Waste not, want not

Since the sad-state of our national economy has been a hot topic in the news lately I've become amazed at the number of people who haven't a clue how to conserve money and live modestly. I feel as though I can speak with some authority on this issue because I have two, not one, but two family members who recently had their homes repossessed by their mortgage holders.

These family members lived above their means and have paid dearly for it. They'll be the first to tell you that they got into this mess by expecting instant gratification for their desires and by using credit to quench those desires.

I do not claim to be a financial whiz nor do Jeff and I live without credit cards; however, we've learned over the years to buy wisely, save for the things we want and really think about purchases before we make them. As an example, I have agonized for weeks about buying new cookware. The two big skillets I have, which are the ones I use most often, are in pitiful shape. The non-stick coating has peeled terribly on both of them and I recall reading somewhere that's it's not safe to continue using them when this happens.

However, because both skillets still work, the practical side of me can't bear to spend money on new ones. I finally have come to the conclusion that I need to get new skillets, but I don't plan to pay retail for any I get. I am not a big shopper unless I am on a mission and them I am like a tiger stalking her prey. Two of my favorite stores for finding good quality products at reduced prices are Unclaimed Baggage and Tuesday Morning.

Additionally, I am not afraid to admit that I buy a lot of my kids clothes at Unclaimed Baggage as well as from ebay, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, Target and Wal-Mart. I have gotten some amazing deals, such as a Polo dress that retails for $50 for $5 at the Salvation Army, a Janie and Jack one-piece outfit that sells new for $65 for $8 at Goodwill, a Bailey Boys dress that would have cost $50 at a boutique for $15 on ebay and a Petit Ami dress from the Salvation Army for $4 that would have easily cost $80 had I bought it new.

I try to buy quality pieces for Amelia that will hold up well through her wearing them as well as her sister, who will be decked out in hand-me-downs for years. Sometimes I buy pieces from The Children's Place or Gymboree, both of which can be pricey, but I never pay full price. I wait for the items to go on sale then purchase them using coupons I periodically receive in the mail.

Another way we are a thrifty family is that I cook almost every night. I always try to cook something that will produce enough leftovers for at least two lunches. I have a cache of recipes that I use over and over, like chicken casserole, beef stroganoff, stir-fry, vegetable soup, various pasta dishes and chili. However, I am always on the lookout for new recipes that are easy and fit into the kind of things we like.

Additionally, I prepare big batches of spaghetti sauce and soups so I can freeze them. I am working on preparing casseroles that I can freeze to have on hand for those nights when I don't feel like cooking or am unable to for whatever reason.

Jeff grew up with a mom who worked diligently to stretch her dollars. She was, and still is, the kind of mom who saved bread bags, twist ties, butter bowls and sour cream dishes. She never let anything go to waste. If all three of her boys had worn and outgrown a shirt, she didn't throw it away or donate it - she turned it into a dust rag.

Because of this upbringing Jeff is very thrifty. I, on the other hand, grew up as an only child who was somewhat indulged. I learned after becoming an adult that indulging me came with a price for my mom who found herself deep in debt and was forced to declare bankruptcy. When I was 22, momma was forced to sell my childhood home at a loss to keep the bank from foreclosing. Momma never got over the feeling of helplessness she felt during this time in her life, and I had to learn a very hard lesson about spending more than you earn.

Jeff and I and our girls live a comfortable life. There are things we want: new carpet and flooring, a cover for our deck, a small vacation; but none of these things are really immediate needs therefore we can take our time and shop for the best deal. In the long run, I feel we are a closer family because we try to live practically, enjoy the things we have and save for the things we want. I also believe our girls will learn good lessons by observing how we live and learning that they do not get everything they want, but they will never want for anything they need.

Roly-poly

Well, Miss Lola is officially mobile. Saturday she rolled over from her back to her tummy, and then she showed off by rolling from her tummy to her back! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it. She turned four months old on Monday, the 13th. I know Amelia was a couple of months older before she got the hang of going from tummy to back.

Now that Lola has figured this out she loves playing under her activity gym and practicing her new maneuver. She is also beginning to figure out how to scoot on her tummy. She has gotten so good at this that we've found her several times off of her play blanket wedged against the love seat. Jeff swears she'll be crawling soon. Lord help us if she does! I don't know that I am ready for her to be so mobile yet.

Que bonita cabeza

Since Lola has been diagnosed with unicoronal craniosynostosis, which is an early fusion of one of the sutures in her skull that requires surgical correction, so many people have commented on the shape of her head.

No one has made mention of its odd shape, although two medical professionals (a dentist and a pediatric gastroenterologist) noticed it right after meeting her prompting me to share her story. In fact, I've had only positive comments about her head.

Complete strangers have come up to me on numerous occasions to remark about my baby and tell me what a beautiful head she has. Twice older women have told me what a precious gift she is and how lovely her head is. Friday at the Harvest Festival in Boaz a woman and her daughter stopped to meet Lola and both told me she has such a nice head.

By far though the most memorable encounter was in the shoe department at Belk in Guntersville. I'd taken Lola with me on my hunt for a new pair of walking shoes, but she decided this was the time to eat not shop. So I found a quiet corner where I could feed her out of the way of the salesperson and other shoppers.

While I was giving her a bottle a Latino family ventured into the department. I think this was three generations of females from one family. The two younger women looked for shoes and their daughters followed sullenly behind. The oldest of the three women broke away from the group and came over to the corner where I was seated with Lola. I believe she was the family matriarch because I heard one of the little girls call her "abuela," which I know from high school Spanish means grandmother.

The woman was very short with long salt-and-pepper hair pulled up in a ponytail. Her skin bore deep winkles, and I don't think she had a tooth in her mouth. Her clothes were obviously old and well-worn. She approached me slowly, and when I looked up she smiled a broad, toothless grin I suppose as a means of indicating she meant us no harm.

I smiled back at her, which she took as a signal to initiate a conversation.

"Cuanto meses?" she asked and pointed at Lola.

Once again I searched the recesses of my brain to pull up phrases from high school Spanish class. I determined she was asking me how old Lola was.

"Tres meses," I responded while holding up three fingers.

The woman smiled again and said something to me in rapid-fire Spanish. I smiled and nodded at her unable to respond because I have no idea what she said. Then she came closer, extended both of her weathered and wrinkled hands, placed them on Lola's head and said "Que bonita cabeza," which I know means, "What a pretty head."

I responded with a heartfelt "gracias" and another smile. She turned and went on her way and I returned to concentrating on feeding Lola.

People who are aware of Lola's condition regularly tell me that her head looks fine to them, which I appreciate. However, these people who don't know us and don't know about our situation that comment so favorably about her head are the ones who stick with me.

I could take the cynical view and think that they notice her misshapen skull and feel compelled to say something nice; but I like to think that God sends these strangers to me as a means of reminding me that Lola's head is beautiful despite it's flaws.

Before and after

Amelia has been sporting a new hairdo for a little more than a month. It had always been my intention to let her hair grow long, and I was well on my way to seeing that come to fruition until she took to her hair with a pair of sewing scissors one day when she was supposed to be taking a nap.

The incident with the scissors happened almost a year ago. Fortunately, she neither cut her hair to the scalp nor did she cut hair from the middle of her forehead (as her daddy did when he was a little boy). Instead, she cut the hair on each side of her head above each ear. Our wonderful stylist, Jennifer Brandon at Exclusive Salon in Albertville (check her out sometime), did the best she could considering what she had to work with, but Amelia's hair never looked "right" to me after that.

Convincing Amelia to cut her hair at first was impossible. She has wanted long hair since she came to understand what having long hair meant. However, it wasn't the fact her hair seemed "off" after she cut it that made her decide to go for a short style, but rather she'd grown weary of mommy wrestling her to the ground everyday in order to run a comb through it.

Amelia has inherited my hair which has always had a "wild" spot (as my momma always called it) in the back. This spot tangles easily and terribly on both of us. I most often sleep with my hair twisted up to keep the tangles to a minimum, but Amelia wouldn't tolerate having her hair twirled up in a scrunchie every night; therefore she woke up most mornings looking as if she'd spent the night running the top of her head across the carpet from dusk to daylight.

I suggested to her that she might want to consider getting a haircut, but I was quickly shot down. I mentioned that she could get her hair cut like one of her best friend's Jillian, who wears her hair in a precious bob. Amelia would not entertain this notion at all - that is until a few days after my initial suggestion when she'd spent several minutes crying after I'd chased her down, sprayed her head with "No More Tangles," which I think should be renamed "Just Slightly Less Tangles," and brushed a few times before snagging a tangle the pain from which elicited a scream that sent dogs in the next county into howling fits.

"Momma, I think I want my hair like Jillian's," she said through sniffles and whimpers.

That's all I needed to hear. I called Jennifer ASAP and booked an appointment for the next day. Jennifer was thrilled to get to give Amelia her first "real" hairstyle, and Amelia loved the special treatment she received at the salon. She especially liked getting her hair washed like a grown up lady.

I am so pleased with Amelia's chic new style. She looks like a tiny Coco Chanel to me. She loves the ease with which we're able to style her hair now, and I love that she has a truly wash and wear hairdo.

Mockingbird don't mess with me

My car is now sporting some unusual accessories - two Wal-Mart bags tied over each side mirror. The reason I have begun adorning my vehicle with these is because a mockingbird, who has been residing at our home off and on for over a year, enjoys looking at himself in the mirrors a little too much.

The bird, who I've named Narcissus after the character of Greek mythology who became entranced with his own reflection, spends a lot of time staring at himself in the mirrors. Apparently what he sees in the mirror is so exciting that it causes him to poop - all over the doors of our vehicles.

The aftermath of his poop party is disgusting and embarrassing. It's so embarrassing to be all dressed up to go somewhere only to be greeted by a revolting mess as you go to get in the car. I don't want to hurt the bird or run him off because with the exception of the messes he makes I like having him around.

My mother-in-law suggested putting the bags on our mirrors to deter him. So far it's worked. I mentioned hanging up a mirror just for Narcissus to enjoy, but my husband, Jeff, seems to think he wouldn't go for that.

Now, I just have to remember to remove the bags each time I plan to go somewhere so I don't drive down the road with my mirror cozies in place. That would be much more embarrassing than a poop-streaked door.