New blog for a new life

I've created a new blog for when I begin my very own Radical Sabbatical in late December, early January.  Don't bother clickity-clicking - there's nothing too pretty to look at... yet.

Oh, did I mention that I'm pregnant?

Officially due January 8th, but I have a feeling that this will be a Christmas time baby, just like big brother AJ was.  And hey, the tax deduction surely won't hurt. Living on one income isn't going to be easy and the more I think about it, the more overwhelmed I am. My husband has a good job and makes a good salary. His earning potential isn't increasing, slowly but surely. (Not nearly as much as when he first started, but when you move from 2nd shift labor to 1st shift administration, something has to give. Unfortunately it was the paycheck!)  After all of my deductions and daycare, I bring home about $700-$800 a month, give or take.  Granted, I carry the health insurance and for all intents and purposes, it's damn good.  But in the last year it's doubled in price, and cost more out-of-pocket than ever.  And that blows.

I've mentioned before that my dream for several years has been to be a stay-at-home wife and mom.  And while I know that it's not going to last forever, I'm looking forward to it. I'm hopeful that I can stay at home until all the kids are in school full-time. By that time AJ will be graduating and will be less dependent on us, financially. (HA, RIGHT??!) I'm also hoping that within 5 years we can move so that my hubby isn't commuting so far every day. Then I can find a job wherever we land.

So, that's where my "radical sabbatical" comes in.  Hopefully 5 years, at least one year.  And we'll see. Maybe I'll decide that I hate being at home.

But somehow I doubt that. 

Unplugged

Photo lifted from Flickr here

I gave up my iPhone yesterday.

I'm not going to lie - I'm pretty pissed about it. The circumstances were not the best, all resulting from a screaming match between my husband and I. Frankly, I got really, REALLY tired of fighting for time with MY phone. It was constantly in someone else's hand/pocket/room, etc.  "Can I see your phone?" was uttered before a simple "Hello" most days.  And the fact that eyes were glued to the little glowing screen more often than looking at each other was becoming a bit unbearable.

I gave up a lot of my games/apps a few weeks ago when I felt they were all-encompassing.  Do I REALLY need to collect money from AJ's dinosaurs in his Jurassic Park game? Do I REALLY need to plant more crops on my Castle Story game? And so on, and so forth. It felt good to give up the need to constantly be checking something so stupid.  But, the need for the smooth glass screen still proves to be tough for the guys in the house.  My husband, in-particular.  And it kind of makes me sick.

The easiest thing for me to do was to give up the phone so that *I* wasn't dependent on it anymore.  Let the boys do whatever they want, but this way I won't be asking, repeatedly, where MY phone is.  Because now I have a shitty 5-year old brick basic phone. And no one gives a rip where that one is.

I'll miss checking in using Foursquare.  I'll miss posting pictures to Instagram.  Need a quick social networking at 2am during a bout of insomnia? I'll miss Facebook being so readily available.  Get lost on the way to the mall? YAY, Mapquest!  And so on, and so forth.  But, is there anything so earth shattering that I can't live without it?

Nope.

I may be pissed, but I think it's a good thing in the long run.

(Now I'm off to buy a paper calendar - WOAH! Stone ages!!)

Links of interest:

• Six Signs of iPhone Addiction
• The iPhone Killed My Creativity

Homesteading dream

This is Shelly. Or Eva.  Or "Chicken."

I have this (pipe) dream of creating my own urban homestead.  I would have some chickens, and a garden that flourishes and brings fresh bounty to the table every night.  I would be savvy enough with a sewing machine to make (some of) my own clothes.  I would sell my crafty wares on etsy to make extra money to support my family. The kids and I would be productive all day long. I will teach them the meaning of hard work, and revel in their new-found abilities to do... whatever.  They would learn to cook, love books, and know the meaning of family togetherness.

Then reality strikes and Axel has a REALLY grumpy day where I shove him in front of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and wait for the minutes to tick by until bedtime.  My house is a mess. My garden is full of weeds and that chicken up there?  Yeah, she belongs to my neighbors. I barely feel like I have time to sit down, let alone spend quality time with my Pfaff and make ANYTHING.  And knitting?  I've got a dozen WIPs and I haven't finished anything in a few months.  And before then, probably a year!

My restlessness comes from feeling like I can't give anything 100% of my attention.  I want to do everything and have time for nothing.  Frustrating doesn't begin to cover the feeling.

My hope is that come December/January this will change.  I will find a new groove - a new life, of sorts.  New motivation. New perspective.

New, new, NEW!  Out with the old...

Polka Dot Cottage eBook Review - and Giveaway!

Ear Warmers in March, amirite?  Weird.  But not really - here in The Mitten we get all sorts of crazy weather.  It's just expected.  The same week that I finished this project in 2012, it was in the 80's.  Not so much for 2013.

Backstory:

So, my mom walks to work.  She only lives about 5 minutes away from the hospital that she's worked at for the past 23 years, but still... she's getting older (she likes to tell me) and she requested a headband/earwarmer in a bright fun color.  I just happened to be reading the Polka Dot Cottage blog around that same time, and knew that there was a pattern perfect for her needs.  Enter, the Earwarmer Trio!

Certainly not a difficult pattern, but I knew it was just enough to keep me interested with the pretty cables and fun button.  So, I set off and finished it in just a few days of lunch hour knitting in my car. (Yes, I knit in my car - sometimes a girl just needs to get away from her desk!)

Ravel it here!

I couldn't give this pattern a higher review. Easy to read, easy to follow and a great finished project.  My only issue (and it was MINE alone!) was that I used "chunky" yarn instead of "bulky" yarn and I totally didn't swatch.  I hate swatching, so more often that not I get ill-fitting accessories.  But, with the ease of writing I knew I could just cut out the middle section, be mindful of the length and all would be good.  And it was!

Mom really liked it - even though the weather warmed up and she wasn't able to wear it this season.  But, she'll be all set for this winter!  And I think I should make one for myself as well.  Maybe I'll even swatch.  But probably not.

I would highly recommend any of Lisa's patterns and ebooks.  I covet them all and wish I had more time to dedicate to learning new skills.  With books like these it's almost as good as having her with you!

Happy Fathers Day

Fathers Day was pretty low-key. Sausage stuffed eggplant for dinner and Axel got a ride on the lawnmower!

Park play!

While having our new kitchen vinyl installed, Axel and I snuck away to the park!

Good times, indeedy!

All the things...

Lots of things happening.  Not enough hours in the day to do everything I want.

Hoping to change that soon...

...

(Foreshadowing)

For now, things are plugging along. Looking forward to some fun summer weather and many other photo ops.