The Longest I Have Been Away

I feel as if I am dusting off my poor, neglected blog for the first time in ages. I didn’t mean to abandon A Shot In The Dark, but having a mobile, one year old baby has been busy. Rather than fill the next several days with newsy, wordy post after newsy, wordy post, I to update you quickly and concisely through micro-blogging and photos. Hooray!

So, first milestone: Alex started walking in October. That’s right, he began walking before he even hit ten months of age. Maybe some of this cuteness will make up for my lack of consistent blogging?
Alex. walking. Nuts.

Trying My Own Detergent

So folks, I’m finally going to try making my own laundry detergent. Several weeks ago I was sent 10 bars of Ivory soap as a gift for my review in May. I have run out of my stockpile of detergent and Scott has our car today. I have a ton if laundry to do. I have all of the right ingredients at my disposal, so I set to work. I used:

2 Cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not to be confused with baking soda)
2 Cups of Borax
1 Bar of Ivory Soap

I took the Ivory soap and melted it in the microwave. From there, I crumbled the bar into shavings– this is MUCH easier than grating the bar of soap with a cheese grater. I layered washing soda/soap/Borax in a shoebox and mixed everything up.

I don’t plan to use this concoction on Alexander’s cloth diapers. I have read in too many places that soap leaves a residue on synthetic diapers found in pocket diapers. However, I think the detergent will work fine for most of our other laundry. If I don’t find it as effective as I desire, I’ll add a cup of Sun Oxy from Dollar Tree to the mixture.

Do any of you make your own laundry detergent?

Already Fell Off The Wagon

Nablowrimo… What’s that?

Oh yeah, I was going to write everyday this month, wasn’t I?

What happened, you may be asking… Is a sick baby and a family wedding good enough excuse for my blogging responsibilities to lapse? Here am I, writing again.

Now, I need to go clean house. I promise to come back with real content tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday

Alex had visitors.

I had tacos. (No photos of that.)

I edited photos. I work best under a deadline, it seems. Shocker.

Happy Wednesday!

Wine O’Clock

Have you ever been so tired you can’t think?

I call that point Wine O’Clock.

It’s a time where I can’t shut off my brain yet I am unable to accomplish more tasks in my day. Alex is in bed by now, and it’s finally time to breathe. I’ll snuggle with Scott and finally enjoy some quiet in our day. I am painfully aware if the days we don’t have this time. Why? We don’t do anything particularly special. Sometimes we watch tv, other times we just talk. Really, we do what we can to restore a little balance to our marriage outside of child-rearing, work, housekeeping, and school. When Alex was first born and we didn’t take time for Just The Two Of Us, I felt as if we were merely keeping afloat. After the little man came, I felt so alone and scared. As much as I adore our son, becoming a mother held a huge learning curve. Scott seemed like a natural dad. I felt like I was doing something wrong.

When we came back around to making time with one another a priority, I was reminded we’re a team. We are in this parenting thing together.

NaBloWriMo: I’m A Geek

Yes, folks, I’m attempting it…. I will TRY to write Every! Single! Day! in the month of October. I know this blog has been woefully neglected. I have a newly mobile baby and have been busy with my faux-tography, so blogging has taken a backseat. I am joining a blog challenge to help keep me on track.

Today’s NaBloWriMo question is… Who am I?

Oy vey. Many of you good folks have been enduring the Ramblings on this blog for four years. I want to thank you for sticking with me so long. You must be insane, really like me, or both. You must be really insane to like me. I digress. I’ll attempt to sum up the essence of Emily with this lone word: Geek.

Yes, readers, I am a Geek.

geek
/gēk/
Noun
An unfashionable or socially inept person.
A person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest: “a computer geek”.

I am applying the second definition to myself. You see, a Geek is a Geek by choice. I characterize myself with this word because I rarely do anything half-heartedly. I approach most of what I do with gusto. I find a hobby and get all up in it. I have been: a theater geek, a makeup geek, a banking geek, and lately a cloth diapering and and natural parenting geek. My most enduring firms of Geekdom will likely be photography, writing/literature, and theology.

So hi, my name is Emily. I’m a geek. Are you a geek?

Old Navy Cardi Party

Once you become a mommy, it is easy to get frumpy. In the months after delivering Alex, I lost enough weight that I no longer fit into my pre-pregnancy clothing. Top that problem with the occasional inability to get a shower (teething, I am not looking at you), frequently foregoing makeup, and often not needing to actually change from your jammies to real clothes, your style drastically drops. Oh, the joys of being a stay at home mother. Also, do I have time to shop? Rarely. Many of my friends would echo these sentiments.

A few weeks ago, an awesome program I participate in chose me to be a member of the Old Navy Style Council. This program is called Crowdtap. Basically, it is a rewards program that helps companies connect with consumers, and you are rewarded for giving your opinions on branding concepts.

I was ecstatic that I was chosen. I love Old Navy, and a majority of my wardrobe is from there. Few places carry jeans in a petite length, and Old Navy is one of those rare brands. As a member of the Old Navy Style Council, I invited three friends to participate in a Cardi Party. Unfortunately, one of my friends was unable to come, but Dana, Courtney and I had a great time. As mothers, they also understand what it is like to have little time for yourself. After a half an hour of shopping, the three of us hit the dressing rooms to model our fashion finds.

Dana looked classically sharp in this red/white cardi and pencil skirt with wedges.

Courtney matched a cardi with a peach blouse, wedges, and a scarf.

I decided to be bold with a jade green cardi, blue pencil skirt, turquoise scarf. I love color!

The three of us. Dana and I are eight and nine months postpartum. I’d say we’re looking pretty good!

Dana rocked contrasting prints in blues and some sweet boot cut jeans in the Flirt rise.

Courtney liked things monochromatic, but rocked black pencil skirt and fun scarf! She added a pop of color with some red pumps.

My inner prep was drawn to this plaid shirt, red cardi, boot cut jeans, red ballet flats. This outfit came home with me.

Old Navy, thanks for the opportunity to sample Fall fashion, for a complimentary clothing, and a chance to get away. Three stylish mamas thank you for helping us update part of our wardrobes.

Do any of you love Old Navy? What is your favorite fall trend?