DIY Garden Flag

Hello there! I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!! Mine was a very do-nothing weekend filled with lots of love and sweetness from my kiddos, a dinner out and some precious gifts.  

Today I'd like to share with you my easy-peasy DIY garden flag that you saw in this post. 

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Freshening Up The Curb Appeal For Spring

Hey there!  Thanks for all the love for the entryway stencil project! I find myself admiring it several times a day.  :) It was just the little something that space needed and it now feels complete!

So, I mentioned I was working on getting the outside entry spruced up to match. I'll show you a before in a minute but I must share the after!

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Spring Makes Me Want to Clean

I have to say, even as I typed that title I laughed to myself.  I'm here to admit that I am not the best at housekeeping.  Not for lack of trying mind you, it's just not something I have ever enjoyed. I love it when it's done, I just don't want to do it. Can I get an amen from anyone. It's okay, this is a safe place. 

See I would much rather be making a mess crafting or DIYing then cleaning one up.

But to my surprise the posts that get the most action on pinterest are the ones about cleaning. This post I did about cleaning baseball pants has been all over. It really is a great tip!! If you have a child who wears a white polyester uniform in the dirt you need to read about this magic soap!

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Spring Mantel

I know, I know, I just did a post about my mantel decor.  :) But, ya know that was for Easter and Easter's over so I needed something fresh that would last for a while.

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Sunny Day-Dreamin'

It's another cold and cloudy day here.  And I'm over it.  Sorry, but my soul needs sunshine!!  So, I thought I would at least turn my thoughts toward sunny days!

Our backyard has evolved over the years we have lived here.  But, very little has been done to make it a pretty and comfortable space to be in. 

I have been scheming in my mind for several years a long list of improvements for the space to make it more user friendly.  We shall see if it actually happens this year - ha!!

Today I will share with you a little inspiration. And hopefully spread some warm vibes!! Sources are listed where available (please pin from the source).  Enjoy!

source

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Getting The Kids Involved In Spring Cleaning {Family Friday}

We have been having a great spring break over here!!  Nothing too scheduled, but a good bit of work has been getting done, and some fun has been had!!  I will be sad to see it go on Monday. :(

Today I am going to share with you how I am getting my kids involved in some of the spring cleaning this year.  

There is a great debate out there among parents about money and kids.  Should kids get an allowance (money for nothing) or a commission (money only for work done) or should parents be human ATM machines??  We have bounced all over the place over our 18 years of parenting, and sadly have never settled on one thing or the other for very long.  We totally want our kids to understand the value of money, and we work very hard to make sure they get that.  And, for the most part, I think they do.  We also want them to know how to work and to work hard.  Which, for the most part, they do.  Then there is the whole thing about money and work going together.  In the adult world - you don't work and you don't get paid.  Thus the argument for commission.  

Honestly, our kids get an allowance.  They are expected to do whatever I ask, whenever I ask, without whining.  But, there really is no direct correlation between the work and the money.  We have tried in the past, but with the older ones - they have a hard time finding time to get their chores done because school comes first.  Good grades are more important to me then chores or jobs, sorry. We also believe that not everything needs to be paid for.  Sometimes kids need to pitch in and work because they are part of the family, and families should work together.

So, back to the subject at hand - spring cleaning. I made myself a very long and exhausting exhaustive list. While I didn't plan on getting all of it done in a week, I did want to get it done while it was still spring!! So I decided to include the kids and allow them to earn some extra money.  

Jobs for hire!!  My hubby and I came up with a list of jobs we thought the kids could do and put a dollar amount to them.  Our kids are older, (youngest being 10) so these jobs are not necessarily easy jobs.  But, if you have younger kids you could still do this - just create jobs they can do - but don't be afraid to make it a little challenging.  

I started with 8 jobs that I wanted done (there are more on the list, and I plan to replenish as these are done).  Each job got a job card with the description of the card and the $$ amount the job would pay, and an envelope attached with the cash already in it. Instant gratification is good for everyone :).

The basket is another Dollar Tree basket that I had, and the sign is an index card, attached with my polka-dot washi tape.  

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!  The basket is now living in my kitchen on a shelf, and the kids were all to excited to get to work!!  Yahoo!!  There were some jobs that were less desirable, but if they want the money, they will do those too.  

What I found through this are two things -1. make sure that you are paying them a fair amount. Just like we expect to be paid appropriately, they should too, if the pay is too low they won't want to do the work.  2. be prepared to teach them how to do things, which is great because these are things they need to learn sometime - right??

Wow, this turned into a really long post!!  If you made it this far, thanks!!  Hope this gives you lots of ideas!!

I have some fun things to share with you guys next week!!  Have a great weekend!!

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Spring Cleaning Fever

We have had beautiful weather the past few days and I am itching to do some spring stuff!!  It has really turned my attention to doing some spring cleaning.  After a long winter of inside hibernation, our home is in need of some TLC. I have seen a few spring cleaning lists floating around the blogosphere, but none of them totally spoke to me. (HA!)  So, I forced myself to sit down sat down, and made my own list.  I really took some time and brainstormed through each room, considering all the things that needed attention after the winter, and many things that haven't had attention in a few years. And, this is what I came up with.

I tried my very best to get it on one page for usability.  But, try as I may I could not.  It's a long list and I wanted to be able to read it!!

If you would like to print these pages for your own use click on the link below.

Spring Cleaning Checklist frazzled JOY

I also know that, just as I couldn't find something that fit my needs exactly, this might not be just what you need.  So, here is one that you can fill in on your own.  

Here is a link to this one if you would like to use it!!

Blank Spring Cleaning Checklist frazzled JOY

**this is my first time to link documents to a post, and they did not transfer from word to google docs exactly the same - sorry, some of the cute fonts got lost in the translation - still learning :).**

I am spending the rest of the week getting my cleaning supplies ready and organized for the spring cleaning to begin.  I am also thinking of a creative way to involve and motivate my kids to help out.  For two reasons - one -that's a lot of work for one person, and two- they need to work, it's good for them!!

Linking up with Works For Me Wednesday / Work It Wednesday / Create It Thursday / Thrifty Thursday / Fridays Unfolded / Frugal Friday / The Creative Connection / Link Party Palooza / Share Your Creativity / That DIY Party / Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop / Tuesday's Treasures / Tutorials & Tips Link Party / Take-A-Look Tuesday / Titus 2 Tuesday / Show Me What Ya Got / One Project at a Time / Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Keeping Up With The Schedules {Family Friday}

Spring (semester) has sprung and so has our family's schedule.  Like a race horse at the gates, we have bolted into 2014 with a thundering sound.  {okay enough metaphors}

But really people, it's busy.  It always is, and we wouldn't change it.  I'm not complaining - we are blessed to afford activities for our children.  We limit them to one activity each, but even that adds up with 4 kids.  And, as they get older activities become more involved.  More practices, more games, more contests - you get the idea.  Not to mention regular life and ya know mom and dad's schedule on top of that.  I person could lose their mind!!

I don't want to miss a thing!!  So back in January, after I finished the kitchen project, I pulled together all the schedules - a nice stack of paper and emails - for the next 6 months.  {I can't even begin to look at summer right now}  I sat down and started writing things in on my large desk calendar.  Smart phones have calendars and they are great - if you check them.  I could always use outlook on my computer and sync with phone - again requires me looking at it.  {yes I know - alerts - but you have to set those}  I have mentioned I am a very visual person.  I need to see things, many times, even many times a day.  

I have used the end wall of my kitchen cabinets for years for these types of things.  I've had just a calendar up there.  I've had a small bulletin board and a calendar. Then I had a bigger bulletin board and a bigger calendar.  One thing that was lacking - the ability to see a month ahead. {without turning the page - are you noticing a trend - ya} So, this time I decided to tear the pages of the desk calendar and hang them on the wall separately.  

I found this adorable washi tape - having no idea that it would match the calendar when I got home - seriously no clue - sweet surprise!!

And there ya go!!  I have also used the washi tape to tape up cards and reminders for upcoming events.  

This is perfect for me because I walk by this hundreds of times a day, and there it is.  

How do you keep up with the chaos??  Do you carry a calendar with you, do you have a family calendar?? Don't ya just love the abundance of activity in spring?? Way better than sitting around in the gray of winter!!

Oh and by the way, since I haven't mentioned it in a while...we are just trying to get to here people.  {oh ya and notice - piano contest for little boys on graduation day - ha}

Tears come at the oddest times, like when I'm washing the dirt out of his baseball pants.  For the love.  The future is bright, and I know God has the best plans for him!!

Blessings and Prayers Friends as you navigate your family's schedule.

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Moving On

So, Friday was my last day at my job.

(have you seen this new app???  Beautifulmess - love it!! So many possibilities!!)

Remember when I shared here God's new direction for my life.  Well things are moving on.  As it came closer and closer I realized the one thing I would miss most of all would be the people.  I have made sooo many good friends over the past 18 years.  Many I will still see at church - but an occasional passing in the hall, or 2 minute conversation if we are lucky, is just not quite the same.  I managed to hold back tears until our Children's Pastor presented me with this beautiful gift

from all the teachers - who had left sweet notes of encouragement on the back,

of course on stage at our spring program in front of hundreds of people - choked-up, eyes filled with tears.

I just wanted to take a moment and give a shout-out to someone who has blessed me professionally and personally over the past 5 years.  She has been my rock, my sounding board, my sanity, and so much more during my time as Director.  This lady

She and I knew each other when we started working together, but we have become great friends over the years and I appreciate her so much, and I will miss seeing her every week.

Also, a shout-out to this lady

She is a long time friend who taught Pre-K next door to me for several years.  I am soooo thankful that The Lord was moving in her heart at the same time He was moving in mine because she is taking over the reigns of the program!!  I cannot even begin to tell you what a comfort it is to me to know that she will be the one watching over this program that I have held so close to my heart for these 18 years.  I know that she, with The Lord's direction, will take it places I never even dreamed of!!

Now for me today I face a mountain of laundry

I promise you I have worked on this all weekend and still have all this to do.  (I hadn't done laundry in a week!! - with 6 people in this house that is just crazy!!)

And some "landscaping" in desperate need of attention (I say "landscaping" so loosely because really it's not)

I started with this, this morning

And this is how far I got.

I found a wasp nest in the nandina, and by the time I got done with the initial trim on the boxwoods, I was pouring in sweat and worn out.  (I'm in really bad shape and it is incredibly humid today...) So, I still need to clean up the bottom of the bushes - I really prefer that they are up off the ground a bit.  

Hoping to be more regular on the blogging, except of course for when I am in New York!!!  (more on that later:))