Los Porchs

I have always wanted to make my own flannel board; I find it offensive just how expensive they are from early education supply chains and refuse to buy one for Charlotte.  One of the perks of being a CDA Professional Development Specialist is going into centers and seeing the innovative ways other early childhood folks are doing the DIY thing.  I saw something during a visit yesterday that caught my attention and stuck in my brain. So much so that I found myself in Michael's today picking up the supplies and pulling' out the glue gun tonight to put together! I had the standard coupon for 40% off a regular-priced item and found felt that was pre-cut to be 36x36.  I grabbed this frame that was 16x20 (and a few other items for Ms. Charlotte) and found my way to the checkout!   It was super easy, you guys!  I cut the felt to be the same size as the cardboard back and then hot glued it to the back and then tucked it back into the frame and slapped some 3M strips to t

Unemployed ECE mama here....  I love play dough and the important skill building opportunities it presents my daughter. That being said, one can really only roll so many balls and snakes before slipping into madness. As an early childhood warrior, I am also a hoarder (in its best sense) by nature.  Today's fun play dough addition? A plastic egg carton that was on its way to the trash. We now spend hours rolling and ripping dough to put into each section and count as we add them.  My sanity lives to see lunch, thank goodness! Mama Porch

I found a roll of contact paper in my "teacher stash" downstairs and remembered having my kiddos put tissue paper onto the paper. I looked around and couldn't find any tissue paper that wasn't red and green (no offense, red and green, but I wanted something brighter).  I brought the contact paper upstairs and left it on the table for about a week. I quickly noticed and appreciated the 3 pieces of tissue paper the kind ladies at Victoria's Secret put into my bag to wrap my new investments.  I also spied a piece of white paper with golden dots and whipped out my scissors to cut those bad boys up. I taped a piece of that contact paper onto the fridge with the sticky side out (obviously) so that we could experiment with putting the tissue paper onto it. finding the perfect spot! She's got that crazy look in her eye. I sincerely don't know how it's possible that I didn't expect her to do what she did next.  In my 8 years of professional

It's not a bucket list, mostly because it contains some pretty simple crap.  It's nothing magical.  It's just a brief list of things I'd like to tackle in the new year.  I already organized the front closet which had been a dumping ground since Day 1.  I was going to put it on the list and just the thought of it being on my list motivated me to do something about it.  I'm hopeful for a similar experience with the other pieces.  Yes, I included getting pregnant (because I have 365 days after all) but it's not pressing. I'd also like to haul my happy ass to Toronto to see my favorite Canadians too!  :)  Again, I've got a whole year to make progress! Cheers to 2016! Mama Porch

I hate resolutions.  I find the whole process of finding something to work towards just because it's a new year exhausting.  I also find it humorous to watch as the number of cars in the gym parking lot dwindle with each passing day as people throw in the towel.   Full disclosure, I'm only seeing those cars because the gym is right next to Starbucks and I'm getting coffee; I have never had a resolution to "work out every day" or "stop eating sugar."  I know me.  I'm not going to set myself up for failure before the first month of the year is through. 2015 was a hard year.  As a whole, it was filled with good times with family and friends, work, and a general sense of happiness.  However, it wasn't all happy.  Even before I became unemployed, I had a nagging sense of unhappiness.  I was feeling guilty for working so much and let that guilt tell me I was a bad mother.  I let work interfere in my most meaningful relationships and I find myself res