December Pagan Families - Page 3

[LionessMom]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

That's it?? We seemed to have tons in years past! C'mon, Lioness, you know you wanna...and Clay, and Cari, and Aeress, and gun. Why am I not recognizing Katedavies45? Have I been hiding under a rock or did I just have an ADD moment or is she "more quieter" than the rest of us?

that is a short list. the one year was like 23 people. lol. i just cant this year. between being tired, pregnant, DSD's bday party, DH's eye surgery, and some other stuff, i just cant do it. i dont even have the money for the stamps. :(  i love ya all the same! and i will  miss it this year. it is pretty much the only reminder of other people celebrating like i do. i am going to make an effort to go to the UU church for the Solstice thing they do. :)

[revolting]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Ye Gods, lady, how awful I remember in one neighborhood, someone went through and broke in all the cars. Mine had nothing worth taking, I guess The only way I could tell that someone'd been in is that the glasses thingie that pulls down from the ceiling was open, and so was the change container. The neighbor had his laptop stolen-- but the good news is, not only did he get it back, but he got it back because the idiot that stole it...I forgot what exactly he did, but he left some "fingerprint" in the software, his name/address/something, that allowed the police to track him down ROFL, um, theft, you're doing it wrong! I was glad he got it back. I hope yours turns out as well.

Hey, you could always move to a sweet little house in Asheville, NC

Thank you. I do, too. I love a treadmill, actually, but I don't have a gym membership anymore. I like it because I work a LOT harder on it than I do outdoors. I like walking but I get srsly bored outdoors unless I change my environment every couple of days. I have lots of trouble getting motivated in my own house, like to a video or whatever. I don't like hiking

The CD player part of the radio has been broken since we got the car; only the radio part works. We are lucky that they didn't get into the trunk, because my partner works construction and had a lot of expensive tools in there. We didn't bother calling the police. When our car got stolen, the police were pretty sure they knew who it was (as it was parked right outside the door of someone known for stealing our kind of car and a known gang member) but didn't want to investigate, and well, we didn't want to push. There's a big scandal right now going on in my city about police officers being in cahoots with the gang that has claimed my neighborhood. So, yeah...talking to police just seems like a waste of time.

Originally Posted by vydalea 

Okay, so, I went out to my car this morning and saw that someone had gone through my car!  I was thinking of you, revolting, and thanking the Universe that I leave my car unlocked so they could just get in to see there was nothing.  I drive a 1999 Honda Civic that doesn't even have a tape deck!  I bet those hooligans were bummed... it just freaks me out that they were that close to my house.  I want to do a little cleansing ritual on it.  Maybe on the full moon I'll open the doors wide for 15 minutes and let the moon and breezes just clear the air.  ick.  That being said, I feel sad for people who are so desperate this time of year.  

Suck about your car! A cleansing ritual sounds nice. With so much negative energy around where I live, lately, I could sure need it.

Originally Posted by wombatclay 

I did something a little out of character yesterday... I gave 5 dollars to a guy by the road.  I usually don't offer money and that 5 dollars was all I had (dh keeps power bars to give people begging on the roads) but this guy really touched me.  And he'd made a real effort... he had the standard "Iraq Vet, no work, please help" sign but he'd added pictures of himself in uniform/deployed and had a copy of his honorable discharge form on his sign too.  And when I gave him the money and mentioned the unit my brother had been in he knew where that unit was from/what type it was.  He was really polite too... I hope he finds a place soon (and that I wasn't scammed, though I think I got value for money scam or not).

Different topic- anyone have a fav deoderant recipe?  I am super stinky!  LOL  Either I use a really serious antipers-deoderant which causes redness/peeling after a day or two OR I use the natural/crunchy stuff and stink by noon.  Any ideas?

If I have singles in my wallet and I pass by someone panhandling, I almost always give money. I'd like to carry food or the like for it, but with all the junk I carry with two little kids, it's just not practical. I don't want the perfect to get in the way of the good, you know? I like to hope it's used for food and shelter. Yeah, some of them probably spend the money on drugs, but I've always figured that if your addiction has gotten so bad that you're on the street, you will find money for drugs no matter what. I rather give money to someone so they don't have to sell sex for money or rob someone or whatever. And... I don't know. I don't want to be the kind of person who can see someone in need and just keep walking or driving away.
 

Originally Posted by LionessMom 

 i am going to make an effort to go to the UU church for the Solstice thing they do. :)

I'm going to go the one at my church. Undecided about letting the kids stay up late to go. I'd love for them to celebrate in a community context, so that they can see that others do this too. But they might be tired and cranky and make the whole thing miserable, too.

PS Wombat: How do you find time to exercise with four little kids and homeschooling? I'm really, really trying to get exercise to be a priority for me as I'm starting to slip into the seasonal funk I often do with the smaller amount of sunlight this time of year, but it's.so.hard.

[DaughterOfKali]

Originally Posted by wombatclay 

Different topic- anyone have a fav deoderant recipe?  I am super stinky!  LOL  Either I use a really serious antipers-deoderant which causes redness/peeling after a day or two OR I use the natural/crunchy stuff and stink by noon.  Any ideas?

I'd like to know of something more natural that actually works.  Ever since my surgery, my b.o. is in hyperdrive.  LOL.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by revolting If I have singles in my wallet and I pass by someone panhandling, I almost always give money. I'd like to carry food or the like

I don't. Ever. There are so many here, and many of them are career ones. M's friend stopped at Subway once, and bought an extra sandwich to give to a homeless guy, only to have the person say "eff you!" and toss it down on the ground. M said, for instance, look at the shoes. He said they shouldn't be wearing nice shoes-- "I work my arse off, and I can't afford Nikes! How do they?". And also if they have a ring of keys, they're going somewhere. He goes to work at 4am and never sees a one of them at that hour. And he offers rides to the shelters and nobody ever takes him up on it.

There used to be a guy at our recycling center that would offer to help you unload your car. You would know he's homeless but he was kind, cheerful, and never asked for a thing. I'm sure he lived on handouts. I gave him Poptarts once and he put them in his back pocket so he didn't have to stop working, and said a sincere "Thank you" to me. That kind of guy, or someone with a sign that says "Job wanted", I might pay attention to. But career beggars? No way.

Originally Posted by LionessMom that is a short list. the one year was like 23 people. lol. i just cant this year. between being tired, pregnant, DSD's bday party, DH's eye surgery, and some other stuff, i just cant do it. i dont even have the money for the stamps. :(  i love ya all the same! and i will  miss it this year. it is pretty much the only reminder of other people celebrating like i do. i am going to make an effort to go to the UU church for the Solstice thing they do. :)

I love ya too So...send e-cards, then! They're free. But they do take up time, I gotta say.

I think we are going to the Celtic Christian people on the 17th. My regular public Wiccan ritual is on the 18th. That's all we're doing "out" for Solstice...might go to the UU, I dunno. We don't go there much anymore. I think we'll still make Sun Bread on Solstice eve, but it'll have to be a different recipe than last year, because the one on the back of the book is awful.

[wombatclay]

revolting- I should make exercise a bigger priority too! I'm terrible at it... But in general I just try to work it into the day so that stuff I'd do anyway "counts" as exercise (kind of like kitchen witchery).  So I do "elevators" or kegels when I breastfeed, I do a quick belly dance warmup routine in the shower (it amuses Tiel and keeps her happy in her bouncer watching me wiggle lol), and I try to do a mile of "walk at home" every day (dvd series in which the host leads you through what is essentially marching in place for roughly 15 minutes/one mile) since I can do that with the babe in the sling or during one of her naps and it's quick and the older kids can do it too or at least be amused by "marching mama".  The fact that the Motivated Moms chore planner has a box for "exercise" helps... I like checking off the boxes and 15 minues "earns" me a check!  lol  Anyway, I figure every little bit counts and it's better to do a little all the time instead of putting it ff till I have time to "really" do it.

A normal day is up by 7, breakfast for the troops, homeschool till around 11, lunch at noon, take the gang into town at 2:30 and drop the older girls off at Waldorf, do shopping or chores or whatnot with ds and dd3 in tow, have dinner ready when Dh gets home with the bigger kids around 6:30, get bigger kiddos to bed by 7:30 with hopefully everyone asleep by 8:30, hang out with dh/computer time/tea or wine sippin' while holding the baby till around 9:30 or 10, sleep.  Mondays and Fridays are a bit different (no Waldorf, dd1 has scouts on Monday, dd2 has developmental preschool on Friday) but we homeschool 7 days a week so weekends before noon are pretty similar to weekdays  So there is "time" in there as long as I'm not looking for "time without kiddos" or "solid hour of available time".

[FeralFox]

Exercise - I bellydance (have for ten years) but also like to walk, hike, and just sight-see around the neighborhood.  I do 10 or 15 minutes of crunches every day, too.  I really need to get on top of doing pushups or something though, my arms are pretty pathetic.

Crime - I'm so sorry about the break-in!  But having a car broken into is 10 times better than having your house robbed.  I'm glad everyone is ok.  We hear about cars being broken into here, and sometimes houses, but the closest we have gotten to crime is hearing shots from a few blocks over at night.

Decorations - Our tree is up too!  We only have lights and tinsel for it, and one single ornament (that I bought today) so I'm looking forward to getting a couple more in the exchange.

Babies - Lioness, how did I miss that you're pregnant?  Belated congrats!  I'm officially 7 weeks behind you, as of today.

[revolting]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

M said, for instance, look at the shoes. He said they shouldn't be wearing nice shoes-- "I work my arse off, and I can't afford Nikes! How do they?". And also if they have a ring of keys, they're going somewhere. He goes to work at 4am and never sees a one of them at that hour. And he offers rides to the shelters and nobody ever takes him up on it.

I know inadequate beds at shelters is a HUGE problem where I live. And nice things? Well, you never know. I had my first before our family was financially on our feet. I got a LOT of stuff from a charity for younger moms in my area: nice stuff that would have been expensive new, like a good electric breast pump, baby carrier, cloth diapers (including some pockets and all-in-ones)... I wouldn't have bought that stuff, but I was thrilled to have it (and still grateful).

Originally Posted by FeralFox 
 I'm officially 7 weeks behind you, as of today.

Congrats, Feral!!!!

[LionessMom]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

I don't. Ever. There are so many here, and many of them are career ones. M's friend stopped at Subway once, and bought an extra sandwich to give to a homeless guy, only to have the person say "eff you!" and toss it down on the ground. M said, for instance, look at the shoes. He said they shouldn't be wearing nice shoes-- "I work my arse off, and I can't afford Nikes! How do they?". And also if they have a ring of keys, they're going somewhere. He goes to work at 4am and never sees a one of them at that hour. And he offers rides to the shelters and nobody ever takes him up on it.

There used to be a guy at our recycling center that would offer to help you unload your car. You would know he's homeless but he was kind, cheerful, and never asked for a thing. I'm sure he lived on handouts. I gave him Poptarts once and he put them in his back pocket so he didn't have to stop working, and said a sincere "Thank you" to me. That kind of guy, or someone with a sign that says "Job wanted", I might pay attention to. But career beggars? No way.

I love ya too So...send e-cards, then! They're free. But they do take up time, I gotta say.

I think we are going to the Celtic Christian people on the 17th. My regular public Wiccan ritual is on the 18th. That's all we're doing "out" for Solstice...might go to the UU, I dunno. We don't go there much anymore. I think we'll still make Sun Bread on Solstice eve, but it'll have to be a different recipe than last year, because the one on the back of the book is awful.

i dont ever give anything. ii feel bad that i dont but mostly i dont have anything to give. career beggars bug me. i would have been so mad if i would have given someone a sandwich and had it throw away like that. 

i definitely want to make a solstice dinner. gotta think up something nice. and then take the kids to the CUUPS solstice thing. 

Originally Posted by FeralFox 

Babies - Lioness, how did I miss that you're pregnant?  Belated congrats!  I'm officially 7 weeks behind you, as of today.

lol. i only announced it once. i have been too tired to post often lately. i am officially 11 weeks tomorrow. so you arent that far behind me! right now i just want to sleep. but i have too much to do.

[Aubergine68]

I am so far behind - barely can manage time to read, let alone respond, and for the same reason I can't do the card exchange this year - just no time - my courses end on the 16th, though, and then I'll come out of my hole.

I will really miss the card exchange - I hope to be back next year - please keep the tradition going for me!
 

Originally Posted by wombatclay 

Different topic- anyone have a fav deoderant recipe?  I am super stinky!  LOL  Either I use a really serious antipers-deoderant which causes redness/peeling after a day or two OR I use the natural/crunchy stuff and stink by noon.  Any ideas?

Take the body cream of your choice (or coconut oil but I find it a wee bit greasy) and mix in as much baking soda as you can without it getting crumbly.  That's it.  It will make a white mark on your fancy black clothes if you put it on right before dressing, though, so apply it in advance and wipe it off before you dress to go out - or skip a day - we find we now can.

Worked on my BO and especially on my dd's adolescent BO, which was becoming a real problem.  I find we don't need to use it every day now as it does such a good job of keeping those odor bacteria at bay.

[3xMama]

Clay and DoK-I make my own deodorant. Its 2-3Tbs of coconut oil, 1/4 cup each baking soda and cornstarch. Mix until smooth. Rub a pea size amount under each arm. Baking soda for the stink, cornstarch for the sweat. Works very very well. I can skip a day in between (even with showering!) and it still works. I had to apply store bought deodorant twice a day after my last baby was born (thank you hormones....) and this is great! I do find it tends to dry my skin out some, but with the next batch I make I'm going to add a little more coconut oil and that should help. This stuff lasts a long long time, too, and you'll save sooo much cash. Oh, almost forgot-you can add 10-15 drops of an essential oil in there, too. A lot of recipes I've seen use tea tree oil.

Cars-That sucks about your cars, ladies! I hope things get fixed easily and cheaply! I've had my car broken into a couple of times here. Its just kids going through the neighborhood looking for open vehicles then ransacking them for cash. Luckily, all I had in my car was about a dollar in pennies but every single one of those pennies was GONE! 

Cards-Well, I'd really really love to, I love sending out Yule/Christmas cards. I just can't work it into my budget this year. I'm hoping next year things will be better and I can participate. Heck, maybe after we get our tax return in Feb I'll send out extremely belated Yule cards!!

Lioness and Feral---Congratulations!! How exciting for you!! 

Exercise...oh exercise....I totally need to exercise. I still have baby weight that needs to go. I just like cookies...and TV...and books...*Sigh* Come January, I'm going to put a blanket ban on a lot of the stuff that I eat too much or the stuff to make things I eat too much of (like chocolate chips and cocoa powder). I'm also going to rent Zumba for the Wii and see if I like it enough to buy and actually use it. Hopefully that will help me shed these pounds!

I never give handouts, either. Where I live there aren't many ppl begging, but the ones that I see occasionally are career beggers. I don't want to add to their paycheck when chances are they make more than DH does a year, anyway.

Does anyone have any good tips for getting crayon off the walls? DD decided to draw some Xs and some rainbows on the living room wall. When we tried to wash it off with just soap and water, the paint started to come off, too!! So I need a plan B and I have no idea what plan B should be!!

[Valerie.Qc]

crayons on wall: maybe some baking soda with a little water would work.

deodorant: I also use homemade deo made from coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch and EO (I used Tangerine). The recipe I made also have alcohol in it... will find a recipe without alcohol for next batch.

exercices: I need to do more! Saw some TTap videos and I want to try... Need to stop wanting and just DO IT though... Procrastinating is not helping...

Need to make seams to jeans I found in the basement (that I can't remember when I got them); they fit perfectly but they're way too long, even with high heals.  They're dark and will do wonder to tame down the dress I got for tomorrow's party (we learned that it is a casual dress party so my sleeveless, sparkly, black dress is just a little bit too classy).

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by wombatclay and I try to do a mile of "walk at home" every day (dvd series in which the host leads you through what is essentially marching in place for roughly 15 minutes/one mile) since I can do that with the babe in the sling or during one of her naps and it's quick and the older kids can do it too or at least be amused by "marching mama".  The fact that the Motivated Moms chore planner has a box for "exercise" helps... I like checking off the boxes and 15 minues "earns" me a check!  lol  Anyway, I figure every little bit counts and it's better to do a little all the time instead of putting it ff till I have time to "really" do it.

What "walk at home" vids? I'll have to look at the library for them, 15 minutes is totally doable! What is Motivated Moms?

Originally Posted by FeralFox Babies - Lioness, how did I miss that you're pregnant?  Belated congrats!  I'm officially 7 weeks behind you, as of today.

Oh wow, you're pregnant??? Holy cow! That was fast! Congratulations! That's so awesome!
 

Originally Posted by 3xMama Does anyone have any good tips for getting crayon off the walls? DD decided to draw some Xs and some rainbows on the living room wall. When we tried to wash it off with just soap and water, the paint started to come off, too!! So I need a plan B and I have no idea what plan B should be!!

Magic Eraser. We haven't had crayon issues, but pencil ones and pen ones. Try it?

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by Valerie.Qc Saw some TTap videos and I want to try... Need to stop wanting and just DO IT though... Procrastinating is not helping...

Heard a most illuminating thing at Weight Watchers years ago....took me a few minutes for it to sink in. Check it out: Motivation follows action. Yep, you read that right. NOT the other way 'round. I have kept that saying with me for years! It applies all across the board, not just for exercise. How cool is that?

[FeralFox]

Clay - I just use plain baking soda, dusted on with a big makeup brush.  The coconut oil/corn starch/bs idea sounds really good though, so I might have to try that next.

3X - Have you tried a magic eraser?  I love those things, they clean anything!

Thanks for all the congrats on the baby!  We're a little shocked at how fast it happened, and praying she'll stick.  Husband is beside himself, he's such a marshmallow.

[vydalea]

Feral!!  What the HECK!?  CONGRATULATIONS!!! that WAS really fast!!! WOOHOO!!!

Clay: walk a mile in 15 sounds good.  i agree, I could do it in the living room and Z loves marching so that could work.  I'll have to see if Netflix has it on the instant watch list.

Indigo:  hooray for almost being done...both with the semester and with school.  wow.  what a great feeling!!!

Maia: okay, it's appointment day.  how'd it go?????

3x: let me know how you like Zumba on the Wii.  I think I could dig that for a bit.  

watching it begin to snow...it's that rainy/snow mix...I feel like I am witnessing winter bring itself to our area.  It's kind of cool.  You know, until like February.  Then I'll be growing grass inside and doing sunshine visualizations!! ha!!  but until then...bring it on!!  

[FeralFox]

Vdalea, lol, I know that feeling!  I have lived in Minnesota and Maine, where the snow comes in October and stays until late April (sometimes even early May).  Now that we're planning our move to NY, I've been regularly checking weather.com with our new zip code, and dreading next winter already.  I think I'm going to have to collect some fun winter gear (snowshoes, forms for building snow bricks, a good sled, maybe cross-country skis at some point) to help me and the kids get through those winters.  I'd love to hear your suggestions for getting through winter with sanity intact, if you have any.  I'm out of practice, and the last time I lived in a snow heavy area I didn't have kids to keep occupied.

We're trying to decide when to tell the in-laws about the baby.  It's 50/50 whether they'll be happy for us, or lecture us about how irresponsible they think we are.  We're going to dinner tonight, but I feel like that's too early.  Husband thought xmas, but I'm working the eve and day, so I won't be around.  I'm already starting to show (honest to Gods, it better not be twins!) so it won't be too much longer, I don't think, before my waist does the telling for us.  Same situation at work, I'm not sure how or when to tackle it.

[wombatclay]

Snowing!  Estimated 4 inches by morning.  Yay!  lol  ditto the "bring it on then move it out" wishes ;)

Congrats on the belly babes :)  This is a wonderful season to be pregnant what with all the Mother/Child images (rotten time to be TTC or mourning though)... many sticky hopes!

Walk at Home- Leslie Sansone makes the dvds I have.  Her website is here and she has free "try it" samples on her site.  I love that she has three kids, a sucessful career, and a decent philosophy in a real body.

[revolting]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Heard a most illuminating thing at Weight Watchers years ago....took me a few minutes for it to sink in. Check it out: Motivation follows action. Yep, you read that right. NOT the other way 'round. I have kept that saying with me for years! It applies all across the board, not just for exercise. How cool is that?

I like that saying. Thanks, Maia.

Originally Posted by FeralFox 

Vdalea, lol, I know that feeling!  I have lived in Minnesota and Maine, where the snow comes in October and stays until late April (sometimes even early May).  Now that we're planning our move to NY, I've been regularly checking weather.com with our new zip code, and dreading next winter already.  I think I'm going to have to collect some fun winter gear (snowshoes, forms for building snow bricks, a good sled, maybe cross-country skis at some point) to help me and the kids get through those winters.  I'd love to hear your suggestions for getting through winter with sanity intact, if you have any.  I'm out of practice, and the last time I lived in a snow heavy area I didn't have kids to keep occupied.

We're trying to decide when to tell the in-laws about the baby.  It's 50/50 whether they'll be happy for us, or lecture us about how irresponsible they think we are.  We're going to dinner tonight, but I feel like that's too early.  Husband thought xmas, but I'm working the eve and day, so I won't be around.  I'm already starting to show (honest to Gods, it better not be twins!) so it won't be too much longer, I don't think, before my waist does the telling for us.  Same situation at work, I'm not sure how or when to tackle it.

I almost always wait until I'm about 20 weeks. My first pregnancy was a miscarriage, and since I've never been sure how supportive my parents would be, I always waited until I suspected they'd find out anyway by looking at me before I told them. With my second pregnancy, my parents ragged on me the whole time (wanting me to give the baby up for adoption). The less time they know, I figured with the third time, the less time they can get on my case if they know. The third time they were happy.
 

Originally Posted by wombatclay 

Snowing!  Estimated 4 inches by morning.  Yay!  lol  ditto the "bring it on then move it out" wishes ;)

I'm ready for snow. I mean, this is Chicago! Where's my snow? I remember trick-or-treating in the snow some years, and here we are in December with no snow accumulation.

[DaughterOfKali]

Originally Posted by FeralFox 

Thanks for all the congrats on the baby!  We're a little shocked at how fast it happened, and praying she'll stick.  Husband is beside himself, he's such a marshmallow.

Wishing you a healthy, full time pregnancy and baby!  

[Aeress]

Feral- Wonderful news! Stick baby, stick!

So behind, so behind...I feel like the White Rabbit today.

We are making cookies with friends today, should be fun.