$500 Cloth Diaper Giveaway!!!

**The winner is**

Brandi Elam!!! 

Congratulations on winning this fabulous giveaway! 

Are you ready to fall in love with fluff
and win $500 of cloth diapers and accessories?!

Welcome to the Fall In Love With Fluff Giveaway Event presented by Daily Mothering and Eco-Crazy Mom! Over 100 blogs are coming together to celebrate our love for fluff with this awesome Valentine’s Day giveaway! We are giving away a Cloth Diaper Prize Pack valued at $500 to one lucky winner!!

Fall In Love With Fluff is sponsored by Sandbox Lane and Kissed By The Moon!

Sandbox Lane is your one stop shop for affordable & stylish eco-friendly baby products! This family-owned business is known and loved for their great selection of affordable cloth diapers and cloth diaper accessories in a wide variety of styles and brands. They also carry a variety of stylish baby clothing and accessories, breastfeeding supplies, mama cloth, eco-friendly laundry products, swaddle blankets, toys and other earth friendly products to help get your little one off to a great start. Be sure to check out the Sandbox Lane Blog, and follow them via Facebook, Twitter, and Newsletter for information on sales, events, new products & more! Free shipping is offered on all purchases over $30, and all orders under $30 ship for just $3. *Shipping is only offered within the US and Canada at this time.

Sandbox Lane is offering a special 10% off coupon code for giveaway participants during this event! Use code Fluffylove10off at checkout to receive your discount! Excludes Bumgenius, Grovia, Flip, and Econobum.

Prizes Sponsored by Sandbox Lane:

BumGenius Freetime One-Size AIO Diaper
(Snap closure, winner's choice of Print/Color)

BumGenius 4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Snap closure, Winner's choice of Print/Color)

Flip One-Size Cover & Stay-Dry Insert
(Snap closure, Winner's choice of Color)

Econobum Trial Pack: 1 One-Size Cover and 3 Prefolds
(Winner's choice of Color)

Fuzzibunz Elite One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Charlie Banana One-Size Pocket Print Diaper
(Winner's choice of Print)

GroVia One-Size AIO Diaper
(Vanilla)

Sweet Pea One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

ones & twos One-Size AIO Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Incredibum Bamboo One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Incredibum Small Wetbag
(Winner's choice of Color)

Rockin' Green Hard Rock 2.0 Detergent
(45/90 Loads)

Rockin' Green Funk Rock
(9 oz.)

Incredibum Bamboo Wipes
(2 packs - 8 wipes total)

Sweet Pea Cotton Velour Wipes
(2 packs - 10 wipes total)

BabyLegs Leg Warmers
(Rainbow)

Kissed By The Moon was created out of a passion for cloth diapering and eco-friendly living. This mama-owned shop is a favorite of many, well known for their cloth diaper rental packages, kissed cash rewards program, user-friendly gift registry and awesome weekly specials. They offer a wide variety of new and pre-loved cloth diapers, cloth diaper accessories, laundry solutions and everything needed to make your cloth diapering experience a success! Be sure to sign up for the Kissed By The Moon Newsletter and follow on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to know about sales, promotions, giveaways, and upcoming events. Shipping is always free for orders over $25 (US Only), and international shipping is available!

Kissed By The Moon is offering a special 10% off coupon code for giveaway participants during this event! Use code LOVEFLUFF at checkout to receive your discount on orders over $25! Excludes sale items, GroVia, Flip, and Bumgenius.

Prizes Sponsored by Kissed By The Moon:

Oh Katy One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Rumparooz One-Size Pocket Print Diaper
(Winner's choice of Print and Closure)

Bummis Tot Bot Easy Fit One-Size AIO Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Green Line One-Size Cover
(Winner's choice of Print)

Green Line Soaker
(Bamboo/Cotton)

SoftBums Omni One-Size AI2/Pocket Diaper
(Aplix, Winner's choice of Color/Print)

SoftBums Snap-In Pod
(DryTouch)

itti bitti tutto One-Size AI2 Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Swaddlebees Simplex One-Size AIO Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Planet Wise Flannel Wipes
(Set of 10, winner's choice of Color)

Leslie's Boutique Pail Liner
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Rumparooz Print Wet Bag
(Winner's choice of Print)

Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering
(by Kelly Wels)

THiRSTiES Booty Luster
(4 oz.)

2 CJ’s BUTTer Samples
(1/2 oz. each)

And now for the giveaway!

ONE WINNER will receive this ENTIRE prize pack:
(most colors/prints will be winner's choice as listed above)

This giveaway ends at 11:59 EST on February 7th, 2011.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

If you have not yet signed in to the new Rafflecopter forms, use either your Facebook account OR your name and email address to sign in. Click "Do It" for instructions on how to complete each entry. There is no mandatory entry.

The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada* contestants only.

*If a Canada winner is drawn, some prizes will be substituted with other products
or store credit of retailer's choice due to shipping restrictions on certain brands.

Read more »

Modest Monday Outfit!

Today's outfit is what I wore Saturday. I have heard some women say they could never clean the house in a skirt, but this is the outfit I wore to tidy up the house, and run errands in. You can wear a cute outfit even while doing the mundane things! 

My grey sweater is from Kohls (which is a favorite place of mine to find tops).

The skirt is the Women's Ruffle Skirt that is sold at The Modest Mom. 

I'm wearing knee high socks. 

My black shoes are a walmart speciality. :) 

I'm wearing a small pair of diamond earrings that my sweet husband gave me last Mother's Day! 

My hair is pulled back in a half up with a size small flex clip in. 

 

What are your favorite colors to wear?


*There are just two days left to save 5% off your entire order at The Modest Mom when you use the code: ENDOFMONTH at checkout!*

Adorable Raincoats On Sale!

If you are looking for a raincoat that is cute and functional, Zulily has some great deals on jackets and raincoats today! Most of these coats are $19.99 today, normally they are around $90.00. They even come in plus sizes, and there are other colors on the website to choose from. 

Look under Yoki to find these coats. 

7 Essential Wardrobe Tips

Here are some wardrobe tips I have learned through the years! 

1. Stick with essential items first! If you are on a tight budget, then several versatile denim skirts and a khaki skirt is the best bang for your buck.

2. Figure out what colors look best on you. An easy way to do this is to get a color book  and look through it. I look best in brown, black, teal, white, certain shades of pink, among other colors. Orange and certain colors of blue don't do much for me. My sister has fair skin, so she looks best in brighter colors to prevent her from being washed out.

3. Know what shape your body is. While we don't want to flaunt the shape of our body, there are certain things that look much better on different body types than on others. If you have not figured out what shape you are, this book is very good at helping figure that out - though I don't agree with everything in the book.

You can waste a lot of time and money if you don't know what color and cut of clothes that flatter you the best. It can be helpful to take a friend (or your husband if he is willing!) out shopping with you for a second opinion if you are just learning these things.

4. Have a plan in mind when you shop. Just like planning a grocery menu, it can be helpful to look at your closet and write down a list of what clothing items you want to purchase. That way you aren't tempted by a cute item that you really don't need when you are out shopping.

5. Avoid cheaply made items. I have learned that while certain stores have good deals, the fabric is so cheap that it just won't hold up. Also, really thin knit shirts can be extra clingy, so that is another reason I avoid them.

6. Shop off season for the best deals! My sister taught me this trick, and I try to do it as much as possible. Right now is a great time to be purchasing coats for next winter. Even though it is tempting to look at the cute spring line that is already being unveiled, try to hit the super discounted specials while you can. I'm always thrilled when I pull out a brand new item months later that I bought at a great price!

7. Liven up a basic wardrobe with a few cute accessories. A scarf, flexi clip in your hair, or a simple pair of pearl earrings can go a long way.  Even if you are a mom that feels overwhelmed, it really doesn't take that much time to add one or two extra items to your outfit.

*There are just a few days left to take advantage of our 5% discount at The Modest Mom! Enter: ENDOFMONTH to save on your entire order! This ends January 31*

Books We Are Reading In January

I'm going to start sharing what books we are reading each month, particularly the books we are reading out loud. 


Growing up I have fond memories of the books my mom read out loud to us. My children love literature time in school, and from a very young age have always loved being read to. 

Our Read Aloud List For January

1. Little Faith by Mrs. O. F. Walton - This book is part of our lamplighter series, but for some reason I can't find this in the lamplighter series being sold online still. My husband read this out loud to our children while I was recovering from giving birth, and they seemed to enjoy it. Some of the story was a bit intense and scary, my husband skipped over a few pages when the Grandmother was found dead. Otherwise the story had many good lessons in it for the children. 

2. The Rewards of Childhood Truth - I love books that teach godly character to my children, and this book was very helpful in describing the great gain that can be found from telling the truth. The story has two young boys in it, so my boys listened closely as the story unfolded. 

3. Calamity Jane, The Wise Old Raccoon by Sam Campbell - This was a HUGE hit with my children, and I enjoyed it almost as much as they did! The story about a raccoon named Calamity Jane and her adventures. What I appreciated is that the story was factual, the raccoon did not talk. Rather the author followed the raccoon through the different seasons and shared about her experiences having her raccoon babies. This would be an excellent nature study book for homeschooling. My eight year old son is now reading this out loud to his brother as he loved the story so much! 

3. On The Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder - We have read the other three books in this series out loud, and we just started this book. My children beg me to read more every day, and can't get enough of this whole series! I also have gotten some of the books on CD from the library so they can listen to it at night. I read these books over and over again growing up, so I'm delighted that my children enjoy them. 

4. The Proverbs - Every morning (or almost every morning!) I'm reading out loud the Proverbs of the day for our morning devotion. We love to stop and sing a verse when we know the song. :) We have used the Proverbs Flashcards from The Learning Parent, so when we come to a verse they have memorized we all say it out loud together. 

Books I'm Reading Myself

1. The Little Book of Christian Character & Manners by William and Colleen Dedrick -  Every once in a while I need a to refresh myself with a good child training book. :) It motivates me to keep going and gets me centered again on what is really important. This book has a lot of good advice packed into a 100 page book! Now I need to implement what I'm reading.

What books are you reading this month?

Scheduling & Routines: You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

I'm delighted to announce that we have a new contributing writer added to the blog! Erika Shupe blogs at Large Families On Purpose, and she is the mother of 9 children. I have learned a lot from her blog, so I'm thrilled that she agreed to share each month with you all here! ~ Caroline


You can’t have your cake and eat it too.  This is what we desire in life though, isn’t it.  *smile* To have the fruit of a well-disciplined life, yet to be whimsical and do whatever we want simultaneously and without accountability?  Well here’s how I faced the reality of this dilemma with parenting & marriage, and learned a great strategy for success – on purpose.

In 1997 I married the love of my life.  When Bob and I became parents however, and I was simultaneously learning about marriage and parenting, I began experiencing fear of my inadequacy and anticipation of failure in both areas.  I called a dear friend and said, “Help!”  She thrust into my eager and desperate hands a book called, Managers of Their Homes, by Steve & Teri Maxwell, a strong Christian couple with 8 children of their own.  It was life-changing for us, literally.  It gave scripture and wisdom for how to successfully approach my days with the children, which then freed me to be the wife I always wanted to be! 

My daily plan used to be my single-woman-without-children strategy, to make a long to-do list for myself and plow strait through it without having to consider anyone else.  *chuckle* Now as a wife and mother, however, I would end up brushing the children aside out of frustration most of the day while trying to accomplish my goals – not those which the Lord had put before me, but what I had put before myself.  I was expecting 28-hour days out of myself, and of course then failing.  Not only did the children not have my heart, but my poor husband had a wife who often did not smile, who was not enjoying life, who only saw the difficulties, and struggled greatly with depression.  Do not our expectations in life completely and hugely effect how we approach it?  As I’ve walked through the scheduling process step-by-step I’ve learned a far better plan, as have many, many other families we have recommended the book to. 

I did not know how to organize mine and my family’s time. And I was spinning way too many plates to do any of them well.  But I learned so much.  I learned why being in a regular schedule and routine is valuable, why it is scriptural, and how different families can apply these principles in their own home.  This understanding gave me great hope and determination to create a weekly plan that would be a blessing to my husband, to our children, and to my self.  I learned how to be proactive in planning our time instead of reactive; how to not let the urgent take place of the important.  I learned to have the freedom to live on purpose.

First, I took time to analyze all I was doing, all I desired to do, how to prioritize, and how to begin to puzzle together a balanced week for the children and myself Monday through Friday.  I did not presume to schedule my husband, but he was very supportive and excited about our new plans, and he chose to participate when he was home – activities after afternoon naps, during dinner time, bedtime routines, etc.  Now there was time for house cleaning, exercise, Bible study, enough sleep, a little reading or scrapbooking, and homeschooling the children. I had time to cook healthy meals, enjoy quality time sitting on the couch with my husband to talk while listening to music, and I could rest in the fact that all of the things I wasn’t doing at that very moment had a time scheduled for them to happen so didn’t need to worry about it.  And I no longer went to bed every night with many regrets, not being able to remember the last time I simply sat and read stories to our precious children.

Now keep in mind this transformation does not happen over night.  It takes time. With the first draft of a schedule I usually find that I did not allow enough time in certain places, and I need to go back in and create more realistic time frames.  Learning to create these schedules means the development of a new skill.

Sometimes our schedule lasts for many months without change, sometimes for only one month before we would need to make some adjustments.  For example the baby drops a nap and spaces his feedings out more, or the school year ends and summer begins.  I then spend a couple hours at the computer with the schedule template I made to create a new plan and then we’re rolling along again.  I make a hundred choices for our days in advance, and then I am able to rest in those decisions and go with the flow all week.  *smile* This frees up so much time and energy it’s really astounding. 

Both my self and our older children now can see from our schedule on the refrigerator what everyone is supposed to be doing at each time of day, and they swiftly memorize the routine and flow through it.  I can avoid planning two people to be on the computer simultaneously for example, avoid any one child having too much unoccupied time, make sure every one has done all of the most important things for them in their week, and make sure they have balanced time for work, school, play, serving, family, Bible, etc.  I can plan proactively what each person is doing when I need to feed the baby and make sure younger children are occupied with something specific instead of being free to disobey, requiring me to stop feeding the baby to discipline when necessary.  Here is an example of our family’s schedule last year when our twins were born: 

There are also many additional benefits to having a weekly schedule in place. If we go out of town for a weekend (very rarely) then having a plan in place which the children are used to is invaluable to my mother to step in to my shoes for that period of time. It’s also been invaluable when I’ve been on bed rest with a pregnancy and needing outside help in our home, or when we have a baby sitter who is facing managing 9 children while I’m gone. They know what to expect and what the children can and should be doing, for how long, when they'll need to eat, etc.  Or if Bob is managing all of the children if I am sick, things can still flow for him.

Now if you’re thinking of creating a family schedule, I’d like to tell you that there is much to be learned about the reasoning behind scheduling, and about how to fit a schedule to fit your particular family’s needs in order to be successful.  I really encourage people to buy the Managers of Their Homes book and learn for themselves. With the purchase of a new copy you will also have the benefit of participating in the Maxwell’s online help and ideas resources (if you purchase a used copy you would need to pay $10 extra to receive the online help when you need it). 

Blessings on your efforts!

Erika has been married to Bob for 14 years, and they co-author the blog LargeFamiliesOnPurpose together – Erika writes, and Bob is the editor, photographer, and blog technician. They live with their 9 children in the beautiful Skagit Valley of Washington, and are members of a family integrated, Independent Baptist church close to home. Through their blog, Erika aspires to bring hope, vision, and encouragement to others. If you'd like to read more on what their blog is about please read the Introduction in their blog’s Topics List.


** For an expanded, more detailed version of this post including more “how-to’s” **
Please go to Large Families On Purpose post entitled “Scheduling & Routines: You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too, Part 1 of 2.”

Recommended book:
Managers of Their Homes, Maxwell
You may also be interested in reading Erika’s posts:
Scheduling & Routines:  You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It, too, Part 2 of 2
Scheduling:  What To Do With Weekends

Scheduling for Fall - How I Create Our Schedules
Managing My Time

Fall in Love Cloth Diaper Event!

Do you want to win $500 of Cloth Diapers and Accessories?!

The Fall In Love With Fluff Giveaway Event hosted by Daily Mothering and Eco-Crazy Mom is right around the corner! Over 100 blogs are coming together to present this awesome Valentine's Day giveaway from February 1-7, 2012. We will be giving away a Cloth Diaper Prize Pack valued at $500 to one lucky winner!!

This giveaway event is generously sponsored by
Kissed By The Moon and Sandbox Lane,
two super awesome cloth diaper retailers!

Come back February 1-7 to enter this amazing giveaway!

This giveaway will be open to both US and Canada.
Some items will be substituted if a Canada winner is drawn
due to shipping restrictions on certain brands.

For now, here is a sneak peek at what you could WIN!
(Winner will get to choose colors/prints for most items!)

Announcing Modest Mondays!

There can be no doubt about it - modesty is under attack. Whether it is through the media, billboards, stores, and yes - even the church, modesty is blatantly ignored and openly disgraced and mocked in todays society. If a woman or young lady decides to wear skirts all the time, people view them as strange and radical. All of a sudden they have become Amish in other people's eyes, simply because they have on a jean skirt!

It is my desire to encourage and support women that desire to wear dresses and look feminine. There are many different ways to do that - I don't want to set a standard of the "one way" to dress. I do want to provide encouragement that you are not the only one out there in a dress! So, without further delay, I would like to introduce to something new I will be doing with the blog.

Every Monday on the blog you will find pictures of myself or a family member showing a complete outfit with ideas and tips. Sometimes I will take pictures of my daughter to highlight as well.

On the first Monday of every month there will be a Modest Mondays link up, where you can link up a blog post that has something to do with modesty.

Here is the first outfit which is what I wore to church yesterday.

The Maxi Dress is from Old Navy.

 The layering shell from The Modest Mom is a half shell so it made the maxi dress easy to nurse in.

 I wore a black Pashmina scarf that I just got from Zulily. It created a fashionable nursing cover. :)

My vintage black earrings are from the adorable Wired Vintage Etsy Store. 

I'm wearing Black Mary Jane Shoes.

I hope you enjoy Modest Mondays! :)

*If you are looking for modest clothes, there is a coupon code for The Modest Mom available until the end of the month! Save 5% off your entire order with the code: ENDOFMONTH when you checkout!*

Announcing Love Around The Block Facebook Party!

Are you in need of some encouragement? Join The Modest Mom and five other blogs at our first ever Love Around The Block Facebook Party! 
Desiring to walk in biblical womanhood is a wonderful thing, but at times it can get lonely and discouraging as there is little support from the world. We want to inspire, encourage, and promote womanhood as God desires it to be lived out. 
The Facebook party will take place February 7th, starting at 8:00 P.M. EST. 
The topics will be: 
Love of HospitalityLoving Your HomeHomeschool LoveLoving Your ChildrenLoving the body of ChristLoving your Husband  
There will also be hundreds of dollars in prizes being given away at this party! Some of the prizes include a $100 gift card to Vision Forum, Doorpost products, Modest Mom gift certificate, Lilla Rose gift certificate, Handmade Soaps, A custom blog giveaway, and much more!! 
To check out more about the event, make sure to visit the Facebook page here, and "like" all the pages involved in the event to be present at the party! 
We hope to see you there! 

Nursing Pads Review and Giveaway!

I've nursed all of our children for over a year after they are born and I've learned that its important to use high quality items when nursing. I've tried various nursing pads with each child, but it hasn't been until having Deborah that I've found my favorite nursing pads, and I'm thrilled with them!

Admittedly the name of the company is a little funny - Bamboobies! Perhaps you can guess what the nursing pads are made out of? Yes - Bamboo and cotton! These nursing pads are the softest pads I have ever used. When I pulled the pads out of the package they were so soft to the touch that I have to admit I even rubbed them on my face : ) Whats more, I have washed them several times and so far they are staying incredibly soft.

The shape of the pads might leave you wondering if they work well. The daytime pads are shaped like hearts!  I've found that they actually conform to you without the wrinkling and bunching that circle shaped nursing pads can cause.

The daytime pads are incredibly thin, yet extremely absorbent. I've worn the daytime pads at nighttime as well and they work quite well. 

The daytime pads come in your choice of light pink, hot pink, or black hearts. 

I've also tried the nighttime pads which are very thick and soft. They are made with organic bamboo fleece on the outside and organic cotton and hemp in the middle. I don't see how any woman could possibly leak through these! 

Would you like a chance to try these nursing pads? Bamboobies is giving one person a $16.99 credit, which can be used to buy a pair of nursing pads, or it can also be applied towards anything on the website! 

To enter, use the rafflecopter form below.  Make sure and hit the Green Do It! Button for each thing you actually complete! 

Read more »

Resolve to be financially free

image by robin_india22

A guest post by Jaime at Like A Bubbling Brook

It's a new year and with it comes a fresh start, new goals, and clearer vision.

With ever-rising food and fuel costs, many families have resolved to live more simply and spend less.  We made that commitment several years ago, and it has allowed us to purchase a home and vehicles debt-free over the years, even during the "economic downturn" and a period of unemployment. It hasn't always went smoothly, and we've certainly had challenges along the the way, but God has blessed our efforts.  We are committed to re-assessing our spending each year and as life changes happen or expenses fluctuate.  Nothing ever seems to stay the same!

It's our prayer that we can give more generously by living more simply.

Here are five things to consider as you begin a new year:

1.  Pray for wisdom. I always try to remember that it's not my money, it's His, and He's letting me steward it.  How does He want me to spend it?  Pray for His direction and wisdom in this area.  Read what the Bible has to say about money.  There's so much encouragement in the Word!  Pray about what other books you should read or financial advice you should follow.  Pray for the little things, too, like help with stretching your grocery money.  He will begin to give you wisdom in this area if you ask!

2. Get on a budget, or tweak your existing one. Is your out-go more that your income?  Create a budget spreadsheet, use a pencil and paper, or use a well-reviewed software.  We've used Mvelopes for about five years now, but there are other programs available, too.  If you already have a budget in place, then take extra time and tweak what you have.   I've outlined our budget categories (how we spend our money) here.  Call about your insurance rates; can you find a better price somewhere else?  Can you get cheaper phone service now or opt-out of a landline?  Can you spend less on groceries?  Crystal at Money Saving Mom has a series called 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget that's full of helpful tips.

3.  Drink more water. This seems like a drop in the bucket, but those drops add up.  Soft drinks are expensive and unhealthy.  Research indicates that the average American drinks 53 gallons of soft drinks each year!  Cutting them out can save many families $30 or more per month, not to mention long-term health care costs related to diabetes or dental care.  Water is good for you and barely costs you anything.

4. Clear out clutter. Sell your extra stuff.  That waffle maker or espresso machine you haven't used in three years?  It needs to go.  The lamp you bought last year but doesn't really go with your decor?  Sell it.  You can save these items in bins marked "garage sale" for the Spring, or you can list them on Craigslist now.  Go through everything, even the children's rooms.  If you don't want to take the time to sell smaller items, load them in the back of your car and take them to Goodwill.

5.  Organize your paperwork. You'll find that staying organized will save you money.  Lost receipts, warranties, and contracts can slowly drain your bank account, especially when you are watching every penny.  I've outlined our filing system here; you're welcome to use it or come up with your own.  Remember to be diligent about using the filing system after you create it --- file important papers right away.  Looking at a growing stack of papers on your desk can quickly become overwhelming!

Did you make plans to live on less or live more simply this year?  Are you working towards being debt-free?  I'd love to hear about it!

Jaime, a pastor's wife and homeschool mom, shares about simple living, homemaking, and healthy cooking on her blog, Like a Bubbling Brook.   She is passionate about nurturing her family, living intentionally,  and being debt-free.   Join her conversations on Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter.

On the days I'm not blogging....

I have so many things I want to share with you. 

New ideas for the coming year....

Two new link ups coming in February....

More modesty posts....

Recipes.....

And more posts on the postpartum days....

But for now I'm holding my little girl, as she doesn't like to be far away from me for long. 

I bundle her in the sleepy wrap, and we get school done that way. But right now I have to keep up with school, my house, and my family. The blog has to fit in when I can make it. Actually more like when Deborah can allow it. :)

I'll still be blogging. I'm just letting you know if there are days where I'm not here during the next month or two, you know what I'm doing. 

Gazing at this precious face. 

And falling in love with her more and more each day! 

Resolutions on Time Management

Credit

A guest post by Heather of Raising Mighty Arrows 

I write today on the topic of time management, not because I have it all figured out and not a moment of my time is wasted; but rather because when I take the time to write out a schedule, I tend to be more productive and use my time more wisely.

We are all given 24 hours a day to perform the tasks that demand our attention.  How we spend our time determines how much or how little we accomplish each day.  I know, there are times when time is NOT on our side.  We can't seem to get anything done, we're seemingly spinning in circles, or we're just not well enough to get our work done and so we have to rest.

Creating to-do lists or schedules are one way

of improving our time management skills.  Creating a schedule takes little time or effort to do.  In fact, the hardest part sometimes is adjusting our lifestyle to the schedule!

Since there are 24 hours in a day, and generally you need 8 hours of sleep each night, that leaves 16 hours per day to perform your tasks.  Start with asking yourself a few simple questions.

What time will I need to be in bed each night to ensure I get a good night's sleep?  (I know, this is practically impossible with small children.)

What time should I arise each morning to successfully start my day out right?

Let's say you've determined bed time is at 10:00 p.m.  With 8 hours of sleep you should be up at 6:00 a.m.

What time do your children normally start waking up?  What can you accomplish before they wake up?  Bible reading and prayer time are the most important tasks, unless you prefer to do these at the end of the day.  (I say tasks because sometimes it really is more of a task to read and pray than it ought to be.)

Do you have certain cleaning habits assigned to particular days of the week?  Divide them all up and determine how long it takes to perform each job. Always leave room for bathroom breaks, diaper changes, boo boos to mend, meals to prepare and eat, nap times, etc.

Here is an example of my daily schedule.  I created the schedule using Microsoft Word.

	Mommy	Kinsley	Cason
6:00 AM	Wake-Up Bible Reading &  Prayer
6:30 AM	Get Dressed & Ready for the Day
7:00 AM	Computer Time
7:30 AM	Get children up and dressed	Wake-Up Get Dressed & Ready for the Day	Wake-Up Get Dressed & Ready for the Day
8:15 AM	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
9:00 AM	Pre-School	Pre-School	Pre-School
9:45 AM	Begin Cleaning Chores for the Day	Play Time	Play Time
11:30 AM	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:15 PM	Computer Time	Nap Time	Nap Time
2:00 PM	Snack	Snack	Snack
2:15 PM	Play with children/Read Books	Mommy Time	Mommy Time
3:30 PM	Quick Clean Up	Quick Clean Up	Quick Clean Up
5:00 PM	Supper	Supper	Supper
7:00 PM	Give children a bath	Bath Time	Bath Time
8:30 PM	Put children to bed	Bed Time	Bed Time
8:45 PM	Shower/Get everyone’s clothes out for tomorrow
10:00 PM	Bed Time

***No two family's schedules will look just alike.  Currently we only have two young children and they are close enough in age that they are basically doing the same things at the same time.***

All through out the day I do cleaning, playing with the children, etc.  I almost never stick EXACTLY to this schedule, BUT the closer I do follow it, the better our day is.

Ladies, our time is precious and we're not promised tomorrow.  With that being said, make the most of your time and use it wisely, but do not let the schedule rule you.  You make the schedule and you can recreate or break it if need be. 

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."  Colossians 3:23

Heather is a child of the King and in need of His abundant grace everyday. She’s never found Him to give up on her, although she admits He should have a long time ago! Heather has been married to her best friend for 4 1/2 years. They have been blessed with 2 children so far that light up their lives daily. Heather and her family are currently pastoring their first church. You can find her blogging at Raising Mighty Arrows as well as connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. In her spare time she enjoys making and selling handmade soaps for Vintage Handmade Soaps.