I have been thinking about starting a small (emphasize small!) business of handmade and natural personal items. Things like menstrual pads (I don't want to give away my idea at this point, and it isn't what you may be thinking), heating pads, eye pillows, and then of course my hats and scarves from natural wool yarn. Other things would be small handmade toys for children, like dolls, wool balls, and knitted purses.

I will meditate over the holidays on it, and see what comes up.

Also, recently I remember that there is a massage institute here in my city, so I explored it and they have a massage therapy program that starts January 21st. If I could come up with the $6000 tuition fees for the program, I would do it in a heart beat. I have been told by many that I give healing massages. It would be nice to make money doing it!

The kids are sick today. Lakshmi woke up at 1am this morning crying and throwing up. Once I got medicine down her throat, I got back in bed with her and cuddled, but unfortunately, she started crying again. So I had to put a saline water solution in her nose with a dropper, and finally some of the stuff came out so she could breath easily. Poor thing! She is better today, but sleeping more than usual. I however haven't gotten a nap, and I a very tired!

December 13th,

This morning, we had our first snow of the season! It was beautiful coming down but it didn't stick. It continues to snow on and off. Last night, the kids and I went grocery shopping, and bought most of our next two weeks worth of food. The kids were doing so many crazy things, Lakshmi was screaming, Priya was trying to open the packages, and they all kept me in a tizzy that I FORGOT MOST OF THE GROCERIES at the checkout stand. It wasn't until I got home and finished putting away the ones I brought home, that I realized that most of the stuff wasn't with me! Oh Dear! I will get it all this afternoon, but in general, I feel like a fool!

Ravi starts basketball practice tonight, and he will have his first game in early January. He is excited about starting and I think it will be very fun for him.
I am still very busy sewing and knitting, and I have recently made something new! FBW's...flannel bum wipes! We are already using cloth diapers, cloth kitchen and bath towels, and even cloth hankerchives (or however you spell that!), so why not add FBW's to the "wash"! I was skeptical at first, but I thought about it for a while, at keep my eye on ebay to see if there were flannel blankets up for bid. Eventually I found the flannel blankets and got them. The sat here for months waiting for me to get the nerve to just "try" it, and when I finally did, I was surprised at the freshness that FBW's gives you. No more little dinky balls after using toilet paper. Just a fresh clean feeling. I wet my FBW's with hot water, and that is nice and refreshing too.
Anyway, if you want to know more about FBW's, let me know!

December 19th,

Just one more week until Christmas, and I have still a few items to make. I finished Ravi's knights costume last night, along with the kingly crown and saved myself over $45!!! I am quite proud of myself (although something will come along shortly and let the air out of me) that I was able to make the thing he wanted the MOST! Then to boot, I made a barbie pj outfit out of the leftover materials (stars and clouds) for Ravi's friend who loves barbies and he will give it to her for Christmas. I even knitted a little hat, about one inch across.

For the girls, I found some cute things at goodwill. A Fisher-Price doll house...all plastic, another one of those Vtech thingys with numbers and letters, and a little four key piano. A friend has two kids older than mine, and she saved everything. She has some nice natural toys (which is what I wanted in the first place but couldn't afford!) and I will be doing some shopping in her attic on Thursday. She has wooden dominos, onepenny dolls, and several other things. Lastly, all three kids will get Pooh blankets (winter theme) stitched by me. Now....I have to think up some gift ideas for Pancha Ganapathi! Something to sew for sure! : )

Right now, I have some herbs in olive oil simmering on the stove, and plan to make diaper creme out of it with bees wax...for baby gifts.

December 20th,

Today, the girls and I went to see Santa while Ravi went to visit with my parents. We celebrate the cultural Christmas, so it was fun. But they didn't think it was so fun, until AFTER Santa gave them the candy!!! I will share a photo below, to save a few words! I am winding down with my gift making, and have surprised myself this year with what I have accomplished! Hope everyone likes their gifts. They are straight from the heart this year!

Tomarrow marks the first day of Pancha Ganapathi. Be sure to check my journal then for a photo or two.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!