Quarantine Morning Routine for Mom

Well here we are, a month plus in to this craziness and I am finding a real need to address my current routine, you can find it HERE.  Guess what? It's not working. 

 It’s just not working while we are home all day, working and schooling here, and eating ALL day, right? I feel like every mom has said their kid is eating non stop. 

Starting with a list (I love lists 😍) of the things that need to be done before 8, 10, 12. I like to break mine down in chunks of time. Some people call it time blocking, I don’t really label it, I just do it because it’s logical to me. 

So my list before 8 

For me and *kids

Walk 

Coffee & Quiet Time 

Check planner (for the very very few things still on it) 

*Get ready for day.. to go no where 

Pack Lunch for hubby (if not done night before like I should have)

*Breakfast for Kids

Clean up Kitchen 

*School Prep/Check In

Before 10 

Check Meal Plan 

Daily Chores (find my schedule HERE) 

Check Bills (I have a problem, I know) 

Before 12 

*Finish school work for day

*Play Outside  

Read

Breakfast for me 

*Chores 

That’s it

 I know when I shrink it down it doesn’t seem like much. I’m happy to share more details, just ask. I just don't know how helpful it would be to all since we all have different situations/kids/chores etc. 

We leave at noon most days to grab lunch, drop stuff at my moms, errands (very rarely) or taking Ramsey to the golf course.  So thankful that’s still allowed right now. It’s a good safe outlet for him.  Afternoons are just pretty much a whatever ya want/free for all with some exceptions. From 2-3 most days is QUIET TIME FOR EVERYONE. We all need a break or nap.  No electronics from 12-3. They aren’t sitting on them much anyway but I like that there’s a definite break, and I hope we will be extending that time. They are on so much in the mornings for school.  

Evenings have been a disaster because I haven’t kept up on our usual and I haven’t even tried to work with what we had going on to adjust to new circumstances.  Working on that this week, especially since we know this is longer term than we first thought. 

Also, long time since I've been on, so HI!! Things have changed A LOT. Maybe this quarantine will get me back on here monthly, weekly? Something more than once a year? Come find me on Instagram www.Instagram.com/FolkHollow it's been pretty quiet there too though. I will say that the last few months I've felt more like blogging/Vlogging though so hopefully I can do something with those urges. 

Hope you are all well 

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Nightly Routine for Easier Mornings

Our mornings start EARLY, and I hate to get the day started on the wrong foot. Sometimes that happens anyway, but most days I can do a little work the night before to make mornings run smooth!

It doesn't take long, and every minute is usually worth it.

I leave about 15-20 minutes before bed to run through this routine real quick.

Journaling

The kids each have a little journal in their Good Morning Basket, I try to just write them a little note, or reminders for the day, if something is our usual schedule.

Prep Lunches & Coffee

I am much more with it in the evening than early in the morning, and that coffee is important :)

Breakfast Prep

Just check to make sure nothing needs to be thawed or put it in the Instant Pot

Dishes

Because waking up to an empty sink is AMAZING!

Laundry Prep

I just put a load in the washer, and if it's full already I will start it, if not I just wait for the mornings dirty clothes.

Quick Overall Tidy

Walk through and put things in the right room, bedding and put trash in bin

Check Planner

To make sure we don't have anything out of our norm the next day!

Self Care

Take care of my teeth and hopefully something to counteract these wrinkles lol

Getting to bed on time is Self Care too!

Do you feel like you stay up later and later just to have a little alone time, time where you aren't doing kid stuff, or doing something for someone else?

 That was me for years! Ended up being more tired in the morning and everything was more difficult. I switched it up and went to bed earlier, and get up earlier and have MORE time for me and I am not a tired groggy mess in the morning!

Anything you do routinely at night to help with the next day?

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Easy Breakfast Plan

This has been helpful for us in the past, last year was kind of a wash. This year though, this year HAS to go smoother! I've done some prepping already and am printing this for my planner! 

This might not be perfect and it might not happen every week, I still want to have it so I have something to fall back on when things feel like they are getting out of control!

I've made these pancake poppers in bulk because they are easy to grab and go! Super easy to make too! Whatever you like for pancake batter, then spray a mini muffin tin well, bake 12-14 minutes at 350! I made a bunch to freeze and we will just pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds when it's time to eat them!

We've got bacon and cheese, blackberry, raspberry with protein boost, sausage & maple and apple spice poppers all ready for school in 2 weeks!

I keep yogurt cups and have the dry ingredients in our breakfast bucket! Granola, dried fruit and plastic spoons, just in case!

Summer has it looking slim! Need to restock the spoons and fruit! 

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats! So many variations for flavors! Easy prep the night before, filling and not expensive! I picked Wednesday for this because we rarely use the IP for taco Tuesday'

Eggs, bacon and toast is a little more work for me but I feel like I should have my life together by Thursday of each week lol. I also have a stack of bacon egg and cheese English muffins in the freezer if that is not the case and I am still failing.

Friday is typically chaos for me. The day I play catch up and I don't really want to add extra dishes in the morning or worry about it. We have leftovers, yogurt, cereal sometimes and the kids can choose to make their own stuff too! 

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Muffin Tops

 

Muffin Top Cookies? Just plain ol' Muffin Tops?

There isn't more sugar like in a cookie, but they are shaped like a BIG cookie. Call them what you want, they are easy and delicious and the kids will like them! They aren't dense like a cookie, lighter, like a muffin but the oatmeal in these ones gives them oomph!

 

 

I've made multiple varieties but don't always track what I add.

For these I did though! Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.

 

I just used my basic muffin dry ingredients

1 3/4 AP Flour

1/3C Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

 

 

Then I just added about 1C ish of liquids + 1 egg for the basic recipe.

 

For this one I added

1 BIG ripe banana all mashed up

2 Eggs

and 1/2 C Oats for bit of texture

1/4 C Mini Chocolate Chips

 

***The batter should be about muffin batter consistency, maybe slightly thicker***

Play around and try some different combos.

 

Bake 13-15 Minutes at 350 on a greased cookie sheet

I use a big cookie scoop to measure them equally

 

 

 

 

*May contain affiliated links* I participate in Amazon Associates Program occasionally. I won't recommend a product I wasn't myself interested in trying or have tried. I may receive monetary compensation for participating. This does not change the price for you.

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Updated Homework Setup

I have no idea if any of our older 3 will have homework. I am assuming the 6th grader will and probably the 1st grader, going to set up for that and change it if we need to. Oh how I miss the last time I shared our work set up. 2 tiny elementary students and a pre-preschooler :(

We already have a drawer for colored pencils, crayons, art supplies and that kind of stuff. It's just not very conducive to homework, too many fun distractions. I don't want to do anything TOO over the top or crazy. I'm just tidying the drawer that already has all their other stuff. Journals, devotionals and such, stuff we ideally use everyday. Added a little basket with plain pencils (no one comes looking for those) and a few crayons. I might add their workbooks, once we know who has homework and how much. 

This is also where we will keep their reading logs and folders, if it's like years past where they bring them home Monday and return Friday. 

I don't know if there is anything worse than a frantic type A kiddo who doesn't know where their homework folder is and it's time to go. I'd love to eliminate that whole dilemma with this! 

 It's not a huge drawer, but I am also hoping to have room for 1st grade library books. He is NOT of the type A variety and really has no desire to keep track of anything.

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Back to School Goals!

Summer is fun and all but I love the routines of school time too! Last year was so OFF for us. New school, new morning routine with bus riding, having a baby that slept like a newborn, and a new house in shambles. Most of that is settled now.  I feel like we let so much slide and now I have August to get back on track after almost 2 years of being off our game.  School starts the end of August for us, exactly 1 month from today.. Yikes!
Just a few things I want to have ready before then, some routines in place, some work done.

Put Up Decorations

And be real about what I am keeping, not sure I will need all 6 banners we have in that bin.

Update our Breakfast Routine

Update our Homework Setup

Lunch & Snack Prep

Morning Routine for School 
Mine and the Kids

Meal Planning

Kids Chore Packs

Sports Area in Garage

Outfits picked out for middle 2 

While I still can 😭😭

Get a Command Center set up
This is unlikely but I would love for it to be wrapped up, or even started!

Not worrying about any of it this weekend, but hoping Monday is kind!



And I know our after schools are going to be so weird now that we have 1 kiddo who won't be home until a bit later. But figuring out afternoons is on the list to figure out after a month or so. 

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I Miss The Mom Tribe!

Do you miss it too? Maybe it's just me? I feel like I am missing out on the mom friends like my mom and grandma had.

 On any given day there would be another mom at our house at some point. Some had girls my age, some had boys and some had kids my brothers age, or older than both of us. It didn't ever feel weird, it wasn't a play date, often it was just a mom, no kids. There was no phone calls from the road ahead to check and see if a quick stop was ok, no cell phones. My mom and grandma were both social, I am social, where are the friends that stop by for coffee or just to kill 10 minutes between errands? Some of these moms even had their own coffee creamer at our house. No one cared that there was a really good chance that they would have to move laundry to sit and chat, or that if it was before school I would probably ask for help French braiding my hair (I still can't braid my own). I didn't know that wasn't a thing? I really expected that as an adult, especially once I had school age kids. We have an 11 year old. It hasn't happened yet. Which makes me wonder why?!? What has changed in the past 2 decades that this practice of stopping by to call on friends and have a quick cup of coffee has become non existent?  Is this part of why relationships seem only surface deep more often than not lately? Because we aren't seeing the real day to day stuff, only the put together show?

Is it too crazy to say to your friends "stop by any time" and mean it? I can probably make sure there is coffee or tea, you will probably have to move books or laundry to have a seat, but stay for 1 cup or for 3. No promise that I will be dressed all the way, I probably won't have my hair and makeup done. But it's an open invitation to our real life and we want you in it! Is that really weird or crazy?  Are we too worried about our appearances (or our home)  that friendships suffer? If it's ok for neighbor kids to come by to see if kids can play, when does that stop being ok for adults? 

I'm putting this out there for my friends, stop by, I mean it. I don't care if you are in a cruddy mood or have good news to share, if you are out of creamer or just need to get out of the house for a few. I want to know your real life ❤️

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Summer Bucket List

There are a million bucket lists, to do lists etc all over Pinterest.  I do ours a little different.

Kids will be coming home to a big bucket with our list! We have a budget, and buying all this stuff all at once would not work for us. I started a few weeks ago collecting stuff that won't go bad.  Hopefully that is a bit more exciting than just a list. I can't wait to share it with y'all.

Here is our list, some of these will be multiple times and others not so much. Pretty much every other day we pick berries while they are in season. The Library gets a lot of our time too.

I also LOVE the weekly plans that some folks do. We don't have that much structure during the week but I love the idea!

 And this could be fun too!

 
What is on your list for the summer? 
When is summer break for you?

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It's almost summer break!

 We have just 3 1/2 weeks left of school. This year went SO SO fast! I am ready for less hustle and more time with the kids. Less schedule and more snuggle. Less paperwork and more coloring!

Our kids love school and usually the last day of school is full of tears and emotions. Putting some stuff together to make that last day special. And maybe snagging this.

Love this idea from Oh Goodie Goodie!

The Balloons might not work for us, but the streamers will, and our kids will love it!

I am not so sure our kids are as excited as I am to be home with me all day though. I have a feeling they will soon come down with a case of boredom. Stocking up these next few weeks on new things to do, old things we haven't done in a while and sneaking some math in there too.

These Star Wars workbooks have been our kids favorite this year!

We make our own bubble soap more often than not, but having a good selection of these and some chalk is a quick easy outside go to!

 

Our Target dollar section has all kinds of stuff out right now!

 

I also am stocking up on perler beads, shrinky dinks, and a few other non electronic things to do! I want to make sure there is a good variety of things to do to avoid TV in general!

Our daughter really thinks she wants to do a lemonade stand, everyday. This is so cute and easy, just covers a card table!

Only problem with that, we don't live in a neighborhood, and we have 4 neighbors is all. I don't think she would be too successful. 

I have 1 more thing I am working on, to get these kids excited, and to try and enjoy the days without school. They really are such good little kids that love school so much. This year will be especially hard, our oldest is going to middle school next year. I am not ready to have a big kid!

*May contain affiliated links* I participate in Amazon Associates Program occasionally. I won't recommend a product I wasn't myself interested in trying or have tried. I may receive monetary compensation for participating. This does not change the price for you.

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Mom Drawer

 This was my dresser growing up, I hesitated to take it back until just recently. Well now that it's here, it's perfect! It fits just right and has given me a convenient spot for my mom/wife life organization.

it's not quite the big command center I was dreaming of, like these.

But it's working! My WOTY is FRESH, still working on it, in lots of ways.  A fresh perspective on what I actually need to make my life run smooth was one of those things. I don't need a big ol' command center, just this. This drawer, where I can keep my planner, my daily necessities like the speaker and devotional/Bible, grocery list, my few favorite pens, lip gloss and eye drops, yay allergies. I also keep my coloring books, in case I have a few minutes to myself ❤️

*May contain affiliated links* I participate in Amazon Associates Program occasionally. I won't recommend a product I wasn't myself interested in trying or have tried. I may receive monetary compensation for participating. This does not change the price for you.

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Giving in, working with Good Enough!

These bags of clothes, and toys and just junk in general have been making me crazy! I don't know if it's losing my step dad or something else, just changing my perspective a bit. I am a big believer in kids having responsibilities and not being coddled so much they end up as entitled adults, but this just isn't working anymore. We've been just taking the stuff they aren't treating right and tossing it in a bag. They have to earn it back, the problem has been that there is no time for them to do extra chores or other jobs to earn them back. The bags are in my way and after months they really haven't gotten any smaller. The kids have gotten a little better about picking up but not what I was hoping for. 

I'M GIVING IN!

I am just going to do my best to look the other way when their drawers are trashed and socks aren't matched and clothes are hung inside out. When their rooms are a mega pit, I am going to just let it go and clean it when I can. Things probably won't go where they want them, but if I do it, it's just going to have to be good enough. That is what I am focusing on, good enough!  I can't do all of their work for them, but some I can and I like to! I feel like right now I spend more energy worrying about the stupid bags full of stuff than it would have taken me to just put it away. They are still young, won't be for long and I know I will probably miss turning their teeny little jeans the right way and putting them away. And if they end up going to college without knowing how to do laundry, well then I guess that is a failure on my part, or maybe just a sneaky way to keep them close and make them come home on the weekends.  

Now I am not talking about letting them keep their room as a fire hazard or anything, but if they have the 1.2 million baseball cards on their bed, fine. I just can't spend anymore time asking them to put them away for them to either not do it or do it halfway (usually what happens) and then enforcing the consequences, which really are more of a punishment for me. I'm not keeping track of their stuff though, they are plenty old enough to do that. I won't be hunting in their rooms to find dirty clothes, or baseball uniforms. That is on them, they know where dirty clothes go. Natural consequences without extra effort on my part.

I'm really hopefull that this will just help the atmosphere here. I don't do what info to have them speak their appreciation, but it's nice when they do. Or just act like they do and chip in. Some days that is REALLY hard for me, to feel unappreciated by the whole group. But that's MY doing, my expectations of what they should be verbalizing and not really them. 

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