Consistency

Happy New Year 2018!

Remembering the past...

I can't begin to go forward without reflecting on my past.  The year of 2017 brought such joy and pain in my life.  We began with the passing of my daughters' grandfather (their dad's dad), in which we lost their grandmother (their dad's mom) just a few short months before.  We had a few health scares with my own aging parents.  It was a real reminder of how precious life is. 

My oldest turned double digits (the big 1-0), which also reminded me of how quickly time goes.  She is now considered an "upper grader," has a school locker, and doesn't think me dancing in front of her friends is that cool any more.  But she is still super sweet, and I can see she is trying to find her place in life.

My youngest is still a ball of energy and makes me laugh everyday.  She is quite a little fashionista.  I really do enjoy seeing the outfits she comes up with and how her little, creative mind works.  It's not just the outfit that puts a smile on my face, but the confidence she exudes knowing that she created it.  I want her to hold onto that confidence and apply it to everything else she does in life.

I started teaching a brand new national level school, Círculos @Chavez - an XQ Super School.  No pressure, right? ;-) We are a "Classroom With No Walls," where the world is our classroom.  We travel, usually by public bus, and explore the world as we're learning along the way.  There were SO many highlights.  That in itself can be it's own post.

Towards the end of the year, we lost our cousin, Pete.  He unexpectedly died, and that shook our entire family.  We also lost several friends along the way and many loved ones battling cancer or having other life-threatening issues.

We go through life with such wonderful people and experiences, but sometimes we don't truly appreciate them.  It's the grandparents who were in your child's life everyday that are now gone.  It's the little girl who brings you such joy and is now almost taller than you.  It's the child who makes a mess everyday but is growing in her creativity.  It's that student whose perception of positive learning that you can foster.  It's that cool cousin that you didn't spend as much time with and is now gone.   

Moving towards the future...

You know how people say, "Oh, I want to do that" or "I wish I did that."  I don't want to be one of those people.  I want to say "I did that!"  I want to live life to the fullest.  I think I have been moving towards that direction.

I've never done a theme for myself, but I felt it was fitting to do one this year.  My 2018 theme is consistency.  I want to be consistent in:

• writing on my blog
• helping others
• being reliable
• putting laundry away
• reminding my kids I love them
• and many more

It's not that I don't do these things, but I want to be more "consistent."  Like I said, I want to be the person that says, "I did that!"

What do YOU want to be more consistent with this year?  Then, do that! 

Happy New Year!

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

Easter Bunny Prints

So I always have these crazy ideas in my head.  They have either been inspired by someone or something or truly...it's just a crazy idea in my head.  Haha!  My daughters are still young, and I love how they are both still into the "magic" of everything.  I want to continue that wonder as long as I can.  

Last Easter, the Easter Bunny visited.  How did we know?  He left some "prints."

This is such a fun and easy way to keep that "magic" alive.

Here is what you need:

• flour (just the regular flour you use for baking)
• small container/cup (I just use a measuring cup)
• Easter Bunny Prints template (see below) or make your own

Here is what you do:

1. Print out the template (I like to print on card stock paper because it's a little thicker, but regular printing paper will do too.) or you can draw/trace your own template.
2. Cut out the shaded (inside) parts of the template.  They become holes.
3. Place about 1/2 - 1 cup of flour in a cup/small container.
4. Lay the template on the ground where you want the prints.
5. Pour some flour over the holes and then flatten the flour with your fingers.  You will have some excess, but you can just use it on your next print.
6. Make as many prints around your home as you would like.

TIPS:

• Prints don't have to be perfect.  Remember, the Easter Bunny is a hopper.
• Have your children follow the prints to something, like their Easter baskets or eggs.
• Don't forget to hide the evidence (print template) afterwards.

HOPPY Easter!

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

Where Does God Need You?

This post is actually an extension of a Facebook post that I uploaded today..."Had a beautiful conversation with a stranger...thank you, God."

People ask me all the time..."How do you do ALL that you do?"  Before, I wasn't sure how to respond because honestly, I wondered the same thing.  Haha.  But I knew, God was behind all of it.  So the next time I'm asked that question, I will respond...

"It's where God needs me."

If God needs me to be a mother...

"It's where God needs me."

If God needs me to be a teacher...

"It's where God needs me."

If God needs me to be a volunteer at the jails...

"It's where God needs me."

If God needs me to be a Girl Scout troop leader (for TWO troops LOL)...

"It's where God needs me."

Today, God needed me to help a father.  

After I dropped off the girls to school, I had a meeting with my friend/other troop leader to discuss things for our upcoming Girl Scout meeting.  I love spending time with her.  We're both educators, so we both understand the challenges of working and being a mom.  So  of course, our what we say "quick 10 minute meetings" always usually last an hour.  I knew I had a doctor's appointment, but we were getting work done, and I was enjoying my time with her.

"It's where God needed me."

Afterwards, I rushed to my appointment.  As I was getting onto the elevator, there was a delivery man with a cart delivering hospital gowns.  He mentioned how he was glad it was Friday.  I said I'm still on vacation (being a teacher).  We chit chatted until the elevator doors opened.  We said our good byes and went about our way.

When I went to check into the doctor's office, they said I was too late for the appointment and to come back to a later appointment or I could go to Urgent Care later.  It was disappointing, but I also knew I was the reason for being late.  So it was what it was.  I went back to the elevator, and there again was the same delivery man.  We smiled with that "Hey, it's you again" look.  We continued talking as we went down the elevator and even into the parking lot.

Then, he told me his story.  How he has three children, two who are already adults and one 12 year old.  He seemed to be struggling with his youngest, but he told me all the wonderful things he was trying to do to continue to support her.  I was able to give him some advice based on my teaching experiences dealing with students and parents, while also giving my two cents as a parent.  But I felt more importantly, he just needed the reassurance that he was doing a good job as a parent, which came in the form of a random stranger who was a teacher...me!

"It's where God needed me."

Listen to Him.  He will let you know when to pull back and when to push forward with the confidence that He is with you.

So the next time things don't go as planned, remember that there's a reason.  Pray...

"God, where do you need me today?"

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

52 Week Money Challenge

Who wants $1,378 by the end of the year?  I DO!!!

I'm the first to admit that I'm no money guru.  BUT, I really am committing 2017 as the year I become more financially focused and work on getting my finances in a better place.

So I thought, why don't I challenge myself and set a financial goal.  I'm going to SAVE $1,378 this year by doing a 52 Week Money Challenge.  It's simple...each week of the year you save that number in dollars.  So since it's the first week of the year, you save or put away $1.  During week 2, you save $2.  Week 3, you save $3.  You get where I'm going with this?  Go all the way to the last week of the year (week 52), and you will end up with $1,378.  Pretty cool.

For you visual people, like me, here's a chart I created:

I, myself, get paid once a month, so I made a chart for that:

I know some of you may get paid Bi-Weekly, so here's a chart for that:

Now, you need to decide how and where you're going to save your money:

1)  Open up a separate share account.

This is the route I'm choosing this year.  I'm actually calling the account "Money Challenge."  If you open up a separate share account, you can make transfers from your own Checkings.  You can even set up automatic transfers.

2)  Transfer the money to a whole other separate bank account.

This idea is great if you don't want to see the money, so you're not tempted to remove it.

3)  Put cash in a jar (or container/box).

This may be old fashioned, but it works.  Take out cash each week and place it in your container.  Put it somewhere so you can watch it grow, or hide it so you won't take from it.

Pick a day of the week to make your "deposits" to yourself.  The above charts show Fridays as deposit day, but you can pick any day that works for you.

Helpful Tip:

I highlighted certain weeks on the charts to check your progress.  The whole point is to stay on the schedule but reality is we may not.  Life happens.  Use the highlighted weeks as "catch up" weeks or even put a little extra so in case you fall short later or even just end up with more money.

One last thing to keep you motivated:

Set a PURPOSE for your money that you will be getting.  Are you going to buy a special item?  Are you going to go on a trip?  Will you pay down debt?  Will you be donating it?  For me, I'm going to donate a portion to my church and a portion to a charity that my daughters and I will decide on.  The rest of the money will go to a special trip or adventure for me and my girls.  

I will check in with you throughout the year to keep ME on track.  Wish me luck!

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

New Year's Tree

Hi All!,

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.  It can be such a joyous and magical time.  For those of you who celebrated Christmas,  DO NOT throw out that tree yet nor put away your tree.  It STILL has good use.  

Turn your Christmas tree into a NEW YEAR'S TREE!!!

Check out an old post that I posted.  It's super easy and super fun!  Click HERE.

As the new year is approaching, use this New Year's tree to reminisce about this past year while looking forward to the new one.

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

Reindeer Water

Parents were asked in my daughter's 1st grade class to bring something for the Christmas program, so I decided to sign up to bring waters.  I thought it was quick and easy.  But then I thought, "How can we jazz up these waters?"  I remembered that a few years back for my older daughter, I also signed up to bring water, and I decorated them like little reindeer.  I found similar posts on Pinterest, but I added a little twist by adding construction paper.

MATERIALS:

• Brown construction paper (cut into 2 x 9 inch strips) 
• Brown pipe cleaners
• Tacky glue
• Tape
• Permanent marker
• Red pom poms
• Googly eyes
• Water bottles (8 oz.)

STEPS:

1)  Tape the construction paper to the water bottle.  It will prevent the paper from sliding off. (NOTE:  No need to remove the label because the paper will cover it.)

2)  Wrap the paper around the bottle.  Then, glue the end with tacky glue.  Hold down a few seconds before letting go of the paper.  Also, laying the bottle down on the crease will help it to dry securely.

3)  Add three dots of glue to the paper, while adding a little more glue for the nose.

4)  Bend both ends of the pipe cleaner, roughly about 1/2 inch in length.  By tucking in the ends, it help the little ones from getting poked.

5)  Wrap the pipe cleaner around the neck of the water bottle.  Once connected, twist twice.

6)  Using a permanent marker, draw a smile onto the paper.  It can be a basic line or add some character to it.

TIPS:

Use a paper cutter to cut the strips of paper.  I took a full size (12 x 18) construction paper and cut it in half (9 x 12).  The length was 9 inches, and I cut them into 2 inch strips.  One full size construction paper will give you 12 (2 x9 inch) strips.

Number your water bottles (1-how many you have).  How many times have we put a water bottle down at a party and then wondered "Is this one mine?"  This is a quick and easy way to stay organized.  Also, if this is for the classroom, most classes have student numbers.  Each student can get their own number.  The little ones will remember which one is their bottle because they have had the same number all year.

Carry the waters in the same case they came in.  Angle the bottles so the noses don't get squished.

I hope you liked this post.  We can all turn a few simple water bottles into some adorable reindeer that will make any holiday party seem more festive.

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

I'm BACK!

Hi Everyone,

It's been quite some time since I've written a post and A LOT has happened!!!  I really wanted to start blogging again but wasn't sure when or how to start.  So of course, I picked the busiest time of the year...mid-December.  But then I thought, this time of the year is so INSPIRING as well.  The year is coming to an end.  It's time to reflect.  A new year and new possibilities are ahead.

I want this blog to be inspiring to both me and those individuals who read it.  It took some "reindeer water" (see post) to inspire me to write again.  Here are just a few topics that I will be writing about:

• Being a single mom
• Love again after divorce
• Teaching at a Trauma Informed School
• Volunteering in Juvenile Probation
• Being a skincare consultant for Rodan+Fields
• Starting Girl Scouts
• Learning and letting go of the past
• Living in the present
• Looking forward to the future
• My Faith Journey and Purpose in Life

Is there something in life that you have been putting off because you weren't sure when and how to start?  Well, there is no better time than the present.  It could just take a small thing, like "reindeer water," to inspire you.

Happy Holidays!  Thank you for reading.

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn