Summer Planning & A Free Printable!

May 16, 2012 by at 7:00 am

Summer vacation for the kiddos is almost here (at least in Georgia!).  I know that going from the extreme structure of the school year to the freedom of summer vacation can be fun, but in our house it is also a challenge.  This year, adding to that challenge is the addition of our new baby.  So, I thought I would sit down and really plan out our summer activities in the form of a calendar.

Before creating the calendar, I thought it would be best to brainstorm things I wanted to happen each day/week (story time, pool time, art projects), and then those special activities that we will do once (the zoo, aquarium, etc).  I designed a printable for all of you to use to get those ideas down on paper and jump start your planning.  Just get out your favorite pen and put those dreams of the beach, the zoo, the pool, finger painting, and more down on paper!  Download, print, and then come back and share your great ideas by leaving a comment on this post.Download your copy here: SummerPlanning

You’ll see that there are 5 links to help you with your planning as well.  These are some of my “go-to” sites for kids activities.  Martha Stewart might not be as practical as the other four, but she sure is good for some eye candy!

I would love to hear about resources and ideas you have for summer.  Ideas for any age are welcome, as I’m sure someone will benefit from them!

 Linking this post here.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Family, Organization

Simple Decor – Decorative Shelves

May 9, 2012 by at 6:28 am

Ah, the joys of homeownership!  Hubby and I joke that we could be occupied never leaving our home with all of the projects I dream up.  Our shelf project was easy, so I thought it would be a great one to share today.

 We have a large wall in our breakfast area that really needed something, and so we decided to build some shelves where we could change the decor each season.  There is an excellent tutorial here that we followed to complete our project.

All of our materials were purchased at Home Depot.  Here is what you need:

  1. 8″ Wide (Primed) Boards, Cut to your Desired Length
  2. Door Casing (There are a ton of options)
  3. Primer and Paint
  4. Painters Tape
  5. Corbels (Used to Support The Shelves)
  6. Saw (We used a miter saw to make the corners)
  7. Sander or Sand Paper
  8. Wood Glue
  9. Clamps
  10. Painter’s Putty or Wood Filler

 

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Home Decor

The Bluum Box: Lot’s of Fun in a Little Package!

May 7, 2012 by at 7:26 pm

So, confession time.  I LOVE getting things in the mail.  Big, small, letters, anything; I love opening the mailbox and finding something that does not require payment in return.  I recently took advantage of a deal and signed up for a three month Bluum subscription, and I just had to take a second and write a post about it.  Not only does it satisfy my need for fun mail, but it also has lots of little surprises inside.  It arrives in a cute little brown box, ever so perfectly packaged:

Inside are samples of hot new items for mom and baby that are worth trying and have been tested by the moms at Bluum.  How fun!  I’ve only opened two boxes, and have sampled everything from sweet scented facial products for me, to a new all natural laundry detergent to get all of those tiny clothes ready for my new baby.  It has been so great to pamper my pregnant self in little ways and also stock my diaper bag for my new arrival.  The beautiful card gives you all the details about each product and why it was chosen for the box.

Here is Bluum’s mission: “we love babies and we know how important it is to find products that work.  we scour the globe to find the latest products and fill each box with useful, healthy, and responsible choices for you and your little one.”

Well said, and from what I’ve found – very true.  Not only is this a fun monthly treat for expectant moms or moms of babies, but it would also make a very fun shower gift.  I’d love to hear about other fun things you’ve found for moms, especially those that surprise you on your doorstep!

Please know that I wasn’t compensated at all for this post.  Although I have been compensated for product reviews (and love doing them), the Bluum box is something I really enjoy and just wanted to share with all of my readers!

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Beauty

Simple Solution: Fresh Air

April 25, 2012 by at 6:00 am

Do you ever just feel heavy?  Like the burden of the world and all of the demands of life is sitting atop your shoulders weighing down your otherwise happy spirit?  I think that as busy moms, regardless of what our daily schedule looks like, we all feel that pressure to do more, help more, create more, cook more.

When you take a walk through nature, though, you are reminded of the bigger picture.  The babbling brooks, the rustling leaves, and the space.

The space in the air to take a deep breath.  The space in the sky to let your eyes wander from cloud to cloud.  Nature allows your mind the freedom to wander just like the water through the woods.  The open air allows for a child’s laughter, screams, and squeals without worry of who they might be disturbing.

In my profession, many days pass when I spend no time outdoors except to get in and out of my car, and it is those stretches of days where the heaviness sets in.  Those are the days when I hear but don’t listen, and look but don’t see.  Sure, the unpredictable Spring weather doesn’t always make it easy to enjoy the fresh air, but there are days when the sun peeks through if only for a minute.

What about other ways to let the air rush in?  What about rolling those windows down for a second?  Or running around in the front yard for just a minute with that toddler whose energy is superhuman?

Sometimes just beginning a week by getting out of the house, instead of wasting away the morning can breathe energy and life back into our family.  Catching a glimpse of the world outside reminds us again of that bigger picture and lets that happy spirit right back in.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Life Lessons

Lunch on the Go! A Giveaway

October 14, 2011 by at 7:21 am

Life is busy crazy.  We are always going somewhere.  And would you believe that my little toddler gets hungry in the middle of my marathon Saturday errands?  The nerve.

As much as he loves “Chicken Fay” (Chick-Fil-A), we can’t afford the scrumptious nuggets every weekend.  Nor can his thighs afford the fries.  Since Mr. Cheeks is potty trained, I don’t carry a diaper bag anymore and try to streamline what we bring with us.  I discovered a great company called Kids Konserve that offers reusable products for children.  We aren’t allowed to bring food to Mr. Cheeks’ school, so the lunch bag wasn’t the right solution.  Then I discovered the Snack Pak, and thought it would be the perfect compromise.

Because I love my readers (and they had a great sale!), I ordered two!  When the Snack Pak arrived, I was immediately pleased with the quality.  It is a very simple idea – a drawstring back, leak-proof stainless steel container, cloth napkin, and a reusable sandwich “kozy”.  There is a Name Tag attached to the bag also.

The bag is small enough to bring anywhere, but still large enough to also fit a diaper or a small toy.  I use it frequently at the YMCA childcare, where they require a snack, sippy cup, and an extra diaper.

Interested in having one of these Simple Solutions?  You can enter several times for this one!  Here’s how to win:

1.  Leave a comment below.

2.  ”Like” Addington Mom on Facebook. (Leave a comment below and let me know you did!)

3.  Tweet this: ” Enter to win an @kidskonserve Snack Pak from@AddingtonMom here:http://bit.ly/qFfrjG” (Leave a comment below and let me know you did!)

This giveaway will close at 11:59 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011.  I hope you win!!    This giveaway is now closed.

This post is part of a 31 Day Series called Simple Solutions.

Don’t miss a single solution and the chance to share yours.  Oh, and there may be a few fun giveaways, too.

Read all of the 31 Solutions here.

For this post, I was not given any compensation or free product. This is a quality product that I felt was worth sharing.
Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions

Simple Solution: 2 Minute Actions

October 13, 2011 by at 8:21 pm

The time management strategy that has greatly impacted my life lately is the “2 Minute Action” strategy.

I first read about the idea on Zen Habits, a fantastic blog about simplistic living.  To put it plainly, as you work through your day, if an action will take you 2 minutes or less, you should do it immediately.  The strategy is an integral part of David Allen’s Getting Things Done.

How does this Simple Solution look in real life? Here are several ways I put this strategy into action every day: [Read more...]

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Organization

Simple Solution: Five Minute Make-up Routine

October 11, 2011 by at 6:28 am

Even with the routines I have in place, morning can be a time of uncertainty in our house.  Having a streamlined make-up routine helps me look gorgeous presentable for work and still leave on time.  Here’s the run down:

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Beauty

Simple Solution: When Children Misbehave In School

October 10, 2011 by at 8:39 pm

The classroom door swings open and I excitedly bound right in.  Eager to see my little boy after a hard day’s work, I rush over to the carpet where the class is entranced in Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  I sit next to Mr. Cheeks, wanting him to know that I am as excited about learning as he is.

The story comes to a close and the teacher looks at Mr. Cheeks and sternly says, “Do you want to tell your Mommy what you did today?” [Read more...]

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Life Lessons

Wholesome Snacks on The Go – A Giveaway!

October 6, 2011 by at 6:41 am

UPDATE:  Congratulations to Gale and Mary S.!!  I will send an email letting you know how to try Farm Rich Foods.  Thanks to everyone for great comments.
There are times when we are so busy; it is impossible to make fresh food.  Life is unpredictable, and having a solution makes these situations manageable.

 

My toddler is in a stage right now where he doesn’t eat much dinner.  He eats more at other times of the day, so we don’t worry too much about it.  I like to make a bigger dinner for Hubby and I, and sometimes he needs something small. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Food, Giveaways

Simple Solution: Cover it up!

October 4, 2011 by at 8:28 pm

Let’s examine a few scenarios. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 31 Days of Simple Solutions, Beauty