{quiet time}

So Charlotte doesn't ever really nap anymore. She will on occasion at home and she does fall asleep in the car fairly often,  but those regular daily naps have long been a thing of the past. Luckily, she is fine without naps and has been for a long time really. Definitely not the child that falls to pieces without a nap, even when she was much younger. The bad part is no naps = no quiet time. For mama. On days when we are home and there is  not much going on I make her have "quiet time" in her bedroom. She can look at books, play with her babies, play Lego's...as long as I don't see or hear from her. Those are my rules. This is my quiet time. My time to sit perfectly still and quiet by myself and read or blog or take pictures or fold laundry or lay on my bed or sit outside. Whatever I want. In peace and quiet. Pure bliss. Grown-up quiet time.

Today I got the girls (my two-year old niece is here on Mondays) settled in and got ready for my own quiet time. I made toast and a cup of tea and sat down to enjoy the newest edition of Artful Blogging. In peace and quiet. Grabbed my journal and favorite pen and just sat. It could be 25 minutes or an hour, you never know what you're gonna get...but I'll take it.

I know that soon my sister-in-law will be dropping the kindergartner off and the girls will be up and quiet time will be over. It will be time for going through backpacks and getting a snack and hearing about the school day. There will be play time and coloring or drawing and then it will be time to start on supper. But for now, I am relishing in this lovely bit of quiet. With hot peppermint tea, water with lemon a comfy chair and loads of inspiration. Hope your week is off to a LOVELY start.

My Yogi tea bag today: "There is nothing more precious than the self."

So, so very true. We need this, all of us do. Quiet time, alone time, time to think.
Check out more of the  loveliness at Heather's today, there is always something inspiring over there. 

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It Doesn't Take Much....

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make an ordinary day, an ordinary old Monday, into a special day.
Today all it took was cookies, whipped cream, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips and a tea set.
I love those days, don't you?

On Mondays I watch my two nieces, so four kids total.
Some days that makes for a long(er) day...and sometimes it doesn't.
Today it didn't.
These are true snapshots from the tea party...I did not move or arrange a single thing...I was too busy supervising the whipped cream and sprinkles.
Oh, and this super-cute, extra sturdy tea set made from recycled milk jugs can be found right here.
I love this tea set!
Hope you all are having an easy, stress-free Monday and I will see you tomorrow for coffee.