Our loss, what I’ve learned and a personal challenge to you

lion2

(Josh and Andy holding a 6 week old baby Lion this past summer)

If you have noticed the past month I have been a little absent – especially the last week, I want to apologize. Our family has suffered two losses recently and we are trying to work through everything to find our new ‘normal’. Andy is not my son’s biological father. He is proof that a father is much more than just blood and a last name, but rather than the love between a man and his child. I am very thankful not only to him, but to his parents, sisters, aunts, uncles and to his grandmother for bringing us into their families and loving us. I know that this is the place and these are the people that we belong with.

Earl and Carolyn 2

(Andy’s Mom and Dad. This was taken on the last day he was awake and able to get up and move around. I feel so blessed that we were able to get pictures taken that day!)

But the past week has been hard. Andy’s dad, Earl, lost his fight with cancer on January 31st. He was strong, funny, honest and true to his faith. He was a man of true talent, a loving heart and he would drive you crazy shooting the moon in Euchre. The love that he shared with his wife was inspiring and has set the bar high for my marriage with Andy. I’m sad because my son has lost a wonderful role model, Andy has lost one of his best friends and I have lost someone who I have a lot of love and respect for.

The day of Earl’s funeral we got a phone call that Grandma Mary (Earl’s mother and Andy’s grandmother) had been admitted into the hospital. She was one of the sweetest women I have met who loved her family and God more than anything. She also loved shopping and getting great deals at Kohl’s so you can see why we got along so well! She has suffered through health problems of her own as well as suffering from the loss of her son a few days prior. She was a true hero in the eyes of her family who worked hard raising her children, was there for each one of her grandchildren (and great grandchildren and even great, great grandchildren) and worked hard to shine God’s love on each person that she met. If you asked her about her dialysis she didn’t grumble about being there nine hours a week, instead she would tell you about the friends who she had met. She is a true example of a Godly woman.

Earl and Carolyn 18

Today we laid Grandma to rest. During both services, for Earl and Mary, the same thought has crossed my mind – look at all of these people. Look at the influence, the impact that one person has had on so many people. And while I watched people come and go at the viewings I thought about the impact that they have had and will have on my heart, but I couldn’t help but think what kind of impact am I making on the people I meet? If something were to happen what would people have to say about me? Would I have made the impact that I wanted? It was a true reminder that I needed to evaluate myself and to set my own kind of personal goals.

I’m so privileged and glad that I got to meet these amazing people. I think both of them have left a wonderful legacy with their family and I hope that I can carry on their love, compassion, and zest for life and make the world around me a better place.

So while this may not be a Mom Challenge this week, it’s more of a personal challenge. Think of the legacy that you are working on. Is it one that you would be proud to leave?

       

Bloggy Conference (part 1)

I’ve been in Cincinnati the past few days at Bloggy Con! Oh my gosh. Honestly, first of all let me just say that I felt so honored to even be in the presence of such awesome women (and a few great men!). It was seriously a group of really talented and really caring people. I learned so much and so much fun. I am so thankful for the new friendships I made!



The first day at Bloggy Con we listed to key note speaker Phil Hollows (Twitter: @phollows). He started the company FeedBlitz. His speech was so motivating!

This is my favorite picture I got of Phil! He was telling us how when he started his company and then Google became his competition. Those would probably be my thoughts exactly!! His whole speech was about believing in your company and yourself and how you CAN accomplish what you set out to do! It was great!
I also listened to Andrea Deckard (@SavingLifestyle) talk about turning your brand into a business. She’s a great business woman!! If you haven’t checked out her sites before you must! They are Saving Lifestyle & she is also one of the great minds behind Savvy Blogging!
Allison Kulage (@BareKnuckleMktg) is a SEO genius and a great presenter! I’m so techno-stupid but even I was able to understand!! A HUGE thanks goes out to her for that!!
We went on a few speed dates – this organizing session was a MUST hit for me!!
And then guess where we went?
Yeah! We went to Johnny Rockets!!
And we had the entire restaurant to ourselves! It was a giant Johnny Rockets Blogging Twitter fest! 🙂
Our Dream Board
Tricia was my roomie! 🙂 You can visit her site here. Seriously she was a hoot!
Mother and daughter bloggers? How cool is that?
I told you giant Twitter fest!!

The food was SO good! If you’ve never been to Johnny Rockets before — you HAVE to go! 🙂

Nathan Engels (@weusecoupons) aka Mr. Coupon with his fries. If you have never been to his site you must — visit it here. He’s one of those BIG time bloggers – and was one of the nicest most down to earth people I’ve ever met! In fact I stole him on Thursday to try to learn all of his secrets. I really did – I held his swag bag hostage in my hotel room until he told me all kinds of stuff. LOL – no the truth is he got the bag for his wife and didn’t want to carry a Pink Thirty-One bag (they were SUPER cool!) as we walked downtown to Johnny Rockets! 🙂 But I did make him give me advice for it back!!

Johnny Rockets isn’t just food – they dance!! All the servers did a great job! (those poor people had no idea when they were going into work that they were about to get their photos/videos take and uploaded onto 150 women’s blogs!! lol)

And the bloggers couldn’t be left out of the fun — so they got up and danced too!!
Honestly, it was so much fun! I know this is probably picture overload!! I’ll tell you about the rest of the trip tomorrow!! If you haven’t been to a blogging conference I really recommend Bloggy Con! It was informative, fun and while there were a lot of people there it was still small enough where I felt like I was able to talk and connect to everyone. (Almost I think I missed a few people! BOO!)
If you went to Bloggy Con – what was your favorite part?? I thought Johnny Rockets was a blast! Fun and I got to chat with everyone! 🙂

       

Have you ever held a lion? Been kissed by a camel?

Happy Monday! 🙂

 

Just a little weekend update – I have to share because we had so much fun. This weekend we went to Stapp’s Ranch. It’s about 20 minutes from our house and so much fun!
It’s a mini zoo – lots of rescue animals and LOTS of babies!
Plus you don’t jut walk around and look at the animals. Most of them you get to pet and feed.
That is a 6 week old African Lion. Isn’t she adorable?
We tired her out so we let her nap and went on to visit the other animals.
Josh fed the mama
Oh my gosh this guy was so funny. His name is Oscar – he is a year old. He walks over, sizes Josh up.
Sizes Andy up.
Smiles at the camera.
Josh goes to pet him and…
Oscar kissed him on the cheek!
Bwhahaha. In case you were wondering camels are sloppy kissers!
Check out the horns on this guy!
They sure do love corn!
There were so many animals (and if I thought you all wanted to see the 100 photos I took trust me I would post them!)
So we tired out a lion, fed a buffalo, got kissed by a camel and slobbered on by a long horn (they are messy eaters!). All in all, it was a great weekend. How was yours?

Amanda

       

I may be in some trouble…

This was Josh’s first week of school. And yesterday he came home with his first ever journal prompt. It was “Hopes & Dreams for the new school year”.
Alright. So I read it.
Last year my favorite thing about school was: I really liked recess.
Last year the thing I liked the least was: We took lots of tests.
This year I am going to work on: I want to be the most popular kid in school.
Illustration:

Me: Josh who is this a picture of?
Josh: That’s me. (points to the boy in the middle)
And those are 2 girls who are in love with me because I’m so popular.
Me: Oh.
Funny? Yes. But at the same time I want him to know popularity isn’t everything! I don’t want him to try to be friends with the wrong people!
Moms…any suggestions?

*Update: He’s 9! 🙂 Thanks for all the answers – keep ’em coming! 🙂 They are so appreciated!!

Amanda

       

How I do it: Part 3 Meal Planning

Part 3 already
If you missed part one (download my free daily planner)
or part 2 (download my free cleaning schedule)
You can click on the links above!
FOOOD. Meal planning has saved my life. Perhaps that is a bit of an overstatement, but it certainly helps. I already told you I write all the dinners on the Calendar at the beginning of my book. But at the beginning of each week I also put in a weekly meal planning calendar. This is by far, the least fanciest thing I’ve got! Just a warning!
Yes it is pretty boring. But it’s got all I need. A spot for the date and then the 7 days of the week, plus a column for stock. I’ve got a box for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts/snacks. And a box for groceries.
I try really hard to cook from scratch – it’s so much cheaper and more healthy and not to mention lots of things are just as easy as pouring it out of a box! So when I make something lots of times I will double a recipe and freeze half of it. Cook once and it’s done! So that’s where the stock column of my meal plan comes in handy.
Here’s my meal plan for this week. You can tell I usually don’t plan lunches (we either do left overs or make sandwiches) And I usually don’t include sides with the meal – just the entree. Then depending on what we pick up at the Farmer’s Market becomes our sides.
I DO make my own bread. It’s easier than you think. This week I made English Muffin Bread. It makes about 3-4 loaves. I keep one out for toast, use 1 loaf to make a big batch of French Toast (see it as one of the breakfast stock items?) and freeze the other loaf for toast for next week. It’s super easy to make – I’ll share my recipe with you next time I make some! 🙂
Next week I will make just a daily loaf of bread. It makes 2 loaves and I do the same thing – keep one out for this week and freeze the other loaf. Simple and SO good!
I always try to make a double batch of breakfast items and freeze half. That way I’ve got breakfast cooked for next week! So this week I’m making a double batch of pancake mix and that big batch of French Toast. I’m not a morning person so to have breakfast pre-made is a HUGE help. Especially during the school year!
On Tuesday I made Meatball subs. And so I made a huge HUGE batch of meatballs. Meatballs are the best to have in the freezer – sandwiches, pasta, lasagna, pizza, or Josh likes them just plain.
Tomorrow I am making a chicken tortilla casserole. I’m already doing the work so I may as well make 2 casseroles instead of 1. Then if something comes up later on, we get home late, or I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to cook – no worries. Dinner is done.
In my book, I keep track of my daily blogging stuff. I realize not everyone that reads this is a blogger so I’ll be super quick. (IF anyone is interested in knowing more about these items please let me know!) I have a blog post planner. Each sheet has enough room for 2 planned posts. There is a spot for the date, post title, SEO, any internal links, follow up ideas and ways to promote it. Plus a few other boxes. (Do you like my motivational topper? lol)
I also have my blog stats page. I still need to tweak this page a little. I fill it out every morning for the day prior. I’ve got spaces for my blog (followers, page views, unique visitors and subscribers), Twitter (followers), Facebook (likes, share, weekly reach), Pinterest (followers), Blog Frog and any company I may have any affiliate links with. I check each morning for any money (really, lack thereof) that I made and I write it in the bottom box. Stats aren’t everything, but it is important to know what they are for when people ask about advertising and talking to sponsors. I check once a day and that’s plenty for me!
And that’s it. My planner book (I think I need a new name!)
It has:
4 monthly calendars
5 weekly cleaning sheets
5 weekly meal planning sheets
31 daily planners
31 blog post planners
and 31 blog stat sheets
It’s a lot. But it’s all here. All customized to me and saves me SO much time in the long run!

Amanda

       

How I do it – part 2 – Cleaning Schedule & printable

It’s day 2 of sharing how I get organized. If you missed day one you can find it here (it’s where I shared my daily planning sheet – free to download and print! Good stuff!)
Well today I’m going to share the rest of what is in my life saving book. That way if you want to construct your own planner you can – and feel free to customize it to your needs! That’s the whole reason I made my own instead of buying one! 🙂
Alright First off I have 4 Calendars for the month. Right up front. Why 4?
Well…
Calendar 1: Meal Planning Calendar. I write down each night’s Dinner while I’m planning it out.
Calendar 2: Monthly Blog Calendar. I write down things like what advertising ads need to go up, what the daily post will be about (although it changes all the time! I need to be better at keeping to my schedule!) I write down Twitter parties, guest blogging. Basically if it has to do with this blog it’s on my Calendar #2.
Calendar 3: My deep clean calendar. Yes. I have one. I hate to clean. But I worked my butt off to get my house to a point where I can clean for about 20-30 minutes a day and never have to worry about unexpected company dropping in. I don’t ever want to go back to the 30 minutes and people will be here, if they are on time and not early, and the house is still a mess and I still need a shower way. More on my cleaning schedule in a bit.
Calendar 4: Here it is. The family calendar. Summer camp dates, doctor’s appointments, birthdays, parties, bills. It’s all here.
Next in line is my weekly cleaning schedule.

I list my daily cleaning items.

1 load of laundry – start to finish (finishing laundry is the hardest for me. I like to either keep it in the dryer – and keep resetting the dryer OR fold it and keep it in the laundry basket. Don’t ask why putting it away is the worst it just is)

Make the beds

Pick up the clutter

Clean up the dishes after each meal

Clean up the counters/table after each meal

Then, I have a schedule (told you I’m completely a type A person..with a little OCD. I’ll leave it at that so I don’t embarrass myself).

Monday: Master bedroom

Tuesday: Bathroom

Wednesday: Josh’s room

Thursday: Living room/Hall

Friday: Kitchen

Saturday: Outside

Each room has a few specific chores that I do in it. We have a small house – just 2 bedrooms and 1 bath so it works out that I just have to do one room a day.

And don’t forget that calendar! So today. Today was Tuesday. I did my daily items and I cleaned the bathroom. (Yuck). On my cleaning calendar I have things listed that are more deep cleaning things that maybe don’t get thought of too often. Today it was clean the shower curtains. Check. (Tomorrow is clean the washing machine in case anyone cared!)

If you want to download and print my cleaning schedule go here. I made sure to save it in a way that you can change anything on there and personalize it the way you want!

Come back tomorrow for more on my planner – and I’ll share about how to have the easiest meal planning system EVER!

Amanda

       

How I do it – Getting organized my FREE printable planner

It all started with me asking on Facebook if anyone was interested in my July meal plan menu. (You follow me on facebook right? You should! I love chatting up new friends!)

Anyways.

I started typing it up and I found myself trying to explain things. So I thought it would be easier to just start from the beginning. Here you go.
How I do it. Mind you I am no expert. There are probably a million other (and many better) ways to do things. This is just how I do it. Maybe you will take a few ideas and make them work for you. Or perhaps you will share a few things that work with you so that I can intergrate it into my daily plan.
Follow on Facebook and over at The Blog Frog to chat with me and moms all over the country! 🙂
Here’s part one. I plan. I am most defintely a Type A person. I need lists. I love the calendar on my computer and phone but I NEED pen and paper. Ask Andy. I have notebooks all over the place.
See this stack. This is my planner (excuse the binder clips I haven’t made it over to Office Max to get it binded!) Did I mention that it was for 1 month? Yes, that’s right. That is my planner for July. Now just know that before I was a ‘blogger’ my planner was no where near this big! 🙂
That’s my daily planner. Here’s a closer look.
Obviously, the date goes up top. Then I have my daily reminders. Just things that I need to do and a reminder that I am blessed!
This tiny part of my planner has transformed my relationships! I swear by it! In the top right hand corner of my planner I have a spot where I write down 3 small acts of kindness to do – one for my husband, one for my child and one for myself. Somedays I write things like write a thank you note, play Skylanders, paint my nails, pick up Andy’s favorite buffalo chicken salad at the store. Just something small. But it makes sure that the people I love the most know they are valued and that I care!
Here is where I keep track of my water (by the glass) and my fitness (by the minutes). I also focus on a different body part each week to work out. For example this week I’m focusing on arms.
Today is a special day – I write down things throughout the day that make it rock. Not only does it ensure that when Andy gets home I don’t forget to tell him something important, but it is a great way to make sure I stay positive. If I’m having a really crummy day where nothing seems to be going right I have this empty spot. I can’t just leave it empty – it makes you think what is one awesome thing that happened. I also write in birthdays/anniversaries here. Plus, it’s nice to be able to look back at the week and see all the cool stuff that has happened.
Needs to be paid – Boo. Bills. I hate them, but they are a part of life. If I don’t write down call in the electric bill I will forget.
To accomplish today – Here it is. Finally my to do part of my planner!
A look ahead – Just what it says – a look at things to come.
Get in contact with – people to call, email, meet up with. I also put in Twitter parties! #ihearttwitter
Ideas and inspirations – any new ideas for home decor, movies to watch, blog post ideas. You name it I probably write it down!
Daily Cleaning – I have to stay accountable. If not, well, I end up on Pinterest and before I know it I look at the clock and realize Andy will be home from work in 30 minutes, I’m still in my pajamas, I’ve gotten nothing done and dinner is still in the freezer. True story.
There you have it. My planner. It’s nothing fancy. But it works for me. I need boxes to fill in, things to circle and more details than a from the store planner. If you are interested in a copy of my planner you can download it here for free!
I print mine at Office Max for 10 cents a copy and they will bind them up for you too.
“How does this fit in with meal planning?” you may be asking. Well, stay tuned. It will! Tomorrow will be part 2 of How I do it!
What are some must haves for your planner?

Amanda

       

Our Florida trip…

It’s such a dark and rainy day today so Josh and I have been hanging out – playing Scooby Doo Monopoly, doing laundry (well I’ve been doing laundry) and I’m going through my pictures. We took a trip to Florida in January and on a day like today I wish I could go back! Ahh the beach..
We stayed in Venice with my grandparents. If you are ever in the area you should go to Mote’s Aquarium. It’s really cool.
We also went to Disney World but I’ll save those pictures for another rainy day! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!!

Amanda