Organized Chaos

Christmas Tablescape

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Yup...I told you I love doing tablescapes! Since I am pulling ideas together for this year, here are some pictures from the table last year. I love working with the silver chargers and adding an accent color throughout...and of course red works perfect for Christmas.

Molly Saves! In the Powder Room...e-digest review

2011-12-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

Here are my favorites from the Econobusters digest of the month...

* The dresser turned into storage...for the bathroom (or any other room, really).
* Ingredients for making homemade cleaning supplies.
* A Nod to Pinterest, which I am COMPLETELY addicited to!
* and most of all...what I really need is the Winter Weather Hair Care tips!

There's something for everyone. Check it out here!

Thanksgiving TableScape

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to decorate for the holidays is the table. I love changing the tablescape and centerpieces. Granted, I don't ususally have something fancy on the table year round...half the time we can't even see the table with all of the games and homework assignments covering it...but October, November and December are my decorating months!!

I am on the hunt for ideas for my Thanksgiving table this year. Until then, here are some pictures from the table last year.

Molly Saves! In the Laundry Room...e-digest review

2011-11-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

Time for another review! And who doesn't need some savings and time saving tips when it comes to laundry? My opinion is that I would want to spend more time in the laundry room if it looks great, is organized and functions as I need. Here are some great ideas from the November Digest over at Econobusters! And wait...there are even some Thanksgiving topics in here! A must read!

* Frugal ways to save by making your own laundry detergent and fabric softener
* A checklist to teach kids how to do laundry. I'm big on having my kids learn to take care of their own things.
* The suggestion that everyone has a specific day of the week to do their laundry. (Would love to implement this in a few years when both kids are old enough to do all of their own laundry!)
* Since my kids love to Up-Cycle all kinds of things from around the house, I can see the "From Soap Box to Magazine Holder" project coming up sometime soon.
* And the organizer in me LOVES the collection of links that lead to checklists to help make your holiday season relaxing.

Enjoy!

As a wonderful side note: November 13th is World Kindness Day and the birthday of my wonderful friend that helps make this Digest a reality. Happy Birthday, TONI! I find it very fitting that you were born on World Kindness Day :)

Molly Saves! In the Dining Room...e-digest review

2011-10-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Perfect timing for the holidays! I love the ideas presented this month for the saving in the Dining Room. I love hosting and entertaining for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so this was perfect!

Here are some of my favorite things I found in this issue:
* Connections to some great centerpiece ideas.
* A table manners quiz for the kids...I wonder how good my kids will do on this?
* Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Impossible Pie - enough said!
* Tightwad Training Camp...Food finances. The prices are going up crazy fast on food, so I'm sure a lot of people could use this article!

As always, great job Molly and Team!!!

If you haven't yet had a chance to check out this digest and other tips from Econobusters, you should take a few moments to do so. You won't be sorry!

Molly Saves! In The Family Room: e-digest review

2011-09-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

I've been needing some ideas about our family room, so I was super excited to see this issue come out.

Here are a sampling of my favorite things hidden in this e-digest:
* Links to make your own floor cushions. There is just something about sitting on a comfy floor with my kids or a good book that makes a home feel so welcoming to me.
* Love the "make your own board game" idea. I've been wanting to have my girls make one for a while so that it helps with studying...Since school is back in session, now would be a great time to get on that.
* I absolutely LOVE the redone coffee table. I have the perfect map! Hmmm....I don't think I need more projects on my to-do list, but it is perfect.
* And my absolute favorite are the handmade greeting cards by my amazing college friend, Toni Riggs. She has some great ideas that are really inspirational. And handmade cards mean so much more to family and friends.

If you don't already get the Econobusters digests, check out their site here. You won't be disappointed.

Back to School

2011-08-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

In celebration of back to school, I thought I'd share a project with you that my family created for the school Basket Bingo fundraiser last year. The theme we were assigned was Crayola. Inside the crayon box is a tote full of wonderful Crayola crayons, coloring books, projects, and more. One lucky winner would get to take the entire box home.

I should also mention that we stepped up to work on this project at the last minute because the original person was unable to decorate the tote....so here is what we came up with at the last minute (ok, the night before) it was due.

Hope you enjoy! We were very happy with how it turned out.

The Entitlement Trap

2011-08-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to see the entitlement that has found it's way into our culture today. I am hoping to find ways to keep this quality OUT of my children and I am excitedly waiting the arrival of my pre-ordered book, The Entitlement Trap by Richard and Linda Eyre.

Help us get this book on the Best Seller List and pre-order your copy today!!

The Power of Moms is even hosting a contest and you could win tickets to their September retreat!! That is something you don't want to miss.

http://entitlementtrap.com/giveaway.htm

Molly Saves! In The Closet:e-digest review

2011-08-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

I have to say that an organizing digest that tells me when National Smore's Day falls must be amazing! I will definitely be celebrating that day! - Check out the calendar for other fun days to celebrate.

That's not all that you'll find in this issue of Molly Saves! Closet organization is one of my favorite things to do when I'm on a cleaning spree...when I find free time. (Just because I can't find much free time doesn't mean I don't LOVE to organize.)

Here are some of my favorites this month:

* A closet made over into an office for an amazingly reasonable price. What a great idea for a small space.
* Homemade ice cream recipe.
* and LOTS of great tips for clothes shopping on a budget!

If you aren't already a subscriber, you can buy this amazing digest here.

http://www.econobusters.com/

Note: I wasn’t paid to write this review, but received a complimentary copy of the digest in order to give you my honest opinion of it.

Molly Saves! In The Nursery: e-digest review

2011-07-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I may be slightly partial since one of my best friends is the project manager for these digests, but seriously, they are filled with great ideas that are extremely useful and fun!

The July digest is about Saving in the Nursery and I sure wish I had this when my girls were babies!! Since I have so many friends that either currenly have babies, are about to have babies, or are trying to decide when to have babies, I wanted to share some of my favorite things I learned in this issue!

* The This N' That section has a great list of items that are on sale in July. So handy!
* Ideas for frugally decorating for a baby...things don't HAVE to cost a fortune to be adorable!
* A great idea for a new mom gift: A nighttime basket full of things that would be helpful while up for middle of the night feedings. That would have been great to have!
* I didn't realize there were so many different types of cloth diapers!
* And, I love that, at the end, it summarizes all of the links referenced throughout.

There is so much great information and inspiration packet into these digests! And since the English major in me is addicted to quotes, here are my favorite that were included in this issues:

"The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable." ~ Lane Olinghouse (This is SO true!)

“Babies are such a nice way to start people.” ~ Don Herold (I completely agree.)

If you don't already get these Molly Green digests at Econobusters, I'd highly recommend them! Check them out here.

http://www.econobusters.com/

Own Your Weaknesses

2011-05-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

The following is something that I try to live by:
In order to be happy, you have to own your weaknesses and stop comparing them to strengths of others.

And when I think of my weaknesses, I also think of my quirks.

Today I am writing about our Family Camping Binder for two reasons: 1) My OCD with lists of one of my quirks that I "own" wholeheartedly, and 2) when I mentioned I was working on it, I had many requests of what I had in it. So here it is. Hope it helps anyone else who either loves to be organized, or really needs to get organized.

Family Camping Binder

* A calendar of the summer month with all camping trips noted, reserved campsite information (including driving directions and other pertinent information if needed)
* A "Beginning of the Season" packing list (includes what we keep in the RV all season)
* A checklist of the items to pack for each camping trip
* Separate checklists for the girls (they pack their own stuff and are great at using mom's checklists)
* A menu for the weekend
* Grocery shopping list* A quick "Before we pull away from the house" list (all door and compartments closed, vents closed, etc)
* Activity lists for "On the Road" and "While Camping"
* Journal pages that we fill out on our drive home (who, what, where, when, favorite memories, etc)
* "What did we forget?" pages. Seems like there is always something we'd like to add to the next trip.

And of course, the binder cover and back are decorated with kid drawn pictures of us camping.

I love it! It helps keep us organized and sane, while still letting us get the best from our family trips.

Wow! That is a lot. No wonder I get picked on so much. :) Thanks for reading.

Happy Mother's Day - Power of Moms Style

2011-05-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

In honor of Mother’s Day this year, I wanted to let you know about a great resource that I have been SO lucky to be working with. The Power of Moms, a website and “gathering place for deliberate mothers, ” is the “professional organization for moms who take motherhood seriously.” They offer great resources to help moms take care of the person inside the mom while being the moms they really want to be.

Here are some of the wonderful things you can find and benefit from...

* Many (SO MANY) thought-provoking and practical articles they offer (there’s something new every day – often from some of my favorite bloggers and women I met at the Power of Moms Retreat in April).

* I’ve also benefited from setting up my own Learning Circle (sort of like a book group, but we read and discuss an article on motherhood each month and have such a great time learning and laughing together). We still have a few open spaces in our group if you are local and interested in joining. I'd also be happy to help you set one up in your area.

*They also have an amazing program that helps moms organize their time and tasks better called Mind Organization for Moms. I love the way it helps me clear my mind and be present when I'm doing family activities instead of worrying about all of the things on my to-do list.

* The Bloom Game, where you get points for setting and accomplishing simple but meaningful goals each week. Anyone want to play on my “Bloom Team” and compare points? I've just started and really like it.

I know that as we all share the most helpful resources and ideas we can find about motherhood, we can help ease each other’s load and feel more joy and progression as mothers. I hope you’ll enjoy the following little “gift” of links to some of my favorite articles on The Power of Moms. Grab a favorite treat, put up your feet and read some of these suggestions! And if you are interested in more...click any of the Power of Moms link on the right side of my blog :)

Mommy is a Person

It’s Going to be Hard – and That’s OK

The Perfect Mom (Is There Any Such Thing?)

Organizing Tips to Match Your Style

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Love, Chantol

Guest Post on Small Fry & Co.

2011-05-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

I’m guest posting over at Small Fry & Co. today. Stop by and check it out. She has a lot of great ideas over there!

Thankful for Small Miracles

2011-04-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I spent some time over the weekend deciding on our new systems of family chores and allowance. Mind you, our kids have always had chores and they have an allowance, we just hadn't tied them together in a consistent manner.

Well, with some amazing ideas from the Power of Moms Retreat I attended last weekend and some creative ideas of our own, we explained it all to the kids and told them that the new system would start today.

I am happy to report that morning chores, homework, and afternoon chores were all done without reminders BEFORE I got home from work! They are determined to get all of their responsibilities done so that they can get all of their pay. Now, I'm not guaranteeing that they will always get everything done without reminders, but it's nice to see that there is hope! I'll take it!

I can't wait to start teaching this system to other moms! Love it!

*** As a side note, if you haven't attended a Power of Moms Retreat yet, there is another amazing one in Park City, UT in May. It is well worth the trip! ***

Econobusters Mother's Day Giveaway!

2011-04-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

Molly over at Econobusters has put together an amazing Mother's Day Giveaway! Stop on over and learn how to enter!!!

Many of the items were created by my college friends! So excited! They are all amazing!

Get on over there and enter!

Power of Moms Retreat

2011-04-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to attend a Power of Moms Retreat in Park City, UT this past weekend. Saren and April did an amazing job putting the retreat together with many great speakers and Saren's wonderful parents, Richard and Linda Eyre, hosting the retreat in their home. To say the experience was great, is a complete understatement. 100 moms wanting to be more deliberate in their mothering, wanting to learn to “take care of the person inside the mom” and getting ideas on how to better raise children in the crazy, lazy, entitled world that we seem to find ourselves among. Those 100 moms represented 500 children! 500 little hearts and minds that will forever be better because their moms DELIBERATELY took the time to become better in their profession of motherhood.

(Saren and April, our fearless leaders for the weekend)

This retreat was far more than I had imagined it would be...and I have been wanting to attend one since I found the website.

Friday started with Mind Organization for Moms (M.O.M.), which is based on “Getting Things Done” (GTD) by David Allen. I had been using GTD for months when I found M.O.M. and was excited to see that it had been customized for moms. The presentation by April Perry was wonderful and will help so many moms clear their minds and simplify their lives so that they can be more “present” when they are with their family instead of having to always worry about what else needs to get done. ~ I highly recommend this program to all moms. I was organized before doing this program, but now my mind is organized as well and I don’t feel overwhelmed by the many projects I tackle. ~

This session was followed by a meeting of almost all of the women on the Board for Power of Moms, of which I am one of the newest members and completely thrilled to have been invited.

Saturday was the main retreat and covered a variety of topics like “Taking Care of the Person Inside the Mom”, “Effective Family Systems”, Values Parenting, and others. I have to say that I took pages and PAGES of notes (and a few pictures) and am so excited to put some of these great ideas in place with our family...hopefully helping to curb some of the issues we find ourselves faced with at this point in raising children.

I also attended the Train-the-Trainer session on Saturday evening to finish up my training and become a Certified Trainer for Power of Moms. I couldn't be more excited to work with other moms that want to become more organized and deliberate in their mothering.

In addition, I bought the book below, "A Mother's Book of Secrets" (written by Saren's mom and sister) and almost finished the entire thing on my flight home - A perfect way to end the retreat weekend.

(You can get it here.)

As a side note: The journey home was an adventure of it’s own and as I was spending my extra long day at the airport on flight standby, I shopped for mementos for my family. In that shopping search, I found something I knew my girls would love -- bright colored pencils with facts about the State of Utah...including the state flower - the Sego Lily. They were so excited about these pencils that had THEIR last name (Sego) on them. Granted, they already have the cute pencils with their first names on them, but these Sego Lily pencils had more meaning to them.

As I was searching for a magnet to add to my collection, I found two bumper stickers that summed up my weekend so well, that I HAD to get them.

~ All mothers are working mothers. ~

and

~ The best way to predict the future is to help create it. ~

That is what all of these mothers were doing at this retreat. Helping to create a better future by raising and leading the next generation.

Sunshine - We really saw it!

2011-04-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

The sun outside was amazing today! I'm so glad it decided to grace us with it's presence, even with the few rounds of sprinkles in between sun breaks. We got so much done inside and OUTSIDE today! Over the last week, we have been working in the carport, so we've thankfully been under cover while tackling some of our Spring projects. But today, it was SO amazingly nice to be able to work in the sun.

Chica took this picture while not actually looking at the sun. She was trying to protect her little eyes that haven't seen the WA sun in oh so many months. (It turned out to be an amazing shot!)

So, what did we work on today? Well, Hubby mowed the lawn, Chica visited a friend, and Monkey and I worked on spray painting a few projects. The main one that we completed today was this: A kids bench for our porch...weathered by the WA, well, NOT sun. We gave it a fresh coat of royal blue paint, then distressed it. Monkey was great help with the sandpaper. Then I added some twine since we have a "beachy" type theme on our porch. (I know we don't live at the beach, but a girl can dream.) Last touch is a cute pillow from Ikea that normally sits on our porch swing. Here are the before and after pictures:

Before: Yes, I know. VERY weathered and horrible before clean up.

Paint, and some distressing

After: Twine, pillow and put in place.

During the sprinkles, we were able to put up this adorable photo gallery kit that my amazing mom gave me as an early birthday gift! We even went through pictures and printed out the ones we wanted to fill the frames. I love it!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday tomorrow...and hoping the WA sun sticks around for just a few more ~~months~~ ~~weeks~~ days.

Putting Up Walls

2011-04-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

Today we built a wall. Not a majorly important wall, structurally speaking, but a wall that will help us separate carport from project area. A wall that will allow one car to actually park in the carport and allow the project builder to actually use the other space and find the tools and supplies needed. This is a MAJOR accomplishment for this space.

The great part about building the wall is that we get to do a project together. He measures, I cut. He lines the boards up, I agree that they look good. He climbs the ladder, I take a picture of my handy man. He holds the plywood in place, I use the nail gun to tack it down. I hammer, he takes the hammer away. (Evidently I am allowed to use the nail gun and screw gun, but NOT the giant framing hammer.) Once the wall is up, we add peg board to hang the tools most used. Then comes sorting ALL of the tools, supplies, and miscellaneous items that I have NO idea what they are or what they do. Hubby's rule: If you don't know what it is, it's a tool. He names the items, I organize them into categories. Yes, his work space is going to so organized that we will actually be able to create things in there. (Like how I note that it is HIS space that WE will get to work in? ;) )

We aren't quite finished with the "Organize the Carport" project, but the major hurdle has been completed. Tomorrow I break out the label maker so that all of those organized containers have names. (Yes, I know I'm a nerd.)

These are the kind of walls we enjoy building.

(After photos will be posted soon...Before photos might be posted.)

Deliberate Mothering over at the Power of Moms

2011-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Are you a deliberate mother?

The last few months, I have been getting as involved as I can in Power of Moms (a gathering place for deliberate mothers). In fact, I've probably driven Saren and April (the wonderful women that started Power of Moms) crazy with all of my questions and my excitement to learn their programs and teach them to other DELIBERATE MOTHERS. I've been so thankful to be able to write articles and assist with editing a few projects for Power of Moms as well.

The biggest of my projects right now is becoming a certified Power of Moms Trainer. I am so excited to be attending a Premium Retreat in Utah in just a few weeks. I have been reading, ~~stalking~~ following blogs and working toward starting Power of Mom workshops and retreats in our area. The Learning Circle that I've already started has been awesome and I really enjoy the amazing moms that I get to talk to and learn from.

If you look to the right, you can see that I've got my blog all linked up so that you can find anything you're looking for over at Power of Moms. Stop on by and see what they have going on. There are Learning Circles, the Bloom Game, Mind Organization for Moms, Podcasts, and MUCH more!

Flea Market Fun

2011-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

In February, my girls and I set up shop at a Flea Market at their school. We'd been working on various projects to sell and had a great time making them. We did ...ok... at the Flea Market, but hopefully next time there will be more advertising to get more customers in the door.

Here are some of the pictures once we were all set up.

There are still some items for sale that I will be posting on the Oges Design page. Take a look and let me know if you see anything you just have to have. My 10-year old made the t-shirts and they turned out great. My 7-year old made the adorable bowls which turned out to be very popular. In addition, there are hats, ruffle scarves, Scrabble tile keychains (pick your initial), wine charms, earrings and a few other items. Feel free to look around.

Memories - Old and New

2011-04-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

So our big project for the upcoming week, besides that it is Spring Break, is to clear out, organize and then put our carport back together...hopefully in a system where items are group together in a consistent manner, can be found when needed, and will be put back when they are not in use. I know! My expectations may be a little high for a carport, but I REALLY like to have things organized.

In the process of going through old boxes, we ran across many interesting items...an old recorder I used for college classes, sorority t-shirts, ceramics that my mom made me when I was a kid, and a box full of purple and white wedding decor from our wedding in 1998.

The "old school" mini tape recorder was a huge hit with my girls as they recorded themselves and then played it back in slow motion or in "chipmunk" voices. Kept them entertained for at least an hour and I can see many more days of fun ahead with that one.

The tape recorder was then put aside when the box of purple tulle, wedding bells and bows was opened. Whispering began and the sneaky girls were quickly grabbing items and running out the front door. Back in for more items and then back out again. They were busy for about 45 minutes when they finally came in and announced that they has remade our wedding for us...in the front yard...for everyone to see! I have to admit, it really did look like someone was setting up for a wedding! Here is what we saw when we opened the front door...

(Don't mind the little one in the robe, hat and rubber boots - doesn't look like the boots even match!

She's been sick all week and was thrilled to finally get to go outside for a little bit.)

I hope the neighbors aren't mad that we didn't send out invites ;)

Girls - Thank you for giving our wedding decorations even more wonderful memories. You always know how to make us smile!

PS - Maybe I should use them to help decorate the weddings that I help coordinate. Lol

Birthday Projects

2011-03-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

We've been working on a few projects over here for a bunch of family birthdays that are coming up in April. Here are two of my favorites.

This one is for my mom and I saw the idea here. I absolutely LOVED the Seed String Garland and I'm hoping that Mom does as well.

The next is for my adorable little niece and still needs a few finishing touches, but I think she'll like it. Can you guess her name and how old she is turning? ;)

A few more projects to go and we will be ready for the gaggle of March/April birthdays in our family.

Posting again...

2011-03-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't posted in a long while. However, there are many things going on lately so I'm hoping to get into the habit of actually using my blog. In my first effort of the year, I've updated the format and the name! Organized Chaos encompasses fully everything for me. All of my family projects, work, side projects and hobbies.

So, in addition to my ramblings about various aspects of my chaos, I will be using this as a space to post inspiring decor, organizing and project pictures (and linking to some of the many blogs I have been reading). I've noticed that there are SO many projects that I would like to tackle, but so little time. I'm hoping to use this as a way to capture those and many other ideas that find themselves in the middle of my organized chaos.

Welcome and enjoy. Let's see what else comes from this useful space.

My Status:

2010-08-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

Searching for balance....back to writing soon.

Real World Venus vs. Mars

2010-04-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

You can find me over at Venus vs. Mars today.

Have a great week!

Spring Break Road Trip - Here We Come!

2010-02-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

For the last few months, I've been working to plan a family road trip. It has been an interesting process, but we're very excited to take a long drive, explore a few other states, and visit family in Arizona. We leave in 4 weeks and cannot wait. This will be our first long road trip with kids, so we're planning lots of stops and things to see and do. If anyone has tips for traveling with little girls (6 and 9), I'm more than willing to listen :)

I'm hoping to do blog updates while on the trip...or when we get back. I guess we'll have to see how the trip goes.

Thanks!

Monday update

2010-02-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just realized that it has been some time since I posted anything. Boy, life sure catches up with you when you have to deal with house issues as a home owner. The drama of the past week has been pretty stressful, but I'm glad to say that our house is now back to functioning as it should be...that is, we have water that drains correctly. Yay!

However, today is my day to post over at the The Real World: Venus vs. Mars (I've used an adapted version one of my previous articles)....so you're welcome to jump on over and read it there. While you're there, check out what everyone else is talking about.

Happy Monday. Have a great week!

Sneak Peak

2010-01-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

*** Here's a sneak peak of the Feb. edition of my Work/Life Balance column that will be going into our school newsletter. Enjoy! ***

Happy New Year!

I have a question for you: How are those resolutions coming along? If you’re like most of us, your resolutions are well intentioned, but often tough to keep. If yours are coming along perfectly, you deserve a large round of applause.

Next question: How is your Karma bank? If you’re looking for resolutions that are rewarding and exciting enough to keep you pushing on, you might think about building up your karma bank by helping others and introducing your family to Random Acts of Kindness. Obviously the current major issue at hand is helping the people of Haiti. Not only does donating help the many earthquake victims, but it also teaches our kids important lessons that can get lost in the day-to-day world of school, homework, after school activities, TV, video games, and a million other things that demand our time and attention. It teaches them the importance of being kind, helping others, and being thankful for what they have.

It can also help us learn to better balance our priorities. Making a living vs. actually living. Wants vs. needs. Work vs. home. Money vs. time. Selfishness vs. selflessness. In each of these examples, we cannot pick just one side. We need to be able to balance both sides to the best of our individual abilities so that we do not become just the things that we have and the job titles that we hold, but, instead, the sum of our thoughts and actions.

Need some fun ideas for everyday kindness? Here’s a great article with 100 ways to start now. 100 ideas for kindness from KarmaCooler

Quote of the Month: If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~ The Dalai Lama

More like a Mom

2010-01-01T23:02:00.000-08:00

I'm constantly on a mission to learn new things. Recently, I've tried crocheting and I picked it up fairly quickly, if I do say so myself. My husband tells me I'm becoming more and more like a mom each year. He insists I should change my blog title to Domestically ENabled, but I am still learning. *** Hence, the slight title change.***

Keep in mind, I still cannot cook, I burn most things I try to bake, and I don't do the laundry. In our early married years, I turned a few of his things pink and I haven't really been asked to help out with laundry since. As far as food goes, even my kids don't ask me for anything tougher to make than a sandwich or something that can be microwaved. However, I do absolutely love to organize, I can clean a kitchen in no time, and I do all of the family finances. See, there are some benefits of being married to me. ;)

Even though we've been married for over 11 years and I've actually been a mom for 9 1/2 years, he seems to think that NOW I am becoming more like a mom. And as I opened my Christmas presents of yarn and a book on learning to knit, I realized that I am perfectly happy with his observation. So, if you are in need of an adorable scarf, I'm your girl!

The Real World: Venus vs Mars

2009-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

Today you can read my stuff over on The Real World: Venus vs. Mars. This site is about relationships. Topics are given and someone from Team Venus and someone from Team Mars each post their perspective. Check it out to see what the other bloggers are writing about as well.

Today you can read about The Top 5 Ways my Hubby/High School Sweetheart makes my Life Easier. Enjoy!

Mom's Mind Monday

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Typically, as a mom, I know that the decisions I make for my kids are the right ones(at least for us). However, I am stumped on this one. I have no way of knowing for sure if I am making the right decision...and everyone has a different answer and opinion.

On my mind today is the H1N1 vaccination that my daughters will be getting tomorrow. I'm not sure if reading all of news about the vaccine has helped me make a more informed decision or freaked me out. Most likely, it's a little of both. In the end, my husband and I decided to have the girls get the vaccine. Crossing our fingers that they don't have to endure any type of flu this season, especially this one.

When Little Girls Grow Up

2009-11-27T21:51:00.001-08:00

Over the past month, I have been listing the things I am thankful for on my Facebook page. I am thankful for many things...so today I want to focus on a specific person. On here, I call her Drama. She's 9 and she's amazing!

Fourth grade is a year of many ups and downs and many changes. I hear stories daily about her friends that have boyfriends, friends that are made at other girls for talking to their boyfriends, and friends that just kissed their boyfriends! Yikes! These kids are 9 and 10 years old! And I am thankful every time that my little girl tells me these stories and then follows them with, "Mom, what is wrong with my friends? We are too young for this!" Amen!

Fourth grade has also been a year of amazing growth for Little Miss Drama. Her room is typically very clean and she like her art and crafts items organized as she tends to write and illustrate often and wants to be able to find things. However, today is another great example of the growth that we're seeing. This morning we all get up to clean up the house so that we can pull out the Christmas decorations. Once we had finished the basic cleaning and pick up of the living room and dining room , she decided that she wanted to keep cleaning. She emptied the dishwasher (like she normally does) and the continued to load the dishwasher, wipe down counters, take out garbage and recycling, organized the cupboard that we cannot seem to keep organized and then swept the floor. Then she moved on to the bathroom! The amazing thing to me is that she does such a great job. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

I am really hoping that this cleanliness somehow magically passed to her little sister. The Monkey (aka Tornado) tends to be the complete opposite of her sister at the moment. I'm sure she'll get there as she gets older - and since I'm in no hurry to hear about her Kindergarten friends dating, I guess I'm willing to wait a little longer.

Dear Drama,
I am so proud of the young lady that you are becoming. Every day you amaze me in a new little way. Thank you for the many things that you don't even know you are teaching. I absolutely love having you as a daughter.
Love,
Mom

Soccer Mom "Me Time"

2009-11-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a soccer mom in a working mom body. I absolutely love being a mom and I highly admire moms that stay-at-home to raise their kids. It is by far the hardest job in the world. At home, your “team” doesn’t always speak in clear sentences and their desktops are covered in drool and sticky finger prints. However, it is by far the most rewarding work of all. Besides, I’m sure there are some pretty strict rules against all of that hugging and kissing at the office, no?

Working outside the home, for me, is the sort of break that many moms don’t get. However, it’s not the kind of “me time” break that my family sometimes thinks it is. It’s brain work and is not a relaxing break.

All moms, and dads for that matter, need some “me time.” Since I’m not always able to find much of it, I try to adjust little things in my life to trick myself into thinking I’ve gotten a little “me time”.

• Since I have a long commute, I typically keep this as my quiet time. There’s not much quiet when I get home, so this is my chance to think through the million thoughts that are running through my head. Typically, I don’t have time to think about them at work - because I’m working - and I might have actual "think time" at home, but I can’t hear my thoughts over the kids, dogs, tv, phone, sports shuttling and visitors. While I absolutely LOVE music, the only time I turn it on in the car is when I am so tired that I need it to keep me awake. This tends to happen more during the morning commute than the afternoon commute.
• I read. This would be considered “bite size me time”. I can read a little at a time while the kids are running around outside or playing nicely together...What? It happens! I typically read at commercial breaks in the evening when hubby and I watch TV as well. My typical reads – self-help books. I am constantly looking for ways to improve and simplify my life, thoughts and surroundings.
• Friends. Obviously it’s not good to keep your nose in a computer all day, every day, but Facebook has been a life saver in keeping me sane. I’m able to keep in touch with all of my wonderful friends from high school and college that are too far away or that I just haven’t seen in a while. Plus, I adore all the family pictures.
• Meditation. I listen to guided meditations on my iPod while I’m falling asleep. Some are for deep rest, some for stress and some to just relax. There are many on iTunes that are free and have made a world of difference to me.

The rest of my "me time" will be spent watching my girls play soccer or present songs, dances, and skits that they have created...and really, that is one of the best ways to spend my time.

~ Check out what is going on over at In the Real World: Venus vs. Mars ~

I Am

2009-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am:
• a 31-year-old mom to two girls, ages 9 and 6
• madly in love with my husband
• nowhere near perfect
• a planner and chronic list maker
• a full-time working professional
• an avid reader (especially of self-help books)
• constantly working to learn and grow
• a freelance editor
• trying to be a good role model for my girls
• working toward simplified balance
• PTA and school volunteer
• an Excel nerd
• a quote junkie
• addicted to rearranging the furniture in my house
• learning to meditate
• a horrible singer
• the family photographer
• the family accountant
• not the family cook
• not a beer drinker
• told that I am overly optimistic & perky
• a camper
• too often impatient
• a control freak
• completely OCD about some things and totally laid back about others
• frugal
• addicted to Greys Anatomy and Jen Lancaster books
• accepting that I am no longer 20-10 years old
• unable to completely relax
• still a princess, according to my dad.

~Borrowing format from another blogger on Real World Venus vs. Mars.~

Date Night Dilemma

2009-11-09T21:23:00.000-08:00

Currently, date nights don’t happen as often as we’d like. To get some one-on-one children free time together sounds great and we always talk about how much we need some time together, yet we don’t schedule it enough. However, on those rare occasions that we actually trick – I mean “ask” – a family member into keep our children over night, we still have a hard time deciding what to do.

What is it that tends to distract my husband and I from being able to remember what we used to do on date nights B.K. (Before Kids)? I know there are many things we used to do – I mean, we dated for 5 years before getting married and were married for 2 years before daughter #1 arrived – so we must have done SOMETHING on those dates.

As high school sweethearts, our dates consisted of going to the one pool hall that didn’t serve alcohol since we weren’t old enough to drink…or dinner and a movie….sometimes movie marathon days.

As newlyweds, he worked nights and I was in college during the day, so dates consisted of grocery shopping in the middle of the night and 2:00 am “breakfast” at Denny’s…or hubby picking me up after my bartending shift at the local bar. Romantic, I know.

Now, married 11 years, we try to think of something else to do on date nights. We have a pool table that we never get to play because it tends to be the “clean laundry” pile. Going to a movie pretty much defeats the purpose of going out since we can’t really talk and catch-up, which is the point of taking some “us” time. Dinner works, but I have a hard time spending $50 on something that is eaten in 30 minutes and all I have to show for it is a wider waist.

How about some new ideas?:
Me: Pottery painting?
Him: No. Fishing?
Me: No. Walk in the park?
Him: No. Target shooting?
Me: No. Picnic and watch the sunset?
Him: No. Hmmmm….

This leads us to what our last date night ended up consisting of: Drop kids off at Aunt’s house. Shop for soon to be 6-year old daughter’s birthday presents and party décor. Rent movies so that we can pause them for snack and bathroom breaks.

I know - you are all jealous of our glamorous date night. However, this works well for us. At least, until next time.

Any ideas of inexpensive yet fun date nights?

My Blissfully Sweet Life of Organized Chaos

2009-11-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hubby: “Has anyone seen my shoes?”
Me: “Under the table!”
Hubby: “Which one?”
Me: “The end table where they were kicked under, like always.”
Hubby: “How about my keys?”
Me: “Downstairs on the arm of the couch.”
Hubby: “My phone?”
Me: “Stuck between couch cushions in the living room.”
Hubby: “Wait, what about my wallet?”
Me: “You left it in the console of your Jeep.”
Hubby: “Oh yeah. Has anyone seen my hat?”

Are you KIDDING me? Thank goodness I adore this man.

This is my life of organized chaos. We’re a fun loving family that stays very busy. A family of 4 with two Chihuahuas and a rotating door that invites houseguests at all times of the year. We are currently opening our home to house guest #3, our 18 year-old niece that is going to beauty school. So, that officially makes us a family of 5 with 2 crazy dogs that think they are Dobermans and bark at every knock or doorbell ring on the TV. My daughters are amazing. At 5 and 9, they could keep me laughing from morning ‘til night, if I wasn’t at work all day. They are creative, inventive and love doing projects with Dad. “Dad, Can I use the nail gun?” is a common question we hear. They and their dad absolutely make the chaos fun and the work day worth working.

My ultimate goal is to have everything organized and to simplify our lives. This would mean that everything has a place, closest are perfectly organized and labeled, my books and files are where I left them in my office, and shoes can find their own way to the closets. ~ I’ve since come to my senses and I’m settling for being able to see the kitchen counters and not get anything stuck to my feet when I walk on the wood floors in the living and dining rooms. Yes, it’s not my idea of “clean and organized,” but as long as others are helping out, I’ve decided to not be such a perfectionist.

While things are certainly crazy all year round, I feel that summer is the craziest. With the entire family home, other than me, throughout the day, the house has no chance to sit and enjoy being clean. That is, three people here to dirty the house all day and the one that cleans is at work and does NOT want to spend her entire evening cleaning.

Enter here…the chore list. Sometimes they get done, sometimes they don’t, but mom’s rule is that if it’s not done before I get home from work, you don’t get allowance for that day. It tends to work with my 9 year-old and I’m hoping that rubs off on the 5 year-old soon. However, she tends to be a walking tornado…things literally fall on the floor as she walks by. I’m thinking about having her tested for a sixth sense…what do they call it when you can make things move without touching them?

At least with a system of chores...(written down and posted on the fridge counts as a system, right?)...and some family members that help…(Kudos to my amazing 9 year-old!)...we can typically find the things we need to make our family function without too much freaking out…on good days. This is what I call Organized Chaos. Now, who has my pedometer and why is the dog in the baby doll stroller?

My Amazing Hubby

2009-10-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share my husband's amazing idea to encourage our children to help out more around the house. Since our 9 year-old has been doing just that for the last week, he made her a "Get Out of Trouble FREE" card (that can also be redeemed for staying up an extra 30 minutes at night). This just might be the best new invention in our family. Yay for the man that helps me stay sane! You rock, hubby!

Life is a Poker Game: Why I Always Pay to see the Flop

2009-10-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

You can’t change the cards you’re dealt, but you can change the way you play the game.

I have no poker face. All of my emotions show on my face and I cannot hide them. A career in acting was NEVER on my list of things to do. I simply can’t lie. I can’t even pull practical jokes on people because I can’t keep a straight face. Because of this, I have to learn to play my game. My other weakness is that I tend to always trust people and feel that most people are basically good. While I feel that is a worthy way to think, I have learned that many people do have a good poker face and will always play the game while bluffing. Some can, and do, lie very well. This continues to be a hard lesson for me. Now my game strategy has to change, but I know that whether you win or lose is determined by your decisions, not the decisions of the other players.

I have also realized that you won’t win every hand or every job or opportunity, but if you don’t play, you’ll never win at all. If you fold every hand before you see the flop you’ll never know how good your hand really was. You’ll never know if that opportunity would have been the one that wins you the millions.

Some are in it to be 1st or nothing. I’m perfectly happy with winning just a few hands here and there – as long as I know I tried.

I look at every opportunity or major conversation as a new hand. Typically, I will pay to see the flop – I want to see how the opportunity plays out. Yes, in life this tends to involve risking something, either money or my time, but if I never paid to see the flop, I definitely wouldn’t win…or learn, or grow. However, I am ok with folding after the flop if it doesn’t end up the way I want. I am ok moving on to the next hand or next opportunity. I know that I don’t have to win every time.

Some feel that if you have to pay, then the opportunity is only worth pursuing if there is a guaranteed payout. If that were the case for me, I wouldn’t have gone to the game in the first place. But I came to play. Let the opportunities abound. Deal me my cards and I’ll see what I can do with them.

Some people can take horrible cards (or horrible circumstances) and turn them into a winning hand. Others can be dealt the bests cards possible (or have everything given to them), and still manage to lose. It’s all about how they play the game. It’s how you read and interact with the other players that determines how far you go and how many friends you have left when you get there.

How do you play your cards?

Today and Tomorrow

2009-10-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

~ Written when my 9-year-old was only 3. ~

What can I say? My 3-year-old is smart, quick and can stump me any day with her questions. How did she get this way at such a young age? I’d like to take all of the credit for her personality, but I know there are many factors other than my genes that influence her to be a strong, confident toddler.

While my talkative girl seems to know her mind and is ready to speak it in a moment’s notice, I can’t help but see what her toddler traits my one day bring her.

Today she is : Tomorrow she will be…
An instigator : A leader
Stubborn : Determined
Strong willed : Confident
Opinionated : Charismatic
Messy : Creative
Loud : Vocal
Energetic : Outgoing
Self-reliant : Independent

So, while at times I tend to stress the little points, I know that these toddler traits will lead her in the right direction to adulthood with complete confidence in who she is and what she stands for. Does her ability to fight to make her point and get her way lead to law school? Does her sensitive, caring side that worries when anyone gets hurt lead her to medical school? Or does her incredible ability to copy me with her baby sister and take care of her dolls when they are “crying” lead her to be a multi-tasking mom who can handle anything (well, almost anything)? While any of these or any other direction is fine with me, I hope she doesn’t take the easy road and instead will challenge her own mind, follow her heart and find her dreams. She, her sister and their dad have definitely helped me find mine.

Soccer Fall

2009-10-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Crisp air and blue sky always remind me that Fall and soccer season are in full swing. Screaming fans and the directions from the coach push them on to victory. The team cheers in triumph, congratulates their rival team, and asks the coach, “Where’s my snack?”

Youth soccer is one of my favorite things to watch. I may be a little partial since both of my daughters have played since they were 4 and I have since been forced – loving, of course – into the world of shin-guarded snack-mongers. Moms want their kids to play to have fun. Dads want their kids to play to be the best. Kids want to play to get snacks after the game. Ok, so mine do LOVE playing and never want to be taken out of the game, but the more snacks you bribe them with, the harder they’ll play.

The excited squeals of little girls running around the wide open field chasing each other – for reasons so innocent that they don’t even know what the next few years of hormones will throw at them – are by far some of the best sounds I’ve heard.

Knowing what is ahead for my little girls (coming very quickly for my 9 year-old it seems), I tend to appreciate that they can solely concentrate on one thing and do that one thing with all their passion and no worries of being judged on what they look like or what boys think.

So for the time-being, here are the beautiful thoughts of my little soccer players while they are on the field playing their heart out…
~ Where is the ball?
~ I want the ball. Don’t care that my teammate has the ball, I want it.
~ Get the ball, keep the ball, lose the ball, take the ball back and RUN.
~ Get the ball into the goal. SCORE! I rock!
~ Is the game over already?
~ Where’s my snack?

Innocence – An amazing way to spend a crisp Fall evening.

Go Figure

2009-10-17T15:38:00.001-07:00

As a first time mom, I had all the same worries that any other first time mom has. Will I be able to tell what my child needs and when? Will my child be healthy? Will I be comfortable nursing in public? Will I ever be able to get back to that pre-mom shape??? My head flooded with questions that multiplied by the hour. After two and a half years, I feel confident in my ability to know what my child needs and when she needs it. We survived nursing and it was almost a breeze. No, my child is not completely healthy with the multiple bouts of ear infections she has had to deal with. But, as these issues arise, my husband and I are able to conquer each task and are proudly raising a very happy, outgoing and smart little girl. It is the last question of getting back my figure that seems to have gone unanswered.

As I think back to what my figure was in high school, when my (high-school sweetheart) now husband and I first met, I wonder why I hadn’t relished in the days of jumping, flexibility and eating anything without gaining an ounce. With the new metabolism that graciously protrudes itself around my mid-section; I can’t help but feel that those skinny days were just a dream. Of course, I have the pictures on my fridge and my husbands’ memory of cheerleader skirts and skinny legs to remind me that, no, in fact, I have gained quite a bit of weight. And while I have tried many diets, I quit drinking soda pop, and I exercise during my only hour to myself most days, the weight seems to cling to me as much as my daughter does when she has a high fever and an ear infection.

Why can’t I lose this? I have no idea. So, this is what I propose…A new way of looking at what I have “gained”.

~ I have gained a wonderful daughter who looks more and more like me everyday and who, for the moment, loves her mom terribly and wants to do everything she does. I know I’ll miss these days when they go.
~ I have gained the admiration of my husband who does remember to tell me what a great mom I am when I tuck in our little girl in the middle of the night and read “Good Night Moon” for about the millionth time.
~ I have also gained admiration for my husband who, before our daughter was born, would not dance in front of anyone without a nice amount of alcohol in his system. Now they constantly entertain me with their many new dance styles. Let’s hope these days last as long as possible.
~ I have gained a sense of pride at how happy out little family is and I wonder in amazement what Samantha will say and do next.
~ I have gained patience that I never knew was possible. Food dumped on the carpet…no problem…just get the vacuum. Crayon pictures on the wall…well, I guess we did need a little redecorating.
~ I have gained a new kind of love that every new mother gains. It’s not the kind of love you have for your husband, your parents or your siblings. It’s a protective kind of love where you would do anything to keep this little person happy, safe and healthy. This came only with a new addition to our family.

So, while I may have gained a little around the middle, I have also gained many wonderful emotions and memories that take my mind away from the fact that my stomach is now and forever lined with shiny stretch marks. To that, I say…”Go Figure?!”

Ericka Corban - an amazing woman following her heart

2009-05-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce everyone to my friend, Ericka Corban. She is an amazing singer, songwriter, and musician. I am constantly amazed by her upbeat personality and her ability to pursue her singing career while becoming a first time mom last year. She just finished recording her first album and I can't wait to hear it.

I met her a few years ago and we became instant friends. If you'd like to hear some great music by an absolutely amazing person, please check her out on MySpace...
http://www.myspace.com/erickacorban

Enjoy!

Random Information

2009-05-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here are 25 Random Things about Me:

1. I’ve learned more having kids than I did in all those years of schooling.
2. My energy typically comes in a can in the form of sugar free energy drinks.
3. My optimism does not come from a can, but if I could bottle it and sell it, I’m confident I would make a good profit.
4. Have a guitar that I have no idea how to play and would love for someone to just teach me “Smelly Cat” so that I could play something. (Update: I am taking guitar lessons! Finally!)
5. My body does not know how to relax. It’s so bad that I’ve passed out WHILE getting a pedicure at the spa.
6. I absolutely love being a mom and cannot believe how fast my girls are growing up!
7. My stress level is directly related to how messy my house is. I would love to have a completely organized house…that stays that way. (Maybe when the kids are older.)
8. I refuse to buy clothes that are not on sale.
9. I love my husband’s tattoos. They look really good on him.
10. I have to do at least 2 things at once. For example, I cannot simply sit and watch TV or a movie. I have to read a book, magazine or do something productive while sitting on the couch.
11. My girls are absolutely amazing! They each have a wonderful sense of humor and, luckily, are athletic like their dad. They are both my little soccer stars.
12. I have been married for 10 years and still adore my husband. He is a wonderful stay-at-home dad, even though he has chronic back pain. I don’t know how he does it! He’s amazing!
13. I hate exercise and have to trick myself into doing things that don’t seem like exercise…dancing, playing with the kids, cleaning, etc. It's pretty bad when I enjoy cleaning over exercising.
14. My husband and I completely gutted our first house and remodeled it together so that we could flip it and he could stay home with the kids.
15. Since the remodeling, I can now frame a wall, lay flooring, and do tile and grout work.
16. I am completely domestically disabled (hence, the title of my blog). Thankfully my husband ROCKS and is an amazing chef.
17. Jen Lancaster is one of my new favorite authors and I’ve read all of her books: Bitter is the new Black; Such a Pretty Fat; Bright Lights, Big Ass; and I just finished the newly released Pretty in Plaid. My husband gives me funny looks when I laugh out loud while reading them.
18. Eventually I will write my own book, but I can’t seem to find the time/courage right now. Blogging is my way of baby-stepping toward larger projects.
19. I am attuned for Reiki level I and hope to get my level II attunement by the end of the year.
20. I rearrange the furniture in the house at least every other month…some rooms more…just for a change. Too bad I hurt my back last weekend doing just that
21. After my second daughter was born, the first full night of sleep I got was when I was on a business trip when she was 2. I had 4 nights of uninterrupted sleep. It was definitely needed.
22. I started taking lessons to fly a Cessna (which is amazingly amazing, by the way), but have realized that with my history of migraines and anxiety attacks, I would never pass the medical portion to get my private pilot license.
23. I’ve had two kids without epidurals yet I’m scared to get the small tattoo that I want.
24. I have a hard time fighting the extra weight from having kids and I still blame it on “baby weight” even though my “baby” is almost 6.
25. I love to shop and have passed this on to both of my daughters.

Why Me, Why Now?

2009-05-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons to start this blog. They seem endless to me, but below are the top three:

1) I really want to be a writer/editor on a freelance basis and have done a little of each. My husband is an amazing support system for me and keeps telling me to just get going with it already. Sounds like he's tired of hearing me talk about it all the time. Oh, and there is that BA degree in English that I'd like to put to use.

2) I've read every book by my new favorite author, Jen Lancaster, and she gives me hope and a drive to get back to my writing. So sad that I missed her book signing the other day.

3) After reading a blog I recently ran across, it gave me inspiration that maybe if I have someone or something to be accountable to, I might do better on my quest to lose weight permanently - you know, kill two birds with one stone kind of thing. (More, much more, to come on this topic.)

So, here we go. Wish me luck.