... when you plain run out of space.
Some people up and move. (We've been these people before.) Some people add-on to their homes. (Wish we could  afford to be these people.) We're of the some who adapt and convert. No not religious beliefs, political stances or personal preferences.

We're talking space here peoples. Growing children equals new toy types. Gaming systems, yes those dreaded video games. Fitting those into the landscape of a home can be a real challenge. We know many believe that it's OK to put TV's and DVR's/DVD players/gaming systems and even PC's into kids' personal spaces (bedrooms). We're not part of one of those groups. It's our experience and belief that kiddos as a whole population of little people, don't self moderate well with additional privileges thrown at them so freely accessible. They both crave and require boundaries. Let's also face it, as parents, if they have all their wishes fulfilled, how much more challenging is it to discipline when necessary? There's no incentive if it's so easily at their disposable behind a closed door.

While we know the ideal would be to have a separate family room from our living room space. We only have one of those spaces in our home. We entertained the idea of converting our front porch into a family room or an additional bedroom remodel. However, it's a lot of expense we don't need now and might or might not pan out for resale down the road. You know the economy being what it is and all. So how do converters like us make it happen?

Here's how-
Before:

This was the original plan for linen storage: (just imagine table & bedding linens instead of the towels & toiletries)

This was the alternate plan for linen storage:

After:

Albeit small, we have a secondary space for a kid friendly additional gaming set-up. Yes, those headphones are required for any and all use. This is just off our dining room, that's the basement door on the other side. It's truly a pint-sized gaming space for our not so still pint-sized (they're growing too fast). Two or possibly three can comfortably fit at a time. At least for another year or two.

Before:

Note the great absence of windows. That'll be a challenge in and of itself as well.

The plan:
- Use trim pieces to make a faux wainscot paneled effect on the lower walls. This will stop at the height of the shortest wall where the ceiling slopes down to meet it. Wrapping all around the room at that same height.
- Paint: The lower wainscot a soft white; the upper  wall sections a softly muted, rose-pink; the ceiling a pale buttery, creamy tone; the subfloor a pale enameled tone and then we'll toss a plush queen size blanket we already have down as soft area rug. This last bit will be a temporary solution until more remodeling funds a freed up.
- Place LO's (Little One) mini crib centered against the lower wall opposite the doorway. Add some baskets/bins of some sort underneath for  additional storage.
- Place the bench to the right of the doorway. It'll get a lick of paint as well. Bench is additional storage (linens/books/clothing/toys, etc) and will double as a reading spot. In time we'll add cushion & assorted throw pillows and a KO (knock off) PB (Pottery Barn) book rack.
- Add a doll house shaped bookcase on the left side wall. Cute storage initially with bins/baskets, later for toys and then finally a true doll house to play for hours with.
- Shabby Chic floral chandelier will be hung above the reading spot.
- Some sort of tree inspired mural/sculpture to wrap one of the corners near the crib.
- Incorporate birds, butterflies and dragonflies somehow. Maybe in a mobile or some artwork for the walls.
- I'd also love to add LO's initials or name somewhere in the room as well.
- Back of the door will most likely be used to enhance storage capacity.

Daily Routines
So far this is going quite well.
I spent the first week babystepping my way back into them for myself.
The second week, I've been maintaining my fresh start and working on some new routines for the kids.
Plan for the third week is to babystep the kids into their routines.
The fourth week will be more maintaining and adapting to solidify our new and hopefully smoother daily routines.

I've tried dining table cropping. Sorry that one is for the birds IMHO. It's too hard to maintain a viral scrapping process at one's dining table with a house full of young, energetic children. Well, at least if you want your pages to resemble anything you'd want to reflect on several years later.

I've tried carving out a space in our master bedroom twice over. Two different bedroom spaces, two completely different arrangements for workspaces and storage. Neither, resulted in getting much accomplished on the scrapbook horizon. That really was pretty sad.

My ideal would be a room dedicated to crafty pursuits (sewing, scrapping, gift wrapping, etc.) on the main level near the arteries of the home (kitchen & laundry). However our 1400 sq ft home isn't anywhere near large enough for all of that. Plus I don't think it'd go over well, converting our dining room into a crafting room. Our dining room is a very functional space already. We EAT all our meals at our dining table and it's a frequent snack/homework spot..

The only viable solution that truly made sense was to carve out a space on the main living level. Preferably a full corner somewhere close to all the daily on-goings, so I'm accessible to the kids. But at the same time not too near food/water sources, since either could  do irreparable harm to scrapbooks and photos. Plenty of storage (preferably mostly closed so it'll look all nicey, nice) for all my scrapping paraphernalia that comes with the cropping craft.

We have an odd corner in our living room that really seemed a natural fit. Especially once I rearranged some furniture for the millionth time (at least according to my sweet DH-C). The corner is cut off from the rest of the living room by a traffic flow problem (well at least that's always what we considered it before). Now it's become a pretty spectacular opportunity. There is a doorway to the front entry on one side of the corner and an over-sized opening to the dining room on the other. We tried including that corner into the living room functionality several times over the 6 going on almost 7 years we've been here. It just plain never worked! To finally see the possibility of a dedicated space with both functionality and purpose finally makes such absolute sense. It's truly amazing that it took us this long to figure it out!

Here's the main storage cabinet found after our church rummage sale for FREE:

Yes FREE, it's solid wood to boot! It'll get a lick of paint before it's finis.

Here's my temporary vertical storage solution:

Here's what's coming to replace it soon:

Much more dust resistant!

On this blank patch of wall:

...will be a roughly counter-height desktop. I have plans to skirt it in order to the not so glamorous plastic drawer carts that are so functional and necessary.

The original plan is to add a secondary desk that will slide underneath the first one. I'll have my ScrapRack set up on the first desk for ease of scrapping. My secondary desk will actually be my primary one when it comes to full on scrapping in the evenings while DH and I watch TV/movies and visit together. This will allow me to face him and the TV on the opposite side of the room. During the day I can organize/design pages or sort photos, etc on the primary desk right next to my ScrapRack. Should work very nicely. I also have some plans for a few special touches on the wall above the desktop. But I'll reveal those later... maybe with my next installment of Progress of the Scrapbook Nook.

Here's a snapshot before we decided this was our house:

Here's a couple before we were semi-settled in:


Here's one of the many before arrangements:


We've been here since our youngest was a year old (he's now almost 8). This layout worked then, but so wouldn't work for us today.
Our needs today have changed significantly. Bigger kids= multi-functional necessity!
Here's pretty much what it looks like today:
(Ooops forgot to get some updated pics this weekend, will update ASAP!)

Our gains have been a larger entertainment center with a family gaming system (Wii); more seating; more floor space for sprawling out and playing; a PC dedicated area for the kiddos (makes monitoring and assisting easier on us parents) and last but not least, mom's scrap corner.

More to come in the future: repainting walls, repainting trim, painting entertainment center (dresser), acquiring a side table, slipcovering wingback chairs, accessories, seasonal window coverings and throw pillows, painting area rug, upholster bench, skirt scrap workspace and maybe more.

They're so stinking cool!!! I'm sure there's a very technical definition out there somewhere in the techno-sphere. But I'm time constrained and a tad bit too lazy to go looking it up right this minute.
Here's my definition:
A blog is-
A brain dump. It's an opportunity at regular emotional purging. It's a creative outlet. It's cathartic. It's like having a list and crossing things off. It's motivating. It's inspiring. It's a journal of sorts. (I've always been horrendous at keeping those "dear diary" versions. I've always wished I was better at that!) It's a database of family events/info/memories. Memories captured until I can scrapbook those at a later time. (Yes, I'm catching up scrapbooks and probably will be until h@ll freezes over.) It can be spiritual. Snapshots of our lives. A time capsule. Networking opportunity.  Avenue to sharing ideas and new concepts. Way of connecting with new friends. A way of staying connected with our loved ones, near and far. Amazing!

The Decluttering Challenge @ FlyLadies & More

My list won't always be so plentiful, but after the holidays there was much to part with in our home.
Here's my first week's worth of clutter that's been officially banished:
Fri 1/1- Large black garbage bag full of packaging and ripped giftwrap from the holiday festivities.
Sat 1/2- Broken ornaments & holiday decorations.
Sun 1/3- A group of 6 broken or forlorn toys (separated from toy sets we no longer own).
Mon 1/4- Kitchen trash bag full of styrofoam.
Tues 1/5- Small bag of too small clothing from DS's.
Wed 1/6- Bag of too small clothing from DD.
Thurs 1/7- Several beat up cardboard boxes leftover after culling thru the ornaments and reorganizing them.

I lost the debate. The tree came down last Tuesday. I took some pics and they actually turned out pretty well for a spur of the moment photo shoot. That made it much easier to part. I really loved every moment of having our "gorg" tree up all shimmering and glowy this season!
On the up side I was oddly ready to see it go.
... ready for the space it took up to be given back to our family's most used living space (living room).
... ready to put things back and be able to finish getting some things in order in the living room. Finish the new scrapbook nook by installing the desk. Unload the PC desk so we can start finally using it.
... ready to fully live in our living room. That seems like it's been such a very long time coming. We really have been living to the fullest in 2/3rds of the space for quite some time.

So here's a glimpse of our 2009 Christmas decor:

Just realized I forgot to take some shots of our nativity scene and the stockings while they were still up. Oh well, there's always next Christmas. I already have some new plans brewing for then anyway. We still have some fun winter decor sprinkled about. They'll do for now!

I've thought long and hard... though I'm sure I could take longer and maybe should take longer. But I'm constantly feeling like I'm running on fumes when it comes to available time as my resource. Warning: there may be some FlyLady-isms thrown around here from time to time... for those not already in the know, here's a link to help y'all out- FlyLady
So here goes:

January- Daily Routines
I've not gotten back in the true throws of my routines for months. I'll start and then a backslide occurs every time we get busy with other things (called life). The first week I'm cementing new ones for  myself. Keeping It Simple and Smart- KISS. This'll help pave the way for everything that this coming year (new baby, house ventures, kid issues, personal finances and overall health and nutrition). I need to evict "Franny" and CHAOS from our household permanently. With routines, our lives resemble the swan gracefully gliding along the glassy waters.


February- Mommy Time
Back to the basics with this one. January will help roll this one into place. I have a feeling. This is adding to the basics of taking time to take care of me. My routines will help prime me to start scheduling myself a little extra time for me. Daily, weekly, monthly and maybe even seasonally. I need to get back to that one. I know I'll need it even more once the new Lil' One arrives.


March- Hydration
Another babystep on the march to progress this year. I haven't been too bad about this one, however it'll be doubly important with a nursing relationship to establish. I'll also need the extra energy that comes with staying hydrated. We'll be revisiting zombie parenting soon. After two blissful years of finally returning to pre-parenting sleep mode days. I know we're in for a real shock!

Anyone else feel like the teachers have left the kids untrained in such ventures these days? My third grader came home with research project and report to compile and be ready to present on the day after winter break. I know the teachers mean well and want to give the kids (maybe parents too) incentive to stay busy and retain some of the school discipline over the holiday break. But seriously, did they stop to think how busy parents are during this time? We're busier with kids home than when they're in school. I know many of these teachers are parents too, so what gives?! I remember as a kid learning all the steps before having to put it together ourselves.

That's obviously not the case this time around. The directions stated for the parents to assist their child with the project since it's their first. Really?! Are they kidding? I know I shouldn't complain. They have a lot more to contend with these days than I think they ever have. But am I the only one that recalls "those" days? I know over half of my kids' teachers are older than I am. So I can't possibly be alone with these thoughts.

Sometimes it really makes me wonder about our school systems and the process with which decisions are made. The big decisions that affect our kiddos daily in the classrooms like: teaching methods, discipline practices, appropriate times to accomplish tasks and learn new ones, etc. These are the times I rethink the homeschooling option. If I'm going to be teaching routinely myself, maybe  I should just commit to doing it full time. Realistically, I realize it's more than I could take on, at least at this time. But it doesn't stop me from revisiting the thought process from time to time and sometimes wishing some things for our family were very different.

We're really striving for something unique, yet classic. Brimming with personality, easy to move into from the start and grow with for years to come.

Remember her space is truly tiny. So some of this will always remain inspiration. But much of it will be used or translated somehow in her new little space.

on the Decluttering Challenge



I did this last year and we've all been reaping the benefits in our little home. It's taken a good while, but it's finally started catching on with our kiddos. Having a 1400 sq ft cape cod home with minimal storage and a growing family household of 5 (soon to be 6), has taught us a thing or two about the value of square footage and what makes for prime real estate in a home. Breathing room is finally starting to take shape.


We still have a ways to go to get where we'd or maybe rather where I'd like us to be. But we'll get there bit by bit, one bite at a time, as some would say. I haven't always been good about sharing my decluttering process or noting all the things we've purged from our home. But I'm reissuing the challenge to myself and adding it to my family this year.  


With the addition of another little one, we have even more urgent reasons to free up some much needed space. Babies seem to always inherit so much stuff! Even when their parents have whittled down the list to the must-haves and really loved items only. What will help this time around, is we know this one is our last. So we won't be holding onto things after they've proven to have outlived their usefulness to our little one. 


First step: Decluttering

Second step: Organizing
Third step: Fully Living




Yup, that's what it's all about!

Chez Larsson is a bloggy fav of mine.

Do you have one of these?
It's one of those To Do lists; Mile long lists; Some things get done and some just get juggled around lists.
I have one and I finally decided to stop rewriting it weekly, monthly or daily as it sometimes gets done.
I finally realized that mine will never be a short and sweet, less than 12 items list. (That only took me several years of being a mom to come to grips with.)
Yup, I finally wised up and realized that I needed to formalize my list in order to simplify it.
This simplification actually freed up my process of getting things accomplished more readily.  
So what did I do to formalize and simplify all at once?
Why I typed it up on my trusty laptop in Word.
Now I have my "Never-Ending List" always at the ready. Yes, that really is what I titled it. That helped me get over the mental block I had of thinking I'd always get it completed. Plus I've stopped beating myself up over the fact my list grows at times faster than it shrinks.
I can modify it to suit my current schedule or future schedule as needed and in only moments instead of a complete rewrite taking several minutes as I once would have done.
I also like to date my accomplishments and use a different font color (much like crossing something off a physical list on paper).
That's really a great motivational tool too. That being able to look back at what all I accomplished in a week or a month. Oh it really does a mother good!!!

that's how much our little one to be will be growing and gaining from here on out with the law of averages. I don't know if anyone finds that as incredible as I do right now. Based on those averages she's most likely currently somewhere between 1 lb 4 oz and 2 lbs 8 oz. We're officially in the final/third trimester with less than 80 days to go. Well that is, if she comes on or before her EDD, so a little give and take is required or rather guesstimated here.

Knowing how different every little one is, it wouldn't surprise me if this one decided to make a late appearance. I've had one right on time and two that were a week or so early. So at this point, my best guess is either much earlier or a bit later. Nice options huh?! Neither of which am I remotely prepared for, mentally or household wise. Though at this time I'd prefer later rather than earlier. More time means more accomplished before her arrival, which is always a good thing. I know I might live to eat my words though. I'm usually so done with being pregnant and wishing it was all over 2-3 weeks before the actual birthday occurs, so we'll wait and see. That is after all, the only thing we really can do!

Resolutions
Some of us make new ones every year.
Some of us make the same one for several years in a row. Hoping one of these days or years we'll actually have enough time or ambition to truly dedicate ourselves to making real and lasting changes for the better.
Some of us find it a great novelty year after year. Starting strong and finishing with little to show for our renewed efforts.
Some of us resolve to not make resolutions. Our plates are too full already or they're seemingly fraught with issues and can be very time consuming.
Some simply pretend they don't exist.

Here's an approach I found note and sharing worthy:
FlyLadies and More: Resolutions
I'll be preparing mine to share very soon.