To All The Moms Who Are About to Lose It in May

Dear Moms,

May is always so busy. The final sprint to get the school year and sports/dance/church/music activities all finished up really packs the calendar.  It is the one month that tries to push us over the edge. I think Mother's Day falls right in the middle of this month to remind us of the reason we do all of these things. 

Our children...they are our best gifts. 

Chatting on the Golden Gate Bridge

They are the reason we...
 ...help plan parties at school.
 ...take snacks to soccer practice.
 ...hem dance recital costumes at midnight.

They are the reason we...
 ...stop by the grocery store 4 times in one week to get random things like: Kleenex, healthy snacks for teacher appreciation week, and erasers.
...can't sleep because we just signed them up for summer camp and we are praying for God to send them new friends to hang out with.
...run pick up photos at the drugstore for school projects.

They are the reason we...
...go on overnight fieldtrips with zillions of silly 5th graders.
...spend Sunday afternoons on the front porch watching talent shows.
...search our purse to find enough change for ice cream day at school.

All of these extra activities can add extra stress. 
This week, I was taking my daughter to a friend's house for a meeting. I have been there at least 5 times. I got lost on the way. When we finally found her house, I looked at my friend and confessed  "I think I might be losing my mind".
Yesterday, I sent my daughter off to school in a damp t-shirt because they had gotten their school play shirts the day before and I forgot to wash it in time for Play Spirit Day. 

May is filled with extra stuff. It always will be. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are doing a great job. (Don't we all need to hear that sometimes.) Remember the reason we do all of these things. Tackle one day at a time. And at the end of the day, if you need to whisper (or shout) "Take that, May!" it will be fine.

I hope you all have a very Happy Mother's Day! You have earned it!

xoxo, Elizabeth

A New Year's Wish

Happy New Year!

2014

  Each year, I look forward to a new beginning. It is human nature to try to become better as we grow older. 
  Over Christmas, I thought a lot about how we focus on the wrong things. It is easy to get wrapped up in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays and spend time on things that don't really matter. I want to spend more time on things that are important. I think each us is on this earth to make a difference. If you are overflowing with joy today, make sure you share your smile and shine your light! And if you are having a tough time, look for someone who is willing to hold your hand and share their joy with you.
  This year , I want to focus on things that matter.  Family, Friends, sharing joy, being there for people, creating beauty, building community.

  My 2014 wish for us all is...

"Less Miley and More Kid President".

Life is short, sweet friends!

 If you have not heard of Kid President, follow this link to watch his video! He will make you smile...I am inspired each time I watch this!

                                                     A Pep Talk from Kid President!

What is your New Year's Wish? What do you want more of ... or less of? I'd love to know!

Have a Happy Day!
xoxo, Elizabeth

p.s. Nothing against Miley...she is young and still finding her place in this world. (I hope she gets settled soon!) 

Chores: A Summertime Routine that Works for Us!

Summertime!
Like most moms, I am thrilled to step away from the school and after-school activity rush for a while! This is our first week out of school and I am establishing a routine that seems to be working for our family. (My son is 12 and my daughter is 9.)
I want us to have lots of fun this summer. I also want my children to help around the house and understand the importance of contributing to our family.

Our basic schedule... and you all who know me well know this is not set in stone. :)

We do chores in the morning. The children's chores do not take much time. My chores take longer and I also try to pack Etsy orders and check email. (The kids usually have screentime, play LEGOS, swing in the backyard while I am finishing my chores. Whatever they want to do is fine.)

After lunch, we go do something fun!
A trip to the pool.
Go to the LEGO store... my children are good savers and they use their own money for toys.
Play board games.
Go to the library.
Visit the bakery:)

I love this routine... work in the morning and play in the afternoon!

Daily Chores.
They do not get paid for these.

Everyday
Make Beds
5 Minute Around the House Pick-up. (Check every room and pick up your things. Put them where they belong.)

Monday
Clean Rooms

Tuesday
Empty Trash - Kitchen/Kid's Bath (They alternate each week. If my son empties the kitchen trash this week, my daughter empties the trash can in the kid's bathroom.  Next week, they switch.)

Wednesday
Clean Bathroom - Guest Bath/Kid's Bath (They alternate each week. Cleaning the bathrooms took some serious training last summer. And a refresher course this year. )

Thursday
Empty Laundry Baskets. (I just have them dump their laundry baskets in the laundry room.)

Friday
Vacuum Your Room. (New this year. I need to teach them how to use the vacuum cleaner.)


Extra Chores
If they want to do these, they earn a little money. I keep a running list on the pantry door of extra chores I think of during the week.  After they have completed the chore, they write their name next to it so I can remember how much I owe them at the end of the week.

Examples of Extra Chores
.25 Sweep Front Porch and Walk   ______
.75 Sweep Back Porches and Stairs  ______
.05 Take Kitchen Laundry up to Laundry Room ______
.25 Wash and Dry a Load of Laundry ______
.25 Fold and Put Away a Load of Laundry ______
.10 Brush Buddy's Teeth ______ (maybe I should pay more for brushing the dog's teeth...)
.25 Water Flowers--early morning only so the sun does not scorch the leaves. ______
.25 Sort Socks in Random Sock Basket

I really like this system because it gives them a chance to earn extra money and it saves me from all those extra things that always need to be done!

Allowance
We give our children allowance each week. $3. This is not based on chores, behavior, or grades. My husband and I started doing this when they were very little. I like this system because they have learned that they can save their allowance and use it for whatever they want to buy. When we are out at a store and they see a toy/doll/video game they would like to get, they don't beg for it. They spend their money if they have it, or they save up to buy it themselves.


I would love to know how you all handle chores and allowance. What works for you? I think you just have to find a plan that works for your family. There are no right or wrong answers. For us, we don't worry too much about kid's chores during the school year. They are so busy with school, homework, and activities that trying to add chores into the mix creates alot of stress.

Questions? Comments? I can't wait to hear from you!
xoxo Elizabeth

p.s. I am closing Polka Dot Skies Saturday to enjoy time with family and friends! If you need anything today or tomorrow, use coupon code HAPPY25 to get 25% off your order! I will ship orders on Monday.

7 Things to Remember When Shopping for Clothes

My new Express tee! I will wear it all summer long!

1. If that white shirt is so thin that you can see straight through it,  Leave It At The Store. Paper thin tissue shirts are comfy. But if you buy one in white, you will pull it out of your closet a zillion times and only wear it under sweaters. 

Now, if you find one in pastels or brights and you adore it, snap it up! 

2. If your sales associate is a guy, do not let him talk you into the jeans. I don't care how cute he is and how many times he tells you that you look amazing. If you were having doubts as soon as you zipped them up, Leave Them At The Store!

3. The little black dress is fabulous for a reason. It hides so many figure flaws. Trust me. The older I get, the more I understand. Try on two colors in the exact same dress. You will look svelte in the black one. It will be your go-to item when you need more than jeans and a tee. 

4. Shoes. Do not even think about getting a heel that is not sturdy. Okay, I know this sounds like something your grandmother would say. But sweet grandmom is just trying to save us the embarrassment of walking on skinny heels that make us look like we are playing dress up. And you will have more fun in comfy shoes... I promise! 

5. Trends. Trendy clothes are fun, but only buy the items that look great on you. Let's talk about chevron. I adore this pattern, I really do. But when I put on a dress covered in chevron and look in the mirror, bold stripes are all I see. Are You Wearing It or Is It Wearing You? Be honest with yourself. Some gals look great in chevron. I am not one of them. 

Now, a little chevron bag with my black dress? Perfect!

6. Take a friend with you. Someone who has great style and can help you pull together an outfit. She may be able to encourage you to try a new scarf or layer some items that you would not normally consider. A little push may be all you need to rethink the way you wear many of the items you already own. Make sure she knows you well enough to understand what you are comfortable wearing. 

7. If you don't LOVE it in the store, don't bring it home to your closet. How many times have you looked in the dressing room mirror and thought, "It will do."? Honey, Leave It At The Store. If it does not make you feel fantastic, it is not right for you.

I am writing this post after shopping for my upcoming College Girl's Getaway! I seem to repeat the same mistakes when buying clothes and I think these tips will help me make better choices in the future. 

Do you have a great tip you would like to share? Please leave a comment! We can all learn from each other. 

Hope you all have a very happy weekend!

xoxo, Elizabeth

Dear Lady in the Carpool Line...

Dear Lady in the Carpool Line. I am sorry. After encountering you this morning, this is what I posted on Facebook when I got home.

Dear Rude Lady in the Carpool Line who stopped to use your phone and angrily waved me around like I was the idiot. You are not 3. The world does not revolve around you.

I felt better for a few seconds. It felt great to get that off my chest!

Until the voice inside my head asked... "Really? This is who you are? Someone who gets ticked off so easily that you post a mean note to a random stranger on your Facebook page? Your posts are usually positive, funny,  inquisitive...   But mean? No. That's not who you want to be. You don't want to go there."

The voice inside my head continued. "Because when you dig a little deeper, you find the truth. You wonder who you have annoyed recently. You wonder when others have seen you as self-centered. And it's really hard to answer those questions truthfully. Because, like everyone else on this planet , you are just doing the best you can. You have days when you are sweet and helpful and have enough love and grace to go around. And you have days when you are impatient, annoying, and make bad decisions."

I erased my Facebook status 8 minutes after I typed it. And honestly, erasing it felt much better than it felt to post it.

I am blessed.  I am loved by people who see my flaws and still love me. With God's grace, I get to start over each day. Each hour. Each minute if need be.

I hope next time someone annoys me, I can have enough grace in my heart to be kind and loving. For all I know, the lady could have had car problems and was calling someone for help. I let myself get angry too easily. So dear lady one the carpool line. I am sorry. Hopefully next time we meet, I will have a better attitude!

 

Like this! See, I can be cheerful when I drive!

xoxo, Elizabeth

Ready, Get Set, Go Challenge. Obstacles.

Squirrel Note Cards
I ♥ InkSpot Workshop!

Happy Thursday! It's time for our Ready, Get Set, Go update! So how is the week going for you? Have you found time to get outside and enjoy the pretty weather?
I've been doing alot of cycling this week...perhaps I'm in a rut, but I'm really loving it right now!

Our neighborhood has lots of peaceful wooded bike paths. It's where I do my best thinking, get a little exercise, and prepare myself for busy days.

Today on the trail, I was enjoying the cool morning air. Loving the freedom of a few minutes away from a "to-do" list. Zipping along past all the trees that will soon be covered in bright Autumn leaves. I turned a corner and BOOM, I saw it.
A HUGE truck.
A truck.... in "my" woods?
What on earth is a giant truck doing here?
The neighbors are having trees removed from their backyard.
All I care about at the moment is trying to find a way around this truck.
There is no way.
No point in even trying to creep around the sides.
I have to turn around.

How many times in our lives are we zipping along.... everything going as planned.... when we suddenly come to an obstacle? Maybe it's someone telling us we can't meet a goal. Perhaps it's the loss of a job. Maybe it is losing someone we dearly love. Or maybe it's just little things... forgetting an important ingredient for a recipe and it's time to cook dinner ... an unexpected phone call when you are rushing out the door... an internet connection that goes down at the wrong time.

How do you handle obstacles?
Do you carefully try to work your way through the situation? (If that truck had been 1 foot shorter, I would have surely tried to squeeze my way past.)
Do you look for a new route that will still take you to your destination? You will need to make changes and the route will take longer, but you still get where you want to go.
Do you turn around and go back to your starting point? Giving up for a while. Possibly trying the journey another day?

I found a new route today. It took a little longer. It took me past beautiful new sights. I found a new way to reach the pretty lake I wanted to see.

Are you facing obstacles this week? Life can be really hard sometimes! Remember to breathe, get enough rest, and focus on one day at a time. And if you are enjoying a moment when life is really good and things are going smoothly, take a little time to check on your friends and see if they need some extra encouragement. 

Hope you all have a wonderful day! I am thankful for each and every one of you!
xoxo Elizabeth

p.s. If you are just hearing about our challenge, click here to see how it all started. We are finding time to exercise. Basically, just taking a few moments to get outside and move. Everyone is invited and you are welcome to leave a note to let us know how things are going! 

Ready, Get Set, Go! Attitude

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.  
~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

I love this quote about attitude! I'll be the first to admit that mine has it's ups and downs. I was reminded of it this morning when I went out to ride my bike. After a few minutes, I noticed the bumps in the road were a little bumpier and I was slower than usual. My problem... a low tire. You can't get far when your tires are deflated. As I headed back home, I thought about my tires and how the right amount of air would get them rolling smoothly again. 

Attitudes... how often are our attitudes like flat tires? When I'm feeling negative, I tend to let the little bumps of life bother me more than they should. I get impatient with drivers in the carpool line who don't follow the rules. I snip at my family too easily. Burnt toast (which happens weekly in our house) is flung into the trash in frustration. 

A good attitude lifts us up... just like the air in our tires. I am more patient in the carpool line reminding myself that school has just started and these parents may honestly not yet know the safe routine. I am more understanding with my children and take time to listen to them. I laugh at burnt toast and say, "You know breakfast is ready when the fire alarm goes off!".

I'm enjoying our Ready, Get Set, Go Challenge. Over Labor Day weekend, my family went to Edisto Island. I was mostly lazy, but I did go for a good long walk on the beach with my husband. Back home in Charlotte, I've been walking (with a little running mixed in!) and biking. Daily exercise reduces stress and makes my attitude much better! Life rolls along more smoothly.

So how is it going? Are you finding time to get outside and move? What helps you when you are feeling deflated and need to improve your attitude?

I am thankful for every single one of you! As you go about your day, remember to have a good attitude. Bring your own sunshine. Share it with others!  

Ready, Get Set, Go!
Elizabeth

p.s. If you are just hearing about our Ready Get Set Go Challenge, click here to see how it all started. We are finding time to exercise. Walking. Running. Swimming. Playing catch with our dogs! Basically, just taking a few moments to get outside and move. Everyone is invited and you are welcome to leave a note to let us know how things are going! 

A Heavy Heart

This post was going to be light and airy today, introducing a new line of bows. But I have something weighing on my mind. It is not fun to talk about. It is not pleasant to write about, but I feel like I need to share it with you.
A childhood friend took her life a few days ago. We were not close, but in a small town, you know everyone and she was a girl who everyone loved. Always had a sunny smile and nice compliment to share. A friend to so many people. I just can not get her off of my mind. She left behind a family who adored her and friends who would have done anything to help her.
Life can be difficult. It can be sad and lonely and often overwhelming. Please don't let yourself or someone you love get to the point where there is no hope. Let the special people in your life know you love them. Hug them tightly and be there when they need you.
Your life is so precious and you are here on this earth for a reason. If you don't feel that at this moment, talk with your friends and family. Let them love you and hold you up until you are feeling better. Seek the services of a professional counselor who can help you feel hopeful and help you see that you can have joy in life again. Many churches and community groups can help you find support.
As I write this, I am reminded of times that my dear friends and family have lifted me up. I think of times when my friends have confided in me and I've been there for them. And regretfully, I think of other times when I could have been more understanding, less busy, and supported them more. Thankfully, we always have new opportunities to share our love with friends and family. I plan to make the most of these times.

I promise a lighter post next time,
Elizabeth

Super Mom Moments

Super Mom Moments

I've always wanted to be the perfect Mom.
Hosting birthday parties with each detail planned perfectly.
Arriving on time with hair and makeup just right and children dressed in cute outfits.
Volunteering to teach Sunday School and bake cookies.
Always making time to play Legos and DressUp.
Having a delicious dinner on the table each evening.
My list really can go on...and on...and on...

I can do some of these things well, but never all at the same time!

I am learning to be content with Super Mom Moments.
Making yummy banana-peanut butter smoothies.
Impromptu Connect4 competitions.
Laughing with my children.
Lazy afternoons at the park.
Morning snuggles with my daughter.
Bedtime chats with my son.

I would love to know about your Super Mom Moments! Don't be shy...you know you're fab!
xoxo Elizabeth