Ann Leach

Every day, I struggle with how to plan and execute my day. Crazy, right?  I know.  I'm a SAHM. All I have to do is some housework and play with my daughter. It's a no-brainer.  Well, maybe for you, but not for me. For example this morning, I was sitting here at the table and thinking about my day, all the different things I want to get done - morning routine, daily cleaning, meals/dishes, yoga with Isabelle, homeschooling, my 1 hour walk, mowing (luckily it's raining so this is off the list), sewing/crochet time, 1 hour outside with Isabelle, a big physical activity with Isabelle; and OH MY GOSH!!!  Where do I even begin? Now, I do have a monthly/weekly planner that I keep our activities on, and usually I use that to make a list of my daily activities. But even with that I find myself getting lost throughout the day.      And yes, I did set up a dry erase board a few weeks ago with morning/afternoon/evening sections to help break up ...

We have always planned to homeschool; although that's really "we" in the Imperial sense because you and I know it means "I" would be doing the homeschooling. And while I've always wanted to homeschool and my belief that homeschooling is a superior way of educating than public schooling, I haven't always believed I could do it. Because you see, parenting a preschooler has been very very difficult for me. And I just didn't know if we could get through homeschooling. My go-to parenting book I mean there were days when she was just so demanding of my attention. And all I wanted was to be left alone so I could escape on facebook or read a book because I was so bored being home all day, every day. But she was bored too. And it was so unfair!! (We both had moments of playing the unfair card.) All the homeschooling books I picked up at the library. But we just keep plugging away, don't we, as stay-at-home parents because regardless of the ...

The only way to shop at a thrift store is with an open mind.... When I start a new skein of yarn, I wind it on to a toilet paper roll. I started doing this after coming across  this  idea for keeping yarn from running across the floor while crocheting. So while I do have a fair few balls of yarn wrapped on the toilet paper rolls, I hadn't yet found a stand to use. Until yesterday, when I found this beauty. I know, it's not technically a toilet paper holder, but hey...  it certainly does the job for yarn!! For $.79, it will do just fine for keeping my yarn from traveling while I'm working on a project. What have you found recently that makes do? Cheers! Ann

 There is always a WIP in my basket, and right now, there are actually too many WIPs.  It's time to get some of them done. Yesterday, I focused on some flannel napkins that I've been thinking about making for way too long. So here are the first three completed with my first mitered corners.  I'm quite pleased with them.   On the crochet side, I finished this set of 8 dishcloths - a simple little project. Each one takes less than an hour, so why did it take me 2 weeks to get these done?!  Oh well, they're done now.  I just need to make the scrubbie to go with them and off they go to a friend. So that's two down and 5 (I think) to go, including --  this blanket which I started over a year ago before we left Australia.  and this pretty shawl which I have mixed feelings about. I may end up pulling it all out and doing something different with this cotton. and this project of...

The last couple of weeks, I have totally fallen off the meal-planning wagon, and oooohhhh, it shows. We've been eating a lot of sandwiches and dining out! Time to get this wagon up and rolling again, starting today with pork chops and baked beans in the slow cooker this morning. Closer to supper time, I'll cook up some corn from the freezer. Yum! I've decided since it's too hot to turn on the oven and have found a few slow cooker recipes to make for the rest of the week. Taters-n-Beef Chicken Spaghetti Ham-n-Potatoes Beef Enchiladas Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Beef Tacos Beef Spaghetti Lunches will be the usual - leftovers from suppers and/or sandwiches. Breakfasts are pretty standard too -- cereal, eggs, yogurt. I actually wrote this week's plan on a calendar and am working toward a monthly plan. I'll let you know how it goes. For now, we're off to Aldi! What's your meal plan coming up? Cheers! Ann