Showing posts with label Martha Stewart Marta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martha Stewart Marta. Show all posts

Monday, April 16, 2012

Write it Down.


You know those cute things your kids say that you swear you will remember forever?
Well, I’m sad to say, you will not.
Take it from this mom who thinks she remembers everything.
You will forget when your three year old says, “Will you microphone my salad mom?” meaning microwave.  Then you’ll ask your hubby five minutes later what she said so you can write it down because you already forgot. 
Crazy. 

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So about five years or so ago I bought these journals.
One for each girl to write to them throughout their little lives.  I write the fun things we do and the hilarious things they say, so that I will never ever forget. 

I will give each girl their special book when the graduate high school. 

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Gracie will always know about the time she said this….

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and how she loves to do “piles” with mom and the time we went to see “Chip WRACKED” at the theater.

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She will get to read my memoires of her.  What a gift.
I feel if I had my parent’s written words about who I was as a toddler it would be one of my most precious possessions.

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I write about their latest wardrobe trends….

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their favorite activities…..

 

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and how special they make every day for their mommy.

Steve writes in it as well.  So it will be double the fun to read on graduation day.

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I write about their accomplishments….

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and their courage.

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I write what they learn about Jesus….

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and random Wednesday nights.

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I write about their favorite things…

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and favorite memories that they talk about all the time…

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Just in case these memories fade a little, they will always have our written words to remind them.
Remind them of who they were at age 1, 2, 3 , 4 and so on, but also remind them of where they come from. 
No matter where life takes them they will always have a piece of their past to reflect on at any time giving them the roots they need to soar. 

Here are a just a few things I thought were funny that I wanted to share from each of their journals:

Mia:

-September 2008, age 4: While flexing you say to me, “ I eat onions and tomatoes and am so healthy!”
-October 2008, age 4: After school one day you were eating lunch and you say, “Mommy I said a prayer at school today because my friend is sick.”
-October 2008, age 4: While watching ET you kept saying “This really freaks me out!”
-December 2008, age 4: “Gracie you look like your Daddy with all your bald!”
-November 2009, age 5: “Mom, I’m serious, very serious that you’re a good cook.  I gave you two seriouses!”
-August 2010, age 6: “Wow, Mom! These cookies are so good.  You’re going to be a good cook when you grown up because you are still young and have time to work on it.”
-July 2001, age 7: “No offense” often prefaces statements.
-Nov 2011, age 7: The day after Aunt Maggie’s wedding you were bawling.  Teary eyed you came up to me and said that it was such a special day and you wish we could do it all over again.

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Sophie:
-October 2008, age 2: “How about tockolate milk today?”
-November 2008, age 2: “My belly doesn’t like butter toast, mom.”
-December 2008, age 2: “Cooby Doo!”
-July 2009, age 3: “My belly is still hungry.”
-Aug 2009, age 3: After I was crying when Mia got on the bus for her very first day of school you looked at me and said, “Mommy, don’t cry. I’m still here.”
-Sept 2009, age 3:  You always say “long kisses!!!” and kiss me for like 10 seconds straight!
Dec 2009, age 3: When  I was singing you looked up at me and said, “Mommy you have a good Boice.”
June 2010, age 4: “Mia your ice cream is Huge-E-Mongus!”
Aug 2010, age 4: Mr. Rogers show came on and you looked at me and said, “Mommy I’m afraid of this show because of the creeeeeepy clown.”
July 2011, age 5: “I feel guilty without my earring.”
-Sept 2011, age 5: “I would love to be a sponge.”
-Dec 2011, age 5: When drinking my coffee while driving the girls somewhere she says, “Mom you know you are not supposed to drink and drive.  It’s illegal.”

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Gracie:
-April 2009, age 10 months: You do this fun game called Crazy Piggy where you snort and laugh!
-May 2009, age 11 months: Your first word is Uh Oh! You said it every time you drop your toys.
-July 2009, age 13 months: You fold your hands to pray.
-Feb 2010, age 20 months: You yell TOPICS after prayers are said to remind everyone that they have to say their own topic to discuss at the dinner table.
-Aug 2010, age 2: “You have to brush your nose, mom.” Instead of blow your nose.
-Nov 2010, age 2: “Grandpa’s house is cool.”
-July 2011, age 3: “I don’t want to go night night yet mom.  I promise I won’t be cabby.”
-Oct 2011, age 3: “Mom I can really chug!”
-Nov 2011, age 3: Taptoo = Tattoo
-Nov 2011, age 3: “Yuck mom, your breath smells like a raccoon!”  (PS I almost peed my pants after this one!)

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So my assignment to you this week is to go to Target and buy some journals.
Start from the beginning.  Tell them about your pregnancy.  How you were feeling. 
What it was like when they entered your world. 

Then every month write down what your family has been up to and what adorable or crazy things they have done to make you smile or make you cry. 

Wrap it up on their graduation day and cry your eyes out. 
Are you in?

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Get Organized with a Backpack Nook :: A Giveaway

 

Are you sick of backpacks lying all over the floor?
Or randomly flung around the house landing on chairs, couches or the stairwell?
So was I up until this past weekend. 

I simply could not take it anymore.
I needed a place for each girl to hang their backpacks everyday so that when they were about to head out the door, they would know right where to go. 
No searching.
No drama.

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So Saturday I made this fun little backpack nook right by our front door.

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I bought these awesome, non damaging, sticky hooks from Joanns for about five dollars each and put each girl’s initial above them.
They love their initials and having their very own special hook.
Grace walked around all weekend saying, “I am going to go hang up my packpack on my G.”

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Do you want your very own backpack nook initials for your children?
Good because I am adding them to my
Haus of Girls etsy shop today!

Or you can win a set right here!
Just leave me a comment  below with one of your best organizational tips and I will select one of you to get your own backpack nook initials.

Drawing will be next Wednesday.
Go!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Fall Flashback Week: I Am No Martha Stewart

 

 

This week I wanted to do a “Fall Flashback” and re-post some of my favorites from the past two years, just in case you missed them.

First up is one of the few in my “I Am No Martha Stewart” series. 
With a name like Marta, it’s often confused with Martha. But I assure you, I am no Martha Stewart. 

However, in this series I give you some of my personal household/parenting tips and ideas. The best I got. Definitely in Marta style, not Martha……

I don’t know about you, but to me, there is nothing worse than walking into my house & tripping over shoes. 
Teeny tiny shoes.  

So I invented the idea to make a fun little piece of furniture, the most functional piece in my home….

 

The SHOE BIN!

I got this priceless piece, before I even had kids, from Pier 1.
I saw the vision then as I thought to myself,
"This would be PERFECT for all the little shoes when I have kids!"

I truly do not know how other moms survive without this.

What a life saver it has been over the years.
It sits directly next to our front door and our girls, as well as all the children I watch during the week, know to take off their shoes and throw them on in the “shoe bin.”

It may or may not have been one of Gracie’s first words.
Just saying.

 

For the back patio door I solved the shoe issue as well.
I bought this medium size “shoe basket” from Target, the greatest place on Earth.

My girls come in from playing in the backyard and throw their flip flops or crocs in there.
Easy as PIE! And so WORTH not tripping over all the little shoes on our floor.

The back door shoe basket is great for the mobility factor.

In the Winter when we aren't going in and out of the back door as often, I stick this basket in the laundry room closet to get it out of the way.
Not that it takes up too much room, but if we aren't using it  it's nice to have the option to put it away for awhile.

I hope these “I’m no Martha Stewart” shoe organization tips will help you in your home.

If you are anything like me and HATE stepping & tripping all over shoes go out and buy yourself a shoe BASKET for the back door and some type of SHOE BIN for the front door!

I think an antique of some kind with cubbies would work perfectly! That is, if you are an antique stalker like me :)

Let me know if you use this tip. I would love to see your  new SHOE BIN in action.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Family Rules

A few years ago I was watching Super Nanny.
She was discussing the idea of making a list of family rules.

I felt that this was such a great way to take the opportunity to talk with our girls about our expectations and the guidelines that we expect them to follow in our home, as well as in the real world.

I immediately jotted down a few things that I felt were important to us.
When we sat down with the girls to talk about these "rules", Mia was 3 and Sophie was 2.
I remember how interested they were in hearing all about these rules and how they were excited to show us how good they would be at following them!


I recently typed up our "Family Rules" and framed it.
It sits on my desk in our kitchen where everyone can see it daily.

Our Family Rules are as follows:
Be loving.
Be kind.
Be a good listener.
Put our family first.
Eat dinner together as a family.
Bring one topic to the dinner table each night.
Never yell.
Never hit.
Share your things with each other.
If upset, use your words to talk about your feelings.
Everyone must help with household chores.
Say your prayers every night.
No TV during dinner.
No cell phones during dinner.
No shoes on the carpet.
Make your bed every morning.
Do NOT interrupt.
Say please and thank you.


They are not extremely deep or philosophical, as the girls are still all under the age of 5.
But I feel it helps them know their boundaries and what is expected of them.
In my opinion, there is no greater comfort to a child than having structure and knowing what is expected of them.

After making my list, I realize there are SEVERAL
more things I could have added.
Such as.......

always wear your helmet when riding your horse....

(Gracie immediately yells for her "Hat" as soon as she hops on!)


get your beauty sleep......



and LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE in 2010!

(Don't you love my Williams-Sonoma Pig?! It's one of my favorite birthday gifts from last summer from my Mother & Father in-law and my Sister & Brother in-law Angie & Farris!)

I will add those in the future I'm sure. :)

One of the rules I like to follow, yet it's not on our list, is take as many pictures as humanly possible and display them above your desk like a crazy person!

Here are a few close ups of my craziness...

It's a Wonderful Life, indeed!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

I Am No Martha Stewart...{Tip #2}

...but I do HATE shoes all over my floor!

There is NOTHING worse, in my opinion, than walking into my house & tripping all over the girls' shoes (as well as my husband's).

I don't know how other moms survive without my second {I Am No Martha Stewart} tip..



The {SHOE BIN!}



I got this PRICELESS piece, before I even had kids, from Pier 1.

I saw the vision then.

"This would be PERFECT for all the little shoes when I have kids!"

What a life saver it has been. We put it right by our front door and our girls and all the kids I watch during the week know to take off their shoes and throw them on in the SHOE BIN.

For the back patio door I solved the shoe issue as well!

I bought this medium size BASKET from Target, the greatest place on Earth.

My girls come in from playing in the backyard and throw their flip flops or crocs in there!

Easy as PIE! And so WORTH not having all the little shoes all over my floor!

The back door shoe basket is great for the mobility factor.

In the Winter when we aren't going in and out of the back door very often, I will stick this shoe basket in the laundry room to get it out of the way. Not that it takes up too much room, but if we aren't using it that much it's nice to have the option to put it away for awhile.

I hope these SHOE BIN tips will help you in your home.

If you are anything like me and HATE stepping & tripping all over shoes go out and buy yourself a shoe BASKET for the back door and some type of {SHOE BIN} for the front door!

I think an antique of some kind with cubbies would work perfectly! That is, if you are an ANTIQUE stalker like me :)

Let me know if you use this tip and I would love to see your {SHOE BIN} pics!

Monday, June 29, 2009

I Am No Martha Stewart....


but sometimes I do come up with fun, helpful ideas for the household.


That is what happens when you become a Mom.


You discover thing throughout your day that can help turn your home into a more functional place for adults AND kids.

A cohesive balance is always my goal.


My life right now is all about my girls. I have the REST of my life to have a totally clean, always ORGANIZED home with UN-MARKED WALLS, NO TRAIL of TOYS, Highchairs in the Way, Kids DRAWINGS displayed all over, and FINGERPRINTED everything!

My life, at the moment, is just perfect with all these things. So why not make the most of it and enjoy every minute! This is what I make a point to do each day.


So I have decided to randomly post some {NOT-SO-MARTHA-STEWART} tips I have created along my Mommy Journey. And, I would love it if you could chime in with any of your great ideas!
(I hate those Moms that HOARD all their good ideas and don't share!)

Because I am not NATURALLY creative or gifted in that sense, I need all the help I can get!

I am so envious of those of you who are BORN creative. Those of you who don't have to live the experience to create an idea, rather, the ideas just pops into your head.

You know who you are.

Although I am not claiming to be super creative or fancy, I would still love to share some fun HOUSEHOLD TIPS that I have invented along my way as a wife and Mommy. There are not many, but I will post them randomly in a series I like to call,

{I Am No Martha Stewart....}

Number One:
I quickly realized my TAPE that I was using to hang my girls' artwork on our stainless steel fridge was ruining it.


Annoying!


I can't have a fridge WITHOUT artwork.
It's never going to happen.

So this idea was born.

Just tape (along inside door) a long piece of cute ribbon and let it hang down the front.

Buy some tiny clothespins and clip your picture, artwork, etc (Steve's Half Marathon Number) to the ribbon and VOILA!

No more yucky sticky tape marks on the stainless steel that (I have learned first hand) does NOT come off!


Same concept, but on the cabinet.


So fun! And you don't have to stress about yucky TAPE marks all over the front of everything!

More tips to some soon....

And please let me know some of YOUR great tips!


 

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