Today I cancelled my myspace account. I really want to try and spend less time checking if I got new msgs etc. I feel by cutting out myspace I will spend less time on the computer..not that it was a huge problem in the first place. So now I'm down to blogger and email. Hope I continue to hear from everyone!
Trudy
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Motherhood
This may be as close to a motherhood photo of me as you'll ever get so enjoy! Grant took this of us Christmas weekend at his parents with his parents camera. I hope I can hold my own baby like this someday!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Woo Woo chug ah chug ah
Grant and I have a new found love for the game of mexican train dominoes. We learned how to play it from our neighbor Beth. We wanted it so bad for Christmas and Grant's parents came through for us! Want to learn how to play one of the most fun games...come visit and we'll teach you=)
E-mail Quote of the week
Nature gives you the face you have at 20; it is up to you to inherit the face you have at 50.
— Coco Chanel
"The first wealth is health."-Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's a new year and what is everyone wanting....to shed pounds of course. Well Grant and I are right there with y'all. We have let ourselves go to put in nicely. As I've mentioned we love to play games, drink lots of soda and snack while doing so. We have started making healthier choices in our everyday diets the past year. So today we went grocery shopping and our basket looked awesome! Grant is actually on the treadmill while I type this! With each other I really think we can do this. I've always taken advantage of my good health but as I do get older I do need to start helping my body age the way I want it. Hygenically speaking we've always taken great care of ourselves, now we have to take care of the health part. So I will keep you updated. I started a blog awhile ago that was going to be strictly green articles but now it's going to be everyday things including my quotes of the week. With that change came the change of the link as well. For those who visit me on myspace I will no longer have one after Wednesday. I just decided to do the blog thing and keep track of everyone by e-mail. Hope everyone is having a WONDERFUL new year. http://gerdiedaisy.blogspot
— Coco Chanel
"The first wealth is health."-Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's a new year and what is everyone wanting....to shed pounds of course. Well Grant and I are right there with y'all. We have let ourselves go to put in nicely. As I've mentioned we love to play games, drink lots of soda and snack while doing so. We have started making healthier choices in our everyday diets the past year. So today we went grocery shopping and our basket looked awesome! Grant is actually on the treadmill while I type this! With each other I really think we can do this. I've always taken advantage of my good health but as I do get older I do need to start helping my body age the way I want it. Hygenically speaking we've always taken great care of ourselves, now we have to take care of the health part. So I will keep you updated. I started a blog awhile ago that was going to be strictly green articles but now it's going to be everyday things including my quotes of the week. With that change came the change of the link as well. For those who visit me on myspace I will no longer have one after Wednesday. I just decided to do the blog thing and keep track of everyone by e-mail. Hope everyone is having a WONDERFUL new year. http://gerdiedaisy.blogspot
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Go Giants!
So since I like to go on and on about nothing at all I do think this blog thing is best for me...especially with american idol coming up! Please don't tell me when I've spelled something wrong or haven't used proper grammer because really I'm doing this for fun and the mere fact that I'm so far away from all my friends (except the ones I made here in wi) and it's a good way for people to keep tabs on me=) since I'm not the best at calling on the phone. Please feel free to tell me how you feel about anything I write..I'm very open to any feedback...REALLY!
But for now I'd like to vent some anger about the vikings offense (or the lack of)! I'm now excited for the giants to beat some eagle butt! I've become a giants fan because I like the Manning boys. What nice sweet down to earth kids eh' At least when I root for the giants it is less likely I'll be dissapointed.
But for now I'd like to vent some anger about the vikings offense (or the lack of)! I'm now excited for the giants to beat some eagle butt! I've become a giants fan because I like the Manning boys. What nice sweet down to earth kids eh' At least when I root for the giants it is less likely I'll be dissapointed.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Make it a Daymaker Holiday Season!
I have felt so much releif this Holiday season not feeling the pressure of having to buy for so many people or having to spend the right amount of money on people. We don't have a lot of money this year and we are working with what we have. I believe I've done good with what we have and this year I did tend to put more thought into gifts. Even when I dispersed the candles I made for gifts I thought about what scent the person I'm giving it to would really like. Grant and I haven't bought for one another since we were friends. He has written me some nice letters for a gift which mean more to me than any gift he could've given me. It was funny because Grant last night said something about Jesus wanting us to buy buy buy! It made me think, did Jesus intend for Christmas to be the way it's turned out. Parents feeling they have to spend so much on a child or get them everything they've asked for. What's happened to the simplicity and joy of Christmas. We had a $50 limit on Amber and that was keeping the gifts simple like and we did consistently remind her why we really are celebrating Christmas.
So this is with hope that Christmas if not this year in years to come will be simple and calming the way it was meant to be!
Daymaking this Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays my fellow Daymaker,
This time of year always holds something very special for my family and me and this year of course is no exception. As we all know the economy is a major concern, people are being laid off work, charities are having a difficult time raising money for their worthy causes, and with everything the government tries to do to reverse this downward cycle there simply seems no relief in sight?
For me what I've learned during these difficult past months has been a real blessing. I usually begin writing down ideas of what to get the people in my life for Christmas a few months ahead of time so I have the time to find something special. When the economy began to weaken so did my ability to purchase the number of gifts as I had in years past. At first I felt scared, defeated, and wary of what kind of holiday season this would be for my friends and my family without the usual surprises under the tree at our home.
What I found is that once I stopped having the "pity party" with myself I noticed giving in a new light and the opportunities for giving became inspiring.
Here is one idea that came to mind that I expect I'll continue in years to come? As you may know I'm an avid reader and have quite an extensive library with all kinds of books. I sat one night with my list and went through my library looking for the perfect book for that person and inscribed the inside cover to them with words of gratitude and love for being part of my life. What I found was that the gift I was giving ended up being a gift to myself as I wrote those words to friends and family. As I wrote down my inscription the gift I was given was the realization of how blessed I was to have that person in my life. The joy in that one evening honestly was better than any shopping splurge I'd been on in years past.
This year my wife Charlie and I talked about what we thought we might want or need for a gift from each other. What we came to realize was that we had everything we needed and more. To take the worry and stress out of trying to find something that would impress or satisfy each other with a gift, was the gift we gave each other this year. We're celebrating each other and that is more than enough this year.
To simply enjoy what we mean to each other and talk about it has enlivened our holiday season and we both feel fulfilled in our day. Of course there will be stocking stuffers that are unique and witty yet I realize that to be with her in this life is my present?
What I also noticed this year with the absence of so much gift buying and racing around from store to store is that I've had time to live in the spirit of the season. I heard Christmas music in a different way this year. I heard the words and reveled in them. I noticed and appreciated the bell ringers in a new way. I watched as my daughters did their baking for the last day of school before break and how intent they were on getting their cupcakes just right. I've been so busy rushing around buying things in years past and checking off my list that I simply didn't notice these gifts of the season.
Yesterday I went to the coffee shop and my coffee was $1.85, the girl behind the counter gave me my 15 cents change and I pulled another dollar out and gave her $1.15. You'd think I gave her a hundred dollar bill she was so grateful? She made my day with her appreciation and I felt generous in my day and imagine it only cost me $1. The world is full of perfect moments and that was one of them.
I wish you well in your holiday season and hope that we can all get through these challenging times with grace, goodwill, and the ability to see how fortunate we are because no matter how bad things are there is always someone else that is fighting a tougher fight.
This is going to be a year I believe that what you write on the gift card could be as much of a keepsake for your friends and family as the gift that it accompanies. I encourage you to spend some extra time on your card this year, listen to your heart and write down your love, appreciation, and admiration for the special people in your life. You'll find like I did that it made my own day in doing so. It allowed me to see how abundant my life is with these beautiful people in it.
Love and peace to you in this blessed holiday season,
David Wagner
www.daymakermovement.com
refer a friend to sign up for Daymaker updates here
So this is with hope that Christmas if not this year in years to come will be simple and calming the way it was meant to be!
Daymaking this Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays my fellow Daymaker,
This time of year always holds something very special for my family and me and this year of course is no exception. As we all know the economy is a major concern, people are being laid off work, charities are having a difficult time raising money for their worthy causes, and with everything the government tries to do to reverse this downward cycle there simply seems no relief in sight?
For me what I've learned during these difficult past months has been a real blessing. I usually begin writing down ideas of what to get the people in my life for Christmas a few months ahead of time so I have the time to find something special. When the economy began to weaken so did my ability to purchase the number of gifts as I had in years past. At first I felt scared, defeated, and wary of what kind of holiday season this would be for my friends and my family without the usual surprises under the tree at our home.
What I found is that once I stopped having the "pity party" with myself I noticed giving in a new light and the opportunities for giving became inspiring.
Here is one idea that came to mind that I expect I'll continue in years to come? As you may know I'm an avid reader and have quite an extensive library with all kinds of books. I sat one night with my list and went through my library looking for the perfect book for that person and inscribed the inside cover to them with words of gratitude and love for being part of my life. What I found was that the gift I was giving ended up being a gift to myself as I wrote those words to friends and family. As I wrote down my inscription the gift I was given was the realization of how blessed I was to have that person in my life. The joy in that one evening honestly was better than any shopping splurge I'd been on in years past.
This year my wife Charlie and I talked about what we thought we might want or need for a gift from each other. What we came to realize was that we had everything we needed and more. To take the worry and stress out of trying to find something that would impress or satisfy each other with a gift, was the gift we gave each other this year. We're celebrating each other and that is more than enough this year.
To simply enjoy what we mean to each other and talk about it has enlivened our holiday season and we both feel fulfilled in our day. Of course there will be stocking stuffers that are unique and witty yet I realize that to be with her in this life is my present?
What I also noticed this year with the absence of so much gift buying and racing around from store to store is that I've had time to live in the spirit of the season. I heard Christmas music in a different way this year. I heard the words and reveled in them. I noticed and appreciated the bell ringers in a new way. I watched as my daughters did their baking for the last day of school before break and how intent they were on getting their cupcakes just right. I've been so busy rushing around buying things in years past and checking off my list that I simply didn't notice these gifts of the season.
Yesterday I went to the coffee shop and my coffee was $1.85, the girl behind the counter gave me my 15 cents change and I pulled another dollar out and gave her $1.15. You'd think I gave her a hundred dollar bill she was so grateful? She made my day with her appreciation and I felt generous in my day and imagine it only cost me $1. The world is full of perfect moments and that was one of them.
I wish you well in your holiday season and hope that we can all get through these challenging times with grace, goodwill, and the ability to see how fortunate we are because no matter how bad things are there is always someone else that is fighting a tougher fight.
This is going to be a year I believe that what you write on the gift card could be as much of a keepsake for your friends and family as the gift that it accompanies. I encourage you to spend some extra time on your card this year, listen to your heart and write down your love, appreciation, and admiration for the special people in your life. You'll find like I did that it made my own day in doing so. It allowed me to see how abundant my life is with these beautiful people in it.
Love and peace to you in this blessed holiday season,
David Wagner
www.daymakermovement.com
refer a friend to sign up for Daymaker updates here
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tips on winter cleaning from 7th generation
We've all heard about spring cleaning, but what about the season that comes before it? We're talking about winter housekeeping, and if you've never heard of such a thing, you're not alone! Most people aren't aware that the arrival of snow and cold brings with it the need for new approaches to maintaining our homes.
During the winter months, our dwellings are bundled up against the cold. This is an ideal situation where energy consumption is concerned. But tight, well-insulated homes aren't letting much fresh air enter, and that's a situation that can rapidly lead to an unhealthy environment.
According to the EPA, the air inside the average home contains two to five times more pollution than the air outside. Researchers studying this phenomenon have found some 900 different contaminants in household air, toxins that for the most part can be traced to common household products like petrochemical-based household cleaners that produce vapors, fumes, or microscopic particles.
But you can easily guard against poor indoor air quality with a few quick strategies:
Open a window every once in a while and let in a good dose of fresh air. While it's not the most energy-efficient action, it means a big difference for indoor air quality.
Consider getting some houseplants, which excel at removing airborne chemicals. Particularly effective varieties include Boston fern, areca palm, lady palm, bamboo palm, rubber plant, English Ivy, ficus, and peace lily.
Place large mats at all your entrances to remove particles and other pollutants tracked indoors on shoes. Clean and vacuum these mats frequently so they don't become a source of trouble themselves. And encourage guests to remove their shoes when entering your house. A basket of slippers kept by the door can ensure that everyone's feet stay cozy.
Conventional cleaners create a barrage of chemical fumes and invisible aerosol particles when used, all of which can be easily inhaled. So if you haven't already, stock up on cleaning products made from natural and non-toxic ingredients and use them instead.
Use a chlorine-free dishwasher detergent. Dishwashers vent about six liters of air into your home per minute during certain cycles, and the very hot water they use can turn as much as 100% of a detergent's chlorine into a vapor that's released as they work.
Use warm rather than hot water when you clean so that whatever you're removing from household floors and surfaces doesn't volatize into the air your family is breathing.
During warmer months, don't use mildewcides or fungicides, poisons it will be hard to rinse out of your home during winter. Instead, eradicate mold and mildew with a solution of two tablespoons of tea tree oil in two cups of water. Spray on the affected area, let sit for half an hour, and then wipe clean.
If air seems stale or malodorous and it's just too cold to open a window, resist the temptation to use commercial air fresheners, deodorizers, and other similar products. Instead make your own by adding 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle filled with two cups of water. (For more about indoor air freshening, check out our recent feature!)
If you've stored clothing or other items in mothballs, give them a thorough airing out followed by laundering to remove toxic paradichlorobenzene residues. In the future, use natural cedar to protect your vulnerable textiles instead. By the same token, let dry cleaned items air out in the garage before you bring them inside. They, too, can emit unhealthy fumes.
Although winter's many idle hours may seem like a good time to do some annual maintenance cleaning, resist the temptation until spring. Without open windows and an ability to clean things outdoors, you'll just be stirring back into the air a lot of the dirt and contaminants you're trying to banish.
During the winter months, our dwellings are bundled up against the cold. This is an ideal situation where energy consumption is concerned. But tight, well-insulated homes aren't letting much fresh air enter, and that's a situation that can rapidly lead to an unhealthy environment.
According to the EPA, the air inside the average home contains two to five times more pollution than the air outside. Researchers studying this phenomenon have found some 900 different contaminants in household air, toxins that for the most part can be traced to common household products like petrochemical-based household cleaners that produce vapors, fumes, or microscopic particles.
But you can easily guard against poor indoor air quality with a few quick strategies:
Open a window every once in a while and let in a good dose of fresh air. While it's not the most energy-efficient action, it means a big difference for indoor air quality.
Consider getting some houseplants, which excel at removing airborne chemicals. Particularly effective varieties include Boston fern, areca palm, lady palm, bamboo palm, rubber plant, English Ivy, ficus, and peace lily.
Place large mats at all your entrances to remove particles and other pollutants tracked indoors on shoes. Clean and vacuum these mats frequently so they don't become a source of trouble themselves. And encourage guests to remove their shoes when entering your house. A basket of slippers kept by the door can ensure that everyone's feet stay cozy.
Conventional cleaners create a barrage of chemical fumes and invisible aerosol particles when used, all of which can be easily inhaled. So if you haven't already, stock up on cleaning products made from natural and non-toxic ingredients and use them instead.
Use a chlorine-free dishwasher detergent. Dishwashers vent about six liters of air into your home per minute during certain cycles, and the very hot water they use can turn as much as 100% of a detergent's chlorine into a vapor that's released as they work.
Use warm rather than hot water when you clean so that whatever you're removing from household floors and surfaces doesn't volatize into the air your family is breathing.
During warmer months, don't use mildewcides or fungicides, poisons it will be hard to rinse out of your home during winter. Instead, eradicate mold and mildew with a solution of two tablespoons of tea tree oil in two cups of water. Spray on the affected area, let sit for half an hour, and then wipe clean.
If air seems stale or malodorous and it's just too cold to open a window, resist the temptation to use commercial air fresheners, deodorizers, and other similar products. Instead make your own by adding 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle filled with two cups of water. (For more about indoor air freshening, check out our recent feature!)
If you've stored clothing or other items in mothballs, give them a thorough airing out followed by laundering to remove toxic paradichlorobenzene residues. In the future, use natural cedar to protect your vulnerable textiles instead. By the same token, let dry cleaned items air out in the garage before you bring them inside. They, too, can emit unhealthy fumes.
Although winter's many idle hours may seem like a good time to do some annual maintenance cleaning, resist the temptation until spring. Without open windows and an ability to clean things outdoors, you'll just be stirring back into the air a lot of the dirt and contaminants you're trying to banish.
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