While I have come to view New Year's Resolutions with slight distain, I can't help but think about changes that need to be made and a renewed sense of purpose as the year comes to a close and a new year approaches. In my head, resolutions are easily broken, too "set in stone." It's either do it or don't, with no gray area in between. However, I do recognize changes that need to be made, especially since the chaos of the holiday season usually throws many good habits to the wayside in our home.
When I set a goal or purpose to do something, I tend to pursue it full hilt, until I crash and burn. With the list of changes I want to make floating around in my head, it seems as if that may be the case again, so I want to make sure and do this right. No pressure. :)
One of my goals for the upcoming year (although certainly not the first priority!) is to blog more regularly. So with that, I intend to blog each of my goals in detail over the coming weeks. Not only will that give me writing material, it will also help me really work out these goals in my mind, solidifying a good plan to actually carry them out and see them through to accomplishment.
So, for this, my first post in this "series," I really want to get a general idea of what I (and my family) want to accomplish this year. Most of my goals have to do with habits.
1. Godly/Bible habits
2. Wifely habits
3. Mommy habits/schooling habits
4. Eating habits
5. Exercise habits/health goals
6. Internet habits
7. TV habits
8. Clutter-collecting habits
9. Cleaning/homekeeping habits
10. Having fun habits :)
So, right there, it looks like I have ten posts coming up. ;) But, as someone who really doesn't like most things being absolutely resolute, they will be written as I have time. And who knows, I may decide to do a few sub-posts on one habit, while skimming over another. LOL! But, it will be mine, and it will come from my heart, with guidance from the Lord.
Today, I have my son's birthday party to get ready for tomorrow (which is also my birthday, although his was earlier this week). So, I will be busy with preparations for that as I hope for the family to be able to relax later. :) So, I wish you all a wonderful and blessed New Year's!
Lisa's Homemaking Corner
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Restructuring the family routine, and a few new rules
It all started with sewing patches. My oldest son is in his first year of the Boy Scouts, so I found myself sewing a lot of patches onto his new shirt a few days ago. I'm a pretty amateur sewer on the machine, but especially with hand stitching. I definitely improved my skills and patience, though! :) Hubby and I were talking about improving my sewing capabilities, and he said he was thinking of getting me a new sewing machine. The machine I have now was his grandmother's, who passed away before he and I met. She got it in the 60's, I believe. When I first got it, I couldn't get it to sew without breaking thread, so he took it in for a tune-up, after which it worked pretty well. That was about 3 years ago. Shortly after we moved into this house, not quite 2 years ago, it started acting up again and I haven't been able to use it. I've been wanting to get it in for another tune-up, but hubby said with what it costs for a tune-up every year or two, we'd be better off getting a new one.
That long story to say, I knew the first thing I wanted to make once I get my new machine and get a little more proficient at sewing: a cover for the TV. We have a LCD mounted on our living room wall, and I'm thinking something with elastic around the edge, kind of like those plastic wrap bowl covers that you just slip over the top. But bigger and made of fabric. And for the TV. :) We had gotten in the habit of having the TV on A LOT lately...even if we weren't watching, it was background. The day after my TV cover idea, hubby came to me and said he wants the TV off from now on. The only time we will have it on is as a treat or for special occasions, like football. ;) Hubby and I do have kind of a nightly "date" thing going where we watch an episode or two of CSI: NY on the blue-ray player before we go to bed, but it's always after the kids are all in bed and sleeping. Yesterday was our first full day with no TV, and it didn't go quite as bad as I thought. In fact, I swear the kids were in a better mood. We're doing more fun things now, like playing board games or Go Fish, or reading together. And doing more not-so-fun things, but things that really need to get done, like getting the house clean and organized, and thinking about getting ready for the upcoming holidays (okay, that last part is fun, at least for me!).
Another bad habit we had gotten ourselves into (and I think this one just naturally goes with having the TV on all the time) is not eating at the dinner table. So, we re-instituted that rule yesterday as well. And it has been nothing but wonderful. :) I really thought there would be protesting about this one, but the kids were actually excited. And we're not just doing dinner, or just when Daddy's home. EVERY meal is eaten together at the table. I can't even describe to you what a wonderful time of fellowship and bonding this has been for us as a family already. Not to mention, eating meals at the table forces me to make sure that I have meals planned out. Yikes, I have let myself slip into these bad habits around the house lately, and meal planning (or lack thereof) has probably been the most disastrous. It becomes too much of a free-for-all and it's too costly!
It's only been a day, but I am absolutely loving the changes that are already taking place because of these new "rules." I'm already thinking about other things I can do to minister to my family and make this a more joyful household. The next thing to work on is definitely my computer time. I'm not constantly on the computer, but it's always ON (with the internet always up), and so easy to slip on for "just a few minutes." It doesn't help that the chair at the computer desk has sort of become "my chair," either. Even if I'm not on the computer, it's where I gravitate to when we're relaxing, or when I'm knitting, or reading, etc. So, of course, that makes it even easier to slip on and see what's going on around the internet world. So, I'm trying to change that. I'm not there yet, but my goal is to have the computer logged off the internet and on sleep mode unless it's nap time or the kids are sleeping for the night. Or, unless I need a recipe or something else pertinent that I need to look up while we're homeschooling. The good thing is, is that when I AM on the computer, my time will be more focused and purposeful (such as planned blog posts, as I've been wanting to do!), as opposed to the "mindless wandering" I sometimes do.
I'm really excited about these changes, and, as always, I can't wait to see the plans that the Lord has for my family!
That long story to say, I knew the first thing I wanted to make once I get my new machine and get a little more proficient at sewing: a cover for the TV. We have a LCD mounted on our living room wall, and I'm thinking something with elastic around the edge, kind of like those plastic wrap bowl covers that you just slip over the top. But bigger and made of fabric. And for the TV. :) We had gotten in the habit of having the TV on A LOT lately...even if we weren't watching, it was background. The day after my TV cover idea, hubby came to me and said he wants the TV off from now on. The only time we will have it on is as a treat or for special occasions, like football. ;) Hubby and I do have kind of a nightly "date" thing going where we watch an episode or two of CSI: NY on the blue-ray player before we go to bed, but it's always after the kids are all in bed and sleeping. Yesterday was our first full day with no TV, and it didn't go quite as bad as I thought. In fact, I swear the kids were in a better mood. We're doing more fun things now, like playing board games or Go Fish, or reading together. And doing more not-so-fun things, but things that really need to get done, like getting the house clean and organized, and thinking about getting ready for the upcoming holidays (okay, that last part is fun, at least for me!).
Another bad habit we had gotten ourselves into (and I think this one just naturally goes with having the TV on all the time) is not eating at the dinner table. So, we re-instituted that rule yesterday as well. And it has been nothing but wonderful. :) I really thought there would be protesting about this one, but the kids were actually excited. And we're not just doing dinner, or just when Daddy's home. EVERY meal is eaten together at the table. I can't even describe to you what a wonderful time of fellowship and bonding this has been for us as a family already. Not to mention, eating meals at the table forces me to make sure that I have meals planned out. Yikes, I have let myself slip into these bad habits around the house lately, and meal planning (or lack thereof) has probably been the most disastrous. It becomes too much of a free-for-all and it's too costly!
It's only been a day, but I am absolutely loving the changes that are already taking place because of these new "rules." I'm already thinking about other things I can do to minister to my family and make this a more joyful household. The next thing to work on is definitely my computer time. I'm not constantly on the computer, but it's always ON (with the internet always up), and so easy to slip on for "just a few minutes." It doesn't help that the chair at the computer desk has sort of become "my chair," either. Even if I'm not on the computer, it's where I gravitate to when we're relaxing, or when I'm knitting, or reading, etc. So, of course, that makes it even easier to slip on and see what's going on around the internet world. So, I'm trying to change that. I'm not there yet, but my goal is to have the computer logged off the internet and on sleep mode unless it's nap time or the kids are sleeping for the night. Or, unless I need a recipe or something else pertinent that I need to look up while we're homeschooling. The good thing is, is that when I AM on the computer, my time will be more focused and purposeful (such as planned blog posts, as I've been wanting to do!), as opposed to the "mindless wandering" I sometimes do.
I'm really excited about these changes, and, as always, I can't wait to see the plans that the Lord has for my family!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Frugal Friday: Books Revisited
I am a lover of books. Anyone who knows me well knows this. In my precious free-time, I can usually be found with my nose in a book...sometimes I can be found with my nose in a book when I technically shouldn't be having free time, but that's another story. :) Lately, I've been noticing that I've passed on my love of books to my kids, and I love that! While I have been making frequent use of our local library--especially now that school is in full swing with my older two sons--I've been working on building our own library here at home, full of living books and classical literature. And all at practically no cost to me.
How do I do this, you ask? There are a couple of ways. First, I registered for free at Paperback Swap (if you sign up, please use living4him2007 as your referrer!). Upon signing up and posting 10 books, you get 2 free credits. Each credit is good toward any book, or audio books cost 2 credits. Then, when someone orders one of your books, you pay postage to send it to them. When they receive the book, you get a credit. Obviously when you order a book, the sender will pay the postage and you get it for free. I have gotten quite a few books this way, and they come in very good condition. I'm always on the lookout for free books or really cheaply priced books at garage sales, just so I can post them on Paperback Swap and keep my list fresh and keep my credits coming in.
Another way I get free books only costs me in time, and little at that. I am registered at Swagbucks, and that is also a free registration. Now, having been a member of quite a few "points" programs online, I have gotten very wary of these types of programs. But, Swagbucks is completely legit! All you do is use their search (as opposed to Google or yahoo). Each search you do has a potential for getting Swagbucks. That doesn't mean you will get Swagbucks every time you search--you won't! But, if you like researching things like me, you can earn quite a few Swagbucks in a day. Each search gives you the potential to earn up to 50 Swagbucks (realistically from my own experience, when you do get Swagbucks, it will be anywhere from 6-10 at a time), and Fridays are mega Swagbuck days, so then, the max you can earn per search goes up to 1000! I haven't gotten that one yet, but I try! :) Plus, when you refer your friends to use Swagbucks, they will match what ever Swagbucks THEY get to YOUR account for their first 48 hours of being registered. Take a look through the Swag Store and see what kind of things you can buy with your Swagbucks. I always go for the $5 Amazon gift cards, which cost 450 Swagbucks each. I have redeemed 6 of those in the past 3 months, and have been chipping away at my extensive Amazon wishlist with them. I have my Swagbucks almost down to a science now...I just got a book in the mail that I ordered with a $5 gift card I earned, while I'm waiting for the last gift card I snagged to be credited to my account (it usually takes 5-7 days), AND I'm almost ready to snag another.
With just these two programs alone, I have a pretty steady stream of free books coming in the mail. And, the kids love it, because most of the books are for them. :)
One more way that I could earn more Amazon gift cards is through my Amazon Associates program. There are 3 ways to get your commission: by check in the mail, by direct deposit, or by Amazon gift cards. Right now, I have it set to gift cards, just because I don't want to wait to get $100 and pay the processing fee required for a check, and I haven't set up direct deposit yet, but I will eventually.
So there you have it. If you love books and would love to build up a collection, but don't have the money, there are ways to do it very cheaply or even free. It takes a little more time and patience, but--at least to me, anyway--it's worth it!
How do I do this, you ask? There are a couple of ways. First, I registered for free at Paperback Swap (if you sign up, please use living4him2007 as your referrer!). Upon signing up and posting 10 books, you get 2 free credits. Each credit is good toward any book, or audio books cost 2 credits. Then, when someone orders one of your books, you pay postage to send it to them. When they receive the book, you get a credit. Obviously when you order a book, the sender will pay the postage and you get it for free. I have gotten quite a few books this way, and they come in very good condition. I'm always on the lookout for free books or really cheaply priced books at garage sales, just so I can post them on Paperback Swap and keep my list fresh and keep my credits coming in.
Another way I get free books only costs me in time, and little at that. I am registered at Swagbucks, and that is also a free registration. Now, having been a member of quite a few "points" programs online, I have gotten very wary of these types of programs. But, Swagbucks is completely legit! All you do is use their search (as opposed to Google or yahoo). Each search you do has a potential for getting Swagbucks. That doesn't mean you will get Swagbucks every time you search--you won't! But, if you like researching things like me, you can earn quite a few Swagbucks in a day. Each search gives you the potential to earn up to 50 Swagbucks (realistically from my own experience, when you do get Swagbucks, it will be anywhere from 6-10 at a time), and Fridays are mega Swagbuck days, so then, the max you can earn per search goes up to 1000! I haven't gotten that one yet, but I try! :) Plus, when you refer your friends to use Swagbucks, they will match what ever Swagbucks THEY get to YOUR account for their first 48 hours of being registered. Take a look through the Swag Store and see what kind of things you can buy with your Swagbucks. I always go for the $5 Amazon gift cards, which cost 450 Swagbucks each. I have redeemed 6 of those in the past 3 months, and have been chipping away at my extensive Amazon wishlist with them. I have my Swagbucks almost down to a science now...I just got a book in the mail that I ordered with a $5 gift card I earned, while I'm waiting for the last gift card I snagged to be credited to my account (it usually takes 5-7 days), AND I'm almost ready to snag another.
With just these two programs alone, I have a pretty steady stream of free books coming in the mail. And, the kids love it, because most of the books are for them. :)
One more way that I could earn more Amazon gift cards is through my Amazon Associates program. There are 3 ways to get your commission: by check in the mail, by direct deposit, or by Amazon gift cards. Right now, I have it set to gift cards, just because I don't want to wait to get $100 and pay the processing fee required for a check, and I haven't set up direct deposit yet, but I will eventually.
So there you have it. If you love books and would love to build up a collection, but don't have the money, there are ways to do it very cheaply or even free. It takes a little more time and patience, but--at least to me, anyway--it's worth it!
Monday, August 30, 2010
A new school year begins
Today was the first day of kindergarten for my middle son. He is so excited to finally be doing his own school! The curriculum we use for all the boys is from My Father's World, and if you click here, you can see their K curriculum. It is wonderful!
Today, we are starting off a two-week introduction by focusing on the seven days of creation. We started a creation poster and a creation book, after reading about the first day of creation. I will post pictures when they're complete. We also sang the alphabet song and I reviewed letter recognition with him...he already knows a lot of them! We finished our day by learning the hymn, "My Father's World." It was a pretty short school day...I think it only took us 20 minutes! But, it's a good introduction to school for him, and once the first two weeks are done, we will take about an hour to an hour-and-a-half, and it will be a little more intense.
My oldest is still plugging away at fourth grade, which is great! At his age, he's almost a year ahead, and we have taken our time with this year, as it is our first big year of history. I'm hoping he'll be done before Christmas, then we can move on to fifth grade after a short break after the New Year.
That's all on the homeschool front for now. We are down to one car, which I have for the day since we dropped hubby off at work this morning...therefore, it's errand day. ;) All that to say, I better sign off for now and get some things done!
Today, we are starting off a two-week introduction by focusing on the seven days of creation. We started a creation poster and a creation book, after reading about the first day of creation. I will post pictures when they're complete. We also sang the alphabet song and I reviewed letter recognition with him...he already knows a lot of them! We finished our day by learning the hymn, "My Father's World." It was a pretty short school day...I think it only took us 20 minutes! But, it's a good introduction to school for him, and once the first two weeks are done, we will take about an hour to an hour-and-a-half, and it will be a little more intense.
My oldest is still plugging away at fourth grade, which is great! At his age, he's almost a year ahead, and we have taken our time with this year, as it is our first big year of history. I'm hoping he'll be done before Christmas, then we can move on to fifth grade after a short break after the New Year.
That's all on the homeschool front for now. We are down to one car, which I have for the day since we dropped hubby off at work this morning...therefore, it's errand day. ;) All that to say, I better sign off for now and get some things done!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
A Productive Day
Today turned out to be wonderful! I pray the momentum keeps going. I started today by getting my workout in before I even ate breakfast. Now, I have to put in a bit of a plug here, because I absolutely LOVE Leslie Sansone's walking videos! I remember getting her "Walk Away the Pounds" videos years ago. The workouts are simple, yet they really are effective. And she always includes levels of intensity from the novice to the veteran walker. Here is the dvd I popped in today:
Don't be intimidated by the 5 miles! She always includes "mile markers" so that you can do however many miles you want. If you're a first-time walker, she even encourages you to try just 5 minutes. Work your way up to that first mile if you have to. If you keep it up, you'll find yourself motivated to keep doing a little more, and before you know it, you've got a five-mile walk under your belt (and most likely a little less cush!). I was able to do the whole 5 miles today, and I'll tell you what, it felt pretty good to not only have accomplished that, but also to have it out of the way right away in the morning!
Another major accomplishment today is that I kept my eating under control. I have not eaten any dairy (which is a given, I won't touch it anymore after I got sick last time!), gluten, or legume products. Some days, it's a struggle to stay away from all three...I'm not sure why, since it's a lot simpler to cook without them! Meat/protein, veggies, and fruit for meals is all I really need to have. I didn't get advanced menus planned, but I started out today knowing what we would be having for all three meals, so I consider that a start! Here's what we had today:
Breakfast: Fried eggs (cooked with olive oil) on gluten-free English muffins and topped with organic gluten-free ketchup
Lunch: Cashew butter sandwiches on gluten-free bread and grapes
Dinner: Mesquite chicken breasts and corn, and coconut milk ice cream for dessert
I also got some errands run and did some homeschool with my oldest son. I'm starting Kindergarten with my middle son on Monday, and we are both very excited! This weekend, I will be going through our curriculum and making sure we have everything we need. :)
We finished our day with a walk around our neighborhood. I am very proud of my boys as they were very good all day today! The Lord has truly blessed us immensely, and I am so thankful to Him for this life He has given me!
Don't be intimidated by the 5 miles! She always includes "mile markers" so that you can do however many miles you want. If you're a first-time walker, she even encourages you to try just 5 minutes. Work your way up to that first mile if you have to. If you keep it up, you'll find yourself motivated to keep doing a little more, and before you know it, you've got a five-mile walk under your belt (and most likely a little less cush!). I was able to do the whole 5 miles today, and I'll tell you what, it felt pretty good to not only have accomplished that, but also to have it out of the way right away in the morning!
Another major accomplishment today is that I kept my eating under control. I have not eaten any dairy (which is a given, I won't touch it anymore after I got sick last time!), gluten, or legume products. Some days, it's a struggle to stay away from all three...I'm not sure why, since it's a lot simpler to cook without them! Meat/protein, veggies, and fruit for meals is all I really need to have. I didn't get advanced menus planned, but I started out today knowing what we would be having for all three meals, so I consider that a start! Here's what we had today:
Breakfast: Fried eggs (cooked with olive oil) on gluten-free English muffins and topped with organic gluten-free ketchup
Lunch: Cashew butter sandwiches on gluten-free bread and grapes
Dinner: Mesquite chicken breasts and corn, and coconut milk ice cream for dessert
I also got some errands run and did some homeschool with my oldest son. I'm starting Kindergarten with my middle son on Monday, and we are both very excited! This weekend, I will be going through our curriculum and making sure we have everything we need. :)
We finished our day with a walk around our neighborhood. I am very proud of my boys as they were very good all day today! The Lord has truly blessed us immensely, and I am so thankful to Him for this life He has given me!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Getting back in shape!
Even with year-round homeschooling, a lot of the structure I had previously established has fallen to the wayside in these late summer months. And I am definitely beginning to feel the effects. So, in the next few days, I will be working on getting back into shape, and I'm not just talking physically. Three main things I want to focus on getting into shape are myself (both spiritually and physically), my family, and my home.
I had a good thing going with weight-loss, but that has come to a standstill as of late, and I fear that if I don't get active regularly again very soon, things may take a turn in a direction I'm not willing to go again. I am really feeling the effects of my lack of activity lately, and I know I need to make being active a top priority right now. Because if I'm not feeling good physically, it will do me no good to attempt the other things I want to do. So first and foremost, I will be working on stricter menu plans that are healthy for myself and my family. Coming in an extremely close second, will be making sure I have time carved out every day for getting a workout in, as well as making sure I get the kids out for a daily walk as long as it's nice outside.
The other aspect of getting myself into shape (and the most important one!) is making sure I am in the Word every day. I finished reading through the bible a couple of weeks ago, and have decided to start a chronological bible reading plan this go around that I found here. I've been reading every night before I turn in, so that aspect has been going well. Now, I just want to make sure that I'm reading daily, and then I will hopefully be able to increase the time I spend doing that. The one thing that I'm really working on is LISTENING, and not just reading. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I get so caught up in reading a certain amount every day, that I forget to really absorb what God is trying to say to me. So I am really praying that the Lord will give me a calm and peaceful heart, and a quiet mind, so that I can hear Him. :)
As for getting the family into shape, I have a wonderful relationship with my husband...but I really want to make sure I'm reinforcing that, and I plan to pick up the Proverbs 31 study again very soon. I have a pretty good relationship with my kids, too, but I am really working on my patience (or more like, God is working on it!) and having a meek and quiet spirit. I really need to learn to "stop and smell the roses," so to speak...to just slow down and enjoy the time God has given me with these precious blessings, and teach them to enjoy and serve each other, as well!
As far as the house goes, I'm really split on how high up on the priority list I want to put it. Right now, because of the de-cluttering and the fact that our yard sale has gotten postponed until a couple of weeks from now, certain areas of the house are a disaster. The laundry room has become our "holding area" for yard sale things, and it's really decreased the functionality of that room. This is one of those areas that comes around full circle back to working on me, because I really have a hard time functioning with a lot of clutter around. So, I think I will pray that God will either help me to let go of that mental block or give me the energy to get it done without taking time away from the other priorities. ;)
This post was basically me thinking and planning "out loud." I also am hoping to put together a list of blog topics and blogging schedule soon, so that I have a more regular stream of posts here. So, stay tuned and join me on my journey to get back into shape!
I had a good thing going with weight-loss, but that has come to a standstill as of late, and I fear that if I don't get active regularly again very soon, things may take a turn in a direction I'm not willing to go again. I am really feeling the effects of my lack of activity lately, and I know I need to make being active a top priority right now. Because if I'm not feeling good physically, it will do me no good to attempt the other things I want to do. So first and foremost, I will be working on stricter menu plans that are healthy for myself and my family. Coming in an extremely close second, will be making sure I have time carved out every day for getting a workout in, as well as making sure I get the kids out for a daily walk as long as it's nice outside.
The other aspect of getting myself into shape (and the most important one!) is making sure I am in the Word every day. I finished reading through the bible a couple of weeks ago, and have decided to start a chronological bible reading plan this go around that I found here. I've been reading every night before I turn in, so that aspect has been going well. Now, I just want to make sure that I'm reading daily, and then I will hopefully be able to increase the time I spend doing that. The one thing that I'm really working on is LISTENING, and not just reading. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I get so caught up in reading a certain amount every day, that I forget to really absorb what God is trying to say to me. So I am really praying that the Lord will give me a calm and peaceful heart, and a quiet mind, so that I can hear Him. :)
As for getting the family into shape, I have a wonderful relationship with my husband...but I really want to make sure I'm reinforcing that, and I plan to pick up the Proverbs 31 study again very soon. I have a pretty good relationship with my kids, too, but I am really working on my patience (or more like, God is working on it!) and having a meek and quiet spirit. I really need to learn to "stop and smell the roses," so to speak...to just slow down and enjoy the time God has given me with these precious blessings, and teach them to enjoy and serve each other, as well!
As far as the house goes, I'm really split on how high up on the priority list I want to put it. Right now, because of the de-cluttering and the fact that our yard sale has gotten postponed until a couple of weeks from now, certain areas of the house are a disaster. The laundry room has become our "holding area" for yard sale things, and it's really decreased the functionality of that room. This is one of those areas that comes around full circle back to working on me, because I really have a hard time functioning with a lot of clutter around. So, I think I will pray that God will either help me to let go of that mental block or give me the energy to get it done without taking time away from the other priorities. ;)
This post was basically me thinking and planning "out loud." I also am hoping to put together a list of blog topics and blogging schedule soon, so that I have a more regular stream of posts here. So, stay tuned and join me on my journey to get back into shape!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Get Excited!
Major progress has been made recently in my de-cluttering quest. The gradual process spoken of in my last post was not needed. My hubby got a hankering to de-clutter, and that's when you know it's going to be a DEEP clean. :) Now, it's all fine and good when I de-clutter by myself, but there's only so much I can do, not only physically, but also in the way of WHAT I can get rid of. I know my hubby doesn't appreciate the "Honey, do you want to keep this, or get rid of it?" every 5 minutes, so I don't do it. :) Not to mention, my husband can get done in a day, what usually takes me a week. LOL!
So, yes, I was VERY excited when my hubby told me he wanted to get rid of clutter. And then what happened? The KIDS got excited and wanted to get rid of some of their stuff, too! Yay! :) They did a very good job of going through their toys, and actually got rid of quite a bit, and were very willing to part with what Mom and Dad suggested, too. They were also so nice about passing some things down to their little brother.
We now have some things to list on ebay and craig's list, as well as enough for a yard sale! We love having yard sales, and so do the kids! They get to help out and be outside all day, plus, we let them keep the money on anything of theirs that they sell.
I'm not totally done going through the house yet, but we are planning on having our sale this coming weekend, so I have the rest of the week to finish up. My point is, if you want your kids to get excited about something, YOU need to get excited! It's catchy. :)
So, yes, I was VERY excited when my hubby told me he wanted to get rid of clutter. And then what happened? The KIDS got excited and wanted to get rid of some of their stuff, too! Yay! :) They did a very good job of going through their toys, and actually got rid of quite a bit, and were very willing to part with what Mom and Dad suggested, too. They were also so nice about passing some things down to their little brother.
We now have some things to list on ebay and craig's list, as well as enough for a yard sale! We love having yard sales, and so do the kids! They get to help out and be outside all day, plus, we let them keep the money on anything of theirs that they sell.
I'm not totally done going through the house yet, but we are planning on having our sale this coming weekend, so I have the rest of the week to finish up. My point is, if you want your kids to get excited about something, YOU need to get excited! It's catchy. :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Toddler toys: minimize the clutter to maximize the fun!
I have to sigh as I go through the kids' toys...again. Yikes, there's just too many! Instead of asking, "Okay, what don't they like to play with?" I find myself having to ask instead, "What can I get rid of that they won't care about being gone?" Because inevitably, they "like" to play with practically everything! Each of my kids have their favorites, but are the plethora of toys that get played with once in a blue moon worth keeping? Unless they're special to you or your child (and that's why they don't get played with), I say NO! As a mother to three boys, I think I can say, it's just not worth the stress.
Here are my plans over the next week. Take special note of which toys are out and being played with the most often. I'm going to try and do this in my head ;) although I should probably write this down...you can make the choice for yourself. Gradually, take those toys getting left in the dust and stick them in a 5 gallon bin, somewhere where the kids won't be able to get to them. Just one or two toys (or a handful) here and there. Once it's full, keep it for a couple of weeks.
Now, the kids may notice toys are missing, but it they can't even really remember what's gone, obviously it needs to go. Don't ask them if they want xyz back, because of course you will remind them of what's missing! Just tell them you are going through the toys because they have too many, or something like that. :) If they whine, explain to them that if they can't even remember what's missing, it must not have been very special, and now they can have more fun with their favorite toys. If a child requests a specific thing, tell them you will set it aside, but that you're not welcoming it back quite yet. If they're anything like my oldest, he remembers everything that was there, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's special to him, he's just resisting the change. LOL! If the same child repeats the request a few times, then bring the toy back, but make sure to watch how often they play with it. If after a week, you've seen him barely touch it, point that out to him and ask him if he REALLY enjoys the toy. I may even go so far as to ask if it's fair to the toy to be in our home not being played with, when it can live in another home, where it's enjoyed and played with often. But, really, that's up to you. ;)
Once two weeks have gone by and the bin is still full, get it out of the house. Donate or sell, just don't bring it back to the "keep" collection! Every time a new toy comes in, find one that can leave in it's place. Either that, or plan to do the above session once or twice a year.
Now, I was thinking about what kind of toys to keep, and I am actually kind of picky in this regards. If I can help it, I like to have AS LITTLE TOYS AS POSSIBLE THAT REQUIRE BATTERIES. I mean that with all my heart. All you who are parents, I do not need to explain this one, it's pretty self explanatory. :) I also LOVE good quality wooden toys and puzzles, such as Melissa & Doug products.
Thinking about the toys I like to have around made me want to browse toddler toys, and here, I'll feature a few I think are cool.
My middle son totally wants one of these. I LOVE pillow pets (instant lovey!), and thought it was so cool they had a moose, since my middle son's nickname is Moose. :)
No puzzle pieces to get lost! They're all attached. :)
Especially fun for preschoolers. :) Introduces colors, shapes, and sorting. Okay, seriously, anything Melissa & Doug, I think, would be cool. :D They make really good quality products! Just do a search on Amazon for Melissa & Doug and you will find all kinds of amazing things.
Okay, and this one is TOTALLY ridiculous, but all in fun, you've gotta admit it would be SO fun to be the kid who got to ride in this! LOL! And, it has cup holders, which, as my hubby will tell you, is always a plus for me. ;)
Here are my plans over the next week. Take special note of which toys are out and being played with the most often. I'm going to try and do this in my head ;) although I should probably write this down...you can make the choice for yourself. Gradually, take those toys getting left in the dust and stick them in a 5 gallon bin, somewhere where the kids won't be able to get to them. Just one or two toys (or a handful) here and there. Once it's full, keep it for a couple of weeks.
Now, the kids may notice toys are missing, but it they can't even really remember what's gone, obviously it needs to go. Don't ask them if they want xyz back, because of course you will remind them of what's missing! Just tell them you are going through the toys because they have too many, or something like that. :) If they whine, explain to them that if they can't even remember what's missing, it must not have been very special, and now they can have more fun with their favorite toys. If a child requests a specific thing, tell them you will set it aside, but that you're not welcoming it back quite yet. If they're anything like my oldest, he remembers everything that was there, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's special to him, he's just resisting the change. LOL! If the same child repeats the request a few times, then bring the toy back, but make sure to watch how often they play with it. If after a week, you've seen him barely touch it, point that out to him and ask him if he REALLY enjoys the toy. I may even go so far as to ask if it's fair to the toy to be in our home not being played with, when it can live in another home, where it's enjoyed and played with often. But, really, that's up to you. ;)
Once two weeks have gone by and the bin is still full, get it out of the house. Donate or sell, just don't bring it back to the "keep" collection! Every time a new toy comes in, find one that can leave in it's place. Either that, or plan to do the above session once or twice a year.
Now, I was thinking about what kind of toys to keep, and I am actually kind of picky in this regards. If I can help it, I like to have AS LITTLE TOYS AS POSSIBLE THAT REQUIRE BATTERIES. I mean that with all my heart. All you who are parents, I do not need to explain this one, it's pretty self explanatory. :) I also LOVE good quality wooden toys and puzzles, such as Melissa & Doug products.
Thinking about the toys I like to have around made me want to browse toddler toys, and here, I'll feature a few I think are cool.
My middle son totally wants one of these. I LOVE pillow pets (instant lovey!), and thought it was so cool they had a moose, since my middle son's nickname is Moose. :)
No puzzle pieces to get lost! They're all attached. :)
Especially fun for preschoolers. :) Introduces colors, shapes, and sorting. Okay, seriously, anything Melissa & Doug, I think, would be cool. :D They make really good quality products! Just do a search on Amazon for Melissa & Doug and you will find all kinds of amazing things.
Okay, and this one is TOTALLY ridiculous, but all in fun, you've gotta admit it would be SO fun to be the kid who got to ride in this! LOL! And, it has cup holders, which, as my hubby will tell you, is always a plus for me. ;)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
A new endeavor
Since I love to blog anyway and share my opinions (and really, who couldn't use a few extra dollars here and there?), I have decided to become an Amazon Associate. Which means occasionally here on my blog, I will be sharing product and book reviews. Those reviews will include a link to the product on amazon.com, where if the link is clicked through and a purchase is made (on anything, not just the original product), I will get a little commission for the sale.
It's really not much (although there's good potential there!), but my dear hubby has been working so hard lately so we can get ALL of our debt paid off, and I figure it's a good thing if I can do what I'm already doing and contribute just a little to the effort. :)
Now, back to regularly scheduled programming...
It's really not much (although there's good potential there!), but my dear hubby has been working so hard lately so we can get ALL of our debt paid off, and I figure it's a good thing if I can do what I'm already doing and contribute just a little to the effort. :)
Now, back to regularly scheduled programming...
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Busy season and life lessons
This is probably our busiest time of the year. Unlike many families, we are plugging away at school...we school year-round so that we can take breaks as needed in addition to our planned breaks. But, we are also squeezing in as much "summer vacation" as we can as well. We are big-time campers, and have been taking advantage of my husband's time off as well as the beautiful weather we've been blessed with lately. We just recently got back from a week-long camping trip up north, and had an absolutely wonderful time.
The chaos that ensued when we got home, however, really showed me how NOT consistent I've gotten lately with the boys. Our first full day back when we got home was pretty rough. So, hubby and I did an evaluation and made sure we got our own hearts back in the right place. This is so very important with kids! If you're having problems with obedience or attitudes, the first thing you should ALWAYS look at is yourself. I will admit from first-hand experience, this is an extremely hard thing to do, but it's an important first step (and believe me when I say, this isn't the first time I've had to do this!). If you really want a piece of humble pie, sincerely pray and ask God to show you where you're going wrong. Okay, even if you don't want that piece of pie, if you want to effectively lead your children, you really need to do a self-evaluation and ask God to show you where you need to change. The humble pie is a side-effect, but I think it's an important one, too. Ask God for forgiveness, and ask Him to line your heart up with His will. This alone will work wonders. Today was a wonderful day, and I feel like not only do I have my boys back, but that I have myself back as well. :) Seriously, today was just amazing, and I just need to say thank you to my Father. He is truly amazing and He is GOOD, all the time!
Another thing that I'm excited about is school. Vincent has been showing so much more excitement about learning lately compared to the past, that it's catchy. :) So, I have decided that whatever books I assign him to read, I am going to read, too. Even though I read a LOT when I was younger, I didn't really read a lot of the classics, and I didn't really read any informational books unless I "had" to for school. So, I'm reading the informational books I assign him for the subjects we are studying, and I will even get "adult" books on those subjects if they really interest me. He is also going through a list of age-appropriate classics as part of his free-time reading, and I am joining him in those, as well. So, don't be surprised if you see a lot of kid books in the sidebar. ;) It's never too late to get in some good reading if you missed out when you were younger!
The chaos that ensued when we got home, however, really showed me how NOT consistent I've gotten lately with the boys. Our first full day back when we got home was pretty rough. So, hubby and I did an evaluation and made sure we got our own hearts back in the right place. This is so very important with kids! If you're having problems with obedience or attitudes, the first thing you should ALWAYS look at is yourself. I will admit from first-hand experience, this is an extremely hard thing to do, but it's an important first step (and believe me when I say, this isn't the first time I've had to do this!). If you really want a piece of humble pie, sincerely pray and ask God to show you where you're going wrong. Okay, even if you don't want that piece of pie, if you want to effectively lead your children, you really need to do a self-evaluation and ask God to show you where you need to change. The humble pie is a side-effect, but I think it's an important one, too. Ask God for forgiveness, and ask Him to line your heart up with His will. This alone will work wonders. Today was a wonderful day, and I feel like not only do I have my boys back, but that I have myself back as well. :) Seriously, today was just amazing, and I just need to say thank you to my Father. He is truly amazing and He is GOOD, all the time!
Another thing that I'm excited about is school. Vincent has been showing so much more excitement about learning lately compared to the past, that it's catchy. :) So, I have decided that whatever books I assign him to read, I am going to read, too. Even though I read a LOT when I was younger, I didn't really read a lot of the classics, and I didn't really read any informational books unless I "had" to for school. So, I'm reading the informational books I assign him for the subjects we are studying, and I will even get "adult" books on those subjects if they really interest me. He is also going through a list of age-appropriate classics as part of his free-time reading, and I am joining him in those, as well. So, don't be surprised if you see a lot of kid books in the sidebar. ;) It's never too late to get in some good reading if you missed out when you were younger!
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