inrl

Something new. I am joining in with thousands around the world for a linked up retreat. Looking forward to all it has to offer.

How to get your kids to eat apples

Since having children I have had many differing requests for apple presentation before it will be eaten. On the go we eat them whole but, some like them peeled, some have it sliced. After having a go with a friends peeler/corer/slicer we have been looking out for one ever since. So much fun. The boys can do it themselves and they eat the whole thing.

Polyvore

With the change of season comes a change of wardrobe. I had my clothes sorted into summer and winter collections. After a night out where I needed to get dressed up and being frustrated with sorting through to find my casual clothes I decided it was time for a change. So I now have my wardrobe sorted into casual and dressy. Having just started at Pinterest I came across Polyvore. A great site where you can create outfits from their 'wardrobe'. Great to get ideas for different ways of wearing things and putting together ideas from your own wardrobe.

You can see it here Looking forward to trying more.

Make a wish

i wish ......
i could do all the things that I dream of doing
i could share what I know
i had the courage to believe I can make a difference.

One word

My word for this year. Define..
de·fine
   [dih-fahyn] Show IPA verb -fined, -fin·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to state or set forth the meaning of (a word, phrase, etc.): They disagreed on how to define “liberal.”
2. to explain or identify the nature or essential qualities of; describe: to define judicial functions.
3. to fix or lay down definitely; specify distinctly: to define one's responsibilities.
4. to determine or fix the boundaries or extent of: to define property with stakes.
5. to make clear the outline or form of: The roof was boldly defined against the sky.

There are so many things going around in my head about who I am and what I want to be doing. I want this year to be about defining me.

I first came across the idea of a word of the year through Ali Edwards blog. You can read about it here. I love the concept and how it has shaped my past two years. I am looking forward to where it will take me.

A new year, a new start

It is here - 2012. I love the chance a new year brings to look back on the past year and to look ahead to what the new year holds. I have many things that I want to do. So many it is hard to know where to begin. One of my big things is working on our place. There is so much that needs to be done. When we moved here three years ago it was pretty much a blank canvas. I have just been looking back at some older photos and realise just how much we have done already. I am looking forward to documenting it more here.



So after a very wet start to 2012 we had a gorgeous day today. Just right for getting into the weeds that have been taunting me for many a day. These are pictures of our front garden as you drive up the driveway. Amazingly enough there are actually plants growing in the jungle. I have weeded this space so many back breaking times. Each time we do just a bit more to make it somewhat easier. This time it is war. Lets hope the ideas get a little further than just thinking about them. So great to come in after gardening to see the progress.

She Will Run - Wk 5 Managing Time

Time. Never enough of it in a day. But we are all given the same amount. Some people seem to have more hours than others, otherwise how do they get all they do done? It all comes down to how you choose to use the time you have. Have you heard of the rocks and sand illustration. I have talked about it before. You can read it here. I have always been challenged by the fact that we have exactly enough hours in the day to do what we need to do. What it comes down to is deciding what is really important and what can wait. It is knowing what the big rocks are and how to deal with the sand so it doesn't become a mountain while you are taking care of the rocks.

I love this quote 'I believe it's never too early - or too late - to start asking the questions: "What is it that really absorbs be?" and "What am I uniquely suited to being able to contribute to both my life and the lives of others?" - and then to have the courage, patience, and persistence to act on the answers as if your life depends on it. Because, in a very real sense, it does.' - author Andy Griffiths in I Believe This (Random House). We all know life is brief. Often it takes tragedy to catch a glimpse of what is really important. When we look at time management it is not about trying to fit more into each day. 'Our aim is to manage our lives more effectively in order to achieve our goals with excellence, love life, remain sane, and pursue the things that we enjoy doing' (She will run studies p.54)

Through planning and organising, we are able to effectively manage our time. The number of ways to do this can't be done justice in a single post. One of the reasons I put together this blog was to have a way to put all these ideas and resources together. In a nutshell it is about finding systems that work for you and your family. It needs to involve keeping track of things to do, setting goals, celebrating your successes and organising your things.

One of the most effective solution to managing time I have found is in how I organise my things. Following the rule of everything has a place and everything in its place, over the years I have sorted my house. It all started with my scrapbooking. A desire to do more led to sorting my supplies in a way that meant I got more done. I have done the same with my clothesOn a more simpler note I have developed a quiet time box {for those evenings when my toddlers had an afternoon sleep and didn't want to go to bed at night} a snack box {for quick snacks and lunch making, a recipe box {to keep all my favs together} and a cleaning box {to have all those supplies on hand} and a present box. All little things that came out of a need to do things more efficiently so the time that I saved could be put to better use. Granted it takes time to set these things up but the time and stress that it saves is so worth it. One of my biggest time savers has to be how I organise my meals and groceries. You can read about it here. Something I came to realise this past week when I didn't do my meal planner and grocery list and have been paying for it ever since.

I like to live by the saying 'if you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got' (Ian Grant). If there is something that is robbing you of spending time on what you want, look at the pile of sand that has become a mountain. Choose the one thing that bugs you the most and there will be a solution to it. Sometimes it takes a little more than what you can come up with. I would love to help out. Send me an email at revolutionizeu@gmail.com.

Above all stop and enjoy what you are doing right now. If you haven't watched the trailer at one thousand gifts it is well worth the visit. I think we beat ourselves up too much over what we haven't done. Slow down, simplify and take in all that you have done.