Author: shesipscoffee

I am a 40-something, single, working mom who surrounds herself with a motley crew of family and friends. Here is my place to share musings, discoveries, learnings, and stories of my zany life. I am blessed to continually learn and love sharing with others. My quiet time centers around large cups of coffee. While sipping this manna from God, I get inspired and motivated. So grab your cup and sip with me. Love and blessings! Michelle
Fall Fashion from Avon
Posted in Family

31 Ways To Embrace Self Care This Fall

Posted on by shesipscoffee

The weather is changing for many of us. Cooler mornings and evenings and a new mood fills the air. This is a magical time where for many of us the leaves are going to burst into color and the temperature goes from hot and humid to jacket and sweater season. Fall is my favorite time of year. Many people are posting bucket list ideas that include their favorite activities which got me thinking. Bucket Lists are often filled with self-care ideas. So as we move through October, I encourage you to try a new idea every day. Maybe spread it out through the whole season.

DAY 1: REFRESH YOUR WARDROBE FOR FALL by picking out some cozy sweaters, a new top in the season’s color, or even a few pieces of jewelry. Sometimes the easiest way to lift your mood is to don something new. This fall, I’ve been shopping my own AVON store because everything mixes and matches together so well and the quality and affordability just cannot be beat. Fall Fashion from Avon

DAY 2: UPDATE YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE as the season change. During the summer it is usually warmer out so you may be choosing a light moisture with SPF. As the weather cools, your skin might feel a bit drier. Maybe switch your moisturizer to something a bit thicker. Or you can add a really great serum that has hyuralonic acid or other premium ingredients that add moisture. I’m really loving more natural products these days. And my go to line is Farm Rx. The natural vegan based ingredients have really made a difference. For Fall, I’ve added the new serum and at night I’m using the Bakuchiol Cream to add moisture and a naturally derived retinol to keep those signs of aging on delay as long as I can.

DAY 3: DECORATE YOUR HOME with all of the pumpkins and gourds and new seasonal colors. Who says we can’t decorate for every season or holiday? I honestly love popping into some of my favorite places like Dollar Tree, Big Lots, and Target to look for inexpensive items. One of my favorite home fashion items are candles. And I just grabbed these holiday scesnts because they will take me from fall through the holidays.

DAY 4: VISIT THE FARMER’S MARKET and spread some small business love by shopping your local vendors. This is something my father and I loved to do here in Phoenix as the temps dropped. Bring home some fresh apples and seasonal favorites. Grab a warm beverage and maybe even stop somewhere for lunch on your way home. Make a day of it.

DAY 5: GET LOST IN A GOOD BOOK under your favorite throw on your sofa or outside in a park or on your porch or patio. Even better if it is something that makes you think of the magic of Halloween like a mystery or thriller full of edge of your seat suspense.

DAY 6: LIST OF GRATITUDE is a favorite for me. As we head into the holidays, what a great time to sit with a great cup of coffee and a journal to reflect on your year and all of the things that you are thankful for. I love going back through my journal during tough days to help reset my spirtis.

DAY 7: GRAB SOME MARKERS AND A COLORING BOOK! Even Dollar Tree has adult coloring books these days. And it doesn’t have to be markers. You can use pencils, crayons, or pens. Coloring can be such a calming activity. Toss it into your work tote and when you need a break in the day just pause and pull it out and let your mind escape for a bit.

DAY 8: PUT A RECORD ON and dance like nobody’s watching. Okay, not everyone has vinyl records these days. They are gaining popularity again and I’m here for that. However you choose to listen to music whether it is streaming, CDs, vinyls, or even cassettes, remember how freeing it can be to dance. I recently started playing music while doing my chores. I forgot how fun it can be to clean while you are dancing and singing. This isn’t about cleaning though. Remember self-care isn’t about getting the chores done. This is that moment where you just let go and dance to as many songs as you want.

DAY 9: TAKE A WALK outside and breathe in the cooler air. Whether around your neighborhood, in a park or through the woods, spending time in nature can help you reduce stress and depression.

DAY 10: APPLES. ENJOY THE APPLES. This is the time for all of the apples. I love slicing apples, sprinkling them with apple pie spices, and popping them in the microwave or oven until they are soft and warm. It is like a crustless applie pie. How about hot apple cider? Baked apples and apple cider are flavors that are comforting and relaxing. Imagine how great your house will smell too.

DAY 11: GO TO A FALL FESTIVAL. Here in Arizona, Prescott has an amazingly fun fall festival with artisans, crafts, treats, and amazing weather. There is something so amazzing about slowing down a bit to enjoy things. Whenever I’m there, I feel like I’m in one of those small town Hallmark movies. And I often find some great gifts for the holidays. I love when I find things that are unique and I’m supporting a small business.

DAY 12: ROADTRIP TO ANYWHERE and take in the scenic views of the drive. You don’t have to have a destination in mind. Driving can be a great way to process thoughts and feelings. Head somewhere that isn’t heavy traffic and offers great views of nature such as the changing leaves and other colors of the season.

DAY 13: PSL IS LIFE! Many people have already started filling up my social media feeds with their first or even fifteenth Pumpking Spice Latte. If PSL isn’t your thing, grab a different warm seasonal beverage and sit and sip it slowly. Enjoy it. Be in the moment.

DAY 14: OH MY GOURDS! Pumpkin patches are a must! Right? This is usually on most family fall bucket lists. This is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with friends and family and pick the perfect pumpkin. And don’t shy away from the other gourds. Decorate your home with all of the beauty you find at the patch.

DAY 15: CORN MAZES ARE AMAZING! Take yourself to a maze. What a great way to take your mind off of work or anything else that might be stressing you! Go all in body and mind! And take everyone with you so that you have good laughs as you find your way through the maze together.

DAY 16: DIG OUT YOUR RECIPES. As someone who lives in Phoenix, I can’t wait for fall and cooler temps. I’ve missed baking for months. Who wants to turn on the oven when the outdoor temperature is so crazy high? Not this girl. But fall means I can make soups and cakes and breads. So why not pull out some of your family favorites and make that pumpkin bread or butternut squash soup and invite some friends over to share.

DAY 17: CRAFT DAY can be a great stress reliever. Some great crafting ideas include knitting, carving pumpkins, making cards, making ornaments or gifts to give for the holidsy.

DAY 18: MAKE A HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST of everything you want to accomplish before the end of the year. Setting goals and planning the actions can help keep the busy holiday season stress free. Don’t forget to add some fun things to the list because self-care shouldn’t end in October.

DAY 19: CREATE YOUR VISION BOARD for fall of for any upcoming occaission. Cut out some inspiration photos and make a physical board or opt for a virtual version Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration and create a board virtually.

DAY 20: DON THE FUZZY SOCKS AND SLIPPERS since the nights are getting cooler. Nothing sets your mind to relaxation mode faster than fuzzy softness on your feet. After a long day at work, slip those fuzzy things on and put your feet up.

DAY 21: UNWIND WITH A FACE MASK. The perfect self-care activity that will always help you relax. When else are you required to sit with your head back for 10-20 minutes? Have you seen the fun and whimsical masks from The Creme Shop? Add a neck lift patch too while you are at it.

DAY 22: CLEAR AND ORGANIZE YOUR DESK OR VANITY. The two places I spend a large chunk of time are my desk and my bathroom. And those two places tend to get cluttered. One way to ease your mind is to tackle one of those spaces and clear the clutter and add a bit of organization. Imagine the peace of mind just waiting for you on the other side of this activity. You will smile the next time you are in the space and have so much more energy for that day’s agenda.

DAY 23: FIND A NEW FRAGRANCE FOR FALL. I’ve got a dresser vanity tray full of fragrances. I love to coordinate my outfit of the day with a fragrance of the day too. Add something new to your fragrance wardrobe. I’m loving LRYD Oud Rose for fall It is warm and indulgent. You can’t miss the saffron at the top. I love the combination of rose, coffee and amber as it dries down. Fragrance can give you a total mind shift in an instant.

DAY 24: STICKER BOMB! I love playing with stickers. Grab a pack of your favorite stickers and a journal or a water bottle and just get creative..

DAY 2S: END SOMEONE A CARD. Or several someones. Why wait for a special day like a birthday or holiday? Take a few minutes to let someone know you are thinking about them.

DAY 26: BUY A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. Did you know that local florists often have a discount day where you can stop in a pick some flowers? Choose something bright and cheery or in autumnal tones and place them where you will see them every day.

DAY 27: RIDE A BIKE. Some of us have had some brutal summer days. Take time to enjoy the cooler weather but taking a bike ride through the neighborhood or go further out and bike a trail. Just like a long drive, this is a great way to clear your mind of all of the clutter.

DAY 28: FIREPLACES AND BONFIRES: Pick a cool evening and start that fire. Make s’mores or enjoy a glass of wine and let your senses enjoy.

DAY 29: MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST: I start thinking about who I have already gotten gifts for and who I haven’t shopped for yet. This is a great time to sit and list out not only who and what you’ve gotten, but where you put it. Seriously. I was packing for a trip at the end of August and found a box of items that were supposed to be stocking stuffers last year. So why not take a bit of time to take inventory! Then you can figure out what is left to do. Then you can start your shopping early when you see the perfect gift at the right price for those special people in your life.

DAY 30: GOAL SETTING. It is this time of year that I’m thinking about what I’ve accomplished and what I want to do next. This is also the time I’m looking for calendars, planners and journals for the upcoming year. Why not start planning now? If you are wanting to work on health and wealth. Don’t wait for the New Year and the “resolutions” declarations. Start planning now.

DAY 31: MOVIE MARATHON DAY. Usually this is the time of year where some of my favorite movie are streaming somewhere. So I like to pick a day to watch some of them. October means Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice and Harry Potter and maybe even something scary.

Fall is a magical season. With so many fun ways to take time for yourself to care for your physical and mental health. I hope these ideas help you find moments for you that matter. I hope you make new memories that bring you happiness this season.

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Posted in Family

Weekend Warrior

Posted on by shesipscoffee

As I sit and sip my coffee this morning, I am continuing my morning routine of reflection. In my journal I am writing moments of gratitude. And my weekend was filled with a bustle of activity and accomplishments that fill up the pages.

My daughter asked for sweets after amidst a busy weekend of homework. So what is a mother to do? Well, this mother made cookies. I did not devise my own recipe but added extra vanilla and cinnamon (the good stuff of any Snickerdoodle recipe) to this recipe. All Sunday morning my house smelled sweet and delicious from the cinnamon wafting through the air.

She asked for the treat on Saturday and I wanted to comply. However I crashed early watching television while waiting for the butter to soften. Why on earth would I crash early on a Saturday? Well, that is another moment of gratitude.

I supported the Making Strides Phoenix 5K walk. Not only did I raise almost $150 from lovely people that I know, I also spent a couple of hours working the National Sponsor Avon’s tent helping people register to win a trip to New York.

We also collected kisses from all who stopped at the tents.

Here is my kiss for my grandmothers and friends.

I am so grateful again and again to be on a journey where I am moving my body and making better choices for my health. And whenever I can combine that with a way to give back it feels so empowering and joyous. I was live on Facebook a few times saying thank you to all who contributed and sharing stories of the survivors and warriors I met en route. With all the extra work around the actual walk I actually clocked in 6 miles on my Fitbit. So my body was tired and my mind was in a less anxious space. So Hallmark may have had a premier holiday movie but I slept right through it.

Sunday I still made those cookies and that is not all! I managed to clear all of the trash and donations out of my garage too!

The bike has it’s own space to park. And we can see our Christmas stuff in time to decorate in a month. My CRV was filled with items that we had been collecting over the past several months. So this weekend warrior delivered all of it to our local thrift store hoping that these things that were well loved find new loving homes and help our community in some other glorious way.

This weekend warrior may be a bit weary starting her Monday but the Last 90 Days Challenge that I have taken on since October 1st has motivated me not only to make better choices for myself but the world around me too. If we spend more time spreading love and hope all around then there is less room for the hate. I believe that with all of my heart. Even the rowers along Tempe Town Lake Saturday morning were supporting Breast Cancer Awareness wearing pink. So come on let’s all show more love.

I found out after the walk that donations can still be collected through the end of the year. If your heart leads you please click here to donate.

I am going to my coffee and journal time.

What kind of weekend warrior were you?

Posted in lists, Planning, Reflection

The Brown Grocery Bag

Posted on by shesipscoffee

I was sipping coffee this morning and browsing the weekly grocery ads while I put together my shopping list and my meal plan for next week.

You know this is the time where I end up having random thoughts. Right? As usual my brain went into a rabbit hole and remembered that my grandmother loved brown paper bags. When we went to the store and the cashier asked, “Paper or plastic?” the automatic response was, “Paper.” While in this rabbit hole I sat and made a random list of all the ways I remember using brown grocery bags.

Back to School Time

One of the first that I remembered was my lugging every single text book home and covering them with the glorious brown sturdy paper.

It seemed like it took forever and I don’t recall ever loving the task. I sat at the kitchen table handing books, scissors, tape and grocery bags to my grandmother like we were wrapping gifts. Instead of nametags I used crayons and markers to label the new protective cover with the subject and my name.

When my son was younger it was unheard of to cover books with grocery bags. And to be honest with the more common use of plastic and rarely sweing paper bags at our local grocers we just didn’t have them handy. Instead we bought into the back to school shopping frenzy of buying plastic covers in various covers to help him know which book was which and hoped they didn’t get lost. Insert the next kid 8 years later we still bought covers but not as many. Why? Well schools only bought classroom copies and printed worksheets to save costs and today most textbooks are digital. I remember telling them both the “Back in my day, we….” I bet the first time they were in awe and wonder. But the third or fourth time I seem to recall they had glazed eyes.

Tomatoes

Before it started to get too cold in Missouri, we would pick every last green tomato off the vines and place them on the window sill or in grocery bags to help them ripen.

To this day, I love tomatoes. I want to grow my own here in Phoenix. It is possible in the desert if you do your homework and tend the garden diligently. Our season is much shorter and pulling them off the vine unripened would not be due to extreme cold. No. More like before the heat starts cooking them right there on the vine.

Onions and Garlic

By the way, paper bags speed up ripening of various produce. Did you know they also help onions and garlic last longer?

Small lunch bags and grocery bags alike are great for storing these amazing flavors on the counter or in your pantry for several weeks. If you do not have clay pots or Tupperware bins designed to store them properly, consider grabbing some bags and a hole puncher to ensure proper airflow.

Tip: Store each variety in separate bags like shown in the picture. Combining them in one bag will not extend the life as long.

Kitchen Trash Bin Liner

Let’s chat about rabbit holes. My coffee got cold when I went in search of any internet photo that might resemble the trash bin we used to have when I was a teenager. I have never seen a single one like it since. Maybe I never will. Imagine a black rectangulaelr bin (it was probably Rubbermaid) that is shaped to hold a grocery bag inside it perfectly. Its lid was like a white picture frame that sat on top fitting around the edge of the bin. It didn’t cover to block in the doors. Nope. It was open to toss rubbish right in. The one feature that was nifty was how it held the brown paper grocery bag to the edge of the bin while keeping it from folding in on itself. The downside was anything wet would obviously weaken the bottom. And coffee grounds were a common culprit. Have you ever had to clean up coffee grounds and other trash off of your kitchen floor? Yeah. Me too.

I hear the invention of plastic trash bags were revolutionary and made women very happy for several reasons. When I moved out on my own I never even looked for a kitchen bin like that one. I am guessing they were not a best seller. If someone has ome though, I would love a picture so I can at a later date update this article.

As the world is shying away from single use plastics, there may be a resurgence of ways to revisit reusing or repurposing paper. Studies show positive and negative environmental impacts of both. Today is not the day for that rabbit hole.

I am curious though. Do you use paper bags for crafts or creatively at home for other purposes? I would love to know more.

I have a shopping list to finish and a cold cup of coffee to finish sipping.

Have a great Friday!

Posted in Planning

Managing Mondays – Starting Tuesday

Posted on by shesipscoffee

I was sipping my tepid cup of coffee this morning and realized it has been quite a while since I’ve shared any of my weekly spreads. This week is a slightly different type of week because it is a holiday week. It is also the first week of summer vacation in my house. My schedule is more my own for once.

I decided to wait until Monday to do my planning for no better reason than today is a holiday. The three day weekend inspired me to take a Sunday off from planning. It didn’t take much to convince me to do that considering the past few days I’ve been feeling a bit off. A focus on self-care seemed a bit more prudent. Tummy ailments and colds have been the norm around this family. Who knows why but we cannot all seem to be well at the same time. Perhaps it is the freakishly cool Phoenix weather. I mean, honestly, by this point in the annual calendar our temperature is typically in the triple digits. This barely getting close to 80 degrees is bizarre. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not complaining. Not one single bit. Nope. Not me. I’m just commenting on the observations we’ve been making as we have all been fighting off these ailments. The weather in Phoenix is mild. It is absolutely NOT normal. Period.

Before the Pen

Now let’s take a look at this weekly spread. Usually I break my days out to reflect the crazy family schedule but this week, well, it is all about me. For the first time in a long time I get to plan MY week. School is out for Summer. No after school activities to take into consideration and my daughter does not have any plans. Yippeeee! With so much freedom I could do a decorative and pretty spread and worry less about my normal functional needs to organize my week. With so much freedom I spent a couple of hours just thinking about what I could do and struggled to decide what I wanted to do. Silly? Perhaps. So why not be a tad frivolous and go with rainbows and unicorns?!?! Yes!

Unicorn Dreams mean Big Goals to Achieve.

After the Pen

With only myself to focus on, I decided this week to remind myself of some key goals. BIG Goals. I sat and looked at my Vision Board and the big W reminding me to write. I looked at the image of the books on the night stand reminding that I should be reading more. I saw the spa images reminding me to make more time for self-care. I saw the Boss women like Oprah and Rachel Hollis on my vision board reminding me that I have big dreams that I want to achieve. So this week, I grabbed my pens, put in the important people, places, and things and then filled in all of the reminders to DREAM BIG, ACT BIG, and BE BIG!!!!!

Don’t just Dream it. Be it.

If not now, then when?

This spread was inspired by Rachel Hollis. No, she doesn’t always talk about the unicorns. But in Girl, Stop Apologizing, she has some amazing quotes that inspire me to not just dream but to live my dreams. So, yeah, unicorns come to mind. I’m going to be that amazingly different, often hard to find or understand unicorn. I’m going to go out and do ALL the things at work and at home this week. I’m going to get into my writing. I’m going to do the important things at work, and I’m going to carve out my time each day to be me. Unapologetically Me.

How about you? Do you have some things you have been putting on the side burner? Make that list and pick one of those things and do it now. If not now, then when? When is NOW. Have a great week and come back because I’ll be sipping coffee and sharing more plans, crafts, thoughts, and achievements. B

Posted in Family, Planning

Managing Mondays – It is Okay to Not be Okay

Posted on by shesipscoffee

Yesterday I failed to plan. This morning I am sipping coffee as salty tears stream down my cheeks. My tears are not because I failed to plan. I failed to plan because my heart was hurting and comforting my heart was more important than my to-do list and the calendar that still is void of color. All I could muster is the cream in my coffee and seeking wisdom and comfort in my meditation. The past seven days were stormy for sure!

I am ready for my roots to dig in deeper. My tall and beautiful friend, Shelley, left us too soon. Unexpected. Fast. Just like the storm that has raged around all of us caught in the bubble.

I realize even more now why I was led to focus 2018 around the words Strength and Dignity. As I chose my way into the year I was recognizing the generational legacy of my mother and grandmother. I wanted to honor them in living onward and upward.

Today, I lost my friend who treated me like a sister for more than 25 years. She was tall and steady like the strongest of well-rooted trees. She raised three amazing children with a dignity I strived to emulate while I have raised mine.

She taught me to love and be courageous in the way she lived. She was there to pick me up in every misstep I made. Her adult children have been a part of my extended family and that family has grown as they have had children of their own. Have I lost you? Don’t be! It takes a village. My village grows with each new generation. She loved our village fiercely. In my meditation and coffee sipping I renew my personal commitment in my focus to stay strong and carry on loving her children and the village we formed with her still in the roots of it all.

So I didn’t plan the week. This is not a failure. It is simply recognizing the need to mourn and be kind in self care. My heart aches and I am instead allowing myself space to grieve. I don’t need my planner for that. I am forgiving myself and taking each day as they come. One at a time. The planner pages, the washi, the colored pens, and the stickers will be waiting for me when I am ready.

This week I may spend time in my journal accounting memories. I will meditate. I will promise to continue. I will lean on the strength she always gave me. I will celebrate her. I will continue to love everyone with her passion. I will wear red, our favorite color. I will, simply put, miss her.

Posted in Family, Goals, lists, Planning, Planning, Reflection, self-care, Vision, Writing

Managing Mondays – Finding Inspiration and Motivation

Posted on by shesipscoffee

It is another week and I am eagerly sipping coffee after a short, brisk walk before the sun was brightly shining and heating up the pavement. Although it is September and many folks are starting to see signs of fall, those of us in Phoenix are still facing high temperatures around 100°. That means getting up early to beat the heat if you want to walk outside.

I put my weekly plan together last night while watching Sunday Night Football. It took longer than usual because I couldn’t take my eyes off of the fourth quarter madness as Green Bay made their way back to claim the win. Did you know I love football? No? Well, surprise! I had so much to think about this week because I have some lofty goals. I am working my side hustle hard this week and making some time to sharpen my saw. Me time includes reading because, well, to be honest I just haven’t been doing that much lately. And I have been looking at this book for weeks. I never put it on my bookshelf. No. I keep moving it from surface to surface through the house. That tells me how much I want to read it. So, I am planning for it. One chapter a day. I deserve that much me time. I know if I don’t write it in my plan I will keep putting it off and moving the book to, yet again, another surface. What book? This one…

The book is broken into 5 parts. My goal is to read a part each day and plan to add a little Badassery into my future planning. So excited!

My plans this week are pretty loose and functional with some key goals and important activities. The most important activities are the weekend. My son turns 23 on Sunday and I aim to make any free time we have as a family about him and his special day.

It seems lately that I am on the go and running on all cylinders from the moment I wake up until I crawl back into bed. I am making a point to have quality reading time to take my mind and my eyes away from screens. When I crawl into bed I want to sleep easy knowing my plans are clear and my mind is sharpened to be the absolute best person God made me to be.

I challenge each of you to plan the following into your week:

  • Sharpen your mental saw (read a book, learn something new, meditate)
  • Celebrate something or someone
  • Love everyone

Have a great week. Back to sipping coffee.

Posted in Planning

Weekend Warrior – Grocery Shopping and Meal Planning

Posted on by shesipscoffee

For the past several weeks I have been picking one morning of coffee sipping alone time to plan my weekly menu and make my shopping list. What is great is I have turned my adult son and his girlfriend on to this strategy. As an observer of their process I now find myself inspecting and adapting my own methods.

I have been using my Erin Condren Petite Planner. It is perfect for me because it is simple and fits nicely into my favorite Vera Bradley hipster.

And as you can see it lays nicely in the cart for me to check off as I shop. I have three goals.

  1. Stick to the list.
  2. Stay within budget.
  3. Never buy more than what fits in my allotted shopping bags.

Recently I entertained my local store by testing their Scan and Go concept. Twice.

I was trying to understand what might be in it for me. Here is what I learned:

  • I was slow (even the second time).
  • It stressed me to scan and bag and check off my list.
  • I accidentally put an item or two in without scanning (I did catch myself and was worried I would do it again.)
  • I missed the check out lane experiences of reading the magazine covers and chatting with people.
  • You still have to go to self check out. While there, the system couldn’t find my “scanned items”. It took the help of the employee and trying at more than one check out to finish up and get out of the store.

Honestly, I do not see myself doing that again. It was added stress and it did not save me time. And I just am not okay with taking jobs away. I prefer chatting and getting to know the employees. If I didn’t want to talk to folks and be in line I could just order for delivery.

Have you done this? I don’t mind self check out when I only need a couple of things. I do not like it for my regular weekly shopping.

Okay. I digressed a bit on my rant. I really wanted to share how easy meal planning and grocery shopping is for me when I use the right tools. You can acquire your own Erin Condren products through the link.

Happy Friday and Happy Planning!

Posted in Planning

Managing Mondays-Back to School Edition

Posted on by shesipscoffee

Last night was a very long planning time. As I sip my coffee this morning, I am feeling a bit more at ease with today as well as the week ahead. It is back to school week. Not just any back to school week either. My youngest is starting her Freshman year in high school and that is a milestone. Makes me a bit sad.

We finished our clothes shopping on Saturday. Yay! That is quite a chore. We took in a final summer movie too: Eighth Grade. It was perfectly appropriate in its timing and its message to me as a parent and to my daughter. See it!

Back to the week at hand…

I spent my evening going through the papers we received from school and instead of inserting all the pages into my planner, I used my Erin Condren Purple color dots to mark all of the important dates for the school year.

Instead of this…

With the support of my fur babies I went from month to month placing purple dots like this…

Why purple? School colors are purple and black so I thought that would be easy to identify.

Did you notice my new planner? Yes. I changed from Happy Planner to Erin Condren. I am just in love with my new Erin Condren. I have been test driving it in July and really have found that I want to use it for my go to master planner. Watch for an upcoming post where I compare and contrast my old and new planning systems.

Am I ready for back to school week? I think so…

See my before the pen pages…

I spent yesterday shopping and sorting meals and am all set with simple fixings for an extremely busy week. I adore my new meal planning petite planner from Erin Condren. I love the smaller handy size because it slips right into my purse.

Wednesday will be a crazy day and in the tradition of every first day of school, the kids and I are going out to breakfast. I have taken the day off from work. I know the morning will be hectic and traffic flow will be annoying. And that evening will be filled with paperwork and syllabi and getting the school supplies from every teacher procured and organized.

My planner is ready. I am ready. My Freshman? Maybe. No matter what… I have planned to be there for her to help her be ready, for the first day and the whole year. I will be present to hear all about her first day as a Freshman. I have planned to spend my time where it matters the most. Now…if I can just manage to get through Monday.

Posted in Family

Resetting plans – June Reset, Ready for July

Posted on by shesipscoffee

I know. I know. I haven’t written in a while. I have used the month of June as a mental reset month. It may have seemed like I spent the entire month on vacation. Far from it. June has been a roller coaster. Since coming home from South Carolina, our family has been experiencing highs and lows and everything in between.

One of our three pups hasn’t been feeling well. And as she is “my” dog, I have been feeling a bit fenced in with worry and care to get her back in good health.

Mystery, my girl, is not happy with the cone of shame nor does she like being isolated to one room all day. She is definitely enjoying quality time with me because I have spent nearly all of my time at home in that room being HER faithful companion. I believe she has enjoyed binge watching The Crown and helping me get through my playlists on Hulu and Netflix.

Luckily we have reached the mid-point of her convalescence. Starting tomorrow she can resume a near normal routine but the cone…well, that stays on another 7 days.

The one benefit is that it afforded me time to spend reading and contemplating on my vision board.

I have decided to make a few changes for the balance of the year in how I plan and prioritize. I am still struggling with balance. And need to find a big NO to put on my board. I agree to do too much too often.

How about you?