It's a zoo out there/in here/everywhere.....

Today was my kindergartners first school field trip to the zoo via the yellow school bus and it was AWESOME.  I am truly blessed to be able to participate in the daily lives and activities of children and I thank God every day for it.

Although, I loved the zoo...going to the zoo left my house looking like a zoo....LOL.  Oh well, it was definitely worth it.....Enjoy the pics!!!!

The zoo I left to go to another zoo with my daughter

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A Special Monday

I have a blog entry all ready to be posted but instead I just want to acknowledge someone very special to me.  Today is my husband's 38th birthday.  We have known of each other for 20 years, been together for 27 years, been married for 9 years and shared children for 7 years.  I just want to post a big

to my Doc.

Are you celebrating a special day today or very soon?

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Take time Tuesday......Give Thanks!

Although Thanksgiving is only 5 weeks away I need to give thanks now.  I realized that when things are going well I tend to forget to thank God for all of his blessings.  Before my family moved to Maryland I prayed everyday that everything would work out according to HIS plan.  I wanted to move to Maryland to be closer to home and my parents, better schools for my kids and a great job opportunity for my husband and it all came to light.  A few weeks after our move I stopped getting up to read my daily word,  I prayed a little less and my relationship with God was not as it was.

Today, I will take time to reestablish the line of communication between myself and  MY GOD.

What will you take time to do today?

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A small successful project

Happy Monday!  Sorry for my absence but the  move, new house, new school and everything that goes  with it got the best of me.  We've been updating our house and I will show you the results one space at a time (when they are picture ready).  For now (drum roll please), I will share my mini drop space I created for the kids.

Currently, I don't have the space for my dream multi-functional space........I would call it..."THE MOM CAVE."  It's a mudroom, laundry room, craft room, kid's homework/craft space.....It's what "we" Mom's do!!!!

The layout of the above room is perfect.  But of course to make it mine I would change:

1.  The color.  Pink, and/or Fuchsia screams "I am Mom hear me roar"

2.  Add a little more personalization

Unfortunately, my space is limited but not my creativity and drive for a more organized space.  I decided to create a space that would help decrease the clutter that piles up in the kitchen and on the floor when the kids come home from school.

Not the multi-functioanl mudroom I always dreamed of but.....when served lemons, make lemonade.  This closet make over has solved all of my problems by creating an area where the kids can drop all of their school stuff......

"There's a place for everything and everything has it's place"

This closet make over cost $42.21

Materials used:

2x4x8 White true bead panel  $19.97 (cut to size at Home Depot)

4 oz liquid nails  $2.78

4 oz white caulk $3.74

3 robe hooks  $9.84

5X8  x 2-1/4 MDF casing @.84/foot  $5.88

Leftover paint from previous projects

Nail gun (I borrowed)

Letters from Joann's leftover from previous projects

Other items purchased that can be used in other projects:

12" Mitre Box/Saw $7.97

I hope this post inspires you to get organizing no matter how BIG or small the project is.  

What small project are you working on?

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Take time Tuesday.....No more hurrying

As my alarm goes off at 5:15am I am up and running trying to accomplish all that I have listed on my list today.  I get up early to try and get a few hours n before the kids wake up and "run it all."  I wash the dishes, prepare my husbands breakfast, prepare the kids lunch ( should've been done last night but I was up until midnight working on our family finances), line up their clothing, check all school papers.....and the list goes on.  2013 is the year of the task accomplisher and with that comes time schedules and deadlines.  When I read and article on the Huffington post the other day I immediately identified with the author.  I realized that I too say hurry up more often than "I love you"or "take your time".  I realized after reading the article entitled  "The Day I stopped saying 'Hurry Up'" that I too needed to stop hurrying life along.  In this article, the author realized that by trying to keep to a schedule she was constantly hurrying her children through life and not allowing them to literally and physically smell the roses.  On a daily basis we watch the clock with anticipation of it turning 8pm...bedtime, 9am time for school but we rarely look the clock with thoughts of spending more precious time with our little loved ones.  So, today and every other day I will take the time out to consciously not say hurry up and to ensure my children are able to take in and enjoy every moment of their childhood life........with camera always in tote...LOL

Disclaimer:  I was not an english major......Enjoy!!!!

What will you take time out and do today?  Will you make the time to stop and smell the roses with a loved one?  I know I will!!!!!!

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First Day of School success

I am officially the parent of two school aged kids.  My son is entering 2nd grade and my daughter is entering Kindergarten.  Although my son has been in school since Pre-K it is different feel as he is no longer in private school but will be a part of the public school system.  I am a little nervous and excited to see what the school year brings.

Although a lot of children in the neighborhood ride the school bus I am not ready for that yet and since I am privileged to stay home with  my children I will make sure the time in the car is well spent (although we are a mere 5 minutes away) by turning off the radio and having an open dialogue with them to and from school.

Nevertheless, all of my preparation for the first day of school was not in vain.......now I can spend a little more time with my 1 year old and dedicate a little more time to some DIY projects, health and fitness and of course this BLOG!!!!!!

First day of school interviews.

Gifts for their homeroom teachers...of course I forgot to take a picture but I got the great idea from Cassie at Hi Sugarplum

and pictures to create, preserve and forever cherish.......

Yes, Brookey was upset that her sister and brother were leaving her behind.  Above all, she wanted to get out and put on her book bag.

Of course I had to go into the school and make sure they made safely.

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Back to school weekend

Summer is almost over, our late bedtime routine and extra television (kindle, Xbox 360 and playstation) time,  must come to an end.  There are two points of views on this situation:

The kiddios are thinking:

The Mothers/Parents are thinking:

Either way you look at it you must be organized and prepared to have a successful first day as well as a great school year.

My first post about preparing the kids for school was a little more detailed as there was more time to get things done.  If everything has not been accomplished (like me) make sure you still have time to get the most important things accomplished.....

1  Bedtime routine:  Kids need a minimum of 10 hours each night (adolescents at least 9 hours).  Make sure you get them to bed at reasonable time tonight and tomorrow.  Don't forget.....read them a few books, talk them about their day and give them a big kiss and hug goodnight.  Here is a great article about establishing a bedtime routine prior to the start of school.

2.  School supplies:  If you have not already purchased your child's school supplies most schools have them listed on the internet and Walmart is open 24 hours.  Make sure you make a Walmart run Monday morning.

3.  Plan your meals for the week:  Try to stock your house with all the ingredients needed for the weeks meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack).  Stock up on food essentials at Walmart when you make your school supply run.  You can get some great ideas for home and school menus over at organizing home life blog.

Great school lunch ideas:

.....and make sure you put a little love note in their lunch box to chill the first day jitter and let them know how much you love them over at the country chic cottage

Great menu planning for home:
Take a look at i heart organizing blog for some great ideas on planning your meals for upcoming meals.

4.  Printout out first day questionnaire and sign for pictures.
I found a lovely questionnaire over at positively splendid

and some great signs and other ideas over at mama to go

5.  If you have time get the teacher a gift for the first day of school.  There are some great ideas over at
i heart naptime

If there are still more things you think will make your school days and night flow better make note of them and try to accomplish them over the next few weeks.  In the meantime create temporary/similar situations with your ideal set up in mind.  Being that I just moved in a little over a month ago I am in this category as I am not only preparing my kids for the first day of school but I am in the midst of repainting and decorating the house we just purchased so that it will feel more like our home.

1.  Temporary command/drop station station.

I always wanted a mudroom but unfortunately I didn't snag one with this home.  Therefore I am going to create a command station near my eat-in kitchen as well as a mini mudroom in a closet.
Here is my temporary drop station:

My inspiration:

2.  Semi organized pantry and refrigerator for lunch and snacks

Here is what I am working with/my temporary situation:

My inspiration from.  Check out blooming homestead for some great ideas.

I hope this post was of some help to you.  What have you done to get yourself and kids ready for the first day of school

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