What is a WorkBox?

I had only recently heard of this term "workbox" in homeschooling, but after looking into it, I realized I'd already inherently done that with my children as they grew and I used similar methods as a teacher.



So what is a workbox? Well, from what I've read the supposed creator of workboxes is a woman named Sue Patrick. (I always hesitate when people say they originated or created something, because really? As if no one did it before you?) But if it's on the internet it must be true. Patrick has a website where you can find information about workboxes and how she says to do them. http://www.workboxsystem.com/

From what I've surmised, you have the child's daily work to be completed in the boxes. You can apparently learn more from purchasing her book, but I've not yet had the opportunity to do that.





The blog Confessions of a Homeschooler has a video about how she does her workboxes. http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2013/01/workbox-system-video-tutorial.html

Watching her video makes me consider doing these boxes, but I do not do workboxes right now. I did do one version in which I called it a "Brainy Box" that they had to complete in order to earn screen time for the day. Since we do not do non educational screen time during the week when school is in session, we actually do not need it now.

For me, I just think I couldn't physically put the workboxes where I'd like in such a way that would work for us. I like to have the books we use sorted per my liking, and my boys use folders to keep loose papers and know what is ahead for the day. H has a student planner from Well Planned Day, and this will be his first year with it, so it remains to be seen if it helps him organize any. He may turn out to not be as organizationally obsessed as me, and never use it! But we shall see!

Secondly, while I like the idea of workboxes, I do not like the idea of having to prep all that stuff every day. I find it taxing enough to prep weekly or monthly, and I like to leave an element of flexibility to our schooling. I know my kids enough to know if we have things in a workbox that say, do this and you're done...I'll never get them expanding on that. I like to sit down and work with them on most things, especially E as he is not yet reading independently. I can definitely see the appeal of workboxes as your children get older. But right now, the idea of nightly going in and pulling worksheets, etc just seems exhausting to me.

So, I'm glad I have heard of these nifty tools, and I'd love to hear if anyone successfully uses them in your work and what age/grade your students are in. Maybe you will convince me to give it a try!!

~~Amy

Pinterest Inspiration: Rain Gutter Shelves

I had seen the awesome rain gutter shelves on Pinterest for awhile now. There are several great tutorials including this fun one:
http://www.fairlyfabulousblog.com/2012/01/rain-gutter-book-shelf-tutorial.html

The only thing I did different was I had Home Depot cut the gutters for me. At first they were hesitant until they realized I meant the vinyl gutters, not the metal ones. The gutters come in ten foot sections, so I had them cut them in half since I was using a fairly large wall space (where a bookshelf had formerly stood).

I had to run BACK to home depot to get the brackets because I didn't remember to get them the first time, I am the most un-handy person ever, despite my crafty skills, so I wasn't thinking of how to actually get the gutters ON the wall. Hey, I can only be so many shades of perfect at once...

This is also a two person job because one person needs to find level and hold the gutters while another screws the brackets in. Maybe you can do it alone...I'm not that awesome.

Anyhoo, we got it going, and thankfully the gutters slide while the brackets are up because I didn't factor in our hall door when I put them up, so we slid the gutters down a tad so the door would open fully. Again..not a handy lady...

But it's DONE! It frees up floor space, and is very visually open. The books are facing out so children can see choices, and it's much easier to change up the book selection for seasons, themes, etc. My kids still don't read as much as I'd like them to, but this encourages them to just grab a book whenever. I'd like to make a cozy spot on the floor that folds up so they can just grab a book and settle down.

I have one more gutter and I'd like to put it in the boys room to hold books for nighttime reading, but haven't decided if that's what I want to do. I think they'd also be great cut into smaller pieces for bathroom storage, craft room storage, garage storage and more!

I still have to say, Pinterest makes my life so much easier!!
~~amy

I'm Bored

Soooooooooooo tired of hearing "I'm Bored" already. My boys are being weaned off the video games they have grown too accustomed to and are having difficulty learning to adapt. So I created a list for them to refer to. It's also helpful for me because I usually just say, "Find something to do" Well now they can concretely refer to the list.

Feel free to share :)


Bored List2

40 Bags in 40 Days??

So perhaps you've seen the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge floating around blogs and Pinterest for awhile? Well, perhaps I shall try it....

However, I am a realist and I know there is no way on God's green earth I'd do it in 40 days. So I'll use the 'tagline' but let's be honest, it may take me 40 weeks...

1.Bathroom Cabinets
2. Our Closet
3. The Fabric/Supply Closet
4. The yarn shelves.
5. The fabric shelves (arranging for inventory)
6. Master bedroom dresser and nightstands.
7. Bookshelf in LR
8. Toy Shelves (AGAIN)
9. TV Entertainment Center
10. Kitchen Pantry
11. Kitchen Food cupboards
12. Kitchen Dishes/Utencils Cupboards
13. Bill Paying Desk
14. Cleaning Supplies under sink
15. Guest Bathroom Cabinets
16. Hall Pantry
17. Boys Closet
18. Boys Dresser (clothes and on top)
19. Under boys beds
20-21. *shudder* da, duh, duuuunnn The Sewing Room CLOSET
22-23. Drawers (all) in Sewing Room
24-25 Work Table area in sewing room
26-27 Sewing Table in sewing room
28-29. Cricut/Paper Table in sewing room
30. Computer Desk
31. Garage Freezer
32. Kitchen fridge/freezer
33-38- Garage
39. MY CAR!
40. One last sweep through house.


This is for my house, my needs, so we shall see what happens!! It may take me an entire year but I am forever purging, this will help keep me focused I hope!! :)
~~Amy

Ten Minute Cleaning Attempt

Hey gang! You know I'm forever trying to streamline my life here! Well, I had been told about the  10 minute cleaning method once before by my dear friend Dee and I am going to give it a go again! In fact, I suspect I've blogged this before..but, eh, it's my blog, right? :)

I'm not 100% sure the true method or where it came from (I'm gonna guess flylady), but here's my take on it:

I am home most days, much of the day except grocery day. So on the at home days (except the Sabbath), I will do 10 minute cleaning every hour throughout the day. It doesn't sound like much but what I figure is if I do it from 9-5 every day, plus a pre-bedtime pickup, that 90 minutes of cleaning a day, but it won't FEEL like that.
Now what can you clean in ten minutes? Glad you asked!
Here are some of the things I'll keep a list of to keep me motivated!

Load and Unload Dishwasher
Wipe down cabinets/counters/tables.
Vacuum
Dust (preferably before the vacuum!)
Sweep and Swiffer (with my handy resuable pads from MicroMops!)
Bathroom Cleaning
Take Out Trashes
Sweep Patio, pick up backyard
Pick up Toys, Straighten sofa, etc.
Wipe down Appliances
Load/Fold/Put Away Laundry
Clean out Car


The list can go on and on. You just basically take the daily chores that need to be done to keep your home tidy and do them in bursts. Set the timer for ten minutes. What doesn't get finished, doesn't get finished until the next session.

I am hoping this will help me because I work from home, so I really do need that structure to get stuff done in a timeframe. I tend to be easily distracted, ok, VERY easily distracted and need something to remind me of the tasks at hand!!

Does anyone else try this method? Have you? Do you have a different method of cleaning and keeping a home? Please feel free to share!!
~~Amy

Year of Living Frugally--Purging and Cleaning

Hi all! While I don't really do New Years resolutions, I do like the changes a new year can bring, the clean slate, refreshing yourself and home.

I've continued my living frugally, cutting coupons, shopping the sales, stockpiling my pantry/freezer/fridge and I've made some nifty organizing/cleaning improvements :)

****Kitchen Organizing:
Print these freezer and pantry inventory forms from Organized Home. Instead of writing directly on the paper, I put the papers inside a clear plastic sheet protector, and write my inventory on them with a dry erase marker, and store the paper on a clipboard above my chest freezer.

****Kids Room Organizing:
My boys room has always been a disaster because they have bunk beds and until recently, my youngest was still in the crib. But he has successfully moved to a big boy bed so it was time to move that crib out. Doing so opened a huge part of their room and thus made a nice book corner for them :)

My boys also received a moon lamp from their grandma that shows the phases of the moon. Naturally it comes with a little remote that of COURSE is required to make the moon work. So, I decided to find a way to make sure they don't lose the remote.

Now if only I could find a big enough piece of velcro to use on the boys when they get outta hand...just stick 'em to the wall!!

What's new in your cleaning/organizing/frugal world??

~~mama

Operation Simplify 2010--WEEK ONE

I'm one week into my Operation Simplify. So far so good!!
I've created a schedule for me to keep things in line. I've only deviated slightly due to weather or children's needs! It is very helpful having a specific time to work with Eli and it helps remind me NOT to goof off on the computer!

For my goal of cooking I've been working on slow cooker, crock pot recipes.
This week I've tried a few and here's what I think:

Baked Potato Soup:
I loved it!! I shared some with my best friend who'd just had a baby, and my niece who was in the hospital with her baby with pneumonia! My husband didn't really like it but he's a wuss and doesn't like soup. The kids didn't like it because, well, they are uber picky!

Gumbo:
Okay while I greatly appreciate her effort, this recipe needs major work. First of all, it needs WAY more spices. Creole seasoning, salts, peppers, SOMETHING. Seeing as the blogger is NOT southern, it is totally understandable that this was left out. :) Also when I did it her way and put the rice in, it ended up being a gumbo mush. Like rice/gumbo/risotto. So I'm going to try it again but make the rice separate and put the gumbo OVER the rice just like you're SUPPOSED to do with gumbo. There is no roux required but I might try to do one also. Overall the taste was good...just needed a kick.

Overall I'm digging using the crockpot--when I actually do remember to turn it on, it works great! :) Now to train the hubs to clean it up every night, how come kitchens aren't self cleaning!

How is your Operation Simplify going??

~~Amy

Operation Simplify 2010

So, another new year is upon us. I do not actually 'celebrate' the new year, nor do I make New Years resolutions. My year actually starts in the fall with the Hebrew calendar, but January first is a great time to try to get the ball rolling.

For me, I want 2010 to be the Year of Simplify. Nice and vague, eh?

Photograph: SusannahTucker.etsy.com

What does this mean? To get started, let's define Simplify: 
A verb, used with object, "To make less complex or complicated; make plainer or easier: to simplify a problem.


Isn't that what life is supposed to be about? Enjoying family, friends, the SIMPLE things in life?


So how does one go about starting something like Operation Simplify? Certainly making lists, tons of goals and plans really defeats the purpose now doesn't it?


So I shall start small and make mini goals in all aspects of life. 


January's Goals:

• Simplify Cooking: Crock Pot meals, using leftovers, if it takes longer than 30 minutes prep I don't wanna do it!
• Simplify Selling Online: Focus shops on the things that do sell, and be ready to abandon ideas that don't pan out. 
• Simplify Schedule: Plan 1 playdate/park trip per week for kids!

Anyone want to join me in Operation Simplify 2010? What ways do you want to make your life more simple and in turn more enjoyable? 

What simple and easy things in life do you enjoy?

I plan to share little tidbits and simple solutions to ways you can enjoy your new year also!

Be Simple!

“Our life is frittered away by detail ... simplify, simplify.”

 Henry David Thoreau