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.