With September underway, kids are back in school. I live right next to a school, and every morning I hear their excited little voices as they are being dropped off. I’m so jealous. I want to go school supply shopping; take notes in a fresh notebook; pore over a syllabus of upcoming readings. I want to sit in a classroom soaking up interesting knowledge. I might even look forward to a teensy bit of homework (as long as it doesn’t involve math!)
If you at all have room in your life, see if you can make time this fall for some enriching classes you will enjoy. Be a lifelong learner, and continue to explore your interests. Whether you take classes at a cooking store, community college, karate school, yoga center, or online, give yourself the gift of knowledge. Maybe all you can fit in is a weekend workshop this fall, or an online course you do at night when your kids are in bed.
You may have to trade babysitting with another mother, arrange to leave your children with your partner one night a week, or barricade yourself in your room for an hour a night to finish an online course. You might have to give up TV two nights a week, or limit your daily computer time until the class is over. If it’s important to you, you’ll find and make the time for yourself. I know it’s hard if you’re working, even if you don’t have kids, to find time after you get home tired every weeknight. But you do still have weekends!
7 Universities Providing Free Online Literature Courses
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
– Fill up with gas for the weekend; stop by an ATM for cash
– Wipe down kitchen sink and counters; fill or empty dishwasher as needed
– Take out trash if needed, or make someone in your household help you
– Declutter and vacuum living room really quickly so you have a nice fresh home to come home to tonight
– Take inventory of your baking cupboard. Do you have fall goodies on hand, like buttermilk biscuit mix, scone mixes, flour, sugar, muffin mixes, apple crisp topping, cake mixes and cookie ingredients? Add anything missing to your shopping list.
TODAY’S PROJECT: Fall Blankets
If it’s getting chilly in your area, time to swap out your summer bed linens for your fall and winter ones. Here in Seattle, it was cold enough last night to remind me it’s time to get out my faux down duvet. Away go my cream colored summer sheets with flowery embroidery trim. Out come my cranberry flannel sheets and warmer bedding.
Launder your outgoing sheets and blankets before folding them away for storage. Smell your replacements to see if they smell fresh. Mine are a bit dusty smelling from the closet, so I want to wash them before putting them on the bed. Use linen spray, if you like, to help freshen the bed too. See how your accent pillows (if any) smell while you’re there. My cranberry velvet ones need to be Febrezed or linen sprayed a little bit. Repeat the process for your children’s rooms or guest room, if applicable.
I’m getting out a couple quilts for at the foot of everyone’s beds. Also, it might be time to get out your throws to toss around your couches and living rooms. Freshen them too, if needed. There’s nothing like snuggling up in front of a bad reality TV show with a soft throw on a chilly fall evening.
LOVELY BLOGS: Once Upon a Blog
This blog covers news about fairy tales. I love everything fairytale related, especially in autumn when I curl up by the fire and read dark old stories. So I’ll check back with this blog often to see news on movies, books, conventions, art, and other blogs. There’s a wee bit too much Disney here for my liking, but it’s easy to skip over, and I bet I have readers who would enjoy that much Disney anyways.
http://fairytalenewsblog.blogspot.com/
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Fantastic Fare in 5 Ingredients or Less (Today Show)