The girls went back to school today.
Am I a terrible parent for cheering?
They've had the most wonderful time at the beach, but a little routine and order wouldn't go astray.
Not to mention going to bed at least an hour (or two) earlier.
Milly is a very organised soul. We joke that she's bordering on obsessive compulsive.
She has a 'morning check list' that says things like 'get dressed', check, 'eat breakfast', check. The clothes are laid out the night before & she's up and at 'em.
Forget something and it throws a spanner in her works.
Eva is the total opposite. The sort that looks at breakfast and thinks it looks pretty. Sings a song and still thinks breakfast is just for looking at.
Would forget her head if it wasn't screwed on.
Thus, our kitchen blackboard is my organisational life-saver.
When I first saw this idea several years ago on stylist Marie Nichols' website I knew I had to somehow make it a reality in my kitchen.
And, the result is this huge blackboard wall, with a calendar grid in the middle.
Each month I write everything up, and note the far too many activities that my children seem to be involved in. Add in a husband who travels a lot, and my own pathetic social life, and the calendar seems to fill up fast. (Actually I'm the only one who barely features - even Bruno the dog has a grooming appointment!)
The joy for me is that everything is there in a glance. So hopefully we will remember the PE gear on Tuesday and the music on Thursday etc etc. The shopping list goes on the other end of the wall too.
Once a month it all gets rubbed out and updated.
From a how-to perspective, my wall is about 6 metres long by almost 4 metres high. I made myself a template for the grid and marked the whole thing out on the wall using a pencil and a level. The lovely people at Porters Paints mixed me up four different shades of charcoal grey, and I painted one colour at a time ie all the lightest grey one night, then the next and so on. The squares for each colour were all masked very carefully! Painting the bulk of the wall was last.
It's the ultimate check list!
Amanda xx
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What a brilliant idea Amanda....and you are so clever to carry it out in your own home.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how, as we get older, have children etc, our own social life seems to deplete and their's get bigger and bigger. It's OK though Amanda, once they grow up, your social life will grow again !! XXXX
Sure hope you're right Jackie - feel like a taxi service most days!But then again, you do meet some lovely friends via your kids too! x
DeleteGorgeous Amanda - its fabulous, and so exciting to get more of a sneak peak of your house - i want more! happy new year lovely x
ReplyDeleteThanks Kimberlee! You've no idea how many photos I took to try and get some decent ones. I'll keep the house coming I promise! x
DeleteAmanda, your kitchen is utterly gorgeous! If I had a busy household, I'd be off to Porters Paints this morning. I love your bobbled lampshades. And the colours and flowers. Heaven!
ReplyDeleteThose dahlias do like to take centre stage Shell!
DeleteHave you changed Mike's birthday to the 7th? :-)
ReplyDeletewonderful idea! lovely greetings
ReplyDeleteMaria
What a great idea. Grading the greys is genius. The pink dahlias are stunning too.
ReplyDeleteYour girls remind me a little of my nieces. The older one at 7 is comfortably able to take the school class if the teacher is away (according to the teacher) and 5 year old Eva, is a little wild child. They are complete opposites!
Penny x
You are such a legend for doing this, Amanda. Just stunning! J x
ReplyDeleteNice work on the blackboard - it looks great!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do one of these but haven't had the patience, but you've inspired me to get to it.