My Furry Little Homemakers

It goes like this: in a matter of a month my husband lost his job, I started working what seems like a million hours a week, the girls began the new school year, and we pulled the little guy from childcare – sudden household insanity!

So what did we do? We got cats.

We adopted two-year-old siblings Simo, a fat, playful tabby, and Celia, a shy, little tortoise shell calico.

We are quite aware what some of our friends and family are thinking. They wonder why, when we have a so many things going on and a loss of income, would we take on the additional responsibility of pets.

Why? We needed them a whole lot more than they needed us.

Simo and Celia are great companions to my husband and son when they are home all day, every day. They are playmates for the kids. They are great cuddlers and listeners when we are having a tough day. They even helped the kids forget that we had to cancel our family vacation.

I can’t even tell you how much they have given us already in the three short weeks we’ve had them.

There are numerous studies claiming pet owners are less stressed and less likely to suffer depression than non-pet owners. In her article, “How Owning a Dog or Cat Can Reduce Stress,” Elizabeth Scott, M.S., offers these reasons:
• Pets Can Improve Your Mood
• Pets Control Blood Pressure Better Than Drugs
• Pets Can Help With Social Support
• Pets Stave Off Loneliness and Provide Unconditional Love
• Pets Can Reduce Stress—Sometimes More Than People

I really didn’t need to look that up. Simo and Celia aren’t our first pets. Our family included two cats named Cody and Misti up until two years ago, when we sadly lost them both to separate illnesses within a few months. They had been so important to us and we grieved their loss so much that it took us this long to be ready to welcome new cats into our family.

But we knew it was time now. We all needed each other – it was a perfect match. They are helping us feel quite centered at home at a time when change could have easily overcome us. It is very nice to have a family of seven once again.

I Bow Down to Organized Audrey

I have an idol. I’ve met her once, I’ve heard her speak, I’ve bought her books and read them many, many times, and I’ve attempted to put them into action even many more times than that. I look up to this woman because no matter how hard I try, I am not anything like her. And I really want to be.

She is Audrey Thomas, founder of Organized Audrey. She is a home organization expert.

There are a lot of great things about my home. It is bright and open. It is surrounded by lovely trees. It is occupied by the people I love. It has plenty of space for us and our things. It really is a good place to live.

But organized it is not.

I have stacks of papers on my kitchen counter, laundry baskets of clothes in my bedrooms, toys overflowing every room, piles of dirty laundry waiting to be washed and closets stuffed floor to ceiling with, well, stuff. I can’t even guess how much time is wasted in my house looking for things we can’t find and how much energy is wasted feeling frustrated about the mess.

I reveal all this as a sort of therapy. It’s like I’m at my first Disorganized Anonymous meeting and I’m shyly standing up to admit to the crowd: “Hi, I’m Jen, and I’m disorganized.”

The time has come to change. But this isn’t my first time trying. Many more times than once I have worked really hard to get everything the way I want it (or at least close) and have kept it that way for two, maybe three weeks, and then I fall off the wagon again. I like to blame it on lack of time as a busy working mom of three, but I know an excuse doesn’t change the fact that it is as it is and I don’t like it.

So, send me good vibes, say a little prayer, or however you can support me, please. I’m going to try again.

I remember when I heard Audrey speak once she made a big point about not trying to do it all at once, but instead changing little habits one at a time. I trust her, so I will follow that advice.

So, first I’m going to tackle the paper in my kitchen. Audrey told a great story about a woman who had once called on her for help with this very issue. She had a gorgeous, clean house, but her double ovens were completely stuffed with papers. She had shoved it all in there once when company was coming and then just kept adding to it. (The story helped me feel so much better – at least my ovens are free of paper!)

Audrey’s solution to all the paper is using a hanging file box with separate files for all the different types of topics appropriate for your family. One for the school, one for church, one for sports, one for bills, one for take-out menus and coupons, one for each person’s personal stuff, ect. I actually attempted this a year or two ago and it worked great for a while. BUT, I had failed to take Audrey’s advice on one point – she said to not buy the pretty small file – to get the great big one. I went for the small, it got too stuffed and then we stopped using it.

I bought the big file box now and we will start again. I am committed. I am going to use this week to focus my energy, re-read some of the Organized Audrey books and get the family on board. My goal is to turn my home into more of a haven before the snow flies.

Thanks for your fabulous solutions and guidance, Audrey! You (and your ways) are always welcome in our home!

Healthy Food, But Are the Containers Killing Me?

On top of thinking about what I’m putting into my body, lately I’ve also been thinking a lot about what I’m putting my food and drink into. It really freaks me out to read that the plastic bottles and sippy cups I used with my kids may cause cancer and that the aluminum water bottle I constantly used could cause neurological disorders.

Is anything safe these days?

There don't seem to be any issues with glass and stainless steel, so that’s what I'm going with.

First off, I ditched most of our plastic dishes and cups and we are using glass, which we already used aside from the kids’ stuff. I have to admit that I wasn’t sad to part with the dishes decorated with princesses and animals – cute, but time to go. The kids didn’t even seem to notice. I found tempered glass kidishes by Duralex for the kids online, which I am very excited about.

I also got rid of most of our plastic storage containers, although I still use some #2 plastic containers with dry goods for sending the kids food to school. I figure it is still better than contributing plastic bags to the land fills. I just don’t put them in the dishwasher or microwave them. (In fact the only plastic I ever microwave is the occasional Lean Cuisine when I am really desperate – nobody’s perfect, right?) Also, I have been reading about waxed paper bags for school lunches which I need to check out – sounds like another potential good option for the kids.

Next, I bought each member of the family a Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle to use throughout the day. I love them! They are durable, the water doesn’t get a metallic taste and they are super light weight. More importantly, we don’t have to worry about chemicals like BPA. Plus, I like how the Klean Kanteen wide mouths are easy for cleaning.

Finally, I am slowly replacing a lot of my cookware. Because my budget is tight I haven’t been able to jump on this as quickly and instead have been replacing one piece at a time (and trying to mostly only use the new stuff). Maybe this is a good excuse to finally get to build a collection of the All-Clad stainless cookware I’ve been wanting for years!

I figure that making these small changes is the least I can do for my health and my family. There are so many things I can’t control, so why not do my best with the things I can!

Farm Fresh

I feel really lucky to live and work where I have easy access to working farmland, orchards and robust farmers markets. Three seasons a year I have access to the freshest of locally grown vegetables and fruit. I hardly have to go to the grocery store and it is so easy to get the kids to make healthier food choices.

I work in downtown Minneapolis, where every Thursday the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market spans several blocks down Nicollet Mall. Each week I ride the bus home with a big bag full of seasonal goodness to kick off the weekend well.

Today I picked up a ton of gorgeous sweet corn, crisp green beans and some beautiful ripe tomatoes. My mouth is watering just thinking about the barbeque we’ll have tomorrow! I also picked up some fresh catnip as a treat for my kitties. Is it wrong that I supply drugs for my animals?

On the weekends we like to get the kids involved when we can. We spent last Sunday at Whistling Well Farm picking apples fresh from the trees and running around with the resident dog and chickens. It was such a wonderful way to relish the beautiful autumn afternoon and we went home with bags of delicious souvenirs to enjoy through the week. I can’t wait for prime Honeycrisp season to start in two weeks!

I am filling my body (and my freezer) with all the fresh goodness I can while the getting is good. Squash and pumpkins next – YUM!

Fitting Good Food Into Little Time

In my dream life I have a personal chef. He whips up perfectly delicious and nutritious meals for the family and there are always readily available healthy snacks when we need them.

Realty: As I write this I am eating a pre-made frozen lasagna out of a plastic tray that I just zapped with radiation. Mmmmm. I try not to make a habit out of this, but we are a beyond busy family and we usually eat what is easiest to grab. The trick is making sure the most accessible food is actually satisfying and good for us, so we’ve been working a lot on meal planning in our house lately.

We’ve found that the key to healthy, happy eating is involving the kids in the planning. Kids always enjoy food more when they feel like they had a hand in it. I don’t bring the kids to the grocery store with me (so I can stick to a list), but we do sit down together to prepare the shopping list.

Although it may sound like more work to involve the kids, it eliminates any arguments or decisions at meal times – and the kids love to be part of it. In the end, by planning together we end up with more time around the table enjoying the food together.

Additionally, we’ve been doing more to encourage the kids to take an interest in their personal nutrition. My five-year-old daughter really likes to eat and wasn’t blessed with a fast metabolism – it was quickly evident that we needed to help her make smart decisions at a young age or she could be plagued with weight struggles and potential health issues for life.

I’ve found the best tool to use with the kids is the good old fashioned Food Pyramid from the United States Department of Agriculture. The government-run website www.mypyramid.gov offers a tremendous amount of valuable information, including printables that you can hang right on your fridge for the kids to see every time they are choosing a snack. Tools and information vary by age group, so you can find the best suited resources for your family.

We refer to the Food Pyramid when planning our grocery lists and selecting our daily food choices. The kids enjoy the challenge of meeting the goals established on the Pyramid (which can be customized by person on the website):

Grains
Make half your grains whole
Eat 6 oz. every day

Vegetables
Vary your veggies
Eat 2 ½ cups each day

Fruits
Focus on Fruits
Eat 2 cups every day

Milk
Get your calcium-rich foods
Get 3 cups every day

Meat & Beans
Go lean with protein
Eat 5 ½ oz. every day

I guess the Food Pyramid is all just common sense. But really, common sense is what healthy eating is all about – natural food from the earth is always going to be healthier than food manufactured by humans. Still, it is nice to have the Pyramid’s system to follow – especially for the kids.

I am absolutely tickled when my kids say things like “mom, you need to add a protein to my lunch” or “I don’t think we’ve had enough orange vegetables this week.” Such good little stewards of health! Lucky they’re not here right now to witness this microwaved lasagna.

It's Daddy Time!

I never expected to be the one working parent in a household of five, but you roll with the punches in life and - with a good attitude - it all works out.

I actually think it is pretty cool that my husband gets to spend this special time with our two-year-old son while I’m at work and the girls are at school. He is potty training the little guy (yippee!) and yesterday they spent the whole morning at the hockey rink together.

BUT (a big but), sometimes it is really hard to be the one at work missing out on all the kid stuff. This week I have been seeing my children an average of two hours per day, and that is mostly filled with homework, bath time, etc.

Last night it all came down on me when I went to put my boy down to bed and his response was “I want daddy! Why don’t you just go to work, mom!” My heart broke in two. Clearly I’m not the only one who has noticed the role reversals in our house.

I’m trudging on, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment. At least I can use it to remind me to make the most of every single minute I do have with him. I can’t have the quantity right now, so I’m going to go for the quality – big time!

The Challenge

It seems to all be piling up lately. My husband lost his job, some of my friends seem a bit too distant, and my kids are going back to school (my second off to kindergarten – I can’t believe it!). I think the hardest thing, really, is that I feel too busy to really sit back and properly assess any of this.

Somehow, in the midst of it all, I am supposed to just keep chugging away busy as ever at work, kids’ activities, responsibilities and all. How am I supposed to manage the situations – or my emotions, for that matter – when I feel like I hardly have time to acknowledge them? Instead, for the moment, I am wallowing. I am feeling sorry for myself. I hate this. I feel like I’m not me.

I sent an email to my dear friend this morning and asked her if the way I am feeling is normal. She assured me it was. But, of course, she’s my friend, so I trust her on every topic except for honest assessments of myself. But then she sent me a link to one of her friend’s blogs and I was comforted (yet saddened) by reading Tears, by Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner. Thank you for sharing, Jennifer. I guess we’re both normal! And we are not alone.

Still, how do I break out of this? How do I slow down enough to evaluate and repair? I know that time alone won’t heal me – that I’ve learned the hard way.

Maybe it is far more than a coincidence that today is the first day in the Cardio Challenge that I have agreed to tackle with friends. We are competing against each other to exceed weekly mileage goals running, rowing and biking. I have been slacking on exercise lately, but I couldn’t resist my friend’s enthusiasm in developing this friendly competition. And I can’t think of a better time to jump back into gear. I know that the endorphins won’t hurt a bit, but better yet, I look forward to using my exercise time as an opportunity to think through these things happening in my life and plan for the next steps ahead.

I am optimistic that it will all be clearer with my running shoes on. And I’m pretty sure that I will find me again somewhere along the road.