365 blank pages

365 blank pages, what will you do with yours?

Me? I’m setting goals for myself and my business. Organizing and planning out the year instead of flying by the seat of my pants… although that has actually worked out OK for me so far! As I make my goals, which are always changing, I make sure it is a realistic goal and not a crazy stressful goal.

• write more
• walk more
• more “real food”
• less processed food
• blog more
• new ideas for bookstore
• new designs for TPT/Etsy store
• lift weights!!!!
• organize posts
• hug more
• have fun
• love life

Whatever you do, do it for YOU and don’t beat yourself up if you slip. Just dust yourself off and try again.

i’m exclusive la-dee-da!

Check it out! I was asked to design something for a non-profit homeschool group and it is being featured as an EXCLUSIVE FREE DOWNLOAD for members on their site! It is a simple goal setting planner sheet to encourage little ones to take part in planning. Just print and go! Can be used for daily, weekly, monthly, however you like.

The group members pass on curriculum to others for only the cost of shipping. Actually, that is not true, it goes beyond just curriculum and includes items for special needs and even clothing. Occasionally they receive a generous donation to pass on to a homeschool family in need.

I have included their mission statement below or click HERE to go to their welcome page and learn even more!

Homeschool Curriculum Free for Shipping (est. July 1st, 2014), a pay-it-forward homeschool community, is a non-profit organization that exists as a means of providing brand new and used curriculum for only the cost of shipping or even completely free to homeschool families in need.  Recipients are encouraged to “pay-it-forward” after using the donations.  The organization and Facebook group work together as a community with a twofold purpose.  First, to serve as a resource for donors who are seeking to donate curriculum.  Second, to support and encourage ALL homeschooling families, especially those who homeschool with financial constraints.

found her zen

For my fellow SPD, ADHD, PTSD, ASD parental units, you will appreciate a few great moments from our week. We found her “zen” and had some amazing learning moments, not to mention finding a new classroom!

First, my baby girl relaxed for the first time in her life… 25 minutes of calmness, quiet, eyes closed… ZEN… most amazing thing I have ever seen. It was discovered while at an OT appt. a simple swinging motion. She was on her back, flat, on a wooden “surfboard” suspended and swinging head to toe, back and forth. I shared tears with her OT. I wish I had the words to describe the moment, it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

The days that followed led us to find some other peaceful moments.

Mermaid Rock. She climbed up over and over and would just sit calmly for minute at a time.

School day on a dock, the floating motion was so calming for her. We read three chapters of her book. Also a great way to meet new people and learn random things. A nice couple taught her to tell the difference between a male and female Mallard.

We walked off some energy (and have since replaced the too-big back pack.

During our adventure we found a woodpecker. Her imagination also saw a whale, owls, and a wolf, which she included in her nature journal entry.

I am on the left smiling because I see the woodpecker, she is on the right with “scared face” because she sees the wolf.

During these days we have also had some of our usual meltdowns however she has now truly experienced peace and she liked it.

To see such a look of peace on her face was such an amazing gift.

workbox tags

NEW ITEM! Took a nice winter vacation and came back with some new ideas, here is the first.

Current file is 7 pages with 60 labels for your homeschool workbox system or school bins. I will add more as requested and update this file, all future tags added will be available to you at no additional charge.

These are simple black and white labels that are designed to fit in 3.5×2.5 self-laminating pouches. Let the kids color, draw or add stickers before laminating for a fun personal touch.

Please leave feedback on my TPT site and request any labels you would like me to add to the file.

PSA: 20% sale!

December 1, 2014  To: December 3, 2014

Offering a Discount of 20% on my entire store!

Short and sweet, now go shop and stock up!

change is good

Some of you have noticed a change in my pages. I have been a Beachbody Coach for a few years and I :::gasp::: quit! Now, I want to make sure everyone knows I did not LEAVE, I just quit being a coach. I love the products and will continue to use them however my focus has changed:

1. Family & homeschooling

2. Writing my book.

3. Working on my very own business, AnaMaree Designs.

The thing that led me to this decision was actually Chalene Johnson’s 30 Day Push! It helped me get my priorities in order and figure out what I really want. I am still a HUGE fan of hers and will be doing PUSH ever year or so (the only “self-help” book I have ever read, used and re-read.

I am getting ready for 2015 and when I prepare for the new year I tend to buy a new planner, some pretty new notebooks and get ready to make my lists and ideas BLAH BLAH BLAH. The last few years of setting GOALS instead of “resolutions” has been amazing. Typically my resolutions are forgotten as fast as I set them, probably because I never considered how the fit with my priorities. Now I write down my priorities and set goals that work with them. Now the end of the year is a wonderful surprise!

For example, 2014 I set 10 goals (I rewrite them every month or so, but they basically stay the same). Today I look back and realize I completed 5 goals and have 2 more 80% complete!

That feels good.

It also reminded me of why I created this blog, for myself, to see how things change, how I change. The latest changes are a perfect example of the quote I chose above as I left something good to gain something better… for myself!

If you want to know more about Beachbody or need to order, contact Erin, my friend and coach on her Facebook page or her Beachbody Page.

Good luck in all you do, and just be the BEST YOU that YOU can be 🙂

part deux

Group 2 of the beginning sight words set. Will see if I can get group 3 done before bed tonight.

beginning sight words do-a-dots

Working on a series of sight words for use with do-a-dot markers. Here is the first set. The first eight or nine groups will not be to hard to do. I am still trying to figure out how to make this work with the longer words, I will figure something out though!

Don’t have do-a-dots? Not a problem, the only limit is imagination. They can color, doodle, stamp, sticker, washi tape, candy, beans, counters, play-doh or anything else they can think of!

october is coming… PUMPKINS!

I just love pumpkins, they are orange and round and happy happy happy! Here is a pumpkin pack for your PreK-1st age range full of pumpkins. Created in simple black and white as always to save your ink and get your little one’s creativity going!

a little something different

(Updated file 09.11.14 now 21 pages and only $1.00)

Tested and approved by Miss Thing herself. She loves loves loves science (and butterflies). Hands on activities, songs, reading log, butterfly craft… This was a fun one to make for her.

After tomorrow, I will probably need to create something for pigs since we will be visiting a pig farm instead of having a “normal” school day.

She is such a fun inspiration, walking to the park today we had to take a detour while following a “gweat big bwack beetle to it’s home”

Sometimes I wonder who is learning more, her or me. Either way, we are having a blast!