tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69430589584776495072024-03-05T16:14:57.711-06:00PfarfigknittinA mother with an addiction to fiberKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-44363641083978284612012-01-24T09:26:00.000-06:002012-01-24T09:26:00.245-06:00First Snowman EverWe had a real cold snap last week that prevented us from spending much time outside. I'm sure Benjamin could have handled it, but I worried for Miriam since she's been gasping for air on the quick in-out dashes from the car/house when we run errands. Also, I'm a complete chicken when it comes to cold. I was not meant to live in Wisconsin. Anything less than 50ºF mandates that I wear long underwear when spending any time out side, and, unfortunately, Wisconsin weather usually falls into that category 75% of the year.<br />
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Sunday, it started to warm up. We went to church, ran our errands, and made it home around 3:30pm. Since we have until about 5:00pm before it gets dark, I asked Benjamin if he wanted to go out and play. I gave him the choice of going out with Chris or going out with me (secretly wishing he'd go out with Chris), and he chose Daddy.<br />
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I bundled Benjamin up, for which Chris chided me. I didn't think that a t-shirt, sweatshirt, coat, mittens, hat, snowpants, scarf, and boots was too much for 34ºF, but Chris didn't think he needed the sweatshirt or scarf. I wonder if Chris spent much time in his childhood playing in the snow. It's not just the cold, it's the <i>wet</i> that gets you!<br />
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Once I ensured no skin was showing (okay, maybe that was a little much...but I would be a terrible mother if I sent him out with any less!), I sent them out of the house and charged them with making a snowman. With the weather warming a bit (from 10ºF), the snow was starting to melt and made for perfect packing snow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8SslbOmDrPzxYqOStY8rouAE-x7auLinfmBcNqkjAcQK_sRTrHri8ABD_S_BdSe-o-Wf22eNf1WyhqSpX-heVh2iNWru27FsX8wUhgeIOdS5yeqXuHyHYsKO_kBiTGtHed6D7wdR3Tg/s1600/SDC18069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8SslbOmDrPzxYqOStY8rouAE-x7auLinfmBcNqkjAcQK_sRTrHri8ABD_S_BdSe-o-Wf22eNf1WyhqSpX-heVh2iNWru27FsX8wUhgeIOdS5yeqXuHyHYsKO_kBiTGtHed6D7wdR3Tg/s400/SDC18069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once the snowman was done, Benjamin didn't want to come in yet, so Chris took him sledding in the park next door. And when they were done, I met them inside with hot chocolate.<br />
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And that's when Chris told me he thinks that's the first snowman he's ever built. Thirty-one years old and his first snowman was built with his son. I suppose there's no better time!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-8694357117498112572012-01-23T10:55:00.001-06:002012-01-23T10:55:14.886-06:00Meeting Goals<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/angietorres/4564135255/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">photo credit</a></div>
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So, last week didn't quite go as planned, but such is life! When making my goals for last week, I really overestimated my ability to get anything done with two toddlers. In my attempts to unpack, they just undid everything I accomplished! I would put something in the kitchen cabinet, turn my back to pick something else out of the box, and my two little "helpers" would have emptied<i> the entire cabinet!</i><br />
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I quickly gave up hopes of actually getting unpacked (I mean, what's the point? We're moving in August again anyway, God willing.), and turned my attentions to other things. It was <b>freezing</b> here last week, so I did some knitting on my scarf. I didn't get all 20 repeats done, but I did get 16 of them knit! I didn't take the kids out to play in the snow, but Chris did. I didn't do laundry every day, but the laundry all got done.<br />
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I reworked our budget this past week. (I'm not sure I publicly stated, but I've been out of a job since early December.) By the grace of God, we're not even wanting for anything! Yet, I thought it would be even better if I renewed my focus on finding a job. We do have some debt, and if I brought in a paycheck, we could pay it off even faster. I also decided to do a very detailed menu plan to ensure we don't cave and go out to eat because we weren't prepared. Because of this, I was able to increase our grocery budget but a little. (I have only recently discovered just how much my children eat now that I'm feeding them only out of my pantry. I hate to see what they're going to be like as teenagers!)<br />
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So, my goals for this week are going to be much less lofty than last week.<br />
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<b>Home</b><br />
1. Do one load of laundry everyday. (I'm going to keep working on this one until it's a habit.)<br />
2. Finish putting the kitchen away. (It's getting seriously annoying with the boxes in the way.)<br />
3. Stick to the menu plan.<br />
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<b>Kids</b><br />
4. Take them to a library story-time. (It's time we meet some new friends in our new town!)<br />
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<b>Husband/Marriage</b><br />
5. Plan something we can do after the kids have gone to bed. (Didn't do this last week.)<br />
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<b>Knitting</b><br />
6. Knit 15 rows on my Spectra scarf. (I want to finish it this winter yet!)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-31549512299338174142012-01-16T12:10:00.000-06:002012-01-16T12:19:01.102-06:0010 Goals For This Week<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/angietorres/4564135255/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">photo credit</a></td></tr>
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Well, it seems this blog has become a catch all, now hasn't it?! It was supposed to be a knitting blog, but I'll tell you something. Not a whole lot of knitting happens with young toddlers! And now, we just moved, so all my yarn is packed in boxes and bags. So, you all will have to bear with me as I get my life back in order.<br />
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I'm going to try to keep myself more organized this year. I'm going to simplify my life so it doesn't become too overwhelming. A lot of big changes are going to happen to our family (fingers crossed) in the next few years, so it'll be of the utmost importance to stay on top of things!<br />
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Because of this, I've decided to share weekly with you 10 goals I have for my week. They may not be lofty goals, and in the beginning, they may be goals I know I'll obtain, just to keep myself motivated. Still, they will be challenging for me to meet them all!<br />
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<b>Home</b><br />
1. Finish unpacking kitchen<br />
2. Finish unpacking living room<br />
3. Do one load of laundry per day<br />
4. Donate/give away what we don't need for the next 6 months<br />
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<b>Kids</b><br />
5. Take them outside to play in the snow<br />
6. Mail out Benjamin's birthday invitations<br />
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<b>Husband/Marriage</b><br />
7. Plan something he and I can do together after the kids have gone to bed<br />
8. Make sure he knows I'm appreciative of everything he does for us.<br />
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<b>Knitting</b><br />
9. Work 20 repeats on my Spectra scarf<br />
10. Find a stranded colorwork mitten pattern that I like<br />
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Does anyone else set weekly goals to motivate themselves?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-25215305547586651792012-01-07T23:27:00.001-06:002012-01-07T23:27:10.052-06:00The Family BedroomI don't think it's any secret that I raise my children in a gentle and natural manner. While there are a lot of things that I wish I could be more natural with (their diet, for example), one of the most simple and easiest things has been to create a natural sleep environment for them.<br />
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<b>Babies are not meant to sleep alone.</b><br />
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There, I said it. I don't think that anyone who puts their baby in a room all by themselves does anyone any favors. First of all, your baby doesn't understand that she was not born in a cave surrounded by hungry Tyrannosaurus Rexes. It is your job to teach her that she was born in a nice comfy, artificially heated, and triple insulated home. However, dumping said baby into a cold bed all by themselves doesn't <i>teach</i> them this. That would be like me handing you a Calculus book and telling you to teach yourself math. In fact, more and more research is proving this to be a really bad idea. A <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out" target="_blank">recent article</a> in Psychology Today laid out the dangers of allowing your child to Cry It Out.<br />
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<b>Even more so, humans are not meant to sleep alone.</b><br />
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Now, there's one our society doesn't seem to have a firm grasp on. Our biological needs <b>drive</b> us into the beds of other humans, regardless of our age. I sleep better knowing that my husband is next to me. He makes me feel safe and loved. Before I was married, I slept better knowing that my sister was in the bottom bunk. Surely, any scary monsters would have to eat her first, thus alerting me to their presence and keeping me safe.<br />
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There's safety in numbers. There's safety in biological reflexes. There's safety in doing what comes instinctually. This is why my family decided to create a Family Bedroom.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Family Bedroom</td></tr>
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There are four of us, and now that the kids have reached full fledge toddler age (Miriam is now 15 months old), we added more sleeping spaces to our room. Previously, we bedshared, which had Miriam on one side of me and Benjamin on the other. It was getting a little cramped! So, <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/turn-your-crib-into-cosleeper.html" target="_blank">we side-carred the crib</a> and shoved a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/South-Shore-Furniture-Collection-Charcoal/dp/B001FWZ06G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325999963&sr=8-4" target="_blank">twin sized captain's bed</a> at the bottom of our Olympic Queen bed (which is 6" wider and 5" taller than an average Queen sized bed). Now each person has their own sleeping space while remaining in the proximity of their protectors.<div>
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It's been going very well with this new set-up. After the 1st night, which was the transition night, Benjamin has spent the whole night in his space. This has freed up SO MUCH space in our bed that I'm actually feeling a little alone! Miriam is still getting used to going back into the crib after she nurses (yes, we are still night-nursing), but it's not an entirely foreign concept to her. She has always needed a little more space to sleep than Benjamin. It's feeling so great to be able to lay them down and walk away now! Because they're in their own safe sleep environments and they each know how to climb down from the bed on their own, I no longer need to remain in the bed with them to supervise sleep. That has cut down on my internet and knitting time, but my household chores are getting the attention they deserve!</div>
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For further information:</div>
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<a href="http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/" target="_blank">How to bedshare safely</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.naturalchild.org/james_mckenna/cosleeping.pdf" target="_blank">Why babies should never sleep alone</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.naturalchild.org/james_mckenna/biological.html" target="_blank">Cosleeping and biological imperatives</a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-80634879178339168842011-11-27T23:28:00.001-06:002011-11-27T23:35:37.827-06:00Cyber MondayAre you done with your Christmas shopping? Maybe you're just starting to think about Christmas knitting. Maybe you're just a sucker for good deals. :-)<br />
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I've decided to gift a little Christmas knitters cheer to you all. On Cyber Monday (that's November 28, 2011, this year), I'm activating a coupon code that will get you all 30% off the <a href="http://pfarfigknittin.blogspot.com/2011/10/striped-earflap-hats.html" target="_blank">Striped Earflap Hat</a> pattern.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6248613472/" title="Benjamin's and Miriam's Earflap Hats by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's and Miriam's Earflap Hats" height="375" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6174/6248613472_29937658a2.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Go to Ravelry and to the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/striped-earflap-hat-2" target="_blank">pattern page</a> and enter in code "cybermonday30" for your 30% off.<br />
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Or go to Etsy and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85910500/striped-earflap-hat-pdf-knitting-pattern?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=striped+earflap+hat&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade" target="_blank">to my shop</a> and enter in code "cybermonday30" for 30% off there as well.<br />
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Merry (early) Christmas!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-72749430556730095142011-11-14T23:30:00.001-06:002011-11-14T23:49:54.960-06:00Experimenting with foodI discovered a handy little tip on <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/244179611016081490/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> the other day that sent me running straight for the grocery store to buy a bunch of green onions. They had been marked down to $0.50 a bunch! They sat in the fridge for nearly a week before I cut them up and threw the greens in the crock pot in lieu of a yellow onion. I quickly sunk the white tips (with a bit of green left on them) in a baby food jar and covered them in water.<br />
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Two days later, and they're sprouting! It works!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6346791830/" title="Day 2 - Scallions start to sprout by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 2 - Scallions start to sprout" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6346791830_97c8c13474.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">You'll notice that I've left off on my 30 Day Photo Challenge. I'll come back to it. I've learned a lot about taking pictures, but I've learned even more that I'm incredibly busy between the kids, the house, and work, and even moreso that I dislike my point and shoot camera very much.</span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-91572542509960416902011-11-09T22:00:00.000-06:002011-11-09T22:00:36.879-06:00Taking a breakI'm took a quick break from the 30 Day Photo Challenge. My husband is leaving in the dead of tonight to drive to Bloomington, Indiana, in order to meet with a trombone professor and scout out a potential DMA (Doctor of Music) program. We have friends from college who live in that area, so he contacted them to determine if they would like to get together. That's when we learned that our friends are expecting their second baby to be born any day now!<br />
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Of course, that meant I had some emergency baby knitting to be done. I couldn't send my husband to their home, potentially a home with a newborn, without a gift in hand for the little one. As I have no such newborn in my house anymore (big sad!!), I requested that one of Miriam's dolls be the model. The hat is made to fit a 14" newborn head, whereas the doll only has a 12.5" head, so it looks a bit too large for her.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6328667303/" title="Fake Isle Earflap Hat by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Fake Isle Earflap Hat" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6328667303_77e715eb73.jpg" width="401" /></a></div>
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The hat is yet another version, knit from my <a href="http://pfarfigknittin.blogspot.com/2011/10/striped-earflap-hats.html" target="_blank">Striped Earflap Hat</a> pattern.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6328668185/" title="Fake Isle Earflap Hat by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Fake Isle Earflap Hat" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6328668185_3438f97938.jpg" width="399" /></a></div>
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The yarn is leftovers from a sweater that I knit for Miriam. It is <a href="http://www.sirdar.co.uk/yarns/babyYarns/dkBaby/Snuggly_Baby_Crofter_Dk_F086" target="_blank">Sirdar's Snuggly Baby Crofter DK</a> and is a "fake" fair isle striping yarn. It is SO soft! There's a good amount of acrylic in it (no wool at all), but it doesn't feel like acrylic at all. I still struggle with the "perfect number" for this yarn to make all the stripes and fair isle effect line up exactly, but I would definitely use it again, just to find this number!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6328668809/" title="Fake Isle Earflap Hat by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Fake Isle Earflap Hat" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6328668809_d92d4a2b2d.jpg" width="399" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-45581728885396040582011-11-07T22:19:00.002-06:002011-11-07T22:19:42.316-06:00Day 7: Something NewI don't do much for myself, as I really don't need much. The kids are growing and learning and experiencing; it's much easier and nicer to do things for them. But, for Miriam's birthday in September, a wonderful <a href="http://muddymoosecrafts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">yarnie friend from Ravelry</a> gifted me a handspun skein of yarn that she created herself. I instantly knew what I wanted it to become. A hat. For me. There was only 90 yards, but it is a gorgeous 90 yards. I found a simple hat pattern, but as I was knitting, I realized that no way was 90 yards enough for a hat on my head. I started contemplating finding a coordinating yarn to add stripes to the hat, give it a little interest and extend the use of the special yarn.<br />
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Then, this past weekend, my mother took me to a small Llama farm/fiber studio that was having a great sale. I found this amazingly soft, cuddly, and perfect Merino and Mulberry Silk blended top in a perfect white color to go with the pops of white bamboo spun in the special yarn. I cannot wait to spin this up so I can finish my hat!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6324148431/" title="Day 7 Something New by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 7 Something New" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6324148431_1645883587.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Taken on the Manual setting (F/2.8 and 1/6 shutter speed) and edited in Picasa with Saturation.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-13979644997401066402011-11-06T22:00:00.000-06:002011-11-07T22:04:59.635-06:00Day 6: Childhood MemorySo many things happened today that could have fallen under the "childhood memory" category. It's amazing to see my children play and learn like I did! This picture, taken earlier in the day, captures Miriam wearing a hard hat and reading stories. I used to go to work with my father when I was a bit older than her (maybe just a bit older than Benjamin, actually). He worked in a factory at the time, and my brother and I would ride our tricycles around the large open spaces not too far from the machines. I can't remember if I had to wear a hard hat. Likely not, as there wasn't a problem with toddlers being in a factory "back in the day," but I remember wanting so much to be like my father. Alas, I turned out much more like my mother, and I never could put down a good book!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6324148145/" title="Day 6 Childhood Memory by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 6 Childhood Memory" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/6324148145_978b484be3.jpg" /></a></div>
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Photo taken on the Auto setting with flash. Edited in Picasa with Saturation, then further edited in Picnik with Lomo-ish and Vignette effects.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-23872394755170441002011-11-05T23:06:00.000-05:002011-11-05T23:06:44.435-05:00Day 5: Someone I LoveI almost thought it would be cheating to pick my kids as subject matters today. (Plus, I didn't want to have to pick a favorite.) I decided to showcase my husband, Chris, but there was never a moment to get him alone. And this photo says a lot about that. Chris is an amazing father who our children adore. So today, instead of getting "someone," you get to see the "someones" I love, namely, my favorite boys!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6317326760/" title="Day 5: Someone I Love by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 5: Someone I Love" height="400" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6317326760_34c799e3c9.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Taken on Auto setting with no flash. Edited in <a href="http://www.picnik.com/" target="_blank">Picnik</a> using "1960's Effect."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-87580697020485657392011-11-04T10:29:00.000-05:002011-11-04T10:29:35.682-05:00Day 4: Favorite ColorThis is a closeup of a sweater that I knit. Not only do I love the color green, but the texture really speaks to me too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6311938549/" title="Day 4 - Favorite Color by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 4 - Favorite Color" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6311938549_90c2f15be7.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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This was SO HARD! I have a little point and shoot (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-L200-Digital-Optical-Red/dp/B0015WSEJG" target="_blank">Samsung L200 10.2 MegaPixel</a>), so truing colors in the original photo was very difficult.<br />
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Photo was taken on the Manual Setting (F2.8, Exposure time 1/15 seconds), and edited in Picasa using Saturation.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-74074893633257411822011-11-03T13:38:00.000-05:002011-11-03T13:38:25.410-05:00Day 3: CloudsIt's been grey and cloudy lately. It was raining this morning, but it cleared up enough for me to run outside and snap this photo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6309493330/" title="Day 3: Clouds by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 3: Clouds" height="375px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/6309493330_3df3397d9a.jpg" width="500px" /></a></div>
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Taken on the Scene setting, with flash. No editing done.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-1228618010718897992011-11-02T21:34:00.000-05:002011-11-03T13:30:27.447-05:00Day 2: What I wore<br />
Nothing too special about what I wore. It was a chilly and rainy day, so I had on my favorite jeans, a t-shirt, and my husband's high school track sweatshirt. The kids were also very cuddly, and this photo was taken while Benjamin was falling asleep for his nap.<br />
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<a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/6308972311_03dcd1dcb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/6308972311_03dcd1dcb6.jpg" /></a></div>
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Taken on the portrait setting with a 10 second timer. Edited in Picasa using Black & White and Warmify effects. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-32926691640810863582011-11-01T21:47:00.000-05:002011-11-01T23:56:05.409-05:00Day 1: Self- Portrait<div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6304618363/" title="Day 1: Self-Portrait by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 1: Self-Portrait" height="401" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6304618363_cbd8139059.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Portrait taken with 10 second timer on the "portrait" setting using flash and facial detection. Edited in Picasa using Soft Focus and Warmify.</div>
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Gathered inspiration from <a href="http://www.digital-photography-school.com/self-portraits-7-tips-for-going-beyond-the-basics" target="_blank">this blog post</a>.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-75805593124173358692011-10-31T21:00:00.000-05:002011-11-01T23:53:01.120-05:0030 Day Photo ChallengeI've been wanting to improve my photography skills. I've been long lamenting that my pictures suck because of my camera. That may be true to a point, but perhaps I need to learn more about how to use my camera. So, I'm going to do a study on it, and to encourage me along, I'm doing a 30 Day Photo Challenge done by many bloggers before me.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H6gre5RugjY/TrDMLoDcSFI/AAAAAAAAAGY/CoaQUSE6rYA/s1600/30+Day+Photo+Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H6gre5RugjY/TrDMLoDcSFI/AAAAAAAAAGY/CoaQUSE6rYA/s640/30+Day+Photo+Challenge.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-55580581646065840982011-10-28T20:38:00.003-05:002011-10-28T20:38:22.598-05:00Benjamin's PumpkinBenjamin took great care in picking out this pumpkin. He wanted to be sure to get a small pumpkin, "just my size." And he picked up nearly 2 dozen pumpkins to determine if they were the right size.<br />
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This morning, we carved his pumpkin. I scooped out the guts last night, so it was all ready to go for him. I gave him a crayon and he colored on the face for me to cut out. I did the cutting, he did the poking out of the pieces.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6288641531/" title="Benjamin's pumpkin 2011 by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's pumpkin 2011" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6288641531_fe835517bc.jpg" width="399" /></a></div>
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I placed a lit candle inside for him to see it all "spooky, spooky!" He immediately blew it out and said, "Now we can have birthday cake!!"<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6289161028/" title="Benjamin's pumpkin 2011 by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's pumpkin 2011" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6289161028_4feedaf780.jpg" width="399" /></a></div>
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Tonight, he made us sing "Happy Birthday" to the pumpkin before he blew out the candle. :-)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-70735086477684730482011-10-26T10:29:00.001-05:002011-10-26T10:29:28.023-05:00Wordless Wednesday: Hat in Progress<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6282973231/" title="Hat in Progress by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Hat in Progress" height="401" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6282973231_71206b69d1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-74924495258992139172011-10-25T23:47:00.000-05:002011-10-25T23:47:01.288-05:00Are you mightier than your child?I have a few friends who have children the same ages as Benjamin and Miriam, and we keep in touch via Facebook. As is common in parenting toddlers, behavior and discipline are frequently visited topics. Sometimes, I'm really appalled by what I read from them! Spanking and washing out of mouths and expected sleep training!<br />
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I think some people believe I am a permissive parent. I don't believe I am. We have discipline in the house. However, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">we use discipline by this definition: "training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character"</span></b>, whereas it is commonly used by this definition: "control gained by enforcing obedience or order."<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Are you mightier than your child?</span></b><br />
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Benjamin and Miriam are little people. They have thoughts and needs and wants and wishes. They have goals they want and need to attain, goals that I did not give them. Of course, I may view these things as unimportant, but to my 2 year old, making a teetering tower of blocks stand tall on the edge of a soft couch is the most important task he will take on today. He will fail, and he will get upset. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">It will be childish. But he is a child and I cannot expect him to behave as anything else.</span> </b>Instead, I will respond to him with compassion, empathizing that it is really frustrating when things don't work out as planned. That is an adult concept that he can learn. And he will learn it. He will respond to me, "Yes, mama, it makes me mad." I immediately give him the words he can use to express how he feels so that he doesn't need to throw the blocks across the room, and I won't have to suffer through a tantrum that tries my patience and "requires" punishment.<br />
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I want to teach my children what it is like to live in an adult world. Isn't that the goal of parenting, to foster these babies into functioning members of society? What does spanking teach your child? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">That might is right?</span></b> I'm bigger than you, so do as I say?<br />
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My one year old is learning to put things away. She has her own idea of what this means though. After she placed a kitchen towel in the frying pan cabinet, I took it back out and asked her to hang it back on the stove handle. She told me an emphatic, "No!" I let her walk away. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">She has the right to refuse my requests, just as I have the right to refuse your requests.</span></b> Eventually, she will learn that telling me, or anyone, "no" will have natural consequences. She'll learn that if she doesn't put her shoes away when I ask her to, she won't be able to find them on her way out the door. She'll learn that other children won't want to play with her if she doesn't do as they ask sometimes. As an adult, she'll learn that she won't keep a job for very long if she only does things that she likes to do. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">But I let her make her own decisions, without fear of disappointing me.</span></b><br />
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I'm a gentle parent. I don't stress about my children's behavior. I believe in natural consequences helping them learn the order of our society. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My children respect me because I respect them.</span></b><br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"Children aren't to be molded; they are little people to be unfolded."</span></b></i>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-58965722770940387282011-10-24T21:09:00.000-05:002011-10-24T21:09:06.659-05:00Striped Earflap HatsI have a goal to knit my kids their winter hats every year. This year, they got matching hats!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6248613472/" title="Benjamin's and Miriam's Earflap Hats by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's and Miriam's Earflap Hats" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6248613472_29937658a2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Benjamin loves the pom-pom. It's his "favorite."<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6248089093/" title="Benjamin's Earflap Hat by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's Earflap Hat" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6248089093_04c1f79bb8.jpg" width="372" /></a><br />
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Miriam likes to play dress-up, so she adores wearing hats because they make her feel pretty!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6218992763/" title="Miriam's earflap hat by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Miriam's earflap hat" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/6218992763_5a29d5046b.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
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This is a great hat. It's so fun to knit, and apparently fun to wear! I would have knit enough hats for the whole family if I thought my husband would wear a hat. :-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/karen-canapa-designs/80585"><img border="0" src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" /></a><br />
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You can knit one too! The Striped Earflap Hat pattern fully explains how to do jogless stripes and how to add the crochet edging to the hat. A garter stitch edging is also included as an alternative option. Details for how to make the ties and pom-pom are also included. The pattern includes instructions for knitting sizes from newborn (14" head) all the way to large adult (24" head) using a DK weight yarn.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-20945058152155332422011-10-21T22:31:00.000-05:002011-10-21T22:31:09.909-05:00Fall is definitely hereIt is fall here in Wisconsin. For awhile there, we had a really beautiful Indian summer with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. But, last weekend came and with it a wind that brought rain and 40s and 50s. It felt like the right time to take our kids to the pumpkin farm.<div>
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Chris and Miriam were checking out the apples in the store because it was almost too windy to be outside.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6247674052/" title="What happens when you ask Miriam and Daddy to say, "Cheese!" by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="What happens when you ask Miriam and Daddy to say, "Cheese!"" height="376" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6247674052_d089397102.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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In the meantime, Benjamin stole an apple! The shop keeper was nice enough to let him keep it, especially since we bought a 1/2 bushel of apples to take home.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6267767067/" title="Benjamin's apple by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's apple" height="376" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6267767067_f15134d034.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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We have an annual tradition of using the "How Big Am I" board at the farm to photograph the kids.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6268291440/" title="Benjamin by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6268291440_1b97824552.jpg" width="375" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6268291502/" title="Miriam by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Miriam" height="500" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6268291502_7bfb6e2a2f.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
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Miriam got trapped by pumpkins nearly as big as her!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6267767255/" title="squished by pumpkins! by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="squished by pumpkins!" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6267767255_26fbe9cfab.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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And Benjamin picked the perfect pumpkin.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6268291720/" title="Benjamin's pumpkin! by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Benjamin's pumpkin!" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6106/6268291720_0988acbe31.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-76847902112494870262011-10-20T20:42:00.000-05:002011-10-20T20:42:10.973-05:00Split Pea and Bacon SoupWhen it comes to kitchen utensils, machines, and gadgets, there is nothing I love more than my crockpot. It's the traditional 1950's housewife, residing in the kitchen, allowing you to ignore it all day and still churning out magical yumminess at dinnertime. I have this <a href="http://www.crock-pot.com/Product.aspx?cid=113&pid=8861">crockpot</a> (but in white and 10 years old), and I love that it has 4 cook settings plus a "warm" feature to keep your food hot in the event the cooking stops before you have a chance to attend to it. The only thing I could wish for is that it would have the ability to choose the warm feature without first having to go through the 4-10 hours of cooking.<br />
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There are a few staples in my crockpot that I have not branched far from: pot roast, pork and sauerkraut, rotisserie-style chicken, chicken soup, taco soup, and chili. However, I'm trying to expand our family's diet horizons, introduce new foods to my toddlers (holy cow! I have 2 of them!!), and still keep it nice and easy. I have been returning to the foods I ate while living in Germany: simple, inexpensive, mostly vegetarian, but extremely delicious foods! This means a return to legumes.<br />
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<b><u>Split Pea and Bacon Soup</u></b><br />
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1 pound dried split peas<br />
1 pound bacon<br />
1 medium yellow onion<br />
1/4 tsp pepper<br />
1 tsp kosher salt<br />
2 cans low-sodium chicken broth (I used Swanson 14.5oz cans)<br />
enough water to make 5 cups liquid when combined with broth (I needed 1 3/8 cup - or 11 ounces)
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Dump the split peas into the crockpot and pick through to find any rocks, stones, or withered and discolored peas. There's no need to presoak your peas if you're cooking in the crockpot. Slice your bacon into 1/2 inch pieces. I slice it while frozen and the fat is firmed up. Don't worry about thawing it after slicing. Just break it up and toss it on top of your peas. It'll thaw before you turn the crockpot on. Chop your onion and toss in the crockpot on top of the bacon and peas. Sprinkle your salt and pepper on top. Pour your broth and water over everything. No need to stir anything.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6264834019/" title="Split Pea and Bacon Soup by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Split Pea and Bacon Soup" height="375" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6264834019_2bd408529b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.<br />
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When it's all done cooking, you can either use a potato masher and mash the peas into oblivion or use a stick blender (my preference) to get a nice smooth soup.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6264834099/" title="Split Pea and Bacon Soup by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img alt="Split Pea and Bacon Soup" height="388" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6264834099_2897289309.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Ideally, I'd like to serve this soup with deep fried croutons, but I didn't have any bread to make them from. Why deep fried? It keeps the croutons from getting soggy in your soup. A nice crusty bread is just as good, however!<br />
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And I won't pretend this doesn't have a lot of fat. It uses a whole pound of bacon, in case you hadn't noticed. I suppose, if you're scared of a little bacon, you'll just have to use the tried and true ham. But, bacon will win you brownie points with your husband. Just saying.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-39324469429200122662011-10-19T09:08:00.003-05:002011-10-19T09:32:36.646-05:00'Tis the Season to KnitThe weather is cooling down, the winds are picking up, the leaves are changing colors, and pumpkins are the latest in decor. For me, this means it's a more comfortable time to pick up the wool and needles and create loving pieces of yarnie goodness for my family and friends!<br /><br />I joined a 1st Birthday Swap on Ravelry for Miriam's birth group, and I knit up a few things for a special little girl and her mommy. (Check out Lin's parenting blog at <a href="http://thistinyspark.com/">This Tiny Spark</a>. She's just starting, but she's a wonderful writer and an even better mommy!)<br /><br />Little Miss Maya is having a cupcake birthday, so I wanted to stay on that theme. Another mom made Maya a cupcake birthday skirt, so I made her a cupcake onesie to go with.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6260323777/" title="cupcake onesie by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6260323777_29c675fc25.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="cupcake onesie"></a><br /><br />And to completely go cupcake overboard, I knit a pair of Duffers. This slipper pattern is fabulous! Here's my <a href="http://ravel.me/Pfarfigknittin/d1rfs">Ravelry project page.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6260849550/" title="Cupcake birthday duffers by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6260849550_be3cc6f2ee.jpg" width="461" height="346" alt="Cupcake birthday duffers"></a><br /><br />And a little something for momma: A pair of French Press Slippers. Details on my <a href="http://ravel.me/Pfarfigknittin/fpfs2">Ravelry project page</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/6260849622/" title="French Press Slippers by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6260849622_47c6c557b7.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="French Press Slippers"></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-31465551775352456542011-08-26T21:41:00.004-05:002011-08-26T23:26:12.568-05:00How much money have I saved by breastfeeding?I came across a post on Twitter where a mom claimed to have saved just over $2000 by breastfeeding instead of formula feeding. It got me to thinking...how much money have I saved by breastfeeding?
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<br />Let's start counting costs I've incurred while breastfeeding at the beginning, when I started nursing Benjamin. I worked out of the home for 6 months, and then have been home to feed him and Miriam ever since. I do not offer bottles when I am available to nurse, so Miriam has had a bottle offered only 1 time and she refused it. There's been no point in bottle-training her since I am a stay at home mom now, so I didn't push it:
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<br />Breastfeeding Introduction Class: offered for free by my birthing center = $0
<br />Breastpump for returning to work: got a second-hand Medela PIS = $50
<br />New tubing and flanges for pump: bought on clearance = $5 for tubing, $8 for flanges
<br />Bottles: bought a 3 pack of Dr. Brown's bottles = $16
<br />Bottlebrush: $5
<br />Breastmilk storage bags: I used Lanisoh's Breastmilk Bags, an average of 1 pack per month for the 6 months I pumped = $60
<br />Reuseable nursing pads: I made these myself or received them as promotional gifts = $0
<br />Disposable nursing pads: These were thinner under my work clothes, used Lanisoh's brand, an average of 1 box/month for 2 years = $118
<br />Nursing shawl: I purchased a fancy custom-made shawl I rarely use because I am comfortable nursing without a cover in public, but I didn't start out that way = $40
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<br />Benjamin did get a good amount of formula in those 6 months that I worked, to supplement what I couldn't pump. So if I factor in the 8 cans of Target brand Gentile Formula we used, it would add $118 to our feeding costs.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My total cost in breastfeeding my 2 children (with the small amount of formula supplementation) = $420</span>
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/5459637873/" title="a lazy morning nursing session in bed by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5459637873_960d747560.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="a lazy morning nursing session in bed"></a>
<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Morning nursing session in bed on a lazy Saturday</span>
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<br />Now, if we had exclusively formula fed Benjamin, our formula costs would be much higher. I found an online chart that broke down the average amount of formula drunk per day, but it only accounted for up to 6 months of age. Because babies can begin to be offered solid foods at 6 months of age, I would assume that the average amount of formula consumed would stay constant from 6-12 months, with the additional calories needed ingested in the form of solid foods. According to this chart (which, when compared to other online charts, falls right in the middle of the low vs high amounts of formula per day), a child will consume roughly 11,490 ounces of formula in 1 year. The Up & Up brand of Gentle Formula (which was what Benjamin tolerated), costs $14.80 for 80 ounces. 11,490/80=143.625x$14.80 = $2,125.65 for a one year supply of powdered formula.
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<br />Miriam has a casein allergy, so she cannot have dairy products. She also likely has a soy allergy (very common in babies that have a CSM allergy) So, formula feeding her would require an elemental formula. These formulas are available to us by prescription only, but would not be covered by insurance. Each can retails at $32.98 and makes 80fl oz. Keeping with the same averages that we used in calculating Benjamin's formula cost, we would assume that Miriam would also take in roughly 11,490 ounces in one year. That's a total cost of $4,738.75 for a years worth of formula!
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<br />Add in cost of bottles = $16 (assuming we're cool with lots of washing and can work with 3 bottles in our cabinets)
<br />Bottle brush = $5
<br />Formula travel dispenser = $7
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Total cost for formula feeding my 2 children for only one year each = $6,892.40</span>
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/5797085959/" title="nursing & bottlefeeding! by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/5797085959_be1b1369bd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="nursing & bottlefeeding!"></a>
<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nursing my daughter while formula feeding a nanny charge on yet another lazy Saturday morning</span>
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<br />WOW! Look at that! <span style="font-weight:bold;">I saved $6,472.40 by choosing to feed my child naturally by breastfeeding!!</span> Of course, this doesn't take into account any of the potential medical savings for either my kids or myself (that's right, breastfeeding lowers my risk of common cancers!) over our lifetime.
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<br />These simple calculations mean a lot to me, considering that I initially chose to breastfeed purely for the monetary savings. Since then, the act of breastfeeding has developed to hold so much more meaning to me than frugality. As science attempts to create substitutes to rival Mother's Milk, it only furthers my education in how wonderful God made my body and how he designed it to nurture my children. No amount of money saved will ever compare to that!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-72202741890032170042011-07-08T13:10:00.008-05:002011-07-10T22:02:15.688-05:00Getting my hair didI have LOTS of stick straight fine hair. It's a serious torture device in the summer. The one summer that I spend all day everyday outside, the summer I worked at a camp for the mentally and physically disabled, I actually went so far as to shave my head. Maybe not the smartest choice as I was a bit regretting it come fall and my freshman year of college, but, Man! It was awesome for the summer! No more sweat rolling down my forehead and no more heat rashes on my neck. Every summer, I wish I could do that again, but then I am reminded of the pain in the butt inbetween styles I had to put up with, and I just don't want to deal with that again.<br /><br /><em>(The Before)</em> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/5923923738/" title="hair before by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5923923738_139f4a176d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="hair before"></a><br /><br />Also, please add in the fact that I have 2 young children and nanny for an additonal 3 young children. I have no time (or will) to take a shower most days, much less spend 5 minutes drying my hair. I had one very awesome stylist that was able to thin my hair out enough that it was manageable for me, but then she went and got married and then moved away. Geez! Why wasn't she thinking about me! Since then, I have suffered through 9 stylists who much up my hair everytime. Seriously, I've paid anywhere from $7 to $45 for a haircut and spent anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours in a stylist's chair with no one being able to replicate the results of this favorite stylist. So, I've decided to stop hating my hair and to stop making these poor girls try to fit in someone else's shoes. I'm going to do something totally different.<br /><br />My requirements:<br />1) My hair must not hang on my neck<br />2) My hair must look good after 3 days of no showers<br />3) My hair maintenance must take less than 5 minutes a day and preferrably not require product of any sort<br />4) My hair must be versatile and be both a "mommy cut" and "smoking hot wife cut"<br /><br />Idea: A permed bob. A cut that will create some volume so that my unwashed hair is not limp on my scalp. A style that won't require me to do anything to it but tossle dry on days that I don't have time, but allows for some more detailed styling on days that I really want to play with my hair.<br /><br />So I brought these four pictures to my new stylist. Yeah, a big leap to hand over a more delicate process to someone brand new to me, but I haven't fallen in love with any of the other ladies that I've visited, so why not? I'm aware that one of these is not actually a perm or naturally curly hair, but rather a curled style, but these pictures were brought as a "please don't make me curlier than this" guide.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rG7H5s8Hpnc/ThdSF91B9NI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/-h_YALdkEMA/s1600/curly-hairstyle.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rG7H5s8Hpnc/ThdSF91B9NI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/-h_YALdkEMA/s200/curly-hairstyle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627056521872536786" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WzuAqeeh34s/ThdReLTfqxI/AAAAAAAAAFI/K6_xhYFYDJA/s1600/sarah-jessica-parker-hair-curly-short-13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 195px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WzuAqeeh34s/ThdReLTfqxI/AAAAAAAAAFI/K6_xhYFYDJA/s200/sarah-jessica-parker-hair-curly-short-13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627055838295206674" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaIYdtMtjaI/ThdSfSrF5pI/AAAAAAAAAFY/zlDN-K4fwz0/s1600/wedding-hair-styles-for-short-hair12.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaIYdtMtjaI/ThdSfSrF5pI/AAAAAAAAAFY/zlDN-K4fwz0/s200/wedding-hair-styles-for-short-hair12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627056956964726418" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1N-6hcQueH0/ThdSwj_e6TI/AAAAAAAAAFg/RVFm5XFk3fU/s1600/jenna-elfman-short-blonde-curly-hairstyle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1N-6hcQueH0/ThdSwj_e6TI/AAAAAAAAAFg/RVFm5XFk3fU/s200/jenna-elfman-short-blonde-curly-hairstyle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627057253671430450" /></a><br /><br />Okay, my stylist turned out to be super awesome at my hair! He wasn't much of a talker...as in didn't say two words to me at all, other than, "So you want a perm?" And it was kind of nice to sit in peace and quiet for once! I love the final result, and I think it's a super easy style. I told him I wanted "beachy," and I think that just about describes the tightness of the curl! In fact, you can actually see my (months old) highlights much better now.<br /><br />(The After) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/5923359957/" title="Haircut afterwards by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5923359957_37c56c85db.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Haircut afterwards"></a><br /><br />Do you love it too?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943058958477649507.post-51695662773543156032011-07-07T23:12:00.001-05:002011-07-08T14:14:37.936-05:00Day 6, Tour de FleeceMiriam had a hard time falling asleep tonight, so I only got my 15 minutes in. It seemed to take forever though!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83604443@N00/5914565096/" title="Day 6 Tour de Fleece by pfarfigknittin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5313/5914565096_55495fed9c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Day 6 Tour de Fleece"></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10396157948668498837noreply@blogger.com0