reference found here
simple is beautiful
July 11, 2011
this bed and breakfast in Spain is making me want to throw out everything in my house and REALLY simplify! is is not gorgeous? find full article here
i decided to simplify the bliggity blog a little as well – like?
this is my favorite pic of manners this summer – lovin it!
power of a book
June 21, 2011i am a firm believe in the power of reading. i love to curl up with a book and go into my own world and escape into a story. before i had 3 kids, i would knock out books one after another. now, when night comes and i began to read a page, i cannot make it past 2 sentances without falling asleep. in due time…..i will have time….to read again. until then, i am reading away to my little loves.
i believe that all children love books. you have to find books that interest them, you have to read to them {in a non boring monotone way} and create a place where they can read.
do you like to read on the hard floor? i am sure most readers, like to curl up, in a comfortable place. well, our kids are the same. i OFTEN find lucy or michael anne by themselves reading away and i think a lot of it is because i have created a special place for books. they are accessible, and it is comfortable.
it does not have to be anything fancy {ikea mattress or a dog bed} but it is a place to sit that is comfy.
some other inspiration for making a nook
image credits {here, here, not sure, here}
you don’t have to have a large space – create one today! and give your kids the gift of a space and your time reading to them for a hobby {full of knowledge} that is life long
organizing toys
June 15, 2011
here is a little tip for organizing toys. first off, i believe that the less children have the more content they are. Now, i know we have a ton of toys {too many actually} but i try to be selective about what is out. i will rotate toys, and even save some for later. i am constantly purging toys to give away – {ones that make too much noise} or little things that just lay around and serve no purpose. i buy clear containers {i am clear container happy and could spend all my life in the container store – its a remarkable place i must say} anyway – buy clear so that you and your children can see what’s inside. the trap of toys is when they fall into a deep pit where no one can see them. here are my steps for an organized happy playroom.
~take inventory and minimize the clutter – kids function better in a clean and clear space
~my bookshelves are from ikea and give me great space for toy storage
~put toys in clear containers
~ i label mine and use different colors so lucy can say, “mommy, will you hand me the purple box” or i will say, “lucy, put away all the cars in the red box”
~store some toys {closet, garage} and pull them out when age appropriate or need a change of toys
~you can never have too many books:)
~it makes clean up a breeze when everything has its place
~kids are happy and mom is happy:)
crustiness
June 9, 2011my girls are waking up with some crusty eyes! so sad looking right?
they look horribly sick huh?! i think they are getting a little better – we have a big weekend so i am pumping them full of meds. remember the dairy festival? it is one of my favorite times of the year
here is sweet tess going about as normal – earlier i was cleaning the kitchen when i heard silence. usually this means the girls are up to no good:) i rounded the corner {in a fast walk} and found them both reading books. that made my heart swell:)
since summer is here are days are a little different. lucy has been wandering around the house saying, “what do i do now, mommy what can i do etc…” so i made this chart {in a hurry} {don’t knock the car drawing} {or the green apple, or fairy…they are all bad i know!} so she would know the order of our day. some families fly by the seat of their pants, but i like order….i always have. she has loved moving the clip down the chart through the day. all i have to do when she asks something like…. “mommy can i have a snack?” then i direct her to the chart and she gladly waits:) {i promise i can draw better than this 
} i highly suggest this for kids 3 and up. the drawing icons let her know what is happening since she cannot read.
at the end of the day we were looking at the chart and talking about how it was time for bed….she moved the clip back up to number five and said let’s do that one again. it melted my heart because #5 is special mommy time where she has me all to herself since both sisters are asleep. it let me know how much she values one on one time:)
