Functional Apron

I’m moving across the country. I realized it today although I’ve been planning since January. From the Midwest back to Texas. Emotionally I’m not ready so I am in hyper-planning mode; trying to control the uncontrollable. My panic button was pushed over Memorial Day weekend when I looked at my calendar to plan out my remaining weekends before the move and realized there were only 3 left!
I’ve decided that I am going to set up the kids room first and a craft corner second. Then my mind wandered to the necessity for a functional apron. A throw back to the 50’s where pearls and an apron were the necessary accessories. I want an apron. Mind needs to be functional, many pockets, and make them deep. Deep enough to hold random toy parts. A pocket to hold a pen and small notepad. A pocket to collect small, random toys. Another pocket to hold my phone. And another pocket to hide candy (emergency bribes) and Tylenol; inevitably, someone WILL get sick.

If there were anything to delay this project it would be choosing fabric. My functional apron will be a uniform of sorts so the fabric will have to be fitting of my many home making duties while keeping my own personal funky flavor. Amy Butler prints, repurposed vintage fabric, polka dots, stripes, a little bit of Mexican flair…oh, the possibilities are endless! My friend K and I have the same love of vintage linens. So much that we went to a presentation at the local historical society titled, “A Woman’s Work is Never Done”. It was our version of a Star Trek convention. K and I arrived in our skirts, heels, pearls and aprons.

The days before Memorial Day weekend we were in Ohio for a family funeral. Tim’s Grandmother passed away at age 86. While I was there my mother-in-law brought out heirloom aprons, one was her mother’s. My husband’s family is the closest manifestation to the June Cleaver ideal I’ve always fanaticized about becoming. She held the thin-from-years-of-washing feed sack apron in her hands and told me, “if my mother were awake, she'd have this on”. And that’s why I love aprons. Because, for me, it’s a symbol of the home; a uniform for employment I didn’t seek but am so blessed to be called to. I want to be the mother in the apron that my children, and grandchildren, remember.

My Pledge for Change

What a historical day. Today my 4-year-old and I picnicked on the living room floor while we watched the inauguration. We bowed our heads during prayer and my son, as difficult as it was for his busy little body, respectfully kept quiet until Rick Warren said, "Amen". We watched Aretha Franklin sing My Country 'Tis of Thee and I realized it was the first time my son had ever heard that song. With my son cuddled in my lap, we watched President Obama take his presidental oath. When the final words were spoken my son jumped up and down, cheering, in out living room. So, I got up and jumped and cheered with him.



So, here is my pledge for change...

I will teach my children through my actions.
I will use the gifts God has given me to help others.
I will respect myself in order to be a better wife, mother, daughter, friend.
I will stretch myself outside my comfort zone in order to find ways to grow as a person.
I will educate others about Autism and its effects on family and the community.
I will share my story so people know that we are not so different.

And, I will continue to pray.

Groceries.

This morning I went grocery shopping at 6 am. Ugh. Husband has been working hard and late all week and I have been putting off grocery shopping. I'd rather scavenge the pantry for random snacks and squeeze the very last dab of toothpaste out of the tube than take the kids with me to the store. They're not awful kids; the mix of kids and coats and Meijer and coupons and grocery lists...well, it all makes me a little panic-y.

So this morning I jumped out of bed, washed my face, put on my snow boots and coat and went to Meijer. And know the worst part of the whole trip? It wasn't the (below) freezing temperatures or the stockers blocking all the aisles or even the rush I was in (so that I could be back in time for husband to get to work). No, the worst part was that none of the checkout lanes were open and I had to check myself out. I hate that.

These are the reasons I hate to self check: I usually have too many groceries and they don't fit on that mini-shelf so as I adjust them to fit the machine "beeps" to warn me (and everyone else) that I've removed a bag; at least half of my coupons don't work so I have to walk to the unenthused cashier so she can punch them in; I try to get all my stuff to fit in the least amount of bags so I overstuff and a bag (or two) rips open; a clearance item doesn't scan and I have to go back to the cashier who is already unhappy with my multiple unscannable coupons. Oh how I hate self check. Shouldn't I get a discount for having to scan and bag my own stuff? Who do I write to about this?

But, do you know what I do love? A deal! I love coupons and anything 50% off. So, when my friend started this website, I was in love.
Check it out.