Home Journal: Making Changes

So we now have our "Perpetual Cleaning Schedule". Do you remember when I said to change it to fit you? That is the whole point of the HJ, to fit your needs.Well I am already changing mine again!

I have been following and finding new bogs and I found an amazing idea at Echoes of Laughter - Revolutionize Your Laundry Routine. Her idea is AMAZING!!! I have always said that if it isn't it the laundry room it doesn't get washed and yet I am always hunting for the thing they lost that they need... the night before they "Neeeeeeeed it!" with Angie's system I can really mean it!

Broken down simply:

• 1 basket per family member in their room ( I like these corner hampers from Kohl's!!! or maybe some collapsible.... so many to choose....)
• 1 family member's laundry washed per day
• 1 basket of laundry returned FOR THEM TO PUT AWAY! ( I love that part!)

I really can't wait to implement this! I just have to decide when to do who's. Since my "Change sheets" Day is Thursday I'll do linens Thursday, soooooo.....My current idea is:

Sunday: NO LAUNDRY
Monday: NO LAUNDRY
Tuesday: Etcs
Wednesday: Mom & Dad's Laundry (we will probably share a basket.)
Thursday: Linens
Friday: Halie's Laundry
Saturday: Kaelyn's Laundry

Sounds good for now. I'll let ya know how it goes and show you my new perpetual when I get it typed up!



  PS: Just a reminder to my printables followers!, Nitro PDF allows you to type text into ANY pdf, save, and/or print it, or even create your own. Best of all... It's FREE!!! Check it out HERE. I'm not an affiliate, so I get nothing for sending you to it. I just love it and think you will too!

Facebook Fan Page

Bit the bullet and made a FB page for the blog again. Maybe we can get the love spread all about LOL!

Until I get 25 fans I can't get my fancy own URL sooooo....

Click my cute profile image for now :)

  PS: Just a reminder to my printables followers!, Nitro PDF allows you to type text into ANY pdf, save, and/or print it, or even create your own. Best of all... It's FREE!!! Check it out HERE. I'm not an affiliate, so I get nothing for sending you to it. I just love it and think you will too!

Happy Mother's Day!

Home Journal: Important Numbers

We all have cell phones that we have our most important numbers in.. but what if our kids need the number and they don't have it saved. Or the baby sitter... or you can't find your cell (usually guilty!) And I included a spot to put your street address so that during an emergency you can read it if you are frazzled.

Here is a screen shot of my printable Important Numbers PDF .

#AvengersMonth Giveaway by a friend!

Do you love Disney??? My friend Amanda does!

She's the author of Living with The Magic and is an Independent Travel Expert for Mouseketrips, LLC as well. (So if you're planning a Disney Vacay CONTACT HER!!!) She is hosting a giveaway for a $125 Disney gift card AND an Avengers gift pack with the new movie release! (George already saw the movie on a BroDate and I can't wait!!! I couldn't go, I was having Strawberry Mango Margaritas wit the girls....)

It's also DragynAlly's birthday so head over to "The Dragyn's Lair", follow her awesome blog, and give her some birthday love!!!
Go! Go! GO!
'

Fertile thoughts for winter...

As Christmas runs around again I think of Christmases past..

Caylee's Law Petition

Let's help make a "Caylee's Law"!

Please to go Change.org and sign the petition to create "Caylee's Law"!! There should be a new law created that will make it a felony for a parent or guardian to not report a missing child in a timely manner!

I did yesterday, and my NC Senator Ellie Kinnaird, wrote back to me this morning.

Did you know April is Autism Month?

Hey everyone!

Please take a minute to go to my party page see the following great cause related warmer!

Anne's Online Scentsy Party

(click the link above then search for terms in quotation marks)

"Pieces" for the "Piece by Piece" warmer. A portion of the proceeds when "Piece by Piece" is sold go to Autism Speaks™

"Piece by Piece"

Warmer of the month (10% off) is "Baby's Breath"











Other favorites of mine are:

"Margot"
I have this one! LOVE IT!!! 

"Symphony"

"Doodlebud"

"Paws"









and last but not least the new nursery collection's mid-size warmer

"Twinkle"










And that doesn't even begin to cover
other sizes (nite lite size plug ins!!),  the scents (over 80!), the cuddly animals that hold scent packs, and travel tins you don;t have to plug in.. and discs for the closet!!!! check it out!!!

Check it out and join us!

Friendship Fridays - True Miracles

I want to take a moment each week to recognize people who have made a difference in my life. Today, you get to meet Amy and Jackson... and I'm sure she mention's DH, Mike, along the way so I will too :hehe:!

I met Amy on a TTC board. She was a long time struggler with infertility and reminded us to all never give up.. even in her darkest moments. I'm proud to say that Amy's blog "Miracle in the Making" is now titled...

Click to read their story!

Her IF struggles included a "Clomid Test" which the doctors said she failed and had never ovulated. Well...they lied. She got a dark positive OPK that prompted her to take a pregnancy test and it was even more beautiful!! Click the image of her blog header to read her story.

Amy, I want you to know that I "featured" you first because of your undying spirit. As hard as it was.. as hard as IF tried to beat you down.. you stood up and reminded everyone to never give up. AND YOU BEAT IT! Jackson is a testament to your faith, your perseverance, your strength, and your love.. and he is MY reminder to NEVER GIVE UP!

I love you!

New (and completed!) lapbook!

First I want to give mad love for Alison at http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/!! Kaelyn has been begging to have more "schoolwork" since her sister became homebound and with college, I haven't had time to create her packets the way I wanted..

I started a "B is for Butterflies" packet.. it was huge and un-fun (for me). I had  worksheets that she colored a few of traced some letters, and the only thing she really used out f it was the Butterfly Life Stages matching game... (Note: the kid LOVES matching games!)

Here is our original lapbook:

See? not pretty! So I was surfing facebook at an ungodly hour....(3am) and tater tots and jello put up a status about these mommy packets at Oopsy Daisy.. that is http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/ if you can't click the link. I want that clear because this mommy is our new best friend!!!!

Did you get the link: http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/ :D

She has what she calls mommy packets for her toddler. I can use them by adding a few "older" things for Kae. She obviously spends an amazing amount of time gathering all this info and shares it with the blogging community. FREE!!! Pure love!

I printed the Mommy Packet "Z is for ZOO" as 2 pages per sheet, cut it in half and stapled what was for Mom in one packet, divided some other stuff up to add later (more songs, "play-a-longs" to go with fun kid books about animals & zoos, AND MORE! Another Note: I need a felt board.), and created a smaller, usable, and PRETTIER lapbook using 1/2 a manilla folder, by cutting out things to fit into the LB, like: 

• the zoo animal matching game (Kae is gonna love that!!)
• the "Z" and "6" templates
• a song for each side
• the mini "Z is for Zoo" coloring book 
• a tiger puzzle (in 6 pieces to match the theme)
• and her tracable "Z" pages
• then I went & found a few traceable "6" pages.

A little glue, a few paper clips, and I'm done. yes, D-O-N-E! (Other than I still have to find room for the circle activities!)

I'm so excited I'm almost masochistic enough to go wake Kaelyn up.. but not quite.. I'll finish this quiet cup of coffee first.

THANKS AGAIN, ALISON!!!

Scentsy Anyone?

One of my best friends has taken a huge leap of faith in herself as a stay at home mom, and I'd like nothing more than to see her succeed. So I am spreading the word about her break out Scentsy Launch party!

Scentsy is a melt warmer - a safe, wickless alternative to candles. Their melts are specially formulated to melt at a lower temperature, and are so safe that there is now a nursery line!  There I think over 80 scents to choose from and probably as many warmers - full size, medium, and plug ins that resemble a nite light!

I ordered "Margot" just a few days ago and expect it to come in Friday :) Isn't it pretty! I want another for my bathroom for sure - just trying to decide on a plug-in or a warmer - and I may get a second "Margot" to put on each end of my bar... I dunno. I want  them all!

If you are interested in Scentsy and have been wanting to give it a try, I beg you to please order from Brandy's starter show. The more sales she has this show the more product she gets for future shows, which equals a bigger success in her future, and I know she can succeed at this with just a little help to get started.

TO ORDER FROM HER STARTER SHOW EITHER:
Click here to go directly to the show sales page.
or Click here to go to her main page then click on "Buy from Party" by her name.

The show is open for orders until March 30th! And it's only $5 shipping to ship directly to your home. If you have never tried Scentsy, I suggest starting on the "Multi-Pack" page to get a warmer and 3 "bars" of scents (or more!) at a discounted rate.

Changes, changes, everywhere!

I decided to make my unused URL my blogger link and redo a lot of graphics, etc.. (now if I could only get the shadowy borders off!)

Soooooo if you had me as a linky before, please remove all that crap and relink using the image and code to the right over there. >>>>  I have them redone to where everything should change automatically for you when I change the linky now.

Of course that only works if you use the new code ;)  BTW the old code will not only no longer work.. the blog you once linked is now a broken link when you try to get to ot... hassle of using a new url.. sorry. My page links are acting crazy too so please bear with me while I get all that changed up.

Share some love please!

Another angel called home...

Today, I am turning my blog pink and adding bows for Maddie... 

Madison Staats

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Brought into our lives

♥ 10/14/2010 ♥

Called home to God's loving embrace

♥ 2/17/2011 ♥

On Thursday, February 17, 2011 the mommy board I am on got an amazing shock. Beautiful Little Maddie who was brought into our loving community while her mother was still trying to conceive her was called to heaven for reasons unknown. It has been a trying week for the Staats family, but they are only asking one thing of their friends and family...

Maddie loved big bows and flowers. She was wearing one in nearly every picture of her her momma ever took. I'm sure she will be wearing one today as well as she is laid to rest, and her mommy asked us to do the same. If you have a little girl in your life, or a willing little boy, or even if you can get your own hands on one, please wear a bow for Maddie today. 

We are:

There was an event started on Facebook to share our bows, please join us in honoring Maddie.

Maddie's beautiful, love filled life story can be found at the blog her mom, Kellie started as a beautiful newlywed : http://kandjstaats.blogspot.com

Free Zoya Nail Polish!

Leesha over at xparkage (i heart her and her youtube vids you have GOT TO check her out!) posted this and it is an amazing deal. Like Zoya on Facebook (it's only fair and you won't miss their other specials) and use their FB friends promo code: FB2011 to get a wonderful deal for 3 bottles of their $7 nail polish FREE! You just pay shipping & handling but that is a flat rate of $6.95!

I just ordered: Charla, Tallula, and Akyra

Yes, I like blue.

My basket also showed the Zoya Wicked & Wonderfull Color Plate and the Intimate Collection Plate which I can't find on the site, so we'll see what happens there!  

GO GET IT!!!

Ornament Party!

My friend Amy over at Little Pink Dollhouse is having an ornament party!! Quite simply she wants every blogger we know to take pictures of some of their favorite Christmas ornaments, blog about them, and add your post ot her linky! Come join the fun!

I have so many favorites it is very hard to pick just a few....

I have the kids pick out an ornament or 2 every year, this is the one Kaelyn picked out this year... my cupcake princess LOL!

One of my angel baby ornaments. I got this one the year I had my tubal pregnancy, my XMIL bought it for me when she found out why I wanted it. 

I have a house full of MONKEYS!!!

See here Monkey #1

(Halie) 

And Monkey #2 (Kaelyn)

 The ornament we picked out in 2006, when George shared his family tradition of making gingerbread houses with us.

 I saw this one at Hallmark a few years ago and he had to be mine! Rudolph was always a favorite Christmas tradition in my family. I bought the movie for the kids this year and they love it as much as I do!

I'm not even sure where this pretty girl came from. All I know is my mom passed it down to me. She clips on the tree with a little alligator clamp, but I think this will be the last year that works. I'll have to put a hanger on her next year. She has be come "Momma's ornament to hang on the tree" since Halie started doing all the tree decorating a few years ago.

Dad always hangs the ornament I pick out for us for the year. This was this year's. I love The Nightmare Before Christmas so when Halie saw this at the Disney Store and pointed it out I had to have it! 

I cannot get a picture of this without blurry text. My Secret Santa from the TMP boards sent it to me. It says, "Believe in Miracles" and I do. The hostess of the ornament exchange is walking (infertility surviving) proof  ♥ Merry Christmas, Amy, Mike, And Jackson! 

Hopefully my miracle will come true this year!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Tater Tots & Jello

So I've surfed blogs today, clicking share the love linkas and found a bew blog, "Tater Tots & Jello". Design ideas, crafts, organization, and a new giveaway!

i wish I had ONE OUNCE of her creativity and organozation skills! Check it out!!


Are you going to take the challenge?

Bakerella CakePop Cookbook giveaway at WhipperBerry.com

Have you heard of Bakerella ? Have you seen her CakePops Cookbook? I'm dying for it!

If you'd like a chance to win, Visit WhipperBerry on facebook, then see their blog @ http://www.whipperberry.com/ for a chance to win!