Articles

FLYing through the house chores

May 27, 2008 By Amy

http://flylady.net/ This website offers a practical routine for de-cluttering your home and keeping it clutter-free. And it’s filled with lots of positive affirmations (FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself). By breaking your home into zones and following her daily routines, you will see your piles shrink and become more discerning about adding new clutter to the mix. Her [...]

http://flylady.net/

This website offers a practical routine for de-cluttering your home and keeping it clutter-free. And it’s filled with lots of positive affirmations (FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself).

By breaking your home into zones and following her daily routines, you will see your piles shrink and become more discerning about adding new clutter to the mix. Her concept encourages newbies (Flybabies) to take the program one step at a time, rather than read ahead and attempt to renovate your home in one day. This was difficult for me, because I wanted to see a BIG change at once. But by following her tips (and not trying to be perfect) you will see a gradual change which you can maintain.

This site also offers excellent tips on getting your home ready for entertaining and a fantastic plan for preparing for a big holiday like Christmas. What fun is a holiday and family time if you’re rushing around like crazy and can’t enjoy the company? (Okay, I’m still working on this, but the Flylady has helped me to make BIG strides.)

Beware: Sigining up for her email WILL clutter you inbox with several emails through the day. But it will also keep you on track and keep the clutter away from other areas of your home.

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I love children’s museums!

May 26, 2008 By Amy

http://www.childrensmuseums.org/visit/us_members.htm Before I worked at a children’s museum, which was way before I became a mom, I wondered what a children’s museum was. Now it saddens me to think of any families who may not have one nearby. Children’s museums’ offer excellent opportunities for children to be children and make amazing discoveries in the process. [...]

http://www.childrensmuseums.org/visit/us_members.htm

Before I worked at a children’s museum, which was way before I became a mom, I wondered what a children’s museum was. Now it saddens me to think of any families who may not have one nearby.

Children’s museums’ offer excellent opportunities for children to be children and make amazing discoveries in the process. They can be a scientist and try new experiments (even messy ones!) , perform on a stage, design whimsical creations, take a trip through time, take a trip across the globe or just into a different neighborhood and even enjoy live performances just for kids at some locations… all sorts of fun (and even educational) things. And I find that a visit to the children’s museum lets ME be a kid again, too. I’m a much better mom when I can play, ask questions, try new things and not worry so much about cleaning up or coming up with new ideas. Everytime I visit a children’s museum we explore something new, thanks to changing exhibits and programming, but we also have our favorites as well.

When we travel, I often check to see if there will be a children’s museum nearby. More than 100 children’s museums offere free reciprocal membership if you are a member of another participating children’s museum.

Use the link above to find a children’s museum near you… or near where you travels may lead.

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Bible in 90 Days

May 26, 2008 By Amy

http://www.biblein90days.org/ 72% ofAmericans who have never read the entire Bible would like to do so in their lifetime, according to the Barna Group. I took the challenge, read the Bible in 90 days, and it changed my life. No, this isn’t a mom-specific resource. But it belongs here because the Bible is THE essential how-to book. And [...]

http://www.biblein90days.org/

72% ofAmericans who have never read the entire Bible would like to do so in their lifetime, according to the Barna Group. I took the challenge, read the Bible in 90 days, and it changed my life.

No, this isn’t a mom-specific resource. But it belongs here because the Bible is THE essential how-to book. And if you want to read it for yourself, reading it following the 90 day plan will help you to succeed, and even understand what you are reading. Sure, 90 days is a whirlwind speed, and, yes, there is a LOT of reading involved (You’ll read the ENTIRE Bible, cover to cover, in 3 months!) But you CAN do it using this program. And imagine what might happen in the process.

Check it out. Pray about it. Mull it over. I hope you’ll decide to take the challenge! You won’t regret it.

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Baby Bargains book

May 26, 2008 By Amy

http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/default.html Gearing up for baby number one (and others) can be an expensive, overwhelming process. I relied heavily on reviews in Baby Bargainsby Denise and Alan Fields to select a car seat, stroller, crib, diaper genie, sippy cup… heck, almost my entire baby registry was pulled from the pages of this book! And when baby [...]

http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/default.html

Gearing up for baby number one (and others) can be an expensive, overwhelming process. I relied heavily on reviews in Baby Bargainsby Denise and Alan Fields to select a car seat, stroller, crib, diaper genie, sippy cup… heck, almost my entire baby registry was pulled from the pages of this book! And when baby #2 was a brewin,’ I checked the newer edition to see what had changed.

I suggest this book to all my pregnant friends and am quite thankful someone told me about it. Check out the website to see what all you can find in there… they’ve got advice on EVERYTHING you need.

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Family Fun Website

May 26, 2008 By Amy

http://familyfun.go.com/ Even when my children were too young for the ideas in the magazine Family Fun, I enjoyed flipping through and seeing what other moms might be doing. Now that I am a mom, I still enjoy perusing the pages for ideas, but often I find myself intimidated, as a lot of the ideas seem like [...]

http://familyfun.go.com/

Even when my children were too young for the ideas in the magazine Family Fun, I enjoyed flipping through and seeing what other moms might be doing. Now that I am a mom, I still enjoy perusing the pages for ideas, but often I find myself intimidated, as a lot of the ideas seem like a LOT of work and something that only “perfect” moms could really do. (I am not a perfect mom.) I have taken a few ideas from the pages and successfully tried them myself, but I find the magazine more fun to look at than attempt to imitate.

The website, however, contains many of the same type of ideas, but it is also very easy to search and narrow down to just what you might be want. So, for me, there is less intimidation factor and more good stuff just for me and my family. You can search for crafts, recipes, activity ideas, travel ideas and print tons of coloring and activity pages for free. (These are great to print for a custom activity book when traveling, by the way.) There is a monthly meal plan calendar with clickable recipes. (All the recipes I’ve tried have been easy-peasy and well-liked by ALL family members.)

The site offers an excellent email newsletter. I know, I don’t like to clog my in-box either, but these newsletters appear to be written by real moms and typically have really great, practical ideas for families with small kiddos up to high school age. I just delete the emails that aren’t applicable, file the ideas for the ones that might be applicable someday and enjoy the rest. The newsletters cover a new topic each weekday and give a you taste of what you might find on the site, with links for more. To receive the newsletters, you do have to register, but they are free. Follow the link above and search for “Dream Team Newsletters.”

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Preschool Express

May 26, 2008 By Amy

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/ Not feeling all too creative, but still want creative, educational and fun things to do with your preschooler? Jean Warren’s Preschool Express is the answer. This site is chock-full of excellent ideas for preschoolers and their parents (and teachers) arranged in an easy-to navigate format. Looking for something simple yet relevant to do every day? [...]

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/

Not feeling all too creative, but still want creative, educational and fun things to do with your preschooler? Jean Warren’s Preschool Express is the answer.

This site is chock-full of excellent ideas for preschoolers and their parents (and teachers) arranged in an easy-to navigate format. Looking for something simple yet relevant to do every day? Print out her monthly calendar of daily ideas. Looking for fun stories or active poetry? Go to the “Music & Rhyme” or “Story” Stations. Need something to fit a theme? Her “Theme Station” lists more than 100 themes with accompanying games, crafts and activities. There is even a “Learning Station” with recomendations for parents and teachers in all sorts of areas from preparing your child for kindergarten to building self-esteem to stress-busting activity ideas. (Who can’t use those?!)

According to her website, Ms. Warren created and sold educational resources for teachers before her retirement. Now she is sharing her resources for FREE on this site, as a way to give back… And what a gift she is sharing!

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Organized ride ahead!

May 17, 2008 By Amy

Gary and I are planning on riding in an organized 50-mile ride in a few weekends and I’m excited to get back on that bike for a good distance and in an organized ride. Organized rides are my favorite because I can ride my own ride by myself, without many of the dangers of riding by myself. There will be rest stops, an organized route, police at major intersections and help circling about should I need it. Plus, I love watching all the other riders, reading their jerseys… and politely saying “On your left!” as I pass them by. (Of course I hear that myself quite often as other cyclists fly by me, too.)

Also, I have a better opportunity to talk and listen to God on an organized ride. Because I don’t have to worry about the ride logistics, I am free to just enjoy the gift of being outside exercising and of listening. I love it.

Recently I haven’t been myself. I’ve been comparing myself to everyone around me again and feeling like I don’t measure up. At church last Sunday I realized my problem: my ladies’ Bible study ended, as did my cycling. I was still reading the Word (almost) daily, but I wasn’t immersing myself in it through study or communicating with God as often as I did when I had scheduled riding time, or when I had the group to hold me accountable.

This realization made me realize that I NEED to stay in His Word. He designed me to be in communion with Him. No, I cannot spend as much time on the bike as I did when training for the MS 150, but I can search out pockets of my time and give them to Him in more prayer (and listening), and I can try again to delve deeper in my daily reading.

I’m playing with the idea of hosting a casual summer book study and I’m making more of an effort to be intentional with my time, and praying about that, as well. The next two weeks will be a frenzy of end-of-the school-year activities and preparations for the summer. And then the ride… Just typing that makes me feel as though the ride is like my dessert. But if I make time everyday to REALLY listen, maybe I’ll feel like I am enjoying dessert every day.

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