Purpose and Pause: Planning for a Remarkable Year

Happy New Year! 

I love turning the page on a new year with the promise of new beginnings ahead. It is that time of year to assess where you have been and make adjustments for the year ahead to get where you want to be. It is also the time of year where good intentions are likely to fade within a few weeks. So how can you act now to set yourself up for success?

As the old adage goes, fail to plan and you plan to fail. Setting a little time aside to reflect on your goals and make an action plan to meet them will go along way to increasing your odds for success. Returning to those goals and working your plan consistently is where true success is realized.

I have created the Purpose and Pause 2015 Planner as a tool to do just that. Crafting a remarkable life takes both purpose and pause, my multi-functional planner serves as a tool to visualize your ideal life, set goals to achieve your vision, layout a healthy living strategy, plan for daily work and play, track your progress, and capture your most memorable moments along the way!

I am excited to be testing this planner with a few friends this year and plan to have the 2016 version ready to go to market by end of summer. To help you plan a remarkable 2015, I am sharing with you my goal setting tools for a remarkable 2015! Download your free 4-page goal planner here. I would love your feedback!

Everyday Memory Making

This blog is about making life memorable - organizing your home and life so that memorable moments can happen, creating memorable spaces, moments and traditions; living in those moments and documenting them through journaling, photography, Scrapbooking and other crafts.

Today I'm going to share a few resources that help make life more memorable.

Everyday Confetti by Karen Ehman and Glynnis Whitwer is a year-round guide to holidays and special occasions. I am always looking for ways to make the every day special and to mark the special days in a unique way. Whether it be a major holiday or little known day of observance, the effort we put into taking time to  put up special decorations  or make a special meal are the things kids remember. Carlie still talks about the rainbow of fruit I created for St. Patricks day a few years ago. 

This book covers both major holidays and little-known ones with fun ideas for recipes, crafts, decor and mini celebrations. It is a go-to resource to add some magic to the every day.

Everyday Confetti is filled with ideas, recipes, the meaning behind certain holidays and other suggestions for traditions throughout the year.

Another way to make memories is to laugh. The art of telling a good joke is a useful tool for everyone, especially kids. The Big Book of Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott is filled with knock knock jokes, Q&A jokes, Animal jokes and more sure to entertain a group of kids. This book would be great to keep on hand in the car and to take in to restaurants for those long waiting times. Rather than everyone having their nose down in their phones, engage and laugh with a good joke. This book would be a great addition to an Easter basket.

Pinterest is one of my go to resources for ideas and planning. I have pin boards for different holidays and observances where I keep ideas I want to remember. 

Your calendar is an important tool to help you carve out time for these special moments. Each month I look at what is coming up. I mark special days and then decide what we might want to highlight. I go to my pin board for ideas and then pick one or two things I'd like to do and write down any supplies I need. 

For example, March is around the corner. There are a number of special days in March. March 4 is our wedding anniversary. Each year, we try to watch our wedding video. This year I'm going to get it transferred from VHS to DVD since we no longer have any VCRs. We also get a visit from the Leprechaun on St. Patrick's day and celebrate Fat Tuesday with a Mardi Gras party. Then we observe lent with some special traditions.

What are your special celebrations that make life memorable? 

Do you have Bag Lady Syndrome?

I have to confess. I have serious bag envy. I love all kinds of bags but have yet to find the bag. With all of the travel I have been doing lately, the need for a bag to consolidate all my stuff has become more evident. Yes, I admit. I have it. Bag Lady Syndrome.

You know us. You see us as we enter the office building with professional laptop bag in one hand, large mom bag in another, a lunch bag and sometimes even a gym bag. We look ridiculous. But we are exactly who you would want to be trapped in an elevator with. We have got you covered.

Or maybe you have seen us at the park. Large diaper bag strung across the stroller with a separate cooler, a quilt and a bag to hold all our children's toys. On the plane, your forced into just two bags so you work wonders to stuff your backpack and carry on with all the necessities of business travel.

Bag Lady Syndrome doesn't just hit us as adults, it is ingrained in us when we are young. My oldest actually received the pre-K graduation superlative of "most likely to carry the world in her bag" and my five year states that if she got a "Stuffies" for Christmas, she'd be able to keep her room clean cause it holds so much stuff!

So imagine my delight when, channel surfing over Thanksgiving break, I happen upon a momprenuer segment of The Katie Couric Show. She had me at hand bag. 

Sherrill W. Mosee, had a problem and decided to create a solution. A few years ago, Mosee was working at her nonprofit organization when she noticed student moms struggling to carry everything they needed for school and their children. They needed a purse, diaper bag and book bag. She realized that she was just like them, carrying three bags to work—a purse, laptop bag and lunch bag. However, she couldn't find a fashionable handbag that would eliminate the need to carry multiply bags and keep her organized.

Determined to find a better way, Mosee decided to put her engineering degree to work and make one.

MinkeeBlue handbags are innovative bags with a folding divider that creates an upper and lower compartment to better organize and separate items. The upper compartment is used to carry your essentials like wallet, make-up, keys, cell phone, sunglasses and other personal items. The lower compartment holds a thermo insulated insert bag. The insert bag can be used to keep food cool or warm, store baby items, toiletries or any other items you want to separate from your essentials in the upper compartment. When you’re not using the insert bag, you can store just about anything else in the lower compartment like shoes, clothing, or snacks. 

The handbags also include a padded slip pocket to store your laptop, padded shoulder strap, and side pockets for water. When the folding divider is in its open position, it converts from a two compartment handbag to a full tote bag providing functionality and versatility. Items from up to three bags can be stored in one MinkeeBlue handbag. 

And these are fashionable bags (15.5”L x 6”W x 13.5”H) made of high quality synthetic leather, available in two styles and four colors; black, brown/cream, red, and blue. MinkeeBlue Baby includes a changing pad. MinkeeBlue Travel includes a lingerie bag. MinkeeBlue just might be the ultimate handbag for work, travel and mom. I can't wait to be among the first to own a Minkee Blue bag.

For more information about MinkeeBlue and to view a demonstration video, visit  www.minkeeblue.com. What would you put in your bag? Share your bag lady solutions in the comments below.

How to Prepare for being Stranded In Your Car

As I sit safely in my hotel room hundreds of miles from the current state of emergency at home in Atlanta, I can't help but think about my friends, colleagues and neighbors who spent literally 6-12 hours in their cars on the various highways in our commuter-centric city stranded by a snow/ice storm and bad timing.


The weatherpersons predicted the storm would hit south of the city and only a light dusting would occur on the north side. So, schools weren't closed and people commuted to work as usual. By mid afternoon, it became clear that the front would hit the city and schools were closed early. Subsequently, thousands of office workers hit the roads to go pick up or be home for their children. And the snow came down.What resulted was gridlock, accidents and students stranded at schools and daycares overnight. Motorists eventually ran out of gas, abandoned their cars and took to the streets to walk home or find some shelter. And Southern hospitality shined on. A FaceBook group was formed so people could match resources with need. Total strangers ventured out bringing people back to warm homes and hot meals. Home Depot opened its doors across the city allowing people to find shelter, as did grocery stores and gas stations and drug stores. Prayers by the thousands were offered up.

This morning it is still a mess and I'm not sure I'll even make it home on my 6 p.m. rescheduled flight, but I sit here very proud of my fellow Atlantans and their response to this crisis. So far as I know they have not plundered the places who have offered shelter. Violence and crime are non existent in the news coverage. It has just been a response of love, concern and hospitality. That's why the call us the city to busy to hate.

As I pray for and check on my friends back home, I wonder what it would be like to be stranded for hours in a car. In gridlock. In snow and ice. Alone. Or worse, with my kids. I am a big fan of preparedness. This is why I always have a big bag with me - you never know what you are gonna need! I'd like to think that would help a little in this terrible situation.
A while back I posted about how to winterize your vehicle (not car maintenance but how to stock it) for winter. Now, I think I'd add to that list. Like a back up cell phone charger, since the mobile phone has been a lifeline to so many during this ordeal.
Below are some of the standard things I try to keep in my vehicle year-round to be prepared for come what may:

• Ponchos for everyone

• Umbrella

• First aid kit

• Blanket/large towel

• Paper & pencil/pen

• Car games for kids

• Notecards, tape, scissors, tissue, bag (for last minute gift wrap)

• Tissues, paper towels

• Wipes

• Trash bags

• Gallon zip lock bags (in case of illness and to hold toy collections)

• Extra iPhone charger / camera charger

• Spark plugs

• Hair brush and pony tail holders (for pulling kids hair back on way to activities)

• Change

• Cups

• Flashlights

• Extra pull ups

• Change of clothes for  little kids

• Utensils 

• Travel potty (a small bucket for emergencies)

• Hand sanitizer

• Travel size powder, deodorant, toothbrush in glove box

• Earplugs

• Nuts or granola bars

• Extra socks for my little guy

• Ice scraper

• Hats, gloves and a scarf for everyone

I try to keep it all organized with back of seat organizers, those storage bags you can suck the air out of for under seats, seat organizers that go under car seats, a stocked backpack that always stays in the car and strategic use of the glove box, cubbies and seat pockets.

I also never leave the house or work without a supply of drinks and snacks. What am I missing? What would you want in your car in a 12 hour gridlock?

Must-Have Items For Your Car This Summer

In November 2011, I posted a list of Top Must-Have Items for Your Car.  While this list is pretty comprehensive, it still needs to be adjusted seasonally. So each season, I make sure that while my husband checks the mechanics, I check the practical items that make my life as a working/involved mom a little less hectic. 

I have learned that having a box or bag with these items handy can help me take advantage of the spontaneous opportunities summer holds as well as the unplanned mishaps.

Car Must Haves for Summer Sanity:

1. Flip flops for everyone in the family
2. Extra towels
3. Sun screen
4. Bug spray
5. Ziploc bags for wet clothes
6. Sun Shield
7. Noodles or floats
8. Swim diapers
9. Child safety items such as swim vests
10. A folding picnic blanket
11. Lawn chairs
12. Soft-sided cooler
13. Play list of fun road trip songs

Click here for my list of Winter Must-have Car Items.

I'd love to hear from you. What must-have items do you have in your car during the summertime? 

Travel Tips Retake

I should have taken my own advice. I thought I would save my company some money by not checking a bag. After all, I was only going to be gone two nights. I also wanted my bag to be easily manageable in stowing in overhead bins, etc. So, I packed for a conference in a basic duffle bag and my work back pack.

Now, I am 5'1. I travel out of the Atlanta airport which is one of with largest airports in the country. I should have known better.

So, I get to the airport to find that not only was Park and Ride full, but the daily airport parking for South terminal was also full. I had to find a space in North terminal and schlep all the way inside to security. I quickly realized the error of my ways when my shoulder felt like it was out of joint by the time I made it through the first checkpoint.

And as luck would have it, my gate was the farthest gate in the terminal.

Upon arrival at Reagan International, I realized I would need to take the Metro to Bethesda = more schlepping! I even scanned the gate for a travel dolly I could purchase to no avail.

So, lesson learned. No matter how short the trip, be prepared. Have a bag with wheels What are some of your favorite travel tips?

My No Mudroom Solution

 We moved into our home last year and one thing I really miss from our old place is a mudroom. When you have three kids coming and going, it is nice to have a place for everything to land that is not the kitchen table. In our new home, the kitchen door (which is our primary entry) opens directly onto the kitchen eating area. There is a long blank wall that leads from the door to the laundry room that I could use but it has to be narrow to not get in the way of traffic flow so I can not do any built ins or furniture. As we approached the new school year, I turned to Pinterest for some organization ideas.

 Inspired by this....

I made this for $65.

I found the mail sorter boxes in a catalog. They are not extremely sturdy, but they will do and I love the chalkboard note area. There is a slot for each child, my husband and me, as well as for mail. I got the letter hooks for $1 a piece at Michaels. Since my husband and I both have a first initial that is the same as one of our kids, we got M and D for mom and dad. I am just missing the narrow bench and baskets you can see in the inspiration picture. I will keep my out at the Goodwill and antique shops for the perfect bench. Overall, I am happy with the knock off.