Montessori rules!!!!

I'm not to sure of the rules of Montessori, nor have my children been to a Montessori school. With that said, I like the ideas, especially the one of teaching kids independence. I took one idea I found and thought I'd try it out.

I created a shelf in my pantry just for the kids dishes.

First reason and most important, I hate looking at them, my OCD hates it, my non conformist stereotypical kids image hating self hates it! Enough said.

Second I had hoped it would corral them all in one spot, which is working.

Third I thought maybe, just MAYBE, my son would want to help serve himself?

Well....it works!!!! Every breakfast and lunch time so far he gets excited about picking out whichever plate he wants to eat from, and also choosing ones for the other family members! The bonus!!!! It ties him up for a few minutes deciding while I get the little one into his seat and settled with something to munch on, so I don't have two whining hungry kids yelling at the same time I'm trying to spread peanut butter, or slice up fruit!

So go ahead give it a try see what happens?

By the way he also helps get all the materials from the fridge now too! This whole process has changed my mood when it comes to preparing meals for them.

Under pressure

So my oldest son is starting school soon and this is what I'm dealing with!!!

I'm not an uppity sort of person at all, came from very little, but I think I have done ok for myself. I'm well educated (on my own dollars, well sallie maes really but whatever!) I've been all over the country, and eaten and stayed at some of the best places. I know a good meal from a bad one, and like quality things.

With that said, here's the scoop....his school is in a private gated community, it's a great school, and I'm lucky to have gotten in on short notice. It was my first choice when considering schools, simply for the good reviews. However, I have received the class list and everyone in the class is from either that community, or the neighboring town (which is much more well to do than my little town) except me!

I know I shouldn't feel like it is a competition, but I can't help feel that I just want to be taken as equal, and not feel left out, or that my children will be treated any differently? So I find myself searching this morning for my best clothes (with the least amount of wrinkles) and making sure my kids are dressed, not in their pjs, when we are expecting a visit from his teacher! I took the time to switch out the kids toys to make sure she would only see the best and not the 30 crappy Wendy's kids meals toys the kids are usually throwing around, we'll what's left of them.

I think it really comes down to me wanting to better myself. I've always wanted to be better than my parents, or better than some of my family members, especially the ones that I can't bear to even listen speak!! I always have strived to be my best, and I'm very competitive, so I guess it's natural for me to turn this into a competition? But to tell the truth I really like nice things, they last longer, I get more out of them for my money, I think the uppity people may be on to something? Now if I only had the money to fund this adventure in class. For now ill make do with what I have, and make sure to spend some time taking care of the nice things I have. And the rest with my kids.

That's all for today.

Miserable mornings!

I am a mom of two young boys and want to be that person who gets up before them and enjoys a newspaper and a cup of coffee....well it's just not in my cards.

First I am a night owl, often have a hard time falling asleep, and an even harder time deciding when to go to sleep. I love the alone time at night with my thoughts and peace and quiet. However, I know I should've going to sleep much earlier in order to be up and at me in the morning. Truth is I just hate mornings!

Now my real problem lies with my kids love of waking up early!!! My eldest son always rises about a half hour before I'd like him to no matter what time that is!! He is now determined to make as much noise as possible In order to wake up my other son! Terrific right? Yeah well that's how my day starts every day!  Then we proceed I to cranky town for the next two hours at least. The oldest wants to eat something I scantly and is yelling until its in his mouth. The little one is over tired from being woken up early and is just cranky, his new favorite thing is to bang his head on things...the gate, the table, the door, pretty much anything!

So I'm at the point right now where I just don't know how to make things better besides me changing my nice quiet peaceful me time to sleep time! Ugh! Things don't look like they will be in my favor for a looooong time! But if it will affect them in a positive way I'm all for it.

A for the coming week I'm going to yet again change my lifestyle in order to achieve happiness for everyone in my house. Wish me luck!

Ll bean love

This week I've been on the hunt for a lunchbox for my son. Not knowing anything about this whole going to school with kids process I wasn't sure what would be the best choice for him? I searched around online and found a few things to help organize his lunch at department stores but honestly was a little overwhelmed with all the choices. Then I remembered his backpack, the one I had gotten for him when he was just a tiny baby, the one with his initials so nicely embroidered on the back. LLbean, yes! Ill check them out. Here are the reasons why...

For starters there from New England and everything from there is wonderful, including yours truly. Also I know there stuff lasts forever.

The next reason I decided to go with them was the price. Compared to some online at target the price was actually less than the one with the cute dinosaurs on it that he would maybe hate? And definitely outgrow.

Also, they make it so simple and foolproof, the lunchbox comes I the same colors as the backpack so I can keep all his stuff the same, making it easy for him to keep together, easy for the teachers to keep together and easy for me as well. It's so great knowing that when it's time for my second son I don't have to think about it, just go with llbean and pick a different color, choices made, no wasted time.

This is the one I went with;

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/70705?feat=844-GN1&page=lunch-box&attrValue_0=Forest%20Fern


I did splurge for the monogramming on the lunchbox as well, but again two birds with one stone, now i also dont have to worry about labeling it somehow, which the school wants. And on a side note, my sons actually have the same initials so if by chance I just want to pass this set down to the little one, easy peasy! So actually it's like four birds with one stone!

Ill try to update this post after we've used it for a while to let you know how it's working out, but if its like any of there other merchandise I can probably write a fantastic review right now.

Now I can't wait to get it in the mail and have him be excited about it, also avoiding any sort of meltdown at the store picking one out with him, always a plus!

Preparing for nursery school?

We are at the point In our lives right now where we've decided to try and send our oldest son to nursery school. I don't really know what the difference is between this and pre school? I'm not quite sure how to get him prepared, or us?

 I remember what it was like getting myself ready for the first day of school when I was young, but things have changed A LOT! Also, I'm not familiar at all with what he will need for nursery school? Does he need pencils and paper, like we did every year? A new lunchbox is on the list, and we already have a backpack for him so that is covered. But, with all the rules and regulations of today's world I'm almost afraid of buying anything until they tell me exactly what he can and cannot use? I was already informed that his lunches cannot have nuts? Well, for a kid who eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day for lunch this might present a problem on the very first day!

I am ready to get myself organized and make sure I have everything at home he will need, I'm just stuck on what exactly those things should be? I don't want him to feel left out when he gets there because he's missing something? And I don't want to be that mom that doesn't know what she's doing either?

So here we are trying to make some sense of what to do, trying to make sure he knows what to do by himself. Working on manners, and hygiene, and ow new foods too I guess? All of this jammed into just a few short weeks since this was a last minute decision for us. We will make it through I'm sure, but for right now I'm feeling a little clueless.

Wish us luck in the weeks to come for a smooth transition.

Similar mom therapy!

So today I took the boys to a regular play date at one of our favorite spots, and happily met up with a mom friend who has two boys the same ages as mine. She is also a stay at home mom and puts her kids first before anything else. I was so relieved to hear that her problems are so similar to mine, I think I really needed to know that I'm not the only one that thinks, some days, it IS all too much! We are both still nursing kids at the ages fifteen and eighteen months, hoping that we could have stopped by 12! But too tired and frustrated to push it with a stubborn almost toddler! We both agreed that we thought we'd be better moms then we actually are, and that two is more than enough to handle at this point in our lives. The kids were great and we all had a wonderful time, it just felt really great to know I'm no the only one that finds herself second guessing the choices I've made sometime? I know everything will turn out fine but, it's all just a process of learning, failing, and succeeding I guess?

That's all for today

Thanks mom like me ;) good to know your right there with me!

Had my second encounter yesterday as I watched a mom of four boys at the park line up the boys next to her car, proceed to pull down their pants and help them pee right next to her car. Yep, that's how it is done and I'm not ashamed of it either mom like me!! Thank you. Four boys!! Geesh! I can't imagine that.

Big changes coming.

I've been putting off for some time now, even thinking about it, sending my oldest to school. Well, I think the time has come? I've been seriously considering it a lot lately and am even going to see a school tomorrow. I've come to this decision for several reasons.

The first is for him, I think he needs the structure and I just don't have that in me right now. He also could use the direction from someone other than me or his father? I think the time away from us will make him excited to see us again and we will have so much to talk about.

The second, is my second son. I am really missing the one on one time with him. I feel that I've missed so many things with just him being that I am always with the both of them. I've just recently stopped nursing him and that time we had together alone is now gone.

Lastly, for me. For my peace of mind, my sanity, my self. I've spent almost everyday all day with my children since they were Born. Very few times have I even left them with family for a few hours. And my oldest has only been away from me overnight twice, once of which was when I had my second child.

There are many more reasons to list but I am happy with my thoughts so far, we shall see how tomorrow turns out? I may have a change of heart, after a visit? Getting a little emotional about it even now.

A Hallmark Christmas 2011



Thought i would post a series of these as i have done quite a few already see A Hallmark Christmas 2012 for the back story (i realize i'm going in the wrong order but it is what it is!)

The theme for my christmas extravaganza for 2011 was "Rustic Metallic" what is this? you say. well it was the incorporation of all ornaments i own from Hallmark that included anything metal, i.e. gold, silver, copper, etc. and anything resembling any rustic images of christmas i.e. brown, natural, earthy, garden (which we have a lot of since we are avid gardeners) here's just a few little snippets of two of my favorites!

father christmas

a cozy fireplace 

I decided to use burlap as my accent ribbon and found a beautiful bronze glittered ribbon that i fell in love with. i had some leftover gold and silver ribbons and decided to use a row of each of these on the tree to change it up (instead of the same ribbon all over) it came out great!

the finished tree all lit up with 2200 lights 

tree top bow

I needed a tree topper and decided the burlap and bronze looked so great together i used it to make a loose regular giant bow (which i still think is one of my favorites ever!)











I also decided that i needed to add the burlap and bronze to the bottom part of the tree soooo a tree skirt, perfect! i took a leftover piece of burlap that has been used at numerous events over and over and cut some slits around the perimeter and wove the sparkly bronze ribbon through the slits, beautiful!!!

tree skirt

 i was in love with this tree. i hope you feel the same :) oh and i almost forgot this christmas was the first in our new house in which we had just moved in 2 months earlier aaaaand i was very pregnant with my second son (due in feb) and had a 2 year old running around! i had also decided last minute that the living room HAD to be painted before the christmas tree could come into the house. for our first christmas it had to be as perfect as possible! i did all the lights and decorating myself (excluding the heavy lifting of bins) i feel like this was a huge accomplishment for me and also done on an extreme budget!

A Hallmark Christmas 2012

I have an extreme passion for christmas decorating and thought i would share some of my more recent accomplishments for anyone that needs inspiration. i also take pride in thinking outside the box as much as possible when it comes to decorating while still being tasteful of course. after years of doing this i finally decided a blog would be a great way to save and share all my past years projects.

We as a family are devoted to Hallmark ornaments and have spent a small fortune on purchasing ornaments over the last ten years. this tradition was passed down from my husbands gram who started collecting many years before i came along. because of her now my mother in law, brother in law, my husbands aunt, and two cousins all collect as well. the collections are vast and highly valuable. we've even got insurance on ours and they are all documented in more than one way!

With that said i try to create a unique theme every year incorporating as many of the hallmark ornaments as possible as they are the feature of our tree. it's a task not any of our other family members really dares to take on (except my sister in law who will admit that she's not as creative as i am) this year i was especially proud that i came up with a theme that not only included our hallmark ornaments but also included one of our passions and something i feel very strongly about....travel.

2012 christmas around the world

I pulled all the ornaments we had that involved a globe (obvious) but also anything that had a hint of christmas from another country/ethnicity/religion/location. i also decided to pull anything resembling chris kringle or santa and how he's represented in his many different forms. i didn't quite realize how many ornaments that met these qualifications until i started unpacking them. plenty to cover the tree.

some worldly ornaments 

I had an idea to make some "extras" using an old road atlas? they turned out great and were super easy to make. mini paper chains! great idea huh, worked perfect on the tree i did about 13 different sections and draped them all over instead of one solid chain wrapped around.

paper chains

I also added some small bows all over using 3 different types of ribbon cut into small pieces and wired together. i also added in some blue, yes blue (it was more of a sea blue than a royal blue) into the ribbons as my accent color. my husband was less than happy with the idea but i think it looked lovely. i also used the color in the tree skirt and it really finished it off nicely. a tip! if your going to use blue in your christmas decorations keep the other colors in the warmer family, i chose brown and bronze/gold accents instead of silver and white, the contrast seemed too much and the warm earthy tones really complimented the bright blue.

my bows

the final tree with my little elf


I hope you all take some inspiration from this idea and play off it post anything you come up with for your home, i would love to see a different view of the same theme.