Little Chores List

GRAB YOUR FREE LITTLE CHORES PRINTABLE, TODAY!! Little Chores List

If you are like me and just starting to adjust to this New Normal, then you know that in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic life does not stand still.  There is still work to be done, children to be raised, a house to take care of, etc.  Today, marks the third week of me working  from home, and my girls having digital learning classes.  The adjustment was real for all of us.  And, even though I feel like we were a little more settled last week(week two), I also feel like a lot of things were left undone.  And, in the face of everything going on that just left me feeling more uneasy than I already was.  So, I vowed to start this week with a bit more direction, and being the list person that I am, I created this Free Printable Little Chores List to prevent things from being left behind, or at the very list to give me a jumping off point.

Now being part of the Planner Girl Community for as long as I have been, I know that I am not the only list person out there.  So, I thought I would share this for the other Moms that are struggling to keep it all together in the face of a very scary situation.  Grab Yours Be Clicking Here Today. Right Click – Save As And It’s Yours To Use.

I have been reading and watching everything I can get my hands on as it regards to the corona-virus, and well… I can’t tell you if I am more confused or less confused than when I started out, because there is so much conflicting information out there.  However, I have been very deliberate in what I share with my girls. I want them to understand the gravity of the situation, but I also do not want them living in the head space that their Mom is currently living in.  I found these two articles to be helpful and thought I would share them on how to  manage fears and anxiety and how to talk to our children about it.

Hope these help to ease your mind a bit.

Sticky Mania – Review of MyStickyQuotes

If you have any of the traits of a Type A personality , then you have a love for Sticky Notes in some way or form.  I’d go as far as to say that this is not a question, it’s just a fact.  And with the planner crave sweeping the nation,  you will see them all over Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.  But, not necessarily like these.  This year I started following MyStickyQuotes on Instagram, and was immediately all about these particular Sticky Notes.  Be sure to click through and follow them too.  There are honestly so many different collections to choose from.  But, let me show you where some of my favorites ended up.

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY WITH MYSTICKYQUOTES.

MyStickyQuotes Girl Power

Girl Power Collection

MyStickyQuotes Bible Scripture

BIble Scripture Collection

MyStickyQutoes Christmas Miracle

Christmas Miracles Collections

This is a sponsored post.  I received these great sticky notes to try out and reviews. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own, and I only endorse products that I feel comfortable promoting.

Being A Morning Mom….

WHEN YOU’RE NOT A MORNING PERSON.

Being A Morning Mom - When You Are Not A Morning Person? Tips for Surviving the Morning Rush - stage-presents.com

I can recall more AM breakdowns and temper tantrums than I care to admit.  And, it’s not necessarily that my children aren’t morning people, it’s that I am not.  I don’t have a problem waking up in the morning,  I just really have no desire to interact with humans until after 10am.  Unfortunately, when you take on the title of Mommy that really isn’t a choice you get to make anymore.  So, what’s the solution.  It’s easy, FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT, right?  That sounds good, but the thing about pretending, is that the real emotions tend to bubble to the surface in a scary, scary way.

The real secret lies in knowing yourself, having a routine and planning for chaos.  Here’s what works for me. ( … on most days.)

  1.  Do as much as you can do the night before.  Pick Out Their Clothes from Head to Toe. (leave nothing to chance).  If you have a super picky child, you might want to include them in this process, to avoid the early morning melt downs.
  2. Get up a Little Earlier than they do.   Since, I don’t really want to be up anyway.  A little time alone tends to help settle my spirit.  This is a great time to read your devotion, get in a chapter or two of a book you are reading. Grab your first cup of coffee and prepare for what comes next.
  3. Waking Them Up/Getting Them Dressed.  If your little ones are like mine, this process doesn’t happen all at once.  You may have to wake them up a second and a third time, before they actually get out the bed.    Give yourself enough time that if this occurs you still are not rushing to get them out of the house on time.  I get up, wake up my 10 year old (this part is a joke).  I go back in my room, go through my morning routine and then go back and wake her up again.  Go downstairs pack the lunches, and sometimes she’s up, this is the last wake up call. (before Moms head starts spinning)  The little one is easier to wake up but she has her days too. Once they are awake this part generally runs smoothly aside from the fact that I sometimes have to redirect them back to the task at hand.  They are little girls, there is always something to giggle about, and they get easily distracted. Ultimately, if there’s enough time allotted here, even if I feel like a song on repeat, it gets done.
  4. [Enter Breakfast Here] My kids eat breakfast at school, so I luck out here.
  5. Do We Have What We Need?  You know the drill.  Binders, Folders, Homework, Projects.  Then the Run Through.  Did you remember to brush your teeth, put on Deodorant, Lip Gloss, Body Spray, Lotion?  Do have your Watch,  Scarf, Gloves, Cell Phone …etc…etc..?
  6. And Then Repeat.  Even Though You Already Asked.  Ask Again.  After all, you don’t want to get the call on your way home that you have to go back to the school to deliver whatever it is they forgot.

And There You Have It,  Now You’re A Morning Mom.  And, everybody is thankful for the change.   Do you struggle with your morning routine as well?  What do you do to make the send off or drop off easier for everyone?

Being A Morning Mom

Are we taking advantage?

image Are we taking advantage of all of the technology available to us?  Or are we allowing it to be a distraction instead of a stepping stool.  I will be the first to admit that over the years, I have become dependent on technology in pretty much every aspect of my life.  However, its not something that I regret, but more something that has come to be part of my every day routine. From setting my alarm on my cell phone to wake me up in the morning, remind me of doctor’s appointments, or that it is time to refill my daughter’s prescription, and or re-evaluate my progress on this project or that one.

That being said, technology can be your friend.  Here are some of my staple apps!!

Google Calendar – I dare say is almost like religion to me.  I use it to keep track of birthdays, appointments, and special events(my husband comes from a large family, so that’s quite a task).  I use it to remind me of things that I need to keep at the forefront of my mind. I can depend on Google Calendar to keep me on track.

SpringPad – Is a app that really hasn’t caught on the way that I thought it would.  But, I love it.  It is my go to place to make list of all kinds.  From household things to work items.    You create notebooks and then you can add a checklist, a grocery list, notes, audio and even documents.  You can choose to share it with the world, specific individuals or keep it private.  I use it for pretty much everything.  But, my favorite use is for storing my favorite recipes and keeping notes on how I tweak them.  My favorite Thanksgiving dinner has been preserved there for future reference.

Pinterest

I originally thought that Pinterest was just a craze that was taking the “creative world”, by storm.  It’s invite only status — made it that much more desirable.  But, being a visual person, I immediately fell in love with and dubbed it my “digital vision board”.  I use it to collect information on Speech Therapy for my oldest daughter, and to find new and innovative ways to reach her.  I use it to design my holiday decor, plan parties, and even get ideas on how to style my hair.  It’s definitely information over load, but as someone always looking for something new to learn about.  I am right at home there (to my hubby’s dismay), sometimes.

So, tell me what apps make your life that much easier?