On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the U.S. I wanted to repost this.
I am going to take a risk here and stray from my usual peppy upbeat stories, but I hope you will bear with me. This one is more serious. I am currently a sixth-grade teacher, and I took some of my students outside today to place flags around the front of our school in remembrance of those who died in the horrific terrorist attack on September 11.
The children placed flags all around the school to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11.
Where Were You on 9/11?
The attack was 18 years ago, yet every adult can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. My students had not been born yet that day. I remember where I was. I was living in Germany at the time. I was on the staff of a large youth outreach organization and was providing youth ministry to American students in grades 6 – 12 whose parents were stationed in the U.S. Army in Hohenfels, Germany. It was a little after 4:00 P.M. Germany time, and I was in my office on post listening to the only radio channel I could pick up in English: NPR. I heard the announcer describe the first plane crash, and I remember thinking, “Wow, that is so horrible!” But then the announcer seemed to be getting new information, and his usual neutral tone changed to alarm.
I couldn’t process what was happening.
When I heard about the second one, then the third crash at the Pentagon I felt shocked and confused like all of us did. I couldn’t really process what was happening. No one seemed to know exactly what was going on, and there were so many different reports coming in. Was it an accident? Was it on purpose? Was there a fire in the boiler room? I packed up and left my office to drive off the post to my apartment and saw one of my high school girls walking home from her job at the Burger King on the post. I picked her up and drove her home so that she wouldn’t have to walk so far and was still trying to make sense of what I had just heard. I told her about the news, and after a silent pause she said, “My dad works at the Pentagon.”
Reality Check…
That’s when it hit me. “This is real,” I thought. “This is really happening and will affect all of these dear U.S. military families I work with. Those people have names and faces and children.” Fortunately, her dad was not there at the time and was O.K. But life as we know it was changed forever that day.
Our New Normal
Back at home I turned on the T.V. to British CNN (the only channel I got in English) and watched in horror and disbelief as I saw live footage of people jumping from top floor windows and the chaos at Ground Zero after the towers collapsed. I called my Mom, and I felt so incredibly homesick for my parents and my country. I was alone and single living in a foreign country where I did not know the language, and my home country was under attack. I will never forget it. All flights were grounded. I could not go home even if I tried. Earlier tonight I saw a documentary on The History Channel with raw footage from eyewitnesses. Unbelievable! Over 3,000 innocent lives lost that day – many were the brave firefighters and emergency responders who were trying to rescue others.
Will We Ever Feel Safe Again?
Everything was different from that day on. I was on the crisis team at the school and available for students who needed to talk about their feelings. Many of their moms and dads were being deployed to Afghanistan for war. It took hours to get on the post for several days after that. They had bomb-sniffing dogs and those long metal poles with mirrors on the end that they would put under your car to check for bombs. The Germans placed flowers all over the gate and fence outside the post to show their support.
Every Spring Break we took high school students along with some from other posts around Europe to the Czech Republic for an annual service project week. We would do things like build playgrounds for schools that had none or only had broken down gray metal ones from Communist days. We would build sturdy wooden ones and paint them bright colors. It is so valuable for children to learn how to take the focus off of themselves and serve others less fortunate. After the attack, all Americans overseas were considered “soft targets,” so the Army Command made us change the service project to smaller regional ones “inside the fence,” meaning on protected military posts.
I can remember feeling so anxious, because we did not know what would happen next. And we also felt anger. What makes them think they have the right to come into our country and kill so many innocent people? Lots of children lost both mother and father that day. Every time we fly now we are reminded of 9/11 as we stand in the security line and the X-ray machine.
But what I told my students today is how great it was to see the strength of the American people and how we all came together as a nation. Today everyone is so divided politically and argue with each other over every opinion. But on 9/11 Americans were united. Democrat, Republican, Independent, every religion and race – it didn’t matter. We were one.
This is just my personal opinion. You are welcome to your own. But I feel angry when I see people using the flag for their own agenda and showing disrespect to those who gave their lives for our freedom. In my opinion the flag is not about race or politics. Those emergency workers who bravely went in to help others were of every race and religion and probably all had different political beliefs.
Patriot Day 9/11
May We Never Forget!
I wanted my students to know why I thank our veterans for their service. I wanted them to know that this is not just something that happened a long time ago to people we don’t know. This affected all their teachers. Those were real people with families who loved them. I wanted them to know why I remember. May we never forget!
Happy New Year! That’s what we are supposed to say on January 1 right? Well, this year the phrase may have more meaning. This past year was one for the history books – school online at home, working from home, Zoom, quarantining, wearing masks, economic problems, social unrest. Who else is ready to say “Bye Bye” to 2020? I say bring on 2021!
I love the idea of hitting the reset button in my life, as each new year gives me a chance for a fresh start. There is a natural motivation for improvement each new year. We feel inspired by the hope that the new year will be better – that we can get it right this time. But not much will change without setting goals.
I know, you are starting to tune me out now. Maybe all your plans for last year went out the window with covid, and you just hung on in survival mode. The thought of setting goals may seem unrealistic and overwhelming this time around.
Setting Goals is Super Important!
But I would argue that having goals for the different areas of your life may be more important this year than ever before. When things are the craziest that’s when having a roadmap is most essential. Things do not just magically come together in our lives. We have to live with intention and purpose. We need a plan.
I’m not in favor of New Years Resolutions. It is pointless to resolve for change when we have no plan. I think it is better to set goals than to make resolutions. Having good intentions accomplishes nothing. If we do not take strategic action in our lives our resolutions are no better than wishful thinking.
If you are not in the habit of setting goals, let this year be when you start. The key to successful goal setting though is to set SMART goals.
How to Set Goals That are SMART
S – Your Goals Must be SPECIFIC.
What do you want to change or improve this year? What accomplishments do you want to achieve? Be clear and specific. Instead of “I want to be healthier” describe what that will look like for you. It is better to say, “I want to lose 10 pounds, be able to run for at least 20 minutes without being winded, and lower my cholesterol.”
Ask Yourself: Exactly what do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important to me? Where is the location? Who needs to be involved? Which resources or limits are involved?
Then back that up and write down the steps that will get you to your goal. This is where you will spell out specific diet and exercise habits. Think ahead of time about any obstacles that might keep you from reaching your goal, and make a plan for how you’ll deal with any potential roadblocks.
M – Your Goals Must be MEASURABLE.
How will you know you’ve reached your goal? How long do you expect it will take you to reach your goal? It is important that your goals are measurable so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. When you can see your progress it helps you stay focused and keep going.
Ask yourself: How much? How many? And how will I know when this goal has been accomplished? For example, if you know your final goal is to lose 12 pounds, that means you will need to lose a pound a month. If you wanted to lose weight faster you would just use math. There are about 3500 calories in a pound, so you would have to reduce your diet by 500 calories a day or exercise and burn off 500 calories a day (or a combo of the two) to lose a pound a week.
Break your goal up into smaller mini-goals. Give yourself steps to follow daily, weekly, and monthly. Focus on one step at a time. When you accomplish one, start working on the next one. Do the next right thing in front of you. Make sure you have spelled out how you will know you have reached your goal.
A – Your Goals Need to be Achievable.
If you set goals that are too high to be realistic for you, then not only will you not reach them but you will also feel discouraged and may just give up on goal-setting all together. The goals you set should be challenging enough to stretch your growth, but they must also be possible to reach.
Ask yourself: How will I be able to accomplish this goal? How realistic is this goal, based on my resources available and constraints such as cost? Do I have the time to complete the requirements?
Be careful not to set goals that someone else has power over. For example, if you set a goal to get a certain job or get a promotion, these goals depend on factors beyond your control such as who else applies and the decisions of others. But the goal of completing a training program that you need in order to be considered for the promotion, well that is within your control.
R – Your Goals Need to be RELEVANT to You.
Don’t try to meet someone else’s expectations. Your goal needs to matter to you and align with your values and desires. It’s OK to get support from others, but you need to have control over your own goals.
Here’s the truth—striving to be or do what someone else wants for your life never works out. You have to live with the consequences of your own choices. Who are you trying to please? If the goal is not your own true desire, then you won’t have the motivation to stick with it. Reaching goals can be hard work, and you have to be passionate about what you want in life to keep going.
Just because your parent or spouse wants you to get out of debt doesn’t mean you will do it. You have to want it too. The goals you set have to be your goals. They have to be relevant to you and what you want deep down in your life. When it comes down to it, you’re the one who has to fight to make them a reality. You have to want it.
Ask yourself: Does this match my other efforts and needs? Does this goal seem worthwhile to me? Is this the right time for this? Am I the right person to accomplish this? Is this really my goal? Or is it someone else’s desire for me?
T – Your Goals Should be TIME-BOUND.
You need to set a time limit for your goal. There needs to be a clear finish line. You will need a clear plan for what daily activities it will take to reach your goal by a certain deadline.
Every goal needs a target date. Having a deadline to work toward will keep you motivated. You do not want less important everyday activities to keep you from your priority longer-term goals.
Ask yourself: When will I do this? Do I have a deadline? What can I accomplish six months from now? What can I accomplish six weeks from now? What do I need to do today to get there?
Now Write Your Goals Down!
People are much more likely to stick to and reach their goals when they write them down and review them regularly. Write the goals, the deadlines, and the steps to get there. Written goals create accountability and help you track your progress along the way.
Ask Yourself: Do I know what steps I must take to reach my goal? Have I written my goals down and written out a specific plan (steps) for how to get there?
What Areas of Life Should I Focus On When Setting Goals?
I recommend that you focus on at least four key areas as you set life goals:
Physical Health
This could include things like diet and exercise, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep.
Spiritual Health
This area might include starting a prayer journal, joining a Bible study at your church, or daily Bible reading.
Career Goals
Maybe you have a certain sales target you want to reach. Or maybe you want to complete further training to work toward a promotion or raise. Career goals could also include looking for a new career path. If you have ever wanted to start your own blogging business I highly recommend Pete and Heather Reese’s free course Start a Blogging Business. It gives you all the information you need to get started, and it is how I learned to blog.
Financial Goals
This area is separate from career goals. These goals would be in the area of personal finances. They include things such as using a monthly zero-based budget, getting out of debt, and saving for retirement.
There are other areas you can include such as family, education, social, etc. but these four cover a lot and will be a great way to get focused in 2021.
Don’t get discouraged if you find yourself occasionally getting off track. Just stay focused and keep taking the next small steps forward toward your end goal. Things happen. I mean who could have ever predicted the craziness of 2020? There will be things that happen that are beyond your control. It’s okay! Just get back up and keep going.
Bring on the new year! We can do this!
Have you already written your new year goals down? Want to share any of them? I’d love to read some of them in the comments below.
Doing any last-minute Christmas shopping? Christmas this year will certainly be different. Because of covid, this will be the first time in about ten years that I have not sung in our church’s six Christmas Eve services the two days before Christmas. No long choir rehearsals, dress rehearsal, and all of the hours waiting at church before and after services. So you would think that with all this extra time on my hands I would be more organized in my holiday preparations.
This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Are you a last-minute Christmas person? This year more people have been ordering gifts online. I have to say that if you do not have Amazon prime you are missing out! And you are in luck, if you use my affiliate link you can get 50% off Amazon Prime until the end of this month!
One of the best perks of being a Prime member is the free shipping. And it is usually next day shipping too. But in addition to free shipping, special member discounts, and the famous Prime Day, you get lots of free movies.
And speaking of movies, movies make great gifts for all ages. What is your favorite holiday movie? Are you a hopeless romantic who watches the same plot and set used over and over with different characters in Hallmark Christmas movies? Or do you like the classics? One of my favorites is Charlie Brown. And who can forget Buddy the Elf? Can you believe that my husband had not ever seen the movie Elf? I know, right? So I did what I had to do. I staged an intervention right here in our living room!
Movies make great last-minute Christmas shopping ideas. One of my favorites: The movie “Elf” has so many quotable lines!
What’s you favorite line from the movie “Elf?” Here are some of mine:
I love smiling. Smiling is my favorite!
Work. Work is your favorite.
You sit on a throne of lies.
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear.
Last night I watched another classic: “The Sound of Music.” When I lived in Germany I was only about four hours from Salzburg, Austria where they filmed the movie. I took a tour once and got to see the set. Stay tuned for more travel stories, and I will show you some of my pictures of the beautiful Alps.
And now that you have signed up for Amazon Prime, I want to share an awesome purchase we just made. We got two small Wyze cameras for less than $50, and I love them! Our puppy, Layla, has separation anxiety and tears up things when we both leave for work. She has torn up a chair, the carpet, a sofa, and two dog beds!
So now I can spy on her and the other dog when I’m gone. And the cool thing is that it is two-way voice-activated, so I can just push a microphone icon and talk to Layla. When I say, “Layla, you better not tear up your new dog bed,” you should see her startled expression. It’s hilarious! Anyway, we like these so much that we have ordered another one for outdoors. They are super easy to set up. We just love them. Why am I sharing this? Well, they are on sale only for the holidays, so if you use my affiliate link you can grab yours in time for Christmas.
The Wyze Camera is an awesome last-minute Christmas shopping deal.
I can spy on Layla and talk to her. This is the night vision. The picture is very clear, and I could not be more pleased with this Wyze camera, especially for the price. Click my affiliate link to get yours too at the sale price now.
Here are some more great ideas from Amazon for your last-minute Christmas shopping:
My Pillow – Wow! My husband and I just got these pillows recently, and they actually do live up to the hype. I have always had trouble finding a pillow that is just right for my neck. This one is perfect. My neck is perfectly aligned, and I breathe better. I have never had a better night’s sleep.
6-Piece Towel Set – This is another recent purchase. Our towels were looking pretty raggedy, so it was time to replace them. These towel sets are a really good deal, and they have a wide variety of colors.
Charmin Toilet Paper – This may sound like a weird Christmas gift, but maybe you can buy it for yourself! And honestly, it is still 2020, so toilet paper can make a valuable gift for the right person.
Remember how I said that Layla likes to tear things up when we leave for work? I had just purchased this big multi-pack, and the results are below. Charmin is our favorite because we think it is softer. And this package was literally the last one on the shelf in the grocery store. In fact, it was so far back I had to get a spatula displayed nearby and do some gymnastics to try to reach it (I am only 5′ 1″). Had I known about this deal on Amazon I would have jumped at it. This is way cheaper than the grocery store.
Even the dog fights over toilet paper.
Books – Books always make a great Christmas gift. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to read more, so receiving a gift at Christmas is always welcomed. I wanted to brush up on my Bible knowledge, so I bought a book called 30 Days to Understanding the Bible: Unlock the Scripture in 15 Minutes a Day. It is a great book for simplifying and helping me to remember all of the major characters, locations, and themes in the Bible. I also bought a business book called Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller.
Click either of these links and it will bring you to the book section of Amazon where you can browse for the book of your choice. They say if you don’t meet a few new people and read a few new books each year, then you will be the same person you were last year. Rather listen to a book? Audible Plus has an awesome Holiday Promotion until the end of the month. Only $4.95/month for the first six months!
So jump online and grab those last-minute gifts today so they’ll arrive in time for Christmas. Do you have any other good ideas? Let me know in the comments below. Also, don’t forget to share your favorite holiday movie choices. Merry Christmas!
This is absolutely the world’s greatest cornbread dressing – at least that’s what I think. It is my Mama’s recipe, and she is a good cook! Disclaimer: Since I originally posted this, I was gently reminded by my mom that it is not exactly her recipe because she makes her cornbread from scratch. Well alrighty then, I admit I made mine from a mix. But it still turned out awesome.
I am not exaggerating when I say that I have never tasted any I like better. I was born on Thanksgiving Day, and one of my favorite meals is turkey and dressing (sometimes with birthday cake). I have never shared this recipe with anyone before, so you are the first to learn my secret. I’ll even throw in the gravy recipe as well!
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
Ingredients
3 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 – 2 cans chicken broth
1 stick butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 Tablespoons sage
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 – 1 cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
Us 2 – 3 boxes of the cornbread mix to make the cornbread (I usually make it the night before). Crumble the cornbread into a bowl.
Pour soups and chicken broth over the cornbread and stir. Add melted butter, sage, and salt and pepper. Add half of the onions and celery and the pecans and stir until well mixed.
Pour into a greased 8 1/2 x 11 dish (or similar size). I used Pam spray.
Cook uncovered on 325 degrees for one hour. Serve with gravy, turkey, and cranberry sauce.
For the Gravy:
In a pot on the stove heat to boiling 32 oz. chicken broth and the rest of the onions and celery. You can add turkey giblets if you want to. I also add two chopped up boiled eggs. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 8 – 10 minutes.
Time management is important when working from home. Photo by Unsplash
Working from home is a huge thing now. It was a “thing” before, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who were fortunate enough to have kept their jobs most likely had to learn how to adapt to a new (but familiar) work environment. For some people working from home has been an easy transition. For others, it has been surprisingly tough.
Competing demands of other people in your home and the sudden lack of structure and schedule can feel overwhelming. But there are huge benefits to working at home. You can end up having a better work-life balance and get into a workflow or rhythm that matches your style and allows you to be even more productive.
There are several things that can contribute to you becoming a successful work-at-home employee. More and more companies across almost every industry accommodate an increasing number of employees who no longer wish to deal with the commute and office. Remote work has become an increasingly viable option for many. If you are in this category I hope this post will give you some valuable tips for how to best manage your time and be the most productive working from home.
Although becoming a successful remote employee depends on many factors including your work ethic and attitude, here are some basic tips for success that I and others have learned along the way.
1. Get Dressed For Work
Get Dressed For Work Even at Home Photo by Unsplash
When I first started blogging I would sometimes get up, get a cup of coffee and bring it back to my bed, then sit propped up in my bed with my pajamas on staring at the blue screen of my computer and smart phone for hours. This is not a good idea. Leave your phone across the room if you have to, but set your alarm and get out of bed on time every day. Then prepare for your day just like you would if you were going into the office. Get up and excercise (if you are a morning excersiser) then take a shower and get dressed.
Although you can get away with dressing more causally at home, you will want to dress as though you will be interacting with colleagues or customers in person. You never know when you will need to jump on a video call, and you don’t want to be caught with no pants on! A little makeup can’t hurt either.
Getting dressed gives your workday a specific starting point and energizes you for work. Being dressed for work makes it less tempting to crawl back into bed for a mid-day nap. Although sometimes short “power naps” can sometimes increase concentration and focus, no one is paying you to sleep.
Don’t Sleep Where You Work
Sort of like the “Get dressed for Work” idea, set up your workspace someplace away from your bedroom. Psychologically, you need to not be thinking about sleep while working. Get a good night’s sleep the night before, then be ready to work.
You need to set up an area that is just for work. My work area is my favorite room in the house. It is a beautiful little round room with 10 floor to ceiling windows. I have bird feeders and can watch the hummingbirds and other birds while I work. I have a desk, a printer, and a place for files. There is no TV or other distractions in my home office. In fact, we do not even have it fully furnished yet.
Make sure you have a comfortable chair. I am very short, so when my back and shoulders began to hurt I realized that my chair was not tall enough for me to properly position my hands on the computer. A simple cushion in my seat did the trick!
Don’t sleep in the same place you work, unless you are my dog Banjo.
Make Sure You Are Set Up Well With Technology
Having a good workspace that allows you to concentrate is extremely important. But you will also need to check with your company’s IT department or your manager to make sure you are equipped with the software programs and applications you need to work well remotely.
If your company has its own Virtual Private Network (VPN) that you use to connect to your e-mail or other internal systems, make sure you have tested it and that it functions well from your home office. It is also always a good idea to have a backup plan in the event that your connection experiences disruptions.
An uncluttered workspace will help with concentration when working at home. Photo by Unsplash
The same thing applies to your internet. If the wireless internet in your home office fails, make sure that you can still seamlessly connect through your smartphone, set up as a WiFi hot spot. Hopefully, your wireless plan is set up to handle large files. Otherwise, you could get hit with some enormous overage fees on your cell phone bill. You don’t want that! In addition, some worker’s companies will pay for phone and internet service and provide certain equipment.
Maintain Security at Home
Take security measures when accessing your organization’s data and systems remotely. Only use a secure WiFi network that requires a password for access. Better yet, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if your company has one.
When you back up your data, don’t save sensitive materials to removable media, such as flash drives. These can transfer malware and viruses, and they can also be easily lost.
Lock your computer when it is unattended, even if just for a few moments. None one else (not even family members) should see confidential data. Also, a few random keystrokes by your child or your pet could wreak havoc on whatever you were working on.
After work hours store your devices in a safe place, out of sight of anyone who might be passing by your window.
Keep Up Communication
Communicate often when you work from home. Photo by Unsplash
To succeed as a remote employee you must be able to communicate quickly and reliably. Update your manager or boss frequently, return phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner and reach out to customers often. Always be available and ready for group chats or video calls. Make sure the software you need is installed, and keep it updated. Make sure you know how to use all of the features before your big meeting as well. No one wants to see your lips moving but you forgot to unmute yourself.
Keep your calendar updated, and ensure that your status updates are accurate so that co-workers know when you are available. Avoid unnecessary online meetings, and make yourself as available as possible. Good communication builds trust in your work ethic and productivity and keeps managers from feeling like they need to micromanage.
Communication is important to assure your boss that you are really working and to keep remote workers connected to a team and maintain a sense of belonging. Find out which platforms are the most convenient for the people you frequently communicate with.
If you’re taking a lunch break, don’t ignore messages. Go ahead and respond even if it’s just to say, “I’m away from my desk, but I’ll check on that as soon as I get back and will let you know.” Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Your manager may not always know when you are struggling, so let them know earlier rather than later and head off problems before they occur.
Set Goals
Set goals to be productive working at home. Photo by Unsplash
A lot has been written about setting goals and productivity. But goals are especially important when you are working from home. Make a list of things that need to be done today, this week, and so on. Then prioritize them. Go ahead and tackle the hard thing first, as it will take your full energy and will be easy to put off doing. You will never “feel” like doing it, so you might as well go ahead and get it out of the way.
Your goals should follow the S.M.A.R.T. goal approach. Plan tasks that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. You are already probably very familiar with this format. There are lots of productivity apps that can help as well.
Try staying hyper-focused on one thing for 20 – 25 minutes intervals then take a 5-minute break in between. If you finish one task in that 25 minutes move on to another one during the next interval. As a teacher, I have often used a timer in my classes to signify when it is time to move to the next task. Set a timer for 25 minutes and see how productive you can be!
Procrastination can be tempting when there are no co-workers around to see if you are wasting time. So these transitions into and out of work mode are so important. To be successful working from home you have to be productive. And to be productive, you have to be motivated.
The main thing is that you need to be very strict with yourself about having a consistent schedule, so that you have clear boundaries between work, household chores, and play. Balance is key. Have a routine that includes clear start and stop times for work, time to eat, time to exercise, and time to relax.
Set Up Self-Motivation Strategies
It takes self-motivation to be successful working from home. Photo by Unsplash
Working from home may not give you the immediate gratification of verbal praise or recognition you might get in person. So it is important to use self-motivation strategies to boost your self-esteem, stay positive, and keep yourself motivated to keep going.
Give yourself little “rewards” now and then. For example, you tell yourself that as soon as you finish a particular boring or routine task you can get up and go get a coffee out of the kitchen. This may sound silly, but little mental tricks like this do work.
If you are a list person, there is a certain satisfaction in crossing off things on your To-Do List and recording completed tasks, not just things still unfinished.
Have you ever heard of the “Imposter Syndrome?” It’s when you start to doubt yourself and worry that you will eventually be “found out.” You think that others will realize just how incompetent you are. That may be weird sounding, but when people are physically isolated they need to know that their success is noticed. Otherwise, self-doubt creeps in. How do you address this at home? You celebrate your successes!
Make sure to celebrate the successes of your team members as well and let them know what you have accomplished. Publicly thank team members when they go out of their way to help you. An online “shout out” can go a long way.
Plan Against Distractions
To work effectively from home (or from anywhere for that matter), you will need to block out disturbances as best you can. It takes too long to get back on task after an interruption. Set and enforce boundaries by explaining to family members that your work area is off-limits and that they should avoid interrupting you during work hours unless it is super important. You can set aside breaks to spend time with them (such as lunch). That way they are less likely to try to get your attention while you are working.
Sometimes family members can be a distraction when working from home. Photo by Unsplash
But often people are not the biggest distractions. How much time do we waste looking at our phones? We hear a notification or see a message pop up. Then what we intended to be one glance turns into 20 minutes of scrolling Facebook and watching funny animal videos. You can use apps that switch off your social media periodically, but I have found that I can be productive and focused when I just turn off computer and phone notifications then check messages in between your work intervals.
As I mentioned before, your workspace is important. Is there enough light to see your computer screen but not so much that there is a reflective glare? And what about the noise? If it is not possible to shut out noise consider using headphones. Is the temperature comfortable? Arrange your desk so that distractions are not in your line of view. My husband’s home office is in another room of the house. Sometimes I can hear his video conference calls, but because it is two rooms over it is easy enough to tune it out.
People and electronics are not the only sources of distraction. A messy desk can also be a distraction. Make it a point to clear off the clutter and create a clean and organized work environment. Tame the paper tiger by sorting papers into piles to be filed, thrown way, shredded, or those that you need to take action on. Have the supplies you use regularly well within reach and only have what you are currently using on your desk. I have really loved using the Neat System for scanning all my piles of papers and storing them on the cloud.
Take Breaks Outside When Possible
Sometimes when working from home it is good to get outside.
Physical movement is crucial not only for your health but also for your mental focus and productivity. Go outside periodically and take a short walk to help unfog your brain and inspire creativity. The weather where I live in Memphis is hot and humid during the summer, so walks only work early in the morning or late in the evening. But for quick breaks, I still go outside and water the plants or throw the ball for the dog in the yard. Don’t let working from home be an excuse for lapsing into unhealthy behavior. Establish good routines, and get up out of your chair often.
Regular short breaks will keep you energized and focused. Besides, your eyes need a rest periodically from continuous screen time. This doesn’t mean switching from your computer screen to your phone. Give your eyes a short break from both.
Maybe meet a friend for a pre-work walk or coffee or schedule lunch meetings. This helps to prevent a feeling of isolation. It helps you feel like you have a regular schedule and gives you some good old Vitamin C.
I have been blessed during this Safer-At-Home time to have an almost daily group exercise class led by a fitness trainer friend via Zoom. It is all women, and that way I start my day with some good girl talk and exercise. My normal day these past few months has been walking the dogs with my husband then my group exercise class before I shower and work on my blog all day.
Even if you are a natural introvert we are all social creatures and you will need to build in some sort of socialization to keep from feeling lonely not being in a traditional office setting. It could be chatting with a neighbor or walking to the corner store. But make it a point to talk to someone daily who has nothing to do with your work.
Separate From Work Completely When Work Hours End
This one is hard for me. As a teacher I have gotten into the habit of planning lessons, grading papers, and doing paperwork at home after hours. But I never felt like my brain turned “off” of work. Then when the pandemic hit all of a sudden I had no school. So I found myself doing the same thing with my job as a blogger. I was working on it all the time. But now that teachers are returning to work this week I am going to have to be good about balanced scheduling of my time.
You need a place in your home that you go to recharge and disconnect from work at the end of the day. Ideally, you should wake up and go to sleep in a room free of technology. When you log off for the day, log off completely. Close your work e-mails and refocus on something other than work. Without the commute, you may be tempted to start earlier and finish later, but this may cause exhaustion eventually. Make sure you keep regular work hours so that you don’t wear yourself out.
Keep a regular work schedule when working from home, and take frequent breaks.
Trying to mix work and free time means you never truly shut off or power down your brain, and that’s not healthy. You’ve heard the phrase “bringing work home.” Well, if you are working from home you will have to be super intentional about not blurring the line between work and the rest of your life.
Just like you set up physical room boundaries, you need to set up mental and emotional boundaries or you run the risk of burning out and feeling depressed because you are always “on” and available. It’s like being on call all the time. Be present and in the moment with your friends and family and consistently enforce those boundaries you set up.
Practice Being Thankful
There are always many things we can think of to complain about. But what good does it do? When work starts to feel stressful try thinking about all the positives of working from home. Think of what all you have to be thankful for. For me, I love being able to look out my window at the bluebird who goes in and out of the bluebird house I built for her and currently has four beautiful pale blue eggs in her nest.
I love watching the hummingbirds drink the red nectar I put out for them near my window. I love that my dog sleeps in her dog bed right near my desk while I work. I love being able to eat lunch with my husband each day since he has also been working from home in another room. And I especially love the quiet that allows me to concentrate and write all these wonderful work-from-home tips for you.
Not everyone has these privileges, and I do not take it for granted. If you cannot find things to be thankful for as you work from home, maybe it is time to make a change and go back to the office!
Do you have any other tips for working from home successfully? I’d love to hear them in your comments below!
Summer time or holidays is usually when we think of picnics. But any time that is not too cold is the perefct time to plan a picnic. Maybe you want to know how to plan a picnic for a group or how to host a company picnic. Or maybe you just want to know how to plan a picnic with friends or how to plan a picnic date. No matter the reason, there are lots of picnic tips and tricks to make your job easier.
Here are some of my best tips for making your picnics some of your greatest memories. Here’s to hosting a perfect picnic!
1. Pick the best spot.
The right spot is important for the perfect picnic.
Look for a secluded level place on the ground with lots of soft grass, no rocks, and natural shade. If the weather is warm, make sure you are directly under a tree to get the best shade all day.
If you have children do not set up right next to a playground, as it will be noisy and difficult for you to keep an eye on your kiddos while you are also preparing food. But you will want plenty of open space for them to run around.
Staying at home? You can set up an awesome picnic right in your backyard. You can even have a picnic indoors on cold or rainy days if you are creative and flexible. With the right planning picnics can be fun anywhere! It’s about the people, the food, and the experience.
2. Bring the Best Blanket.
Bring a soft waterproof blanket for picnics.
If you are going to be sitting on the ground make sure your blanket is soft and has good cushioning. It needs to be one that is washable or waterproof, because let’s face it, picnics might get messy sometimes. You might even want to put a plastic sheet down first if the ground is damp.
I like to bring old throw pillows in case I want to take an after-picnic nap or have soft seating. You may also want to bring easy to carry folding chairs. This extra large picnic blanket is water resistant and rolls up with a carrying handle so you can carry it like a tote. It’s cute too!
If you are going to be eating at a picnic table in a park try using a fitted sheet for a table cloth. It keeps the table cloth from catching wind and tipping everything over.
3. Pack your food right.
Picnic baskets or totes with compartments to hold things are best.
We have a cute wicker picnic basket, but we hardly ever use it. Instead we use a small cooler with wheels that has a handle and cup holders on the top. Insulated lunch bags with pockets and compartments work great for food.
Make sure to chill your food thoroughly in the refrigerator before putting it in the cooler. The cooler won’t make the food any cooler if it is not already cold. Pack perishables right next to ice packs, and don’t let fruits or lettuce touch the ice or they might get damaged or have “freezer burn.”
Go ahead and fill your cooler all the way up with ice. This will keep food cooler than a half empty cooler. And make sure to put things back in the cooler when you are not using them. Food should not be left outdoors for more than one hour.
I try not to bring glass, but if I do bring glass, I wrap it in a small towel for padding then use the towel for cleanup later. When it comes to food, I try to prepare things ahead of time and bring only what we will eat in storage containers.
Bring screw top wine bottles and canned soft drinks or tea instead of having to deal with ice and so many cups.
Try this trick: Use cupcake papers to keep bugs out of your drink. You can turn them upside down over your drink and poke a straw through the middle. A ready made lid!
4. You will need a flat surface to rest your food on.
Trays to put your food on work great for picnics.
Don’t forget to bring something like a tray, small folding table, or other flat surface to put your food on. We use our cooler cup holders on the lid for drinks. I love this foldable portable small wine and snack table. Perfect for a picnic! And how cool are these wine glass holders that are on stakes in the ground. So clever! If you really want a posh picnic try this picnic backpack. It comes complete with a waterproof blanket and the whole cutlery set for four. Very elegant!
You might also want to bring a small cutting board, a knife, napkins, paper towels, a garbage bag, some disinfectant wipes, and bug spray. You might want to bring a cup or jar to put utensils in so that they don’t end up on the ground.
5. Pack food in Mason jars.
One cute idea is to pack your salads, side dishes, and condiments in lidded Mason jars. This gives your picnic a little country flare and keeps food from spilling. The jars are also easy to transport in your picnic basket or tote. You can purchase a 6-pack of Mason jars here at a reasonable price.
You can even make desserts in a jar by layering crushed graham crackers with pudding and topping it with chocolate chips or layer fruit, yoghurt, and granola.
Layered desserts in a Mason jar work great for picnics.
Salads are great in these jars, because the dressing goes in first and marinates things at the bottom. So you want to put in your hardier ingredients like feta cheese or chickpeas on that bottom layer and the more delicate ingredients at the top. Flip it over and dump it in to a bowl when serving, and the dressing will get drizzled over the top of the salad. Pasta salads or couscous works well too.
Pack salads and side dishes in Mason jars for picnics.
6. Get creative with your food choices.
Half the fun of picnics is that you oftentimes eat certain foods on picnics that you normally wouldn’t at home. Start your own traditions and bring a favorite recipe every time you have a picnic. Make sure to try my easy deviled eggs and creamy pimento cheese spread.
Tie sandwich wraps with a rubber band or spinach tie.
Try wrapping sandwiches in parchment paper then tie them together with string. No one wants to pull their sandwich out of a sandwich bag and have everything fall out of it. Keep sauces and dressings separate, so the bread won’t get soggy. Then add it right before eating. Use a hardy French baguette instead of sandwich sliced bread to keep it fresh and crispy.
Use hardier breads like French baguettes for picnic sandwiches.
Slice apples before you go, then put the slices back together into the shape of an apple again to keep the slices fresh and prevent them from turning brown. Put a rubber band around them to keep them together. You can also spritz a small amount of lemon juice on them to keep them fresh before putting them together.
7. Keep the flies away.
Flies do not like lemon or cloves.
I hate flies even though here in the South they are just a part of life in the summer. But nothing ruins people’s appetites at a picnic more than having flies light all over the food.
Here’s an easy trick to keep those pests away. Flies hate the smell of lemon and the smell of cloves (really I asked them), so take a lemon and cut it in half then stick cloves in each lemon half. Put the lemons in decorative bowls and place the bowls throughout the food areas. This should help keep the flies away!
Now you are ready to plan the prefect picnic. Have fun, take some cute photos, and enjoy your picnic! Do you have any other picnic tips, tricks, or hacks? Please leave a comment below and share this article. Now I’m hungry! 🙂
Want to know the best way to update your kitchen cabinets without having to replace them? Paint them! How much does it cost to get your kitchen cabinets painted white like we did? If you hired someone it would be about $2,000. But the cost to paint kitchen cabinets goes way down when you do it yourself.
My wonderful husband is painting mine now, and it looks fabulous! This is something he had never done before, so do not be afraid to take on this DIY paint project if you have always dreamed of having painted cabinets.
Richard painted the kitchen cabinet doors in the garage.
I am going to give you easy to follow step by step instructions as well as things to remember and things to avoid. We did all the research and trial and error for you, so you don’t have to.
Painting cabinets looks so easy in magazines and on Pinterest, but if you decide to take on this project be prepared to spend four to seven days on it – or a few weeks if you are only working on it nights and weekends like my husband. This is not a mere weekend project. Remember it will take several days to complete this paint project, so be ready to have your kitchen turned upside down for a while.
This stained wood is what our kitchen cabinets looked like before we painted them.
But no worries. If you follow my advice you will end up with the updated kitchen you’ve always wanted. You will enjoy a major sense of accomplishment and the many compliments you will receive for all of your efforts. You might even get motivated to try out one of my recipes!
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
First, make sure you choose the right paint for your type of cabinets.
Are your cabinets solid wood, laminate, or metal? It is important to buy the right kind of supplies for your kitchen cabinet project. Make sure you are following the specific instructions on your paint can label.
Wood cabinets like ours are ideal for painting, but really any surface that you can scuff up some with sandpaper can be painted. If your cabinets are laminate, you will need a special bonding primer. Also, it will not work well unless the laminate is in pretty good condition. I used chalk paint to paint an old piano that had a laminate surface, and it looks good.
The main thing to remember about choosing paint is to make sure you pick a high-quality paint. Go ahead and spend the money on good quality paint. It does not have to be a specialized cabinet paint, but it does need to be high quality.
Use a drop cloth to keep your garage clean.
You will want acrylic latex-based paint, because this kind is durable and easy to clean up. Make sure it is acrylic, not vinyl. With latex paints it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the cure time also.
We are using paint with a semi-gloss finish. A glossy finish looks shiny, but it will show every little ding and mistake. Semi-gloss and satin finishes are chosen most often for kitchens. Additionally, flat finish paints can be difficult to clean.
Prep the Kitchen Cabinets for Painting
Make sure you have some ventilation for the paint fumes, and have a drop cloth or papers handy to keep paint from getting everywhere. Richard removed the doors and drawers and worked on them in the garage with the windows open. This seems to work best.
Prep Step 1
First, examine your cabinets. What condition are they in? If the surfaces are already painted, you can paint over the old paint. The only time old paint needs to be removed is when it is in such bad condition that it can’t be covered. In that case you will need to purchase one of many stripping products on the market. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If your house was built before 1978 the old paint may be lead-based and will need to be removed. You can use a testing kit yourself or have it tested to check for lead.
Prep Step 2
Empty the cabinets and set everything out of the way of the dust and paint. My kitchen table was covered with dishes during this project, and we had to eat on TV trays, but it was worth it.
Next, remove all the doors, drawers and hardware. Some people try to save time by painting everything at once – hinges and all. But over time your cabinets and hardware will start to show chips and other wear and tear. When the paint on the hardware starts to crack you will have a hard time getting it off. It’s just not worth it.
One big mistake people often make is not labeling where your doors, drawers and hardware go. All of this needs to go back in the same place, so label them with numbers or descriptions on painter’s tape. That way you can reinstall them in the rights spots. Put all the screws and hinges in a jar, plastic bag or cup for safekeeping and label where it goes. Don’t leave it all up to guesswork.
Don’t forget to label cabinet doors so you can put everything back in the right spot.
Prep Step 3
Even if you normally keep your kitchen clean it is extremely important to wipe down all surfaces with a grease remover such as TSP cleaner to remove any grease and dirt. We made our own concoction with vinegar, warm water, and dish soap.
Next, repair any damaged areas. Use wood filler to fill in any dents or holes then smooth it out with a putty knife. Then you will need to let it dry according to the directions. If you’re planning to use the same hardware you can leave the hardware holes.
Cover the areas you want to protect and put painter’s tape on the wall along the cabinet edges.
Prep Step 4
Now sand everything with a medium grit (150 or 200) sandpaper to help the paint stick to the surface. Fold the sandpaper to get into the detailed areas on doors and drawers, and in the corners on the frames. You just want a quick buffing to take the gloss down to matte. You don’t want to get down to the bare wood.
Richard borrowed my dad’s Dewalt Random Orbit Sander, and this saved him hours of time and muscle sanding. This is well worth purchasing, and the one in the link above is the one we used.
Prep Step 5
All of this sanding creates dust that stays on the surface of the wood. Vacuum up this dust and use a tack cloth to wipe the surfaces before painting anything. If even just a little dust is painted over it can ruin the look of the surface and make it look gritty. Everything should be dust free before you paint.
Prime the Kitchen Cabinets
We used water based semi-gloss paint and primer combined, so we got to skip this step. But for other kinds of paint applying primer is a very important step in the painting process. Primer prepares the surface so that the paint sticks to it properly, and it also covers imperfections.
As tempting as it is, don’t skip this step. If you do you might notice the wood starting to bleed through your paint in a few months. You don’t want any surprise blotches that you could have avoided.
Primer Step 1
On the cabinet frames, work from the inside out. If you’re painting the inside of the cabinets, start at the back and work your way toward the front. you will need a brush to get into corners and detailed areas. Make sure to use even strokes.
Primer Step 2
You can use a mini roller on large, flat areas. The primer doesn’t have to look perfect, because you will be painting over it. Its purpose is to cover the surface and provide a good base for the finish paint. Work on one area at a time.
Primer Step 3
Once you’ve covered the surface, take your dry roller or brush (don’t reload it) and lightly go over the surface once again to remove any buildup. This is called “laying off” and helps create a smoother surface.
Primer Step 4
Next you will want to paint the doors and drawers. Take off the tape labels but keep them nearby. It is best to start with the backside of each door and apply a smooth even coat. When its dry, flip the door over and paint the front.
Use a brush for the detailed areas, and make sure that the primer doesn’t build up in the corners. Then you can use a foam roller for the larger flat surfaces. You only need to paint the front part of the drawers. If you paint the rest of it the paint might make it stick in the drawer frame.
Richard propped a shelf on chairs to make a long work area for painting kitchen cabinets.
Since the paint we used already had primer in it, we used three coats of the paint instead of one coat of primer and two coats of paint. When painting, my husband took a long shelf and propped it up on chairs in the garage. This gave him a long work area to use when he painted the doors.
He propped each door up on nails in order to have as few touch points as possible – sort of DIY painter’s pyramid. That way he was also able to paint the sides more easily. Make sure you let the primer dry completely (several hours).
The nails provided very little touch point and allowed Richard to paint the sides more easily.
Paint the Kitchen Cabinets
Painting Step 1
Just like with the primer you will want to use a high quality brush for smaller areas and a foam roller for the larger surfaces. Start with the cabinet frames, and use long even strokes with the brush. Feather out the edges. Once the surface has been painted resist the urge to keep going over it. Just let it dry.
A small foam roller can be used for the larger flat surfaces.
Also, make sure you pick out the best color for your kitchen. We have white crown molding, floor boards, and doors, so we wanted our cabinets the same color. My husband removed a piece of the wood flooring from his closet and took it with him to the paint store so that they could match the color when they mixed the paint.
If you are not sure what color to choose, try painting a large poster board with the color. Then hang the poster board up next to your backsplash and appliances and see how you like it. You don’t want to have to redo such a large project!
Painting Step 2
Next, paint the backs of the cabinet doors and drawers, After they have fully dried paint the fronts. Follow the directions on the paint can lable for the correct amount of time to let it dry. You do not want to rush this step or the paint won’t cure correctly.
Follow the directions on the paint can for dry time. Make sure the paint is fully cured.
Painting Step 3
Once the paint is dry apply a second coat of paint (or a third if you used paint/primer combined for the first coat). This should be your finishing coat of paint. Allow the paint to completely dry before trying to put anything back together. The long dry time is one of the reasons this project takes several days.
If you try to move any parts before the paint has cured and you accidentally smudge the paint, you will have to start all over by sanding the door and repainting it.
Refinish Cabinet Hardware
Clean your old hardware to spruce it up or replace it with something different for a new look. You can work on cleaning the hardware in between coats of paint while you are waiting for the paint to dry.
Scrub the hardware in warm water with dish saop and pat it dry. If you are going to paint the hardware lightly scuff it first with thin steel wool. Then attach them to a piece of cardboard and lightly spray them with primer then paint. Not too much!
You can work on cleaning up old hardware in between paint coats.
Reassemble the Kitchen Cabinets
I added shelf paper before we put the dishes back in. You can buy adhesive paper or padded liners that keep the dishes from slipping. You can choose plain or decorative.
I liked this shelf paper because it matches my blue dishes, is padded to help protect the dishes, and is made of a material that is easy to wipe clean.
Now it is time to put the cabinets back together. Make sure you look at your labels to know where everything goes, and put the doors and drawers all back in the right spots.
The door is missing here, because we are replacing it with a glass one.
If you are installing new hardware use a mounting template (special jig designed for cabinet and drawer hardware) to make sure everything is lined up correctly before you drill new holes.
Now you can refill your cabinet shelves. I used this as an opportunity to clean out all the contents get rid of what I don’t use or need. I sold several items on Facebook resale sites and made a little cash!
Now stand back and admire your work! Isn’t it beautiful? My husband gave me this “gift” for Christmas. He promised that he would paint my cabinets. And since school closed and I’ve been home, now was the perfect time. I love my new cabinets! It brightens up the kitchen and gives it a whole new updated look. Who’s got the best husband? Me! 🙂
What DIY project have you been wanting to try? Have you accomplished something big around your home during this quarantine? I would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment below.
I love travel quotes. Are these some of the best travel quotes of all time? You will have to decide. These are just a few of my favorites.
Why do I love travel quotes so much?
When I read these memorable inspirational travel quotes I am reminded of experiences I had and emotions I felt on past adventures, and it fuels my wanderlust for more travel.
See, I do not believe that we were meant to live a mediocre life, and these quotes clarify what I believe to be true about living adventurously and joyfully. These quotes from famous travelers and the beautiful images that accompany them capture little moments that change us.
The thing about people who travel is that we all “get it.” We may look different from one another, but we are all beautifully connected by our love for travel and our understanding of how important new experiences are to our own personal growth.
Below you will find some of my favorite travel quotes with shareable images. You are more than welcome to share these image quotes on your own Pinterest or Instagram accounts.
Paris is always a good idea. Audrey Hepburn
Paris is magical!
When I lived in Germany some friends and I rode on a train to France. It was my first time in a sleeper train car, and I was sort of nervous. I think I slept with my bag under the cover with me, because I was worried about thieves. But I was so tired I just crashed. It was the coolest thing. I went to sleep in one country and woke up in Paris! Paris is truly a magical city.
Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before. Dalai Lama
Yellowstone National Park
I have friends who like to vacation in the same spot year after year. Maybe they always go to the beach right when school ends, or they have a house at the lake. Me? I like to see new places. I always learn something new about myself each time I venture out of my comfort zone.
I took that picture in the image above last summer when we visited Yellowstone National Park for the first time. There is a special excitement that is reserved only for surprises and seeing something for the first time. If you are interested in Yellowstone, check out my 7 Day Wild West Adventure series.
Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. Ibn Battuta
The mountains tell stories.
Each destination has a story, if we will train our ear to listen. The mountains have always spoken to me. One year toward the end of college I spent the summer as a backpacking guide in Colorado. I saw mountains that you can only get to by foot or horseback. It was beautiful wilderness country!
Many times our stories begin with, “Do you remember that trip….?”
You have to take the trip to tell the story. Where will you go this year?
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. Augustine of Hippo
Everyone should visit Europe at least once in their lives.
This is the way I feel when I am having a conversation with someone who has never left his or her hometown. There is a whole world out there just waiting for us to get off the couch and explore!
Traveling is good for our souls in so many ways. I lived in Germany for four years back when the dollar still went really far over there, so I was able to travel some around Europe. I lived four hours from where “The Sound of Music” was filmed in Austria. I could easily drive to historic castles and cathedrals, the ski slopes, and quaint little villages, and I still consider living there one of the highlights of my life.
I grew personally while there, and I learned to understand and respect people from other cultures. This led to me becoming a certified English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and attend a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic church. I would have missed all of this if I had never traveled.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER. Mark Twain
Have no regrets.
At the end of my life I want to look back and know that I made a difference in the world. I want to have precious memories of adventures with loved ones or even alone.
I don’t want to be that girl who sits on the pool deck afraid to get wet because it will mess up her makeup. I want to be the one who does a flip off the diving board. I want to take risks and live with abandon. I want to have no regrets!
Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dare to be different.
Some of the best hiking experiences my husband and I have had are when we do not follow the most traveled path. We spend our honeymoon in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The Smokies are awesome!
However, the week we were scheduled to be there was during a government shut-down. So many roads and trails were closed, and there were no rangers on duty. Because of this we ended up exploring some lesser known trails.
One time we asked some locals where we could see a waterfall (always ask the locals for advice), and they directed us to a beautiful waterfall we had never seen on the map. It was actually over the border into North Carolina, and we would have never known about it had we stuck to the same trails everyone else follows.
Not all those who wander are lost. J.R.R. Tolkien
Explore just for the fun of it.
Sometimes our lives can so overly planned that we miss hidden treasures found only when we are leisurely wandering around just enjoying our surroundings.
Sometimes the ones who are lost are the ones who never wander. All who wander are not lost; some are right where they should be.
I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world. Mary Anne Radmacher
The same moon shines on you and me.
I have spent many weeks nestled in a green valley surrounded by mountains in North Carolina at a fabulous youth camp called Windy Gap. It is a beautiful place, and there is a night towards the end of each week where they send everyone out to just sit by themselves in silence for about 15 minutes to talk to God or just think.
During this time they turn off all the lights except for the emergency lights, and when they do there are literally millions of bright stars visible in the night sky. Many of the kids there are from the city and have never actually seen stars like this at night.
It is awe inspiring to think that someone on the other side of the world might also be sitting out on a similar grassy hill looking at those same stars and maybe talking to God like me.
We may all be very different, but wherever we travel the same moon shines on me you as it does on me.
And then there is the most dangerous risk of all – the risk of spending your life not doing what you want, on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later. Randy Komisar
The best time to travel is now.
I have found that when I think about how to afford travel there always seems to be something else pressing that requires my money. When you are working on your budget for the year always make at least one trip a priority, and then don’t dip into that saved money for anything else!
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach of us more than we can ever learn from books. John Lubbock
Get outside more!
This seems like a strange quote for a school teacher to like, but I was an outdoor recreation major in college and love being outdoors in nature. I do love books, but there are some things that you can only learn from new traveling experiences and being outdoors.
I hope you enjoyed these travel quotes and that they have fired you up a little bit more about the importance of travel and helped feed your wanderlust!
Check out some of my travel blog posts and let me know your thoughts below. I’d love to hear from you! Now go live your adventure!
Looking for some great stay at home date ideas? We do not have kids in the home at this stage in our lives, but we still find it a challenge to think of creative and affordable dates out on the town sometimes. Maybe you have kids, but are looking for fun ways of spending time together after you get the kids to bed.
This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn commission when you click on those links at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
We both have stressful full-time jobs in addition to my side hustle (this blog) and often just do not have the energy to go out at the end of a long week. We also live in a small suburb over 30 minutes from the city of Memphis and just don’t feel like driving downtown much. Going out occasionally can be really fun, but you don’t have to be extravagant to have a special night together.
Your circumstances for staying home might be different than ours. If you are reading this the month I’m writing it we are currently under stay-at-home quarantine orders, so we really don’t have a choice but to stay in. Maybe you have kids and that makes it difficult to go out. Maybe you are on a tight budget.
Whatever the reason, I have a list of fun ideas for you to enjoy as a couple at home. Maybe you will get some ideas of things to do instead of just playing video games or watching Netflix (nothing wrong with movie night though). Besides being fun, these great ideas will also save you money!
We recently took silly selfies on one of our stay at home dates.
20 Date Night Ideas You Can
Enjoy at Home
1. Game Night
When was the last time you had a game night just with your spouse? Set out some wine or soda and snacks and if you are competitive like me make a bet with your spouse. My favorite bet involves winning a foot rub. It can be a board game, card game, or any game really.
A little game night competition adds fun to date night. Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
2. Theme Night
Choose a theme and center everything on your date around that theme. If you watch a movie make the dinner match (for example watch “Joy Luck Club” and eat Asian food). Play music and even dress up to match the theme. Sample themes might be Marvel characters, Oscars Night, International Night, Wrestling, Country, you get the idea.
3. Play “Would You Rather”
Make a pact not to talk about work or the kids or anything else but each other. Play “Would You Rather?” These are a series of bizarre questions where you have to choose between two things. You may learn something new about your spouse when listening to the answers to these thought provoking and sometimes silly questions.
4. Karaoke Night
Have a karaoke night. If you like to sing (even if it sounds terrible) this is a fun date night activity. Look up song lyrics on YouTube and sing along. Try a sappy love song duet. Go ahead, no one’s listening. Take turns picking the song, and if you’re really daring try out some of the dance moves from muisc videos. Be prepared to laugh.
5. Go on a Picnic
If the weather is good eat outside for a change. Maybe even plan some signature picnic foods – things you only eat on picnics. If the weather is bad spread out a blanket and eat on the floor inside the house. We couldn’t do this, because our two dogs would come over and try to help themselves, but it is a fun idea. If the timing is right you might even be able to watch the sunset together outside.
6. Make Bread
Bread is one of those things that takes a long time make, because you have to wait for the dough to rise. So this is a good food to bake when you are not in a hurry. I have a bread maker machine, and you can make all kinds of variations of bread by adding in things like cheese or spices. But you don’t have to have a bread machine. You can use a good bread recipe and get creative all on your own. And hot buttered bread right from the oven is so delicious!
7. Eat by Candlelight
Any dinner feels more romantic by candlelight, even pizza. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Another idea is to pretend the electricity is out. Really. No Wi Fi. Tell stories, play games, eat by candlelight. Maybe get a fire going in the firplace and make s’mores. See if you can go old school and go an entire night without checking your phone or turning on the television.
Any dinner can feel romantic by candlelight. Photo Courtesy of: Unsplash
8. Tell Stories
Write out the story of how you met and fell in love, then read them to each other. Or video yourselves telling the story. What a cool thing to give your kids one day! Also, you can get it back out and watch it again or read it every anniversary to remind yourselves of the details of your love story.
9. Have a Camp Out
When we were first married we would sometimes put the mattress on the living room floor in front of the fire in the fireplace and sleep there for the night. It was just something a little different than the norm and that made it feel cozy and romantic.
By the way having a good mattress is so important for getting a good night’s sleep whether it is on a bed frame or on the floor in your living room. I recommend Puffy mattresses, and believe me it is worth the investment.
Try making a tent in the living room like you used to do when you were a kid and sleep on a blow-up air mattress and sleeping bags. You can even make s’mores or other camping type foods.
10. Movie Marathon
Binge watch as many movies as you can with a certain theme – like a certain genre or actor (James Bond or Star Wars for example). Try to remember the lines and act out some of the scenes together.
11. Discover Your Love Languages
Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a popular book called The 5 Love Languages which helps you discover the way you and your spouse prefer to give and receive love. You can take the quiz for free here, but I encourage you to buy the book if you haven’t read it yet.
This should bring up some very interesting conversations as you try to figure out how to speak your spouse’s love language, which may be very different from your own.
Learning each other’s love languages can help communication. Photo Courtesy of: Unsplash
12. Have a Tasting Party
A tasting party can be for anything: wine tasting, chocolate, cheese, whatever. Set up tasting stations with cards to write responses on. Play some instrumental music in the background and pretend you are at a fancy smancy high priced ticketed event or an exclusive vineyard. Plan ahead and buy mini cheese boards or tasting glasses to really make it authentic.
13. Crazy Question Time
Here is a list of fun questions to help you get to know each other better even if you’ve been married a long time. You can even guess what you think your spouse will answer then write it down. That way there is no cheating if you decide to make it a game and keep score.
What is your favorite thing about your spouse?
What’s your favorite memory of us dating?
What is your least favorite food?
What is a hobby you’d like to try?
What’s one goal you’d like to achieve by the end of the year?
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Which celebrity couple would your spouse compare you to?
If your spouse could choose one thing of yours to get rid of , what would it be?
Who said “I love you” first?
What do you remember the most from our wedding day?
What’s something that would surprise me about you?
What is your greatest fear?
Focus on the Family has an awesome list of conversation starters for date nights to help you get started talking and getting closer together as a couple.
14. Exercise Together
As I write this, the spring weather where I live has been beautiful lately. We have enjoyed watching a bluebird raise her babies in the birdhouse in our yard. Click here for more information on how to attract bluebirds to your yard. Get outside and walk the dogs, run together, or ride bikes.
If you are staying inside, try one of the many online exercise classes. Try yoga or stretching and let off some of the stress from the day.
15. Spa at Home
This is a fun one. Pretend that you are spending the evening in a high priced luxury spa with a treatment of “the works.” Light candles, play some relaxing instrumental piano music.
Don your robes and slippers and make face masks, do facial scrubs, and have foot soaks and bath treatments. Drink water with cucumbers in it, paint your nails, give massages, and just relax.
16. Travel to Another Country
Make a dinner that reminds you of a country you have visited in the past or have always wanted to travel to. Make pasta for Italy, sushi for Japan, enchiladas for Mexico, fondue for Switzerland, corned beef for Ireland, you get the idea. Play music from that country’s culture and maybe even watch a movie set in the country you want to visit.
You might even take this time to actually plan your next vacation or that dream trip you’d like to take someday. This is a great way to cure wanderlust without actually traveling. And you will have a head start on your vacation plan for when you do travel.
International cuisine always makes for a fun date night. Photo Courtesy of: Unsplash
17. His and Hers Bucket List
Come up with a list of all the things you’d like to experience as a couple – adventures you want to share, things you want to learn together, places you’d like to visit, restaurants you’d like to try, and the types of dates you’d like to go on. Then take turns every month doing some of the things on the list. One month you get to pick, and the next month your spouse can choose.
18. Write Love Letters
Take some time to sit down and write a love letter to each other, telling your spouse all the things you appreciate and admire about him or her. You can decide to read them to each other right then, or you can save them for a special occasion.
19. Visit a Museum Together
Did you know that lots of museums and art galleries have virtual tours you can take online? Experience “walking” through the halls of famous places together and tell each other which pieces of art you like. For a list of places you can visit virtually with links click here.
20. Get a Fancy Dessert Delivered
You can save money by cooking at home then splurge on a fancy dessert. Think of an expensive restaurant you have always wanted to try then order one dessert to share. You can use a meal delivery service.
Or you could get lots of toppings ahead of time and make a giant ice cream sundae to eat together at home.
21. Do a Puzzle Together
The good thing about doing a puzzle together is that if you do it without the television on and decide to put your phones away you have nothing else to do while fitting pieces together but to talk. Set out a charcuterie board and drinks and just enjoy a relaxing time of being together and having conversation.
22. Look at Old Photos Together
Look through old photos and tell stories or reminisce about the good times. Look at childhood pictures and ask about each other’s families. Maybe even pick some digital ones that you want to print and frame or make a photo book out of.
According to Psychology Today, date nights are not a luxury; they are a necessity for a healthy marriage. The small amount of planning and creativity it takes to experience a great date night at home will pay off big dividends in the end. Investing in your love for each other by spending quality time together is always worth the effort, and these ideas will help jump start your thinking as you plan your own stay-at-home date nights.
What at-home date night ideas for couples do you like the most? Please share your throughts in the comments below! And if you like this post, please pin it and share it!
When I was younger, I thought that watching birds was only for nerdy old people. I pictured two old people with khaki shorts, black socks, safari hats, and binoculars. I guess I’ve watched too many movies. But watching birds in your very own backyard is delightful to people of all ages.
Attracting bluebirds may take a little planning, but it is easy to see why people love these beautiful birds with their deep blue and orange colors and lovely songs. Eastern bluebirds, western bluebirds, and mountain bluebirds are very popular backyard visitors.
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Having the right kind of bird house is important.
Here Are 6 Proven Tips For How To Attract Bluebirds To Your Yard
1. Have an Open Space
Bluebirds prefer wide open areas with low grass. However, I live in a suburb with a fenced yard and trees. So do not worry if your yard is not a wide-open space; a semi-open space sometimes works. Our yard is big enough that there is open space in between trees. They also need places where they can perch and hunt insects. I’ve seen bluebirds light on our fence then swoop down for dinner. They must have incredible eyesight!
Both the mom and the dad feed the babies bugs, worms, and fruits and berries.
2. Plant native trees and bushes in your yard.
In the winter bluebirds like berries and fruit when the bugs are not around as much. It is important to plant things that are native to North America, because these are the only kind of plants that will attract the type of insects bluebirds eat. They eat insects native to North America. Our birdhouse is right in front of two holly trees, and the bluebirds love holly and berries. We also have a cherry tree the birds like to hang out in.
If you have a dead tree or branch in your yard that you can safely leave standing, blue birds like to nest in the open cavities in the wood. You can even find nesting sites in vacant holes made by woodpeckers.
3. Pick the Right BlueBird House
Make sure you buy the right kind of birdhouse to attract bluebirds. It is important that it be made out of durable wood such as cedar. Nest boxes that are designed to be specifically for blue birds are the best. It will be called a blue bird box or house.
Bluebirds are cavity nesting birds, so the right kind of house is important. Bluebirds will only nest inside of a cavity or hole. We had so much fun this year watching Mama Bluebird go “house hunting” and discover our birdhouse as the perfect place to raise a family!
The entrance needs to have the correct entrance hole size to prevent larger birds such as starlings from using the box. For a round entrance hole, eastern bluebird boxes should be 1 ½ inches in diameter and 1 9/16 inches for mountain and western bluebirds. If you are going to put up two houses, make sure they are no closer than 125 yards from one another. This will ensure enough food for each brood.
The bluebird eggs are pale blue, never white. I think the speckled one is so pretty!
We knew nothing about bird houses, so last year we just hung one of those cute craftsy looking bird houses on the fence. We got so excited when a bluebird started building a nest in it, but after a while we noticed that another bird had pecked all around the edges of the hole making it bigger. Then one day after a very windy storm I noticed it on the ground (hole facing down). I turned it right-side up and almost had a heart attack when a streak of blue furiously flew out and went right past my head!
I have since learned that a bird house should never be put on a fence post, because all sorts of critters and predators can get to the babies – not to mention it not being secure in storms. You will want to fasten the house to a pole. Having the entrance hole the proper size can keep away competing birds. Do not get a bird house with a perch on it. The bluebird does not need it, as you can see from my picture, and it will only make it easier for other pest birds to invade. You will also want to make sure the front or back opens easily so that you can routinely check on the nest and clean it out in between broods.
They usually make their nests out of dried grass and pine needles, and the eggs will be a beautiful pale blue. One problem you may run into is house sparrows. If you live somewhere that has a large population of house sparrows, you may find that they will compete for the bluebird house. House sparrows may look nice, but they are extremely aggressive. In fact, they have even been known to kill bluebirds!
Make sure the birdhouse is cleaned out and ready before nesting season (which begins in March or April where I live in Memphis). After the last brood of the year has hatched and you thoroughly clean out the birdhouse, you may want to leave it up for the winter. We leave ours up year round, and the birds will hide in the house during a cold rain sometimes.
You will also want to beware of cats roaming around your neighborhood. Each year cats kill millions of songbirds. Newly fledged nestlings like the babies in our yard are especially susceptible. Since we have dogs, they probably keep the cats at bay.
The Mama does not lay all of her eggs at the same time. However, unfortunately the egg to the right somehow was cracked and never hatched. It was fun to watch the Mama brings worms and bugs to her hungry babies.
4. Make sure the birds have water.
Birds need water to drink and bathe in, so a bird bath is a must. Even better would be a small fountain, since blue birds are partial to moving water. Last year we had a fountain with moving water that the bluebirds seemed to really like, but Layla was a puppy and chewed the extension cord. Fortunately, she did not electrocute herself! So now it is merely a birdbath.
Make sure you clean out the water often. If you live in the South like I do mosquitoes will breed in just about any standing water they can find. We bought a floating mosquito repellant tablet that stays in our birdbath “fountain.” It is non-toxic for birds.
The baby bluebird looking out of the entrance hole for the first time. Hello World!
5. Have the right bird feeder.
Make sure you get a birdfeeder that squirrels can’t get to. I kept reading that bluebirds like dried mealworms, so I finally broke down and bought some. They look really disgusting, but I guess to a bird they are like a big bowl of mac ‘n cheese!
You can purchase live mealworms at feed and bait stores or even online, but the dried ones are gross enough to me (insert disgusted face here). They will eat the live ones without any prompting, but you may have to get them used to the dead dried ones. Maybe mix a few dried ones in with live ones at first until eventually they are eating all dried ones. Of course, they will still eat insects, snails, and worms from the ground too.
Some bluebird feeders look like a flat tray with rimmed edges to keep the worms in. But a really cool bird feeder that I like is one that is fastened onto the window with suction cups so that you can watch them from your window. Bird feeders are easy to find in stores and can easily be ordered online. The best feeder for my area is one the squirrels cannot get into, since we have a lot of trees and squirrels. The Squirrel Buster standard is the one we like.
Hello World!
6. Watch out for chemicals.
It is best to keep your yard chemical free. From spring to fall bluebirds and many other songbirds mainly eat insects off the ground, so pesticides and other lawn chemicals can make them sick. Chemicals are dangerous for the birds who feed this way.
This holly branch caught the baby bluebird after her first attempt at flying failed. After resting on the holly branch a long time baby bluebird took her first flight to the fence!Waiting for Mama Bluebird to bring her worms and put them in her beak.
After two weeks of no activity I cleared the nest out of the birdhouse and cleaned it out good with a water and bleach mix then left the door open for it to air out and clear the bleach smell. Now she is back and is busy with her second brood. She has built a nest and laid four new eggs!
When you make the effort to attract blue birds to your yard they will come back year after year!
” Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can’t I”
The North American Bluebird Society is a great resource for further information about bluebirds. Do you have blue birds in your yard? I’d love to read your comments.
