A Wish List

I've decided to post a "wish list" (which, at times, sounds like a bitch list, I realize), because I would love to hear some advice from anyone who might have some to give..on any of these things! I'm basically reaching out and asking for help, hoping someone has more knowledge and insight than I do on these things.



A Yoga Routine

This one may not be far behind, but I have far too many excuses for not doing this. Money, space, motivation - the lack thereof. I think with the prenatal yoga package I'm definitely going to order, I'll be pumped up to do it. The idea of yoga making the pregnancy (especially later, when the belly is bigger and stuff) and labor/delivery just that much easier, I'm that much more motivated. Once we're in the house (nearly two months away still) I've decided to use the baby's room as my practice space. We won't have much in there taking up space for quite a while, and it would be ideal to have a space dedicated for it. I can also close the door and keep the cats out. I've learned from doing yoga in the past that privacy and complete solitude work best for me when it comes to doing it successfully. Probably one of the reasons I'm not inclined to take a class, even if we could spend that kind of money.


A New-Mama Support Group

More specifically, for new mama's who are also new to the "housewife" gig, along with women with experience willing to "support" with sage advice and wisdom. I cried and poured my heart out to Michael last night about things that are bothering me or scary to me, to the point that my eyes were red and dry, and my head was pounding. Poor guy doesn't have any answers, and the best he can do is hold me and let me cry (which, by the way, is more than a lot of women have, I am aware). As I'm writing this, I realize that many women - especially young women - will be reading this, thinking, "Are you kidding? You've got it made. You don't have to work, you can just stay home, and you need a "support group"? Please!". Yeah. I know, but I do.


Pants That Fit - more than one pair!

This has always, always, always been an issue, and it's even more of one now that I'm pregnant. I've read many a pregnancy blog and forum to know that I'm not the only one, but it's so frustrating. I'm wearing (out) my one pair of pants that actually feels AND looks good. It's probably a good thing I don't leave the house every day. But anyone who sees me on a regular basis must think I'm flat broke and own just the one pair of pants. It's not that I can't afford to go to a thrift store and buy a pair of pants. I can try on fifty pair of pants and not be successful. It's my butt and thighs. And, as much as everyone says it's going to get easier once I start wearing maternity...whose to say my butt and thighs aren't going to grow as well?! I suppose, once it's warm enough, I'll have to try wearing dresses. I've never been one to wear dresses. Or sweatpants. Or shorts. Summer should be interesting.


A Part-Time Job

I have enough time on my hands right now, with NO design work (haven't really had the energy or motivation to go out and get any) and not yet having a babe to look after, that I could easily work 20-25 hours a week. Or more! But, nobody's going to hire a pregnant lady. Except maybe Target or some place eventually looking Summer help. And, between being qualified for very little, and the jobs that are even available right now, my options are slim, if even existent. I think I would love working at a coffee shop again. But nobody's hiring. Even if they were, they'd want someone to jump in and start working, and I haven't done it a number of years. They'd have to train me, at least partially, all over again. I could start volunteering, but that doesn't bring in any money. We could use a little extra money right now. Oi.

A Natural Acne Solution

I have been battling this for a couple of years now, and it isn't getting any better with all these hormones rushing through my body. It's strange, too, because I don't have "full-blown" acne, as in my face being completely covered with festering pustules. It's intermittent breakouts that start with one innocent little pimple and the next day - five to ten! Just as soon as one breakout starts to clear, another one is in the works. I've tried so many different washes, soaps, spot treatments. I've decided I'm done with the harsh stuff that dries out the skin (and who knows what else it's doing, long term). I need a system, one that works, and I need someone who knows something about it to tell me what to try. The folks at The Wedge (bless their hearts), they try, but none of them (who work in HB) have a single pimple on their face, and they always seem to be "guessing" at what products "might" work. Someone help me!! I look like a 17 year old...and once my belly pops, I'm going to look like a pregnant 17 year old.


And, as long as I'm wishing for stuff: some design work; something in my canned food stash other than tomato sauce; a moderate temperature in our apartment - neither freezing nor hot and stuffy; oh, and toned legs and arms...okay, I went too far.

Looking forward and thinking dirty...

...as in, gardening, silly!

We are so excited to have gardening space! With this house we'll be renting (moving in May 1st), we'll have a bunch of space for gardening. It's somewhat difficult to know, now, what parts of the yard are going to be good for growing (adequate sunlight and so forth). But, we have the freedom to use however much of it we want.

Of course, since we aren't moving in until May, and I've read the ideal planting time is Memorial Day/weekend, I'm going to try starting some seeds indoors. It's difficult, with the cloudy Winter days, and our slight Eastern-but mostly Northern-exposures, to get adequate sunlight, so this will probably involve the use of growing lamps. I've never started anything from seed (well, not since elementary school, anyway), so this should be interesting. If all else fails, we can do what we did last year and purchase some plants from a greenhouse.

I've just started by making a few lists (I LOVE lists!). One list is a "wish list" of things I'd love to have growing right in our back yard, and up on the deck in pots, and in windows inside, etc., etc..

These things are:

Asparagus (apparently, this won't supply anything for 3 years...?)
Beans
Bell Peppers
Carrots (wondering what it would take to keep them in the ground over the Winter)
Cucumbers
Garlic (in pots)
Herbs (in pots and in window sills)
Leek
Onion
Potatoes (like the carrots: keep in the ground??)
Snap peas
Spinach
Summer squash
Tomatoes
Winter Squash

This is a bit overzealous, I realize, and we may not be able to do it all. That's why it's a wish list. And, I'm sure Michael will have somethings to add/subtract.

Given the list above, what we should be starting in pots:

Peppers
Spinach
Squash
Tomato
???

I may want to just start as much as possible inside, just to be sure. Of course, the stuff that will come up later in the summer or early fall can be planted later (I think), so I shouldn't have to worry about those.

This is, of course, going to take some more research, but I'm excited to get started. I think it's crucial to make a trip to the book store. This book sounds like a good place to start.

Along with what to plant when, we'll have to figure out what is involved in creating a rain barrel, and, of course, a compost. These are things we've agreed on being "musts" ever since we started dreaming of having a garden. Composting isn't terribly complicated, but there may some secrets out there to making supreme organic material for our garden.

My friend, Jacqui, is also going to have access to a plot of land this Summer, so she and I are going to exchange some tips and information tomorrow night. We've also thought about sharing the fruits of our labor. I would love it if we knew more folks doing this, so that we could have a sort of "community of growers" right within our own group of "peeps". Until then, it's our intent to share our knowledge and our space with anyone interested...canning parties and outdoor dinners are definite Summer activities we're already planning!!