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.

 

Getting Ready for Easter

Easter is coming, and the bunny’s getting fat.

or something along those lines…

It looks like we’ll have a full house this year, and I couldn’t be happier. Adam and I really enjoy having everybody over to our house, rather than having to hop (HA! HOP! so didn’t plan that) around from house to house to ensure we see all of the relatives.

We’ve usually got the cooking stuff squared away, but in the last day or two we do need to kick it up a notch around the house in order to feel relaxed and comfortable when guests arrive. The good news is that our family is a team, and nothing fully rests upon any one person (like me. ) If you find that you are feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remember that your family loves you no matter what, and they are not judging you for the layer of dust clinging for it’s life from the ceiling fan blade.

really. they aren’t.

but in the mean time, press pause, climb on the table with a box of baby wipes (or clorox wipes) and clean that puppy off before someone inadvertantly flips the switch and you’ve got dust bunnies (HA! again! but I felt that one coming on…) stuck to the deviled eggs.

Here are some past articles to help you out:

Clean Less, Play More

Spring Cleaning for the Sane

How to Company Clean in 30 Minutes–or less!

if you’re on top of things, why don’t you cross a few things off of your Punch List this weekend. It’s amazing how a tiny bit of touch-up paint around the doorjams really brightens and freshens a room. If that’s not possible, IT’S OKAY. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and call it a day.

Your family is here to see you and the kids. It’s your house, your rules, your day.

life is good.

I‘ve got a new interview up with Michelle Stern, of What’s Cooking With Kids that you should totally check out. She went from being a Pampered Chef consultant to starting her own certified-green cooking school, wrote a cookbook, and visited the White House for the Chefs In Schools initiative! I’m giving away a copy of her new cookbook, The Whole Family Cookbook.

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

Tuesday, the 355th day of the year

355

Last night was Winter Equinox. And a full Lunar Eclipse.

woah.

The girls and I crammed a million things into our day yesterday—-but it was worth it. We did end up at Michael’s, and while I was prepared for the worst, it was actually a fun visit. We wandered the aisles, and picked up lots of craft supplies on clearance.

I’m learning how to Skype. I feel like such a dork that I’ve never done it before this past weekend, and so I spent a ton of time playing around with it yesterday. I set the kids up on the desktop and I was on the laptop. There was a lot of shouting and squealing—it was great.

Today:

ten days left in this year. make them count. it’s now or never to start your 2010 exercise regimen…

daily 7

take a nap

I’ve got $100 up for grabs at Totally Together Reviews

BlogHer needs more entries on this laptop giveaway

monday!

354

Good morning!

I am late with this today’s post—I completely forgot to write it last night! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Ours was quite productive—filled with PROMing, errands, visits, and laughter.

Today:

kids are off school— can today be a jammy day?

finish all wrapping

candy making/baking

keep up with the Daily 7, especially the laundry so it doesn’t get out of control

drink extra water, try to limit the sweets if you can

have a great day!

saturday and sunday–the second to last of the year

352 & 353

I hope your day is already going well. The excitement the kids are exuding is becoming contagous—this truly is a magical time of year.

Enjoy this weekend. Soak it in. If you have things to do, get them done, but try your hardest to do so with a smile on your face.

Remember: NOTHING is perfect. NOTHING tangible (cookies, baking, wrapping paper, dishes, decorations) is worth getting mad about. Choose joy.

and then spread it.

this weekend:

gather the kids around and PROM the toys one last time. New ones are on the way. There must be something (or a bunch, if you haven’t PROMed in a while!) that another child would enjoy more than your kids currently are.

go for a walk, or drive to see lights

keep up with the Daily 7

you are all in my thoughts and prayers. thank you to everyone of you. oxox

friday–the end of line is near

351

I loved reading your emails and comments yesterday on my technology rant. Thank you for being the very best people in the whole entire world.

Let’s start a compound! I’m not sold on living where we’re living forever… I’d move in a heartbeat if my neighborhood had all of you in it.

Today:

daily 7

finish all wrapping

begin candy/fudge making

350. DUDE.

350

There are only 15 days left in this year. F I F T E E N.

freaky.

I spent way too much time yesterday fiddling with a new BlackBerry that the wonderful folks at BlogHer sent to test out, review, and give away (the post won’t be for a while, though. I’ll keep you posted.)

I think I have carpal tunnel in my fingers and I’m a wee bit cross-eyed. I get it that I work online. I get it that I use technology daily, but I am JUST NOT a gadget person. After spending a good two hours to input 3 numbers, I gave up and made a pot of coffee.

I sometimes think I was born in the wrong decade. I like spending time at home, I like spending time with my kids, I enjoy hanging out with my husband, and my idea of a night on the town is dinner at a nice restaurant that isn’t crowded and then a walk around the block.

oh. and although I live spitting distance to San Francisco, I’d rather this dinner take place in the suburbs where I can find ample parking. for free.

I don’t think classrooms should have smart boards, I don’t think kids should have cell phones unless it’s for contacting mom and dad to pick them up from sports practice, and I am pretty sure we’re the last house on the block without a Wii. And while the kids have DSs (don’t know the plural of that)—they only use them in the car when we are on a long drive. I haven’t made this a rule, that’s just what seems to happen. The kids would rather play or read than videogame.

I haven’t succumbed to a DVD player in the car, either, and so far we’ve made it. This summer we’re planning a roadtrip to Texas and I still don’t feel like this is a necessity.

But.

I get it that I’m not in the majority.

so I’ll suck it up, soak my hands in warm water (ooh, maybe with lavender!), and figure out how to use this darn thing.

Today:

daily 7

count your blessings…. they are probably people and memories,  not gadgets or devices, huh?

quickly write down the top 5 things that are the most important to you right now. Don’t think too hard, just do it. On a regular ol’ day, do your actions reflect these priorities?

clorox wipe off all the doorknobs. this is especially important if you gave candycanes to quiet 5 small children yesterday afternoon while you were on a conference call…

day 349: be thankful for modern dentistry

349

Well, all of my anxiety and all-around babyness was for nothing. I was fine. I AM fine. I didn’t even need nitrous oxide, I just used the noise-blocking headphones and cranked up some early 90s muzak.

I am such a dork.

Today:

daily 7

plan a meeting with your spouse. Yes, a meeting. Make sure you’re on the same page with end-of-the-year planning, budgeting, and all that good stuff. Talk about the future—there are only a few weeks to make good on the rest of your personal goals and any items left on the punch list.

Consider planning monthly or even weekly check-ins with each other. While date nights are lovely, they aren’t always practical for many busy families.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, 1966

tuesday: run errands

348

Today is the day I finally see the dentist to get those root canals taken care of. Grandpa John is going to sit with the baby, and I need to STOP being a baby and just get this over with.

I ended both of those sentences with a preposition.

I’m anal enough to notice, but not anal enough to correct the mistakes.

in case you were wondering…

I’m tripping out over the power of the Internet. Yesterday  I posted on the crockpot blog that my friend Diane’s son has recently been diagnosed with Lyme’s disease and is stockpiling information on how to best treat the condition. I’m just blown away from the response. There really ARE good people out there (just not at the post office)!

today:

run errands

daily 7

care deeply and give freely.

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