10 minutes of deleting a day...Who's with me?

Yep, pics like these have to GO. Seriously I had several of this lake, and this "lovely" pole from like 5 years ago.??

Since I started blogging I now have pics of projects that I NEVER posted about. 

For example:

So who is with me???? Anybody. Come on lets make it viral. 10 minutes a day sit down and delete. 

I soo don't want to do this but the time has come and boy would I love it if others joined in on the "fun". :) 

Just think 10 minutes of deleting a day will give you: not stronger abs or a tighter fanny...(maybe a sore fanny) but you will have a happy computer and you will be organised and life simplified.

Well off I go .... to delete, erase, get rid of unwanted pictures 10 minutes a day every day this week. :) 

In my west corner blogging about crazy things,

Becky

Day 30 of helpful words.

Tomorrow is one full month of my intentional helpful and encouraging words that I started on the 1st of January.

Over the past week I have practically:

~Called the kids together and prayed for our day, words, and attitudes, when the day has felt overwhelming and bad attitudes are in the air (kids and mine).

~I have stopped myself mid sentence several times and started again.
(I have to confess I have been soo grateful that this discipline is really helping me to catch myself and consider if my words are honouring to the Lord before they get all the way out.):)

~I have written little notes to the little ones.

~I have chosen not to gossip to my husband about someone when I was hurt and wanted to say something about them to make myself feel better.

~I have asked for forgiveness a bunch. :)

~I have blogged a bunch. (I don't really think this counts but hey, it has been a journal for me on this spirit filled venture.)

"Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragment to those who hear them." Eph. 4:29

Really this 30 days of Helpful words have brought life to me.  Choosing to speak words of life, thinking before I speak, asking the Lord for wisdom before I quickly discipline, considering what really is helpful and encouraging, keeping my mouth shut more often have all been a wonderful new start.

If you have a chance read Ephesians 4 it is a great place to be reminded and encouraged on how we use our mouth.

Seriously though this is something I want to live not just for one month but for my life, it has been a great start.

In my little west corner ~
Becky

30 days of Helpful words

This January my desire has been to watch the things that come out of my mouth. 

While I was reading Ephesians 4 and the last part of verse 29 stuck out to me, 

"Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will an encouragement to those who hear them." I was struck by the words HELPFUL and ENCOURAGING. So my goal this month has been to test my words to see if they are helpful and encouraging.

This my friends is my new prayer. 

Seriously, this would be a perfect plan!

Pinned in my Pinterest under Feeling it

2 practical things 

 1st thing) When I share with my husband about my day or my thoughts that I would be careful not to allow my words and attitude to ring with a negative tone. It is easy to be unguarded with my words when it comes to my husband, he is a great listener and my best friend. However my words effect him and my outlook and attitude.

2nd thing) That I would steer my kids positively when correcting them or speaking to them. 

For example: The other day I heard myself saying to my kiddos:  "lets not be so lazy", when my kids had left their things on the floor. 

Instead I can say "lets be faithful with what we have and try not to be lazy". 

 "Set a guard over my mouth O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Ps. 141:3

So this is day 10 of 'Helpful words' in my house. I need the Spirit to guide me and give me grace. Not every day of the 10 days I have succeeded. My goal however is pay attention to the things falling out of my mouth and to begin to guard them.... and trusting this will produce a new pattern in me and my family.

In my West corner,

Becky

Don't forget the giveaway:

A Graphic art 2013 calendar  Sign up HERE

3 simple indoor 'use what you have' activities

HI! (This was my guest post from Mess for Less a few weeks ago... 

enjoy again or enjoy for the first time. ;))

Winter is here and Christmas has past soooo ... I am passing along 3 fun indoor ideas to break up the mundane and create some extra squeals of delight in your home.  I hope you can find some benefit from these simple activities that we are sending to you from our little west corner of Turkey.

Indoor activity #1
What you will need:
Fleece blanket, felt cut outs and masking tape

     Fleece and Felt

Use your fleece blanket like a life size felt board. If you have more than one child tape off an area for each to have their own fleece board space to create on. 

We purchased a Fun with Felt book years ago that came with a bunch of cut out felt and ideas with all different kinds of creatures to make. However with three kids I decided to cut out several more pieces of felt on my own and have added some yarn and pom-poms into the mix. 

When you cut out the felt pieces make sure to add all kinds of shapes and sizes, also include a few pieces of yarn and different sizes of pom poms. This activity keeps all three of my kids engaged (ages 8, 5, and 3).

Here are a few of our creations and some ideas for you too. :)

Indoor activity #2

What you will need:
Buttons, shoe box

With your shoe box use an exact knife to cut small and large slots in all different places in the top of the box. If you have a button collection you can give lots of sizes and variety. This activity is for children 3 and up. 

If you like this please check out our

Super Duper Drop Box .

Indoor activity #3-
What you will need:

chalkboard, paint brushes and water

 

With this idea the kids seem to enjoy several different brushes of all sizes. The kids initiated this idea and it has brought our chalkboard back into use on a daily bases. 

Sometimes it is just mixing up the things you already have that can help with the longer hours indoors. ~ Happy indoor play to all. :)

In my little west corner~ 'using what I have'
Becky

I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET OF BEING CONTENT IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION, WHETHER WELL FED OR HUNGRY, WHETHER LIVING IN PLENTY OR IN WANT. I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH." PHIL. 4:12,13

3, 2, 1 ...computer

This is my guest post from over at Delicate Construction last month! Delicate Construction has lots of ideas and Michelle the name behind the blog gave me a fun opportunity to share this post. Enjoy!

Let's zoom into computer time at my house 3 months ago...
everyday these questions were being asked multiple times in my house,"Mom, can I use the computer?"  "Hey mom, can I use the computer now?"  "Mom, is this the day I get to use computer?" In my head I had a plan; the girls could use the computer three times a week for 30 minutes, but the good plan just stayed in my head. I couldn't remember how many times they had been on that week or what time it was when they got on the computer. etc.  Being intentional in my parenting is very important to me but for some reason being intentional with a good 'computer time' plan, I just kept putting off.

That is how 3,2,1...computer was invented. 

I call it colorful responsibility.

I used an:

Envelope

Glue stick

colorful paper 

Scissors &

Numbered stamps

Sooo simple really.  Sometimes as a mom I just need to stop and take the time to consider what it is that is bothering me about a certain situation with my kids. Usually I find if something keeps nagging at me or I am getting continually irritated by it, I should recognize that as my God given mommy insticts and make a plan.

Our Plan:

# Number cards

~3 # cards = 3times a week for the computer

~Every time the girls use the computer they place one of their # cards inside the envelope.

~When there pocket is empty of # cards then there amount of times using the computer for that week is up.

SIMPLE but it gives the girls a sense of ownership and responsibility in keeping track of their computer time and my girls love it~

Pick a Good day to refill pocket

Every Monday  they move the # cards to the front pocket. 

(which is also chore day and allowance day, so it helps them remember)

Place the time in their hands:

A handy dandy timer on the computer desk. 

THEY set the timer at 30 minutes at the beginning of there computer time, when timer dings they are finished.

Colorful Responsibility ...ahh

This has been working great for over 2 months now, good for me and good for kiddos. 

However I need to remember that like in all things with children they will still need that extra help, however giving my kids the tools they need to become responsible with their time will continue to be a valuable lesson as they grow. (and help me too;))

If your found how we managed our computer issue interesting than you might find yourself smiling when you read how we do our chores. :) 

Sometimes in order to get the desired results you just have to mix it up a bit. 

Here is another way we have 'mixed' up chores in our house.  It has been effective for over a year now. 

Click on Cheeky Chores if you're curious. 

I hope these few practical and intentional mothering ideas have been helpful. They have truly been helpful for us. Thank you so much for letting me share a look into our lives.  Enjoy being a mommy and loving on your kids.

Michelle thank you for letting me come and camp out over at your blog for the day and for having a great blog with such a variety of original ideas.  Much care from my corner of Turkey to your sweet corners.

Remember to smile at your kids today. :)

~Becky

5 ways we are kickin this heat & Giveaway Winners

SUMMER HEAT~  
Here are 5 fun things we are doing to beat the heat. :)

(Giveaway winners are listed at the bottom of the post. :))
Congrats congrats. 

Our seasonal Welcome Rock 

1. Homemade juice popsicles. 

Yes the ever so common simple dimple popsicle. A box of juice, pour, put in freezer, ta dam.  I love simple especially in this heat and my kids dig these. See for yourselves. :)

2. Blow up pool 
Yet again another simple solution but one that has brought lots of relief to ALL of us. 

3. Homemade Lemonaid (makes a GREAT slushy)

I literally have been eating this non stop.  Yes eating I put it in a cup and stick it in the freezer and tada an hour  later I am spooning pure coldness in my mouth. Also adding a few frozen strawberries is a great bonus to this drink.

Lemonade

3 cups of water 

1 cup fresh lemon juice (4 lemons)

1/2 cup sugar

Add: 1 cup of hot water plus the sugar, stir and allow sugar to dissolve 

then add lemon juice and remaining water.  Let cool or add ice and serve.

4. Hummus ~Salad for lunch and dinner 
We just don't tend to be as hungry in the summer especially when it is so hot. We often eat variations of salads some Turkish and some from the U.S. Hummus is a staple during the summer here. That cute little hand is snatching some black olives. 

                            

 Our Hummus Recipe:

30 ounces of Garbanzo beans/Chickpeas(without juice)

1/4 cup Tahini

1/4 cup Virgin olive oil

1/4 cup Lemon juice

1/4 Purified water

1 or 2 gloves Garlic

1 tsp salt

Garnish w/ Cumin on the top

5. Dinner, movie and fans


Inexpensive and great way to beat the heat for a few hours.  Simple dinner, fun cartoon (we have three kids 7 years and under so our options are limited. But hey I like Madagascar. :)) and fans turned up to high pointing at us. Oh I forgot to mention we have a projector and so our wall becomes our theater. :)

Well that is what we are up to this last week or so. Oh yes and Potty training in there has been, well not as easy as the first two. I figure we all learn right? I mean are any of you still wearing diapers? Well then I cling to hope. 


We have some fun crafts that the kids and I want to share too.  But that will have to be for another time. Well off I go to bed and will enjoy the rain that just fell! It brought with it a cool breeze.


Announcing the winners of the fun giveaway. 
The Ebru art goes to:
Laina over at Vibrant Serenity.  Congrats bloggy friend. 

The Garlands goes to: 
Lisa over at Organized Chaos
Congrats Lisa. :)

~in my west corner doing what I do 
Becky

'cheeky chores'

Sometimes in order to get the desired results you just have to mix it up a bit. 

Usually every Monday is work day (chore day) at our house. I am usually eye deep in laundery (because Monday is my laundry day) and picking up from the weekend, so it has become a family affair.  In order to get more done and lighten the whiney tones; I on occasion write a bunch of 'real chores' on pieces of paper and put them in a bowl, then I wite a bunch of 'cheeky chores' and put those into the bowl and mix it up.  The kids draw out a piece of paper and do what it says, throw away the piece and grab another.  They love the fun interuptions when they pull out a 'cheeky chore', coming and hugging Mom or stopping to get to eat a cookie, helps them keep going with good attitudes. :) Truth is I like a few 'cheeky chores' in my day too!

Usually I have a bowl for each girl but this past Monday I tried something new and put all the chores in one bowl and then used the blue bowl for paid chores.  When they were done with their regular chores if they wanted to earn money they could pick from the blue bowl and get paid for doing those chores.  If you are wondering, yes one of my girlies came back and picked a paid chore. I was proud of her.

Here are a few 'real chores' and a few 'cheeky chores'

This last Monday the kids came to me and asked if I
would do the 'bowl thing' this week for chores. :)

Here is another way I do it sometimes if I have a reason
for them getting things done in a certain order. they start with 1 and work their way down to 5.

I actually read this idea or something like it in a magazine years ago and I remembered it one 'dirty house, whiny kid' day and we have been doing chores this way on and off for over a year.

This is NOT a perfect solution and I try to do 'work day' on Mondays becasue I am usaully doing laundry or some other chore that can be easily interuppted if the kids need me (and usaully the younger ones do.) :)

"Cheeky Chore" ideas:

Pick a song (we always do 'work day' with music.)

Hug Mommy

Eat a small treat

Jump rope 10 times

Kiss/hug siblings

Call Daddy and say I love you (could be any relative)

Hope this is helpful. I would love to know if it is.

Please hit the 'helpful' reaction at the bottom if this brings any inspiration to you.:)

If you do something that has been succesful for chores I would love to know because

as my kids grow new and differnt ideas are helpful. ~

Happy Monday to you all. Thank you for following along, I love having you. ~becky