Fabulously Domestic

Friday, January 20, 2012

WAHM Schedule

Do you work from home? Ever wonder what a WAHM's schedule looks like?
I'm not sure there is a typical schedule, since our kids are all at different ages and stages.
And I KNOW other moms are much more efficient and can manage their time better than I do.
But I wanted to give you a little glimpse into my life this morning - complete with bad pictures from my camera!

5:30-nurse baby, put him back to sleep.
6:00-make hubby's lunch
6:15-coffee

6:30-wake big boys, get them ready for school

7:00-start laundry

7:15-play with kittens (we have 5, anyone want one?!)

7:30- wake baby, load up and take kids to school

8:00-baby in bouncy seat, Mama starts working on orders

8:05-pin, pin, pin fabric for a car seat cover

8:15-crying baby

8:16-bring baby to help Mama work

8:20-give up on work. Baby crying again, ready for morning nap

8:30-9:15 nursing baby to sleep & talking to good friend on phone

9:15-computer time

9:50-blog post

And now I'll hopefully start cutting, ironing, pinning and sewing again! I've got orders to fill, woo hoo!

(The rest of the day I'll be juggling lunch with The Chief, sweet time caring for Monkey Man and the baby, cleaning, cooking and maybe some more sewing??)

What are you up to today?

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Bucket List

This is being reposted from For The Luv Of Boys. While it was written for the summer break, I really like that the idea can be adapted for any time of year!

Can you believe how quickly this school year has flown by?!
My boys have less than a month before their summer break begins.
That gives me heartburn. Just a little.
How on earth can I keep them occupied and not fighting?
Not tearing up the house?
Not driving me to the brink of insanity?

Part of the answer is routine - my kids thrive on routine.
They get it at school and they do awesome!
But summer comes & we let all routines fly out the window.
Not this year.
I learned the hard way last year.
The kiddos are going to wake up at a decent hour, get chores done and eat at normal times.
The rest, though, will be free time!

Do your kids get bored with too much free time?
Mine sure do!
I decided to revamp an idea I shared back in December.
I'm making a Summer Fun Idea bucket.
{Would have been a jar, but I'm fresh out.}
In case you want to make one, too, here are the instructions:

What you'll need:

Jar or bucket
List of activities
Summery scrapbook paper {for tag}
Twine or ribbon {for tag}
Scissors or paper cutter to cut list into strips

Instructions:

1 Cut list of activities to same width
2 Cut into strips {there are lines to make this super easy}
3 Fold up or roll each strip
4 Throw in bucket
5 {Not shown} Make cute tag for your bucket/jar
*I know this is so simple that you probably didn't need instructions, but I did them just in case, you know?*

Whenever my boys get bored this summer, they can take turns drawing a slip of paper out.
I plan to do all the activities as a family and hopefully beat the boredom blues.
Who knows, maybe you'll see some of our fun in action this summer!

Get your list of activities here - change, add and omit as you see fit for your family!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Resolutions - My Take

Happy New Year | Forward this Picture

Yes, I know I'm about 10 days late to talk about my resolutions. You're ok with that, right?

So what resolutions did you make? Same ones as last year? Yep, me too!

Lose weight, get healthier, get organized, have more "me" time, stress less, spend more time in the Word, call and talk to my parents more, spend more fun time with my kids and hubby.

I read this morning on a news ticker that today is the day most people stop working on their resolutions! Can you believe that? Ten days in and the majority of people have already lost their motivation. Well, I can believe it - I haven't even started working on a couple of my resolutions! Oops.

The one thing I have been working on is eating healthier to help lose this baby weight. I'm embarrassed to admit, but I gained over 80 pounds during this last pregnancy! Holy cow, that is a LOT of weight!!! Especially since I knew better. But, I also know that I'm one of those unlucky people that just starts instantly gaining, even without changing any eating habits. It's not fair!

In the first two weeks post-partum, I lost over 40lb! I'm guessing that's all water weight. Which means I must have turned into a camel at some point of the pregnancy and didn't realize it! What I'm left with though is a whole lot of flabby gross fat to work hard to lose. For me, it's easiest with a plan - so I joined Weight Watchers. For anyone who needs help and motivation, I encourage you to find a good healthy program that works for you. I love WW, but I'm sure it's not a perfect fit for everyone.

I'll occasionally post here with updates of how I'm doing in weight loss, organization, and the fun stuff I'm doing with my boys. I'd love to know if some of you are working in these same areas! Please let me know if there is any way I can encourage you along the way - I know it always helps me to hear kind words when I'm struggling to stay motivated!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Getting Kids to Help

This is being reposted from For The Luv Of Boys:

Lately my hubby has been commenting that the boys are not doing their share around the house.

I am so thankful that he understands that keeping house isn't just MY job.

This morning we decided it was time for a chore chart.

Then I got overwhelmed.

Here's what I've tried in the past that didn't work for us:

Printed weekly charts to put stickers on

Printed, laminated daily charts to use dry erase marker on

A printed list of chores that each boy can choose from each day

No list or chart - just yelling when the house got nasty

So here's what I knew I needed:

A perpetual list/chart that can change daily

Something reusable - not printing over and over

Color Coded (of course)

Customizable for my kids

Easy to understand

Visually attractive so it can be displayed

The chore chart below is what I've come up with!

I'm not doing a tutorial, because it's really just too simple.

But, here is what you'll need:

Cork-board

Colored Pens

Push Pins

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Domino Sports Necklace

This is being reposted from For The Luv Of Boys:

As I've mentioned recently, it's almost baseball season. The Chief and Con-Man usually have two games each, every single week. I LOVE this! I'm definitely a sports mom. Not one of the crazy ones that's way too tough on her kids, or expects them to go pro. I just love watching them play - whether it's baseball, basketball, football - whatever. If they are having fun, I'm having fun watching in the stands. I clap and cheer more loudly than I probably should, but I'm just such a proud mama!

Being a sports mom, I absolutely dress the part. If I can get a team shirt, I wear it. If not, I've still got to show my support somehow! So that's why I decided to make myself a cute Domino Sports Necklace with my boys' names on it!

*Note - this necklace is for one of our team moms - I would NOT put my kiddo's name out there for potential crazies to see.*

Here is the easy as pie tutorial. If you make one, I'd LOVE to see it!

Domino Sports Necklace

What you'll need:

Domino

Chain necklace

Bead (big enough for chain to go through)

Mod Podge & brush

Sealant

E-6000 or other strong glue

Emery board

Scrapbook paper

Directions:

1 Print child's name on scrapbook paper

2 Trace around domino & cut out

3 Apply Mod Podge to domino with brush

4 Smooth paper onto domino

5 Use emery board to sand off any edges hanging over sides

6 Seal with spray sealant (OUTSIDE) and allow to dry

7 Apply extra layer of Mod Podge - I seal 1st because I use an inkjet printer and sometimes the ink will run if I apply the Mod Podge directly over the paper

8 Seal again, allow to dry

9 Apply bead on side of domino using E-6000. Follow package directions to get the strongest bond. Allow to dry.

10 Thread the chain through the bead and show your sports mama pride!

The great thing about this necklace is it's so versatile! Since I have two boys playing, I put one name on each side and simply flip the necklace around depending on who's playing! I'm also making some domino necklaces with pretty, girly paper and rhinestones!

These are SUPER affordable. I had the glue, Mod Podge and sealant here, so total I spent less than $2 on each necklace!!! I think they'd be fun to make with the girls during a craft night.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Luv Bug Magnets

This has been reposted from For The Luv Of Boys.

I'd love to show you guys a little craft we just threw together with some items from our big craft box. I know the idea isn't new, but it's cute and fun! AND, this is about the only time I've ever gotten my boys to use pink paint!

Luv Bug Magnets

You will need:

Clothes pins

Magnet strips

Paint

Glue

Ribbon

Googly Eyes

Pipe cleaners

Any other crafty items you like

Protect your work surface. Paint clothes pins with craft paint. Don't worry about it being perfect - mostly just cover the sides. The rest will be covered with ribbon.

Let dry completely. Glue ribbon to top of clothespin.

Now glue to the inside half of where you pinch.

I just pushed the ribbon down in there with the tip of my scissors.

Now add any embellishments you like. We used pipe cleaners, small pom poms and googly eyes.

Here are our little Luv Bugs hard at work!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

New baby, New challenges, a New Me

It's funny how we make plans in life and have assumptions about how everything will work out. We go into a new situation expecting one thing, and sometimes get another.

My new baby is a good example!

I FULLY expected that our fourth child would finally be a daughter. I had no doubt. Boy was I wrong!

I really thought labor would come early and I'd be allowed to try for a VBAC. Wrong again! Actually, we found out after he was born via scheduled c-section that our dates were off and he was born past his due date!

I thought that I would be able to assume my role as Supermom very quickly, tackling the cooking and housework as well as run my etsy shop (filled with new items even!). Nope!!! Not even close. Every day is spent juggling my "before" life with a nursing-all-the-time-baby.

Which leads me to my last wrong assumption - I really thought I would be able to breastfeed my son with no problems, just like I did the last time around. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Baby is 6 weeks old. In this time, I've had cracked, bleeding nipples, thrush, mastitis, and unexplained, toe-curling, tear inducing pain. I've had multiple meetings with lactation consultants and doctors, tried prescription meds and home remedies. I've been tempted to stop trying & just use formula, like I did with my first two sons. But I can't! I'm too stubborn. That's what it boils down to - my chubby little guy with his double chin and thigh rolls smiles up at me after his meal and I know that nothing is going to keep me from feeding my baby the way I was made to! Please don't get me wrong - I have NOTHING against using formula (except the way it smells). I believe everyone makes the decision about what is right for them and their children. Personally, I LOVE breastfeeding. Well, not the pain & challenges that I've had this time, but every other aspect of it! I just want to nurse my baby, darn it!

Maybe when I get "the girls" healthy, I can dig out that old Supermom cape. I can be really productive, have a clean house, yummy food on the stove, work out 5 days a week, do crafts every day with my kids, and spend time with my girl friends. Maybe. I'm assuming, though, that those days are over. I think I should probably come to terms with the NEW ME. The mom who has big visions, but little time to realize them. The mom and wife who tries her best, but never crosses every item off her to-do list. The woman who struggles daily, but loves her life and is ready to throw out expectations and live!

By the way - the shop is now open for business. I'll spend some time each day working on new items to list. In the mean time, though, please feel free to convo me for custom orders!