A New Springtime

Looking From the Outside In

As a mother there are many beautiful moments to take in on a daily basis if I only take the time out to do so!

 

Creating Planners

 
  I like to use 2 or 3 ring binders for planners because I can easily add or remove papers when needed. They are also great because most of them have a clear plastic pocket on the cover  that can be filled with scrapbook or card stock of your choice. This can also be changed.

I am using this binder for our home school plans, I am breaking it down by child from youngest to oldest. In each section I have a photo copy picture of the book and the breakdown by month. I will write about that in another post.

Each year I pray for inspiration on what I should use as our"theme" mission statement and I use that as a title for my/our planner. This year I was influenced by Pope Francis's Encyclical, Laudate Sii, God Be Praised!

I like to use a smaller binder for my calendar planning in case I have to take it with me anywhere. I usually don't but just in case. It is easier to store and carry this way. This one I picked up at Michael's, it is actually a four-ring binder. I laminated some paper and attached to the cover. My planners are now a matching set. Neat , clean and pretty. The big rubber band is to old the planner shut and it is just a hair elastic from $ Tree.

I hope this gives you some ideas on how simple it can be to make a planner. Have fun and don't get overwhelmed. A post on the inside will be coming soon.

Practical Summer Survival Items to Have for Kids

I have not always known what to keep on hand for summer survival with the kiddos! making things fun, practical and interesting can be a challenge during the days off. Over the years, I have gained some experience and I have recently utilized some You Tube channels on the subject. It is always nice to see how other moms make it work!

The Practicle:

• plenty of beach towels
• bathing suits
• cover ups
• a cooler for outings
• some containers for snacks on the go
• hand santitizer
• wipes
• snacks and drinks

Here are a few I picked up:

beach towels  don't have to be expensive or huge, these are just right and a good quality for under $5 at Wal Mart.

A medium size cooler for about $10 at Family Dollar is great for tossing water bottles and snacks in for a country ride or picnic or sometime at the local park. these will also carry over into the fall soccer season as well. This one has one pocket in the front.

I am not the biggest fan of hand sanitizer but on outings it can be good for a quick wipe up especially for little  ones who get there hands into all kinds of things. it is good to use sporadically here and there.( and they come in some really cute designs)

A good quality grouping of containers to put in your to go cooler. I keep 1/2 of these right in the cooler so that I do not have to search for them when needed. These are great because the lids do not detach and they are easy to open and close. Again these were $10 at family Dollar and it comes with 10 containers. I actually want to get another pack of them.

Swimming trunks, bathing suits and beach cover ups are also must haves. I just love to wrap up my little ones in soft terry cloth after an afternoon swim!

This is a hooded cover up and I was thrilled to find these for $4.99 at the Christmas Tree Shops. they also have the cute boy version as well...

I have seen these for $30 or more on different online stores. They are so soft and i threw them in the washer and dryer and they came out great!

I hope these ideas have been helpful and make your summer more functional and easier. When you have simple practical items on hand it makes this time of year more enjoyable!

A Small Tag Sale Haul

A couple of weeks ago my husband offered to take me  to some tag sales!

My new rules for tag sales:

• practical finds
• something I can use to organize with
• can I use it to scrapbook
• will it be useful
• do I room to store it

This time I picked up:

• a picture holder( practical)
• an art or utensil caddy
• a galvanized planter ( I'm using it to hold some magazines on a chest in our living room)
• some ric-rac ( for sewing or scrapping)

I think all of this came to about $8!

Practical, useful and frugal tag sale fun!

A Cozy Porch 2015

Diggin' Down Syndrome

Our special little boy who has Down Syndrome never ceases to amaze me! He is always wanting to do everything he can to help and to participate in family life!

I just love watching this energetic, full of life boy of 4 years old, imitate his dad! He is so inquisitive and gets right into yard work any everyday projects.

There is no job to tough or to hard for this guy!

 

Summer Salads on My Mind Giveaway

I am doing my very first giveaway and I am so excited! I think it is a great time of year to eat healthier foods because they are so much more available.    In a few weeks many people will have veggies growing right in their own back yard or frequenting there towns farmer's markets!

 Fresh salads are easy to toss together and can be filled with wonderful ingredients grown locally or picked straight off the plant or vine!

There are so many different ways to make salads and this great book by William Sonoma has some great ideas! Not only does it have the salad recipes but it also has recipes for dressings, too!

Sharing recipes can be a great gift  idea for a family member or friend. I like to write my favorites ones on some pretty stationery and  give together with a few of the yummy ingredients in a pretty bowl or basket.

Salads are a great way to bring friends together on a sunny summer afternoon! A few simple festive flags as to decorate the middle of the table in the dining room, on the front porch or  the back patio.  I want to spend some time catching up and sharing my blessed life with some of the women I don't get to see during the busy home school year.

Two of my favorite colors during the summer are navy blue and kelly green. They make me think of sailing and a life at the beach! I love watching sailboats when we go to Mystic Rhode Island for a few days each summer.

I hope this summer brings with it many opportunities to gather my thoughts and some friends to share my home and some fresh delicious food! I want to give away these items to help another to do the same:

• Food Made Fast, Salad by William Sonoma
• a galvanized hanging chalkboard ( write a welcome greeting for family & friends)
• an adorable salad bowl or strainer ( Kelly green)
• a coupon/receipt organizer ( navy blue)
• a notepad to jot down ideas
• a pack of note cards and envelopes (can be used as recipes card or invitations)
• 5 festive flags

All of these a ideas are just suggestions of course, this giveaway is a gift just for you to make and create your own special summer memories!

I will run this giveaway until Wednesday of next week, and the names will be folded and put in the salad bowl and randomly picked by my daughter.

I will announce the winner  Thursday,  June 11, 2015. I will mail it off to the winner that afternoon.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Salad and your favorite summer colors and why these colors are your favorite.

 

 

 

Bin Transformation

I really like the size and shape of these Dollar tree Bins but the color is just to bright for me.

I decided to use some left over chevron fabric to cover the from and sides of the bins. Using a bit of hot glue, twine and a couple of labels I was able to transform the bins.

The embellishments of twine and seashell add to that coastal look that I like so much!

I left some space on this label in case I add any other items to the bin later on.

I like to do fast, inexpensive up-cycles with things I already have to make my home a bit more updated and coordinated as well.

 

Lovely Laundry

Lately, I have been able to find joy in the "mundane" chores in my life. I remember reading a blog several years ago and the author saying that very same statement but at the time i just couldn't wrap my head around it.

I guess that is a growing process that comes with being more content with my state of life. Folding some fresh smelling laundry can be a meditative, calming activity these days!

I like to think of my children, my home and my husband and how blessed I am having my faith as well! Each piece of cloth, each towel or napkin becomes a prayer or an offering to God for the gratitude I have in my heart !

Neatness and order are important in our home especially with our large family. Everything has a specific place so the clutter is kept to a minimum.

I love wonderful scents for our home, and I am sort of a soap and candle addict. I shop at Marshall's for the higher quality hand soaps. They have wonderful  decorative bars and hand pump soaps and they are always very reasonably priced.

Making loveliness out of the mundane is a gift from above. I am glad God has given me eyes to see that now! I hope that you enjoy your laundry today and if not today maybe tomorrow or in a few years from now!

Red, White, and Blue Festivities

Sunday was a big day for all of us, we celebrated Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, and our son, Max's fifteenth birthday, too. Since Monday was also Memorial day, I decided to use red, white and blue to pring it all together!

I have been using this cute galvanized tray as a focal point for our parties and celebrations! It is also very functional, keeping napkins, plates, cups and plastic wear together and central.

I made some more paper flags inspired by " The Homespun Heart" blog and later added some festive flowers.

These were only $3 at Wal-Mart for a bouquet of about 7 flowers.

Food as decor is always a plus, nothing will go to waste and nothing to store afterwards!

I had this adorable wheel barrow, a thrifted find from years ago. It has been several colors, first it was green, then pink, now it is blue.

There is so much to be thankful for in life. I am so thankful for my faith, my family and my friends! All good and perfect gifts come from above!