Hey there is a new project starting that lists craft blogs. I know that I am an advice blog but there is also crafting going on. Much of my crafting is targeted at Christmas right now but I think I can show ya'll some soon. Regardless this directory is seeking blogs to list and promote them. If you have a crafty blog check them out at http://craftyrie.blogspot.com/2011/10/universal-craft-blog-directory.html.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
CHRIST mas Season
Christmas Season
I saw a very interesting blog entry at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar. A guest blogger from Kojo Designs wrote about Advent decorations. I never really liked Advent calendars with my kids because they would have meltdowns with too much candy and all the ones I saw had candy or toys involved. With three children (and half the neighborhood in my house thru any given day) it had potential for being chaotic and pricey. Times are still lean and I am not giving candy out to toddlers. I really like my DIL. But these ideas were so varied that any crafty person could make some version of these.
The reason for the season is Jesus, so 25 ornaments with diverse names of Christ. The styles can be childish or adult and anywhere in between. They can also be given to a newly grown adult (first tree, etc) or even a new believer. I would give scripture as to why He has that name as well. You can easily Google the Names of Christ but there are far many than 25!
In this very commercial,stylized,modern day I welcome a reminder of why we celebrate a baby born in a stable,lain in a manger, sent by our Heavenly Father to save the world. Peace
/http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/ to see that post!
I saw a very interesting blog entry at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar. A guest blogger from Kojo Designs wrote about Advent decorations. I never really liked Advent calendars with my kids because they would have meltdowns with too much candy and all the ones I saw had candy or toys involved. With three children (and half the neighborhood in my house thru any given day) it had potential for being chaotic and pricey. Times are still lean and I am not giving candy out to toddlers. I really like my DIL. But these ideas were so varied that any crafty person could make some version of these.
The reason for the season is Jesus, so 25 ornaments with diverse names of Christ. The styles can be childish or adult and anywhere in between. They can also be given to a newly grown adult (first tree, etc) or even a new believer. I would give scripture as to why He has that name as well. You can easily Google the Names of Christ but there are far many than 25!
In this very commercial,stylized,modern day I welcome a reminder of why we celebrate a baby born in a stable,lain in a manger, sent by our Heavenly Father to save the world. Peace
/http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/ to see that post!
Crafting during pregnancy
What do childbirth and crafting have in common? Creativity! While you are waiting the mind starts to dream and restlessness increases. I found for myself the nesting instinct cannot always be satisfied by grand projects like nurseries. Circumstances like finances, rental property (no painting) and bedrest can deter all manner of plans. Some of us already had a hobby or skill. Pregnancy inspires ideas for the new one coming. Baby blankets, sweaters and hats, mittens and booties; the list grows! Of course it is a time for learning new crafts and skills.
There was a time when you could expect some items gifted to a new baby would be handmade. There is indeed a resurgence of this but those items tend to be put away as too nice for a baby. I really try to make things that are washable and soft, designed to be safe and useful.
Childbirth and pregnancy will teach a woman that this primal bodily process. No matter how much we try to be clean and beautiful thru pregnancy and labor there is a mess involved. We are dealing with the human body here. Blood, poop, and tears are common and are nothing to be ashamed of. We clean it up and deal with it. It is a time to mature, and accept the things we cannot control and do all we can in those things we have some control of.
Small handicrafts can be a really good distraction. I love the trend for kooky knit or crochet hats with eyes and earflaps or braids like pig tails. There are plenty of great ideas for useful projects as well. I like decorated burp cloths, fleece blankets, nursing cover ups, and pacifier clips. Easy and fun to accomplish a special item for baby.
There are many places on the web to learn “how to”. Visit the library for books as well. It doesn’t have to be a grand work of art, just a pleasant pastime to help you peacefully wait as your body finishes the wondrous work that is your baby. If you want some projects and cannot find a tutorial I will look for you or possibly walk you thru it!
This is a blanket designed by Dad that I sewed for Little man. It is Minky on the back, Winnie the Pooh on the front with satin trim at the ends. I then took yarn and tied it together at the corners of the printed pattern, easy wash and lovable.
There was a time when you could expect some items gifted to a new baby would be handmade. There is indeed a resurgence of this but those items tend to be put away as too nice for a baby. I really try to make things that are washable and soft, designed to be safe and useful.
Childbirth and pregnancy will teach a woman that this primal bodily process. No matter how much we try to be clean and beautiful thru pregnancy and labor there is a mess involved. We are dealing with the human body here. Blood, poop, and tears are common and are nothing to be ashamed of. We clean it up and deal with it. It is a time to mature, and accept the things we cannot control and do all we can in those things we have some control of.
Small handicrafts can be a really good distraction. I love the trend for kooky knit or crochet hats with eyes and earflaps or braids like pig tails. There are plenty of great ideas for useful projects as well. I like decorated burp cloths, fleece blankets, nursing cover ups, and pacifier clips. Easy and fun to accomplish a special item for baby.
There are many places on the web to learn “how to”. Visit the library for books as well. It doesn’t have to be a grand work of art, just a pleasant pastime to help you peacefully wait as your body finishes the wondrous work that is your baby. If you want some projects and cannot find a tutorial I will look for you or possibly walk you thru it!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
I'm still here
Ok, it is cliche` to have a post apologizing for not posting. I am still here, of course busy, crafting like crazy and juggling life. I have several items to be photographed and I am also enjoying one of my grans and her parents staying with me. They will be moving on soon so I was enjoying it while it lasts.
I am planning some posts and am working on a schedule to have a routine and a plan. So I apologize and offer a gratuitous baby photo of my cutie potooie (Em).
I am planning some posts and am working on a schedule to have a routine and a plan. So I apologize and offer a gratuitous baby photo of my cutie potooie (Em).
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Signs the end is near, for pregnant women
Ok, sensational title for a actual personal event. Yet, it is a real event and we all wondered what is going on in our body as we waited for labor to start. First off the powers that be American Collage of Obsetrics and Gynacology(ACOG), just a group of doctors, decided that pregnancy is too long so they decided to shorten it. However,God made it to be 42 weeks.You are not overdue until 42 weeks.It is not 38 weeks like these humans want it to be. These guys also think on the whole that c-sections are a reasonable mode of delivery and include reasons to do c/s beyond life saving measures.They are able to do "something" and get more money for it.Your body births your baby, ever wonder why they call it delivery? So,they set the image that they are absolutely necessary.That said; I personally needed an emergency c/s in '83 and it saved both our lives. When I became pregnant the next year, I had no hope of a vaginal birth,mainly because my incision inside came apart and needed to be fixed and there was danger to me of hemorrage. So, I am not against c/s! I want women to be informed and understand that birth does not need to be a surgical event for every pregnancy.
But this is about the signs that you are starting labor. It will start in the 36 week range with achy joints. Why? A hormone called Relaxin is slowly increasing in your body to soften your sacral cartilage so you can physically pass the baby.Baby also helps with increased weight and pressure as they hopefully settle head down in the top of the birth canal. Move carefully and avoid climbing and heavy lifting.You could easily hurt your back or fall in this period of time.Use heat or cold packs to achy spots, warm showers or baths are helpful too. Avoid aspirin and Nsaids because they can thin your blood. You are about to give birth and you don't need to bleed too much,so avoid things that thin it. Eat spinach and green leafy veggies for the vitamin K.
The next early events may be an assumed case of food poisoining. WHAT??? Yes,as you start to have minor contractions and shifting positions of the baby on your bowels it may cause diarrea and cramping. These are random, gassy cramps without rythmn so are not often recognised until after. Of course,eat carefully during pregnancy. Eat clean,wholesome food in moderation and not to excess. DON"T eat a half gallon of ice cream in a sitting, you will have gas and cramps that have nothing to do with labor! Avoid large amounts of dairy, spicy or fast foods. These can aggravate gallbladders and that is extremely painful,and you have to suffer thru it,so just be wise what you eat.You may also have a return of "morning sickness" or smell aversion, another change in hormones as you prepare. There are studies that suggest that these hormones interact with the baby and that the baby stimulates the actual labor. That would then go against the wive's tales of taking castor oil to cause loose stools to get things going. It only empties you and possibly weakens you right when you need strength.
Finally (for this post), Braxton Hicks contractions. These are real contractions however they are light, and a sign that the uterus is irritated. Commonly this is caused by dehydration. Ok, so get dehydrated and get things going! Right?? Absolutely NOT! The amniotic fluid is very important to support the baby off the umbilical cord, it(the fluid) also is being ingested and "breathed in" by the baby. It needs to be cycled every 12 hours or so to support, and prevent infection,remove waste products and prevent stress to the baby.To top that off, when you go to a hospital birth they start an IV and it will stop those in 5 minutes flat.So your bill is bigger and you wasted time and had to have painful things done to you; that you will just have to do again when you come in for the real thing.How can you tell the difference?You can't always tell. The discomfort especially for first time moms is real and follows the timing and duration,so let's go.
Not so fast. You really don't want to go unless you have been told differently for individual purposes. Labor takes sometimes weeks. Your caregiver will give you a time frame of when to go.This will be like "when your contractions are 5 minutes apart for an hour come and get checked." During that time drink water. If you were resting when it started ,get up and gently move around. Do the dishes,or take a shower.If you were moving around when they start ,sit or lay down,drinking your water. I mean a bottle or more, no sipping, DRINK! If you need a c/s they will make you throw up so don't worry ,(unless you are preparing for a c/s in less than 10 hours). Well this is overlong, I will probably add more in another posting.If you have questions, ask your doctor, and send me a comment. Always ask questions. They are good for you.
But this is about the signs that you are starting labor. It will start in the 36 week range with achy joints. Why? A hormone called Relaxin is slowly increasing in your body to soften your sacral cartilage so you can physically pass the baby.Baby also helps with increased weight and pressure as they hopefully settle head down in the top of the birth canal. Move carefully and avoid climbing and heavy lifting.You could easily hurt your back or fall in this period of time.Use heat or cold packs to achy spots, warm showers or baths are helpful too. Avoid aspirin and Nsaids because they can thin your blood. You are about to give birth and you don't need to bleed too much,so avoid things that thin it. Eat spinach and green leafy veggies for the vitamin K.
The next early events may be an assumed case of food poisoining. WHAT??? Yes,as you start to have minor contractions and shifting positions of the baby on your bowels it may cause diarrea and cramping. These are random, gassy cramps without rythmn so are not often recognised until after. Of course,eat carefully during pregnancy. Eat clean,wholesome food in moderation and not to excess. DON"T eat a half gallon of ice cream in a sitting, you will have gas and cramps that have nothing to do with labor! Avoid large amounts of dairy, spicy or fast foods. These can aggravate gallbladders and that is extremely painful,and you have to suffer thru it,so just be wise what you eat.You may also have a return of "morning sickness" or smell aversion, another change in hormones as you prepare. There are studies that suggest that these hormones interact with the baby and that the baby stimulates the actual labor. That would then go against the wive's tales of taking castor oil to cause loose stools to get things going. It only empties you and possibly weakens you right when you need strength.
Finally (for this post), Braxton Hicks contractions. These are real contractions however they are light, and a sign that the uterus is irritated. Commonly this is caused by dehydration. Ok, so get dehydrated and get things going! Right?? Absolutely NOT! The amniotic fluid is very important to support the baby off the umbilical cord, it(the fluid) also is being ingested and "breathed in" by the baby. It needs to be cycled every 12 hours or so to support, and prevent infection,remove waste products and prevent stress to the baby.To top that off, when you go to a hospital birth they start an IV and it will stop those in 5 minutes flat.So your bill is bigger and you wasted time and had to have painful things done to you; that you will just have to do again when you come in for the real thing.How can you tell the difference?You can't always tell. The discomfort especially for first time moms is real and follows the timing and duration,so let's go.
Not so fast. You really don't want to go unless you have been told differently for individual purposes. Labor takes sometimes weeks. Your caregiver will give you a time frame of when to go.This will be like "when your contractions are 5 minutes apart for an hour come and get checked." During that time drink water. If you were resting when it started ,get up and gently move around. Do the dishes,or take a shower.If you were moving around when they start ,sit or lay down,drinking your water. I mean a bottle or more, no sipping, DRINK! If you need a c/s they will make you throw up so don't worry ,(unless you are preparing for a c/s in less than 10 hours). Well this is overlong, I will probably add more in another posting.If you have questions, ask your doctor, and send me a comment. Always ask questions. They are good for you.
Friday, September 9, 2011
What are we saying?
I spent the day with a lovely friend recently. We chatted and I did what I love; gave advice. While we were together I noted a pattern of speech that I recognised. It is the tendency to profess guilt or bad habits. She would say "another bad habit I have" or "I am guilty of". I hope I was able to dispel this for her. We had a wonderful visit . I keep coming back to these ideoms. In America especially we speak against ourselves. I personally am a Christian but even secular psycology espouses self prediction or self fulfilling prophecy. The gist is you will follow what you hear, and if you don't guard what you hear ;you will agree with what you hear and your mind will work towards fulfilling it. It is the basis of all advertising and manipulation. The Bible says that "as a man thinks so shall he go". Ok, no preaching... but if you go with a secular example:in the 1970's a man wrote about his battle with chronic back pain. Doctors gave him a negative report and sent him home without hope. He rented a hotel room and gathered every comedic media,film and book he could find and watched them. He had a remarkable recovery and wrote about it.
The Use Of Humour In Stress Management
By Sylvia Mauger
Stress News July 2001 Vol.13 No.3
There is no doubt that any form of counselling, be it psychotherapy, stress management or anything else, is a very serious business. We read so many serious texts and go to so many serious meetings and classes that it is easy to get into a mode of solemn gravity. And, of course, this is largely because we are committed to treating our clients with respect. But in this paper I would like to suggest that respect can include humour and that laughter during a counselling session can be very therapeutic.
Humour: what is it and what place does it have in stress management counselling?
The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines humour as 'the quality of being amusing or comic; the ability to perceive or express humour or take a joke', but this is not particularly helpful in therapeutic terms. What is amusing or comic to one person may not be to another and, of course, we are not in the business of entertaining our clients as comics. So if humour is not necessarily about telling a joke, then what is it and how can it have beneficial effects in stress management counselling?
Windy Dryden, writing in Brief Rational Emotive Therapy, quotes Albert Ellis saying 'that one way of conceptualising psychological disturbance is that it is the tendency of humans to take themselves, other people and life conditions TOO seriously.' He goes on to describe how, in order to change, negative events need to be taken seriously, but that if they are taken too seriously, emotional disturbance may follow and action for change can be impaired. Indeed, as the whole model of stress management as conceived in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is based on the idea that people suffer emotional dysfunction when their thinking is irrational, humour can be seen as one of the many ways of 'untwisting' a client's cognitive distortions.
Of course, this does not imply that every stress management counsellor can laugh and joke their way through every session with every client, but it does mean that if a counsellor is sensitive to the mood of the client, a little humour can go a long way. If the therapeutic bond is comfortable, it will be clear to the client that the therapist is not laughing at the client but at the irrationality of her/his ideas. Laughing with people is compassionate, laughing at them is immoral and unethical. Indeed, it can often be the case that laughing together can act, not only as a tool of communication, but can strengthen the bond between the two people concerned. As Victor Borge, the American entertainer, once wrote, 'Laughter is the shortest distance between two people'. (quoted by Robert Holden, ISMA)
The physiology of humour
It is well known that stress causes physiological changes that are dangerous when prolonged Cortisol levels and blood pressure are elevated and the heart rate is increased amongst a host of other stress triggered responses. There is now considerable research that suggests that laughter lowers cortisol levels and stimulates the immune system, off-setting the immunosuppresive effects of stress. (Patty Wooton, Humour: An Antidote for Stress).
This research was preceded in 1979 by Norman Cousins who had, through his personal experience, attracted the attention of the medical profession to the possible therapeutic effects of humour. He contracted ankylosing spondylitis in 1964 and decided that the hospital regime of strong medication, dull food and the institutional regime was so depressing that any benefits he was gaining could be maximised outside the conventional regime. So, based on his own research, he developed a programme of therapy consisting of megadoses of a mix of vitamin C combined with regular doses of laughter stimulated by re-runs of the Marx Brothers films and Candid Camera. These treatments of belly laughs appeared to relieve his pain considerably and, indeed, when his levels of inflammation were tested, they were found to have decreased. Cousins also asserted that the increased release of endorphins caused by laughter eased the pain.
I assert that not just pain levels but point of view is affected by our words and the activities we partake of. Watch uplifting media, laugh, do activies you personally ENJOY.
The Use Of Humour In Stress Management
By Sylvia Mauger
Stress News July 2001 Vol.13 No.3
There is no doubt that any form of counselling, be it psychotherapy, stress management or anything else, is a very serious business. We read so many serious texts and go to so many serious meetings and classes that it is easy to get into a mode of solemn gravity. And, of course, this is largely because we are committed to treating our clients with respect. But in this paper I would like to suggest that respect can include humour and that laughter during a counselling session can be very therapeutic.
Humour: what is it and what place does it have in stress management counselling?
The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines humour as 'the quality of being amusing or comic; the ability to perceive or express humour or take a joke', but this is not particularly helpful in therapeutic terms. What is amusing or comic to one person may not be to another and, of course, we are not in the business of entertaining our clients as comics. So if humour is not necessarily about telling a joke, then what is it and how can it have beneficial effects in stress management counselling?
Windy Dryden, writing in Brief Rational Emotive Therapy, quotes Albert Ellis saying 'that one way of conceptualising psychological disturbance is that it is the tendency of humans to take themselves, other people and life conditions TOO seriously.' He goes on to describe how, in order to change, negative events need to be taken seriously, but that if they are taken too seriously, emotional disturbance may follow and action for change can be impaired. Indeed, as the whole model of stress management as conceived in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is based on the idea that people suffer emotional dysfunction when their thinking is irrational, humour can be seen as one of the many ways of 'untwisting' a client's cognitive distortions.
Of course, this does not imply that every stress management counsellor can laugh and joke their way through every session with every client, but it does mean that if a counsellor is sensitive to the mood of the client, a little humour can go a long way. If the therapeutic bond is comfortable, it will be clear to the client that the therapist is not laughing at the client but at the irrationality of her/his ideas. Laughing with people is compassionate, laughing at them is immoral and unethical. Indeed, it can often be the case that laughing together can act, not only as a tool of communication, but can strengthen the bond between the two people concerned. As Victor Borge, the American entertainer, once wrote, 'Laughter is the shortest distance between two people'. (quoted by Robert Holden, ISMA)
The physiology of humour
It is well known that stress causes physiological changes that are dangerous when prolonged Cortisol levels and blood pressure are elevated and the heart rate is increased amongst a host of other stress triggered responses. There is now considerable research that suggests that laughter lowers cortisol levels and stimulates the immune system, off-setting the immunosuppresive effects of stress. (Patty Wooton, Humour: An Antidote for Stress).
This research was preceded in 1979 by Norman Cousins who had, through his personal experience, attracted the attention of the medical profession to the possible therapeutic effects of humour. He contracted ankylosing spondylitis in 1964 and decided that the hospital regime of strong medication, dull food and the institutional regime was so depressing that any benefits he was gaining could be maximised outside the conventional regime. So, based on his own research, he developed a programme of therapy consisting of megadoses of a mix of vitamin C combined with regular doses of laughter stimulated by re-runs of the Marx Brothers films and Candid Camera. These treatments of belly laughs appeared to relieve his pain considerably and, indeed, when his levels of inflammation were tested, they were found to have decreased. Cousins also asserted that the increased release of endorphins caused by laughter eased the pain.
I assert that not just pain levels but point of view is affected by our words and the activities we partake of. Watch uplifting media, laugh, do activies you personally ENJOY.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Continued
I am so annoyed, working on the award post and I could not figure how to open it again to add the last 2 award nominees! Well here they are;
Linsey at Artsy-Fartsy Mama
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Artsy-fartsyMama
and Sarah at Emmyloubeedoo
emmyloubeedoo.blogspot.com/
I nominate each of these ladies because of their consistant excellance. Thank you Ladies!
Linsey at Artsy-Fartsy Mama
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Artsy-fartsyMama
and Sarah at Emmyloubeedoo
emmyloubeedoo.blogspot.com/
I nominate each of these ladies because of their consistant excellance. Thank you Ladies!
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