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Write it Down and Check it Off

May 7, 2012
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Good morning!

How was your weekend? Did you get to do a fun family event?

Last week we talked about having a command center in your house and many of you wrote to us or commented on our Facebook page about what are the must haves at your center and how this is so important in keeping everyone on the same page. Today, we are going to take it one step further and talk about to do lists and keeping yourself accountable for what happens each and every day – the fine details that make the events on your calendar happen.

My challenge for you today is to create your to do list and write down everything . Get it all on your list so you can visibly see what you must do today and what can be put off until tomorrow.

I know you are a busy mom and have a million things going on in your life, my goal is to help simplify your day and give you the encouragement that you need to know you can do this. These are tools and systems for you to make your day as successful as possible.

Maybe you have newborns at home and need to keep track of when they are eating and how much, which can be an overwhelming task on its own.  Never mind remembering you have to finish packing for your upcoming day trip and that the dog needs to go to the groomers.  And if you are a mom of toddlers or preschoolers, play days and outings control your life, so writing down the grocery list and everything to pack for the park can take the stress out of the event.

We have helped you to get started by creating a to do list which you can print to help you stay on track and focused all day long! Click here to download it and start writing your list.

Another tip for keeping your to do lists successful is having them all in one place so they don’t get lost.  Tearing it out of a notebook to take with you is great but what happens when you go to look for it and can’t find it?  For me, using the fold and go organizer helps keep all my lists in one place.  It also allows me to keep a pen and paper there and add to or create a new list if I am out and about.

My goal is to help you stay focused and less stressed in raising your twins. Having your to do list handy and up to date is so critical in making your days run smooth and not be so chaotic.

Good luck and have a productive day!
Kristen

Remember – when your list is complete, leave us a message in the comment section so we can share in your excitement of having a productive day!

 

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Kristen Russell is a work at home mom and elementary educator who spent the last 11 years   educating children in public and private schools.  She is a down to earth mom who exposes how important quality time and values are along with how to make learning a fun experience for both the children and parents.  She is transitioning from teaching in the schools to one of the best positions in the world, staying a stay at home mom, one bag at a time.

 

Follow me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thedoublescoop

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Where is Your Command Center?

May 3, 2012
By

Good Morning!

home organizer 166x300 Where is Your Command Center?

How many times do you hear or say the words, “don’t forget, we have to do this today” or “remind me when it gets closer,” or “I totally forgot about that”?

As a mom, and more importantly, a mom of twins, it is impossible for you to remember everything for everybody. There is just too much in a day to think about everything, no matter how hard you try, laundry, cleaning, dinner menu, homework, appointments, bills to be paid, diaper bag stocked and so on. It is enough to fill an entire wall in a house, much less just your brain.

Being a mom means you have many jobs and roles.  You are the maid, chauffeur, accountant, chef, and event planner (especially on rainy days and weekends).  And just because you are a role for one, doesn’t mean you are the same role at that moment for the other twin.

So how do you stay on top of things? Where is the command center in your house?

For us, we use a hang up home organizer, creating a central station where we have our calendar, dinner menu, bills, and important notes and happenings for the week is how we all stay on the same page. We have one place where EVERY thing is located so nothing gets lost or over looked. Our calendar has all appointments, meetings, and play days on it.

But then, what about the last minute changes, those things that change frequently or pop up at the last minute. Well, thank heavens for post it notes – stick them up, move them and they don’t lose their stickiness!  They are just perfect for any changes that come up.  You can also add milestones your twins accomplished and the date they did it.  Now, no event will ever be forgotten and you can look back over the years and remember when certain things happened.

Having a clearly visible calendar and planning system is key in keeping you a sane mom who doesn’t feel like a chicken running around without a head!

Busy moms, who work or stay home, need a central place where their entire family can be on the same page.  This is huge for creating a unified family where everyone is involved and participating in each others events.

I know you and your family can create this command center in your house.  Good luck and when you are done, comment in the comment section to let us know how it turned out!

I believe in you – you can do it!

Kristen

 

k pic 150x150 Where is Your Command Center?

 

Kristen Russell is a work at home mom and elementary educator who spent the last 11 years   educating children in public and private schools.  She is a down to earth mom who exposes how important quality time and values are along with how to make learning a fun experience for both the children and parents.  She is transitioning from teaching in the schools to one of the best positions in the world, staying a stay at home mom, one bag at a time.

 

Follow me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thedoublescoop

Tweet with me on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/thedoublescoop

Pin me on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ksquared31

Google+

When in Doubt, Follow Your Heart

April 30, 2012
By

Good Morning!

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun or different?

 

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In today’s article we are talking about road trips and how to plan and prepare for them.  Making sure you have every situation covered and thought about makes trips as easy and fun as they possibly can be, for everyone involved.  Having a list is critical so you do not forget things and make sure all parts of your trip are covered.

Having family all over the east coast requires frequent car rides and road trips for us.  Some we can do at the last minute and others require time and planning.  This past weekend, we decided last minute that we were going to travel north and visit family in Freeport, ME.

As a mom, I immediately went into planning and thinking mode.  Found every available notepad and paper to start my lists of what to pack.  Four year olds are much easier to pack for than a baby but like any mom, I need to be prepared for any situation that arises.  I quickly had lists of things to pack for the car, activities for when we were there, and food the twins would eat throughout the day.

It is a two hour drive for us so we know that entertainment in the car is a must.  Each twin has a back pack and picked different things to pack, both for the car and when we arrived.  With some parental guidance and help,  one backpack was full of trains, tracks, and markers with a Mickey coloring book.  The other was packed with stuffed animals, princesses, and more markers with a pony coloring book.

We had a thermal tote on the back seat filled with car snacks, water bottles, and organic lollipops.  The trunk had bikes and helmets, so we could take advantage of the great weather and sunshine.  We all needed to get some energy out after such a long drive.

Once we arrived, we had lunch, lobsters of course for the adults and chicken nuggets for the kids.  We played outside for a while, riding bikes, hunting for the cats, running around, playing monkey tag, and resting in the hammock.  We went inside to take a break from so much fun and played with trains and princesses, then colored and had a snack.  Thinking, good thing I was prepared for this break!  We were prepared and there were no meltdowns, success!

After a really fun afternoon and knowing there was another two hour drive, we decided to head home.  On our way out however, we knew we would be passing LL Bean and downtown Freeport’s Main Street, full of outlet stores and shopping.  We decided to stop, for just a couple minutes, to take advantage of some sales that were happening.  But, I wasn’t really prepared for this detour, I didn’t have dinner anticipated or entertainment while we were shopping.  And true to form, I did a little panicking, and thought the dreaded “what if” questions.  Well, four stores, dinner, and two hours later, we realized it really was time to go.  But this time, we were not prepared and there were also no meltdowns, another success!

We weren’t but five minutes in the car and both twins were sound asleep in the back.  The drive went by fast enough and we carried two sleeping kids inside and got them ready for bed.  It was bedtime for mom and dad almost immediately after the twins went down, knowing a super fun, family day was had by everyone!

The lesson learned by this day: being prepared does pay off, but sometimes, going with the flow is just as important!  So when in doubt, follow your heart.

Have a great day!  And please tell us your travel and day trip adventures – we are waiting to see you there!  www.facebook.com/thedoublescoop

 

 

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