Sunday, October 21, 2012

Tuck it away for later

Today Is.. Day 19 of Pass IT On!

(poor poor sick boy has delayed the postings so a quick catch up..)


Useless Fun Fact!  (I have honestly used this twice since last week when I learned it!)

Do you know the difference between a Merry-Go-Round and a Carousel?  I didn't either until last week when we were on our tour of St. Augustine.  According to our tour guide..

**A Carousel goes counter clockwise an only has horses on it.  A Merry-Go-Round goes clockwise and can have other animals on it (like camels, giraffes, zebras). 


Of all the wonderful facts and history the tour guide shared with us about America's Oldest City... that is what i remember.  Nice.  But... I bet next time you ride a merry-go-round or a carousel you will impress someone with your knowledge.. useless as it may be!


playing a little catch up.. bear with me :)

Friday, October 19, 2012

check them out

This is Day 18 of Pass IT On!

A little late on this one.. but a sick baby will put everything else on hold pretty quickly. 

So I will make this short and sweet.  Check out some of the other "31 dayers" writing on topics ranging from Pinterest, Faith, Journaling, Recipes, Diet and Exercise, Teaching Tips, Cleaning, Green Living, Photography, Kids, Self Improvement... you name it!!  I am number 1086.. and there are over 1200 to pick from.  Wow.  There are some great ones out there, swing by a few at The Nester.

thenester.com

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Revolutionizing laundry

Today is Day 17 of Pass IT On!

Getting organized.  It's one of the thing I truly desire, but find it so hard to do.  My plan before moving into our current home was to go crazy with organization. I would  implement all the plans, schedules, and routines and thus live a happy organized life.  

hahahahahahahahahahaha!  LOL to the fullest.

I have said before, I am so not good at organizing.  It does not come natural to me at all.  It takes me forever.  I over think.  I re-think and rearrange.  All in the name of finding the "perfect place" for everything.  But it's never perfect.  Later that night I will undoubtedly think to myself while rocking Micah, "Man.. I should have used that bin for this. or I should put that here."  It's not pretty. 

It's not pretty because it never gets done and there is always a mess! 

Now, in an effort of not being so hard on myself and extending a little grace... I have very little time to actually focus on organization without a little "undoer" next to me :)   So yes, it is taking longer than i was hoping for to get to where the house operates smoothly but progress is made and  positive changes are happening... one slow step at a time.

I often wonder, "Will I ever get to the point where I feel settled?  Where everything has it's place.. and it is Put there.  Where I will sit on the couch at night and look around and smile at the neatness of everything."   Do you ever wonder these things?  How do you answer yourself? (assuming I am not the only one talking to myself here!)  My answer for now has to be "think smaller".  Don't let the ultimate goal loom over you so much that it becomes unattainable and not worth working towards.  Do small things.. positive steps towards the goal. It's ok. It's OK.

That was kind of a long introduction to a rather simple and positive change I have started doing.  I am always overwhelmed with laundry (who isn't?!)  so this is an effort to get in control of it. 
One Load A Day
That's it.  One load a day and here's the key.. do it right away, first thing in the morning. What brought me to this?  I found myself doing loads and loads of laundry and by the end of the day they were all stuffed in baskets waiting to be folded.  And if i remembered, I would fold that evening.  But then putting away was postponed till the next day (or more) because kids were sleeping.  It was a never ending process... frustrating and defeating. 

So I have decided to try this new approach and see if it helps me get better control.. and complete the process by only focusing on one load.  So far so good!  I get a basket ready the night before and then first thing (after turning on the coffee of course) I throw it in the washer.  By the time we are ready to leave for school it's dryer bound.  After a trip to the gym, it's ready to be folded and put away.. and then I Am Done with that for the day!!  Accomplished!  It's a Much better feeling than the disappointment I was faced with so often when I realized the load in the dryer isn't all the way dry and the one in the washer needs to go in and the basket needs folding.  It completely erased the good feelings of getting many loads washed.. when the rest of the steps were not completed.  

What do you think?  Wanna join me?

the Secret Bun

Today is Day 16 of Pass IT On!

This is the "Secret Bun" 
name bestowed by Addison


You know your little girl wants one of these :)   hahaha.. here's what I do.
pony tail it with a wrap that has a fun little thing on it

Take the pony and wrap it around

Stick a bobby pin in once it is wrapped

Then slip a soft pony tail wrap around it and work it back so it is close to the head

and ... Admire!




Monday, October 15, 2012

Passing on a GREAT deal!

This is Day 15 of Pass IT On!

I read this and it was too good to not Pass ON!!

Check out my friend Christie's blog to find out how you could be wearing new super cute glasses for FREE!

She looks so cute!  




I have been wanting new frames for a long time! But can't really justify spending much on them since I usually only wear them at night for a few minutes when I try to stay awake to read. Or in the morning for not very long because it is just somehow way easier to wake up with contacts.  However, today... wouldn't you know it.. my allergies were really bothering me and i had to wear my glasses.. so this came at a really good time for me ;)  Thanks Christie


Tour De Oldest City

This is Day 14 of Pass IT On!


A little tired last night and didn't get to post...  We had a fun weekend!

The last time we lived in Jacksonville.. almost 10 years ago!.. we went down to St. Augustine quite often.  It's such a charming town, rich in history.  Beautiful on the water.  Since we moved here we haven't had the chance to spend a lazy day down there, until now.  The kids really loved it as well.  Micah was enamored by the boats. Addie saw a pink horse pulled carriage and asked her daddy if he would get that for her wedding :) and Garrett was insistent on taking the city tour.

If you ever get a chance to visit St. Austine.. do so!

Some Southern Charm





A delicious lunch spent with dear friends ... the last time we all had lunch together was in Brunswick, Maine.

Quaint streets

We did take the "Red Train" tour.  It was interesting.. lots of history. Which means if we took a test after the tour, Garrett would have out scored me by a lot.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Pasting Pictures

Today is Day 13 of Pass IT On! 


If you haven't seen this tip on Pinterest... check it out!

If you haven't tried this tip in your home.. do so!

Use Toothpaste to hang pictures and shelves.  We (I) have used this many times since we (I) are in the process of decorating our new home.  It is so quick and easy.  LOVE it. 

Just place a dab of toothpaste on the  back of a picture you want to hang... on the picture hanger if there is one or just at the point of where you want to hang it on the nail.  Then place the picture against the wall where you would like it and your place to nail is marked for you!  No more guessing (if you are like me).  No more measuring and taking many minutes to be exact (if you are like my dear husband).  Either way, it's a Win!



Not very exciting pictures.. but this was the first picture we (I) hung in our new home :)  
and I kind of love it.  
ps: there are candles on the stand now.  actually, they are the battery ones.. love them! They even smell like vanilla.  Costco is awesome.