Monday, October 19, 2015

Pentatonix and other things

Happy Monday Morning Night All,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed or endured the first day of the work week.

Thanks to those who wished me well and gave me tips on sprucing my looks for my #ClosetChallenge. That ended a few days back and I totally enjoyed it. I am still wearing those pieces even though I have cleaned out my closet. Cleaning out my closet during that time was not as hard, because I realized that I really didn't need as much as I thought I did. I was accumulating stuff to fill a need that stuff can never fill.

I thought I would write about the screen free week we had in our household a few weeks back, but I started this post in the morning with that in mind and I am just getting back to it and I really don't feel like talking about that now. All I can say is, that week was really taxing at the beginning. After the first 3 days my daughter was begging for us to reduce the week to 5 days instead of 7. We all survived it. I will try to share that experience soon.

We finally watched Pitch Perfect 2 on Saturday for our movie night and in the spirit of Acapella, I share these Pentatonix videos. I just love the way these guys do music.




Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Update on Closet Challenge

A quick update on my #ClosetChallenge, this is a picture of the clothes I picked for the challenge. To know more about the  challenge I have taken on, read here

#ClosetChallenge

I know this doesn't look pretty, if I had to wait for it to look pretty, I will procrastinate till the whole challenge is over. 

We are having a screen-free week at home this week, more on that on my next post. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the week so far. 

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Hello October and #TheClosetChallenge

Source

Though our trees are still green and our clouds are mostly grey.

Do you sometimes look at your closet and go, " I have nothing to wear, maybe I need to go shopping" and said closet is stuffed full with clothes?
Me three.
It is the same routine almost everyday, even times when I am so organized that I pick out my clothes for the week on Sunday. After trying out several outfits and wasting my time, I end up wearing my trusty black jeans with a tee.

Quick fact: Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama wore the same outfit everyday to cut out that time and energy that it will take to make that decision.

Over the summer, I read about wardrobe capsule and I wanted to try it. October is the month for the fall capsule and I thought by then, I would have organized my wardrobe, but that hasn't happened. I am not giving up, this is still the beginning of October and the capsule is for 3 months.

To start off and push myself in that direction I started #TheClosetChallenge yesterday with my own modifications.

The closet challenge is picking out 7 items of clothing from your closet and wearing them for 30 days.
The motto and prayer for the challenge: Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be and becoming that person - St. Therese of Lisieux.

For me, instead of 30 days, I will do the challenge for 15 days. This will give me enough time to sort out my clothes for  my wardrobe capsule.

Apart from the motto and prayer for the challenge, I  also love the idea behind the challenge because it will not only make you creative with your 7 items, it is also a lesson on living with less and being grateful for what you have.
For my seven items I chose
1 shirt
1 blouse
1 graphic tee
2 pairs of pants- 1 jeans, 1 fitted trousers
1 skirt
1 gown

Pictures coming up soon

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Hello September... Goodbye September

Hello September!.... Goodbye September!

September came in a whirlwind and just like whirlwinds is almost outta here, to be checked as done. We have been living life, enjoying the moments and soaking up the last bit of summer. Right now, it feels like we are in autumn full swing even though we are just about one week in. 

I have been super busy these past few weeks. My sister had a baby girl in August, making the number of children in our 2 family home 5. She had a challenging delivery but we thank God that everything turned out well. Mummy is already back to her pre-pregnancy weight and baby is growing well.
Just said to come on here and put down one post before October.
Hope everyone is doing okay

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

I love Bollywood movies. I always try to watch one or half of one * since one movie is at least 2 hours long* over the weekend. I don't know what it is about them, but they relax me and make me happy. My family, they don't get it. At first my kids thought I understood the language, or that I speak the language because whenever they sat down to watch one with me, they never understood what the people were saying. So, I told them, I read the words on the screen to understand what is being said and I saw the confusion on their faces especially my son * who hates to read*. 'Why would anyone do that?' he asked, followed by 'It's double work'. We now went into a discussion of why watching it is not relaxing because I have to read (DS), volume doesnt matter since I am reading the movie anyways (DD) and the words scrolling on the screen is so distracting (DH). They don't get it though. Reading relaxes me,  reading with visual makes it double fun; the volume is also important because I need to hear the nuances in the speech. They just don't get it.

So I finished up one  movie I started watching last weekend on sunday, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, amidst but you have seen this movie more than once. It is a fun movie, positive energy, friendships and just going out to do something new despite your fears. But the part of the movie that I will like to talk about is one of the main characters, Arjun, a stock market shark, who has a plan to work his butt off and retire early. That is a good plan. The bad thing about the plan is that he was so focused on his goal, he wasn't living life. He lost relationships, strained friendships and only lived for making that money so he will achieve that dream. He was putting other aspects of his life on hold till he got what he is aiming for. Eventually, he had a turn around,

Most of us are guilty of this, me included.  I always tell myself:
I will not do this right now, till I get that;
I won't travel till my kids are grown; 
I won't get in the pool till I have lost weight; 
I won't start working on my dreams till everything is set;
It shouldn't be so.
While waiting to achieve the big goal, work on the small ones.
Live life.
Instead of
I won't travel till my kids are grown, I will take short trips instead.
That extra weight shouldn't stop me from having fun in the pool with my kids.
Remember the big goals but don't also forget to live.


ZNMD

I love holidays official or unofficial;  Today is National Sons and daughters day. For those of us with kids, spend sometime with them today. Let them know you are happy they are in your life.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hello August

yay!!!

Happy August folks.

I love beginnings. 
Another opportunity to start over, work on old goals, make new ones; another opportunity to hope, hope for the best and work towards the best. Another opportunity to get it right.

Lately I have watched some periscope broadcasts that have been nudging my conscience and practically telling me to just go for my dreams and stop overthinking it. GoodNaijaGirl had one of such broadcasts and because she left her comfort zone by doing a scope, I was encouraged that I can also work on myself. Instead of procrastinating, I can totally do this. Unoma Nwakwor, an author who writes faith based movies and books shared a beautiful message yesterday. She talked about knowing your purpose and working towards achieving it. Her message was so uplifting I wish there was a way I could save it, but periscope vanishes after 24 hours. Today I watched an inspiring YouTube video on Sisi Yemi TV where she shared tips on how to get what you want. 

For today, I am motivated to work on those things I have always dreamed about. Cheers to an awesome new month.


Thursday, July 23, 2015

July post


I can't believe July is almost over and and summer is in full swing. Yay!!! We have even kinda found our rhythm; Taking things easy, soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful weather all around. The first few days after school closed, I  was on panic mode when I realized I had no summer day camp to fall back on and that I had to plan all our activities myself. Summer camp was so good and that was what we were used to. Bus picks them up in the morning and they are gone for most of the day and I get to do my own stuff. They get their crafts, drama, shows, swimming, archery, soccer groove on over there, come back home to crash, only to do it all over again the next day... and on it goes. That was good for me.

So, I put  my mommy pants on and searched online. I got so many suggestions but I picked this one because it  looked like something we could manage; not too overwhelming



super summer schedule - this is good in theory.  in reality, i can see a lot of eye rolls this summer!source



We have been using these books to keep our brains still working.




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Summer Bridge Activities 1-2 Bridging first to second,Summer Bridge, summer bridge Activities, summer bridge books, summer bridge workbook,  summer workbooks, summer bridge workbooks, summer bridge activity books, summer workbook, schoodoodle, amazon, edugeeks, learning how, learning express, school, pta, pto, bulk, discount, prices,
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We signed up for the summer reading program at our local library and I have stepped up my reading game. While the kids are doing their 20 minutes of reading, I also try to get some chapters in.

Journaling is back too... for everyone. Though they still complain but we try to do it even if it is a sentence with a picture, Just do it. * Someone has been drawing Optimus prime and bumble bee almost everyday*

We are saying  bye bye to Velcro snaps and learning how to tie shoe laces.

We are working on reviewing  our chores list.

So far summer has been good. I am thankful and grateful to God for all we have experienced so far.
I can't believe July is almost over *I had plans to blog more, oh well*

How is summer going at your end?