Mom's Weekly Check List

I have a problem.
I am easily distracted.

And while I have great intentions at the beginning of each day I have a hard time accomplishing things without written directions - maybe I am ADD, ADHD or something, I'd like to blame it on something other than me just being me!
So I have spent many hours trying to find my own motivations, and trying to play on that.
I have a weekly schedule that I try to fill our each Sunday evening - sometimes it happens each evening.  This really works great because I just do exactly what it tells me to on the piece of paper (most days).

Here is an example of a 'normal' Monday in my schedule:

I have uploaded it to Google docs via here, if you are interested.

Since the arrival of our sweet baby girl I have been struggling getting the laundry folded and put away as well as paperwork taken care of (this always seems to be the case following a baby - and each time it takes progressively longer to rebalance).

I have created a check list to complement the schedule above - kind of helps to keep me on track.  I obviously cannot do each of these things each day so the number on the left is what my goal is for each week.

Printable version can be found in Google docs here

Using this list for the past couple of weeks indicates that I accomplish approximately 60(ish)% of what I set out to do each week.  I am hoping to improve that number to closer to 80% in the next few weeks.  I also have lists for monthly and annual, but they are still being tweaked and I hope to share soon.

Be productive.




Linked up to here:

Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog

Tip Me Tuesday @ Tip Junkie

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Time Out @ Reasons to Skip the Housework

Tuesday Linky Party @ A Bowl Full of Lemons

Let your creative juices flow @ These Creative Juices
Creative Mondays @ Claire Justine oxox
Tell it to me Tuesday @ Creatively Living
Show me What you Got @ Our Delightful Home

And here: When I Party!

Girly Bag

I spent yesterday afternoon sewing together the fabric that I had cut out last week.  It was so nice to just sit down and sew with out any prep work - I had done all of it before!

What a great way to do a project - I think I like that process and may try to do things that way all the time.  With my current mothering duties, I do not have several consecutive hours to devote to a project. 

After our babies were born, my sister asked if I had any girly feminine bags laying around that she could use for a diaper bag.  I didn't, but had her pick out fabric so that I could make one for her.

Detail of the handles - I love the rings

 She also picked out the Highbrow Hobo bag pattern from U-handbag.  It was honestly one of the easiest transactions ever, within seconds of paying the pattern was downloaded and on my computer ready to be used.  I would definitely purchase from them again!

I really love how it turned out - I think that the o-rings just make the whole thing!  It is a perfect size - not too deep.  I added an additional pocket on the backside, so that the front and back have the same large outside pocket.  Plus the way that the pocket tapers at the top means that all the required fun baby paraphernalia will stay in the bag.  I did not add pockets to the liner, although it could easily be done.


Linked up to:
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog
Tip Me Tuesday @ Tip Junkie
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tuesday Time Out @ Reasons to Skip the Housework
Tuesday Linky Party @ A Bowl Full of Lemons
What's New Wednesday @ Grateful Belly
Homemade by You @ Pincushion Creations
Whimsy Wednesdays @ The NY Melrose Family
I Made It! Monday @ Ninth Street Notions {I was featured there this week as well - eek!!  Thank you.}
{wow me} Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Show & Share @ Vintage Gwen
Launch Party Link-ups @ Craftbotic
Wednesday Whatsits @White Lights on Wednesday
Refresh your Nest @ Making Lemonade

And others here: Where I Party!

Cookies - my downfall.

After reading about fitness challenges on different sites around the web, I decided it would be great to set one up for my family.  We are scattered around the midwest, so it was a good way to increase communication and get us moving/eating healthier.

 The first couple of weeks we had a strict no sweets for 6 days/week, but seeing that we all inherited the desire need to consume some type of chocolate each day, we changed the challenge allowing a small treat each afternoon.  'A little treat to make the meal complete.'

And these are my downfall - I purposely make them small(ish) so that when I eat 5 of them it is more like 2 'normal' sized cookies.

 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 1/3 c. butter

1 1/3 c. shortening

2 c. white sugar

2 c. brown sugar

4 eggs

4 t. vanilla

2 t. baking soda

2 t. salt

6 c. flour

1 c. oats

4 c. chocolate chips

1. Cream butters & sugars until mixed & 'fluffy'
2. Add eggs and vanilla - mix until smooth
3. Add dry ingredients
4. Mix in chocolate chips
5. Chill for 1 hr. (this is important - not sure why, but my cookies always turn out better if the dough is chilled for a bit)
6. Use small scooper (I have a Pampered Chef one) to form dough into balls, place on cookie sheet.
7. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes
8. Cool and enjoy

ETA: I was asked by a real life friend if it was actually baking powder that I used in my recipe because she tried them and they turned out flat.  Turns out I wrote wrong.  It should be baking SODA (sorry to anyone who made them and flopped them).  And thanks Tanya!

I often make the dough in the morning as the toddlers are eating breakfast, and then bake the cookies in the afternoon during naps.

Enjoy - I know I sure do.

Link up to:
Strut your Stuff @ Six Sisters' Stuff
Sweet Saturday @ Gingerbread
Serenity Saturday @ Serenity You
Get Schooled Saturday @ Too Much Time on My Hands
Show and Tell Saturdays @ Be Different Act Normal
Crazy Sweet Tuesday @ Crazy for Crust
Tuesday Linky Party @ A Bowl Full of Lemons
I Made It! Monday @ Ninth Street Notions {I was featured there this week as well - eek!!  Thank you Amanda.}

What's New Wednesday @ Grateful Belly

Homemade by You @ Pincushion Creations
Launch Party Link-ups @ Craftbotic
Wednesday Whatsits @White Lights on Wednesday

Perhaps a Shriek Escaped

I may or may not have let out a little shriek when I opened this box...

...these types of deliveries are the best kind (at least in my mind). 

There is laminated cotton on the rolls, some fun quilting cotton prints, a bit of flannel, home decor yardage from Amy Butler, and 6 yards of heavy stuff for curtains.  14lbs total - aaaah made my day.

And I even have a project cut out and ready to be sewn, and if I had the proper thread color I would be sewing instead of typing.  Instead I'll give you a sneak peak!

I ordered from fabric.com.  It is easier for me to shop for fabric online than in person, I love wandering through a fabric shop or quilt house, but I get a bit overwhelmed by all the choices.
On a bad day I will relax in the evenings and fill my virtual shopping carts - be it etsy, fabric.com, joanns, and just dream of the fun things I could create.  At least the store clerks do not have to deal with putting away all the merchandise I pick out but do not actually buy - not that I would have ever done that in a real store in my teenage years...

Have a lovely day!

Tent City

It begins...

Blankets draped over chairs.

Kitchen stools hauled into the mix.

Books pulled off shelves to hold the blankets in place.

And you have Tent City!

This keeps the littles in my house occupied for an afternoon (or sometimes only 2 minutes), and the aftermath is a gargantuan mess of books, blankets, stools, pillows...

This year in December, I got smart!  After seeing several different types on Pinterest, I decided we needed forts/tents of some kind!

Source: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

So, Mr. Claus was put to work making frames for the tents I had sewn up.  Of course they were all different sizes, so he had to customize each frame to the corresponding fabric (it's Mrs. Claus' fault really).  Really he was a great sport about it all.

These were a very easy and 'cheap' project (or in this case, gift).  They actually turned out a bit larger than I initially thought they would, I was actually worried that they were going to be too small.

To create the fabric tent:

1. Cut off the selvedge (if there was printing on it)
2. Hemmed that cut edge
3. Created 1.5" casings on each of the short ends of the fabric
4. Made a 1" diameter casing for the top rail in the exact middle of piece of fabric.

{and that was it for the sewing portion!}

I also had thought that we'd make the frames out of wood, but it turned out that we have access to scrap metal occasionally.  It is light weight aluminum, but they are a bit bulky and heavy for the little kids.  I am often called to help with the set up.

The chain is to keep the tents from slipping flat and on to the kids playing.  On the carpet that would not happen, but still for safety if they were to take them onto concrete or other hard surface.

I also love that they fold up flat for storage, makes for easy clean up!

Hope that you have a lovely day!

Linking up to:

4 Real Friday @ Mom 4 Real
Inspiration Friday @ At the Picket Fence
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring
Oh My! Creative
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Every {Body's} Creative Endeavor @ Every Creative Endeavor
Tickled Pink @ 504 Main
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
EBTKS Party @ A Little Knick Knack
I {heart}Fridays @ Petals to Picots
Friday Fun Party @ Craftionary
Look at Me @ It's FUN to Craft
Freestyle Friday @ Happy Hour Projects
Inspire Me Fridays @ Joyful Stamper
What are little boys made of? @ seven thrity-three
Refresh your nest @ Making Lemonade
Share Your Awesomeness @ Design Dazzle
Fun Stuff Fridays @ Toys in the Dryer
Lovely Crafty Weekend @ Lovely Crafty Home
Do Something Crafty @ See Vanessa Craft
Pity Party @ 30 Handmade Day
Free for all Friday @ Sassy Sites!
Friday Fun Finds @ KoJo Designs
{Homemade by You} @Pincushion Creations
Weekend Showcase @ Mom to 2 Posh Lil' Divas
Sunday Linky Party @ Petite Hermine
Think Pink Sundays @ Flamingo Toes
Sundays Best @ My 1929 Charmer
I Made it Monday @ Ninth Street Notions
Whimsy Wendesday @ The NY Melrose Family
Wednesday Whatsits @White Lights on Wednesday

Blushing Over Here

So first things, first.  I am new to this blogging business, kind of.  A few years ago I had a family based blog that began as a way to track progress on our house, and a great way to share with friends and family.  After some time I felt that it had run its course, which it had.  I quit blogging there and never once regretted that choice.

Then last spring I was feeling a bit trapped inside my own brain, and decided to try my hand at blogging again.  Brain purging and an outlet for my creative needs are being met and I feel thankful for that!  Plus the crafty community in the blogging world is very inspiring and welcoming (thank you).


So what this rambling is getting to is the fact that Susan at Oh My! Creative is featuring my owl taggies on her blog and little old me as the featured member of her crafty community.  This is a first for me, so I am feeling rather honored.  Also, not sure why the avatar linked with my profile is extremely grainy on the home page, if you click over to see my profile it is clear as a bell, but oh well {I am not very good with the technical stuff in the bloggy universe}!

Back to the crafty community - she invited me to visit and become a part of what she is trying to create.  This place has potential to eventually suck up as much time as Pinterest...  Each member adds their projects and links to posts on their blog for other members to see.  As I was submitting projects, I shocked myself with what I had actually accomplished in the past few months.

Just thought I'd give a little shout out for you to check out her site.  Have a lovely day!

Please switch over!

As several of you may know, Google Friend Connect is being phased out.  Now, I realize I do not have all that many of you, but... I was hope that you would hop on over and follow me via the Linky Follower application.

I have a few changes and more structure that I hope to implement on this blog in the next month or so... Stay tuned.

Thanks much!  Have a lovely day.