Summer Bingo

Summer is officially here at the Stewart household.  We are one day into summer vacation and I have already heard the dreaded words, "I'm Bored".  Oh No...this Momma is not going there so soon into summer.

I remembered a past post by Stacy Julian about Summer Bingo.  At the time, Parker was too little to do that but I remembered thinking "Genius!"  So, I looked it up on-line last night, did a bit of quick research on Pinterest this morning and ta-da we have our own Summer Bingo here now.  Parker is super excited.  I can't wait to see how this works and I might have to change up the rules a bit as we move through the summer but I am going to kick this off on Sunday morning.

I first made a Bingo card in MS Word (5 columns up and down) with activities that encourage help around the house and keeping her school skills fresh.  I will make a new card each week and some weeks will be easier and more fun than others (like when we are at the beach).  

I then made up rules based off my research.  Our rules for the game are:

1.   Before playing bingo each day:

a.       Be clean and dressed

b.      Eat breakfast

c.       Clean up your breakfast mess

d.      Turn off the lights in your bedroom and bathroom

2.      You get a new card on each Sunday

3.      You get one free sticker-you can place it on any square (but once you use it one week, you can’t put on same square again)

4.      You have to tell Mom/Dad when you are working on a square-we give the stickers out

5.      Each time you complete 5 in a row, you receive a ticket

Ticket Redemption:

1 Ticket= 30 minutes of either: water play, computer time, or messy craft time

2 Tickets= Movie Night

3 Tickets= Trip to Dollar Store

4 Tickets= Ice Cream Night

5 Tickets= Play date or Sleepover

Blackout= Special event from bucket + $5

Blackout + 2 Bonus Tickets= Fun outing (CDM, Water Park, etc) + $5

Blackout every week during summer= Huge fun outing (TBD)

You can earn bonus tickets by:

1 Bonus Ticket-Completing a full week in your workbook

1 Bonus Ticket-Read for 50 minutes over the course of the week

We are still working out what the "huge fun outing" will be.  Perhaps a trip to the American Girl Doll store, an amusement park or some other really big motivating reward.  

I then created some special event tickets as the blackout rewards. Things like an ice cream date with Dad, pool time, baseball game, etc.

I also made up some tickets for when she gets a "Bingo".  I have placed these in jars up where little hands can't reach.  I'll keep the stickers there too for when she completes a square.  

Here's to summer and hoping this wards off boredom and helps encourage Parker to help around the house and work on summer activities to keep her fresh for first grade.  

Project Life Celebratory Blog Hop: 2013 25% Done!

Welcome!  

Today I am part of a great line up for a Project Life 1st quarter blog hop.  A group of us is sharing where we are now that the year is (gasp) 25% complete.  Thanks to Michelle for sending folks my way.  I am excited to have some new faces come visit and appreciate Margie for hosting this wonderful blog hop!  After you leave me, please go on and visit Michelle Roger and our other wonderful blogs participating in this hop.

For those of you looking for some Project Life inspiration, I hope you leave my site today with some ideas and motivation.  And, for those of you not "caught up", do not get frustrated or feel inadequate about yourself.  This hop is meant to inspire and motivate.  This is a living process, be kind to yourself as you work through it. 

Real Life

Project Life is such a simple tool to collect our every day stories.  I am amazed that one quarter of 2013 has already flown by and I am so happy that, for right now, I am caught up with my PL album.  You see, we are in the midst of this at our house right now:

Even with a big move coming up next week, 2 kids ages 6 and 3, and finishing the process of building our dream home, I have managed to keep up with my album.  Friends, that is just how simple Project Life can be.  However, I won't lie--the pictures and stories don't just magically appear in my album.  I have albums for 2011 and 2012 and by no means were these albums even close to being complete.  I did manage to at least get every week in 2012 documented via photos but totally slacked in the journaling.  So, what is different this year, especially with all this chaos?

I have made Project Life a focus for this first quarter.  I know that the next several weeks are going to be CRAZY.  I am giving myself permission to document as I feel like it and to let go when I need to.  In other words, this year I am getting "real".

I also introduced more of a process this year and have some tools to help me stay on track.

My Process:

What's working so far:

1.  Batch my weeks together:

While I don't have it penciled in on my calendar, I generally try to reserve a Friday evening and Sunday afternoon about once every 3 weeks or so to  get my past weeks in order.  I don't like to get more than 3 weeks "behind" as then I don't remember things as clearly.  

2.  Keep my process simple:

I print my photos as home, round the corners, pop them in my album, embellish if I feel like it, and get the journaling down.  I usually only spend an hour or two tops on this each time I sit down to finish a couple of weeks.  

3.  Print my photos at home:

I upload my photos from my iPhone via Dropbox and from my camera via Eyefi.  Choose which photos I want to print and print right here at home.  This may not be the most cost effective method-but it keeps me up to date.  

4.  Organize my supplies:

I am sure most of you can commiserate but I have a ton of scrapbooking supplies.  However, for PL, I have kept my stash of goodies to a bare minimum so as to not get overwhelmed.  I have a few embellishments I have picked up here and there, I use the Studio Calico PL kits, and of course, my Becky Higgins PL Seafoam Kit.  I keep all of these together and out of my other scrapbooking supplies.  I use a basket from Target and the box my PL kit came in.  I also organized my page protectors in an album so that I could easily and quickly find what I needed.  When we move, I am looking forward to getting even more organized with all of this.

5.  Let go of perfection:

This by far is my biggest tip.  I knew this year would be crazy.  I knew I could not expect my album to look like a designer scrapbooker...just not going to happen right now.  I don't have the time or the money.  So I gave myself permission to just let my album take shape as I have time, to tell our stories as best I can, and it will be OK.  

My Album

You can see past weeks of my album here and here.

Below I have the last 3 weeks of my album that I just wrapped up this week:

March 17-23

 March 24-30

 March 31-April 6

What Works for You?

Feel free to share in the comments what your process is for staying up to date on your Project Life albums.  I know we could all use some inspiration and motivation. 

Thank You

Thanks for stopping by today.  Over the next several weeks I will be posting how my Project Life is evolving as we move to a new home and how we are decorating and organizing our new space.  Feel free to drop by from time to time.  I'd love to hear from you.

Next up on the hop is Michelle Roger.  Also, don't forget to visit our other blog hop participants and get some other great ideas and inspiration! 

Michelle R  http://MichelleRoger.wordpress.com

Emily        http://mrscraftyadams.blogspot.com

Barbara    www.maynardpl.blogspot.co.uk

Esau         http://www.twochicsandacricut.blogspot.com/

Michelle B   www.michellebostinelos.com/blog

Tina         http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Nicole       http://nicolemann.blogspot.ca

Marisol      www.mariclaudibenitez.blogspot.com

Brooke       www.graceandlight.typepad.com

Scruptious   http://eversoscrumptiously.wordpress.com/

Rechelle     http://Levanfamily365.blogspot.com

Kelli        http://whimsikel.blogspot.com

Sonia        http://www.craftshandson.blogspot.com

Shay         http://sbookinshay29.blogspot.com

Rebekah   http://istampscrapcraft.wordpress.com/
Margie      http://xnomads.typepad.com
Maya        http://mayadahan.blogspot.com
Michelle    http://www.table-for-five.com/

Project Life: Tuesday, March 19

All caught up again, finally.

I hate to get too far behind with Project Life because then I lose motivation to truly document our happenings and instead get too focused on getting pictures in the album.  The stories end up untold. Becky shared on her blog today correspondence from a fellow Project Lifer who is not caught up.  Brandi's response was a good one.  I encourage you to check it out.

I totally agree you have to have a time system that works for you.  Aby Garvy, of Simplify 101, found her system.  Check our her 3 post series on getting organized for Project Life.  Super helpful but find what works for you.

I have found a rhythm that works pretty well for me so I try my best to stick with it. On the weekend, usually Friday night after everyone has headed to bed, I print my photos, round the corners, and get them in the album.  Then over the course of the rest of the weekend, I add any fun stuff and get my journaling done. I print my photos at home so this makes it super easy.  When life gets crazy, I just go back to my system and get as much done as I can from past weeks but I always make sure to work on the most recent week too.

Here's a look at the Weeks 8 through 11:

Week 8

I love this card "To the moon and back" from Studio Calico.  Parker drew a photo at school and it matched almost perfectly for this week!

Week 9

Week 10

Love this wooden card from Studio Calico!

Week 11

 Love this transparency and the "This Week" card.

                                                                                                                                                       

Supplies Used|Click on Links to view products:

Seafoam Binder

Seafoam Core Kit

Design A Page Protectors

Studio Calico Block Party Kit

Studio Calico Front Row Kit

 
Note: Some of these links are affiliate links (Amazon), which means that I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase these from my affiliate site on Amazon.  I only recommend products that I use and love myself.

{We Build}

We've gone from this to this:

Wow!

We have been so blessed this past year!  We were given the opportunity to build our own home and the journey has been nothing short of amazing.

In October of 2011, we were leaving soccer and drove past a sign for a new neighborhood to be built.  We knew the builder and commented that the neighborhood would be a nice place.  Fast forward a couple of weeks and a dirt road pops up in the neighborhood.  We decide to take a look.  As luck would have it, one of the agents was there with a 4 wheeler/tractor thing.  He rides us to the back of the neighborhood and we walk around a few of the lots.  Then, every weekend for the next month, we go back out there and walk the lots.  We planned and we dreamed, and then, we made it a reality!

I'll lay the process out in a series of posts, along with my tips, but here is an overview to show just how far we have come.

So excited for the next round of changes over the next 5 weeks or so.....and then it is MOVE IN day!  And lots of posts about organizing and decorating.....can't wait!

Project Life Tuesday for 2013

If you have not seen Becky Higgins Project Life, you are missing out.  Here is a video by Becky that explains this system.  This is by far the easiest (and most fun) way to keep up with my scrapbooking that I have found.  I love the flexibility of the system and the fact that I can keep up with what is going on in our family.  But, I also need some accountability every now and then, so, each Tuesday I will post my latest Project Life spreads.  Perhaps you will find some inspiration too.

Catching Up:  Since it is March already, I'll quickly share my past weeks with you in a couple of posts and try to keep up with a weekly update after this.

Cover Page:

Week 1:

Week 2:

 Week 3:

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 6-right side

Close Up:

Week 7

Week 7-right side

Close Up:

Supplies Used|Click on Links to view products:

Seafoam Binder

Seafoam Core Kit

Studio Calico Block Party Kit

Studio Calico Front Row Kit

     








Note: Some of these links are affiliate links (Amazon), which means that I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase these from my affiliate site on Amazon.  I only recommend products that I use and love myself.

Then & Now

So, the last time I wrote on here it was 2011.  I've gone from this:

To this:

I now have a 3 1/2 year old who knows how to use an iPad, a 6 year old who started kindergarten this school year, and we ditched our old digs to build our current "dream" house.  Oh yeah--and I quit the corporate world for the stay at home mom world then on to the part-time working world.  That is a whole other post!

It has been an amazing couple of years.  If you asked me back in 2011 if I would have seen any of these changes coming (other than the kids growing up of course), I would have laughed.  Who quits their job AND builds a new house?  Certainly not this type A girl.  However, these changes have been so good for our family and honestly, for me.  I can't wait to share our journey to this point and forward.  Definitely lots of good material for my beloved "Project Life".  

Well, Hello Again!

Where does the time go?  My blogging journey has spanned almost 7 years.  I have been on blogger, typepad, and now back to blogger.  I was looking through old posts on my blogs and am inspired again to keep going at this writing thing.  I love documenting our every day life.  When you get caught in the everyday chores, you can lose sight of what your whole life is about and feel like it is so, well, ordinary.  I've decided ordinary is good.  So good.

Who knew God could speak to you through Jiminy Cricket?  Who knew this type A, super control freak could take a huge leap of faith? And who knew that cozy cottages, trips to the fro yo place, the carpool line and thrifting would become part of my everyday?   So, sit back, relax, grab your favorite beverage of choice while I update you over the next couple of weeks at our oh so ordinary days and the major stories in-between.

Something Magical is Happening around Here

It seems like lately, everywhere I turn, someone who has been married for 20+ years is getting divorced.  It also seems that it is about the time that they are about to become or have recenltly become "empty nesters".  How sad.  They are just getting to the point of focusing back on themselves for the first time in like 20 years.  

I feel Michael and I have a very solid marriage but I recognize that it takes committment every day to ensure that solid foundation.  In the rush of the day with all we have on our plates, it is easy to take each other for granted and to only talk about the neccessary stuff that keeps our lives running. 

As part of my One Little Word of 2011 project, I was searching around the blogosphere and found a cute date idea on The Dating Divas for a "Minute it to Win it" challenge with other couples.  While looking at the site, I found a reference to the book "101 Great Nights of Romance".    I promptly ordered the book for Michael as part of his Valentine's Day gift.  The premise behind the book is that the "dates" are sealed and each week one of us picks one and then plans out the romantic evening.  When we go out, we tend to do the same thing each time....dinner, maybe a movie or a trip to the bookstore sans kids.  With this guide, we have some creative, inexpensive ideas at our fingertips and the secrecy makes it even more fun.

Michael took the challenge on with the first date and it was so fun.  We did not even have to leave the house and worry about the hassle of a babysitter.  It was called "Off the Charts" and the ideas was that Michael was supposed to serenade me with a song.  It gave different ideas, including karaoke.  Michael ended up buying a karaoke machine and we had a fun time singing as if we were auditioning for "American Idol".  Really glad he planned this date for home as I would have been way too embarrased to have sung in public. 

It's my turn next and I am looking forward to being creative with my "Countdown Challenge".  So, if you are in the need of some creativity in the dating department whether you are married or not, I highly recommend this book. 

Catching Up....and the Truth about Sugar, Fats and Carbs

Been awhile since I posted but I have been busy as a bee the past couple of weeks.  I spent a week in NYC for work and managed to add some fun time to the trip with two buds from work.  We learned a lot at the Conference Board's Talent Management conference and then spent Friday and Saturday sightseeing and eating ourselves to death.  We also took in Mary Poppins while there.  A definite MUST SEE. 

 

Last week I was playing catch up at home and at work to get things back in order after being away so I feel like I fell off of the face of the Earth for the week.  However, my first day back I did get my annual physicals crossed off of my to do list.  Yep, both docs in one day.  Lots of fun. 

So, want to know the truth about Sugar, Fats, and Carbs.....

Too much of them = High Triglycerides

So, that is the category I fall into.  Mine were 250 and need to be under 200.  The doc told me to start a regime of fish oil 4 times a day and come back in for a check up in 3 months. 

I am going to make some other changes as well since now I have a good challenge in front of me.  Back on the wagon for exercising 6 days a week with a mix of cardio on the treadmill and Jillian's 30 day shred.  I am also paying attention to what is in my food.  It is really amazing how much sugar is in almost everything. 

I am excited to see how low I can get my numbers over the next 3 months. Wish me luck.

Book Review: The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno

I was absentmindedly surfing the web over the Christmas holiday and came across the book entitled "The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno"  What a gem of a book.  I struggle constantly with questioning do I have too much stuff, and how much is "enough".  My family and friends know I like to purge, A LOT.  My husband likes to joke with me about how he gave me a UGA felt thing framed and a few years later it shows up for sale at our yard sale and how he was so hurt.  Nothing is sacred when it comes time to purge. 

In his book, Dave talks about why he chose a 100 Thing Challenge and what he hoped to accomplish.  It really is more about only having things that truly make you happy or that you truly need to survive versus filling your home with baubles and stuff that you have to take care of or that make you feel guilty because though you have the materials to be a [insert hobby of choice], you are not a [insert hobby of choice]. 

I highly recommend Dave's book as an entertaining yet thought provocating read.  I plan to pick it up every now and again to remind myself why I have my stuff.  And, when I go on my next purge, it will help me clarify what I need to keep in my life and what I can get rid of to make room for something more amazing in my life (not a physical object).

Good reads!

Say What?

Out of the mouths of babes!  As any parent will tell you, their kids say just the cutest things.  Things that you are certain are so cute, you will never forget.  But then, you do.  So, Michael and I decided (after realizing that you really do forget), to come up with a quick and easy way to document funny or memorable things Parker says (and Chase too, once he can talk).  

I ran across some really cute digital journaling cards by Cathy Zielske  at Designer Digitals and my idea was born. 

 

I took the "Remember This" card from the  Monthly Journal Card Value Pack, recolored it in Photoshop Elements 8 to fit with my color scheme and there you go, an easy little book to keep handy for adding quotes from our first born.

 
  Easy peasy!

Finish it Friday Check In

What a whirlwind of a weekend without much down time.  Here's how we did on the to do list:

Fun Stuff:

Date night with hubby (kids at Grammy's)-Check, went to PF Changs for dinner.  However, I was so exhausted when we got home I was in bed and asleep by 9.

Bare Escentuals make-over with Kelley- Tons of fun...helped make my wallet much lighter too.

Attend PINK (local fundraiser for Mary Ellen Locher foundation)- Great time getting all dressed up for an evening with friends. 

Christmas at Mom's (finally, it better not snow again)- Check.  Good food and great gifts.  Thanks Mom!

Have to Do:

Laundry- It's all clean but some sheets....just not all put away yet.  Plan to finish up tonight.

Meal plan/grocery store-m Check.  Found new site called e-Mealz. Love it.

Hang picture in the office- Not done...looks like it will be on the list again this weekend.

Start gathering tax return documents and fill out info from accountant- Not done either...however, on to do list for this week and hoping to have wrapped up before the weekend.

 How'd you do?

Finish it Friday

Following Aby Garvey's lead, here is my weekend to do list:

Fun Stuff:

Date night with hubby (kids at Grammy's)

Bare Escentuals make-over with Kelley

Attend PINK (local fundraiser for Mary Ellen Locher foundation)

Christmas at Mom's (finally, it better not snow again)

Have to Do:

Laundry

Meal plan/grocery store

Hang picture in the office

Start gathering tax return documents and fill out info from accountant

 

So what about you, what's on your "to-do" list this weekend?

Move More, Eat Less-Weekly Check In

Thursday was Weigh in day!

First off, to back up a bit, I joined weight watchers again the first week of January.  My weigh in was terrible.  I was up 6 pounds from my last weigh in from December.  I did have on a suit and had to use the restroom and it was after the holidays, but still.  I missed the second weigh in thanks to the blizzard of the century causing me to miss work for the week so this was my first weigh in since re-joining. 

158 (down .4)

It is a loss so I will take it but it was evident to me I am going to have to renew my committment to the program.  If I am honest, I probably really gained a little bit but due to the reasons mentioned above, it is showing as a loss due to cicumstances with my first weigh in. 

I have exercised 30 minutes a day (or more) since December 31st so that is a great thing.  However, counting those pesky little points has eluded me. 

Time to commit, NOW! 

Here is to another week...just take it a day at a time. 

Any good motivation out there?

One Little Word: 2011 Edition

RENEW

Re·new: to make like new, restore to freshness, to make new spiritually, to restore to existence, to begin again, to do again, Regenerate, to make extensive changes in.

(defined by Merriam-Webster.com)

Ali Edwards (whom I just adore, though I do not know her personally) has a yearly ritual of picking “one little word” to focus on for the year.  I love this concept.  It is so simple, yet can be a powerful reminder of our intention for the year. 

I thought long and hard about my word for this year as I think about where I am.  I am just coming out of the first year of my second child.  This means we are now falling into a rhythm as a family of four, we are finding our place, and I am finding my “zone” again.  I am starting to feel “normal” again.  However, along with this, comes my normal feelings of striving to find balance and wondering if I can work outside the home in a demanding career and balance  it ALL.   I also start to realize that the time has come to get rid of the baby fat (and then some).  Time to make some changes.  Oh  yeah, and I want to get to running again.  I miss it. 

Renew

It just sounds right.

 I am excited to see where this year goes.  It has already started off crazy with the biggest snow in 70 years causing me to miss a week at work and the kids to miss school.  And some interesting goings on in the office.  We will see where the journey takes us.

I signed up for Ali’s One Little Word on-line workshop via Big Picture Classes to keep me focused for the year and have some creative fun.  Here is a sneak peek at my album: