Celebrating Valentine’s Day At-Home

Hey Loves!

It is 2021 and we are still having holidays at-home. I mean, at this point, especially after I’ve realized the amount money I save, the memories that are made and seeing the joy on my kids faces, I think lots of the things we’ve done for “pandemic” holidays will stick when these times are just faint memory. Since Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year, I thought to get my kids involved with the planning and make an entire day out of it.

There are two parts to this-well, two focal points rather. Me and my husband. Me and the kids. Us as a family. Wait, that’s 3. I NEVER proclaimed to be a mathematician. Moving on…

Because I am a loved child of God, my mom is coming to visit the week before Valentine’s Day so my husband and are going places often. Any parent can relate on the joy of free and safe childcare and how one must take very opportunity to use it. After 2020, I will not be shy. So, my husband and I will have had our “date” fix and not need to schedule childcare and/or make reservations. If you do, do it now… actually do it yesterday!

Many will disagree here, but this time with your boo does not have to be fancy. I think time to just talk uninterrupted, eat like adults and enjoy each other bring some kind of restoration to people, individually and as a unit. As for actual Valentine’s day, we may enjoy a show together at the end of the day.

Next up, kids. Again, you do not have to this my way. Growing up, my dad always got me something for Valentine’s Day and I love the idea of continuing that with kids. However, with Christmas and Jude’s birthday less than 2 months ago and James’ birthday just 4 days after Valentine’s Day (not to mention me and the hubs celebrated birthdays in between theirs), your girl is a little tapped! So, their gifts are normally things I stashed over the year and put together real fast. Head over to IG to see how I assemble their gifts.

Now, for the family fun. Not to sound like a broken record, but make this unique to your family. My kids favorite vegetables are asparagus and roasted broccoli. They live for charcuterie boards. So, when I suggested we have a fancy family dinner, there was not a shortage of ideas. We also have family dance parties. We will probably watch a movie clad in Valentine Jammies. By movie I mean Avengers not a romcom. It will be low-key. Yours can be totally over the top. The point here is to make the memory and enjoy doing it.

Love you. Mean it.

Homeschool Curriculum Update- Language Arts!

Happy New Year Loves!

How is 2021 treating you so far? I surely hope you are well. If you can’t tell by the title, this is the first in a series of blog posts where I will be updating you on all of the curriculum we’ve used this year. If you need a refresher on what we are using for language arts (LA), check out this blog post

I would also like to preface this with homeschool curriculum is an experiment. It just is… you honestly really never how well something will work until you try it. 

Alright now to LA!

I’ll start with the All About Reading (AAR). This was the biggest investment for us, time wise and financially. After prepping both sets for each of my kids, I planned out the lessons. I’m not going to lie- I was intimidated. I was used to open-and-go, easy peasy instructions. Here’s what I’ve learned thus far. 

This curriculum is exactly what my kids need. I honestly can’t express to you the gains my kids have made since September using this curriculum. Not only is James reading more fluently, he now loves reading. It excites and delights him. It’s opened up a new portal for us in all subjects. Jude started this year not being able to recognize any letters consistently or know any phonemes. Now we are at 20/26 with 95% accuracy. Even better-I’m learning and growing with them. The curriculum comes with letter tiles and syllable tags. However, we opted to purchase the app for $20. I know, that’s a crazy amount for an app. However, it’s a lifetime purchase that I can use for both children through their matriculation of this program. 

I will also add this-once we got into a rhythm of homeschool the lessons became way easier to implement and much less intimidating. 

So, basically AAR is a hit and both my kids are excited for me to purchase the next levels for them. 

Our other LA picks for James were for grammar and spelling. Because I felt like AAR was going to need more times and reading is where I wanted the most focus, it was important to me that spelling and grammar were kinda bare-bones. I mean no frills, no videos, no manipulatives. Just simple lessons taught principle by principle. Growing With Grammar and Spelling You See are just that. I also like that there is plenty of time to practice previous lessons while learning new principles. 

Same goes for spelling you see. It was also important to me to have some things that James could easily complete independently so I could work with his brother, Jude. The copy work, rhyming and rhythm practice is just what the teacher ordered. 

Handwriting for both boys is Learning Without Tears (LWT). I honestly can’t say enough good things about this company. Even their price point is really good. For someone who never understood the schematics of teaching writing, let alone to children with a fine motor delay, LWT takes the cake, frosting, sprinkles and candles. Hands down. 

Lastly, we introduced journals this year. While we are still trying to find our footing with using them daily, we use them as frequently as I can and I love seeing their creativity, fine motor skills and critical thinking skills improve. 

All in all, language arts is a hit! I am still looking for good books to add to our library that challenge James and won’t be over Jude’s head… a tough one for this wanna be minimalist. Maybe I just need to cave and let us have a more expansive library? What do you think?

I’ll be back with all our other subjects in the coming weeks.

Love you. Mean it. 

Fall Into Fellowship

Hey Loves!

We are moving full-steam ahead in our homeschool year and adjusting as we go. This past spring and summer were literally like no other I have experienced, both good and bad. We made lots of memories we wouldn’t have otherwise but oh how we missed people, travels and ya know, our things.

However, I kept adding things to my plate and not clearing away other things. This led to exhaustion, burnout, and something like emptiness. I was depleted in ways I hadn’t been in so long and in my crying out, seeking and listening, I started looking ahead to fall and this is what came to me: It is time for fellowship. Not just communing together but intentional supporting, connecting, uplifting and restoration.

I’m not sure about you, but if I had to guess I would say some part of the past six months has depleted you. Maybe something or someone was neglected, even just a little bit. Maybe you have realized how much you actually have and want to serve.

For me, the majority of 2020 took so much from me and I am taking it back and turning this year around. I’ve got little eyes watching my every move. I’ve got little ears hearing all my words, more specifically, all my complaints and groaning. I’ve got little hearts absorbing my anxieties and fears. I want more for all of us.

So, we are #fallingintofellowship. For 4 weeks we are supporting our neighborhood city and the world while we connect with each other and friends. I plan to uplift some friends and strangers and restore myself, our home and relationships.

Why? I mean, really, why would I now, heading into the last quarter of the year, sprint to win? The answer is simple. It is time. It is really that simple. It is time to fulfill our hearts and not live in a state of barrenness. I don’t mean any of that with physical things (although those are nice.) I mean with things you can’t buy-joy, peace, love and grace.

So, will you join me? Some friends and I have joined together to make this a challenge for all our friends via socials and I’d love for you to join us. All you have to do is share how you are connecting, supporting, restoring or uplifting! I’d love to have you. Also, I want to see it. Share what you are doing with the hashtag, #fallintofellowship.

Love you. Mean it.

New Year, New Planner

Hey loves!

We’ve discussed how weird I am, right? Well, in case you forgot, let me give you a refresher. My favorite part of the end of one year and the beginning of another-researching and getting a new planner. Oh. Sweet. Joy!
I feel inspired and rejuvenated! For the past two years, I’ve had a Paper Plum Planner and loved it. It was great. However, it wasn’t suiting all my needs being a SAHM now. I needing something that allowed for personalized daily sections and places to make list and stay organized with my stuff, baby stuff, house stuff and what my husband has going on. So the search continued. It was pretty bleak until Google images led to the Mom On The Go Planner. My life was forever changed from that moment. 

Not only does it have everything listed above, it has holiday planning guides- SERIOUSLY!!!! No extra sheets or printables needed. It has home goals finance trackers, note pages, pocket folder, plastic pouch and the list goes on. To top it all off, it’s the cutest thing ever. I also got some sweet new pens to plan away. I’m in heaven every week.  

My 3 drawbacks-
You can’t personalize the cover. They have different options for you to choose from but it’s not your name or monogram and the options on design are limited. But, I put my silhouette to work and added a monogram. 
The sheets are thin-about as thin as Paper Plum but I would like a heavy stationary. 
It starts on Jan. 3., not Jan. 1. My OCD couldn’t handle that. 
But that’s it. Those are my only issues! 
You know you want one. 
Here’s to an organized, very happy 2016!

  

Cheers to You and The New Year!

Hey loves!

A new year, already? When did that happen. I wanted to share with you my last New Year Post as these things still ring very true to me, down to the resolutions. I’ve restored furniture but I’m always making stuff for my baby. Hope you enjoy and happy New Year!

Toast to YOU!

Some like to think the ‘New Year, New You’ saying is played out and a waste of time. I beg to differ.
A new year is a chance to improve you. Whether it is working on changing bad habits, improving your health or strengthening relationships, a new year is simply an opportunity to take advantage of.
Do I agree with the skeptics when they say ‘every day should be an opportunity’? Yes, I do, but sometimes we need a major kick-start. For some that kick-start is heart attack. For others, it’s a new year.
So today, and on this New Year’s Eve, raise your glasses and toast to you! Toast to what you’ve become and how you’ve grown. Celebrate the blessings bestowed upon you and your family and the faith that brought them to you.
I encourage you to make resolutions for this new year-but they should be attainable! A resolution (according to me) is nothing more than a working goal to be started and/or completed in the course of the coming year. You want to read more? Read books that interest you and will improve your life. This may not be time to pick up Chaucer. You want to exercise more? Get friends to hold you accountable and make a feasible schedule.
What are my resolutions?

1. Grow more in the word of God

2. Find more ways to improve my marriage and mothering.

3. Be a better friend

4. Run more and increase mileage

5. Continue to eat clean

6. Write more

7. Share more with you!
I’ve always considered 7 my ‘lucky’ number so it is quite fitting that I have 7 resolutions. I’m going to need help with number 7. Please, please, PLEASE tell me what you want to read more of. Marriage building, Christian living, crafting, sewing, money saving-you name it and I will share.
Thanks so much for an AWESOME 2015 and I’m excited to share all the hits and misses of 2016 with you.
What are your resolutions for this upcoming year? What do you think about mines?

2014 Makeover=HIT!

Hey loves!

Hope you had a blast ringing in the new year. I did! I did something new for 2014 that I want to share with you. I got a make-over! Well, my purse did but I promise I look better than I did!

As organized as I am, my purse was a mess and I was ALWAYS digging for things! I could never find things when I needed them and sometimes I would have to carry another tote in addition to my purse for the rest of my stuff. So, I made some much needed adjustments and enhancements.

First, I realized I just need large purses. Clutches and cross-bodies are great for special outings but for day-to-day usage, I need space for all my stuff! So switched from my Betsy Johnson purse to my handy Coach tote. Then I made the following to organize my tote.
1. Business Card Holderr- to hold business and gift card
2. Mint pouch- to hold ginger mints, Altoona, gum and throat lozenges ( yes, I have all on me all the time.)
3. Large zippered pouch to hold all of my cosmetics
4. Tissue case– to hold and protect tissues in case I catch the sniffles.

The great things about a lather bag is that it can hold my planner and tablet-which I also have on me all the time.

The tutorials for everything but the mint pouch are linked.

To make the mint pouch, cut two pieces of the same or coordinating fabric in a small rectangle (or to the size you desire) and put them right-sides together. Sew or hot glue along the two short sides and one long side, leaving an opening at the top. Sew or got glue the salvaged-edges of the opening under to nake a finished look. Then turn inside out. You can add an electric band and button or Velcro to close.

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Toast to YOU!

Some like to think the ‘New Year, New You’ saying is played out and a waste of time. I beg to differ.

A new year is a chance to improve you. Whether it is working on changing bad habits, improving your health or strengthening relationships, a new year is simply an opportunity to take advantage of.

Do I agree with the skeptics when they say ‘every day should be an opportunity’? Yes, I do, but sometimes we need a major kick-start. For some that kick-start is heart attack. For others, it’s a new year.

So today, and on this New Year’s Eve, raise your glasses and toast to you! Toast to what you’ve become and how you’ve grown. Celebrate the blessings bestowed upon you and your family and the faith that brought them to you.

I encourage you to make resolutions for this new year-but they should be attainable! A resolution (according to me) is nothing more than a working goal to be started and/or completed in the course of the coming year. You want to read more? Read books that interest you and will improve your life. This may not be time to pick up Chaucer. You want to exercise more? Get friends to hold you accountable and make a feasible schedule.

What are my resolutions?
1. Grow more in the word of God
2. Find more ways to improve my marriage
3. Restore household furniture (this has been on my to-do list for a while)
4. Run more and increase mileage
5. Continue to eat clean
6. Write more
7. Share more with you!

I’ve always considered 7 my ‘lucky’ number so it is quite fitting that I have 7 resolutions. I’m going to need help with number 7. Please, please, PLEASE tell me what you want to read more of. Marriage building, Christian living, crafting, sewing, money saving-you name it and I will share.

Thanks so much for an AWESOME 2013 and I’m excited to share all the hits and misses of 2014 with you.

What are your resolutions for this upcoming year? What do you think about mines?