Monday, August 20, 2007
Back in the swing of things...
Oh my, first I must do some promoting. A little over a week ago, I began having troubles with my daughter's cloth diapers. They were extra leaky. I wondered if it had something to do with switching laundry soaps. We were using All@n's Naturally, but that ran out, so I switched to Tide Free & Clear. I had done SOME research on soaps and diapering, and free and clears were not really recommended.We recently cleared all of our credit card debt (not by our own doing), and therefore promised to never get into trouble with those again. The only way to buy soaps like all@n's Naturally, is online.
Johnna uses Fuzzi-Bunz, and their website recommended a different brand of soap: Charlie's Soap. I ordered some with the credit card (we've already sent in the payment for it, btw Yay!). And let me say this: IT IS THE BEST SOAP IN THE WHOLE WORLD! Google it. Read their studies. Everything they say is true! Order some! Order a gallon. It's amazing stuff!
I "stipped" the fuzzi-bunz the day I received the soap. I did a cold soak as usual. But then I did a HOT wash without adding any soap. Guess what? The washing machine suds up, as if I had added a full (and then some) dose of detergent. GROSS. That's why they were acting up: They were clogged with residue! (Imagine, this happens to OUR clothes, too!) So, I ran a 2nd hot wash. And then a cold wash...without soap. but each time, it suds up.
Finally, I gave up and just added the Charlie's. OOHHHH MYYYYY! Once those puppies came out of the drier, they felt like nothing. They had absolutely NO WEIGHT added. It made me realize how much crap the stuff for sale in all of the major stores must have.
The fuzzis are working like brand new. They smell terrific and are so soft and light and how could I use Tide on OUR clothes? I just couldn't.
One gallon = 128 loads, so I went for it. I used it on all three loads of clothes-laundry today. The difference is amazing, that is all I can say. I am pretty sure it will be the only soap I use from now on!
End promotion.
So, on Thursday, Johnna and I are going to go up to Michigan to visit my family up there. I am excited and sad at the same time. I hate, hate, hate when John can't come. I love going up there, but I hate being away from him. John is "home" to me. Wherever he is, it feels like home. Safe. Wonderful. Complete.
But it will be nice to be up North with my mom and dad and grandma and everyone else in my family. On Friday, I'm going to get my hair cut at the place I always used to get it cut. I like the length, but it looks like a rat's nest. It is so heavy and mishapen. I'm going to ask her to leave it close to the length it is at, but give it shape and style and make it look less full and heavy. Hopefully she can work miracles!
In other news...last year, I set aside a box of my old clothes to try and sell at a consignment shop. I never did part with the box. Tonight, while doing laundry with the heavenly new soap (buy some!), I grabbed out some jeans and old dress pants. I could get them latched, and buttoned!!! I think when I first packed them away, I couldn't do so. I was sooo pleased! One pair, if worn, would actually look like a normal pair of blue jeans that normal people wear (I always tend to wear mine loose and baggy). If I could get used to wearing pants like that, I could actually go around in them!
So this is very positive. Now that the weather is cooling down (and if it stays this way), I will go out there and start running again. If I really work it, I could possibly get down to how I was before I had Johnna. Weight-wise, I am between 5-10 pounds heavier than I was at my first prenatal doctor's appointment. I'd still like to loose another 5-10 after that. Or at least loose some of the floppiness. Get more muscles and toned down....that bit.
Hmmm...what else? Today I managed to sew a felt birdy onto a floral shirt of Johnna's. Her auntie gave it to her. To me, it was cute, but just another floral printed long sleeved shirt. (I was very thankful, don't get me wrong!) So, I cut out a brown "sparrow" and sewed it onto the shirt with orange-ish embroidery floss. It totally transformed the shirt. I love it! :)
Today, we also played outside while John was at his foot appointment. It has rained, rained, rained the last several days, so it was damp and chilly and muddy outside. But Johnna had a blast playing in a bucket of rainwater, raking the wet soil with her hands, and riding around on her new bike (with help from Mama!) As she gets older, there is SO much we can do. I'm loving it!
Melissa at 10:12 PM