Thursday, January 3, 2013
Monday, October 1, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
What am I feeding my kid?!
Not food for eating, but MIND food. What am I exposing my child to and feeding his mind with?!
I thought I was doing pretty good, buying books for dear little boy. Books and more books. Baby loves the books. But then, as all my life changing ideas happen, I read a book. (This is how I ended up being a vegetarian when I was 12...story for another time). I read "The Read Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease and am currently reading "Honey for a Childs Heart" by Gladys Hunt. I really like the "Honey" book, it touches on how it is important to have non-secular books around for the kids (DUH!) and gives a list of said books. Books that are wonderful examples of storytelling and/or illustration (Maurice Sendak anyone? in the happier days)
Then I was at a playdate with baby and a friend, and the friend said "You know, it is sad how all the "Christmas" books don't say anything about JESUS!" And then it dawned on me that I HAVE to do something about this. NOW!
I have to make it a point to seek out nutritious books for the soul and mind!
So I sorted all baby's books for evaluation, they fall into 3 categories:
1) Peekabo
2) LARGEST category here- Pictures with words, not a story (ball, boat, etc.)
3) SMALLEST category here -storybooks.
Granted, my son probably has 100 books, but still. Very few were religious (they are here because they were mine when I was little).
Apparently I am obsessed with naming and labeling, so I guess I thought that would be good for baby. Its not bad, but he needs more books than these "labeling" books!
So with all that said, here are my book resolutions:
1) No more watered down, non original versions of perfectly good books. Example: Baby has the board book version of "Are you my mother?" Shortened version. Not the original. Bothers me that I didnt think twice about buying him a stunted version of this story. He might not be able to hear the whole story from originals all at once, but eventually he will know what a real story is!
2) No more stupid mindless "character" books that are crappy "versions" of the real thing. For example, did you know that "The Little Mermaid" is written beautifully...in 1836! As much as I liked the Disney movie, this is not what the author intended. Seriously.
Baby will not get a "Disney character" version of Winne The Pooh. The original is a beautiful, poetic book. And no more "Elmo/Dora" interpretations of stories.
3) Make it a point to buy Catholic baby/childrens books. If I don't expose my child to this world, who will? While I am at it, I will buy some for myself too! I found a wonderful store, Pauline books and media. It is pretty close to us and is run by Catholic Nuns. Walking in there was so nice, it was like a sigh of relief. I felt like I belonged, like I wasn't "weird" for seeking out religious books.
What are your favorite books for children?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Why I coupon and love retail
Do you coupon? I do! By couponing I mean planning your store trip(s) with the ad, and with your coupons and a handy couponing blog at your side. You might even use store coupons and manuf coupons...AT THE SAME TIME!!
I coupon because I do not want to spend my disposable income on things like paper towels, toilet paper, and soap. There are a lot of people who coupon waaaay better than I do. I know that with more planning, I could save a lot more $$.
It is not that I do not have $10 to spend on PAPER TOWELS (ugh) or $5 for some disposable razors. Its not that at all. The reason is that I want to spend my money on items for me and my family that will last and be beautiful. I want to support stores and companies that I really believe in.
For example, I really hate buying and putting my child in disposable diapers. By buying disposables, I am spending $15+ on diapers, per week. This is like going to the store, giving the cashier money, and then getting trash from the dumpster in return. Trash to the car, trash in the elevator up to baby's room, trash to the trash can, trash to the dumpster across the parking lot, trash (loaded with crap) to the landfill....and then over and over and over again. Not to mention the chemicals. Have you ever taken a deep whiff of a "clean" disposable diaper? EW
I will use a disposable in certain situations, but I will complain about it and feel terrible. I just hate disposables! I would rather spend that $15+ on ONE diaper that is beautifully made, that is from a company I believe in, such as sustainablebabyish/sloomb. Their fabric is made sustainably and the product is made to last. NOT just churned out in mass quantities in some awful factory.
Also, I love stores and companies like FORTY WINKS over in Cambride....the vendors are carefully picked, the merchandise is handpicked for their customers, service is wonderful, decor is beautiful.
I love retail and what it can do and represent.
Itsn't it amazing how the right products, all different, can come together and be beautiful, something to photograph, something to aspire to and bring joy?! So that is why I coupon, so I can save and spend how I WANT to save and spend.
<3
I coupon because I do not want to spend my disposable income on things like paper towels, toilet paper, and soap. There are a lot of people who coupon waaaay better than I do. I know that with more planning, I could save a lot more $$.
It is not that I do not have $10 to spend on PAPER TOWELS (ugh) or $5 for some disposable razors. Its not that at all. The reason is that I want to spend my money on items for me and my family that will last and be beautiful. I want to support stores and companies that I really believe in.
For example, I really hate buying and putting my child in disposable diapers. By buying disposables, I am spending $15+ on diapers, per week. This is like going to the store, giving the cashier money, and then getting trash from the dumpster in return. Trash to the car, trash in the elevator up to baby's room, trash to the trash can, trash to the dumpster across the parking lot, trash (loaded with crap) to the landfill....and then over and over and over again. Not to mention the chemicals. Have you ever taken a deep whiff of a "clean" disposable diaper? EW
I will use a disposable in certain situations, but I will complain about it and feel terrible. I just hate disposables! I would rather spend that $15+ on ONE diaper that is beautifully made, that is from a company I believe in, such as sustainablebabyish/sloomb. Their fabric is made sustainably and the product is made to last. NOT just churned out in mass quantities in some awful factory.
Also, I love stores and companies like FORTY WINKS over in Cambride....the vendors are carefully picked, the merchandise is handpicked for their customers, service is wonderful, decor is beautiful.
I love retail and what it can do and represent.
Itsn't it amazing how the right products, all different, can come together and be beautiful, something to photograph, something to aspire to and bring joy?! So that is why I coupon, so I can save and spend how I WANT to save and spend.
<3
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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