Thursday, September 8, 2011

What Is Your Back to School Resolution?


A reader of professional organizer and the Donate Movement spokesperson Lorie Marrero’s blog made the comment, “The new school year to me is like setting new year’s resolutions.“  Lorie agreed and created some suggestions of some small things you can change to make a huge difference in your school year and how organized you feel:
  • Create a lunch-making station in your kitchen, with storage for lunch boxes, plastic bags, food containers, thermal containers, plasticware, and common lunch treats all within easy reach of the fridge and/or pantry. Think about how easy it would be to make a peanut butter sandwich in your kitchen and adjust accordingly.
  • Start a habit of making lunches the night before. Better yet, have the young ‘uns start packing their own. Give them some guidance on appropriate menus and combinations and keep your supplies stocked for them.
  • Find out if your school has automated reminders that e-mail you when your child’s lunch money account is below a certain dollar amount. (Ours does and I didn’t know that until the end of last year!)
  • Get up earlier. Get ahead of the rest of the family, get your workout done, get a shower, or just get some quiet time to yourself before the whole day’s wild rumpus begins.
  • Do your “Sunday Planning”– just 10-15 minutes a week could change everything!
  • Set up family policies for homework time, snack time, and how much screen time the kids can have on weekdays and weekends. Agree to these policies together along with the consequences for violating them, and even have the kids sign an official paper about it. Eliminate arguments and constant policing!
  • Make an effort to organize a carpool arrangement with at least one other family. It saves everyone immense amounts of time and is good for the environment too.

What will your back to school resolutions be this year?   Share with us!


Check out Lorie’s blog: 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

One Year Ago Today...





                                             One Year Ago Today





One year ago today we closed one chapter and opened a new one.



One year ago today Ron, Bradley, Dylan and I crossed the ocean on a new adventure.

One year ago today we arrived in Sandefjord, Norway.


It is hard to describe all the feelings that we each had.

Joy!
Excitement!

Sad!
Some uncertainty!
Happiness!

The list could go on.

It was such a strange feeling of entering the unknown; we were stepping out of our comfort zone to start a new life.   As we look back over the year, we see so many new discoveries – new friends we have made and so much to look forward too.  It is hard to believe a year has passed. A year full of exciting new adventures for us.

 

It has been a time of great growth and learning for our family to adapt to life here in Norway.  Bradley has been through an entire year of school, and Dylan a few months of Barnehage and myself starting Norwegian school 2 weeks ago. Living with new essentials, it has made me realize that you don’t need all the clutter in your life to be happy.  What are important are the people and the experiences you take part in.  We have been through an entire year of seasons.  From minus zero winters in a foreign country to perfect long summer days.


We are still getting to know our new home and look forward to "year two" and all that is in store for us.
Life just gets more and more exciting, just when you think you have done it all and have it all figured out, God sends you another adventure. 


We thank you for your thoughts & prayers and are still looking forward to visits from family and friends!  We think of our wonderful family and friends back in The Bahamas and
USA so often.

 

 

Warmly, the Unhjem Family – Ronny, Kristina, Bradley and Dylan 



Delicious Caramel Candies

I love anything caramel. It's delicious on its own or pairs well with chocolate or anything salty.   Warning these can be addictive...