Friday, October 2, 2015

My Cleaning Schedule(and why I love it!)

I'm lucky. I get to be a stay-at-home mom. As any stay-at-home mom will tell you, sometimes, we play it fast and loose with the term "stay-at-home". There's errands, and school, and play dates and church and sometimes you just need a change of scenery.

I love a clean house just as much as the next person, maybe even more, but if having kids has taught me anything at all, it's how to let go of the OCD, everything-must-be-in-its-place-at-all-times obsession I had. With two very active kids who can't always play outside(or alone. Or quietly.), it's hard to keep the house clean 24/7. I try, I really do. I also teach my children to put away their toys when they're done playing. They're kids and sometimes, I'm tired. Or cooking dinner. Or doing laundry.

For a long time I would stress myself out trying to get everything done in one day.  Every single day. But then I found on Pinterest a post about a cleaning schedule. It kind of changes my life. It was like a light bulb went off. "Lauren, you don't have to do everything every single day!"

My schedule took a few weeks to get it just right for our family, but it really works great! It looks like this:

Every day - General straightening

Monday - Laundry, straighten laundry room
Tuesday - Den
Wednesday - Kitchen
Thursday - Bedrooms & Bathrooms(Insave the bedding laundry for this day!)
Friday - Clean out car!(I try to do this throughout the week, but I try to concentrate on it on Fridays)

I "take the weekends off". Which really just means that I don't have any dedicated tasks in each day.


I hope someone can benefit from this like I have!

She's still here.

Moms are busy. It's a fact of life and I don't know any mom who would disagree.

It's not that I haven't had things to say, it's just that I've had more important things on my agenda.

Like getting Hannah settled into a school routine.
Getting into a gym routine.
Rearranging my cleaning schedule(because I have one of those - and I love it.)
Raising my kids
Volunteering at church
Spending time with family
Surviving.

I'll do better soon. Just hang in there.

:)

Friday, August 7, 2015

Number Picture Collage

Today, I've been married for five years! I feel like that has some weight to it, but it's still pretty new. We have two great kids and are happier (and busier!) now than we've ever! It's a wonderful life we've created!

I feel like I know my husband pretty well, and I should since we've known each other since elementary school! But I have the hardest time giving him gifts! First of all, if he wants something he goes and gets it himself. Secondly, he doesn't want or need much. For this anniversary Infelt like the pressure was on! It's a big anniversary! So what did I do? I scowered Pinterest, of course! I did get him a real gift, but I came across(several versions, in fact!) of a number picture collage! I loved it because it was something he could wake up to and start his day off with a sweet note and it let me sleep as long as our kiddos will let me!


It's super easy to do! Here's what you need:

• Pictures of you two(enough to make the number you need!)
• Doube sided tape
• Card and/or small gift

I laid out the pictures on the floor to save time and hassle. You just put double sided tape on the back of the pictures and taped them to the mirror! Super simple! I added a card and his favorite candy to make it "sweet"er. 


Monday, July 27, 2015

Husband Does My Makeup

Does anyone watch makeup tutorials on YouTube?  I know it can't just be me! I've stepped my makeup game up slightly since I started watching them.

Occasionally, YouTubers will film their Husband/Boyfriend/Guy Friend doing their make up. Basiclly, they set a large range of different makeup products out and let the guys go to town without giving them any help! They don't tell them what anything is or how to use any of it. The looks they create are pretty funny!

Ryan and I had some friends in town this weekend and we decided we were going to do our own version of Husband Does My Makeup! I grabbed a whole bunch of random makeup products and laid them out for Ryan, and my friend did the same.


Before:

My Makeup:


The After: 


Ryan didn't do half bad!  You can't tell, but my eyebrows are dark green.. 😜

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Throwback Thursday

I never do Throwback Thursday, ever.

But a girl can change.

Recently, I've been on a huge binge of listening to music I've haven't listened to in YEARS(and also watching The Office). So, you're welcome...

1. The Young and the Hopeless by Good Charlotte



2. Mmbop by Hanson



3. Summer Girls by LFO


4. Hanging By A Moment by Lifehouse


5. Let Her Cry by Hootie & the Blowfish 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Five Things To Do With the Rest of Your Summer





Wait, what?

I know, and trust me, it's hard to even write about when it's 6:00 AM and it's already well on it's way to the 100* high we're supposed to have today!

I went into a store last week and saw school supplies out. I had an initial reaction of "Why do stores put things out for the next few holidays so early? This is ridiculous!" But then I realized, that no, the store timeline was right and the summer really is almost over! I'll be honest, it broke my heart a little and I've been filling our schedule with summer activities since!

If you're like me and want to make the best of what little summer you have left, here a list of some things you can do!

1. Ice Cream for dinner!
I plan to do this one weekend night before school starts. The kids have no idea! I'd love to make this a tradition!

2. Visit a state park!
We're lucky enough to live in a state with 47 state parks! Our state isn't terribly big so we can day trip it to any state park and be there in a few hours! South Carolina has a State Park book you can pick up at any of the parks for $5. Each park has a stamp and if you collect all the stamps in a year, you get a t-shirt! But that's nothing compared to all that quality time with your kids, right? The parks are usually just a couple dollars to get into and you can spend your whole day there or just camp!

For you SC folks, here's a few links to great state parks so you can start exploring our wonderfully beauitful state!

SC State Parks:
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/?from=mobile

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site:
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/ctl/introduction.aspx

Keowee-Toxaway State Park:
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/keoweetoxaway/introduction.aspx

3. Host a End-of Summer party!
Here's a link to my Pinterest board to give you some ideas!
http://pinterest.com/mrsshumpert/end-of-summer-party/

4. Get organized!
Now, I realize this doesn't sound like a lot of fun for most of you, so let me explain. By a show of hands, how many people out there spend the week or two before school starts eagerly getting everything ready? Buying school supplies and new clothes,  creating the perfect backpack hanging area, and generally trying to get your life and house together so things will run smoother this year?

Want to know the key to success? Start early(and be consistent when school starts!) Go ahead and get organized now and  it won't be so crazy when school starts! You know how you start making the kids go to bed earlier to get their bodies ready to wake up earlier on school mornings? Same concept! :)

I love to organize and will gladly come help you and you can pay me whatever you can. :)

5. Take a family photo.

A lot of families take a khaki pants/white shirt picture at the beach when they go during the summer. Great! Just try to get one picture of all of you. I mean, who doesn't love an opportunity to show Facebook you seemingly have your life together?


Enjoy what's left of your summer everyone!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Cranberry Almond Energy Bites


Who doesn't love a Pinterest recipe? Our dinner rotation wouldn't be as broad without Pinterest!

My wonderful husband works long hours and doesn't always have time to eat a real meal. I started looking for a snack full of protein that he could eat during the day. I found Cranberry Almond Energy Bites. They're perfect, and the best part of it is, he loves them!



You can find the recipe here.


They're so easy to make and I bet you already have most of the ingredients in your house right now!

1 cup Oatmeal
1/3 cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed (optional)
1/2 cup nut butter (I use peanut butter)
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1/3 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped

See? Most everything you already have!

Enjoy!!