Free As a Bird

4 Simple Goals June

Awhile ago, like 2010, awhile ago, A Beautiful Mess, posted about making 4 simple goals before 2011. I really loved the idea and I did it too. I kept it up for quite awhile but did it as a monthly thing and made 4 simple goals for me or my family unit.

Since we have moved so much of our life has been a survival existence. Make it through the day, make it through the next. Well, we have been in Nashville for almost a year (*GASP*) and we need to stop and start making Nashville work for us as a family. I'm not sure what all that means, but I'm hoping some order and direction will help make that happen. I'm sure we all have areas in our lives or with our family that we need a little forward momentum. If you need a little help or motivation, share your 4 simple goals and at the end of the month I will check in with you and see how your doing and I'll post how I did here. Accountability! Such a great motivator!!

Without further ado, here are my 4 Simple Goals for June...

1. Re-establish chores for the kids and cleaning schedule for Mom. We use to be great at this but we seamed to leave it in California. 

2. Workout or exercise at least 5 days a week. Doesn't need to be at the gym but get my heart rate up and moving at least 45 minutes 5 days a week. I'm already pretty consistent at the gym but would like to kick it up a notch.

3. Every week take the kids somewhere new. There is SO much to do in Nashville and the surrounding area and we have only scratched the surface. New parks, hiking areas, lake, museums, any ideas?

4. Work on finding a new place to live. Our lease is up end of July for our apartment and we need to find a new place to live. We would like to move ASAP and we will figure out our last month's rent here. We don't live in the safest area and we need a place to call home and that we can rest. Not sure how "simple" moving is but, it has moved to a top priority for all my lists!

Short Version:

1. Chores
2. Exercise
3. Explore
4. Move

That's a good list! I'm excited for June. What goals are you going to be working on?

 

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Tin Can Planter

I love gardening. I really love gardening. And with my current apartment situation gardening outside is not an option, even a container garden. I thought I would have to wait and then I thought maybe, just maybe, a small herb garden on my window sill would be a way to have something green and growing in my life. For Mothers Day, I asked for a basil and/or dill plants. My loving and caring family got me a bag of dirt and basil seeds. (No sarcasm there, they really are loving and caring!)

I decided to craft a pot instead of buying something, cuz' that is how I roll. Stacia is the master of up-cycling cans into useful things and i have 4 or 5 of her cans around the house that I use everyday. Using her craftiness as inspiration, I attempted my own. I had a can of tomatoes in the pantry and the rest is crafting history. I'm not going to post a how-to on the blog because it really is Stacia's thing. But I thought I would share my results.

I used Martha Stewart craft paint in Wet Cement to make the polka-dots on the fabric. Martha paint has quickly become my go to paint for all my crafting needs. I always save the little tray our veggies and fruits come in from Trader Joe's. They make great paint, glue, glitter, general crafting trays. This was a asparagus tray.

Planting my seeds... I put a layer of gravel in the bottom of the can for drainage (drainage is very important!), filled with dirt, sprinkled on some seeds, covered seeds with dirt, watered and placed in a sunny spot. And LOOK!!! They are growing! I really couldn't be more excited to see my little basil plants popping up. Every time I see a new plant growing, I am in amazed by the detail and beauty of creation and the loving care of the Creator.

I'm really happy with how this little project turned out and will be making a whole set for a window sill herb garden.

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Happy Birthday Bouncer!!

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving, caring, sensative, and energetic Bouncer!!

I cannot believe you are 7 years old! Where has the time gone? It has been so fun and amazing to watch you grow-up and I thank God everyday that I get to be your mom! You give the best, most amazing hugs and always know when Mom needs a little extra love. Quick to forgive and everyone you meet quickly becomes your best friend. Always ready to defend others and seek justice in all situations. You are so generous and will give away every dollar you have to someone you see in need. You have a boundless amount of energy and it always makes me giggle watching you bounce around while you watch TV or play a video game.

I can't wait to see what God has planned for you and I'm so blessed to have a front row seat. You have taught me so much with your big hands and even bigger heart. I love you my big Bouncer!!

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Paper & Glue - Some Pages

I really enjoy taking out my art journals at night and doodle, draw, paint, glue, whatever. It's so great for winding down or working out frustrations of the day in a healthy way.

If you have always wanted to try out art this is a very safe, inexpensive way to do it. A great tutorial on getting started is over on Lil Blue Boo. I have a journal made out of a composition notebook and a generic sketch book I got at Michael's with a 40% off coupon. One of things I love is I can try new things and don't feel pressure if I was staring at $25 canvas.

Here are a couple pages from my sketch book. Materials used are sharpies and watercolors (for these I used a $10 set from Target Kid Made Modern). See like I said, cheap!

Painted while watching August Rush. Watercolor and sketched with pencil

I think the most important thing is to just try! If you have any desire to step outside of yourself and do something artistic - just try!! Paint, draw, write music, sculpt, graphic design, baking, whatever, you have to start somewhere, why not start today!?

Nashville I started and Nor added his special touch

This page, I started and then went to bed and left it out. The next morning Nor (he's 2) added his own artistic interpretation of Nashville. At the time I was frustrated that he drew all over it but I know this will probably become one of my treasured pages when he's all grown-up.

 

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Mother's Day!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I didn't want to share here, what we did for Mother's Day till after the big day. Didn't want to ruin the surprises for the Grandma's.

Budget is a big concern for us right now. The move to Tennessee took more out of us than we thought it was going to, so, we have to be careful but I don't want that to mean we don't take time to show people we love them. Another great lesson that God is teaching us!

So using this orginal idea from A Day In My Life we decided to send all the grandma's BIG hugs. We had 4 grandma's to send out our hugs. I adapted it a little bit for all three kids and I think they turned out great! I guess this would also be a Pin'd it! Done it!

I traced all the kids hands on color paper they picked out as their favorite color, the older two cut them out, Bouncer wrote on the cover of the cards, MissE wrote on the inside. We stacked all the hands together and glued them down and added the inside. We had a fun time making them! They are perfectly imperfect. 

We sent hugs and love to our Mom's and Grandma's and I hope they know how very special they are to us!

 

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Around Town Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo has quickly become one of our favorite spots to visit either for a quick trip for just an hour or two or an all day animal extravaganza. No matter how long we go we have to see the aligators for Nor. They have an amazing playground, with the scariest slide I have ever been on.

The membership for our whole family was only $100 for the year and that includes parking and a ton of special events. Really is a great deal for our family.

If you come to visit us, we will be taking you to the zoo!

Goat picture because we always talk about having a couple of goats in our someday house.

Listening To... Phoenix

This is the first Phoenix album I have ever owned and I must admit what drew me to it was it's gray cover with orange and pink on it. My favorite!

Phoenix Bankrupt!

Also, *cough* it was only $9.99 at Target. I was in the mood to try something new and their band name was Phoenix, I use to go to Phoenix every summer to visit my Fancy Grandma and Grandpa Bud, good memories, Phoenix the band can't be bad! Also, their CD title also had an exclamation mark. Have to get excited about that! I wonder how much indie, hipster cred you loose when SAHM's can find your CD at Target? 

Phoenix is not from Arizona but actually from France. And yes, they do sing in english. This is their 5th album and I really have enjoyed their music. Very melodic, fun to listen to, makes me dance a little as I make dinner.

You have heard them before, they sing the song 1901, it is probably in a commercial, but I'm almost 100's positive once you hear it you'll know who I'm talking about.

Have a great day! Be inspired today!!