Yesterday was a wonderful, inspiring day around these parts.  Kelly’s oldest daughter and my youngest daughter wanted short hair for the hot summer weather and both girls wanted to donate their clippings to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization which accepts donations of hair in order to make wigs for children with medical hair loss.  It was a sweet, compassionate gesture on the part of our kiddos and we are so proud of them!

Before:

 

 During:

 After:

 

 

That’s FORTY INCHES of hair on it’s way to Locks of Love!

And many thanks to Jennifer at Knotty Image Salon for so much enthusiasm and patience with us yesterday!

My family is asked to review children’s books frequently. And frankly… most of the time… they aren’t age appropriate… even though I let them know the ages of my children. Being that summer break has started and school is already far from their thoughts… a very appropriate book landed on our doorstep. The Big Bad Wolf Goes on Vacation: by Delphine Perret.

This book isn’t chapters of wordy, educational text. It’s written in an entertaining style… reminiscent of a comic strip.

The story revolves around the Big Bad Wolf (who is more than likely just a common dog) and a boy named Louis. They go on a roadtrip with Louis’ grandpa and hi-jinx ensue. Most of the humor revolves around the Big Bad Wolf and his unwillingness to accept that being “just a dog” is ok. In the end, Louis decides that “a vacation without a wolf, is like a beach without shells”.

Both of my girls enjoyed the book very much. They’re ages 7 and 8. I could see this book appealing to boys more so than girls in most cases. Some of the humor is geared towards smelly, rowdy boys :)

So… if you’re looking for some silly summer reading fun… I’d absolutely order this book.

 

*Note: I was NOT financially compensated for this book review.

I realize that by admitting I just ordered my very first set of personal business cards also means I’m admitting  to being about ten years behind every other blogger out there, but I don’t care because mine are SO PRETTY!  I finally have my own premium, high-quality, contemporary looking business cards (for all those blogging conferences and networking events I don’t seem to attend…?)!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was hard picking out just one design over at Minted.com  because I liked so many–and I was determined to throw my business to them because I’m really digging how they allow shoppers and creators like us submit original card designs and then make a little dough off of their work.  I’ve never heard of another paper company that does this.

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I wrote this post because I was so impressed with the product  I got from Minted.com.  They seem like an innovative company with classy designs, and so I enjoy window shopping there and now I am enjoying my business cards.  Minted.com did not ask or expect me to to feature them on the blog again (I’ve already done that once) and is not aware that I have done so again.  I genuinely appreciate the service, selection, and look of their website and I like to share gems like Minted with my friends when I have good reason to.  Go check them out!

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Cassandra can be found on Twitter @aclevergirl.  Learn more about her family’s unique challenges and why they have hope for a cure for muscular dystrophy at byrdsforacure.org.

As a busy mom of three it feels like there are not hours in the day to get done the “must dos”, much less get done the “really should dos” and “fun to dos”.   And now as the summer break from school is thrust upon us yet again, I find it challenging to put together any sort of plan of how to keep the kids busy and the household running smoothly while my sanity remains in tact.   Additionally, I am coming to terms with the fact that my oldest is a whopping nine years old now and she is ready to begin learning more independence and accept more responsibility around the house.

Enter the Chore Chart!

I am all about not reinventing the wheel, so rather than buy poster board and paint markers or create a weekly chores process flow chart, I turned to the Internet.  Turns out the Internet is full of people more talented and clever than I could ever be–chore chart templates abound!  If you are like-minded and want to leverage someone else’s creativity for the benefit of your own clean floors and refreshed sanity, check these out:

• Keeping it simple:  the MS Office chore chart template.
• These downloadable chore charts from Parents Magazine are ideal in my opinion except that while I can add tasks to their list I cannot delete the tasks that they included.  Also, you have to create an account on their site in order to access them–but what parent doesn’t already have an account at Parents Magazine?  (me.  i actually didn’t.  now i do.)
• Super simple chore charts from Chart Jungle.  You must print this one and then add chores to the list by hand.  This one is pre-filled and I like it for the younger kids.  (My 9 year old is probably too old for this one.)
• For when you have the time and the inclination for your chore chart to be a craft project unto itself, these ideas at How Does She are particularly awesome.
• And lastly, if you prefer to enjoy looking at chore charts without actually doing anything else then check out this Pinterest page. (that’s how you Pinteresters work, right?)  (I KID!)

So, what did I end up going with?  Something super fast and immediately useable for us.  It is functional but not fancy enough for the high standards at my house (HA!).  But I have run out of time to come up with something more complicated and this will do.  Download this template here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know it doesn’t look like much, but I had to start somewhere. If I don’t start the summer off by being a taskmaster then I will lose all control!

The hardest part about delegating certain chores to the kiddos is knowing that newbie mistakes will happen–darks might get washed with whites and a dish here and there might get broken, but letting them mess up a little now will ensure they get it right in the future, I think.

 

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Cassandra can be found on Twitter @aclevergirl.  Learn more about her family’s unique challenges and why they have hope for a cure for muscular dystrophy at byrdsforacure.org.