Living in Small Spaces

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your family, in order to have a better future.  My family made a 3 year commitment that will bring about much prosperity to us, but with a lot of sacrifice.

My husband and I had jobs, and a nice modest home, nothing extravagant but in a good family neighborhood but we were miserable with what we were doing for a living.  There were always layoffs and companies buying each other out and we kept getting moved around or looking for another place to work doing the same thing.

We also felt like we were not doing enough for others in our jobs.  My husband was probably the worse off of the both of us.  While I was able to be more positive, he wasn't able to.  He felt like he wasn't able to properly help people and was tired of giving canned answers, that he knew, weren't worth much anyway.

So we sat done and he explained to me, that he wanted to go to Law School.  Our son was going on 3 and the work force was looking bleak again.  We knew it was now or never.  Law School is a 3 year commitment and we would have to move.

So the last two years we have been living far away from friends and family and in a VERY tiny 3 bedroom apartment on the university's campus in Family Housing.  Our family room in the house we lived in could fit the whole first floor on this apartment.  The first floor has the living room, kitchen and dining area.  Upstairs, is the one and only bathroom and 3 very small bedrooms.  (BTW being pregnant and having the one and only bathroom upstairs was horrible!  I was seriously tempted to wear depends, TEMPTED! for all you clowns.)  Before we moved, we had to give stuff away and put stuff in storage. We thought we had room for what we did bring up.  BARELY, was the reality.  This apartment was smaller then imaged!

We have had to bring stuff down to storage in Boise to help some.  We have gotten rid of stuff, but it's of no use.  We now have 2 kids instead of one, 2 and a half years of stuff collected plus Law Books!  Well this year, I have to get down and dirty to be ready to move.

Here is the thing, once I sort through things, I have no place to put aside the stuff that is not to be thrown out, until it can make it's way to Boise.  Therefore I have no way to get to other things and we have a mess.  So I discussed this with my husband.   We rented a small storage unit and are going to put things in there to be kept stored, and things that we will use once we move and have space for it.

I am downsizing a lot while we are in this small space.  Kyle has agreed to get rid of some toys, donate some toys, put some away for when we move, some will be stored away for Hailey and some stored for when he has kids to play with.  I have kept up on the kids clothes but that is something I must stay on top of and going to do so again.  Summer clothes that I got that were slightly big on him will be stored until next summer/spring.

I am getting rid of most of my clothing, since I have a totally different body shape since having Hailey.  I have a bunch of new things that I wear now and those I will keep.  This will make so much more room!

On a side note, We are NOT hoarders nor does our place look like anything you see on those tv shows.  We just look like a family squeezed into a small place, tripping over each other.  It's like we are pin balls in a pinball machine and are getting tilted all the time!

I am even moving furniture into the storage unit to make space to walk!  Adding all the new baby stuff, just crammed us up even more!  I am getting rid of the DVD rack and all the DVD cases and putting the DVD's into binders and on to the bookcase, as well as all the PS3 and Wii games.  All the instruments for RockBand are going into storage also since we have no room to sit down a play them in the Living Room.  I kid you not, we have a sofa and a TV and that takes up most of the room!  I had to move out the coffee Table to fit stuff for Hailey and am removing the DVD rack so the kids can have space on the ground.  This place is TINY!

Downsizing isn't fun, but you need to create a game plan!  Map out areas to work on, and start in one area first.  Work on one thing at a time and don't let yourself feel overwhelmed.

Pick a time in the day to tackle an area.  Do not try to do it all in ONE day or set a new impossible goal as your finish date.  Set a reasonable goal, so that you don't feel discouraged or like you are failing.  Setting a goal will help you remain focused and motivated.

Remember some days things will not happen as you planed.  Do not be too hard on yourself and remind yourself, that you can catch up and get things done still.  Be realistic with your goals and your busy life.

Get your family involved, in helping you.  Find things the kids can do to help you out in areas.  If you have a spouse/partner also ask them to be involved.  My husband will be taking out trash, going to the storage unit and when he isn't nose deep in law books, will be helping me out by watching the kids, or going through things too.  Don't feel like you have to do this alone.

Make sure, you pack up your belongings in proper packaging and LABEL everything.  If you use a storage place, make sure your belongings are insured.  Some items do not store well in cardboard boxes, and for them use plastic bins, and/or storage bags, (not trash bags for valuable items!),

On a quick note, have an idea of where you are putting things in the storage unit so if you need to get to them, you can.  Perhaps making a quick map, and making sure there is a path in the middle to walk through and access your belongings.  A storage unit can become a huge mess, very easily and it's best to avoid the mess, as much as possible.

So this is what I will be working on this year.  I made a list of things I need to sort though, and am mapping it out.  Lil Dude is on board and has small tasks to do to help and is excited because it will go towards him earning his allowance.  (He earns so much by how much he does and he loses money if he is does something worth losing money over.)



I can't wait till the days of feeling like a tilted pin ball are over!

TTFN

Meal Planning and To Do Lists

You know your day couldn't possibly get worse, when you start it out by forgetting to grind the coffee beans and/or even add the coffee to the coffee maker when you brew your morning coffee....

It's Monday and right about now I am just grateful I survived last week.  It was our first week back up in the Great Palouse and Panhandle of Idaho.  I admit it is gorgeous and green up here.  However unlike the rest of Idaho, this part is in the Pacific Time Zone.  Trying to adjust back to the PST has been a struggle for my family, along with having a sick lil Dude.

I am never a big fan of Mondays.  The weekends are usually so busy, running around doing things with the family.  Trying to entertain a family and get things done over the weekend can be so hectic, by the time Monday arrives, you just don't have it in you to do much.  But can you take that break?  Oh my, you sure can't.  Your family needs you to help get them ready for the day.  Even on a summer day, they got you running around.

Today was however a big day for my Husband, he started his classes for his 3rd and final year of Law School.  I am super damn proud of him.  His morning hasn't be easy either.  Plus he is trying to make sure he can go back to Boise the first week of September to do a trial, pro-bono.  Pro-Bono work is required and not many Law Students get the chance to go to trial. So far it is looking like he can go.

Kyle's teacher already said he can go, and that means in 2 weeks, we are all headed back down to Boise for a week.  Which means that I need to pack up my family again!  No I am not looking forward to packing and unpacking.  I still and going through things now.

Anyways, I usually try to set up my meal plan and my to do lists on Friday or Saturday for the following week.  This does NOT always happen.  I find it harder to find meals that my family really enjoy during the summer when it is so hot.  While we had the central AC at our place in Boise, they we more open to different meals.  Here in Moscow, ID., we do not have that luxury.  In fact it is so hot and stuff, not only do you not want to eat but you would rather stare at your to do list, then do anything.

I am eager for some cooler weather and for Kyle to start Kindergarten.  I think then I can be more active and will have more time to actually tackle my to do list.

So today, I am keeping my meals, light and simple for my family.  For breakfasts, yogurts, smoothies and granola nut bars, seem to really hit the spot, plus some fresh fruit like grapes or bananas.  Lunches are sandwiches, with cold veggies such as carrots and broccoli on the side.  Dinner, also has been sandwiches, and light fun meals, like little smokies.  I have used my crock pot to prepare meats for sandwiches for dinner.   BBQ ribs or chicken with corn and fresh bread is always a nice meal.  It can be hard to stick to a meal plan but you can rotate things around as needed.  There is no reason to be too strict and not bend things to fit your day and how you or your family are feeling.  The plan is there to help you budget out what you buy, keep track of what you have and helps you have a plan to go by for meals.

As for my To Do List.  I create a few.  There is one with normal daily tasks full of things to do to maintain your home.  I even make a list for my son.  It's simple, such as pick up toys in Living Room, put dirty clothes in hamper, etc.  And yes there is a Honey do list I make, or he makes for himself often.  I love it when he adds, to massage and pamper wife.  (He is a good husband)

 

Steps When Creating A List:

1. Figure out how you plan to maintain your lists, spreadsheets, online planners, etc...
1. I personally use  http://www.cozi.com/ 
2. Prepare a Daily List, a Weekly List, a Major Task List and Final Major Task List.
3. Organize your tasks under each list starting with Daily Tasks.
1. Daily tasks, can be picking up things left laying around, doing dishes, in other words, things that need to be taken care around the house every day.
2. Weekly tasks, can be your grocery shopping, vacuuming, laundry, cleaning out refrigerator, things that have to be done on a regular basis but not daily.
3. Major Tasks, usually are things that need to be done around the home, organizing the pantry, sorting through kids toy/clothes, cleaning out closets
4. Final Major Task List, I wish I had a better name for this list, but it is for those things you can do once the major tasks are done, such as decorating, realizing you need more storage space and getting it or getting more baskets to organize better.  If you are in a small space, getting all that stuff BEFORE getting rid of a lot of stuff, you will have no room to clean things out or you may buy more stuff then you need to organize.  Be frugal and thrifty and keep it simple. (Lessons I have learned the hard way!)
4. By sorting out your lists they are easier to tackle and manage.  
5. Start with your Daily List and move on down.  
6. Do not expect your Major Tasks to be done over night.  Do not pressure yourself.
7. Get your family involved in these tasks and have them helping out.  Kids can do smaller tasks and parts of major ones.  Be creative.

Remember when going through your belongings and your children's only keep in your home, what is being used and what there is room for.  If you have storage space, to save keepsakes, or for another child not yet old enough for some things, store them properly in waterproof packaging not just a cardboard box, that can get wet, or be torn apart or eaten buy vermin.

Later I will post more on how to create more room in your home to store your kids toys, dvds and many other things and share, blogs from some of my favorite Mom's and Author's out there.

A Busy week for a SAHM

You know that saying "Running around like a chicken whose head has been cut off"  That has been ME!  

SOOOOOOOO MUCH has happened this week!!!  I mean SO MUCH!  

Sunday - That was crazy busy fun!  We all had a simple bagel and cream cheese breakfast.  Hailey started being extremely cranky, which later that day we noticed all her drooling and felt her gums and realized, she has teeth getting ready to cut through!!!  The whole family went out to shop for Kyle's friends birthday gift.  Of course Nate and I then grabbed some Starbucks and then drove through KFC for some lunch.  Since we were nearby, we went to the indoor park at lunch and let lil Dude run loose and have a blast.  From there we went to the birthday party.  Nathan and I hung out at this one.  There are a few we hang out at, because we get along really well with those parents and it is usually a lot of fun

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Of course Kyle hung out a little later with a few kids at the bday party that was at this really awesome park with GREAT slides!  I was so glad I had already bought the WWE Extreme Rules PPV and had the dvr recording it or we would have missed the beginning.  I had dinner cooking in the crock pot all day and so it was ready when we got home and sat down to watch Extreme Rules.

Monday - it was freaking snowing and cold and miserable and Kyle had been sick with a cold, so I kept him home from preschool.  I was behind on my meal plan and had to shop for a few groceries.  I was just glad to get that all done.  Oh and balanced check book and paid bills and looked at budget for this month. Oh and we sealed a deal on a furnished apt in Boise for the summer!  We are moving into a one bedroom on May 23rd and then a two bedroom on June 2 until August 11th Then we are back up here in Moscow!

Tuesday - worked on sorting things and organizing Kyle's crafts, all of our books, old mail, pictures, and so much more.  This is ONLY the beginning and next week, I will do more, even all of our clothing. Oh and I got my nails done! ( I do them myself to save on money and time)

Wednesday - was my Birthday!  I am rejoicing and praising the LORD that I made it to 40!!!  Yes I am 40 years old!!!  Lil Dude wanted to stay home from school and spend the day with us.  I am so glad he did!  We went out to breakfast at my favorite breakfast place, The Breakfast Club.  We then went out to Pullman, Wa, to get me my "own" Beyblades to "share" with lil dude!!!  That was a lot of fun.  We ran around all over town and then back to Moscow, Id and the mall there.  We grabbed some starbucks and walked around the mall.  Nathan wanted me to go to Hot Topic to pick out some more earrings for my Birthday!  I found some great ones and guess what, you get a discount on your BIRTHDAY!!  

Then it was lunchtime and we went to Smoky Mountain Grill where I got my FREE lunch for my Bday.  Miss Diva was being super cute and wowing the staff there as was lil Dude. We then grabbed a few things we needed at RiteAid and headed home!!!  My hubby and lil Dude had done a ton of shopping for my birthday and I got to get into my gifts.  I had a BLAST.  

We were debating on where to go for dinner and finally chose Casa de le Lopez.  Holey Moley it was Margarita NIGHT!  We went early at 5pm but it still was full of tons of people with lots of large parties!!!  We almost left but we did end up staying and enjoying our meal.  Yes I wore the sombrero while everyone sang to me and got some free fried ice cream I shared with lil dude!

Now Kyle received his first wallet from his grandparents for graduation this week with a few dollars, which he added his allowance too and really wanted to buy something with it.  So we went shopping and Kyle bought this block Angry Bird game for kids, which we all had fun playing that night!

Thursday -  we got the news we had been waiting for.  We knew there were three places all very interested in having my husband intern there for the summer.  Well his adviser emailed them all to let them know whats up and find out the decision.  Now Nathan and I were both up at 6:30am with Miss Diva.  He checked his email and saw that around 7am, the Public Defenders Office in Boise had emailed requesting more information.  Since he was up, he sent it right out.  By 7:30am they called offering him an internship and wanting him to get there ASAP.  They also of course talked down the other places interested in him and promised him he would even get to do a trial  himself!  Of course Nathan accepted this!!  Plus this was his FIRST CHOICE!  

This was when our day got crazy.  There is so much that goes into getting a limited license to practice law before the BAR gives its finally approval.  We had already gotten the Dean to approve it and now needed to fill out an app and get it notarized and get paperwork for who will be his supervising Attorney and send it out to them to get it signed and notarized and forwarded to the Bar!  

Now that we had a date for Nathan to be there and had a better idea of where in Boise he would be working, we had a ton of things to confirm and do.  We didn't have a choice in waiting to rent out the apartment because there was a waiting list behind us and they wouldn't hold it much longer.  There were a couple places we looked at but chose the nicer one with a fenced in area around the apt for Kyle to play outside, plus a gym and pool and other services.

Well this meant I had to scan a ton of paperwork and email it back to the Boise YMCA to register Kyle.  Contact the cable company to see if we could suspend our services while away, find out what to do, to knock down the electric and gas bill while gone and other things.  I ended up on the phone, online and got those things confirmed!  

Then Nathan and I had to GRAB a STARBUCKS! (do you see a theme for us?) Go to the bank to have paperwork notarized, for Free since we bank there!  We also went to the school where Kyle will be attending Kindergarten.  We needed to drop off paperwork to register him and Nate had never been there yet and so we walked through the school.  I am super excited about this and infact already joined the PAT there.  I know a couple of the parents already!  Kyle was one of a few chosen to go there, who did not have older siblings already attending.  I am so thrilled Kyle was selected!

We also had to get to the DMV again!!!  I finally got the email notice that they released the hold on my car so that I can register it!  I printed out the email, to bring with me, since it said the DMV would call to get the number to confirm the release instead of giving it to me to give them.  Oh the woman at the counter was annoyed but called.  LOL  I am just glad it is done.  I prob will want to use the car this summer.

We also had to grab a pair of dress sandals for Kyle.  I didn't want to buy dress shoes that he would only wear once and grow out of before wearing again!  However sandals he will wear often!  We were so hungry from running around, that we managed to grab food at The China Buffet.  I was so glad to get home after all this and unwind!  However with a baby and 5 yr old, how much unwinding can one do?

Friday - Kyle's Pre - K graduation!!!!  Oh yeah!!!  He got all dressed up and looking good.  I still need to post the pictures but been too tired and busy!  (go figure) There were a couple things we had to grab at Walmart for Miss Diva and figured we would make a gift baggies of goodies and a gift card for lil Dude for graduation.  

Yes we did GRAB a Starbucks while we were out and about running errands.  We got the teachers these gorgeous flowers that they can plant somewhere.  

We got home and "tried" to take a nap but Miss Diva wouldn't have it.  Her teeth are really trying to push through and she is cranky!!!  Yes we are using teething tablets and amongst other things.  

Then we all packed up and went to see Kyle graduate from Pre-K!!!  It was so fun and Kyle was so excited when he saw us there!  The teachers each had something to say about each child and I loved what they said about Kyle.  "Kyle is very much a family man and is always telling everyone about his mama, and daddy and baby sister, he also drinks 6 glasses of milk a day, because when he grows up he wants to be a wrestler!"  That is so lil Dude!

Lil Dude gave his teachers the flowers and we gave Kyle his bag of goodies.  Of course he wanted to spend the gift card on something for today. So we went and he got a hulk mask and fists to wear for today!

I was so glad that dinner was once again cooked and ready in the crock pot!!!  

By 8pm Hailey was asleep and the rest of us crawled into bed and watched WWE Smackdown or at least tried to.  We all fell asleep within an hour.  Lil Dude was snoring before Nate and I dozed off!

Today - I got some sleep since Nathan was up with Hailey (we take turns every morning or we both just get up).  Breakfast was simple.  Often Nathan makes us a cheesy egg breakfast on Saturday or Sunday, but not today.  

Kyle woke up excited and anxious to go and see The Avengers today.  This is part of my Bday gift and Kyle's graduation gift.  We will get there a bit early.  Since the indoor park is right out in front of the theater, we will eat a lunch there and let Kyle play until it's time to go in to watch it.  

Dinner tonight is leftovers!!!  We have stroganoff and cheesy ham and potatoes to choose from.  YUM!!!

I am so glad that Nathan didn't have any finals this week or I would have lost my mind trying to do all this by myself! Next week he has a ton of finals.

And I have a ton of house work to prepare for moving this summer!  So glad Nathan helped with the housework this week!!!

So there you have my week.  If anyone DARES say that SAHM's do nothing they can kiss my ass!

By the way best tool I have found online to organize everything from appointments, to do lists and meal planning is www.cozi.com