The Sparrow's Nest

Day 8: Home Manual- Weekly Plan

2011-11-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

As a stay-at-home mom, if I don't have a plan for my days, they tend to have a plan for ME! I learned fairly early in the motherhood experience that I needed to write down things that I needed to accomplish during the day, because if I didn't, then at the end of the day I would scratch my head and think, "Now WHAT did I do today?"
To help my 'Mommy Brain' stay on track, I have created a Weekly Plan worksheet with a place to write what I plan to do each day of the week, as well as note any important 'to do's, appointments, phone calls, and e-mails that must be sent. You can download it for free at GoogleDocs by clicking below:

Since I didn't get to post yesterday, today you get double posts! I'll be back this afternoon for another 30 Days post...stay tuned! :o)

Super Sandwiches

2011-11-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

Lunch at home, particularly sandwiches, can get pretty boring. So, here are some ideas to make your sandwich lunch visually appealing for your 'lunch crew'.

Give your kids an assortment of small food items (M&Ms, carrot sticks, olives, chocolate chips, cucumber slices, etc.) and let them make a face on their sandwich bread. Then, they get to eat it off! Slightly gross in concept (LOL), but it gets them to try foods they might not, ordinarily.
Use cookie cutters to cut sandwich bread into shapes and then add fillings. This works well with fillings and/or cheese...ham and turkey, not so much.
If you usually serve fresh bread for sandwiches, try grilling or toasting. Just a subtle change can make a difference in the flavor of the sandwich.
Try some new flavor combinations or new fillings. Pimiento cheese, chicken salad, tuna salad, rye bread, pumpernickel, even pita pockets...these are all out there waiting for your child to try!
If all else fails, slice the sandwich differently. I like to cut my sandwiches into fourths on the diagonal when we are serving soup. I place the soupbowl in the middle of the plate and the sandwich fourths around the edges. If you are not planning on serving soup, you can also try what we did for lunch yesterday. See below!

When we ate at McAlister's this past week, I noticed how their sandwiches are displayed on the plate. They cut the bread diagonally and then cut one of the halves in half. The large half stands up (sliced side down) in the middle of the plate, and the two smaller halves are placed at a perpendicular on the plate. One neat feature of this is that it divides your plate into fourths, so you can sneak carrot sticks, celery, chips, etc. onto the plate and it is neatly divided. NOTE: This works best with toasted or grilled sandwiches, as fresh bread won't stand up! (Yes, I learned this from experience.) :o) Enjoy!

Day 7: Home Manual- Routines

2011-11-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

routine \rü-ˈtēn\ : habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure

Routines. You either love them or you hate them. As a former hater-turned lover, let me tell you the arguments I personally have countered for both sides. Haters claim that, being free-spirited, routines cause them to feel hindered, cramped, and overly structured. Routines keep them from being spontaneous. Okay. Now, are you ready to hear the other side of the coin?

Routines create structure that ALLOWS for freedom and spontaneity. For example, when I have a phone call that friends are coming over, I don't panic. I know that my routines have set me up in such a way that I can have a 5 minute cleanup and we will be ready for company. Then, I can enjoy the visit, rather than wondering if my friend will accidentally open up the oven and find my dirty dishes. Whoops. :o)

I discovered the beauty of routines when I stumbled across the Flylady website many years ago. At the time, I was a new mom and even the smallest of tasks seemed insurmountable at a given moment. If you are unfamiliar with Flylady, take a hour or two (No kidding!) and visit her site HERE. It will completely change the way you look at keeping your home. I promise.

Flylady essentially advocates that you begin establishing routines one babystep at a time. Now, being a Type-A perfectionist, I thought this was basically hogwash and tried to make a list of routines to begin all at once. As you can guess, this didn't end well. I threw in the towel after the second day, convinced that I would never 'fly'. A few months later, I came across the link again and re-read her instructions on 'babysteps'. I determined to begin one new habit: starting the dishwasher before I went to bed.

It was amazing. Doing this one little thing (and emptying it when I got up in the morning) kept the dishes from piling up in the sink, which I kept shiny and clean. It was a miracle. I was hooked, and so the process of building my routines began. If you re-read the definition of 'routine', you see that it is habitual or mechanical, and that is what my routines have become. I basically dance through my day! Here is a rundown of where I am now, in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

Morning

Get out of bed. (Yes, I actually have this written down!)
Get dressed, put on makeup, and do hair.
Make the bed.
Grab the dirty clothes and start a load of wash.
Empty the dishwasher.
Start breakfast and make coffee; Check Home Manual and calendar for day's chores & events.
Check the boys' rooms to make sure they have made their beds; gather laundry.
Check Libby's room to make her bed; gather laundry.
Eat breakfast and clean up dishes.
Prep for the day's homeschool.
If time, check my favorite websites. (I set a timer for this as I get sidetracked easily!)
Do homeschool with the family.
Eat lunch and clean up dishes.

Afternoon

Complete homeschool.
Do afternoon chores and read with children.
Put Libby down for a nap.
Fold the load of laundry from earlier and put clothes away.
Relax and get something to drink.
Prep for supper.

Evening

Put children to bed.
Get dressed for bed- pajamas, clean face, brushed teeth.
Lay out clothes for tomorrow.
Read my Bible, watch TV, and spend time with my husband.
Start the dishwasher.
Go to BED!

Now, does this sound like a lot? YES, it does! Did I wake up one morning and decide to do all of this? No, although I wish I could have. The fact is, it takes at least 21 days to make a habit; so this list has taken me over a year to assimilate and become habitual. Do I still 'mess up'? Well, I've discovered that there is no 'messing up'...I just jump back in where I am and do what I can. Eventually, if I'm diligent, I'll get to the point where I'm ready to start a new day and don't feel overwhelmed.

Does this seem like too much to you? Try this: Pick a habit. One that will be a difference-maker for your home. And no, "Keep my house clean" is NOT a good choice. Try something smaller at first, like starting a load of laundry and finishing it each day, or starting the dishwasher before bed. Do it for 21 days. Then, add another new habit. No pressure. Just build your system and make it work for you. Everyone is different- you may try my list and it may work for you. Just remember...it will eventually become mechanical, and you will find yourself shifting into mental 'neutral' and still getting your work done.

Below is a free printable for you to write your routines so that they will become a habit. Take a few minutes to jot down in pencil what you would like to do to get your day going on the right foot. You can even use some of mine to get your mind on track. Then, trace over the one you're going to start with in PEN. This is the only habit you need to try to complete for the first 21 days. Flylady recommends 'shining your sink' as your first habit, but the dishwasher worked for me. Find the key that works for YOU. Enjoy!

Check my sidebar for more free printables to download!

Day 5: Home Manual

2011-11-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Our home is a busy one, and to keep it running efficiently, I use a tool called my Home Manual. I have seen this reincarnated in many ways on the Web as household binders, homekeeping notebooks, etc. Essentially, it is a command center to keep all of the things necessary for our home in one, easy-to-find place. To create this binder, I used:

a 3-ring binder (I prefer a 2" one with a clear plastic cover so I can change the look);
clear page protectors;
index dividers (or clear packing tape to create your own dividers);
and LOTS of printer paper.

Don't get overwhelmed thinking about what will go inside! Just start with the basics- we'll take it step-by-step through the rest. If you would like to print a cover similar to mine, click on the Download button below to visit GoogleDocs.

Tomorrow we'll look at creating routines that will have your home practically running itself! Enjoy!

Two Pirates and a Princess

2011-11-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

They came, they saw, they got candy.

We had fun at a church festival last night where our children got to jump in a bounce house, see a puppet show, eat hot dogs, and go on a hayride. They all fell asleep within five minutes of hitting the pillow. :o)

Day 4: The Church Bag

2011-10-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

After many, many Sundays of carrying my purse, church bulletins, children's crafts, choir music, returned casserole dishes, and more...I finally came up with a solution for holding it all! What you see above is our "church bag". When we have items that must be taken to church, they get put in the bag so they are ready to travel with us to the next service. This bag has been invaluable to our family, and, again, is one of those simple solutions that makes a big difference!
I knew I wanted a bag that would be easily identifiable as our family's (just in case it was accidentally left at church), so I searched on Ebay for personalized boat tote bags, and found the Embroidery and Gift Store. The bag you see above cost me $20 plus shipping, and I got to choose my font, design, and colors. Here is a link to the page for the bag itself and also a link to the page which shows additional lettering choices for the tote bags. I chose a two-tone selection in the 'Katy' font with black and red. You can see a close-up below:

We love our bag, and it has held up well in the wash. She offers many other bags in prints as well as basic black. This has been a wonderful solution to help us carry all of our 'extras' to and from church so that we have arms to carry our children too! :o)

Day 3: Homeschool File Boxes

2011-10-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I showed you our work binders, but today I wanted to share how we organize class work for the week. Before school began for this year, I took a day and printed off lesson plans for the first 10 weeks (we use Veritas Press' scripted program of pre-written plans) and organized them into an accordion file. This has saved me countless hours of planning each week, and after Thanksgiving, I will do the same for our second 10 weeks. Each week, I pull that week's files and put them into a binder according to days- each day's worksheets are placed in a page protector labeled with that day of the week. Behind the page protector are the day's lesson plans. (You can view the front cover of Christopher's lesson plan binder through the file box at the top of this post.)

Within the filebox, I keep all of the teacher manuals and various supplies that will be needed for the week. For Christopher, this includes my Saxon Math 3 manual, our Shurley2 Grammar books, his Phonetic Zoo linguistics flashcards, the literature book he is currently reading, and our Latin books. In the rear of the box, I keep completed work, stapled together by week with that week's schedule attached to the front (along with the dates for the completed work). This work will soon be transferred to the accordion file as it is outgrowing the filebox...a good sign that we are completing our work in a timely fashion!

With our being in an apartment right now, there is not a lot of room for storage, so we have to make the most of what we have. This has also emphasized to us the importance of choosing activities and supplies wisely, so we don't have a lot of clutter in our workspace.

Next week, I will be moving on to a tour of our Home Manual, as well as placing printables online for free download; but for now, I think we'll just enjoy a relaxing weekend! See you on Monday!

BOO!

2011-10-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

A scary monster? Nope, just my middle child showing off his "Monster Mask" during our study of the letter Mm!

Day 2: Homeschool Work Binders

2011-10-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

With my eldest entering 2nd Grade in our homeschool this year (and also adding on Latin, History, Bible, Linguistics, etc. to his previous schedule of primarily Reading/Handwriting and Math), I struggled with juggling his multitude of new workbooks and notebooks. It seemed as if our school table was constantly cluttered and we could never find what we needed at the right time. Our solution for this came in the form of a work binder (a 2" binder) that we could use to keep his materials organized and handy. We chose one with a clear cover so we could personalize it- he chose the knight for the front cover. Inside the notebook we keep his notebooks for Grammar and Linguistics in the rings, and his Math, Grammar practice, and Handwriting booklets in the front. In the rear pockets are flashcards (we are working through the 50 states and capitals this year) and workcards (the Veritas Press history timeline cards).

A simple solution to help keep us organized and together!

An inside look. A nice feature of the binder is that it happens to have double pockets on the front and back covers so we can fit several booklets in each. I didn't realize it when I purchased it, but it has been a lifesaver for us!

Mummy Dogs

2011-10-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

With Christopher studying the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt this week, I took advantage of the opportunity to include a yummy lunch along with the theme! I rolled out a tube of crescent roll dough and sliced it lengthwise into 8 strips. Then, I wrapped hot dogs with the strips and baked in the oven for the time on the package. My boys liked that I cut a small strip across the weiner 'face' and put in 2 small slivers of carrot for orange 'eyes'. Of course, I think the thing they liked best was dipping their 'Mummy Dogs' in 'blood' (Ewwww....ketchup, of course)!

PS- For a real tutorial on this fun snack (I just winged it), here's a link to Pillsbury! Enjoy!

Day 1: Homeschool Caddy

2011-10-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't it true that the simplest things in life also bring the most joy? Well, this is my JOY during our homeschool times around the table! After multiple trips looking for this or that in various boxes and drawers, I assembled a caddy of our most-used items and it has saved me so much time! The boys' pencil boxes are on either side with our most-used CDs, a stapler, a hole punch, and tape on one end and a set of markers and colored pencils on the other end. Such a simple solution...since I bought it, I've been wondering why I didn't think of it before! I found this caddy at Goodwill for a dollar and change...it has definitely been a justified purchase and has earned its keep time and time again.

30 Days to a More Organized Nest

2011-10-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Over the course of the next month, I will be sharing tips and tricks that keep our home running smoothly. I will also be creating free printables for you to download to create or add to a home manual too! Make sure to check back often!

Baked Ziti

2011-10-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

I prepared this recipe this week and it was deliciously more than the sum of its parts! Add some Italian sausage in the sauce for a protein kick, and serve with garden salad and fresh bread for a hearty meal. Comfort food at its finest!

1/2 pound dried ziti

15 or 16 ounces ricotta cheese (part skim)

3 cups (or 12 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

3 cups (or a 26-ounce jar) spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the ziti. Cook until tender, about 8 minutes, drain the pasta. Place the ziti in a large bowl. Mix with the ricotta and half of the mozzarella. Grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish (or divide into 2 8x8 dishes). Spread half of the spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the pan. Add the ziti mixture and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and the remaining mozzarella. Bake uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes, until the casserole bubbles on the edges. NOTE: I like to broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end. It browns the cheese so nicely, and gives it a little kick. Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of FamilyFun, one of my FAVORITE idea sites on the web.
Click HERE for a printable copy.

Building Altars

2011-10-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young— even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God." -Psalm 84:3

When I was a little girl, I would spend lazy summer afternoons with my grandmother watching the birds come to the feeders behind her house. She had a big book of aviary pictures, descriptions, and calls and I would spend hours studying the delicate little creatures that frequented her backyard. What particularly fascinated me was watching them build their homes. I observed that the birds would fly countless trips scavenging for the perfect twig to complete their nests, obliviously content in their surroundings and the simple pleasure of building.

When we look at Psalm 84:3, we see that the sparrow's home is the altar of the Lord, and in that place she lays her young. Are our homes also altars which point our children to worship or are they idols of our own creation? Do we make that daily choice to lay down that part of us, the selfish, sinful man inside, to sacrifice self and be Christ to those we are called to minister to and with?

How is your heart tonight? How do you prepare your altar for worship?

The Beauty of Creativity

2011-10-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

"Creativity takes courage."

-Henry Matisse

Why is the first stroke of paint on a canvas the hardest to swipe? The first words in a book to write? The first notes in a song to compose? The first emotions to express in a relationship?

Fear.

Fear is a powerful, invisible foe. It grips our hearts and paralyzes us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Fear to get it wrong... fear that the most intimate parts of our soul will be discarded, ridiculed, or rejected. And so, for several years now, I have let fear of criticism and rejection keep me from blogging.

But no more. As Matisse said, "Creativity takes courage." By God's grace I will be brave enough and strong enough to create without fear. And so now, with outstretched hands, I offer you my heart through my words.

Welcome to The Sparrow's Nest!

Image from AllPosters