Back To School

Wow! I remember shortly before I had Porter (child #2), someone told me that with one child you can still do the things you always have (and I did), but with two children, you realize you just can't do everything and have to let some things go (which was absolutely true). They never told me what happens with three children, but I would say that it's easy to let everything go! I have time for my three children right now and that's about it! I'm loving it, though. It really is a wonderful thing and I know there are seasons to everything and we will get back into the groove soon.



When Gabby was 10 days old, we drove back home to Nebraska to watch Casey receive his MBA. This has been three years in the making and I completely broke down when I saw him receive his degree. He has worked so hard and we as a family have sacrificed so much to make this happen. We debated whether to make the trip back for his degree as we knew it was a little crazy, but we thought it would set a great example to Caden. And it has.... he now has a piggy bank that he "saves for college."

Speaking of school... Caden started preschool last week. He goes three days a week for 2 1/2 hours. He has the same teacher as last year and loves it! When I asked Caden what he wants to be when he grows up, he said "a football player." Here is his giving a 4 year old forced smile to the camera. (He does this every time the camera comes out).



Then I tell him to be himself. Ah, that's better.



Now for the goofy shots.





And one with brother.



For those of you wanting a Gabby update. She is doing really well. I tried to take good pictures for her announcement a few weeks back and this is what I got.



Fussiness. Pure fussiness and I haven't been able to take pictures since. Blame it on the light, or the pure craziness that is our household currently, it just hasn't happened.

Back To School Design

Back to school means many different things to many different people!  For those college students you know it's an exciting time!  They get to live on their own, make their own choices, and design their own unique place!  Here are some great little pieces to consider:



Writer's Block



Moustache Pencils



Fillsta Lamp from Ikea



Peacock Circles pillow from Pier 1

Speaking of layouts for small spaces, we now have a new option available to help with your home, apartment, or dorm room!  This is perfect if you've already got the furniture but just don't know how to lay it out as efficiently as possible.  This single room service is a one time fee of $75 and includes a new floor plan for your room.  Visit the Hire Us page to learn more.

Random Facts from Interior Design School

Ever wonder what you missed by not going to school for interior design?  Let me share a few random facts I picked up along the way:

Above is a picture of my senior project from a few years ago.  It's a conceptual project of a resort in the Maldives.  I LOVE hexagons!

-Babies in rooms painted yellow cry more.  (Yep, it's true!)

-If you ever want to know how senior adults see important interior features like stairs, use a piece of sandpaper to roughen up some goggles, then try wearing them around for a while...  This is why there are building codes for commercial buildings that the nosing of stairs has to be a different material/texture/color.  For an even more eye-opening experience-Try going to a public building in a wheelchair!  I'll never look at things the same again after spending 30 minutes wheeling around campus in a wheelchair to see if I could access things like public restrooms, doors, cafe's, etc.

-Foam Tape is your friend!  Thanks 3M!  This stuff holds my heavy granite samples to my board.  If you're not planning on taping granite anytime soon (It's ok if you're not!), it's great for hanging smaller pictures on the wall!  I've also used this tape to install under-cabinet lighting in my kitchen.  The cabinets were not cooperating with the drill and screws so I just put some foam tape there and they held perfectly.

-Why senior adults are more at risk of getting overheating during a heat wave:  As you age your skin pores that you sweat from start to scar, and when you're older they don't work as well, so older adults can't properly sweat to cool down...  (Hope that wasn't too much information!)

-In my lighting class I learned how to make a lamp.  It's actually pretty easy and all the supplies can be easily found at your local hardware store.  They make it pretty easy now and usually you don't even have to strip the wires yourself!  And did I mention all the supplies for the inside of your lamp will only cost you about $10?  (I'm hoping to do a tutorial soon to show YOU how to make a lamp!)  

-The squint method. I'm being serious!  If you're trying to decide if a material (fabric, flooring, carpet, paint, etc.) will work with everything else in your room.  Put small swatches of everything on a board (Nothing fancy-it doesn't even have to be glued down) step back a few feet and squint.  If any of the samples scream out at you it may not work with everything else. Not really technical, but it works great!

Time Saving Back to School Tips

I don't have children yet, but I do know that mornings can be a rush, especially when everyone is getting ready and has to go in many different directions.  Here are a few tips to get your day started right:

by squarepants2004j/auntyhuia

1. Set out homework, signed slips, and anything else that needs to go to school the next day, better yet, get it all packed so the backpacks are ready to grab and go.

by ex.libris

2. Use the weekend to get lunch items ready for the upcoming week.  Make a couple of batches of jello, pudding, salad, or cut up veggies and put into small plastic containers.  They stack nicely in the fridge and are tons cheaper than buying the pre-made ones.  When you're ready to pack lunch in the morning, just grab a few of your pre-made containers and add to the lunch box.

by exile in suburbia

3.  Help your child set out two outfits the night before.  In the morning they can choose between the two and hopefully this will reduce the amount of disagreements over what can be worn!

Master this

Casey has decided to jump in and go back to school in January. We struggled with the decision as to where he should go.

-Should we move? House market stinks... probably not the time to sell.
-UNL? That's where Casey received his undergrad... what if he wants to teach someday? Not that he ever plans to, but what if that door were to open. Work and school... Omaha and Lincoln? Do they offer classes at 8pm?
-Creighton? $$$
-Bellevue? Does accreditation REALLY matter?

Enter in the Distance MBA program at UNL. This means that he will be able to continue working full time and juggling school on the side... all from his computer. Classes are on a modular schedule so they are very flexible with fitting them into your schedule. We figure if Casey ever wants to teach someday (highly unlikely, but he would be dang good at it and we want to keep our options open) it's really only the master's and doctorate that matter. Right? We just feel the strong urge that he needs to go to school now and this is how we are accomplishing that.

Would it be crazy if I decided to go back too? Both working full time, going to school with a kid. It's possible, right?

Okay, probably not. But, I really do want to get my master's someday. I just don't want to be one of those moms that gives up my goals and dreams just because I have kids. If I have to put it off for a little bit, I'm okay with that, but I still want to live my life for me too.

And you could be thinking that I'm a selfish person right now. Maybe I am, but I really think in order for my kids to be happy and successful, I have to be happy and successful too. Successful meaning achieved, determined and content. I'm not thinking $$$ or the big time job in a corporate office. None of that really means anything to me. It could mean maybe getting my masters, writing a book or starting a small business. It could also mean dreaming big and leaving those dreams as dreams.

I am really looking forward to being a mother and starting a family. As all other moms, I want to be the best mom I can be and I believe this also means being the best me I can be. My goal is to be there when I am spending time with my kids. I hope to be a mom that sparks creativity and knowledge and LOVE with my children.

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Okay, I realize I have just gone off on a rant. Being pregnant really brings all the crazies out of the woodwork and this is my response to them. My life will not be over after I have a child, it will just be starting on a new level.

I believe it is possible to have my cake and eat it too, because I just won't settle for anything less.

Discuss amongst yourselves