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Summer

Living MOMing Summer

Our Go With the Flow Structure Free Summer

Summer vacation is in full swing and I have a confession. I’m not for all of the structured activities that I’ve seen floating  on every one of my social timelines. I don’t particularly care about the “summer slide,” I’ve printed out worksheets but have not policed their completion and probably won’t. I’ve let them sleep in until noon, enjoying the quiet and the break from their rigorous schedules that is our life for about 10 months of the year.

Like every other mother that halfway lives her life on the internets,  is smitten with Pinterest and Facebook groups, and can withstand convos with other moms about how important it is to keep structure over the summer I grabbed those workbooks with lofty goals of having daily work hours and have failed miserably the past three weeks. I may just print off one of those summer bucket lists just to say I did. It won’t get completed either.  However, I have made a conscious effort to make sure we spend time outdoors reducing screen time, that’s about as strong as it has been so far.

They need a rest and so do I.

 

summer fun

To be honest, I don’t remember doing work over the summer. Outside of reading books my summer memories are of playing outdoors, jumping double dutch, swimming, traveling and hanging out with friends. Ever seen those memes where they compare how growing up in the 80s looks compared to now. I have literally spit out water laughing at the stark difference in how we parent versus how we were parented.

Do kids need to be challenged over the summer? Probably

summer fun

Will they perish from ignorance if they aren’t challenged? Probably not, I mean look at me….or not.

summer fun

We’ve been taking it easy these first three weeks of summer. Casually going with the flow and spending our evenings under the water from the hose, taking in late night runs to Sonic for half off milkshakes after 8 and a trip to Ikea. It doesn’t take a lot to create summer memories.

summer fun

 

summer fun

 

summer fun

I don’t subscribe to mom guilt. If my kids start school behind because I let them be kids and do a worksheet all helter skelter as the days of summer pass them by in exchange for a little outdoor fun and relaxation I’ll take the heat. Just remember we all parent differently, what works for one may not work for another and that in no way says anything about the way you or any one else parents, it simply means you do what you want with your kids.

If you are failing at summer structure don’t feel bad girl. I don’t.

 

How’s your summer going?

 

DIY Home Living Our Home School Summer

Summer Vacation Week 8

….sigh. Welp, I know I talked all that noise about being ready for the children to go back to school. While I’m still all #TeamBackToSchool, I just wish they could go back and the activities, homework, social calendars etc. would just hold off for a few more weeks.

We have exactly two weeks until the bell rings and I am running around here like crazy trying to get everything decluttered, painted and in some sort of order. My goal is to have the house done, or rather what I plan on having done completed by the end of this week so that next week I can chill.

This week we didn’t do much, we swam and shopped a little. The baby was in Florida so I think we all just chilled and enjoyed the silence. I went and got her on Friday and the turn up has been in full force ever since.

Speaking of shopping I came across some pretty awesome deals. I was in Michael’s going through their clearance and came across this baby.

The original price was $99. It was marked down by 70% to $30 and then I had an additional coupon for 25% off. I paid $23 for this yellow baby. Isn’t she pretty

Michaels

 

Found myself in Walmart picking up some stuff for the Homework Space and came across this. Was minding my business looking at school supplies when the lady came over the PA system and said, ” All items on our clearance rack starting at 1:30 are half off the red sticker price.” *Glances at my watch* Oh, it’s 1:45 let me go see what I can see.

Saw this. Paid half off $55. Now to find me a saw horse so I can really be a certified DIYer. Husband is concerned about my eyes and fingers. Told him I got this.

Skilsaw

Amazing we’ve been here nearly a year and are finally getting a move on getting the house together. I’m just about done with the hard part of the Homework Space. Now I’m just going around the house trying to repurpose what I can. I’ve found some shelving, a bookcase and a few other knick knacks that will be reworked. The room currently looks like this. I extended the chalk paint above the line that is there. You’ll see the final reveal in a few weeks.

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

I finally decided on a color to paint Addison’s room and the Mr. got to work. He can have that one, besides I ‘m trying to get the Homework Space ready. Here is the before. Just awful

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Disclaimer: This came with the house. My children know better than to write on any wall in here

Mister got up there, bless his heart and thoroughly dusted and wiped down the ledge. I’ll reveal it later this week but as I type this the black is gone and it already looks glorious in there. A hint…the trim didn’t go white.

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Well that’s all I have. Nothing spectacular, but the normal. How was your week?

Photography Summer

Summer Vacation Week 7 – Disney World

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that I need a few more days to get my life together after a trip to Orlando, specifically one that involved visits to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

We had a ball. I surely wouldn’t classify the trip as a true vacation as there was not an ounce of rest to be had but the kids enjoyed it and that’s all that matters.

Prior to leaving, my husband took my car to get serviced to find out what we knew was coming, but was hoping was a ways down the road. Instead of reality being a million miles down the road like we hoped , it was like the words on your rear view mirror “objects in mirror may be closer than they appear”. The object in the mirror was the new car I wanted, just not yet.  I knew it was coming for me but I so desperately wanted to maintain my lead. The MILF mobile, Betsy, Whip, a.k.a. the first car I ever purchased  was on her last leg and after much deliberation and number crunching, sighing, and debating we decided financially it was in our best interest to get a new car….the day before leaving for Walt Disney World. Ughhhhhhh.

Old Car

It took some strong arming and leaving the dealership empty handed, but see the way our credit and faith is set up…. we got a call back the day we were to leave that the car was detailed and gassed up for us. They met the number so we bought the car and headed to Disney.

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Frugal and Fab Shopping Summer Technology

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This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone

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In all my years of blogging I’m not sure if I ever mentioned to you that while I was pregnant with Addison I was prime material for Extreme Couponers. Adjusting to being at home, I was looking for something to do and perusing the papers, blogs and cutting out coupons was my new foray into suburban housewife living. I actually loved it, nothing like chasing down a good deal! I hear you can get some great coupons to faciliate fantastic deals through websites such as Deals4Boomers. They provide a comprehensive range of coupons.

Then Addison was born and I found it and still do find it hard to sit and sift through coupons so I’ve kind of let that hobby go by the wayside although I need to pick it up again.