Write On / Wipe Off Chore Charts

 

It’s 2012. I’ve spent the last four years of my life on the internet, and I love how I continue to learn new things. I developed a slight addiction to Pinterest over the holiday break (what? it was only supposed to last a week and I stretched it into a month? shhh. don’t tell anyone.) and learned that you can make ANYTHING into a white board with a cheap dollar store picture frame and a dry erase marker.

I think I’m in love.

The above frames were made in about 37 minutes. It took me a while to figure out the actual dimensions of the frame– 8 x 10 means that if you’re using a power point presentation you should size your project for 6.6 x 9.

You’re Welcome!

 

Another Thing to Note:  the glass at the dollar store breaks really, really easily. I broke the glass on each of these frames, and ended up going out into the shed to find old pictures to steal the glass (one might of been from Adam and his college friends. oops.). I’d maybe find cheapish frames at Kohl’s or Target that match instead.

 

My kids don’t seem to care that I’ve written a housekeeping journal/planner, or have developed a clever acronym for decluttering. They also don’t care that I get thank you notes every day in my email box which continues to perplex my #butIhelpotherpeoplewhydoesntmyownfamilylisten crazy brain.

it’s okay. I’ve come to terms with it.

Anyhow, I wrapped these chore charts up and handed them to my 7 and 10-year-old daughters (their names are on the charts, but I’ve covered them with tape because I’ve promised Adam I won’t exploit the kids on the internet) as New Year’s presents.

My 10 year old rolled her eyes, but my 7-year-old was uber excited and got to work checking things off her list immediately. If you’re looking for a guideline for age-appropriate chores, this list is a good one. Our picture frame chore charts have now been in action for exactly one week, and so far so good.

How was your New Year’s? Any big ideas for 2012? Did you make a vision board?

it’ll be a good year. I promise.

 

Back to School, back to work

Photo inventory:

1 basket of clean laundry, unfolded and dumped on the living room floor

1 basket of clean laundry, folded and left on couch

2 “used” baby socks

2 brand-new shoes still bungee corded together

1 too-expensive rolling backpack

45 whole crayons; 3 broken

1 broken blue bead necklace (hanging from the couch cushion)

3 empty Target bags

and when I swivel away from the living space to look at the table:

Photo Inventory:

1 new lunchbox that is supposed to be used FOR SCHOOL ONLY

2 new BPA-free water bottles

1 water bottle ‘cozy’ that came with the lunchbox (completely unnecessary)

random leftover lunch stuff: sliced turkey meat, cut up apples, tortilla chips & hummus

1 abandoned laptop and 3 notebooks

1 very cheeky 19-month-old baby (helping herself to hummus)

106 new gray hairs

I mistakenly thought I could get some work done while the children played peacefully inside or frolicked in delight outside (isn’t that what children are supposed to do? Frolick?) . Yeah. I know.

delusional.

But you know what? This is real life. Not a glossy magazine. Stuff happens. Mistakes happen.

Life happens.

and it’s okay.

Give yourself a hug—- you’re doing a fantastic job. Already.

 

School begins for us on September 6th. I loved having everybody home with me for the summer, but I’m done.  How are things going with you?

the last week of the year.

361

Congratulations!

It’s the end of the line. You’ve done it.

This is a week of recovery—-for the next 5 days (4, if you’re entertaining for New Year’s Eve like we are), just put things away and get back on track.

Find a space for everything. If you’ve run out of space, PROM again. If you are planning on moving, or planning on adding on, that’s great. But unless you’re packing up tomorrow or breaking ground, you’ve got to embrace your current space and living arrangements. Make it work.

You can do it.

It’ll be okay.

Today:

recover

meal plan

daily 7

Wednesday, vacuum. dust. mop.

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It’s another Wednesday. Chances are, you’re feeling run down and worn out. I’m sorry. Me too. Do a quick speed dust, vacuum, and mop today. Don’t obsess, just get it done—super quick. Delegate to the kids if they’re home. A lot of dust can be erradicated with a carton of baby wipes!

Today:

daily 7

quick clean

listen to fun music and sing really loud and off-key. just for fun.

monday all over again

347

Doesn’t it feel like we just had a Monday? What’s on the agenda for this week? School parties? Sing-a-longs? Pageants?

write everything down—every last detail.

you can do it.

Today:

daily 7

weekend recovery

the weekend

345 & 346

How many of you unplug for the weekend? Do you stop checking email? Do you turn off the computer and cell phone?

I usually don’t. But I wish I did.

I feel obligated to check email, and so I do–sometimes obsessively. I need to change this. It’s not good for me, it’s not good for the family, and it’s not the person I want to be.

so I’m going to change it. It’s Friday, 4:04pm, and I’m turning off my drug.

this weekend:

keep up with the daily 7

wrap presents

spend time with the family

unplug.

thursday–catch up

343

Things are moving at the speed of light around here. So far, so good, but I can tell that I’m going to crash in the next day or two. It’s inevitable.

Today:

play catch up

plan ahead for the weekend

daily 7

breathe.

Monday, the 340th day of the year

340

The end of the year is approaching. Fast. Even though I didn’t intend to, I’ve already begun my ritual of wandering around the house deep in thought. What went well this year? What didn’t? How can we make next year even better?

Counting your blessings is very important. the most important, actually. but I also think it’s okay to look forward to new ones.

what’s on your list?

Today:

weekend recovery

daily 7

don’t worry about your To Do list. Make a list of 5 things to MAKE HAPPEN today. Do it. Get them done. start the week of with a bang.

on a side note: I was happy to find this blog today (yesterday!): Pen and Prosper. She has fantastic writing tips, and a terrific list of writing blogs in the sidebar. Here’s a great article on getting started freelance writing.

and? I have another visa giftcard up for grabs on Totally Together Reviews

Have a wonderful Monday. This is going to be a great week. xoxo

12.2.2010

336

The weird thing about blogging daily is that you’re only sharing a teeny tiny slice of all the things that float around a person’s head. My head. I’d love to invite you all over for coffee so I can get to know you. I’d like to know if you, too, feel as if groups of women (in person in this case) continue to play their highschool stereotypical roles. Even when they are in their forties. I’d like to know if your neighborhood has a pitbull walking around unattended so you’re kind of a bit freaked out to let the baby play out front. I’d like to let you know that while I think they’ve COMPLETELY OVERSATURATED EVERYTHING, I’m kind of impressed with the Kardashians. And how they have somehow made a career out of being vulgar and inappropriate.

I’d like to know if you, too, feel like pulling the kids from school so you can go live on an iceberg. I’d like to know if you resent the amount of time the kids spend with virtual strangers learning things that maybe they don’t need to be learning instead of being home with the family. I wonder if you lay awake at night wondering how or if the economy will rebound. And how much college is going to cost by the time the baby is ready. And if college will be obsolete by then, anyhow, since there are so many self-taught entrepreneurs out there who seem a lot better educated than most?

Do you worry that people have forgotten how to be ACTUALLY social instead of virtually social (I’m on thin ice here, since I work online, I know…) Why is primetime television programming so awful on the “free” channels? Why does the news have to be so sensational?  Am I the only one on the planet who doesn’t understand Glee? and who thinks a ‘gleek’ is this thing you do with your tongue to get spit to spray really far?

Have you decided that it’s just not worth it to have principles like only organic food, no BPA, no Walmart, no made in China, no fast food, no swearing, and no going out with mismatched socks?

And. Does anyone watch The View anymore? Is Barbara paying for it to stay on the air out of her pocket?

today:

daily 7

stop pontificating, get off the computer, and fold the damn laundry already (oh wait. that might be just for me. ;-0 )

if you have a moment, and have the opportunity to do so, will you leave a comment on this rib recipe? it is moderated (not by me) so it might take a few hours to show up.

saturday and sunday

331 & 332

I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend and are surrounded by loved ones. If you’re in the midst of crazy weather, please be careful if you need to go out. Stay warm and cozy!

This weekend:

put the serving dishes away

take down pumpkins, turkeys, and other fallish garb

break out the winter Holiday decorations. If you feel like decorating, go for it. If not, figure out when it makes the most sense for your family.

keep up with the Daily 7 (yes, even the laundry! )

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.
– Helen Keller

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