Do Your Homework!

Recently, getting homework done without a headache or tears has been an issue in our house. Usually, Alyssa does her work at the kitchen counter. I am usually helping her, keeping her focused, making dinner, answering the phone, doing something for Patrick, or letting the dogs out or in. It is constant chaos. For weeks now I keep hearing what every good teacher knows, what I have told countless parents when I was a teacher, “She needs a quiet place dedicated for homework.” But my rationale for not acting on it sooner was that I needed to be preparing things in the kitchen, and I need to micromanage homework. Yes, a little like Claire on Modern Family the other night. By the way, I LOVE that show. So funny. But back to the homework, so I decided to act on the voice nagging in my head. Yes, Brett, if you are reading this, I do nag myself too!


I moved some things around in her room to make room for my old desk.

I made a really cute pencil holder her for her:

To make this simply use a can where you take off the entire lid. You can't use one that cuts the lid, the edges will be too sharp. Here is a can opener that would work.
Then, peel off the label and wash out the can. Dry it.
Measure the height of the can.
Find a piece of scrapbook paper or other card stock and cut a strip.
Then, use double sided tape to secure one end of the paper to the can. After that, roll the paper around the can and secure with more double sided tape. And voila, a pencil holder.

I liked this desk blotter Michael's had. They have all kinds of cute American Girl craft items there now.

The other thing I added was a swing arm lamp.

This one came from Pottery Barn Kids about seven years ago, here is the newer version.

Before I moved the desk in, she had a night table that had a lamp on it, once the desk was it, it was right next to the bed and the lamp took up way too much room on the desk. Swing arm lamps are terrific space savers. Now this lamp can be used for reading in bed and then shifted over to work at the desk.

I love this toy! Alyssa got it for her fourth birthday. It is so educational. You use a pen to touch the different parts of the globe and it tells you information about the country or contitnent, such as currency, poplation, what time it is there, cultural facts. There is also a game mode and you can quiz yourself.

Now that the desk has been in there for more than a week I can say that she has been more responsible about doing her work. She does more of her work independently. I do go up and get her started on tasks, and periodically check in, but all in all, she is taking more initiative. I think because she has a place to take it seriously and knows that I take it seriously, it has become more important to her.
The best thing I saw her do at it was "study for college" (her words, not mine) and what was she studying? The Bible! Now, that is something to work at. Amen!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23

Before and After: The Family Room

I have been wanting to update the family room for some time. I was tired of the TV in the corner and the small bookshelf that really got in the way to and from the kitchen. For some reason, this room attracted a lot of clutter! Nothing was terrible, but I was just ready for a change. Brett really wanted a  new TV, one of those LCDs. But I really wasn't ready to get that unless we did the whole room the way we wanted. I didn't want to do it half-way and then be upset later when nothing was the way we wanted it. However, there wasn't money to do it all the way---until, I figured out how to get the look I wanted on a budget!The room also seemed to need some color. There is lots of beige in this room right now.

The curtains were from the previous owners and never matched our stuff. The rug did not match either!

So here is our room redone . . . . TA DA!

I found the look I liked, of course, in a Pottery Barn catalog. But with shears at more than $80 a panel, I just couldn't do it. Then I found these, almost identical in color, at Target. Target also had the pillows and the throw to match. I really struggled with the decision on the couch. My heart wanted that Pottery Barn sectional, but for the family room, I figured we could go cheaper since the kids are in there all the time and I would freak out if I spent a lot and they wrecked the stuff. So we went with the Ikea Ektorp couch and chair in Svanby Beige. They also had the chocolate brown velor pillows. They are the best! This also is what got us to Ikea for the very first time. A bit overwhelming, I must say.

Brett got an incredible deal on the TV. He went with a Dynex. It is Best Buy's generic brand, however it still made by the people who make expensive name brand TVs. It was a great bargain. We needed furiture to put that on, plus I really wanted to add bookshelves to the room. We are huge readers here and we are always looking for more space for books. Of course, I had my eye on some Pottery Barn stuff, but alas, I did find this stuff on sale at Target, that I very happy with. Plus, if the kids ding it up, I will not have a major cow. My favorite thing about the Target purchase is that the bookshelves came with wall straps and child saftey warnings. Way to go Target, thanks! You can see in the picture that I painted an accent wall. That is Behr's Gray Morning. I had some issues with the name, I thought it sounded too negative, and then I got over myself and painted.

This was my favorite purchase for the whole room. I think it ties it all together nicely.

So, I am pretty proud of my design on a dime. It was fun and Brett and I are both very happy with the room. It feels more open and it is easier for me to talk to company when I am in the kitchen! Isn't that what it is all about!

Eco, Kid, and Pocket Book Friendly Cleansers

Spring cleaning is here! I have to say, I am messy by nature. I have a real hard time following through with picking stuff up and putting it back in its "home" if it even really has a home in our house. Many objects in our home are nomads or gypsies. However, I have been really dedicated to some new cleaning products.

The first one is vinegar, which my mom uses a lot for windows, but as I have been researching, it does more than windows. Vinegar is a cleaning superstar. My sorority sister Meredith who lived overseas, says the Germans use it to clean everything! I use it in a spray bottle mixed with water. 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. I do windows, clean the kitchen sink, and shine the crome fixtures with this. This mixture also takes the price stickers off glass with a magical ease. I think of the time I spent getting those stickers off the bottom of my new china when I was first married, I wish I'd known the vinegar trick then! I also use it to wash my wood floors! My girlfriend puts some in her wash to soften the clothes instead of using fabric softener. Vinegar is great for descaling and removing calcium and lime deposits as well as removing soap scum.

Here is a great website for vingar uses.

I also have fallen in love with liquid Ivory dishsoap. It is very eco-friendly. Add 1 tablespoon soap to 1 cup water and you have yourself the BEST all-purpose cleaner ever. It makes things sparkle, you even hear that little--ting! You know, like the people on the Orbit commercials. I use this spray to clean my kitchen counters, stovetop, microwave, bathroom sinks, around (not in) the toilet, walls, I could go on forever! Spray, wipe, and dry. Drying I have found is essential to the cleaning process. Especially with windows and countertops. You need to dry it with a cloth or paper towel for it to really look its best.

Probably my favorite product here is the baking soda. My Grammy has always sung its praises and it deserves it. You can use it to scrub, to deodorize, cut grease. I polish silver with it. Use a damp cloth and some baking soda for a beautiful shine. Here is a great website for baking soda uses.

My very favorite thing is when you add vinegar to baking soda--that is a dynamic duo.

I recently found in Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook how to unclog a drain using vinegar and baking soda. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in the drain, pour 1/2 vinegar down the drain, cover the drain with a cloth to keep the gasses in the drain. Wait five minutes and pour boiling hot water down the drain (use a teakettle to keep from burning yourself).

You really cannot go wrong with any of these products as they are not harmful to kids as many household cleansers are. They are friendly to the earth. And, they are inexpensive.

So, let's get spring cleaning!