Goals

I'm sad to admit I've always been a lousy Goal-achiever. I'm great at making and listing Goals, but the oophf that comes after and leads to success seems to get lost somewhere. I don't know for sure, but I think that its because of my personality type. I'm not really sure how to change that.

Regardless, I plan to continue to keep Goal-setting and this time I am going to switch gears and set goals strictly pertaining to eBay. Kelly, over at MyDearTrash has set and achieved some amazing goals (i.e. Family Trip $4000+; a new computer $2000+; and now she is planning on paying for her daughters wedding costing $5000 in only 5 weeks of eBay selling) and she achieves her goals very well in a short period of time. In the past I've just used my eBay money for whatever comes a long, bills, food, gas, etc whatever. Now I'm thinking I need more focus to make this really worth it, and not just a hobby. Because if I'm being honest, my favorite part is the shopping ;) I need some push to get my clothes actually up on eBay so they can sell, and I can do more shopping ;)

So, that being said here are some goals (in no particular order) that I'd like to achieve with my eBay profits:

• Pay Off my credit card debt
• Buy a new computer (to make listing way faster)
• New couch!
• Gym Membership
• Landscaping
• New Washer/Dryer
• Shopping Spree at Down East Basics (this one goes a long with my losing weight goals ad my Gym membership Goal) I just LOVE their clothing
• Food Storage
• Take my kids to Disneyland
• Silhouette machine
• New bikes for everyone in the family for Christmas

So... what are your goals? What gives you the drive to work harder & smarter?
Its kind of fun to make a list!! Go to it! Some of the things I want feel lofty and will take time others can be achieved in less time than you think if you just stick to it. I've seen it over and over with Kelly and have faith and hope that it can work for me too.

Ice Cream Chore Chart

Spring Break seemed like the perfect time to institute a regular chore system in our home. Am I a mean mom? I don't think so. I'm making it fun! And a week with my 2 older kids home from school meant lots of good practice. I intend to make Spring Break next year the beginning of an annual Spring Cleaning time. My kids are 7 & almost 6 and fully capable of handling small jobs.

To make it fun I drew then copied sheets of ice cream scoops and added all kinds of jobs to them. Everything from wiping all the door knobs in the house, to cleaning all the toilets, to tidying this room or that. Pretty much I summed up all the jobs that could make our home much cleaner and tidy most of the time. Then I laminated the ice cream scoops and an ice cream cone with each persons name on it and taped them to our pantry door.

The goal each week would be for each person in the family to do a different chore each day (i.e. no one person gets to gather shoes each day that would be too easy) Monday thru Friday, and then each person would have a designated laundry day. So by the end of the week we should have a tidy house, 6 scoops on our ice cream cone, and thus earning the treat of the week: an ice cream sundae any choices of toppings. In addition, they could earn 10 cents extra for any jobs done after the first 6. Ever the over-achiever, by the middle of the first day my oldest daughter had 7 scoops ad was angry with me for asking her to slow down and relax. When their dad got home from work they began hassling him to catch up. 

I put the jobs up as I need them done, until then I store them in an old ice cream bucket. I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out. And as more jobs are needed, I can make new scoops and add them to the bucket.

The first week went really well with my oldest earning 12 scoops total, my middle earning 10, dad got his 6, I think mom earned 13 and the 2 yr old earned 3 but he got his ice cream anyway! He's a happy little helper and will grow into it with this system.

A book I insist you all read

Have you ever purchased a book just because you liked the name? Or the cover?

How did it turn out for you? I do it all the time. Sometimes I read books that I wonder what was the point. But more often than not, I'm lucky.

On an unsuspecting, regular day at Goodwill, I picked up this book:

This is a wonderfully heart warming story that keeps you wanting to read. The imagery was beautiful and whimsical, well downright magical. It has the powerful effect that makes you wish you were the orphan children in the story. I actually had to revise this commentary because the first time I wrote it I think I said too much. I'm not really very good at writing reviews, I was just so excited about the book I felt I needed to shout it from the rooftops.  

With this book, I feel like I hit the jackpot. I found a new author and she has a whole slew of books I am excited to read. In fact I was reading it to my children each day and night, and one evening when they were all asleep I was too engrossed that I just read straight though. My kids were not happy with me for leaving them behind even though I am still reading it to them. They think I cheated.

This is the kind of book that should be required reading in school because it has a beautiful sense of hope, even whilst dealing with real world problems. It's a fun read, and it will be one of my favorites from now on!

Get a copy and fall in love with the characters!

Stick Up Cups!

Here's a neat idea!

Check them out at http://www.stickupcup.co/ and get a FREE one!

They have several different packages if you want one for each member in your family! Boy I wish I had a fridge with a water fixture in it. I still think these would be great to have, but really the best if kids can just get their own water and then hang their empty cup on the fridge.

Random Walgreens Shopping Trip

I love to take my coupon book in to Walgreen's with me and see what's on sale, clearance, and occasionally I've got things better planned out. This day (last week) the only thing  had planned out was the candy which I was hoping would last till Easter (it didn't) partially because I have a 2.5 yr old potty training and needs a treat for every sprinkle, and partially because I have a sweet tooth. Either way this was a successful Walgreen's trip!

I spent $11.46 and this is what I got:

• Bendable Building sticks (like Bendaroos) which are wax covered strings that you can design happy art with! Great for my kids Spring Break. On clearance for $2.50 (down from $9.99)
• Washable kids paint (another spring break art item) On clearance for $1.25 (down from $5.00)
• Walgreen's Dental floss On clearance for $.25 (down from $1.00)
• Dawn Dish washing soap on sale for $.99 but after coupon only $.74
• Purex 22 load 3-in-1 laundry sheets (I LOVE THESE!) and since I'll be teaching my kiddos laundry over Spring Break these are just what I need! On sale for $3.99 but after coupon only $2.99
• Mars Mixed Mini Easter chocolates on sale 2 bags for $5.00 but after coupons only $2 for 2 bags!
• Potty training childs' impulse buy 5 fruit snack for $1.00

Pretty good huh?!

Fun Placemats using what you have

Have a favorite book that someone got creative in & drew all over some of the pages? And it's taking up space but you can't part with it? Maybe you can still save it. Make some fun place mats like these from Real Simple.

I think Dr Seuss books are perfect because they are so fun and there's a whole story in just 1-2 pages most of the time. I think this can help your kids with reading! I have selected the perfect book tonight.

Our copy is a bit warped in some places, and after getting my tongue tied too much tonight I find that it is the perfect book to make a whole slew of place mats. I suggest buying Legal size lamination sheets to do this project, which I am fresh out of, so I will have to show you my finished ones in a couple days!

Elementary Rockstars

Today was Rock star Day at school (yesterday inside out, tomorrow is crazy socks, Thursday crazy hat and Friday Pajama Day). We had a lot of fun (and a few tears) putting these outfits together. My older daughter loves Taylor Swift so she wanted to dress just like her, but in the clothing dept we didn't have much that looked Taylor, in the ed her look is a bit more Rocker but her guitar had to be Taylor! I thought she'd want a replica of her Rhinestone guitar but she loved the Natural Wood one better. My other daughter just wanted to be a Rock star with colored hair. We do a lot of dress up at our house but this was different and so much fun! All but the hairspray was stuff we had at home! (Especially the attitudes).

Upcycle Your Jars!

They called it a Pickle Jar Project, I'd say its's more like a Thrifty Gals Apothecary Jar (have you priced those? I cannot believe their ridiculous price tag).

Eighteen25 shows us that even us Thrifty Gals can have some chic home decor! They used just these items

 to make these fab showcase jars!

The great thing? You probably have most of this stuff at home (are you a jar hoarder? there are more of out there than I thought) and if not, its fairly cheap - even the glue! The only thing I a not going to do is use pickle jars - I hate pickles! And I definitely don't want any pickle tasting candy. Although that could curb my appetite. Hmm...there is hidden merit there. Anyhow I used a hot fudge jar on my first one, and will probably use fruit jars on my others. I am pretty sure my kids will agree to eat all the fruit I need them too.

Check out their great tutorial here. I decided to post this fab find before finishing mine but I hope to show those to you soon - 1 down 2 to go!

To Print or not to Print?

It's Spring! And there are alot of people buying on ebay wanting to shed the Drab for something Fab. Florals are hot right now! What is interesting to me is peoples tastes. Looking back through the week and the variety of prints and florals that I have sold, none of the prints are alike and yet to someone, they were Fab.
And yet, there are still solids selling too. I myself have always been the type to ooh and ahh over a print, and yet as my tastes change and I get older, I'm leaning away from prints and trying to use more solids. So I'm wondering...are you feeling like you are drawn to prints or solids these days?

RQT SKIRT Brown with beautiful floral design sz 12, purchased for $2.49, sold for $9.99

S-Twelve Dress Small Petite Peekaboo sleeves, purchased for $5.24, sold for $12.99



COLDWATER CREEK Spring Floral Skirt sz M with Ribbon border, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.99



MAX STUDIO sz M Pretty Blouse Black Teal White, purchased for $1.00, sold for $7.99

Anthropologie FREE PEOPLE sz 6 Floral Strapless Blouse, purchased for $6.99, sold for $13.09 



This Beautiful CALVIN KLEIN sz 10 GREEN SKIRT 100% SILK Lined NWT (orig. $125) I purchased for $3.99, sold for $19.99



April Fools

We had a terrible morning this morning, me and the kids. I woke up late, found that the kids were just playing around, not dressed for school, and so immediately I had the urgency the get them there on time but they were not feeling it. After a lot of crying and then yelling, followed by more crying, we got to school on time. Miraculously that is. And then I did what I swore I would never do. I parked the car and ran after my kids and apologized and for my bad behavior and having mercy on theirs, and got completely gushy with hugs and kisses and brushing of hair (which had been missed at home). I'm so thankful that they love me even though I'm not a perfect mom.

So! I need something fun and light to lift this day to the clouds ~ after all, it's April Fools!

Does anyone have any fun ideas for April Fools? For kids?

I've been reading online and have come across these ideas but even though they are great ideas (which is why I'm sharing them) they don't seem to work for me at this time:

• Say you're pregnant; get a pregnancy kit; 
• Fill their car full up with filled balloons (I almost pulled this on my mom cuz she always leaves for work super early and she would have time to take care of them, she's just lucky that I don't get up early (and got up late today)).
• Food mix-ups (like making dinner out of dessert items) or frosting sponges to look like cake, that sort of thing. Actually the grossest one I found online was dipping bouillon cubes into chocolate to look like candies - yuck!
• Leaving a message for them to call Mr Lyon or Jim Panzee with the number for the Zoo

So if you're reading this and have a good idea for kids please let me know!!