Trick of the Trade–Keep Your Fonts Straight

First world problem here.

I have an unhealthy love of fonts.

So much so, that when I’m putting something together and am pondering which font to use, I can’t even grasp my favorites because I have so many.

Here’s my solution…

WORD FILE WITH FAVORITE FONTS

I keep a word file with an alphabetical list of my favorite fonts IN the font so I can readily see it. This way I don’t have to sort through my other fonts I use seldomly in the font drop down. I just open the word document and quickly scroll through to spot the perfect font for said project.

Here are my non-script faves…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my script favorites…

Menu Plannin’ Monday 6.9.14

Monday – Sesame Chicken Stir Fry Salad

Tuesday – Taco Chicken Bowls

Wednesday – Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps

Thursday – Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Friday – Turkey & Pesto Paninis

Saturday – Southwestern Chopped Salad

Sunday – Warm Goat Cheese Salad

In an attempt to keep the blog rollin’, I’m going with imperfection. Sorry, no recipes for some, just couldn’t find them. But drool over the others, ready….go! =)

Friday Favorites–Polident, Wall Tracks & Toilet Wands

#1. Polident

First off, yes. You read that correctly.

It says polident, like the old fizzy tablets your grandparents used to clean their dentures at night.

It’s still me writing the blog, not an 80 something year old Grandma. Although my daughter did just recently utter the words, “Mommy, here’s your teeth!” while running up the stairs with my RETAINERS!

Anybody else wear these every night?

That is not actually MY retainer, I just pulled a pic from the interwebs. I wouldn’t dare show you mine!! It has a gray stain where I’ve got a ghetto old filling. How EMBARRASSING!

Cue: eye roll akin to Eep from the Croods

Anyone else get sick and tired of BRUSHING them old school style? My husband mentioned trying polident, semi-jokingly and I simply refused on principle. Then, I came across this Pinterest post that said you could use polident to whiten your nails. I thought, well, why not. It’ll serve 2 purposes!

And guess what? I tried whitening my nails with them. Meh.

BUT…the ease of cleaning my retainers! It’s seriously…heavenly.

#2. hot wheels wall tracks

Santa MAY have gone overboard buying Hot Wheels wall tracks for my son’s room, but boy howdy am I glad he did! They’re so cool! I read a whole bunch of reviews and they were all pretty good, so I figured I’d give them a go. They work like a charm! And it simply uses command strips to adhere them to the wall. Pretty much everyone that comes over likes playing with them.

#3. Clorox toilet wands

Not much to be said here, other than, makes cleaning the toilet easier and much more pleasant. Who wouldn’t want that? Love these bad boys!!

Thoughtful Thursday–Return the cart

Okay. This is a major pet peeve of mine.

Shopping carts left either hitched up on a curb, or simply out in the parking lot. I have MAYBE hitched a cart up at Costco WELL out of the way of a cart “stall” as well as any car MAYBE 3 times in my life. Other than that, I always bring it back. Raining, 2 whiny children, whatever.

This isn’t a rant blog post, allow me to explain.

I’ve heard the excuses. They have someone who specifically works at the store, that is paid to go around and collect the carts (this excuse certainly was not uttered by my husband, no!!). I’m sorry, have you ever heard of common courtesy? That’s why they HAVE the cart stall! For you to return it, so your cart doesn’t unexpectedly try to escape and ding up a fellow shopper’s car.

All this to say…other than returning my cart out of respect for the store’s employees, I have discovered yet another reason which is even more special! Read and listen closely…

LITTLES ARE WATCHING!! AND THEY WILL COPY!

I want my kiddos to display that common courtesy. And we all know that being selfless simply does NOT come naturally. So any and every opportunity I have to display that for them, I’m going to do!

One of my absolute favorite “common courtesy” things my son has picked up on is wiping down the sink in public bathrooms, and picking up any paper towels that miss the trash (WITH another paper towel mind you, thank GOODNESS he learned that from me, too, otherwise, EWW!). It WITHOUT FAIL, makes me smile each and every time I see him do it. It’s a baby step mind you, but it’s a step. It’s a glimmer of hope that he has it in him! =)

So, will you think twice before leaving the cart? What other ways do you model to your kids other common courtesies?

Trick of the Trade - How to Apologize

I don’t know how apologies run in your household, but in mine, it frequently involves a mean-spirited “Forry” (that’s right, they can’t even take the proper time to enunciate the word sorry) blurted in the siblings face and then they proceed to run away in the opposite direction.

No seriousness, no actual meaning behind it. I generally work to get some sort of authenticity behind said apology, often times with a hug instead of words. But there are many times when it simply does not seem worth the battle.

Quite frankly, because the child simply is not sorry. *sigh*

About a month ago I came across this article on Cuppacocoa.

I’ll let you read it over there, PLEASE do, it’s amazing and has great examples of how to teach your children how to properly apologize. But in a nutshell, it has the following guidelines for how to properly apologize:

I created this to put on our refrigerator, as well as one upstairs in the hallway. We just used it and went through why for the first time after my daughter hit my son, for…no apparent reason.

Here’s how it went down:

I’m sorry for hitting.

This is wrong because it hurts people.

I can make it right by kissing brother’s ouchie.

In the future, I will keep my hands to myself.

Brover, (again with the pronunciation, although I am kind of in love with this mispronunciation!) will you forgive me?

That simple! I might even have to use it for myself when I find myself in a place where I owe them an apology. Anywho, I know I’ve been absent from the blog for quite awhile, but I just had to share this and need to remind myself that my blog doesn’t have to be about perfection, simply sharing things that help me as a wife and mom. So, I hope this helps the pitiful apologies in your household turn into something a bit more…sincere. =)

An Easter Tradition…You’ve Been Egged!

While I’m very hit or miss when it comes to my blog, I enjoy seeing some of the traditions that we’ve been consistent with. This is one we’ve done the last 2 years now, and this year will be our third! In our new house! We hit our first house today (scroll down for pics), and will do two more tomorrow (weather permitting).

Anywho, here are the FREE printables we use for our secret endeavors…and scroll down to see the excitement we had the previous two years. =)

Here’s what the print out says (it’s a bit tricky to read it as is):

Look at that, you’ve just been EGGed!

But do not be alarmed!

We came, we dropped, we ran away!

Your house, it was not harmed.

 

“Why the egg?” you ask right now.

Why this Easter surprise?

To spread the news that Christ is risen,

Some eggs lay in disguise.

 

Some secret friends have dropped them by

To share some Easter cheer.

So now you’re it! It’s now your turn!

To “EGG” a house that’s near.

 

Christ has risen from the dead!

Jump, dance, shout and sing!

Celebrate along with us,

Let His praises ring!

Have fun finding the ____ eggs hidden in your yard!

 

Here’s your challenge:

1. Keep your sign on your door so those around know you’ve

been “egged”!

2. Then, fill some plastic eggs with candy, toys, or small notes

of encouragement.

3. Pick a friend or neighbor and scatter the eggs in their

yard when they are not at home, or under the safety of

darkness (If they don’t have a yard fill a basket and put

it on their doorstep.)

4. Tape an “You’ve Been Egged” sign to their front door, and

leave this note on their doorstep.

5. Enjoy the joy that comes with the spirit of Easter!

To print online go to:

http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2014/03/an-easter-traditionyouve-been-egged.html

And look how fun…my kiddos from the past two years, then this year!

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