, so they end up staying the same for most of their life.
Soul searching is something I like to do. Sometimes, I don't like what I find, but the beauty of this process is that once I find what I don't like I CAN CHANGE! Staying stagnant isn't an option for me, and never has been.
With this new outlook, I've started climbing out of the depressed rut I've been in, and I'm changing! May you do the same. <3
Friday, May 20, 2011
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Courtesy of my good friend, Becky McFarland at http://buzzycreations.blogspot.com/, I have been inspired and motivated yet again! I made a BUNCH of laundry detergent. It is 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup Boraxo, and 1 bar of Fels Naptha. I used my food processor to break down the soap, using the Boraxo and washing soda to help keep it blending nicely. I put it all in an old icecream bucket with a scoop, and VOILA! Here is the link to Becky's page about her experience: http://buzzycreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-laundry-detergent-vs-store.html
Then I did the math. Using our current detergent I get about 96 loads for about $11 which is about 11.4 cents per load. With the homemade stuff I get 48 loads for about $2.50 which is about 5.2 cents per load. THAT'S A 64% SAVINGS!!!
I'm excited to save money this way especially since the cloth diaper thing didn't last very long--the less I have to deal with poop, the happier I am! Anyway, the clothes and towels I washed with the detergent I made are clean, have a very light scent and it cost me 64% less than it used to. All in all a reason to smile. :o)
Thanks, Becky, for another great idea and helping me get motivated to do it! <3
Then I did the math. Using our current detergent I get about 96 loads for about $11 which is about 11.4 cents per load. With the homemade stuff I get 48 loads for about $2.50 which is about 5.2 cents per load. THAT'S A 64% SAVINGS!!!
I'm excited to save money this way especially since the cloth diaper thing didn't last very long--the less I have to deal with poop, the happier I am! Anyway, the clothes and towels I washed with the detergent I made are clean, have a very light scent and it cost me 64% less than it used to. All in all a reason to smile. :o)
Thanks, Becky, for another great idea and helping me get motivated to do it! <3
Friday, January 21, 2011
The American Dream
Since nobody really reads my blog anyway, I figured I might as well put my rant here...
Our little family is struggling, but surviving! My husband's job makes just enough money for us to only be behind a month on a few bills, but with the help of excellent tax payers (like the people who don't read this blog), we are able to have basics like milk, mac & cheese, and the occasional pizza! (And we wonder why we can't lose weight) Seriously, we're on the edge, but my husband would never admit it. The only reason we were able to buy a house last year was through the generous help of my father-in-law providing $ for the down payment. We missed the first-time homebuyers credit by a day (damn title company) which we were going to use to install a ductless heat pump system, so we are stuck with electric baseboard heat which causes our utility bill to be about $300/month. We have a wood stove, but it only heats one room effectively to about 95 degrees whily the rest of the house stays a balmy 50-60 except the girls' room which we try to keep around 67 for nap and bed time. We had my sister and her toddler for 6 weeks this summer as a "guest" who was supposed to find a job etc, but instead doubled our credit card balance and whined about baby sitting while we moved. So, instead of using our tax return to pay for that ductless heating system, that money will go to pay off the credit card (which will then have a happy accident while running with scissors). I am also a compulsive shopper and frequently come home from grocery shopping with extraneous things like new shoes for the daughter that has only one pair that fits, and deodorant for myself. I'd like to get out more, but gas is too expensive to be driving about just to get out, we can't afford to join groups or activities in the community, and my friends are mostly as depressed and/or crazy as I am, so we snowball when we get together... But according to my dad, we're living the American dream... So what do I have to complain about?!
Our little family is struggling, but surviving! My husband's job makes just enough money for us to only be behind a month on a few bills, but with the help of excellent tax payers (like the people who don't read this blog), we are able to have basics like milk, mac & cheese, and the occasional pizza! (And we wonder why we can't lose weight) Seriously, we're on the edge, but my husband would never admit it. The only reason we were able to buy a house last year was through the generous help of my father-in-law providing $ for the down payment. We missed the first-time homebuyers credit by a day (damn title company) which we were going to use to install a ductless heat pump system, so we are stuck with electric baseboard heat which causes our utility bill to be about $300/month. We have a wood stove, but it only heats one room effectively to about 95 degrees whily the rest of the house stays a balmy 50-60 except the girls' room which we try to keep around 67 for nap and bed time. We had my sister and her toddler for 6 weeks this summer as a "guest" who was supposed to find a job etc, but instead doubled our credit card balance and whined about baby sitting while we moved. So, instead of using our tax return to pay for that ductless heating system, that money will go to pay off the credit card (which will then have a happy accident while running with scissors). I am also a compulsive shopper and frequently come home from grocery shopping with extraneous things like new shoes for the daughter that has only one pair that fits, and deodorant for myself. I'd like to get out more, but gas is too expensive to be driving about just to get out, we can't afford to join groups or activities in the community, and my friends are mostly as depressed and/or crazy as I am, so we snowball when we get together... But according to my dad, we're living the American dream... So what do I have to complain about?!
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