Shenanigans and a Steady Routine

Did you have a good St. Patrick's Day?  We did and I have to credit my new friend Christina with planting an idea in my head on facebook.  She posted about her child's class at school getting locked out of their classroom by a Leprechaun and some other shenanigans.  My first thought was...that sounds like fun but I don't have the energy to do anything.  Then I remembered that I'm the Magical Mom and I spent 10 minutes stringing green crepe paper around the kitchen and the bathroom and I squirted some green food coloring in a couple glasses and in the toilet bowl.  That's all it took...10 minutes to make magic!

Mallory was so mad at those Leprechauns for turning her milk green but she quickly got over it and I had to spend the rest of the day summoning Leprechauns to make more green milk.  Alex scoured the house looking for more 'Anagans' and kept finding things he thought the Leprechauns had done.  This took up a good hour of time! YAY!

Christina shared this bit of wisdom that she has printed out and displayed in her kitchen.

Make today special.  This is their only childhood!

I'm starting to implement some of the ideas from the Steady Days book. I worked up a routine that includes free play, reading and play time with me, baking, crafts and walks. There is also a morning for a playdate with our friends and one for running errands. When I decided my kids needed more of a routine and a set schedule...I arrived at the conclusion that I did too.  On my schedule are showering and set times for laundry and cleaning.  On Friday's I will only be on the computer in the morning and then I'll shut it down and will spend the afternoon drinking wine tea and reading.

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I'm sure that I'll be tweaking this routine as summer arrives and the kids want to spend all of their time outside and there are more activities to do.  I've become aware of how little time is left before the kids are in school and my time with them is cut in half.  I need to make the most of it.

EASTER is coming....do you have any plans?

Friends...and The Gift of Steady Days

Today's challenge at Girly Gazette is to celebrate my friendships and things I've learned this week.  This was perfect week for me to do this because I started off the week having coffee with a fabulous blogger, Jen from Steenky Bee (please note that I have like 100 friends named Jen now).  We had a great time getting to know each other at Starbucks, she's soooo funny and I can't wait to get together with her again.

Then...last night I got together with The Real Housewives of the U.T. to celebrate Lauren's Birthday.  These ladies are so amazing!  I noticed the other diners at The Olive Garden staring at us...mostly because we're all pretty hot but also because of the constant conversation going on at our table.  I don't know how we managed to eat and talk at the same time!

The Real Housewives of the U.T. 

Lauren

Stephanie

Loralee

Kim

I'm really excited to tell you all about this book that I just read. It's called Steady Days by Jamie C. Martin and it's going to change my life! Back in January when I started my Focus on the Family posts, I told you that I wanted to be intentional and present in my children's lives. That is the end goal with making plans every month...in writing that I will then follow through with. The purpose of this book is to help you on your journey toward intentional, professional motherhood.

Sounds like it was written FOR me right? I got so many great ideas from this book and also from Jaime's blog...Steady Mom.  I'm going to be implementing them over the next few weeks....a Steady Routine, a Home Planner and a Look At Me Binder.   Many of the other  ideas go along perfectly with my Family Journal and some are things that I've been looking for a solution for.  The book is also full of observations from a veteran mom.  Here's the one that knocked me off the couch.

Saying NO all the time steals JOY from the home.

There is a better way for me to say No and sometimes, Yes is the right answer.  I took many notes....and I plan to review them every couple weeks so that I stay on course for what I want to do.  This is a great book for any Mom that wants to make some positive changes in their home. 


I'm going to give my copy away....and whoever wins my copy, after reading it...I want you to give it away to another blogger.  And then that blogger has to promise to give it to another blogger.  Each blogger that wins the book must their URL for their blog on the inside cover.  I want us all to share this book!

So...if you are interested in reading Steady Days AND you promise to give this book to another blogger who promises the same.  Please tell me in your comment that you want to win the book. You have until Monday at 5PM.   If you can't wait to have this copy passed on to you....you can order your own copy here.