Where to Begin...

Sometimes it feels like something has just got to give. I cannot find enough time in the day to get done everything that that I need to do. Let alone finding a few minutes for what I want to do. So, I am taking February, the month of love, to find a way to make my home (everything and everyone in it) a place that I can love, even more! So, today the posts that I am going to share are about taking care of myself, the mommy. My hubby keeps telling me that if I don't take care of myself, I cannot take care of my family as well as I desire to.

I have been working hard on "letting things go" to a certain extent. I use to feel like my house had to be ready at every moment in case a guest stopped by. I was worn out from constantly going behind my toddler tornado and placing things neat again as she would drop a toy in some random location when sparked by another.

I have bought books on many subjects that are to help me be a better wife, mom, organizer, cleaner, fix-it-er, Christian, prayer, listener, teacher, and more. I have read some, but forgotten about many. When we have the two garage sales a year that out HOA allows, I am always burdened by the big tub of books that I desire to read. Yet, I am left having to let them go because, let's get real, they are never going to get the attention from me that they deserve! I might as well let them "help" someone else. My hubby is the same way. We sometimes joke that with all our books, we could open a book store. And, if we would read them all, we would be some of the smartest people ever! I even have a tub of journals that I am someday going to fill...

 Oh, my! I have downloaded many templates and creative kits to scrapbook, but alas, they sit semi organized on my computers. In fact, I used my laptop till it got a virus and I had to move files to my desktop. We tried to semi-restored the laptop and now I am able to download files, use the internet, etc. However, my photoshop and pictures are on the desktop (in our makeshift office: aka- the bedroom). So, since I only go in there to sleep, shower and dress, I now have files strung out on two computers. Boo! I cannot find the things that I want when I need them. Since we do not have an office, I have tried to organize the teaching materials I saved for my own children, art supplies, office supplies, scrapbooking supplies, photobooks, printed pictures, seasonal stuff and more. Hah! Would you believe that I have some stuff in the dining room and some in our closet? We have dreams of building a built-in buffet in our dining room to double as a buffet and storage. Alas, neither of us are brave enough to try and build it. There are just some things you do NOT want to mess up! Since my hubby has a lot more clothes than me, the stackable drawer thingys, filing cabinet, and my scrapbook carry case are all on my side. Yes, I dream about a built-in buffet ;-).

I reveal all these things that I work hard to conceal so that I can begin to accept what I cannot change and address what I can, when I can, with the moments I can. Maybe you have a similar situation. We would love a bigger house! But for now, we are seeking to organize in a way that we would end up with an easy system that gives us plenty of room to function smoothly.

I love this article/post so much that I want to share it with you. How to Balance Structure and Flexibility in Your Life as Mom | Life As Mom. The four things that she says to keep in mind are vital to being OK where I am right now and continuing to where I want to be.

Check out the rest of the Life As Mom blog for lots of motivational and reassuring articles. I always feel better when I know that I am not alone in what I am experiencing (other people have screaming toddlers, fussy babies, dirty laundry, and uncooked meal plans). The greatest constant that I have... God is always! Thank goodness because my toddler just wiped her purple dot-a-dot marker down my shirt and then dropped it on my carpet. This must be my test of #2: Know what season you're in. I think we are in the messy toddler, save up for wood floors season :-)

Crafty Life Made Simple...

OK, have you ever dreamed of having creative ideas presented in a manner that was like going to a one stop shop? It would save so much time to have someone do the work finding beautiful things for you. Well, I have. Especially when I only have five minute snippets of time to look and do anything on the computer. Hmmm... check email, try to publish a blog post, find something fun to do with kids, etc. I cannot even tell you how long some of my internet pages stay open till I can look through and use them. I am always nervous that my hubby is going to close stuff. I'm rambling... So, here it is...

One Pretty Thing (click here to go to craft idea heaven)

It is a website full of DIY craft tutorials and links for handmade creations, printables, and custom work. Some of the "Roundup" categories are Valentine's Day, Embroidery Patterns, Weekend Roundups, Kid's Crafts, Birthday Parties, Daily DIY, Crafty Reading, Printables, Crochet, Jewelry Making, Kids Printables, Crafty Food, Card Making, Revamp, Felt Food, and I could keep going! With this one stop website you will be busy the rest of your life!

I am so inspired and almost overwhelmed with possibilities. I think the key is to use what you have first to make what you need first and then let what moves you be what is next. I feel like I just won something! Happy all holidays rolled into one! :-) Enjoy!!!!

Holiday of Love, Hearts and Kisses...

I am so excited to get ready for Valentine's Day! One of my goals this year real hard to do and make crafty things so that I am prepared for every year. Then, I will only have to focus on the extra fluff that we want to add. So, in my searches I have found some awesome and creative people who have art, crafts and pictures that you can make and print for FREE. I am so glad that they love to share. So, I will help spread the love! Remember to check out these sites for other creative ideas. There are golden nuggets of fun everywhere! (Sounds like my mind is getting ready for St. Patrick's Day!)

1. Thrifty Finn This is a slightly mature version of some Valentine's Day subway art, but remember... Valentine's Day is a holiday for more than just the kiddos! I'm am determined that my kiddos will grow up knowing and seeing their parents love each other. :-)
2. Less Cake {More Frosting} created these beautiful Valentine's printables in 3 color combinations. Great for decorating your kids doors (I put something on their doors for every holiday), the kitchen, bathroom or anywhere else you want to "feel the love". She made it is three "hot" color combinations.
3. Vol.25 designed these beautiful cutouts that your kiddos (or you!) can use to build cupcakes. Great idea when you really do not want to bake, parties, little time filler, waiting for food at a restaurant, etc. She does recommend that you supervise the cutout process even for more advanced scissor users and do the cutting for your little creative crafters. It will save you from extra page printing and scissor boo-boos! Just looking at them makes we want to back some edible ones! Gorgeous!
4. Style Crush is sharing some mini Valentine cards that are so cute! They are so cute to put in your kiddos lunchbox, a pillow note, tape to your hubby's steering wheel, hide in his wallet, slip in your kids notebooks, backpacks, and MUCH more! You can also print them on card stock, cutout and use as class valentines.

Working to Get Back in the Saddle...

Well, Christmas and New Year's are over and I am left with the only remnants being the ones that I have to dress. Just kidding! It's not really that bad. I only have to do a few sets of lunges and squats... not to lose the lbs... but to stretch out my jeans. Don't hate, you know you do it, too!

I cooked a lot over the past weeks. We hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinner. It was so fun to have our home full of family! I am a time hog! I love time with our family and never feel like it is enough. I wasn't
"that" kid. I wanted my mom to drop me off in front of the school (after she dropped my brother off around the corner!), I would kiss her goodbye and loved going out to eat with my parents because we laughed till I was running to the little girls room. I thought I would be worn out from cooking, but it has actually become something that I enjoy. Though I have to admit that baking cookies and my (the Pioneer Woman's) yummy pecan pie are far more fun to bake.

For January, I printed off a little preschool book about Martin Luther King, Jr. We spent time coloring it and are now reading it. Now I am starting to think about Valentine's Day. I have felt in the past that holidays not only sneak up on me, but pounce on me or wave as they rush by. This year, 2011, is the year that I am going to work to plan ahead on activities. I am working to build a portfolio of beautiful and fun activities and art to do with and for my family. That way, I will not have to spend so long every year on gathering. I can spend the time on doing. I will try my best to post some things that I find. I love when people share finds. It makes it so much easier! I really just do not have time to search every single blog/website in the internet world.

Princess One put all her papi's (paci's) in an envelope. Then we wrote a letter to the Papi Fairy telling her that Princess One is a big girl now and asked her to take them to all the little babies who really do need them. We took her out to the mailbox, she put it in, pulled up the flag and then the real battle began. She cried for quite a while before giving up and sleeping. The next morning we went back to the mailbox where the Papi Fairy had left her a beautiful envelope with a pillowcase (mine when I was a little girl) that only big girls use with a note. She got to go pick out one of Mommy and Daddy's pillows to stuff in it. Luckily, my niece, KitKat was spending the night and we were able to refer to her, a big girl, A LOT! She doesn't use a papi and has a big girl pillow. Score! Couldn't have planned that better if I had actually tried to plan it! Nap time doesn't go real great anymore. She still cries and then talks for a long time and then takes a short nap. Night time now starts with wailing and tears. She has even taken to swinging her arms and legs to try and get out of it. It doesn't work, but I still feel bad for her. I keep thinking she will work through it. She has her favorite pink and yellow blankies and her trusty Zebra. I am practicing patience. Patience with a very tired toddler! :-)

I also must pass on a word of wisdom that has come to the forefront in my life lately. If you have something to say that you do not want repeated, be VERY careful who you tell. It does not matter if it is positive, negative, or moot. Word to the wise, if people talk in front of you about other people... telling their secrets and badmouthing them... they are doing the same behind your back... ABOUT YOU! No, you are not impervious to this. You are not the "only one" they don't talk about and no, they are NOT really "your" friend and would never!... Hog wash! They have made popcorn and played your secrets like a chick flick on girl's night.  The greatest thing is that I no longer want to even listen to people talk bad about other people. I thought because I wasn't talking that I wasn't guilty, but I am. From now on, I will either leave or ask them to change the subject. OK, enough on that subject. I just had to get that out there.

Now that I am getting back in the saddle, I should be able to post more regularly. I can't wait to see and share 2011 with you!!!