Smooth Mornings

If you have school-aged kids like me (or even if you don't!), you probably understand how chaotic mornings can be!  Rushing around to get yourself dressed, the kids dressed, fed, lunch packed, hair braided, teeth brushed, and outside to the bus stop before you see the bus drive away past your house is not easy!!!

Well, here is our little morning routine.  It still is chaotic, but we have found some great ways to make it run a little smoother around here!!!

The Night Before we:
1. Do homework,
2. Get backpack ready,
3. Set out lunch bag if packing,
4. Set out clothes

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Morning Routine:
6:45 AM My iPhone alarm goes off!
6:45 AM Shower: I get up and shower right away, get dressed, and head downstairs

7:00 AM Coffee is waiting for me: I set my coffee maker timer the night before so I have my coffee all brewed and ready for me in the morning.  This is probably unnecessary if you have a Keurig, but I still haven't decided whether to get one of those yet. So, my Mr. Coffee works just fine for now!

7:00-7:30 AM Makeup: Put on makeup while watching DVR or news. I have all my daily makeup/skin care in a makeup case that I tuck next to our sofa in the family room.  I love putting it on while I catch up on my DVR or watch the morning news.  I know I won't have much of a chance to put it on the rest of the day, so why not just get it over and done?!

7:30 AM Kids wake up/get dressed: My daughter uses her iPod alarm to wake up. My son only goes to preschool one morning per week, so I let him sleep as late as he wants on most days.

--Kids' clothes: Once the iPod wakes her up, my daughter gets dressed.  We always set out her clothes the night before.  She helps decide what she is wearing and we lay it on the end of her bed.
7:30 AM Pack lunch (she decides the night before whether she will pack or buy.  If she wants to pack, she decides what she wants in her lunch and we set out any non perishables.
7:35 AM Make breakfast: I try to make breakfast before the kids come downstairs so it's ready for them, but sometimes it's more like 7:45 before they eat.
7:45-8:00 AM Eat breakfast (Mya is more slow-moving in the morning, so she takes her good old time to eat!)
8:00-8:15 AM Do hair: This is when I do my hair and Mya's hair.
8:15 AM Brush teeth

8:20 AM Shoes & socks on, Coats on
8:25 AM Off to bus stop!
Then Mason and I carry on with our day!!!

Happy New Year!!!

It's 2014!

Plans for 2014:
I have big plans for this blog in 2014!!  I have 30 topics and posts all lined up for January and I am committing to this blog for one reason: to help women, especially moms!  I am a Bible-believing follower of Jesus Christ, and I want to encourage other women. 

My Life: the good, the bad….and all in between!
I had some challenges in my life in 2013 that related to motherhood, and I want to help others who may be going through similar struggles or just daily stresses. Being a mom is not easy! But it's very rewarding! I hope to share the real stuff from my own life and experiences, not a candy-coated social media perspective (AKA lie!) that we often get from celebrities or even our own friends!

Just an ordinary Mom!
This blog is for all women, all ages!  I'm just an ordinary wife and mother of two, but I think that it's often the most "ordinary" people that we can relate to the best.  I know the url is fashionablemoms, but I will be covering a large number of topics, not just fashion!!!

Please leave your comments.  I want to hear from others just like myself!

NEW BLOG COMING SOON!!!

As you can see, I've started to revamp this whole blog with a new look! Coming January 1, 2014, I will have daily posts, and more tips, pics, and helpful info!  Stay tuned.!!!!!!

Kids' Chore Charts - FREE Printable

Free Chore Charts for Kids!  These are completely customizable Word documents.  You may add your own clipart, additional chores, kids' names, etc.!

Click to download:
(Permission is not required to download the file.  Please see download instructions for details.)

Our Home Projects

I'm in the process of posting pictures of our home projects.  I failed to take before pics of some of them, but in the more recent ones, you will see both before and after. 

Click (HERE) to see projects or click on the tab under the blog header.

Home Project: Goodbye Brass Fireplace Surround!

DECEMBER 2013
We hated the ugly brass fireplace surround!!!!  So after some online research, I discovered an easy, inexpensive fix (as opposed to purchasing a new surround with doors that would cost about $300-$400!)

BEFORE (ugly brass!)

AFTER one coat of black Rust-oleum high-heat paint 

($13, Home Depot) I used a sponge brush to paint it on, taping off the brick with paper tape and painter's tape.

2014 Calendars

Here are some 2014 Calendars.  Click on image to download and print!