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Christ is Risen!
Happy Easter from the Harveys!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Easter {Five on Friday}
It's Good Friday. I've never quite understood why we call it Good Friday. But more on that later.
1. The Easter Bunny.
Though the Easter Bunny tradition as we know it today was started by Lutheran Germans, the beginnings of rabbits being connected to the church is a little different. Did you know that in Medieval times rabbits were thought to be hermaphrodites? This led to them being associated with Jesus' mother, Mary because they, too, could become pregnant without losing their virginity.
.png "Easter Bunny")
Crazy stuff.
2. Good Friday.
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It has always struck me as odd that we refer to the day of Jesus' death as "Good Friday." Like the Easter Bunny, the origins of the term Good Friday were not quite what I expected, but make perfect sense. Based on the Gospel of John, biblical scholars believe that Jesus' death occurred on the day before the Jewish Sabbath. What we know as Friday. And no one knows for sure why we use the word good, but some claim that it refers to the archaic definition of good. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this is: "of a day or season observed as holy by the church."
3. My church.
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I'm happy that we'll be with family for Easter, but sad to miss Easter Sunday at Horizons.
4. This guy.
This is his first Easter! I'm so excited to teach him about our Lord and Savior as he grows.
5. And last, but not related to Easter...it's garage sale season!
I got all this for . . . THIS MUCH! Seriously, it was awesome. Check it out.
Happy Easter! See you next week for Five on Friday!
Elise
Friday, April 18, 2014
Saved over $325 at My Favorite Garage Sale
34 items.
Estimated new cost = $344
Garage sale price = $31.75
Paid = $18.75
I was so excited to find out that my favorite garage sale is this weekend. About 5 families get together and have a garage sale each spring and fall, and this is the third or fourth sale I've been to, and I've never been disappointed. It's perfect for me because they always have tons of baby and kid clothes. At least a few of the families must have boys just a bit older than Baby Prez. They have great prices, but the families have different pricing schemes. Last spring, I found two similar pairs of pajamas - one was 25 cents and the other was $2. Guess which one I bought!
The best part is that the last day is half price day. So my strategy is to go early and find everything I want. Then I pare down to the stuff I really want that is already priced at what I'm willing to pay. Everything that's left is put back until half price day. Then I go back and pick up everything that I wanted that's left. There have only been a few items that wish I had purchased that someone else bought before half price day.
Today was half price day, so I've been twice and might go back a third time to haggle this afternoon! I bought a few things that Baby Prez just had to have even though they will fit now, but I try to buy ahead! So this time, I bought up to 3T even though Baby Prez is only 10 months old.
Day 1
| 1 Outfit | $0.50 |
| 2 Onsie/Shirt | $1.50 |
| 1 Romper | $1.00 |
| 2 Pairs of Pajamas | $0.75 |
| 1 Sippy cup | $0.75 |
| 2 Canning Jars | $0.50 |
| 1 Outdoor Swing | $5.00 |
Total = $10, PAID $8
Day 2
| 3 Pair of Pajamas | $2.00 |
| 13 Onsies/Shirts | $7.75 |
| 1 Outfit | $2.00 |
| 1 Dress Shirt | $4.00 |
| 1 Swimming Trunks | $0.50 |
| 1 Swimming Floater | $2.00 |
| 2 Snack Containers | $2.00 |
| 1 Care Bear Stuffed Animal | $1.00 |
| 1 Baseball Cap | $0.50 |
Total = $21.75, 1/2 Price Day = $10.87, PAID $10.75
So, in total I paid $18.75 for 34 items, which is an average of 93 cents per item!
And the swing alone would be about $30 if bought it new! I estimated that I saved over $325 compared to buying all of these items new!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Five Things I'd Do with One Million Dollars {My Life in Lists}
This week's prompt for the My Life in Lists link-up is "List Five Things You would do with One Million Dollars." Thanks to If These Walls Could Speak and Team Gilbert for hosting!
So here we go . . .
1. Buy a house with some acreage (as soon as I find out where we will be moving next year).
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| I only need $1mm x 13 for Copper Beech Farm. :) |
With a library.
2. Get unlimited tickets to visit my family in Oklahoma and Kansas and wherever else they may live in the future.
3. Buy a trip around the world.
4. Buy books for my library in #1 including all of the Nancy Drew books I'm missing from my set (and these bookends).
5. Invest. I know, I know, this should be a fun list. But I have to say it. That's what I would do. Spend a little and then invest! Because I want more than a million dollars!
What would you do with $1 million dollars?
Air Travel Tips for Pumping Moms: Part 2
Air Travel Tips for Pumping Moms
Part 2: Pumping while Traveling
Part 2 of Air Travel Tips for Pumping Moms focuses on pumping while traveling, not just carrying the pump with you. For me this was intimidating. Where will I pump? Will I be able to find an outlet in a bathroom stall? Will I need to pump by the gate with just a blanket over me? Will I have enough time to pump? What if the only decent place to pump is far away from the gate?
1. Where to Pump
At the Airport
The first time I flew as a pumping mom, I planned to pump in the airport during the layovers (more about timing later). But where would I pump? After doing some online research, I found that pumping moms have to be incredibly flexible when it comes to air travel and pumping.
The obvious option is a women's restroom. But I found that the outlets are near the sinks and mirrors, not near the stalls. That would mean pumping in front of a steady stream of traffic in and out of the restroom. I was not a fan of this option unless I could find an outlet in a stall, and I never did. But if push came to shove, I would have done it.
So where to next? A family restroom. Most airports of any size will have a few family bathrooms in each concourse or terminal. I was able to find a close family restroom at all of the airports we flew through with the exception of the Omaha airport, which is just too small, I guess.
If a women's bathroom or family restroom aren't options for you, I also found the case of one mom who used an electrical outlet in a corner near her gate and simply draped a blanket over her for privacy. Personally, I thought that mom was very brave. Though I will admit that motherhood has drastically reduced my need for modesty, I don't think I could be comfortable pumping in a public area. But again, sometimes as moms, we just do what we have to do.
In some places, there are exclusive areas for breastfeeding and pumping, though it is rare. Check out these:
The Mamava nursing station at Burlington International in Vermont. Check out the video here.
And dedicated nursing rooms at Changi Airport in Singapore. How cool is that!?
On the Airplane
Did you know that you are allowed to pump breast milk while you are on the airplane? No joke. I had no idea that this was a thing. It never even crossed my mind!
To present a fair case, however, I should tell you that there have been incidents where pumping moms were not allowed by a flight attendant to pump in-flight. BUT, the airline issued an apology and stated that they do not have a policy that prohibits the use of breast pumps during flight (except during takeoff and landing since a pump is an electronic device). You can read the whole story here.
Like taking your breast pump and breast milk through security, this is another case in which you may want to print out the airline's policies pertaining to pumping moms.
But, yes, you can pump in flight. If you have a battery operated pump, you can simply pump in your seat or in the lavatory. If you do not have a battery operated pump, I recently discovered that there are seats with outlets on some planes! How great for pumping moms! I would also recommend a window seat if you are planning to do this. And while it may be awkward, I would also recommend informing the passenger seated next to you that you are pumping mom and will be pumping during the flight. That way they aren't shocked with you pull out your pump. And don't forget a blanket or poncho to cover up with! In addition, there are also cases of flight attendants allowing moms pump in the flight attendant areas and offering to store breast milk in the on-board refrigerators.
2. When to Pump
The answer to this depends on where you plan to pump.
If you are planning to pump at the airport, the best suggestion I could give you is to book flights with a long(er) layover. I know, we never ever want to have a long layover. But remember the scene in Home Alone, where everyone is sprinting through the airport.
You don't want to have to be sprinting to the family restroom only to not have time to pump before you need to sprint back to your gate. So, longer layovers are better. I would recommend about an hour and a half layover if possible or more. That gives you some leeway in terms of delays with your first flight and so on. Longer would be great too, but you definitely want to allot enough time to pump during your layover.
If you are planning to pump in flight, you'll need to make sure that there's enough flight time designated for "approved electronic devices" otherwise, plan to pump before you leave or during your layover.
To recap, if you are planning to pump at the airport:
Come back next week for Part 3 of this series, Air Travel Tips for Pumping Moms, to find out about all of the gadgets that can help you navigate airports and airplanes as a pumping mom. And don't forget to check out Part 1 - Carrying On Breast Milk and Your Breast Pump.
1. Where to Pump
At the Airport
The first time I flew as a pumping mom, I planned to pump in the airport during the layovers (more about timing later). But where would I pump? After doing some online research, I found that pumping moms have to be incredibly flexible when it comes to air travel and pumping.
The obvious option is a women's restroom. But I found that the outlets are near the sinks and mirrors, not near the stalls. That would mean pumping in front of a steady stream of traffic in and out of the restroom. I was not a fan of this option unless I could find an outlet in a stall, and I never did. But if push came to shove, I would have done it.
So where to next? A family restroom. Most airports of any size will have a few family bathrooms in each concourse or terminal. I was able to find a close family restroom at all of the airports we flew through with the exception of the Omaha airport, which is just too small, I guess.
If a women's bathroom or family restroom aren't options for you, I also found the case of one mom who used an electrical outlet in a corner near her gate and simply draped a blanket over her for privacy. Personally, I thought that mom was very brave. Though I will admit that motherhood has drastically reduced my need for modesty, I don't think I could be comfortable pumping in a public area. But again, sometimes as moms, we just do what we have to do.
In some places, there are exclusive areas for breastfeeding and pumping, though it is rare. Check out these:
The Mamava nursing station at Burlington International in Vermont. Check out the video here.
 |
| Source: Mamava |
 |
| Source: Williston Observer |
And dedicated nursing rooms at Changi Airport in Singapore. How cool is that!?
 |
| Source: Stuck at the Airport |
Did you know that you are allowed to pump breast milk while you are on the airplane? No joke. I had no idea that this was a thing. It never even crossed my mind!
To present a fair case, however, I should tell you that there have been incidents where pumping moms were not allowed by a flight attendant to pump in-flight. BUT, the airline issued an apology and stated that they do not have a policy that prohibits the use of breast pumps during flight (except during takeoff and landing since a pump is an electronic device). You can read the whole story here.
Like taking your breast pump and breast milk through security, this is another case in which you may want to print out the airline's policies pertaining to pumping moms.
But, yes, you can pump in flight. If you have a battery operated pump, you can simply pump in your seat or in the lavatory. If you do not have a battery operated pump, I recently discovered that there are seats with outlets on some planes! How great for pumping moms! I would also recommend a window seat if you are planning to do this. And while it may be awkward, I would also recommend informing the passenger seated next to you that you are pumping mom and will be pumping during the flight. That way they aren't shocked with you pull out your pump. And don't forget a blanket or poncho to cover up with! In addition, there are also cases of flight attendants allowing moms pump in the flight attendant areas and offering to store breast milk in the on-board refrigerators.
2. When to Pump
The answer to this depends on where you plan to pump.
If you are planning to pump at the airport, the best suggestion I could give you is to book flights with a long(er) layover. I know, we never ever want to have a long layover. But remember the scene in Home Alone, where everyone is sprinting through the airport.
 |
| Source: Adventures as Mrs. Janney |
If you are planning to pump in flight, you'll need to make sure that there's enough flight time designated for "approved electronic devices" otherwise, plan to pump before you leave or during your layover.
To recap, if you are planning to pump at the airport:
- Book flights with a layover of an hour and a half or more.
- Look for a family restroom.
- Ask an airport employee for recommendations of where to pump.
- Use an outlet in a women's restroom.
- Last, but not least, find a quiet corner near an outlet. Cover up. And pump away.
If you are planning to pump while on board the airplane:
- Book a window seat with an outlet, if possible.
- Inform the passengers next to you that you will be pumping.
- Don't forget a blanket to drape over yourself.
- Talk to the flight attendant if you need more privacy.
Come back next week for Part 3 of this series, Air Travel Tips for Pumping Moms, to find out about all of the gadgets that can help you navigate airports and airplanes as a pumping mom. And don't forget to check out Part 1 - Carrying On Breast Milk and Your Breast Pump.
Check out the rest of this series on Travel Tips for Pumping Moms.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Harvey Homestead in Progress
I'm too excited about this not to share, so more info is coming later! But here's what we accomplished tonight for our backyard garden!
We planted tomatoes (3 kinds), zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, bush beans, snap peas, paprika pepper, mini sweet peppers (orange, yellow, and red), cucumbers (3 kinds), broccoli, okra, brussel sprouts, butterhead lettuce, and corn. That's over 150 seeds planted!
We planted tomatoes (3 kinds), zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, bush beans, snap peas, paprika pepper, mini sweet peppers (orange, yellow, and red), cucumbers (3 kinds), broccoli, okra, brussel sprouts, butterhead lettuce, and corn. That's over 150 seeds planted!
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| Mr. Harvey and his white naga pepper plant. Yikes! |
Saturday, April 12, 2014
The Mom Conference, April 7th-14th
I'm excited to bring to you -- The Mom Conference!
The Mom Conference is more fun than shopping in PJs and fuzzy slippers! And, better yet, it’s ONLINE and FREE from April 7 – April 14, 2014! I've been "attending" for the past few days and listening to classes as I work, and it's fantastic!
Desi Ward, host of The Mom Conference and creator of The Unconventional Kitchen, created this event because no mom is perfect. That’s why we NEED to share our strengths! You know -- “I’ll do your laundry if you do my dishes?”
Being a mom can be overwhelming at times, right?! The Mom Conference contains 30+ online classes to make motherhood more enjoyable. 30 amazing bloggers (mostly moms) will be teaching classes on a wide range of topics important for moms. I've really enjoyed it so far.
My favorite presenters so far have been:
Katie from WellnessMama.com on Natural Remedies
Holly from GetFitandYummy.com on Rocking Skinny Jeans
Carrie from DeliciouslyOrganic.com on Overcoming Autoimmune Disease through Diet
Abby from TwistMePretty.com on 5 Quick Hairstyles that can be done in 5 Minutes!
And I'm looking forward to some of the topics in the presentations in the next few days like:
green smoothies,
family dinners,
getting fit,
and taking care of yourself!
Come listen ONLINE until April 14, 2014
Register for FREE at:
See you there!
Five Professions I'd Like to Try {My Life in Lists}
I just came across a new link-up called My Life in Lists hosted by If These Walls Could Speak. It's awesome. I get a prompt for a list each week. And if you know me, then you know that I love my lists!
This week's prompt is: 5 Professions You'd Like to Try
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1. Youth Pastor - I'd love to make an impact on kids and young adults. Fellowships like Young Life made such a positive impact on my life, and I'd just love to give that to other young people.
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2. Makeup Artist on the Bachelorette - Now that I'm married, obviously I can't be the Bachelorette (not that I'd want to be), but I totally want to travel to all of the exotic locations where they film, so makeup artist sounds fun. :) Of course, I'll be bringing along Hubby and Baby Prez.
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3. First Grade Teacher - A friend once told me that first grade is the best grade to teach because the children know how to tie their shoes, but don't have an attitude yet. And it would be refreshing to teach children instead of college kids!
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4. Broadway star - This was my dream when I was a little girl. It would be so much fun to get up and act and sing. Not fun enough though to live in a closet in New York. I'd much rather visit NYC and watch Broadway shows. My favorites are Aida and The Lion King. (Wicked comes in a close third.)
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5. Book Editor - I love reading. Once I thought I might want to be a writer because I love to read, but then I realized that I don't actually have lots of ideas for stories, so I wanted to be the person who reads other people's stories. I still think this would be an awesome job. And I've been blessed to be a part of an author's launch team, which gives me the chance to read her novels in advance and review them online. Most recently, I reviewed Echoes of Mercy, and I highly recommend it! But seriously, would there be a better way to spend a day than reading novels all day and getting paid for it? Nope.
Have a great weekend!
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