Author: xantismom

“The air was fragrant with a thousand aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows.”

― William C. Bryant

per·fec·tion

/pərˈfekSH(ə)n

noun

1. the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.

A while back someone mentioned to me that they were going to take a break from social media. They continued by saying that when they spent time on social media, they felt as though they were not enough. They were struggling to keep up with housework and take care of the kids.  That’s the reason for this post. I want YOU to know YOU ARE ENOUGH. I am guilty of using filters.  I do some creative cropping. However, this is our real world. It is far from perfect, yet it is perfect for us. Your world is perfect too.  It is ok to have mismatched clothes. It is ok to have bed head and sticky faces. Realness is perfection. We are all enough don’t let those flawless accounts fool you.  Don’t cheat your own happiness  by comparing yourself to others.

How many times a day do you get on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest and look at all the “perfectness”? Is that even a word? You might notice the sparkling clean and freshly decorated houses. Bright shiny faces with dazzling hair and perfectly matched clothes. How about those at home chefs preparing and serving meals that are magazine quality. Is this reality? For some maybe. However, I would say that most things displayed on social media is just that, a display. There are an amazing amount of “picture perfect” performances going on out there. Let your reality, be your perfection.

When I make a post on Instagram or Facebook, I do it for me. It is my “journal”, my “look back log”. I don’t post it to make someone feel less or to compare my world to someone else’s.  I might have a few good pictures with bright shiny faces and adorable outfits, but mostly I have day to day shots of our life. As a homeschooling momma, life is quite busy. Between lessons, field trips, co-op meet-ups and sporting activities our days are full. My house is somewhat neat and organized most of the time.  However, it is in need of a pretty good deep cleaning at this moment.  I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and the commencement of my annual cleaning frenzy. For the time being it is not Pinterest perfect and that is ok. I am still going to take too many pictures. When I see a photo op,  I am going to take it. My child will not be dressed in his finest attire. You should know, my son wears jogging pants and graphic tees 99.9% of the time. Let’s be real, most days he runs around without a shirt. I am pretty sure I say   “please put on a shirt” 10 times a day. Rarely is his hair combed. On those days when I want to grab a picture of a special event or project I always double check to make sure he is at least clothed. As for the hair, let’s be real, he is eleven. I also take care of a little girl. She is what we affectionately refer to as a “threenager”. She is the perfect combination of cuteness and sass. She has been in my care since she was a baby and is pretty much part of our family. Most of the time she has Einstein like hair and cinnamon on her cheeks. Between the two of them we usually have books strewn about, toys in window sills and socks stuffed in baskets and jars.  I am positive that I am not the only individual out there who is maneuvering a mess to take a picture. We all have messes. It is ok.

Basically, I just wanted to share that no matter what is happening in your little world it is perfect and real for you. I want to encourage you to share. Post those amazing shots of block towers, Lego creations and first bites. Post those memories of  making spaghetti, burning the sugar cookies and wearing those watermelon helmets. Enjoy the messes and imperfections. Keep your own “look back” log. I promise that one day in the future you will look at one of your posts, probably the one where the kids are covered in mud and boogers, and you are going to smile. You will be glad that you saved that memory.  Don’t worry about what others are thinking or doing. Enjoy life. You are enough.

Take care of you,

Kim

Early one morning, before everyone else was awake I saw a vision of those three monkeys. You know those “see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil” monkeys. That’s when it dawned on me. Sometimes in life we deal with critics and naysayers. You know those people who tell you that “you can’t do it” or “you’re not good enough”. Then there are times when the biggest critic and naysayer is yourself. Been there, done that. I’m my own worst critic. I do it without even thinking. When those times arise, you need to squash that negativity like a bug. The thing is. I would never speak to my family, friends or even strangers the way I have talked to myself. You shouldn’t either.  As of late, I’ve been working hard to change my demeanor. Everyday words and actions impact your life. Negative self-talk will bring you down so fast. As I work on this there are a few things I am doing to change. Which brings me to those monkeys, just in a new light.

See You.

Be confident in yourself. Look at yourself and see the awesome person you are. Don’t compare yourself to others. This is a biggie. What is that old saying? Comparison is the thief of joy. Be joyful.  Be your own person. Wear that crazy hat and plaid pants. Color your hair purple. YOU BE YOU! You are responsible for yourself and your happiness. Believe you are strong, and you are strong.  Believe you are smart, and you are smart. Open your eyes and look at your awesomeness. You are astonishing. You are marvelous. Repeat this and believe this. If you can’t change something you see in yourself then you need to accept and learn to love it. If you want to change and can change, then do it.

Speak you.

Talking to yourself is fabulous. There is nothing wrong with it. Really. Some of my best conversations are with me.  Yes, I have been my own worst critic, but I am learning. I am stepping outside of my box. I am making the difference. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s not going to be easy. Just give it a go. Start by saying “I am fabulous”. You can say it out loud or you can whisper it to yourself. Say it, mean it.  Compliment yourself.  Be nice to you. Say the words you need to hear, not the words that will bring you down.  Be courageous. Congratulate yourself on being awesome. There are a wide variety of positive adjectives out there. Use them. Say them. Scream them.

Hear you.

When you do have that conversation with yourself, listen. Really listen. Say the words over again. It’s important.

If you’re like me and have been critical of yourself. Stop it right now. It’s not nice. Try a new approach. SEE YOU+SPEAK YOU+HEAR YOU=LOVE YOU.

It matters. You matter.

Take care of you,

Kim

Is winter kicking your butt? Do you have a case of the blahs? I’m not sure about you, but I absolutely have hit a motivation blockade of epic proportions.

January has not even come to a close and I’m on the struggle bus going nowhere. I started this blog on the first and had every intention of doing two-three posts a week. I had my notebook of ideas. I had my Blog 101 notes at the ready. I even had back up posts pre-written. Then came life. It came at me in the form of doctor appointments, lesson plans, peri menopause, and an epic snowstorm. They all kicked me back a few paces.

So here I am today sharing some thoughts and ideas to overcome those Winter Blues.

1. Enjoy the “Beauty” of a winter. The snow clinging to tree branches. The icicles sparkling in the sun. The bright crimson cardinal sitting blissfully on the fence.
2. Get outside. Yep! Go on! I know it’s cold. I know you’d rather be warm and cozy inside. Just listen to me. Go have some outside fun. Breathe in the fresh air. Get a little Vitamin D.

Yesterday, for example, our family ventured out in the frigid weather and went to TopGolf. TopGolf is a high-tech driving range that has heated bays, but when the wind is fierce, and the snow is falling, it is cooooold. It was fantastic. We all had a great time and lots of laughs.

3. Discover a new hobby. This year for Christmas I was gifted jigsaw puzzles. I forgot how much I enjoyed doing a puzzle. During the recent snowstorm I sat down and spent some time working on a 1000-piece gem. If puzzles aren’t your cup of tea, how about paint by numbers, Legos or crocheting. There is a whole hobby filled world out there. Go for it!!
4. Get up and move!!!!! Inside, outside, upside down. It doesn’t matter, just move. I like to put on the soundtrack to Mamma Mia and dance around my kitchen. Not only does this lighten my mood, but it is a great source of amusement for my family.
5. Last, but certainly not least, go ahead and “Spring Clean”. Sort, organize, throw away, donate. There are plenty of resources out there that can aid you in the process, give you ideas and motivate you to get it done. Crank up the music, gather up boxes and trash bags and a have a blast. Your house will be a bit cleaner and your mind will be refreshed.

These are just a few ideas to get you through the next couple of months of frigid temperatures and cloudy skies.  Here’s to delightful hot chocolate and simple pleasures.

Take care of you,

Kim

Starting at noon today our area is under a winter storm warning. Yesssssss!  I for one am excited.  I love snow.  The forecasters are predicting anywhere from 8 to 12 inches of frozen fluffy goodness. It has been quite a while since we’ve seen this much snow. There were a couple of days of snow in November where a couple of inches covered the ground. Just enough for a snowball fight and maybe build a miniature snowman. However, today’s snow brings hope of giant snowmen and snow bomb battles. Whoohoo!

In anticipation of said storm, grocery stores are bombarded. Bread, milk and eggs fly off the shelves.  The amount of French Toast consumed must be exponentially higher during inclement weather.   In our neck of the woods, our road crews are hard at work days before the snow hits. Generally, roads are cleared fairy quickly and we are not “snowed” in.  Until the roads are properly cleared and treated, stay home. Let those road crews do their job, they can get it done quicker and more thorough if we stay out of their way.

What should you do on a snow day? Relax. Enjoy the sense of peace that a good snowfall can bring. Step outside and take a deep breath.  Grab a magnifying glass and get up close and personal with a snowflake. PLAY.  Read a good book. Heck, read a bad book.  Snuggle (my favorite). Later today or tomorrow I am hoping to bundle up, get out and take some pictures. I am looking forward to throwing a few snowballs at Noah, and of course dodging some from him.  Hopefully, we can build a snowman. Our snowman gear is ready for action. I’m looking forward to making some snow cream just like when I was a child.   It is my intention to just enjoy myself and let nature run its course.

Warm wintery wishes on this Friday morning!!!

BE SAFE!!

Take care of you!

Kim

Like many, today is our first day back to the “grind” following the holidays. We’ve had just over two weeks off in our home. In those two weeks we have put on our lazy pants and have chilled. Too much snacking, too much TV and not enough movement. This morning I am hopeful that our school time will be “on point” and not hindered by our lack of activity as of late.

I am taking some advice from fellow homeschooling mommas to help us ease back into our daily routine. As this week is quite busy, we are going to take advantage of our few days that we are home bound. Today, fortunately, is one of those days. I’ve decided that today is pajama day. We get to stay in our PJ’s all day. We are not going into the day with full force. We are taking it easy, and having a little fun. We will do Reading and Math, as assigned, but Science, Grammar and Spelling are going meander off the path slightly. I have added in some entertaining videos and captivating experiments that both the kiddos will enjoy. I’ll admit when I filled out my planner this weekend and I went “hog wild”. Every subject was filled in with copious amounts of assignments. Even the specials had an over abundance of work . What was I thinking? Noah would look at me like I grew two heads. After careful consideration, I did a little restructuring.

Reorganizing our space also took priority. I did this on Saturday. We have what we lovingly refer to a “scloset“. We do not have a school room since we never used one when we did have one. Some days we sit on the bed, sometimes the dining table and if the weather is cooperating we will take it outside. Our “scloset” holds all our books and supplies, neatly and out of the way. The last few weeks before the holidays we took to throwing everything but the kitchen sink in our limited space. I threw away old papers, sorted and filed work for Noah’s portfolio and I restocked supplies. I also gathered all the curriculum that just wasn’t working for us and put it out of reach. Our space is now ready for the remainder of the school year.

Our extracurricular activities, Tae Kwon Do and Ninja Warrior Classes, started back last week. That helped with the transition back into reality. Especially since we had to add in a couple of extra appointments this week. Tuesday, we will take our schoolwork on the go. Taking grandpa to physical therapy, followed by a cardiology appointment, means our day is full. I planned around those activities knowing it was already going to be a challenge. Wednesday, our CO-OP group will meet at the Library. Noah and I are both looking forward to getting back to CO-OP time. However, this means creative planning had to be done to ensure we will not fall behind in our regular courses.

The best advice, which was given by several mommas, was to “Give yourself grace.” It’s a transition time for the whole family. Careful and creative planning will help with balance and harmony. However, grace will enhance the outcome.

To our homeschooling family and friends, I wish you the best “Back to School” week ever. Remember, take it easy and give yourself grace.

Take care of you,

Kim

Good morning. We are now a few days into the new year. With each new year comes an abundance of self-improvement visions. We all have them. Some of us more than others. One of my habits is list making.  I am pretty sure I have reached “Queen of the TO-DO List” status. I read once that people actually remember things better when they write them down on paper, rather than when they type them on a cell phone or a tablet. There is always a scrap of paper, a legal pad, a paper towel, the back of a grocery receipt lying around with a list scrawled on it. My most used spot for a list is usually the palm of my left hand.  Shawn always tells me to put it on my phone, but I guess I’m a little old-fashioned. I like the feeling I get by scratching off my accomplishments. It helps me stay organized, somewhat. This is my own “control the madness” method. I’ve learned that by creating lists and following through I am less stressed and I manage to get all my “stuff” done.

You see, I am a stay-at-home mom. A domestic goddess. The CEO of the Clouse House. I am a teacher, mediator, chef and chauffeur. I spend my days guiding an 11-year-old and wrangling a three-year old.  I am busy.  My way of controlling that busyness is by making lists.

As January commences, I find myself faced with a boatload of activities that need to be prioritized. I’m sure you do, too.  Right from the start this new month has brought new challenges to work through.  For instance, my bonus dad, who has Parkinson’s, has driving restrictions.  Generally, I drive him to his monthly doctor appointments. This particular month he has been ordered into a physical therapy program. It will be four days a week for four weeks.  His neurologist gave him PT orders that are outside of his driving range. Priority number one this month, find a PT that offers the specialized therapy within his driving circle.  This jumped to the head of my list since it would affect every other item on my list. Could it be done? The Challenge was accepted. I was determined to find a PT close to home.   I’ll admit the thought of having to load up the kids and doing schoolwork in a waiting room was overwhelming, as well as, a driving force.  That was the first thing on my list yesterday.  High priority, top of the heap, “nothing else gets done until this is settled” kinda thing.  Guess what? Yep, you guessed it. Mission accomplished. Not a whole lot was accomplished yesterday, and that is okay. Priorities, folks. Priorities. Sticking with my list, getting things done.

There are daily, weekly, and monthly lists. These are the most prevalent in my home.  Currently, I have a legal pad with all three types in progress. I also have a menu/grocery list in progress. In all likelihood, I could have a list to organize my lists. That might be a bit much.  Shawn often refers to my “lists” as OCD.  I say it’s good time management. 

All the main “to-do” lists have the same secrets of success and the same basic anatomy.  To understand the anatomy of a “to-do” list, you should start at the top, or the head, and work your way down. So lets start there, at the beginning.

1. Sit down the night before and write down everything you can think off that needs to be done the next day. Now grab that red marker and mark off those things that are not necessary. Choose 3-5 things you need to do the next day. Look at the list and decide if one of those can be done now. If so, do it.  Don’t forget to add phone numbers, addresses, emails, etc. This will save you a few minutes the next day.

2. Prioritize the list. What HAS to get done? What can wait? Understand the difference. You want to take on that list strategically. Do what is most important first. To keep yourself from stressing out and feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to be focused. If there are things you can do the next week, then do them next week. If you don’t need to think about it for a few weeks, put it on another list for future reference.  Do only what has to be done. If you get more things done that are not on your to-do lists, then you are winning your day and you are a rock-star.

3. Be flexible. Everyone knows that crap happens in life that we just cannot control. If you can’t get it done, tack it on to tomorrows list and move on. It is OK.

4. Finally, always, and I mean ALWAYS, include “ME” time to your list. This is extremely important. Take time for you. Read a book, take a bubble bath, do yoga, hide in a closet and drink a delightful cuppa jo while listening to Michael Buble’. Whatever your jam is, do it. Seriously, this is the most important step in this process.

Making a list is not for everyone. You might just use a calendar. You might just fly by the seat of your pants. You do what works for you.  Todays list for me includes:

✅BLOG

✅NINJA WARRIOR CLASS

✅GROCERIES

✅LESSON PLANS.

It’s time to get moving.  Have a fantabulous day. 

Take care of you

Kim