The Titus 2 Homemaker

For a while, Ariel and I used dry beans as “counters” for her to use at math time.  These are very easy to manipulate - small enough to easily sort into piles, etc.  The problem is, they’re also significant choking hazards for her little sister, and I was always a little nervous about the possibility of one getting dropped off the couch and Sophia finding it later.  So we’ve switched to popsicle sticks.  One handy thing about popsicle sticks is that, because they’re flat, you can easily bundle together “tens” with rubber bands.  However, their bulky nature makes them a little harder to manipulate, especially when you need to put them into piles.

Our trip to Wal-Mart for the popsicle sticks turned up a terrific solution.  We found mini popsicle sticks.  They have all the same benefits of the regular popsicle sticks, with the added advantage that they are only about half as long, so they are much easier to sort, pile, hold a handful of, etc.  Two packages of them (with one bundled into tens and the other left loose) fit into a 4-cup Ziploc container to store with our school texts, and this works for us.

Michael is a blessing in so many ways, but the one that is most prominent in my mind at the moment is his skill in budgeting and planning.  It’s such a blessing that not only does he do all of our budgeting (meaning I don’t have to!), but he does it really well, too.  If I were in the midst of a change in pay schedule, etc., I would be thoroughly confused.  I would probably have a budgeting mess at the moment.  But, thanks to Michael, we have no mess.  Not only are all of the bills accounted for, groceries taken care of, etc., he is also planning for Christmas and various other needs (like maintenance on the car which is about to need its inspection renewed).  He takes such good care of us.

One of the details that has to be worked out with our move is finding a new bank.  Now, I have online checking and savings accounts with WaMu, just for the little bit that I make from surveys, blogging, etc.  (Basically, I have “real” accounts that I move anything paid with paypal into.)  That is, essentially, my “pocket money,” and I keep it separate so it doesn’t get eaten up.  (Although I do occasionally use it for household-related needs, I like to be doing that consciously!) But the bulk of our banking is with a brick-and-mortar bank.

For this banking, we prefer to avoid a big chain. We like small, local banks; they seem to be friendlier and easier to work with.  We love our bank here - Chesapeake Bank.  But, being local, they do not have branches in the area to which we’re moving.  So the search begins… to find a new “local bank.”

Silly as it sounds, one thing that would be a plus to me is the use of MasterCard for debit, instead of Visa.  Visa’s commercials convey this idea of everything being about money.  MasterCard’s recognize that, “There are some things in life money can’t buy.”  I know, they’re both companies out to make a profit, but, given the option, I would just rather support the one who’s chosen to send the right message.

What do you like about your bank?  What do you dislike?  What would you look for if you were choosing a bank all over again?

No, not envious babies.  Or babies with green skin.  Eco-friendly babies.  I just got an email from Amazon.com with a really cool feature.  (Well, I think it’s really cool, anyway.)  They have a whole “green baby” store.  That is, from a single page you can browse a wide variety of specifically eco-friendly baby gear, from bibs to bottles to bassinets and cribs.  No weeding through thousands of other baby products to find the good stuff. :)  In case anyone else is interested, here it is:

Amazon’s Green Baby Store

Well, the big move is coming up.  We still don’t have a house, so we don’t have an exact date, but we know it will be in about the next month, because someone is buying the house we currently rent.  I’m looking forward to having this whole process done!  The move, in general, I’m looking forward to.  I’m just not looking forward to all of the logistical stuff involved in getting physically moved.  You know, packing, unpacking, etc.  :)  And we probably should try to finish clearing the junk out of our yard.  It isn’t ours; it’s been here since we moved in.  In fact, the yard looks much better than it did when we moved in.  We have literally hauled away truckloads of garbage, gotten rid of old rusty bicycles, etc. that were in the yard when we got here.  But there is a still a broken lawnmower, a car-top carrier like you stash luggage in for long trips, and a rusted-out bed frame, to name the most significant eyesores.  (The broken lawnmower hubby is hanging onto for the time being, because it makes a handy dolly for moving large heavy objects! lol)  And cleaning!  I’m looking forward to the deep cleaning being over with, too.  Can’t I just snap my fingers and be at next month already? lol