| A rare post. Even more rarely, an open one. |
[Oct. 31st, 2011|06:51 pm] |
An expectant mother approached me the other day with a very long list in her hand and asked me "Do I really need all this stuff? What do I really need?" So here's my list of absolute essentials (yours may vary, additions welcome).*
1. The Bag. Will always be bulky and annoying, but for anything longer than a quick walk to the shops, it's nice to have everything assembled and ready so you can leave the house without having to spend half an hour packing. With the exception of formula and food (which varies depending on how long the outing is), I always carry the following:
-Scented plastic nappy bags. Not just useful for nappies both disposable and cloth, but for puked on/pooed on/wet clothing. Also take up almost no room, and are very reasonably priced. I got a box of 200 for about $5, and just shove a handful of them in the side pocket. I'm not even half way through the box, although I seem to use them a lot.
-Nappies. We tend to use disposables when out of the house. Just easier.
-Wipes. 'nuff said.
-Old school cloth folding nappy. Can be used as a change mat, for spills, for screening breastfeeding, even an extra blanket.
-Hand sanitiser. Because sometimes you absolutely have to change a nappy when there's no facilities.
-Bibs.
-Spare clothing. On our first outing to the mall when Boo was six days old, he pooed through everything. Thankfully Mum was with me and raced out to buy him another outfit. I've never been caught short since. Also an extra pair of socks as they are easily lost and hard to find.
-A couple of toys/teething ring. Age dependant :)
-Nappy cream. I use Lucas' Papaw ointment as it's good for everything, not just nappy rash.
-Dinkee Diner. This may come under non-essential items, but it's wonderful. It's a cloth highchair in a bag that attaches to most dining chairs. Folds (well scrunches in my case) down to nothing. Very useful for places that don't have highchairs or where all highchairs are occupied. Available brand new on Trademe for $20, in a range of colours (I got black).
-The Mummy section. Mine contains tiny tubes of moisturiser, a comb, body spray and painkillers, plus my wallet and phone. This way I don't have to deal with a handbag as well. I also have one of my plain old stretchy lycra tops in there. Just in case. Touch wood.
-Reusable bags. The nylon ones that fold into nothing as opposed to the canvas type ones. Mine fold into tiny little bags that have keyring attachments which I attach to the baby bag. Useful in cases of Accidental Shopping and Extreme Vomiting.
As this is getting long, and I've forgotten how to do an LJ cut, I'll leave it there for the moment and perhaps later embark on Part Two: Stuff for Home.
* I would like to state for the record that I have no aspirations to be a SuperMummy (TM) and am just sharing what works for me. |
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| Still here... |
[Oct. 17th, 2009|04:53 am] |
...just lurking.
Enjoying spending time with my puppy babies.
Really enjoying working at the Youth Hostel, would be nice if there was a bit more people contact though. I get to learn a bit more stuff with each shift, which keeps my brain active at least.
Aware I should be way more in touch with many people, I apologise, internet time is hard to find at the moment.
Hope to see people at New Years :) |
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| Help! |
[Aug. 18th, 2009|06:38 am] |
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Can anyone tell me the name of the park on Stanmore Road where the battle is going to be now? I kind of need to inform people. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 20th, 2009|08:03 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  sneezy | ] |
So I just spent half an hour ripping up carpet and underlay and pulling out the underlay staples in the hallway. Still have the wood edgy bits to pull up but my tools are not up to the job, another trip to the hardware store required, also to buy some of those metal jobbies that you put where carpet and floor meet. I also discovered that all the floors are polished except for two of the bedrooms, and they are the two we wanted to keep carpeted anyway, and as an added bonus the carpet is in the best nick in those rooms. I am now sneezing like mad, there is sooooo much dust, the hallway looks like a beach. Vacuuming is next on my list, then showering, then washing my bathrobe as I decided to pull up the carpet immediately after having a bath. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 19th, 2009|08:58 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Babylon 5 opening credits | ] |
I have been a housewife for four days now.
So far I have:
-Cooked four meals.
-Painted a bookcase (in a shade we call 'Gay Purple') and installed it in my room, wrenching by shoulder in the process.
-Cleaned the kitchen.
-Done seven loads of washing.
-Vaccuumed.
-Washed dishes.
-Put all my different variaties of dried pasta into matching glass jars, which promotes me to full grown-up status.
-De-cobwebbed the inside of the house (the outside is too scary to attempt).
-Sorted out my sock drawer (to discover I have a lot of socks, but not many pairs of socks).
-Sorted out my miscellaneous drawer (jewellrey, perfumes and fancy hair decorations).
-Sorted out my scarf and hat drawer.
-Been a Bunny Whisperer.
-Gotten thoroughly addicted to Farm Town on Facebook.
-Scored a couch to replace the chaise lounge while it is being restored (Robyn & Niamh rock).
-Discovered that underneath the carpet in the house the floorboards are ALREADY POLISHED, so I can rip the carpet up as soon as I buy some woodfiller for the holes from the carpet edging bits, instead of waiting years until I could afford to get someone in to polish them. This is VERY exciting!
-Reorganised the hot water cupboard.
-Put away the coffee machine that we never use.
-Soaked the labels off the interesting bottles I have been hoarding for two years with the intention of filling with infused oils and vinegars.
So a very productive few days, and now I really have to start some form of work. I have an 'informal chat' at a place tomorrow, and another lead to follow up. It sucks that I don't have the capital to start my own catering business YET, I have a reasonable sized customer base and all the gear, just not the dosh to get it off the ground. Because working from home would rock.
If I can find part time work that pays well enough, I may start in a small way. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 9th, 2009|01:53 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  cheerful | ] |
Home, after starting my journey on Tuesday lunchtime, spending 22 hours on four flights and eight hours in transit.
I have a small dog attached to me like a limpet.
Stories and pics to follow. |
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| LA |
[Mar. 29th, 2009|05:57 pm] |
LA is big. Sass and I went for a walk and the whole conversation ran along these lines:
'Ooooh, yellow fire hydrants'
'Ooooh, those newspaper boxes like in the movies'
'Ooooh, the pavements are like the movies'
'Ooooh, a mound of dirt'
The light switches are upside down which can get a little confusing when drunk.
The Convention is full of scary, scary fangirls. We have met a couple of nice people, and got a prize in the karaoke competition. Random prize from America for the first person who guesses which song we sang!
We have had a lot of bourbon, and many purple nurples. The nice man in the booze shop taught me how to count the coins. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 21st, 2009|01:49 am] |
Paddy's Day highlight:
Bimbo Waitress: Wow! These chips are really long!
Me: Didn't you know? We imported potatoes from Ireland so we could have authentic chips for Paddy's day.
(it took her half an hour to realise I was taking the piss). |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 21st, 2009|01:46 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  bouncy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | ACDC - Back in Black | ] |
Yes, I did it.
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| And....... |
[Mar. 6th, 2009|02:24 am] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Night Ranger - Sister Christian | ] |
.....I was simultaneously making this cake...
11 inch chocolate cake topped with fondant. The crown and music score are also fondant, decorated with gold dust and gel colour respectively.
And here's another angle of the previous cake:
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