Month: August 2012

Olive Juice Kids

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Friends,

I’m really liking the fall collections I have seen for children and adults. There are some years it is very easy not to spend any money on clothes, but this year make me wish we had a two-income household.

I have mentioned my preference for colorful, mismatched clothes. However when I’m in the mood for matching and preppy I turn to Olive Juice Kids.

I like the ruffles, and collars. And the disheveled hair.  I think this collection is great for family portraits or Christmas cards, because it is timeless.

What do you think? Too preppy? They don’t have much for boys, and for some reason they have left out the baby collection for the fall. Maybe they will add that later.

It’s 8 clock, time to turn my attention to school. My 11 year old has already done her Latin and Literature, but my 14 year old is barely awake.

I’ll see you back here soon,

Sofija

Olive Juice Kids

First Day of School

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Kid’s out fits from left to right:

On Natasha: one-piece from H&M. On Lucille: Benetton top and skirt. On Ella: Top and skirt from H&M. On Shane: Top from Old Navy, shorts from Benetton. On Esther: top from Gap. On Finn: top from Polo.

Hi,

How is your week going? Ours is a whirlwind. My head is spinning. We started school last Monday. My oldest started high-school and my second oldest middle school with K-12, an online school. Not only is this school new to us, it is new here in the state as well. That translated into some confusion, technical difficulties (because it is mostly online), and frustration. But that is just how it is with new things. I see it as good practice for college. I expect the next week to be much better. So far I’m pleased with k-12. They seem to have a classical bent, which is what we have been doing. We are trying it for this year and re-evaluating for next year. I’m teaching the rest of the gang myself. Shane is starting 3rd grade, Ella 1st, and Lucille is demanding a rigorous pr-school curriculum involving a lot of coloring. In fact I have to start out my day with her; she won’t let me work with anyone else. Natasha, the toddler, chimes in with her coloring book, as well.

I have been asked before what I do with my younger ones when I school the older ones. Here are some things I have tried int the past or think about trying to keep the younger ones happy.

  • Buy educational toys, coloring books, even pre-school books for school hours only. I keep those toys in the school closet. That makes it special and helps them to know they get to do school also.
  • If you can tolerate messes, let them play bubbles in the sink, Play-doh, water colors, hand painting, etc.
  • Set a schedule and schedule some time with the older ones playing with the younger ones. For example my 14 year old may have an hour a week to play with my 1 year old.
  • A schedule is a really good idea. You can schedule times when your little ones play on their own with designated toys such as Legos or Playmobil. For more on schedules read: “Managers of Their Homes” by Teri Maxwell. She has tons of different kinds of schedules, even for people who DO NOT schedule.
  • I try to start off my day “schooling” my 4 year old, meaning I let her scribble in a pre-school book and I teach her letter sounds. This lets me have one on one time with her first. This way she is satisfied and can move on to other things.
  • Often I do lessons with the older ones on the couch while my youngest sits on my lap.

How about you? Do you have little ones? What have you found helpful? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Have a great day!

-Sofija

First Day of School

Fall Outfits for Kids

sofijaburton, , 1 Comment

Hi,

I’m eager to share a new to me children’s line from Belgium: Bellerose.

What intrigues me about this line is that the outfits are fun, mismatched, and slightly too small. In other words, that is exactly what I have in my kid’s closets. These outfits give me new ideas to work with what we already own. Take a look:

I like how they pair yellow with green or red. You can’t go wrong with toggle coats and Scandinavian sweaters. How about one of the boys wearing sweats? Some of my children have an aversion to jeans, so this makes total sense to me.

How about you, what inspires you for your wardrobe?

-Sofija

Fall Outfits for Kids

Old Town Albuquerque

sofijaburton, , 2 Comments

Hi there,

On Friday I had a chance to go to old town Albuquerque. We had an international student stay with us last week, so I wanted to show her the sights. Founded in 1706 it is quite charming. Spanish settlers organized the center in the traditional Spanish colonial way: with a central plaza anchored by a church. This is San Felipe de Neri church, built in 1793.

There are shops all around the plaza shaded by pergolas like this one.

What makes Old Town so fun are the little shops hidden in sideways like this one.

Here is the plaza in the center. On the weekends there will be bands playing life music and children dancing.

New Mexico is all about manana. Life is slower here.

Here you can see the blending of cultures in this area. Native Americans side by side with Spanish settlers and poeple of Mexican origin. This is reflected in the stores, museums, and performances in old town. When you get here on the right day you see a Native American dancer performing on the street.

Found this water well in one of the side passages.

Here is my 2 year old, Natasha.

The building still look very much like when they were built centuries ago.

This is me and Natasha cooling off with a smoothie. It was quite hot.

Hope you enjoyed it. Come visit us sometime.

Have a wonderful day,

Sofija

Old Town Albuquerque

Homeschooling Meets Design

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Hi there,

Here is a perfect blend of homeschooling and design. If you read the Pioneer Woman’s blog, this will be old news to you. Ree, a mom who home-schools, and lives on a ranch in Oklahoma, needed help with a room makeover for her two teenage daughters. Bob and Courtney Novogratz, a design couple from New York, came to the rescue. I would have never put them together but I love what they came up with.

Here are two pictures before: An attic room with orange carpet.

And after:

Wow, suspending beds. I Like the blend of rustic and color. I would have never picked striped carpet tile, but they work really well here.

I like the tassel blankets.

Look at this long desk, a homeschoolers dream. Lots of space for all their crafts, too.

Knitting and sowing made hip.

What do you think? I’m hoping if I blog long enough maybe I will get a Novogratz makeover someday….

Have a lovely day!

-Sofija

Homeschooling Meets Design

Jemez Mountains

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Hello,

how was your weekend? Ours was fabulous. We went on a family outing with the six kiddos in tow, and it was actually smooth and pleasant.  By that I mean nobody threw up, starved, had accidents, or got hurt. If you have little kids you know what I mean. Everybody had a great time, which is no small feat with 8 people. It was so fun, we might try it again. 🙂 We drove through the Jemez Mountains, northwest of Albuquerque. Take a look:

Love the color of the rocks.

Our first stop at soda creek. Everybody is acting like they haven’t eaten in days…

So pretty. Waiting for this cabin to be for sale.

The girls checking out soda creek, wondering if it safe to go in. They decided not to.

Next stop: Battle Ship Rock.

Here is my man.

Found a spot to go in. Lucille’s not quite sure…

Natasha sporting my sun glasses. The cuteness factor went up a couple notches.

Plotting a different route home involving four wheel driving. My 6 old commented: “This was the bumpiest short cut ever!”

On the way home.

What’s ahead for you this week? Is school starting or are you savoring one more week of summer? We will be gently easing into school, which will be disrupted by a German college student. Anna will be staying with us for three days until she can get into the dorms. We don’t know her yet, but she seemed quite nice in her e-mail.

Have a fantastic day,

Sofija

Jemez Mountains

Back to School Outifits- Mini Boden

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Hi,

today I have some ideas for children’s back to school outifits by Mini Boden USA. I like them as an inspiration because their style is so fun, cool, colorful, and very British.

Take a look:

I have a thing for toggle coats, stripes, and flower prints. Perfect!

Have you gotten your school shopping done? Do you get one outfit or a whole wardrobe? I buy for my two oldest, cause they grow like weeds (last year my 14 old outgrew his jeans three times). But for the other 4 I have hand me downs. Love those boxes from the cousins!!

-Sofija

Back to School Outifits- Mini Boden

First Day Of School

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Hi,

thanks for stopping by. This blog is such a great outlet for me, and it is even better when I can share it with you.

Are you exited about school starting? I am. Though I’m not sending my kids off to school, cause they are right here with me. I am exited about getting  back into a new routine. I like to dress nice for the first day of school, make it special. Here is my inspiration for my back to school outfit:

How about you, do you have a first day of school outfit in mind? If you are not teaching, how about a favorite fall outfit?

-Sofija

Sources:

I found all pictures except for the 4th one on Jen McCabe’s blog Honey Kennedy.

Top three pictures are by the A/W 2011 Colemino spring collection by the designer Aya Nakagawa.

Bottom picture is by the A/W 2012 collection by Mes Dames. Photography by Anna Malmberg

First Day Of School

City Swim Meet

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How was your weekend? Did you watch any of the Olympic events? Did you witness the South African runner compete with two amputated legs? If that wasn’t inspiring, I don’t know what is… And how about the 37 year old gymnast competing and winning a medal?

We had our own mini Olympics here in Albuquerque. Every year the city offers two months of daily swimming with swim meets on the weekend. At the end of the summer kids can try out for city. The top 18 in every event get to compete in the city meet. After three years of trying my 11 year old daughter made it in. The energy was great. Maybe because of the Olympics, maybe it is always like that. I do have a new appreciation for parents of Olympic athletes. I found two Saturdays in a row a bit much.How about doing it week, after week, year after year….I vote for parents getting medals!

Here we are celebrating at California Kitchen.

By the way, she placed 5th in the 50 m breast stroke, and she swam 4 seconds faster than last week. So proud of her!

Have a great day,

Sofija

City Swim Meet

Our Week in Pictures

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Friends,

it’s been a fun week. We visited with some old and newer friends, went to the pool, and did a lot of nothing. Next week I need to get serious about preparing for the new school year. Boy, this summer went by so fast. But I’m exited about the new school year. We are trying something new this year with our soon to be high-schooler and middle-schooler: K12, an online school. Ever heard of it? Good or bad? For my 3rd grader and 1st grader I will remain the teacher. Not sure if the online school will help me out or drive my independent self crazy.

What are your plans for the weekend? Any fun trips planned?

See you here next week,

Sofija

Our Week in Pictures