Awesome Things to Bring to Someone in the Hospital

Recently, I was in the hospital for four nights, quite unexpectedly.  I'm fine now, thank you, but it was quite an ordeal at the time, especially because we were trying to get everything together for us and for Cricket, who stayed with wonderful family members while I was away.

We had several friends and family who helped us during those days, and they brought us wonderful supplies that really truly helped us get through that time.  Just having someone bring a bag of goodies to open is itself a big mood-lifter when your life becomes so routine and predictable on a hospital schedule.

This post is a collaboration between me and all the people who brought me awesome stuff.  I especially got tons of ideas from my friend Michelle Glenn, who literally came up with most of the stuff in this list.  She's awesome.

Fresh Fruit

Hospital food is gross.  Everyone knows this.  It's like the food from your middle school cafeteria, if it were put on a tray and driven around a building full of people with contagious diseases for an hour.  It's gross.

One of the things I noticed most was the lack of fresh food available.  A fruit basket or even just a container of fresh cut fruit from Publix is a welcome change from the cube steak and gravy that they serve at every other meal.  Of course, if someone is in the hospital, they might be on dietary restrictions, so check that out first, but it would at least be a welcome gift for family members staying with them.

Toiletries

Small things like ChapStick and lotion can mean a world of difference when you have tubes in your arm and a nurse waking you up every two hours to check your blood pressure.  Facial cleansing cloths would also be awesome for a girl.  Guys probably wouldn't care.  Also check to see if they need baby wipes and dry shampoo if they can't take a shower,  or toothbrushes, etc.

Comfort Items

Try adding earplugs, an eye mask, and warm fuzzy socks to make sleeping in a hospital much more bearable.  House shoes are great too, because no one ever wants to walk barefoot in a room where someone probably died.  Snuggies are a great way to stay comfy and warm while still having access to IV's.  If they're allowed to wear real clothes and not just the half-yard of fabric and twine that they call a "gown," an extra large t-shirt is comfortable and makes you feel more like a human being.

Books

If you know what kind of books they like, you can't go wrong.  One important thing to remember about bringing people things in the hospital is that usually the recovery doesn't end when they go home.  They will probably not be back to 100% for a while, so a book will come in handy, if not at the hospital, then down the road.  It's not like they go bad.

Entertainment

Entertainment is hard to come by in hospitals.  Usually, once you feel good enough to be aware of your surroundings, you start to realize how crappy it is to be cooped up in a tiny room with nothing but basic cable to entertain you.  Magazines and crossword/sudoku/puzzle books are awesome.  Cards, Bananagrams, or other simple games work, too.  Make sure to bring pencils, if needed!

Coloring Books and Crayons

Again, probably most guys, and maybe most girls, wouldn't like this, but I think that coloring books are a great anti-stress activity.  It's mindless enough that you don't really have to concentrate to do it, but you get to use pretty colors and you have something you can show off when you finish.  I colored like, five pages in one day when I was there.

Food for Significant Others

This is a huge one.  Hospitals have to provide food for the patient, but not for anyone else.  That means spouses, parents, or whoever is staying with them has to fend for themselves, either by leaving the hospital, which they probably don't want to do for fear of leaving their loved one, or by eating at the hospital cafeteria which is, as I mentioned above, gross and also ridiculously expensive.  Home-cooked meals are of course awesome, but even just getting fast food or takeout is a blessing for someone who needs to keep their focus on the patient.  Also, things like muffins, drinks, trail mix, and other snacks that can be eaten any time of day are a great idea.

Snacks for the Patient

Again, you have to check what kind of dietary restrictions they are on, but if they are on a regular diet, bring on the snacks!  Cupcakes make everyone happy, and salty snacks like crackers or pretzels are a good balance to that.  Peanut butter crackers and granola bars are great because they can substitute for a meal in a pinch or a snack when you need it.  (Check about allergies.)  Also, the only drinks they serve, at least at my hospital, are Coke, Sprite, and Diet Coke, so Gatorade, Dr. Pepper, Lemonade or whatever else you think they like would probably be welcome.

Plants

I know cut flowers are everyone's first thought, and they are awesome, especially to brighten up a dreary day, but one of my friends brought me a small potted plant with some cool purple flowers, and I loved it.  I didn't have to clean it up when it died, or figure out how to transport a vase full of water home.  My potted plant sat in the floorboard, and now it has a lovely home in my kitchen.

Gift Cards

I had several friends give us gift cards, and it was so awesome.  For one, being in the hospital is expensive, and since the spouse has to eat out at every meal, gift cards are a welcome relief.  Plus, remember that even after they go home, they will still probably not feel like cooking right away.  I even had one friend email a gift card for pizza from across the country!  How sweet is that?!  Another friend asked if I wanted a gift card for my Kindle or iTunes, which I thought was a great idea.   A new book or some new music is guaranteed to cheer anyone up!

Portable Electronics

One of my saving graces in the hospital was having my e-reader that could access the Internet, so I could still feel connected to my friends and family.  After a day or so, I borrowed an iPad, and that was even better, because I could also Skype with Cricket, whom I was missing so dearly, and watch Netflix when I gave up yet again trying to find something to watch on television.  If you know your friend doesn't have a laptop or iPad, that would be an awesome thing to let them borrow while they're there.  An iPod with music is cool, too.  Even just a portable DVD player and some DVD's would be much appreciated.


I hope that you never need this list and that all of your loved ones stay happy and healthy, but if you do need to make a goody bag for someone, I hope this helps you think of some unusual and helpful things to give them.

How to Be Awesome at Home Ownership

We bought a house about two years ago, and we love it.  It's not huge, and it's a ways out of the city, but it's ours and it has a great backyard, a big garage and basement, and enough room for our simple life.  We love it.

But home ownership is more demanding than I anticipated.  No one really prepares you for this stuff.  After renting for literally all but two years of my life before now, it has really taken some getting used to. 

You have to fix it.

If something breaks, big or small, it's up to you to fix.  A stair gets wobbly: you replace it.  The toilet runs: you get a new set of toilet guts to go inside it.  Wasps build a nest of evil in your attic:  you climb up there and exterminate them like a boss.

Correction:  Someone you love goes up to the attic like a boss.

This is very different from the, "Call the Manager" approach to all problems I was used to.

The lawn does not mow itself.

Some people enjoy mowing the lawn.  But then, some people enjoy folding clothes (my mom) and some people enjoy doing dishes (al-Qaeda).  My husband, however, does not enjoy lawn care, so our lawn alternates ever couple of weeks between shaved down to the nubs ("Then I won't have to mow it again for a while!") and looking like the Serengeti.  Whenever he does mow it, the next morning there are always a hand full of confused animals looking around like, "Wait, wasn't there like, a forest here yesterday?"

You are always working on something.

A home is a lot like a scrapbook in this way.  You are never at a stopping point because you are always behind.  There are always twenty things on your to-do list, and as soon as you finish those, if you ever do, it's time to start the next one.  That's why I gave up scrapbooking.

Currently our home to-do list includes adding more insulation to the attic, remodeling the stairs to the basement, finishing our basement, adding a shelf to a cabinet in the kitchen, and building a back deck, just to name a few.  It never ends.

It is also awesome.

Being able to play Dance Dance Revolution at midnight is only one of the reasons a house is way better than living in an apartment.  Also, you can choose your own wall colors, not hear your neighbor's music (most of the time), and grill on your back porch.  And a fenced in backyard.  And more space.  And more windows.

So yeah, there are definitely pluses.  (I didn't want it to sound like I was complaining.)

But for all you first-time home buyers out there, just know that when you buy a house, you are also buying a new part-time occupation, a set of new weekly chores, a hobby, and a pet.  Congratulations.

How to Be Awesome at Sensory Play: Mashed Potato Flakes

Here's a new sensory material I've been dying to try:  Mashed Potato Flakes!  You can get a big box at the Dollar Tree, they are a fun texture, and of course, they're edible in case your little one decides to give it a taste!

I set up an invitation to play for Cricket, using some of the kitchen utensils I had gotten for her from the Dollar Tree a while back.  I spread out a shower curtain from the Dollar Tree on the floor, too, for easier clean up.

It didn't take her long to jump in.  She was very curious, even while I was still setting up.

In no time, my formerly timid little Cricket was up to her elbows in mashed potato flakes!  She really liked the feel of them.

She enjoyed transferring them from one container to another.  I always make sure that I give her several containers of different sizes and shapes so that she can practice this important skill.  I also always give her some kind of spoons or scoops to help with motor skills and coordination.  Scooping and pouring is a very important part of toddlerhood!

She had a blast stirring, scooping, and moving them around.

Eventually, of course, they ended up getting dumped out.  Then she would take handfuls and put them back in the bowl so she could dump it out again!

She gave it a taste once, but they're pretty bland, so it didn't keep her interest.

Her favorite part was grabbing a handful and watching it trickle out of her fingers from up high.  This is a great sensory experience, as she feels it leaving her hand, sees, hears, and feels it hitting the ground, and she smells and even tastes the flakes.  It really involves all of her senses.

This was a big hit, and I would definitely do it again.  I saved most of the potato flakes afterwards for another activity (coming soon).  The shower curtain made for easy clean up with the leftovers.  I shook it out in the back yard and the birds came and ate it!

Best part:  I only used half a box for this activity, so it's super cheap!  We can't wait to try this one again!

Ten Awesome Desserts from Pinterest

You can't talk about main dishes without talking about desserts!  Here are ten of my favorite desserts from Pinterest.  Links to the original websites are in the titles, and just like last time, this post was really boring with no pictures, so I used the ones from my sources.  THESE ARE NOT MY PICTURES.  I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR THEIR AWESOMENESS.

Chocolate Lasagna



I have to admit, I didn't actually make this.  I went to a friend's house for dinner, and she made it, which ended up being awesome because if I had made it, I would have eaten half the pan that night after everyone had left.  As it was, I had one helping and then physically restrained myself from asking for seconds!  It's that good!  Not at all good for you, but holy cow it's amazing!

Oreo Bowl of Goodness



(This just links to a Pin.  There's no original site.  The recipe is on the pin, though.)

There are several versions of this recipe on Pinterest, and I'm pretty sure I've tried most of them.  This was my favorite.  It's layers of crushed Oreos and a mixture of cream cheese, powdered sugar, instant pudding, and other amazingness.  Just make sure you make it when you have company coming over.  You don't want to be left alone with this one.

Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies



These cookies are intense.  Of course they're delicious, but they're also gluten-free, for those who are interested in such things.  They are basically a meringue base, which I thought was really interesting.  If you like dark chocolate, these will make you cry.

Chocolate Surprise Cookies



These take forever to make, but they are worth it for a special occasion.  The reason they take so long is that you have to make the cookie and the filling and roll them both out, so you're basically doubling your time.  They're not hard though, and they make you look really awesome.  The first time I made them, my MIL said, "These would be great for my birthday, hint hint!"

Almond Poppy Seed Bread



This was delicious.  The perfect dessert bread that is sweet, but not a cake.  I love almond flavoring in general, though, so I may be a little biased.

Lazy Cake Cookies



This is a great one to have available for last minute guests or last minute cravings.  You use a box cake mix to make cookies.  There are like, three ingredients.  (I personally think they're better with M&M's instead of chocolate chips.)  It's so easy, and they do really taste great!

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffin



(The original link I used for this is broken now.  This links to the same recipe, but a different site.)  These are made with Greek yogurt and applesauce, so they aren't as bad for you as they seem...well, ok, they aren't as bad for you as they could be.  It says to use Splenda, but I don't do artificial sweeteners, so I just used sugar.  They're really more like brownies than muffins, and in fact, I might try making them in a brownie pan next time.  They didn't rise as much as the picture suggests.  I would also like to try substituting honey for the sugar if I made them again.

Saltine Toffee Cookies



This is a classic easy recipe that everyone loves.  It's just a layer of Saltine crackers, a layer of butter and sugar, and a layer of chocolate.  Give most of it away, though, because it's highly addictive!

No Bake Cookies



I had a friend in college who made these all the time.  She called them "Preacher Cookies." I have another friend who calls them "Cow Patties."  Whatever you call them, they are delicious and easy to make.  They have oatmeal, cocoa, butter, and that's all you should need to convince you they're awesome.

Oreo Fluff Dip



Can you tell I love Oreos?  This was a big hit.  Serve it with Graham crackers or animal crackers or just eat it with a spoon when no one is watching.


Let me know if you try any of these!  I'm trying to eat less sugar lately, and writing this post has made me crave all the things!  Nooo!

How to Be Awesome at Making Bug Spray

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Bugs are my least favorite thing about summer.

Well, that and excessive heat.

Ok, and humidity.

Summer is not my favorite season.

Anyway, bugs are on my list of top ten worst things about summer.

Previously, I have just solved this problem by covering myself in whatever bug spray has the most DEET.  Mosquitoes, ants, and people with weak constitution start dropping when they got within five feet!  Awesome!

However, being afraid that my baby would also not be able to get within five feet of me, and definitely not wanting to use such harsh methods on her, I have been scouring the Interwebs for a different approach.

I found several, actually dozens, of websites that had "recipes" for home made bug spray, but what I have learned is this:  there is no perfect recipe.  It's all about finding some essential oils that are known bug repellents and mixing them with a carrier oil or other carrier medium since you aren't supposed to put most essential oils directly on your skin.

There are TONS of websites that can help you figure out which essential oils to use.  Some of the most popular bug repellents are:

Tea Tree
Rosemary
Catnip
Citronella
Eucalyptus
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Thyme
Lavender
Clove
Cedar

There are more, but that gives you some to go with.

If you are new to essential oils, here's a set that has several you could use for insect repellent:

Here's one blend that has a bunch of bug repellent oils in it:

Ok, back to making bug spray.  Interestingly, I recently learned that catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET and lasts much longer than citronella.   I also know for a fact that rosemary is effective against bugs because it is the one plant in my garden that NEVER has a single bug on it.  Whenever I pick herbs, the basil plants always have tons of bugs, and the rosemary is completely clean.  It's weird.

I already had some tea tree oil, eucalyptus, and lavender, so I went to the health food store to get a few more.  They only had catnip in like, distilled form instead of essential oil, but I figured it would be ok for what I'm using it for.  They were also out of citronella, which is a bummer, but not really surprising for summertime.

I also got some almond oil to use as a carrier oil.  I ended up using eucalyptus, tea tree, catnip, and rosemary.  (Oh, and my essential oils aren't fancy expensive brands.  They are whatever is at the store.)

I was unsure how much of each oil to use, so I went with 10 drops of tea tree and eucalyptus and 20 drops of catnip and rosemary.

The first time I tried to make this, I also used some apple cider vinegar, based on what one blog recommended, but I hated it instantly.  Every time I used the bug spray, I smelled like pickles the rest of the day, which is gross.  Also, I think the bugs liked the vinegar, because I spilled some, and the ants swarmed it by the next day.  Not a good sign.

I  made another batch without the vinegar, and it's much nicer.  I will say, the oil as a carrier means you are going to be kind of greasy.  I saw another blog that used witch hazel as a carrier, and I think next time I will try that.  It's good for your skin anyway, and it would be a finer mist in the spray bottle.

Of course, any time you are using essential oils, you should be careful to keep them out of reach of children and don't use them if you're pregnant because some can induce labor.

I was still skeptical of my bug spray though, and honestly, I didn't use it much for about a month.  Then, one evening recently, we were sitting outside while Cricket was playing in the baby pool.

We do baby pools right!

We were all just getting eaten up by mosquitoes!  I killed several on her and at least four on my legs.  Then I remembered I had bug spray, so I thought I would try it.  I put some on my legs, Brian's feet, and the back of Cricket's neck, and from that point on, none of us got a single bite.  Wow!  I guess it works!

What about you?  Have you made your own bug spray?  Let me know which combinations of oils you try and how they work!