24

Well, it has happened again.

I reread one of my blogs (the Church one) and at the bottom it said it posted at 3:24.

24: It turns up everywhere!

I first liked it because it's my birthdate (3-24). Then as I was reading my Bible, I realized that the story of Rebekah was in the 24th chapter of Gen.  THAT made it my favorite number. Done. Even God seemed to agree that it should be my favorite number. (I don't say "lucky number" because I do not believe in luck. Believing God planned everything out is much more meaningful and helpful.)

I wish I had written down all the times 24 popped up.

Here's a few I remember:
* Our new house has 24 stamped in the ceiling

* The street I need(ed) to get to IKEA (a favorite store) is 24th Street

* First kiss on a 24th

* The song "24" by Switchfoot

* I started labor on a 24th 

* The show "24"

* Became "in a relationship" with Anthony on a 24th (not related to the kiss...)

All big moments and favorite things... I think I'll add to this post when another "24" happens or I remember another one.

Clean Living- start with cleaning!

Hey friends! Are you reading all those articles about the chemicals in your cleaning products? Have you read the labels on your cleaning products? There's even some cleaning wipes that say "wash with soap and water after use"... do you really want to use something that you need to clean, after you clean?

Want to know my favorite Green Company? Norwex.

What do their products need? Water. Yup! That's it! The microfiber picks up germs and dirt and the silver in their products kills the bacteria.

Their my favorite because they are SO EASY, and work BETTER than other products I've used. And I've cleaned a lot (my own places, my dad's apartments, and a couple short cleaning side-jobs).

They have a lot of different products! Here is what I got FREE when I hosted a party:

What questions do you have? Let me know if you would like to get a consultant's e-mail, I know 2 wonderful ladies that would love to help you!

(I'm not getting any compensation for this post. I just want to share how much I like these products!)

Summer Foods - My Favorite!

As I was making my chicken salad sandwich, I thought "You know, I should write a post about summer foods...and my addiction for chicken salad sandwiches...". Good plan right??

It's true. I love summer foods: noodle salads, hamburgers on the grill, ice cream, and chicken salad sandwiches (let's just call them CSS for short).

CSS's are easy, yummy, and great for leftovers (ahhh leftovers are wonderful aren't they??).

Here are some of my go-to CSS recipes:

Lemony Dill Chicken Salad - This recipe is from The Daniel Plan. It's even healthy! I've made this one quite a few times this summer and everyone has liked it. Plus, you can add a little more ingredients and have more servings (I love not having to measure when all-of-a-sudden you have a couple more people to feed!).

(Today's lunch. That verse even fits! hehe)

Quick Chicken Salad - I first found this recipe on Pinterest (of course). It too is tasty and like it says, quick! Just use canned chicken! A friend said she liked it better than Hy-Vee's Chicken Salad!

(My Annual Easter Luncheon)

Super Quick Chicken Salad - buy some at Hy-Vee! It might seem pricy, but I can get at least 4 servings out of a $6 container, so not too bad when broken down.

Organizing Your Classroom #3

     Hello again! Thank you for stopping by!

Some schools start TOMORROW, so hopefully this post will help you just-in-time. ...Or when you re-work on your room in couple weeks and again during Christmas "break" and again during Spring "Break"...and any 3 min. you have during the day... Life of a teacher.

As you set up, there is SO much to think about. Here are a few pointers:

#1 Have a reading "nook." Even older kids like to have a small space that feels like a "hideout." I choose to put mine in-between bookshelves so I could still see the students anywhere I was in the room, and my reading group table was close by as well.

(Big enough for 2-3, and I really didn't have issues with everyone wanting it at the same time.)

#2 If possible have as many materials (paper, pencils, math manipulatives, etc.) at easy reach for the students. (*See shelf on right* - I did put "special" materials on the high shelf so I would take those down when needed.)

#3 Have "Find a Home," "Toy Drop," and "Birthday Bucket" containers ready to go.

"Find a Home" : Students/teachers place items that drop on the floor during the day inside the bucket, then at the end of the day the student with the job to put items away can find where they belong.

(Helpful when you don't have time for the student to put that one piece back in the math game that you put away in the cupboard.)

"Toy Drop" : If a student brings something to school that he/she shouldn't and gets it out, ask the child to put it in the "Toy Drop" bucket so he/she isn't tempted to get it out again. When the child packs up for the day, hand it to him/her and remind that student that it shouldn't come to school again.

 "Birthday Bucket" : Have a bucket with either a little birthday trinket (pencil, squiggly straws, bookmark, etc.) ready to go inside. Birthdays seem to pop up every-other-day in a classroom, so having it ready with the child's name on it will help the last minute rush for you to get something together day of.

Squiggly straw balloons! Something fast, original, and fairly cheap

#4 Last, but not least, think of the children's safety. 

ALICE is an amazing organization that has some great resources for teachers.

Our school took their training and we all felt empowered and giving clear ideas on how to keep our children safe. The link will take you to a blog on 7 ideas to help keep your classroom safe from an intruder. 7 Tips for Safety

Take time to read their other material. It is definitely worth the time.

I hope these ideas are helpful!

Calm in the mist of Calamity

Here I sit. In my God-given dream house, with my lovely family, good food, wonderful summer... I sit in my air conditioned home, on a comfy couch, listening to my child play ...all while I read the terror going on around the world.

Complete terror.

Pictures so horrifying I can only read bits of the articles to go with them.

I started praying. God is the only one who can stop those who are doing this unthinkable evil. God is the only place to turn when you are half-a-globe away and can do next to nothing to help.

I was grateful for this post. It spoke directly to me, "Don't feel guilty. Guilt isn't going to get you anywhere. Feel the URGENT NEED of prayer."

What an amazing gift God gave us to be able to pray to Him about people I have never met. To pray against The Evil One and these evil leaders on earth.

I started reading Psalms 10 aloud as my prayer:

Psalm 10[a]

1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
    who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
    he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
    in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
    your laws are rejected by[b] him;
    he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
    He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”

7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9     like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
    he covers his face and never sees.”

12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
    Why does he say to himself,
    “He won’t call me to account”?
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
    you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
    you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man;
    call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
    that would not otherwise be found out.

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
    the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that mere earthly mortals
    will never again strike terror.

(Taken from Biblegateway.com)

I still ache for those in turmoil and I still tear up every time I see another picture,

but now I feel calm in the mist of this calamity.       

Will you set aside your guilt?

Will you take time out of your day to pray for those who desperately need it?

God hears. God sees.

and God ACTS.

Classroom Organization Tips - the sequel

Hi teachers! I have more ideas for you! Let's organize!

Tip 1) Have as much set up before the school year as you can! You can always add to your room and change it, but my "Monthly Weather Graphs" were so much easier to do through the year when it was up and ready! (No need to run to the filing cabinet during Morning Meeting because you forgot it was a new month... not that I know from experience...) 

Other "through the year" items might be a word wall and students'  birthdays.

Tip 2) Have bins ready for Back-to-School Night. Your school might do this differently, but our students brought all their school supplies on Back-to-School Night. I labeled the bins to what I wanted inside and the students filled them up. Then, the weekend before school, I could sharpen some pencils and put the rest up on a shelf, set out other needed materials and put the rest away.

For things that belonged to them/they needed in their desk, I put on tables and during the first day of school they would collect their items and put them away.

Tip 3) Pencils in bins. This was a great way to keep students from getting too many pencils in their desks. I allowed 2 pencils in their desks and they could get a sharp one from the bin when needed. Then they put their dull pencil in the according bin. At the end of the day, a student had the job to sharpen as many pencils as he/she could.

 What's your problem area? I'd love to give ideas!

Happy organizing!

It's that Time of Year Again!

It's that time of year again! ...no, I'm not talking about Hobby Lobby setting up their last shelf of Christmas items ... I'm talking about the start of school!

Since teachers have an entire classroom to set up, let's start with you teachers!

I had the great privilege to teach preschool and first grade, so these tips will be geared to that age.

This is how most classrooms look at in the summer... 

It's exciting to reorganize and set up new systems (and get your walls painted), 

but man it's a lot of work!!!

Tip 1) Label, Label, Label! I labeled every shelf (not shown) 

and tried to keep items for one subject together.

Tip 2) If I knew I had a supply for a science project in the cupboard, I would often write it down on a Post-It and stick it in my curriculum book (on the page needed) so I knew I was ready.

Tip 3) Think through your entry area CAREFULLY. 

Left to right: 

* End-of-day jobs ice cream bucket - Students lined up at 5min. before school let out and picked a job out of the bucket (ex. pick up floor, change calendar, take out trash - more jobs than students, so if a student finishes early they can come back and get a new job.). The students were really great at helping each other learn jobs and I could float around making sure it was done right. It didn't take long before it was a well-oiled machine and 

I didn't have to pick up the floor!!

* Bins for "to copy," "for teacher aide," "to laminate" (which would get done months later)

* Paper holder for extra papers parents would need

* Mailboxes (I would use file clips with names on them and then clip in alphabetical order...even when I had 4 that started with "A")

* "Feed the Frog" bin (for their folders)

* Clothes pins and bins for hot/cold lunches (then a student could bring me the hot lunch bin in the morning and I could enter it in the computer)

On bulletin board:

    * Line up Log - made out of felt (I had frog name tags that hopped forward - on Velcro- each day for a new line leader, making the line leader the caboose the next day)

    * Add school calendars for special events, meals, etc.

    * Hanging baskets for Box Tops and Milk Caps (a volunteer would just grab the baskets and go)

Next to bulletin board:

* 3M Hooks and clipboards for student's that needed to do work later in the Opportunity Room

Under the table:

     * Library Book Bin 

Tip 4) Use clips! It only took me 3 years to figure out to put a push-pin in the behind hole of a clip for the bulletin board papers.

That much easier switching monthly information! 

 Hope this was helpful! More classroom organizing ideas tomorrow!

My Love for May Designs

Are you a "paper person"? Like a true I-love-any-and-all-paper-products person?

I am, and I come by it very honestly. A lot of relatives were teachers (and really, what teacher doesn't love a new note pad???) and others work in office settings. I had no idea how deep the love for paper goods actually was until my family/relatives had our annual Woman's Christmas Get Together (we really need a catchy name...). This last year was "My Favorite Things" gift exchange. We all picked out little presents that were our favorite things and then passed out the same present-filled bags to each person. I found fun notepads, pens, and post-its at the Target dollar spot. So I passed out 8 bags filled with those items. ...What did almost everyone else pass out? Notepads, Post-It Notes, and other fun office items. I had no idea I didn't just get my love for paper goods from my mom!

All this to say, there is a super fun company called May Designs and you can actually design your own little notebooks, stationary, and now cards (think Shutterfly where you can upload your own photo and then add adorable font and patterns).

(See notebooks in box)

(Designer cards)

But, I need to warn you... they are super addicting! They have great deals (40% off going on now through Sunday 8/10/14), high quality, and all around a Paper Person's dream come true.

Notebooks I have made: a meal planner (one side is a week planner and the other side is a grocery list), a lined one for Andrew's memory book, a lined one called Garden Plans,  a lined one titled Guest Book (when friends and family stay at our house over night), a monthly agenda for a take-with-me calendar, and a lined one for our small group Prayer Requests. 

They fit perfect in my purse and keep me organized (a whole other passion for a different day)!

Go take a peek ! 

What are your favorite patterns? What are you going to use the Cards for?

*  I am not getting compensated in any way, just want to share my obsession with you =)  *

Summer Reading List

The title says "Summer Reading List"...but let's be honest, I started all of these (see picture) books months and months ago. In fact, I'm not even sure when I started some of them. Oops.

If you need some good book ideas here's a bit about why I like them...

The Bible: I would hope you know what the Bible is about. But whether you haven't read it yet or you have a Christian Studies degree, you can always learn and grow from reading it! I'm reading through Romans right now.

Anne of Green Gables: quite possibly my favorite book. The author describes her characters so well you would think they are real people with real idiosyncrasies (<-- my big word for the day *takes bow*). It's a great mix of sweet, funny, and encouraging. The sequels are very good as well. I loved listening to them in the car.

Allegiant: the final book in the Divergent series. I personally liked the first of the 3 the best. This one has a lot of twists - which make it fun, but also confusing. 

Table Life: hosting at your house without worrying it has to be perfect. Explains we need to just show Jesus's love through gathering.

The Daniel Plan: getting healthier for not only your sake, but for God's glory. This book has simple, straightforward ideas and recipes that help you on the road to being healthier.

1984: I've gotten 3 pages into it and then decided I really should finish my other books first. 

The Treasure Principle: helping you understand giving to God's kingdom.

My goal for August is to put down my iPad and read more!

Who's with me??

What's on your summer reading list? I'd love to hear about them!

Activities for the Little Ones

Andrew finished his first Library summer reading "list" today! We got a free book bag and board book! I found it really helpful to have the page to look at for more ideas of what to do together. It's harder for me since there's a lot he isn't old enough for (DUPLOS, trains, etc. etc.) so having ideas at my fingertips was great to keep the day going.

I decided since there are a lot of young moms out there, a print out of simple ideas might help you too.

I wanted to upload the chart I made up...but, it's not working. Hopefully the link will!

Free print out! Activities for Little Ones

Don't clip your nails in church...

A Few Church Do's and Don'ts

AKA Becky's Soapbox*

*Don't mind her if you disagree. Just move on to a blog post you like. ;)

1) Don't clip your nails in church. Now, to be completely fair, I didn't actually see the culprit. However, if I said to you, "the sound of clipping your nails" you would know what I'm talking about...and I'm very certain it was that sound and not a 3ring binder with 10 clips... It's pretty distracting, please don't do that in church.

2) Moms, use the nursery! It's not easy to leave your child in someone else's care...but it's never going to be. I'm trying to train myself now to leave Andrew in safe places, so it will be little bit easier later (Like a week of camp where anything could happen?? Oh boy.). Also, YOU need the service. A good message, prayer, and some singing can do a world of good for the human soul. (And of course pick up a pager for a little more security ..and try to remember to turn it on...)

3) Dads, be encouraging to your wives to leave the child in the nursery. It's so hard to drop off the little one and not feel sad or guilty. Especially if your child is going through separation anxiety. Lovingly remind them that the nursery workers are expecting children to have a hard time sometimes and they will take good care of your child.

4) Wear at least a level or 2 nicer outfit than you would going to the park. It's a catch22: churches  want to include everyone so they backdown on the "dress requirement"...But then, people start dressing in whatever they want and become very lax and don't take church seriously. We NEED to take church seriously!

5) Bring a Bible you can write in and don't just use your Bible phone app (preaching to myself now- my iPhone can be waaaay too tempting to just "quick check this or that"). My brother found a really great Bible called The Journal Bible. What a fabulous way to take notes! You will be able to use those notes again and it will be interesting to see how other sermons fit later.

6) Allow yourself to cry in church. Yesterday I was reminded again how amazingly faithful God has been in my life. The church I was in was the same one I had been dedicated in, had piano recitals in, was in Psalty the Singing Songbook musicals, Christmas Programs, V.B.S., handbells, shared mission trip stories in, listened to sermons, went to funerals of special people, had school chapel in, got married in, and now bring Andrew to. God has brought me through the sad times, the difficult times, and has lead my life into some amazingly happy times. These thoughts kept swirling in my head as I was there singing with my family sitting in the pew with me and my church family around me. So I let some tears fall. It felt so healing.

 God is interested in your heart, so don't be afraid to show it to Him.

Even if it's emotional.

Me and my brother Brian (7-27-14)

*Please don't mind the bad hair day. It was fine after I fixed it. Then as soon as I got in the car to go to church, it went limp. Good times.

Wedding (7-3-11)

Home is Where the Heart is...

They say, "Home is where the heart is." But what happens when you have a Husband heart & Baby heart in IA; a Mum, Dad and brother heart in MN; and more hearts in CO?? Not to mention extended family hearts and close friend hearts (add CA, MI, IL, MO, FL, & Spain to the list!).

You learn new things. You appreciate new things. (And you work hard to keep up relationships!)

It was such a mix moving away from MN to marry. Of course it was worth it; but still, uprooting a whole life in one metro area is never going to be easy. And as a Minnesotan, I didn't think Iowa had that much to offer... I can't speak for all Minnesotans, but for the most part, we think Iowa is a-l-l corn. Like row after row after row. I never pictured lakes, hills, or more cities than 2 or 3.

I'm pleasantly surprised.

It's just a state away, but life is different when you change churches, change jobs, change who you hang out with.

My dad asked me, "So what have you found that is different in Iowa?" I realized the whole "sports scene" is different. In Minnesota you cheer for Minnesota teams: Twins, The Wild, The Gophers, etc. In Iowa you cheer for either the Hawkeyes or Iowa State football teams (of course they have other sports they watch, but then they just cheer for whoever they have some kind of ties with). Something as simple as sports is just a little different here.

Twins Game with my Dad

It all makes me really appreciate missionaries that. much. more. While my *amazing* Minnesotan accent might be a touch different than Iowans, missionaries have a whole other language to learn. While I had to find a new grocery store, they have to figure out new foods and products. While I say goodbye to my parents about once-twice a month (It has become less often now that they come to stay in Iowa to see Andrew.), they say goodbye for a year or more each time. So thankful they pick up their cross and follow Jesus to new locations.

Hearts in different places is never easy. It's never what you want (unless it's a great place to visit ;). I'm so thankful those hearts are kind and loving and work to keep a relationship with me.

If home is where the heart is...
I have a lot of homes.


P.S. I still like MN's State Fair butter princess better than IA's State Fair butter cow.  So many differences to get used to.  ;)

Super Stacy + Etsy = Fabulous

OK, it's time to brag on a friend. You probably have heard me say, "Stacy, the friend who bakes amazing cupcakes...also the one who did Andrew's dedication cake...and the one who stenciled our wall...". And usually by the time I say "cupcakes" the other person chimes in with, "Oh yeah! She's the one who baked so-and-so's cake." People know Stacy. If you don't, you need to, and that is why I am posting about her. Well, actually, I'm posting so you can see her products on Etsy. So adorable. And so my style!

Take a look!

All you need is card stock, a printer, and frames... And POOF! Artwork!

Land of Mae - Homemade Goods from the Heartland

All her work is so precise and well made/done. She also has necklaces on her Etsy shop. I ordered the gray and love it! 

Here's the wall she stenciled for us:

There is NO WAY it would look that amazing if I had done it!! Thank goodness for talented friends! And really you can't get much better than a friend who bakes AND does craft/art pieces!! After giving birth she came with treats! I'm pretty sure I ate waaaaay more than Anthony did. But hey, I was the one who gave birth. :)

Go check out her products! They are fabulous!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/landofmae

Get Things Done Day!

I'm holding up my end of the deal! I have another idea for you. I read this idea in a magazine about a year ago (or 3 years ago? Who remembers when they actually read an article?), in Real Simple magazine (pretty sure it was that one...or Better Homes and Gardens?). A lady kept putting off and putting off random little errands and mini house projects (like changing a light bulb, filling in a few wood cracks, etc.). How many of us put off things like that? I sure do! So, the lady decided to make running errands and those pesky house jobs into a fun day. 
   Do you know how to make errands actually fun?? 
                          Is it possible??
                                YES! Here's how...

1. Pick a day that you have a couple hours.
2. Pick a friend <--- Clearly the fun part!
3. Write a list of where to go.

4. Figure out a route that will make sense (times open, not going back and forth across town, etc.).

5. Prep for the next day: load up the car, check for coupons or deals (dry cleaners can be pricy!).

6. Get your buddy and have fun! Caribou first, lunch in-between errands, maybe a cupcake later??...ok... for sure a cupcake later!

*HUGE* Bonus for moms: you and the friend can take turns running in to the locations/ staying in the car so you don't have to do the 10 step process of getting your baby/kid in and out of the carseat and cart each time!

Now I'm actually LOOKING FORWARD to running errands! 

Next I will have to plan a "Mini House Project Day"...

How about you? What would you like to get done?

So Much Talent!

As I am on Pinterest I have found some amazing blogs! Boy do they inspire me! I have talked about "Kate from The Small Things Blog" so much that I feel like we are friends. (I wish!!) You know what I have noticed through reading different blogs? That so many of the bloggers with the amazing ideas, creativity, organized homes, cute little families, are also Christian women! I don't think it's a coincidence. I think it speaks to the heart and character of God. He made us to not only want a "better" life, but to share it with others.    

I have just started on this little blogging journey, but I hope to inspire others. And I hope that inspiration points to God for He is the one giving all the ideas and hope to better our lives. 

 Here's a few that you need to check out:

The Small Things Blog  - Fantastic hair tutorials, makeup ideas and products, and a little about her personal life with her son, cats, and traveling.

The Lauren Elizabeth - Kate's sister! She shares outfit ideas, makeup tips, and loves cats too... I don't know why.

The House of Smiths - Shelley blogs about house organization and house projects.

320 Sycamore Blog - Melissa has a range of house projects to activities with her family.

Enjoy some good reading!!

Beauty Tips

As I was thinking about what to blog about this morning, I realized that I recently got my Birchbox in the mail and could explain it and then -bonus- add a favorite hair tip at the end!

First Birchbox (in no way am I getting compensated for this post...However, when this blog is famous, maybe they will want to thank me...Or if YOU decide to get a subscription, mention my name and I believe we both get points!): It's a monthly beauty product subscription. If you are like me, you desire to be "in the know" about trends and new products, but it's hard to keep up!! I enjoy my Birchbox because it's a fairly inexpensive (I used birthday money) way to try out lots of new/up-in-coming/tried-and-true products. Also, when you find a product you love and would like the regular size, Birchbox.com has a store (their website also has fun how-to videos, "magazine," and much more) you can order from. Their e-mails send lots of great deals for their online store. In addition,  you can earn points through writing reviews about products, buying products, and recruiting friends to buy subscriptions (*cough* go get one and add my name *cough*) which equals $$ you can save on their store! Lastly, I've become MUCH more aware of the junk companies put in beauty products. Birchbox has done a great job of finding "ingredient-conscoius" products.  

Have you gotten a subscription box before? 

Do you have any questions?

Now for one of my favorite little tips! Do you hate fly-away hairs? I do! And it seems like I have them right in front ...about everyday. So annoying! How do you get them to stay down you ask? Well, I'm glad you did! All you need is Clear Eyebrow Gel! Like this one: anastasia.net

Comb your fly-aways down using the eyebrow gel and they'll stay put!