If it bothers you...get rid of it!

I learned an important lesson this weekend. It was one of those "ah-ha!" moments where you think, "Why did it take me so long to figure this out?"

 

I was cleaning the little boy's room. We clean it every. single. day. And every single day I have do certain things that drive me batty.

 

1. Their dust ruffles on their beds are ALWAYS messed up. They get bunched up under the mattress, they get pulled to one side more than the other, they make it difficult for the boys to tuck their sheets when they make their beds. I hate messing with and fixing those dust ruffles!

 

2. They have a rug in their room, one of those rugs with roads and signs and buildings that they can drive their Hot Wheels all over. They love that thing. But it will NOT stay put! It is always pushed up against the wall or folded over or pushed under the bed. If my baby girl gets a hold of it, it can even end up in the hallway. I am forever fixing that thing!

 

3. The baby loves to go into the boys' room, open their lower drawers and pull out every single piece of clothing inside. Seriously...almost every day I have to fold and re-organize their drawers. Then she proceeds into the toy closet (with their help, I'm sure) and gets out every single toy in there...just to see the pieces all mingling together like a chaotic little toy party...ugh.

 

Any other moms feel my pain here?

 

Now, I know kids will make messes. I actually revel in their creative play. But doing the same thing over and over and over...don't they say that's the definition of insanity? I get the same results every time...nothing stays in place or clean for very long and then it just has to be done again.

 

My "ah-ha" moment came when I was fixing the dust ruffles for the second time in one day.

 

Why do little boys need dust ruffles? It's not like they're made of steel to keep them from pushing toys under the bed? Can't I just take these things off?

 

Lightbulb moment!!!

 

Just because the stupid dust ruffles came with the bedding set, doesn't mean this mama has to mess them with every. single. day.

 

Bye-bye dust ruffles. Boy, that feels good! Their beds look so much better and they can make them by themselves because I don't have to hold the ruffle in place while they tuck their sheets.

 

By the way, I found solutions for the rug and the mess, too. My hubby brought his nail gun in and permanently stuck that rug into the floor. (Don't worry, the nails are in so snug, they won't hurt little feet...we made sure!) It's not going anywhere now! And we put baby proof door knob covers on the bedroom doors...now the baby can't get in unless we want her to.

 

Lesson learned: There is always a solution. If it doesn't work for you or causes you stress, don't continue to live with it! Get rid of it or figure out a solution to make it work!

 

I've decided to do this in every one of the rooms in my house; take stock of what is not working and find a solution. I just know that my days will be go so much smoother once I get my whole house "annoyance-free". And then I'll start to look in other areas of my life where I can apply this lesson...

 

Life is too short to spend so much time doing the same annoying things over and over. Fix it!

 

So...what annoying thing will you find a solution for today?

Squidoo Lenses by Me

I would say that I haven't been blogging much because we just made a giant move to another state (new, home, new job, new homeschool laws to figure out...).  More about that in another post...

But, to be perfectly honest, the main reason I've been absent is my recent discovery (and subsequent obsession) with Squidoo. 

Graphic courtesy of Greekgeek

Do you know about Squidoo?  It's kind of like blogging, but you create a single page on a topic and you can continue to build it over time.  You can also create several detailed pages about a broader topic and link them together.

It's fun and totally addicting!  Check out some of my lenses if you have time!

My Lensmaster Page

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

Totally Free Recipe Books

Bigfoot Halloween Costumes

Best Baby Costumes

Stroller Costumes for Halloween

Bigfoot For Kids

Lilla Rose Videos

Christmas Countdown Planner

10 Funniest Songs For Kids

Lullaby Lyrics

Patriotic Lenses on Squidoo

Cutest Baby Shoes

If you love blogging, give Squidoo a try!  It's a great way to promote your blog, your business, and to create backlinks to improve your Google ranking.

ENJOY!

Hypocritical Parenting

Last night, I was standing at my back door with plate in hand, finishing off the last of my dinner while watching the younger boys play in the kiddie pool.  My daughter walked up to me with a corn muffin in her hand and I said, "We don't walk around with food in our hands.  If you are eating, you belong at the table!" 

"But, Mom...YOU'RE not eating at the table!"

Yes, she was right...I was being a hypocrite.

Have you ever yelled at your kids, "It's not nice to yell at each other!"

Or have you ever swatted your child's behind and said, "We don't hit!"

Do you get onto your kids about not making their beds while your own bed is undone?

Do you preach about eating healthy food so their bodies can be strong while sneaking a carton of ice cream after they go to bed?  (Guilty!)

Hmmm...hypocritical, right?

So, as parents, how do we not fall into the "Do as I say, not as I do" routine? 

I decided to look and see what the Bible has to say about hypocrisy.  There are many verses that address this, but the passage that stuck out to me, in regards to how we behave with our own children, is Matthew 7:4-5:

"How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (NIV)

I know this passage and I've always tried to apply it to my life...outside of my home.  But have I been diligent in making sure I apply it inside my home, with my husband and my children?  Sadly, I would have to say that the answer is a definite "no".

Did you realize that if you followed all of the rules that you have set forth for your children, parenting would make you an infinitely better person?  I believe that God has a plan for parents, beyond raising Godly children.  I believe He has given us children in order to change us...to challenge us to become more Godly!

Make a point today to take a second look at the rules you have in your home.

Are you following all of the rules?  Or are you being a hypocritical parent?  (I need to work on this!)

Are your rules reasonable, or are you expecting too much from your children?  If you can't follow the rule, is it reasonable to expect them to? 

Do you have so many rules that your children can't enjoy their home?  If so, which ones could you stand to get rid of?  Let's learn to not expect perfection from our children.  No one is perfect outside of Christ, least of all me!

Lord, please help me to see the areas in my life where I am being a hypocrite, whether with my children or my husband or outside of my home.  Change me, Lord, into the person that you created me to be.  Make me a good role model for my children in everything I do.  Help me to lead with actions instead of mere words.  Amen.

Blessings!
Brandi

Our Newest Blessing

Introducing...

Carter Ellett Bush
Born 12/8/09
8 lbs. 2 oz.
19 3/4 in.

Carter was born during a planned home waterbirth and lifted out by his Daddy. It was officially the most amazing experience of my life! He is perfect, healthy, happy and content.

I am doing very well and recovering quickly. The home birth was everything I thought it might be and more! I'll try to post my birth story soon.

Blessings!
Brandi

I've been published!

I recently had the pleasure of being part of an ebook published by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine titled How I Homeschool: Twelve Families Share Their Lifestyle of Learning.

If you like to read about other homeschooling families, their different philosophies, and how they manage their days, this is the book for you! There are truly no two homeschooling families alike! My submission is called "Keeping Our Children Home".

If you check it out in the TOS store, make sure you download the sample excerpt. And since it's an ebook, if you decide to purchase it, you can download it right away and read it today. I know I'm a little biased, but it's really a great collection of stories! And no, I'm not making any royalties off the sale of the book. :0)

It was really fun to be part of this project. Thanks, TOS!

Blessings!

Brandi

$5 Table Makeover

Sanctuary Arts at Home, one of my new favorite "project" blogs, is hosting a make-over open house. I'm entering this fun, simple little $5 table makeover. Head over there and check out the other submissions!

If you've been reading my blog this week, you'll remember that Ashley makes me want to paint all of my furniture black. While that might be an overstatement, I have definitely pegged a few items that I want to immediately makeover. First on my list was this:

It is an antique "table" that was left here by the previous owner of the house. It was being used for extra storage in the kitchen area. As you can see, it is actually one side of what used-to-be some sort of a vanity, evident by the marking on the side where the rest of it was, at one time, attached.

We have been using it as a bedside table. I'm tired of looking at it in it's worn, scratched state (honestly, most people would have thrown it away long ago!), so I decided to make it my first furniture project. I bought a $5 can of flat black, fast-drying Rustoleum spray paint at Home Depot last night.

In a very short time, my yucky table became this bedside beauty:

I sanded the rough spots, cleaned it, and painted it ~ all in only 15 minutes! Within 2 hours, it was dry enough to move inside. I'll wait a couple of days to put anything on it, but I just had to share it with all of you.

Now, I can't wait to paint my headboard to match!

Blessings!
Brandi

Me? Crafty? Who woulda thunk it!?

I don't know what's gotten into me! I have been gettin' my craft on lately! I can't stop making stuff...and the more I do, the more I wanna do! It started with the little sundress I made Addy:

However, not being real creative or crafty by nature, I've had to do some searching on the web. Here's some great blogs I've found, complete with tutorials for future projects I wanna try!

Today, I'll be cutting out pieces to start this quilt. Granted, I've never made a quilt before, but it's too cute to not at least give it a try! Our little one is due in 5 months...think I can finish before then? My goal is to do one square a day so that the top piece will be finished in a little more than a month. Thanks, Jennifer, for the great tutorial!

I'm also going shopping for the fabric to make these faux roman shades for my kitchen and bathroom. So easy! I can't wait to see how they turn out! Check out the rest of Thrifty Decor Chick's blog for so many great ideas for decorating on the cheap. She has some awesome thrift store furniture that she has refinished...she makes me want to spray paint all of my furniture black!

Cluck Cluck Sew has made some adorable quilts and has other cute crafty ideas on her blog...like these vintage-style earrings I want to make for Addy. Aren't they adorable?

I'm going to look at Home Goods today for some towels to use with this tutorial, created by Ashley over at Lil Blue Boo. I'm going to make a dog bed, 2 floor pillows for the kids' reading corner, and a few big pillows for the couches. Ashley is also doing a giveaway right now on her blog, so head over and check it out!

I recently recovered my dining room chairs. They were suffering terribly from a lot of spilled juice and spaghetti sauce stains. They went quickly from this (I know, gross!):

To this:

An immediate improvement, complete with plastic covers. I know...a little "grandmother-ish", but hey, MUCH easier to keep clean!

Now I'm thinking of painting the chairs and table to cover the scratches and wear. I also have a matching sideboard that would need new drawer pulls. They were pretty at one time, but they are 12 years old and showing their age! The trouble? My hubby loves the knotty pine...everything in our home is knotty pine...I'm ready for the change, he doesn't like change so much. So, a little convincing is in order, but I think I'll win in the end!

I'm also going to re-purpose this boring contraption:

I'm going to paint the metal frame and then sew a cute applique on the front of each canvas "basket". Right now, I keep extra sheet sets in it (storage is at a premium in this house!), but I want to use it for the nursery to keep baby socks, onesies, diapers, toiletries, etc.

Now, if you're still reading, I need your opinion on something. A friend gave us a matching set of these antique chairs:

Some days I like them "as is", but other days, they're just a little too "yellow"! So, what do you think? Are they chic and vintage? Or do they desperately need an update?

So many ideas, so little time...what's a girl to do?

Blessings!

Brandi

WHAT?!

Talk about shock and awe!!!

I had to do two tests just to be sure!


Although unexpected, we are feeling blessed beyond measure...

Thank you, Lord!

(This totally explains why I've been so "out of sorts" lately! LOL)

For some reason, I couldn't get into my Blogger account yesterday so I wasn't able to post my Anti-Procrastination Week update. I was able to complete a good majority of the things that I really needed to get done downstairs and I got some important errands accomplished. You can look at this past week's posts to see my progress...I completed the items in red.

I've been able to maintain the things I did this week, too. My kitchen and school bookshelf have stayed clean all week. It's a lot easier when things have an established place! And how nice to come down to a clean, organized space each morning...it makes me happy!

I'm going to take this week "off" and have a normal routine, but I still have a lot to do upstairs and some smaller things to do downstairs. I think I'll set some goals for next week to do those things. So you'll be hearing more about my progress!

Later today (or maybe tomorrow, depending on how long it takes to load pictures), I want to show you a BIG project my hubby is working on and a smaller one that I am in the middle of. It's always fun to be working on new things! And maybe I'll show you the plans we have for a master bedroom addition off the back of the house. We really need some more space, the kids are driving each other crazy!

I woke up to a couple inches of fresh snow this morning, so I'll be spending the day stocking the inside wood ring, filling bird feeders, and cleaning out the henhouse and the doghouse and putting in fresh straw. I like to know they have a warm, clean, dry place to cozy up on days like this! We're supposed to get snow for the next couple of days.

Enjoy this beautiful January day!

Blessings!
Brandi

My Morning Routine

I've decided to join Crystal for her "Getting Back on Track" Challenge. I am struggling with getting some structure in my day. I have recently starting working out again and I need about 1 1/2 to 2 hours each day for my workouts, so that throws an already full day into a tailspin. I know I need to be getting up earlier, preferably before the kids, in order to get more out of my day, but it's hard to get out of bed early during the cold winter months. I just want to stay snuggled up for as long as possible!

So, I think establishing a morning routine is a great way to get started. I used to have a morning routine that worked very well and I followed it to the "T" for a couple of years. Those were productive years! But since my 2 little ones came along, I've had trouble re-establishing it. So, here's my plan for a new morning routine:

1. Get up by 6:00 am.

2. Put wood in the woodstove; start the coffee and water for hot tea

3. Bible reading/prayer

4. Unload dishwasher, wipe down bathroom, make beds, start a load of laundry

5. Make and eat breakfast, switch laundry, start school/preschool by 9:00

6. Exercise during Jack's nap at 10:30

This would be a great first half of the day. My plan is to start tomorrow, so wish me luck!

And if you need to get "back on track", consider joining us over at the Biblical Womanhood blog!

Blessings!

Brandi

My crazy trip to the laundromat...

In an effort to conserve water until our supply is back to normal, I decided to make a trip to the laundromat this morning.

Now in the past, an occasional necessary trip to the laundromat proved to be productive and, if I may say, quite relaxing! I mean, really...where else can I go sit for 2 hours, no children in tow, books and magazines in hand, and accomplish 8 hours of housework in a fourth of the time? Sure, there's a whole lot of folding all at once, and it's some extra cash out of my pocket, but how great to get home and put away all those clothes and know I'm finished...just like that!

This morning, however, was a different story. Apparently, everyone in town goes to the laundromat at the same time and it just happens to be 10:15 am...the exact time I walked through the door, huffing and puffing, trying to balance 5 loads of laundry in 3 baskets and a clothing bag.

By no less power than divine intervention, I was able to find 3 washers all in a row and quickly piled my loads on top of them, effectively "marking my territory". I had exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes to get all 5 loads washed, dried, folded and lugged back to my car before I had to get back home so Ryan could go to work. I wasted no time starting the first 3 loads. Once they were going, I waded through a sea of people trying to find a place to sit, anxious to cash in on some much needed free time for reading.

Hmmm...easier said than done...back to my washers.

I don't know if it's allowed, but I hopped up on top of one of the machines, determined I was going to get some reading in. I effectively drowned out the noise for about 15 minutes when the washer suddenly stopped spinning...wow, those things are fast...and I suddenly realized I was going to have to find some dryers.

At that very moment, every washer in the whole place must have finished its cycle at the same time, because everyone started racing for carts and throwing wet clothes left and right...it would have been quite comedic if I'd had time to stop and watch...but no, I was right there with them! I bypassed the cart and quickly dumped the first load into my one empty laundry basket. I set off for an empty dryer, but realized that if I left my washer, someone would take it, and I still had 2 more loads to wash!

I quickly threw another $1.50 into the washer and started it. That would buy me a minute...off to the dryers! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a lady heading toward "my" machines ~ the only set of top/bottom dryers that were not occupied yet. I swiftly slid my basket across the floor ahead of me, cutting her off at the pass, and threw open the top and bottom doors. With both hands, I started throwing clothes into the two dryers at the same time until my basket was empty. Victory!

Shaking off a couple of dirty looks (hey, it's every man for himself when it comes to clean laundry!), I made my way back to my washers. The second I emptied the third machine, someone else jumped in my place. Seriously, folks...this was war!

After adding those clothes to the "claimed" dryers, I tried to sit down to read again, but it was just not going to happen. Did you know that a quarter only gets you like 6 minutes of drying time now? And the instant the dryer would start to slow down, someone was hovering next to it like they would just as soon throw your clothes on the floor than wait for another to open up. I had to "shoo" away a few overly anxious old ladies who just didn't care if my clothes were dry or not!

Finally, with tons of semi-dry clothes piled into a rolling cart that I confiscated from some poor, unsuspecting old man after he pulled his last pair of socks out of it, I found a half-empty folding table. I had exactly 7 minutes to fold it all and get it to my car.

Then, halfway through the folding marathon, the funniest thing happened. A little old lady came over and dropped a pair of leopard-print undies in my cart and gave me a "knowing" wink.

"Those aren't mine" I said, ever so politely.

She smiled and walked away. Now what? They really weren't mine! I looked up and realized that every eye in the place was looking at me! And it dawned on me that I was the only one there that was under the age of 60. No wonder she thought they were mine! You can bet that none of them were claiming them!

All of a sudden, I got really cracked up. You know when you just start laughing and you can't stop? I'm sure they all thought I was quite the whack job, standing there laughing like that, but I just couldn't help myself.

I'm sure they all had a funny story to tell their families tonight about the crazy woman at the laundromat...so I decided to tell my version of it to you! Hope it gave you a chuckle...

I'll never take my washer and dryer for granted again!

(..and I just can't help but wonder which little old lady those leopard undies belonged to!)

Blessings,

Brandi

Did you know about this?

If you are a coupon user, did you know that you can donate the expired ones to our overseas military? I knew this in a past life, during our 8 year stint in the Air Force, but I had since forgotten. I've thrown out so many expired coupons in the last year!

Visit the Coupons For Troops program for more information and to get involved.

I will be sending out a batch tomorrow worth almost $415...and those are just the ones that expired within the last month!

If you decide to participate in the program, head over to My Precious Pennies for a great giveaway and some appreciation gifts. It's a great way to show support to our military and their families!

'Til next time...

Brandi

It's All For A Reason

Sometimes, the Lord has a way of putting us back in our place. Or, should I say, back in HIS place for us, as it seems He is doing with me right now.

I admit, my priorities have not been where they should be lately. I have spent much time in the last 2 months doing things that did not move me toward Him or fulfill His plan for me and my family. Not bad things, per se...but just not the right things. I've been selfish with my time and have not spent it where it would glorify Him and benefit my family.

Now, He has placed me securely where He wants me so that He can show me where I've been wrong. He has given me pneumonia...miserable, yes...but He knew it was the only thing that would make me STOP! He's been saying, "Slow down, stop moving, stop trying to accomplish everything and take care of everyone...take care of yourself some, too...spend some time in My Word, spend some time in quiet, meditate on the blessings I have given you...SLOW DOWN!"

Did I hear Him? Yes. Was I listening? No. It's the same thing we strive to teach our children...talk less, do less, learn to just listen sometimes! Well, I wasn't...so now I am because there's not much else for me to do right now!

For the last 3 days, I have focused on trying to get well. I have been eating healthier than I have in a long time...lots of fruit, vegetables, juice and vitamins...and drinking tons of water. I have been quiet...reading Scriptures and reading to my children more, praying over my family and our home, doing projects that I have been putting off because I had to actually sit still long enough to do them.

I am feeling a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I am feeling like I am in the palm of His hand and He is guiding me gently and showing me what's important in this life.

It's a wake up call, yes. And one that I am so grateful for! I needed a knock over the head. I'm sure this won't be the last one. Life has a way of throwing me off course. But for now, I'm thankful that He loves me enough to take the time to show me where I need to change.

Even if it takes giving me a bit of "the crud" to make me see!

I continue to ask for your prayers for my two younger children, Addy and Jack, that they will remain healthy and not contract this illness. They are too little to tell me when they're not well and I can't bear to see them go through this! Please pray that it will end with me.

I can't tell you how wonderful it has been to read your comments and well wishes. As silly as it sounds in this "virtual world", I have truly made some wonderful friends here!

'Til next time...

Brandi

"Stump"

That's what Dad used to call me. He always said: "You are so stubborn...you would argue with a stump!" The name kinda stuck around awhile...and now my hubby calls me that from time to time.

I know I'm stubborn...I've become quite self-aware over the last few years and it's something I'm working on! Anyway, my father told me he had always wished a stubborn child on me so I could "get a taste of my own medicine".

Dad...you have officially gotten your wish!

Today, Addison pitched a huge fit because I took a paintbrush from her. It was one our nicer ones and those things can get expensive! Besides, if the dogs get ahold of it, it's history! So, being the nice mommy that I am, I gently took it from her and prepared to replace it with something more "fun"...like a toy...those are supposed to be fun, right? Well, apparently this "nice mommy" doesn't know that a paintbrush must be the ultimate pleasure for a 2 year old because she flipped out...I mean, totally flipped...

I kept my cool...I was very proud of myself. I gently picked her up, kicking and screaming and writhing like she was having her toes ripped off one by one...and took her upstairs to her bed. I calmly turned the fans on, closed the curtains, and told her she obviously needed a nap if she felt like she needed to act that way.

That's when she stopped screaming...

She pointed at me, looked me straight in the eyes, and said..."STUPID MOMMY"!

Well, I guess I'll take "Stump" over that any day!

Exhaustion...

I am mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. At the risk of sounding like I'm whining, I just needed to put a few things into words.

I know that I try to do too many things. I am a "thinker" by nature and I am always having new ideas and starting new projects and taking on extras that are above and beyond my time constraints. There are a million and one things that I desire to do each day and I only ever get to about 6 of them.

Can you relate to this?

I want to have healthy and happy kids, a hubby who feels like I put him first, food on the table that is nutritious and tastes good, a clean and organized home, fun and educational school time, a strong and healthy body, meaningful time with friends, communication with extended family and friends in other states, a well-run homeplace, daily spiritual renewal and a quiet time with the Lord, a successful part-time business run from home, and time for hobbies that I feel will enrich me and my family.

I have a passion for learning new things, but I get started with something, get bored, and then move onto the next thing. I have a desire to read books, but I start one, see another that looks interesting, and then never finish either one. If I could show you a picture of all of the unfinished projects and half-read books I have in this house, you would probably just laugh at me!

All of this creates chaos in my head. The pressure that comes with wanting to do everything...and do it all well...is so overwhelming sometimes. I know there are things I need to let go and perfectionist ideas that I need to overcome. But figuring out where to start just makes me want to crawl back into bed and stay there for a week.

I think a lot of times when we're online we like to put on a perfect front...make it look like we've got it all together. Well, I'm telling you now that I don't. Not even close. And I'm sure you don't either. But it's difficult to let people see our flaws. My mother is probably nodding her head right now as she's reading this because she knows better than anyone the struggles that I have and how I am so far from perfect it's not even funny!

My family has had a long, difficult year. Looking back, we can laugh at most of the struggles we've faced, but it hasn't been easy. There have been so many blessings, though...the greatest is our son Jack who came in the midst of it all. The Lord has seen fit to take care of us. He has provided for us through almost a year of unemployment for my husband. I had to work for several months as a grocery store cashier, while very pregnant, driving 35 minutes each way in the middle of winter...not the most glamorous of circumstances. I say all of this not to complain, but because He has shown us that life is not always perfect but He will provide one way or another. I have clung to His promises this past year. His grace is sufficient and without Him who knows where we would be.

I am thankful that my husband found temporary work in time for me to stay at home with Jack after he was born. I will tell you all the story of the past year in a later post. For now, if you pray, please say one for us! We are making some major decisions right now and it looks like there are some major changes coming in the next few months.

All of these things add to the chaos in my head...but for today, I choose to be still. I choose to lean on The One who knows His plan for my life and my family. I choose to TRUST that all of this is working together for good. I choose to let it go and give it over to Him.

Because I just can't carry it anymore...