Things That Are Saving My Sanity Right Now

We survived Valentine's Day!  Enjoyed it, even.  I must confess that it has never been my favorite of holidays.  It feels a little...contrived?  Lee knows he's off the hook with this one because who's to say that he has to buy me roses on a random day in February in the first place?  (Although it certainly wouldn't hurt anything, for Heaven's sake.)  But we all know, when you have zero expectations for a day, it can end up pleasantly surprising you.  Well, except I did have a root canal.  That wasn't at all pleasant or a surprise.  But we had a steak dinner at home (I was careful to chew on the right side) and I worked on feeling the love of the holiday.  I'm still working on fulfilling the rest of my semi-promises, but the red velvet cupcakes were divine.  The rainbows and glitter are slowly returning...

And so, I'd like to share a few little sparkle-inducing things that are saving my sanity lately.  Bullet-style, of course, because it's my favorite.

• The Take 5:  As you know, we homeschool, and while I'd love to tell you that everyday is filled with magical wonderment, my boys are currently 6 & 8 and that is just not so.  So this year it came to me in a miraculous flash...the Take 5.  I told them that at any time of the school day, as long as I was not actually speaking to them, they could take 5 minutes and go anywhere in the house and do anything they wanted.  It can't be technology related and they have to do it alone, but whatever they want to do to decompress is fine and totally up to them.  They might read, play with legos, jump on the trampoline, or just lay there.  They get 2 per day and it has seriously changed our lives.  They love the control it gives them.  I love the calm it brings me.  I suppose it could be introduced into non-homeschooling situations as well.  And believe me when I say, no one has EVER argued if it ends up turning into a Take 15...

My darling Benny, please grow more slowly...you promised.

• The School Snack:  One other major problem we had with our day was someone shouting, "I'm starving!" just as we were getting into our school groove.  I decided to put a plate of non-messy snacks in front of them, along with their water bottles, and it has been a life-saver.  I'm amazed at what they will put in their mouths as long as it gives them a little break from their work.  This is the time to put weirdo fruits & veggies on a cute plate in front of your child and watch in amazement as they consume them.

This is actually a lunch plate, but I am also loving putting the ranch in a festive cupcake holder.  Easy clean-up alert! And they love when we have party food for lunch.  They get that from their Aunt Suzie.

• The Special Handsoap:  This was actually Lee's idea.  We had a problem with the boys pouring entire bottles of Dawn down the drain in order to wash their hands.  Lee suggested filling a mostly empty bottle up the rest of the way with water and letting them use that watery soap for all their needs.  And now I use it all the time.  It is perfect for washing out cups or other things that need a rinse, but that take forever to get all the soap off.  I think it's pretty genius.  He loves reminding me that it was his idea. 

I realize you probably do not need a visual on this one, but here you go.

• Baking soda and vinegar: in all its bubbling glory.  Here's Jillian squirting colored vinegar onto a baking soda covered cookie sheet.  (Thanks Pinterest!  You should really get your own bullet because I'm hopelessly devoted to you.  xoxo)  We even have a baking soda/vinegar rocket that the boys LOVE setting off.

Again I cannot say enough wonderful things about cupcake liners.  They're genius, I tell ya!

And here we have the Afternoon Delight in flight...maybe not as high as I was expecting, but still spectacular.  Ha!

• And finally, the trampoline, which is starting to show its age.  (It is not even a year old, I think?!)  I've even been letting the boys do their reading out there.  Love it!  They think I don't realize when they've long since finished their books, slipped them inside the sliding glass doors, and are jumping and flipping like maniacs for who-laid-the-rail.  They don't realize that I plan this activity as the last thing we'll do for the day.  Everyone's a winner at this game. 

And there you have it.  Some of the nonsense that goes on around here.  The other day, a teenage cashier told the boys that girls really like hairstyles like theirs.  Needless to say, they've both been asking for haircuts.   

 May your weekend be flowery, sunny, and bright...

Thanks Uncle Chris, for our Kinston Indians hats!

And may Jimmie Johnson win the Daytona 500.  

Amen?