justem: little bits of this and that

one little word • 2017

My one little word for 2017 is YES. I don't mean that I am going to say yes to everyone. In fact, in most areas of my life, I am at a point where I need to just say no to everything. However, there are three little people, that I would like to say yes to much more often than I currently do - and in a very specific way. When I am at work and students say my name, and I always respond with "what's up?" or something of the like. When other adults require my attention I am always very approachable. My kids, however, are not so lucky. I've arrived at this point as a mother where I hear my name about eighteen thousand times a day...and the majority of time when I hear their darling little voices calling, I'm not polite or positive in my response - it's almost always an exasperated "WHAT?"

I've been thinking a lot lately that it's not fair that my kids see this worst side of me - the side where I'm frustrated and annoyed and would like to have 27 seconds to myself for the love of God. They don't mean to be annoying..it's just a fact of life! ;) I know I will never be that perfectly calm mother who never yells or gets upset or annoyed (or who never shows it). I am an emotional person which is good and bad and my kids have always had the benefit and misfortune of seeing both ends of the spectrum. It occurs to me, though, that my overwhelmingly negative response to their inquiries probably sound pretty harsh to them, and the reality is that there is no one else who is more important to me...so why do I act so negative when they need and want me?

This year, rather thing coming up with some big broad goal of how I'd like to live my life in the next 365 days, I instead just want to work on one, specific thing. Saying yes to my kids - knowing that their voices deserve to be heard and that they {usually} have something valuable to ask or say - even if they've already called "MOM!!!" a ridiculous number of times! 

Looking back... {OLW 2014}

I like to joke about One Little Word - that its's something I think very intently about for exactly 3 days 14 hours and 27 minutes each year...and then just go back to my old wayward decisions ;)  I hadn't looked at my goals/word for 2014 in about 10 months. ;)  But, in preparation for the big (yet quickly forgotten) post of 2015, I thought I should go back and assess my success.  Clearly my alliteration skills have improved this year!  Upon rereading last year's post, I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised that for perhaps once in my life, I actually did most of the things I set out to do in 2014.  My word last year was ROUTINE, and I was hoping to establish a few routines in very specific areas of life. Here's a recap:

1. Morning/School - I was really nervous this fall with my daughter starting Kindergarten.  Her school begins at 7:40, which is stinkin' early for our family!  Thankfully, we have fallen into a fantastic routine and have yet to be late to school. This is big from a girl who used to come rolling into work every day at the exact MINUTE I was supposed to arrive. Never early. Sometimes late. Now, I fully admit that the fact that I'm staying home now helps. I don't have to shower in the mornings and get ready like I would if I had a teaching job. I have never worn PJ pants to drop-off, but my hair has looked pretty fabulous some mornings. Things would be a lot more difficult if I were also going to school every day.

2. Quiet Time - this one never really worked out. My middle son refused to take naps, but would fall asleep all over the house when he finally got tired enough. He still falls asleep on his own most afternoons or on the way home from preschool. It works out. I also realize that not napping usually equals and easier bedtime - so I'm not pushing it.  ;)

3. Creative Kid Time - This is something we have done a lot of...of course, I'd always like to do more (and include some more "educational" time for my middlest). But overall, we had some fun creative times in the last year!

4. Dinner - I failed at this goal. FAILED. I don't think I made a weekly meal plan once last year. We ate tons of quick meals because it's usually just the kids and I at home for dinner, and it was really hard for me to get up the motivation to make a stellar dinner that nobody would eat. ;)  2015 is going to better...this is one thing I am focusing on for this year!

5. Bedtime - 95.67% of the time bedtime goes well.  There have been some doozies when I'm home with all three kids by myself...some nights of the four of us all sleeping in the same bed until I carried the two big kids back to their room.  But, I can't complain. Bedtime is usually pretty okay. 

6. Me Time - I listed some things in my post last year. I have done most of them.  Reading - yes. I joined a book club and have read more this year than the previous three years combined. Scrapbooking - yes. I have been so lucky to be a part a few fabulous design teams that keep me on my toes.  I have made more layouts this year than the last couple...and they are layouts that I truly like and enjoy creating! Working out - yes. I am not a worker-outer. Not at all. But, after five years of being a slug, I finally got a gym membership and go a couple times a week.  It's not as much as I should go, but it's something.  Blogging - not so much. This is something else I want to work on for 2015...but more about that tomorrow (or whenever I have a chance to write the darn post!).  

So yes. We have some success.  And, as always, there's room for improvement!  I haven't chosen a word for 2015 yet...have you? I'd love to hear it...or here how your 2014 word ended up working for you! Happy New Year!

one little word + lists with friends #1

Well, here it is...the obligatory "One Little Word" post - aka: the post in which I talk about all the things I hope to accomplish this year..of which I will actually accomplish approximately 12.42%.  If you've been a reader of my blog for awhile, you might already know that I am not really fan of the whole OLW phenomenon.  I usually (rather sarcastically) choose a word, knowing that I'm doomed to fail miserably by about the 10th day of the new year.  A couple of years, I completely shunned the ONE little word, and instead made  lists of {what I thought were} manageable goals...most of which I also failed at. What can I say? I'm pretty much a failure when it comes to self-improvement...no one but myself to blame. ;) But, this year a single (one little, I suppose) word jumped out at me when I started thinking about the new year. This is a word that I NEED to be successful in the upcoming new year that is filled with so many changes and new things. It's important for both me and my family. It's not a fun word...a cool or trendy word. But it's a necessary word. And that word is...

That's right...the key to my success this year is establishing routines in just about every area of my life.  When we were living in IL, we may not have been doing things perfectly, but we had routines...and since we've moved to WI, they've all been thrown out the window.  Next week my daughter has her first full week of school (check that - since I started typing this the district called a "cold day"...so much for starting fresh on Monday!), and I plan to begin implementing some new routines to make things run a little smoother around here. A few of them include:

1. Morning/School: M has school every day from 9-11:30. That means we need to get up, (maybe I should shower, huh?!), get dressed and ready, eat breakfast, and be out the door to get her there on time. Then, Henry, Ollie, and I will have 2.5 hours of Miri-free time. ;) We will likely use this as a time to run errands when necessary, but it will also be a time when (hopefully) O will nap and H and I can do some "academic" work.  I feel like I've been neglecting him lately in that field. We need to read more books, do some puzzles, talk about the alphabet, sing some songs, and just have some fun together!!

2. Quiet time: I am officially reinstating "quiet time" in our house.  We had a GREAT system in IL...however that was when H was still in a crib. Now that he's in his "big boy bed" well...nap time hasn't been going very smoothly. Oh, who am I kidding...nap time is now non-existent!! My new plan is similar to the old plan, which is simply that the kids do not need to sleep, but they DO need to stay upstairs (bedroom or playroom) for the time.  This will give me time to get things cleaned up from lunch and do something really fun and exciting...like laundry. ;)

3. Creative kid time: I used to feel like a pretty good mom when I was at home with my kids...creating art projects, cooking things, and doing lots of fun activities with my kids.  The newborn + trying keep the house clean when we were showing it + moving really put a damper on that. I'm not saying we need to do something super cool and creative every single day, but I want to bring the creativity back to our afternoons!! This also includes exploring and getting out to meet new people.  This is one thing I'm a little nervous about. I'm totally not a shy person...once I know you. ;)  But meeting new people is kind of tough on me. I'm just not the person that jumps up and says hi...but, I guess I might need to start being that person.

4. Dinner: Meal planning has returned!!  Over the past three months, our dinners have been pretty dismal. We've had more frozen Trader Joe's meals than I care to admit...and um, so apples, yogurt, a couple pretzels, and a half a hot dog is totally a "meal" right?! ;)  Starting next week, I will follow a plan so that we can eat healthier and more consistently, not to mention I actually really like and want to cook dinner!

5. Bedtime routine: This is the only routine that has remained fairly normal since we moved. Ollie goes to bed at seven (or before), and the other two are in bed by eight. Thank goodness. ;)

6. Me time: Blogging, scrapping, working out, and reading. These are the four things I want to make sure I am making time for in my evenings.  There is no reason that I can't do at least one or two of the four every night. Right now I'm usually so tired that I either go to bed or just sit up and mess around on the internet.  Not good. The time I have "to myself" is pretty slim, and I need to make the most of it!!

I realize that all of these things are not going to magically happen overnight, but I really want to make this work!!  Perhaps I will revisit my word every month or two to see how I'm doing. Did you choose a word this year? I'd love to hear it!!

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Finally, this is my first list in a {what is supposed to be} weekly blog series called "Lists with Friends," which is a collaborative effort between a number of smart, talented, and fun women that I am lucky to be a part of. Throughout the year we will all be posting various lists on our blogs. I will post mine both here and on my personal (private) blog. For those of you who read both, I apologize for the repeated content. I'm working right now to figure out a balance between the two blogs, now that I am not working and have the freedom to include more personal items on the this blog! The majority of my family posts, however, will remain private. If you'd like to play along and makes some lists, link me up! :)

Ventage Tuesday: 5 for the New Year

#ventageyearofawesome :)

Every year around January 1, everyone does and posts about all the changes they'd like to make during the next 365 days. Because I'm just a giant follower, I'd like to do the same! ;)  But first - a look back at last year's goals:

1. CLEAN. Not like, clean all the time - just be cleaner. It was kind of a joke...because I'm sort of a slob, but honestly, I can say that with the exception of a few bad weeks throughout the year, Justin and I did a MUCH better job of keeping our house in order than we had in the past!!!

2. Drink less soda. I finally got around to this one in November and December.  Up until then I was on this ridiculous kick when I was drinking almost a soda a day. Up until I fell off the wagon due to Christmas festivities, I was down to maybe one a week. I plan on hopping right back on that wagon...now.

3. Read at least 6 books for myself. Accomplished! Now, I must embarrassingly admit that three of them I read were the Christian Grey books...a few hours of my life I can never get back, remember that line about being a follower?!. ;)  I also read: The first two Hunger Games books, The Fault in Our Stars, House Rules, and Out of My Mind. Kind of a meager list, but at least I made it to 6.

4. Spend at least 15 minutes a day in my scraproom. Epic Fail. BUT, I have had probably the best year I've ever had when it comes to the scrapbooking industry, so I can't complain.

5. Be the best wife and mother I can be. Well, of course there is always room for improvement... ;)

SO...on to this week's...

I am not picking a word this year. I really never do - last year was kind of done in jest. But I DO have a lot of goals - things I've started the past year that I want to continue through the new year, along with a couple brand new ideas.

1. CAPTURE: Anyone who knows me, knows that I take a ridiculous amount of photos, but this year I want to do a few MORE things. First, I want to be sure to take at least one family photo a month. This will be much easier now that I have a super cool remote for my camera. I am also giving myself another 365 challenge.  I did Project 365 in 2010, and I'd like to do it again. But this time, I have a few rules for myself. First, iPhone pictures only...just to keep it simple. Two, no photos of my kids, well at least not many. I take enough photos of them.  Instead I want to look around at life and really see it...to capture the details. I am going to tag my photos on Instagram #justemeverday2013.  I'd love for you to follow along!

2. IMPROVE: This is like the cliche "get fit" goal that people joke about. And, honestly, I don't know that I need to get FIT.  I'm clearly not going weigh 120 pounds and be running a marathon by the end of this year. But, I do need to STOP BEING LAZY.  I also need to eat healthier. And continue keeping my soda in check. Maybe meal-planning needs to make a comeback. And there are even things like - wash my face every night and don't forget to take my vitamins!!!

3. ORGANIZE: This is an off-shoot of my "clean" word last year! ;)  Keep up on the laundry. Sweep and put the dishes in the dishwasher every night. Even when I'm so tired or so crabby or so don't want to do it. Make the bed. Have a house that is clean enough that you could stop by and I wouldn't be embarrassed.

4. ENJOY: We are pretty great as a family at getting out there and enjoying life. We are constantly going places, seeing things, doing fun stuff.  So, I want to keep that up. Our traveling and adventuring. ;) I also want to encourage myself to enjoy somethings - maybe read ten books this year, blog more, continue finding time to scrap, finally finish Project Life?!

5. LOVE: This is the same as last year, and it will be the same every year - Be the best wife and mother I can be.  Always.

Happy New Year. :)

(Be sure to check out my fellow ventage girlies: Stephanie, Katrina, Barb, and Angie.)