Monday, July 18, 2011

Dilemmas of a Stay at Home Mom

Being a stay at home mom has been great. I really enjoy taking care of my son, watching him learn and grow, and being right there when he needs something.

The biggest downfall has been money. My husband has a good job and makes good money. He easily provides for our every day needs. But there is no room for extras. I don't get my haircut as often as it needs it. We don't go out to eat. We don't go on vacations. Our savings is slow-growing.

I am totally qualified to work. I have a college degree and some work experience. I just can't get myself to pay someone else to watch my son. I was put on the Earth to be a mother and take care of my children. My mom stayed home with me and I always figured that's what I would do too.

It will be a few years until Nate goes to school and I am kid-free. (Honestly, we'll probably have another kid before then anyway, so I won't really be kid-free for a long time.) I'd love to make money blogging, but I'm not a great blogger. I'm not willing to put my whole life on the Internet to make it interesting. I don't have any expert advice or interesting talents. I'm just a girl that stays home with her kid, watches cartoons, and crafts sometimes.

I thought about opening an Etsy shop. I like making yarn wreaths, tshirt necklaces/scarves, felt flowers, and button jewelry. But aren't there already thousands of shops already selling these? And they're probably cuter and better made then what I can do.

How do you make money? Do you have any ideas on how I can make money from home? Or do you know where I can get free haircuts?

Also? Dilemma is a weird word. Look at it for a while. Dil. Emma. Dile. Mma. Di. Lemma.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Pinterest Addiction

Hi, my name is Jamie. I'm addicted to Pinterest.
I've spent hours browsing people's pins. I repin beautiful ideas. I create boards to organize my obsessions. I am THRILLED when someone finds my discoveries repin-worthy.

It's a great way to figure out your style. And your friends' styles. Or, as my friend noted, a way for your husband to learn your style.

One of my favorite topics to search on Pinterest is quotes. Like this:



And so pretty! This is a Katie Daisy print. I saw a pack of her cards at TJ Maxx last week. I didn't buy them, but I couldn't get them out of my mind. I went back yesterday and couldn't find them :( AND THEN there they were, in a basket of clearence dog toys. So happy! I'm goin to frame the 4 designs and hang them in our house.

Anyway, go check out Pinterest. You won't regret it. Your husband may stage an intervention, though.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

How to Fix Your Garbage Disposal

Step 1: Don't put fish tank rocks in your garbage disposal.
Step 2: Turn on Blues Clues so your 2 yr old will stay away from the chemicals under the sink.
Step 3: DON'T stick your hand down the sink to see what's down there.
Step 4: Vacuum out the fish tank rocks
Step 5: Google it
Step 6: Find your hex tool because you bought this house used and have no idea where the garbage disposal tool might be.
Step 7: Insert the 1/4" allen wrench into the hole in the bottom of the disposal and MAN. HANDLE. It needs to be able to move freely. Just do it.
Step 8: Push the reset button because now you've messed with it and it probably won't even turn on at all now.
Step 9: You probably should unplug the disposal before all of this but you didn't think of that before hand.
Step 10: Make coffee.
Step 11: Repeat steps 7-9 a few times since YOU ARE DETERMINED TO FIX IT and your husband is still asleep.
Step 12: Turn Blues Clues back on before your kid notices it has ended.
Step 13: Cross your fingers. Pray to the DIY fairies. Flip the switch (keep your hands out of the drain).
Step 14: VOILA! Now go to Facebook and boast about how awesome you are.

After your adventures in garbage disposals, check out My Drunk Kitchen. She will make you feel good about drinking and cooking. Now I want a margarita and a taco. I don't care that it's 10 AM. I've already done a full day's work!