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!
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.
When you’re used to gathering around the table with family, attending religious services, and partipating in annual traditions, the thought of having to celebrate a holiday remotely can feel pretty disappointing. There has been so much isolation and change in routine lately with social distancing. Missing out on favorite holiday traditions can magnify feelings of loneliness and make it a tough time for many.
Easter, Passover, and Ramadan will all happen during the coronavirus lockdown. However, even if the festivities might look a little different this year, with a little creativity we can celebrate anyway! Here are some ideas for celebrating Easter, which is my favorite holiday:
Visit Virtually With Friends and Family
Thanks to modern technology with applications such as FaceTime and Skype, and video conferencing platforms like Zoom it is so easy to feel that sense of connection with others, even when you are not physically with them. You can organize a virtual Easter lunch with extended family or watch a church service together. For those who you do not connect with through technology you can go old school and make some phone calls.
Wear What You Want
OK, so if you’re like me and have been living in yoga pants and T-shirts for the past few weeks (no judgement from me at all by the way), maybe it’s still OK to rock that Easter dress or dress the little ones in the clothes you had already picked out for them. You can still shoot that family photo, maybe in the backyard with some flowers in the background.
Personally, I am a little relieved that I don’t have to go look for an Easter dress this year. Every year our choir has a certain color scheme, and I have to try to find a solid color dress (this is hard to with all the floral dresses on sale) that won’t make me look too fat on the big screen at church when I sing. How’s that for transparency?
But if you are the type who loves shopping for a new dress or suit every year why not order one online from a local boutique? Small businesses could really use our support right now anyway.
Tune in to a Church Service
Church buildings may be empty this weekend, but the Easter celebrations will still happen.
Because of social distancing we cannot gather in large groups. This will be the first time in my life (even as a baby) that I have not attended a church service on Easter weekend. At my current church I sing in the choir and usually sing in all six of the Easter services. About 17,000 people attend my church for Easter weekend every year. It is a large multi-ethnic church with tremendously talented musicians. The music is outstanding!
Many Easter church services will be streamed live this year.
Many churches will be live streaming or showing recorded services online this year. If your own church doesn’t stream services you can virtually “visit” another church for Easter. Many popular services are also televised for the holiday. Why not check out one of these from home? If you want to check mine out here is the link with the information. Easter is my favorite holiday because of the reason for the season, so I’ll “be there” virtually.
Give To Others
Make a special holiday online donation to your church or a non-profit organization you believe in or mail a check. In my state of Tennessee the Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse are accepting donations for tornado relief in Nashville.
If you know how to sew you could make facemasks to donate. Your local food pantry, animal hospital, or struggling small businesses would love some help. It feels good to do things for others, and Easter is a perfect time to extend our generosity.
Make a playlist of your favorite worship tunes.
Make an Easter Music Playlist
This doesn’t replace your own church’s music, but a well-chosen playlist of Easter songs will uplift your spirits all day. You and your family can sing along, even if it is only a joyful noise. Here’s a list of the Top 40 Easter Worship Songs for 2020.
Dye Easter Eggs
Get creative when decorating your Easter eggs!
I’m not really sure what eggs and bunnies have to do with the real meaning of Easter, but if you have small children it is still fun to channel your creativity into some good old egg art.
The best way to prepare eggs for decorating is to put the eggs in a pot large enough to hold them all in one layer on the bottom, then cover the eggs with about an inch of water. Add a little vinegar to the water (about 1 tablespoon), then bring the water to a boil and let the eggs boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let the eggs sit in the covered pot for 12 minutes. Then you’re good to go! You can even dye them with Kool-Aid powder!
Have an Easter Egg Hunt
Eggs, bunnies, and chicks are a fun part of Easter for children.
If you have young children you can have an Easter egg hunt in your backyard. You don’t need a neighborhood or school egg hunt party. You can set up your own hunt in your yard or house, and your children will have just as much fun! Don’t worry about getting an elaborate Easter basket. Just go to the store with a list, get some candy, get out, then go home and wash your hands.
However, lately since people are shopping as if a Zombie Apocolypse is happening tomorrow and the only things that can save them are eggs and toilet paper, you may want to use plastic eggs. They might be easier to find in the store. Some people even like them better, because you can hide candy inside.
Make an Easter Brunch
You don’t have to physically be with family and friends to enjoy a special meal.
Who cares if you don’t have company coming over, just pull out the nice dishes and table cloth, and put some flowers from your yard in a vase in the center. I’m a southern gal, and here in the south we celebrate everything with food. You may be used to going out after church for Easter brunch or having a meal with extended family. But this year is a great time to begin a new tradition of cooking.
Don’t like to cook? No worries. Try making a fancy salad or these yummy Spinach Cheese Hot Pockets. Then add my Luscious Lemon Pound Cake for dessert. Maybe you can just pick one new recipe and try it this year, then each year try one more new recipe. Check my blog for a new recipe almost every week.
Try adding some seasonal fruit and pecans to a salad for a special holiday look. This one is drizzled with Rasberry Vinegarette Dressing.
If you normally look forward to a favorite dish your aunt always brings call her for the recipe and try it yourself. Maybe you can even hold a virtual cooking challenge with remote family members. You can set up a Zoom video conference with a family member or friend and talk while you are preparing and eating the meal. Just prop your tablet or phone up on a stand and host a group chat meal. It will feel like you are eating together!
Watch an Easter Movie
There are lots of Easter movies out on Netflix. My favorite though is always the television show “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.” After the egg hunt and brunch is over, get in your PJ’s, gather the family and some popcorn and enjoy a great holiday movie together.
Gratefulness
This is a tradition we usually reserve for Thanksgiving, but the uncertain times we are currently living in makes this a great time to practice gratefulness. While you are eating brunch, have everyone go around and share one thing they are thankful for. Focus on the positive!
Have a Drive By Party
Decorate your car with signs, balloons, and streamers and drive by friends and relatives’ homes. Yell and wave from a safe distance. Some neighborhoods have put pictures of eggs in their windows so that children can have an Easter egg “hunt” when riding by and spotting them. Do what you can to make it a festive day.
Whatever you decide to do make it special!
How will you celebrate the holidays this year at home? Do you have any other ideas? Leave a comment below.
As we have all recently been instructed to be “safe at home” to prevent the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, many of us have found ourselves with an unexpected gift of more time to take care of ourselves. I don’t know about you, but before all this started I was so busy that I never got enough sleep, my house was a mess, and my to-do list was a mile long.
As a full time teacher and blogger I was in survival mode counting the days until spring break and did not even think twice about putting self-care practices on the back burner. It seemed like I was running 90 miles an hour every day then suddenly Bam! Everything just stopped. My schedule instantly cleared, and I had time to think about me again.
Maybe while we are all staying at home, we can start some new habits that we can carry with us when this social distancing time ends. A crazy frantic lifestyle takes a toll on our lives in many ways that we do not notice at first. It is vitally important that we take care of ourselves. So now or any time you should not neglect self-care, and here’s why:
Why You Should Practice Self-Care
Stress Management
We sometimes need a little bit of stress in the form of adrenaline to motivate us to meet a deadline or finish a task, but constant stress and anxiety can negatively affect both your mental and physical health.
Work Life Balance
Our society seems to reward workaholism, but overwork creates stress, exhaustion, and isolation. Spending all of your time and energy on work can actually make you less productive, forgetful, and disorganized. Working too much leaves us emotionally depleted and can create relational problems at work and at home too. In addition, too much stress can lead to a myriad of health problems from heart disease to obesity to anxiety and depression.
You Are Worth It
Self-care is an important way to have a healthy relationship with yourself. You are worth it! So treat yourself with respect and kindness, and avoid self-criticism.
Taking care of yourself gives you positive feelings and can boost your confidence. Healthy self-esteem is attractive to others, so when you take care of yourself your relationships with others improve as well. Having healthy boundaries reminds you and others that your needs are important too. You will be no good to anyone if you are living on the edge. The best thing you can give to others is a healthy you.
Carve out some “me time” in your day. (image credit: Unsplash)
10 Simple Self Care Habits You Can Begin Now
1. Write it Down
Start a Gratitude Journal (image credit: Unsplash)
Have you ever kept a journal? I don’t mean the Dear Diary stuff of middle school girls. I mean your hopes, dream, and goals. Start a gratitude journal. Start today by listing the first ten things you can think of that you are thankful for today. Then do that again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Before you know it this habit will change your outlook on your whole life.
What about your goals? Lots of people make a To Do list each day, but now is a great time to think about your dreams and long term goals. What do you want your life to look like 10 years from now? What do you want to see happening in the different areas of your life? Write it down.
Then work backwards and make shorter term goals until you have your daily To Do list. Actually putting the thoughts on paper with a set plan gives you a clear focus and helps you stay on track. We are all adjusting to a weird new normal, even if it is temporary. Set a regualr routine and plan your day in writing.
In addition to things we are grateful for and goals write down your ideas. How many times have you had a creative thought pop into your head, and you think to yourself, “That is a great idea. I need to do that,” but then as soon as you focus on something else the thought is forgotten. Have a work idea, a home decorating idea, a writing or song idea? Keep a tablet out on your desk or kitchen counter at home, and every time you think of something you don’t want to forget, write it down.
2. Improve Your Sleep Habits
Develop good sleep habits.
Now is not the time to start staying up until all hours watching Netflix then sleeping during the day. Now is a great time to catch up on lost sleep and begin a healthy bedtime routine that will last when life returns to normal again.
Make it your aim to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, even on the weekends if you can. During the day make sure you are getting enough natural sunlight either outdoors or through a window when you can, as this helps regulate your body clock and sleep rythyms. I admit that I do not follow this advice all the time, but experts say that it is best to avoid screen time an hour before bedtime. More tips on improving sleep can be found here on my website.
3. Move Some Everyday
Get Moving! (image credit: Unsplash)
There are so many benefits to being physically active. You do not have to be an athlete or a gym rat. Any way that you can incorporate more movement into your daily life will make a difference. Being active reduces stress by raising the endorphin levels (those “feel good” hormones) in your brain, boosting your mood, and decreasing anxiety.
Instead of making you tired, even minimal exercise actually increases your energy levels, keeps you alert, helps you focus mentally, and helps you sleep better. Now that you are home more experiment with different ways to add physical movement and activity to your day and find something you like that you can stick with long term.
Get outside when you can. Walk the dog, ride a bike, participate in an exercise class online, clean the house, anything that gets you moving. For a video on exercises you can try at home check out my post on losing weight.
4. Give Back
I know it seems odd for me to include this one under a heading of self care. But volunteering our time, energy, and money to help others keeps us from becoming self-focused in an unhealthy way. It will make you feel good to help others in need, and it can sometimes be a great way to meet others – even virtually.
Giving to others helps foster an attitude of gratitude as we see others who are less fortunate. Volunteering with your spouse can even help your marriage! Donate financially to your church or a charity or non-profit that you believe in. Volunteer to read to a child online or offer to tutor someone.
Find ways that you can assist a non-profit organization from home. Maybe offer to make phone calls or send e-mails. I’m not talking about work tasks. Take time to do something that you do not have to do or feel obligated to do but something that you want to do to help someone else.
5. Connect With Others
Having positive healthy relationships in our lives is just as important as our physical health. Staying at home all the time, even if you are not alone, can feel lonely. Just because you are practicing physical distancing does not mean that you have to be socially distant. Use this time to reach out to people you’ve been meaning to check on. Use creative technology to keep in touch with friends, co-workers, family, and others to help you feel connected and supported.
I have never been on so many Zoom video calls as I have in the last two weeks! Through the wonder of video technology I have participated in a school faculty meeting, a Sunday school class, a church small group meeting, a blog mentoring coaching call, a choir meeting, and even a voice lesson all online. But whether it is through video, a phone call, or a text message be proactive in reaching out to others.
6. Cook More
Since we are not going out to eat in restaurants right now many people are rediscovering how fun and relaxing cooking can be. Many times during a typical busy work week we don’t plan out meals well and end up not taking the time to prepare our own food.
Now is the perfect time to try out that new recipe and get creative in the kitchen. If you are looking for inspiration I try to post a new recipe on my blog each week. I am a busy person and am no gourmet cook, so my recipes are usually easy to follow and are always delicious! You will find that cooking at home is healthier and saves you money.
7. Laugh More
Find something to laugh at everyday. (image credit: Unsplash)
Stop taking yourself so seriously! Take time every day to try to find the humor in life. Read a funny story, watch a funny animal video on Twitter, watch a comedy movie, make up a Tik Tok dance, change the lyrics to a song or commercial jingle to add some humor.
With all of the bad news on TV and popping up on your phone all day, it is especially important now to lighten up and enjoy a laugh now and then. Be observant. There are funny things happening all around us if we are looking for them. Did your dog just do something funny? Did your child just say something funny? What about your hair when you woke up this morning? Now that’s funny!
And did you know that laughter really is good medicine? According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter positively stimulates organs, relieves stress and soothes tension, and improves your immune system and your mood.
8. Stop Comparing
Stop comparing yourself to others! I’m preaching to myself here as well. Our world tends to measure and compare people based on external things. How did we ever get to the place where we think it is OK to base a person’s value on their paycheck or Twitter followers?
Keep in mind that we are usually comparing our worst with their best. People do not often post their “real life” on Facebook. You don’t see people bragging about how their kid brought home straight D’s on their report card or how they are thousands of dollars in debt and can’t get along with anyone in their family.
There will always be people who “seem” better off than you and look like they live a perfect life, so it will always be a losing battle to try to compare your life to that of others. By the way your assumptions about their life being better may actually be completely inaccurate.
Comparison steals your joy and makes you feel ungrateful for what you do have. When you compare you are putting your focus and energy on the wrong person anyway. Your goal should be to become your best you, so instead of wasting energy wishing you had someone else’s life go create your own best life! Only compare yourself to who you were in the past and then applaud your progress!
9. Deal With Clutter
Tackle the clutter and make space for you. (image credit: Unsplash)
There is so much I could say about the value of de-cluttering your home and life. Without so much visual chaos all around you will feel calmer when you are at home. Cleaning tasks will be easier without so much stuff everywhere, and you will be able to find things you need.
Your home will have a flow to it, since each room has a specific purpose. You won’t have to spend money on things you don’t need or already had but couldn’t find. Now while your calendar is clear and you are home more is the perfect time to do that spring cleaning you’ve been putting off. Go ahead and clean out that closet or junk drawer. You will love the feeling of accomplishment and order it brings.
I just cleaned out our laundry room, and it makes me feel peaceful now when I open the door instead of having to step over all the junk we had “hidden” in there to keep Layla from chewing it. Take care of yourself by creating order and clearing out the clutter.
10. Do What You Love
Make time everyday to do one thing you love. (image credit: Unsplash)
Maybe this time at home is a good time to do some soul searching. What do you love to do? What are you passionate about? So many times we hear the phrase “do what you love” as it relates to finding your dream job. And this may true to a degree, because a job is not just about money. The right career can make you more productive, inspire others, and make you feel a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. You are more likely to be successful in your career if you love what you do.
But doing what you love doesn’t just have to be your paying job. Part of self care is taking time now to create space in your life and schedule for the things you love to do, even if they are not your job. I love to travel, play with my dogs, spend time with my husband, be outdoors, sing, and write. And I make sure I fit those things into my life as a way to take care of me. I am fortunate that I get to write about many of those things and make some money with this blog.
Take advantage of this time at home to research ways to improve your current job, find a new job, take an online course, practice a skill, or even start a blog. Take some time each day to do one thing you love.
So Go Take Care of Yourself!
For me this sudden clearing of my calendar has been a huge blessing, because I’ve been able to work on this blog from home. What about you? Life is too precious to be wasted. We all have choices. Each day when we get up we can decide to make it a productive fulfilling day or choose to stay in our pajamas and surf the net all day.
Along with work and home responsibilities it is important to remember that taking care of yourself is also your responsibility. No one else is going to do it for you, and it won’t just happen on it’s own. A healthy you is up to you! No use putting off things that you have time to do now. Self care is all about making time for things that are good for you. Is there anything else you would add to this list?
School closures and social distancing due to the COVID-19 outbreak mean millions of parents and guardians who are used to sending their children to school each day are now faced with the task of educating them at home. Maybe this describes you.
Are you suddenly a homeschool teacher? You may be thinking, “I did not sign up for this! How will I keep my child engaged in learning and not just have a free for all in front of the screen?” Well, I am here to help you navigate this unfamiliar transition. Below are a few tips as well as a list of some of the best educational websites for kids – all of them free, since free is my favorite price. And several that are not normally free are currently offering free subscriptions during this Coronavirus pandemic.
This temporary situation will not be the same as regular school, and it is important to remember that. Your child will not be as focused, the lessons will be different online, and the social isolation will make it feel very different than regular classes. But hopefully some of these tips will make your unexpected job a little easier – and will maybe get that Baby Shark hand washing song stuck out of your head! Woops! Sorry, I just made you think about it again didn’t I?
1. Check with Your Child’s School First.
Check your child’s school website first to see if his or her teacher left some work. There may be digital assignments or other instructions with resources, materials, and due dates. There may be a platform such as Schoology your child’s school uses to receive and submit work from the teacher. Check school e-mail and see if the school’s main website has a FAQ section about coronavirus and school closures.
2. Make a Daily Schedule.
Without a daily routine like they have at school many children will find it difficult to get motivated and stay focused enough to study and learn. The online coursework or learning packets from school are nonnegotiables, but outside of that give your child some choice about what they want to learn.
Once you and your children have identified the subjects they will study, make a schedule and hang it up so that everyone in the family knows what is expected and when. It is important that kids do not see this as an extended snow day or longer than usual Spring Break. Most kids work off of a regular schedule in their classrooms or they change classes at certain times, so creating a similar schedule at home can ease the transition to a different learning environment. Keep things at home as normal as possible. Make sure to include some sort of recess or outdoor active time as well.
3. Accept Your Limits.
Maybe your child is not the only one having to work from home. Because of social distancing or self-quarantining many parents have also been asked to work from home when they can. This means that hundreds of thousands of mothers and fathers likely will be forced to try to balance homeschooling with all of their other regular daily responsibilities at work.
This is uncharted territory, so we all just have to do the best we can, whether we are parents, teachers, or any other working adult. Your child’s teacher does not expect you to become a teacher overnight. Parents and teachers need to give each other grace and have lots of patience as we try to do what’s best for our children’s education.
Online Resources
I have only listed websites or apps that I, as a teacher, have personally used or know of colleagues who have used with success. A word of caution: Be careful how much personal information your child gives out on any website. Many times a site will ask for all sorts of personal data in the registration process. Often that information is not really needed in order to complete the process.
ABC YA – Free educational games for younger students. I used this site when I taught English language learners in an elementary school.
Adapted Mind – This site turns real math into a fun game. Teachers worked hand in hand with the designers to assure that their K-6 curriculum is research-based, common core aligned, and comprehensive. There are over 300,000 math problems and explanations. What makes it great is that students will feel like they’re playing a game. I have used this with 6th grade students in intervention before, and they loved it. However, this product is lacking some details which makes it confusing at times. I would only use it for fun, not as your main source of instruction.
BrainPop – This is a fun animated educational site for kids – Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology – where students watch videos and learn from characters Tim and Moby (a robot) then take a quiz and complete activities. There is also BrainPop Jr. for younger kids. I have used this frequently and think it is great. Some of their content is always free, but they are now offering all free access to anyone during school closures!
Discovery Education – Self -quarantined or social distancing? This site lets you take free virtual field trips to awesome places all over the world! They also have created a special channel within Discovery Education Experience—the Viruses and Outbreak Channel—featuring digital content that will help you discuss the Coronavirus outbreak with your children. This content includes timely updates on what the Coronavirus is, information on how infectious diseases spread, and essential guidelines for staying healthy.
Educreations Pro – Educreations is a unique interactive whiteboard and screencasting tool that’s very simple, powerful, and fun to use. You can annotate, animate, and narrate nearly any type of content as you explain any concept. As students have to teach material themselves, they learn more. In response to the coronavirus the company is now offering free Educreations Pro upgrades for teachers. Their basic account is always free, so this could easily be used at home.
EverFi – This is a paid site offering digital financial education, but right now parents and teachers can sign up for a free teacher account.
Flipgrid – My middle school students love using this program! They record a short video of themselves explaining a topic and see and comment on others’ videos in their class as they view the “grid.” Parents can now create a free account at home for students.
Funbrain – Claims to be the #1 site for online educational games for kids of all ages. (math, grammar, science, spelling, history) It is a free site, and there are lots of great learning games there. However, some of the games are just for fun and not that educational. The site also has a lot of ads.
Gimkit – Gimkit is a game show for the classroom that requires knowledge, collaboration, and strategy to win. My students love this, because it allows them to win “money,” “ice” another student who is in the lead, and other fun features. If you have more than one child of similar age at home they will beg you to play this and end up learning without realizing it!
GoNoodle – Interactive music videos that get kids of all ages up and moving. My school’s P.E. department has used this with great success. All free!
Highlights Kids – Remember sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room as a kid and looking at Highlights magazine? This site is a place for children of all ages to play games and discover new jokes, surveys, answers to science questions, and fun crafts and recipes from Highlights. And it’s free!
Hour of Code – According to their website, Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresented youth. The Hour of Code is their global campaign. On this site you can try a free one-hour tutorial designed for all ages in over 45 languages. The high interest subjects such as popular video games keep students focused.
IXL – My middle school uses the paid version, but there are some free resources for families on their website. IXL is a comprehensive tool that provides personalized math and language arts practice. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each student. Kids can try the skill exercises for free at home, but they’ll be limited to a small number of problems per day. You must be a paying member to access IXL’s unlimited exercises, tracking, awards, and certificates.
Kahoot – Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home. You can sign up for free! I use this as a formative assessment in the classroom, but I have also used it when teaching adults. It is super fun.
Khan Academy – A nonprofit with the mission “to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” My school uses this trusted resource created by experts. They have a huge library of standards-aligned practice and lessons covering math for K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, and more – even AP classes. It’s all free too!
Legends of Learning – Students love playing through assignments using math and science games with their own custom-created avatar. Their new standards-aligned “Awakening” home mode allows teachers to direct and monitor student learning from a distance.
MobyMax – In this site you can find and fix learning gaps with differentiated learning in all K-8 subjects. I used it in intervention classes with students who were struggling with math. They liked that they could earn growth rewards and prizes. On their site now they have a quick guide to using Moby at home. A surprising amount of features is included in the free version.
National Geographic Kids – Lots of free educational games, videos, interactive activities, and more.
NearPod – Nearpod is an award-winning student engagement platform with ready-to-run interactive lessons for K-12 teachers. My students have enjoyed these lessons – especially when they get to a part with virtual reality where they can move their iPad around and see a panoramic view of something. There is a limited free version that I have used.
Newsela – This site takes real content from the world’s most trusted providers and turns it into learning materials that are classroom-ready. From their website: “Whether your school is teaching through a closure or building plans to prepare, we’re here to help you ensure that learning doesn’t stop. We’re offering free access to Newsela’s entire product suite for the rest of the 2019/2020 school year.” Lots of teachers in my school use this resource and love it!
PBS Kids – Always free. Great games, videos, and activities for all ages. My sixth grade STEM students enjoy “Design Squad” videos of students designing, building and testing projects. Right now they have a newsletter you can sign up for that will give you daily activities and tips to help kids play and learn at home.
Professor Garfield – I love this free site. I guess because I’ve always loved the comic strip Garfield. Because of the literacy problem in the United States, their mission is “to be a world leader in the direct, free delivery of innovative and motivational digital learning content with a primary emphasis on children’s literacy and creative expression. Initially, we will accomplish this by creating fun and educationally sound interactive activities and games where kids like to play — on the Internet — supplemented with standards-based resources for teachers, parents and mentors. Within ten years, we believe our edutainment site will be regarded as the leading free resource and authority in literacy as demonstrated by visitors, measurable outcomes, and global impact.” Check out some of the interactive learning games.
ReadWorks – I have used this free site for years in intervention to assist students with reading comprehension. Their nonprofit mission is to support the effective teaching and learning of reading. From their website: “Teachers, parents, and students never have to pay to access ReadWorks digitally or otherwise. All adults, no matter who they are, may create a digital class and assign reading content and curriculum to students for free. We have always believed that students deserve barrier-free access to the highest-quality reading materials and instruction and that belief has only grown stronger during this crisis.”
Scholastic – They just released free daily courses for kids stuck at home amid coronavirus school closures. The section is called “Learn From Home” and has four age categories. There are up to 3 hours of content a day, and they can be completed on any device.
Starfall – For children in K-3rd grade. I used this for English language learners when I taught elementary ESL. According to their website, “Starfall’s emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity has proven effective in teaching emergent readers. Starfall activities are research-based and align with Individual and Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics.” There is a lot of free content, and their low-cost membership program expands the free content to include animated songs, mathematics, and reading activities spanning K-3. Membership also supports the production of new books, songs, educational games, and movies.
Storylineonline – This is another site I liked to use as an elementary ESL teacher. The site has videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more. According to their website: “Reading aloud to children has been shown to improve reading, writing and communication skills, logical thinking and concentration, and general academic aptitude, as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading. Teachers use Storyline Online in their classrooms, and doctors and nurses play Storyline Online in children’s hospitals.” Adults enjoy it too!
Seussville – The home of all things Dr. Seuss! What else is there to say?
Teacher Created Materials – In light of the coronavirus crisis, on their website they are now offering free downloadable work from home resources such as Daily Practice Worksheets, Quick Science labs, and Reader’s Theater scripts. These are all teacher-approved materials you would normally have to pay for. I have used many of their materials in the past and found them to be very helpful. In addition to the free resources they are offering 40% off selected Learn-at-Home resources as well. Just use the promo code HOME40. This code expires April 30, 2020. The good thing about eBooks is that they are immediately available for use with no shipping charges!
TED-Ed – You can create a free account by registering. This site has video lessons and series by top educators, made into animated videos for kids. Lots of material here!
VidCode – According to their site Vidcode offers the #1 research-backed standards-aligned computer science courses, focused on open-ended projects. This is one I have not tried, but I know other teachers who have used it with success. It won a Parents’ Choice Award and is supposed to be the best way to learn to code for teens. Right now you can sign up to access Vidcode’s full curriculum until May 2020 or schools reopen. What a deal!
Is there a big difference between cat people and dog people?
Are you a cat person or a dog person? I’m allergic to cats and absolutely love dogs, so that’s a no-brainer for me. Dogs and cats are very different. When you feed a dog they think, “You must be God!” But when you feed a cat they think, “I must be God!” Did you know that being a cat or dog person may actually reveal some interesting things about you, as recent Nuwber data and a university survey reveals.
Nuwber uncovered some interesting findings:
Dog people tend to make
more money
Cat people have better
credit scores
Dog owners prefer warmer
climates and spend more time outdoors
Love to travel
correlates with cat ownership
The saying “A dog is a man’s best friend” or in my case a women’s best friend might be true. The answer to whether you are a dog person or a cat person may also say a lot about your personality. According to WebMd, a survey done by the University of Texas at Austin found that some popular ideas about pet lovers may be true after all. In fact, you may end up being a lot more like your furry friend than you ever realized.
Here are some interesting findings from this survey:
Dog people were 11% more
conscientious than cat people. This means they are generally more
self-disciplined, strong sense of duty, and tend to be “planners.”
Dog people were 15% more
extroverted than cat people. They are outgoing, enthusiastic, and positive.
They seize the day! Is that you?
Are you open to trying
new things? Cat people were 11% more likely to be open, according to the
survey. Open people tend to be the creative artistic types. They are curious
and are typically nontraditional thinkers.
According to this
survey, if you’re a dog person, you’re 13% more likely to be agreeable than a
cat person. Agreeable people are most likely kind, altruistic, trusting,
affectionate, and sociable.
If you’re a cat person
and you get stressed out easily you’re not alone. In this survey cat people
were 12% more neurotic than dog people. Neurotic people are easily stressed,
anxious, and just general worriers.
Last year a General Social Survey cited in this Washington Post article that dog owners are in fact happier than cat owners. You cat people probably disagree, but hey I’m just the messenger. Similar to the U.T. Austin survey, The General Social Survey research based its conclusions on how people reported their feelings. Nuwber decided to leverage their data to see if there are any metrics that support, or disprove, these strong claims.
What other differences are there between cat and dog owners? What other factors could make one group happier than the other? Nuwber wanted to know if feeling happier has to do with financial well-being or something else. Or, they wondered, “Maybe, it is the choice of your pet that somehow influences your lifestyle and makes you and your pet resemble each other in character after a certain period of time.” Why are dog owners usually more friendly and open, qualities generally associated with being positive and happy?
Some of the data Nuwber uncovered may answer these questions:
DEMOGRAPHICS
Certain demographic characteristics may be tied to cat owners vs. dog owners, including the state in which you live, your occupation and your income.
STATE
According to Nuwber’s data, there are generally more dog owners in warmer, sunnier states, while cat owners are more likely to live in the northern, cooler states. The purple on their map represents states where percentage of cat owners is higher than percentage of dog owners, while turquoise represents states with a higher percentage of dog owners:
Image from Nuwber
Nuwber decided to go deeper into how significant the difference of cat people vs. dog people is in each state. In this map, with purple still representing more cat than dog owners, and turquoise more dog than cat owners, darker colors indicate a more significant difference in the percentage of cat owners vs. dog owners.
Image from Nuwber
This makes sense to me as a dog owner. Dogs love to be outside where they can run around, smell things, and get exercise. They do not like to do this in the freezing cold weather, so warmer states for dog owners makes sense. I live in Tennessee, and I have two dogs.
Texas, where the previously mentioned university survey was conducted, is a good example. According to the table above there is a significant difference in probability between cat owners and dog owners.
Washington, on the other hand, has a rainy cool climate. It is more likely a state where cat owners would live, since most cats prefer to stay inside.
OCCUPATION
According to the data from Nuwber, your pet choice may also be determined by your job. Their data shows that cat owners are more likely to be medical professionals (a difference of 0.66%). I guess this makes sense. Since cats require less care than dogs do, they might be a better pet for people working in the medical field who work odd hours and may be gone for longer periods of time.
Nuwber found that cats’ home-body nature makes them a good fit for retired individuals as well (7.61% difference). Usually retired people are older, and they may not be as physically capable of handling a high-energy pet like a dog. Dogs are a little more high maintenance. Retired people also typically spend more time at home. Those in the category of “homemaking” are also more likely to own a cat.
Nuwber’s data shows that dog owners are more likely to work in a professional/technical (1.31% difference) or white collar (2.52% difference) field. Also, according to their data, dog owners are more likely to hold financial positions. This is compared to other careers, like farming and education, both of which have a higher probability of cat ownership. Who knew?
If you are interested in learning more about the differences in occupation probability between cat and dog owners check out Nuwber’s website.
INCOME
Taking care of a dog is typically more expensive than caring for a cat, but dog owners also tend to have higher incomes. Nuwber sites a survey from Mars Petcare which found that dog owners have a $47,000 higher income on average. It looks like the Nuwber data supports the results of this survey. Their stats show that there is a tendency for dog owners to earn more than cat owners: those in the income bracket of around $100,000 have a higher probability of owning a dog versus a cat.
Banjo and Layla are spoiled.
According to Nuwber for instance, average dog owners with jobs in the financial field earn anywhere between $75,000 and $120,000, per data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is opposed to careers in farming (yearly salaries between $25,000 and $51,000 with the exception of administrative and leadership positions) or education (salaries between $34,000 and $64,000, same exceptions apply), both of which have a higher probability of cat ownership.
The graph below shows Nuwber data on the differences in income probability between cat and dog owners:
Image from Nuwber
As I mentioned earlier dogs are generally higher maintenance pets and tend to cost more. Just ask my husband about the sticker shock he often gets since we got Layla. People spend a lot of money on their pets!
Our sweet Layla
Often times not only do the jobs associated with dog owners have higher salaries, but they also allow more flexibility, with work-from-home and paid-time-off options. That flexibility means dog owners can spend more time with their dogs to play with them, take them on walks, and do other “dog maintenance” tasks. As mentioned earlier, cats don’t require as much attention or money and can be home on their own for longer stretches of time assuming they are left with sufficient food and a litter box.
Credit Ratings
One surprising finding is that while dog owners have higher incomes, Nuwber data reveals that cat owners have higher credit ratings:
Image from Nuwber
This chart shows that those with credit scores between 650 and 800+ are more likely to be cat owners, while scores of 649 down to under 499 are more likely to be dog owners. So while dog owners may earn more annually, they may not be saving their money or spending it as responsibly. Or maybe they are spending it all on their dogs!
HOBBIES
Whether you prefer dogs or cats may not just reveal something about your personality but may also indicate what you enjoy doing. The same Mars Petcare survey shows that while dog owners tend to be more interested in sports and the outdoors, cat owners enjoy more quiet creative activities.
Below is a breakdown from Nuwber of how cat and dog owners like to spend their time:
Cat owners are more likely to have an interest in home decorating (0.46% difference) and cooking (1.13% difference), activities that take some creativity and are done inside the home.
While cat owners enjoy indoor activities, Nuwber’s data shows that dog owners lean toward outdoor activities and sports like golf (1.88% difference). People with dogs tend to be more athletic and spend more time outside walking, running and playing with their pups. Have you ever heard of anyone going running with their cat?
On the other hand, data aggregated through Nuwber reveals that cat owners have a higher probability of indicating travel as a hobby or interest. When you think about it, it makes sense. Cats can be left home alone for longer periods of time, with a friend or neighbor checking on them every so often to make sure they have enough food and water.
Dogs, however, require more attention and care, with most dog owners leaving them at a friend or family member’s home when out of town, or boarding them. We pay a college student to stay at our house when we travel and take care of our dogs. Most dog owners I know still love to travel, but they just have to plan carefully. And many even travel with their pets! I am a dog person, and I love to travel so much that I have a travel blog!
According to Nuwber, cat owners are slightly more likely to enjoy reading; however, owning either a cat or dog has a strong correlation to reading, with probabilities of over 90 percent. One of our dogs actually watches TV and runs outside when a dog is on a commercial. I guess she is looking for the dog she saw in the “box.” But who doesn’t also love to read snuggled up on the couch with their fur baby?
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
To sum it all up, the data from Nuwber and the other surveys indicate that there are some objective reasons dog owners might have a subjective feeling of being happier. After all, dog lovers live in warmer climates, thus spending more time outside, have higher paying jobs and make more money, all of which could contribute to happiness.
I don’t know whether or not this means that cat people aren’t happy people. But I do know that our two dogs, Banjo and Layla, bring us much joy. I am sure that whether you are a “cat person” or a “dog person,” your pets are a valued member of the family and brings lots of love.
Which one are you? Do you agree with these findings? Leave your comment below.
When I was single I sometimes wondered if Valentine’s Day was a greeting card company conspiracy, because we often think of Valentine’s Day as a time for romance with a significant other. But this year, let’s think about chew toys, fetch, tug of war, and long winter walks because we are going to show some mad love to our dogs!
Banjo and Layla are spoiled all year long.
There are so many ways we can show our dogs how much we love them. They show us so much unconditional love all year long, so it just makes sense to want to spoil them on this special day! Here are a few ideas of ways you can show your love for your fur babies.
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#1: MAKE THEM A SPECIAL DINNER OR TREAT
All dogs drool over the thought of “people food,” but there are many things we eat that they should not have. No chocolates for them this holiday! In fact chocolates are very dangerous for dogs. However, there are some foods that in the right amount our dogs can enjoy right along with us! If your dog really loves a certain meat or vegetable, try making them a small amount for the special occasion. Just remember to boil the meat so your dog doesn’t consume large amounts of fat that might lead to digestive problems! It is probably best to just add a small amount of wet food on top of their regular dog food. Completely changing their diet may cause stomach upset. If they prefer their regular dog treats, then you can always make them a homemade treat. I prefer to feed my pups treats only made in the U.S.A. I have a jar on the kitchen counter filled with one of Banjo and Layla’s favorites: #2: TAKE YOUR DOG OUT FOR A HAPPY WALK
