• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

white house black shutters

enjoy the everyday and embrace a simple life

  • Home
  • About
  • 40 Bags in 40 Days
  • House Tour
  • Project Gallery
  • Contact Me

How to Take a Timeout

posted on: June 10, 201413 Comments

disclosure

I love summer. After months of being cooped up you can finally get outside, relax, take it easy with a cool drink, and enjoy the hot summer sun. But other days you’re all hot and sticky and the days are long and kids are arguing and AHHHH! SERENITY NOW!

Hey girl, deep breath.

Here are six simple tips on how to take a timeout. A mom time out.

1) Find a spot.

Lock yourself in the bathroom if you want, I won’t judge. But you don’t need to sit facing a corner nor do you need a mom cave:

I love this idea! Unused living room turned mom cave. So pretty!

Find a spot near your little ones and step back into the next room.  Go out in the yard and step back a hundred or so steps. Be far enough where you can think without little voices interrupting you, but close enough to listen when they need you.

 2) Get a yummy drink

I love iced tea but sometimes I want something right now instead of, oh I don’t know, a few hours after I needed to start making it? I resisted a Keurig as long as I could but now that I have one, it’s been sooo nice. And fast. Perfect for a quick timeout so that no one realizes you’re making something yummy and wants one too.

how to take a mom timeout, love this hilarious post!

Pick your flavor. (Okay, maybe this process is trickier than I let on… #indecisivemuch?) These Lipton K-Cups come in Lemonade Iced Tea, Unsweetened Iced Tea, and Refresh Sweet Tea.  

Fill a cup with ice, put the cup in, and press a button. BAM! No squeezing lemons, brewing tea, or figuring out how to sweeten it without getting big clumps.

how to take a mom timeout, love this hilarious post!

Then make that drink fancy. Use your favorite cup and add a pretty straw, an umbrella, some fruit or mint, or maybe even googly eyes.

3.) Sit Down

Pretend that you have magic powers. Focus in on you and blur out all the background noise (kinda similar to how my camera lens ignored the laundry and messy table). Just sit for a few minutes. Think, or don’t think, and sip. Breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy this moment while someone is not tattling.

And now that you’re recharged? Go do something.

how to take a mom timeout, love this hilarious post!

 

4) Make Something

I love to create stuff. Even just dipping something into paint can be enough to satisify the craving. My kids have been into making stamps out of fruits and veggies, so I made some stamp art of my own.

Here’s how: take a K-cup, open it up with a knife, empty, wash, and dry it. Squeeze some paint onto scrap paper, dip your cup into the paint, twist, and stamp.

Then, QUICK! Clean it all up before someone comes over and says “I WANT TO PAINT, TOO!!!!”

5. Get Something Done

I’m not trying to trick you with this one, I promise.  But sometimes we spend more time putting off tasks than the time it take to do them! (I’m guilty.)

Throw in a load of laundry, set a 15 minute timer and do some dishes, or declutter a drawer or two in your dresser. You’ll feel so much better.

6. Savor Things a Bit

Turn on a movie or bring out the train tracks and legos. Take a shower, turn on some music, read a good book, or my favorite, snuggle up with a kid book and some kids. Click to print out this list of things help you have a better day (or click the image below) and actually do some of the things!

31 things to do to have a better day, I love this list!! Printing it out ASAP.

Taking a time out for yourself this summer doesn’t have to be about being alone, it just means taking time to sloooooow down, re-focus, and take a step back from the busy world swirling around us.

how to take a mom timeout, love this hilarious post!

Lipton K-Cups are available in stores and online at nationwide retailers where available, learn more here or connect on Facebook or Twitter. And hey, Kermit drinks them so you should too.

kermit

 

How do you take a timeout to recharge?

 

 

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Lipton, but all my opinions are my own. #bemoretea #pmedia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

 

like this? share it!

  • Tweet
  • Print
  • Email

Filed Under: Life, simple tips


« Simple Shared Kids Room
40 Bags in 40 Days Summer Edition »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mothering From Scratch

    June 10, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Wow. I literally sat down with some tea and came upon this. Destiny I think. Thanks for the post. It’s Earl Grey for me!

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Heasley

      June 11, 2014 at 9:35 pm

      Hahaha! We are on the same wavelength. Yum! :)

      Reply
  2. Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments

    June 10, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    I had no idea they made tea for the Keurig! This seems like a great way to relax – I love the added “impromptu craft moment”!

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Heasley

      June 11, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Yes! Definitely nice to get a quick cup when you get little bits of relaxing time here or there. :) Thanks so much, Pam!

      Reply
  3. Jennifer

    June 10, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    I love this! I definitely need a mom time out. :) And I would love to have a a Lipton Iced Tea right now, it’s so hot here.

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Heasley

      June 11, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Every time I see you guys all the way over there on the weather map I want to cry for you. I hope it cools down real soon!!

      Reply
  4. Emily

    June 10, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    I have a Keurig Vue, so my new go-to is a Celestial Seasonings Southern Sweet Black Tea. It seemed so silly to me to make iced tea with a Keurig. I resisted buying tea for the Keurig for over a year. Then, one day about 2 months ago, I caved and bought a pack. I popped in a vue cup and had a perfectly brewed and sweetened cup of iced tea in 10 seconds. It was magical. Seriously. Magical.
    I already use these for Mommy Time Outs. I hoard them and hide them behind other cup packs. I really do. Those babies are MINE and I only use them when things around here get extreme. (Hello, summer vacation with an 8, 6, and almost-4 year old!!) I totally, totally get your post. Sanity-saving moments, wherever we can get them, are what keep moms the world-over alive and functioning!

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Heasley

      June 11, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Hahaha! Now that you mentioned that, I might have to hide mine too… ;)

      Reply
  5. Junalin @ Doula Training

    June 10, 2014 at 8:54 pm

    “Thanks for discussing, this is a wonderful article. Really looking forward to find out more. Really Great.”

    Reply
  6. Jenni

    June 11, 2014 at 1:47 am

    That is a shame that you have to spoil your blog with advertising.

    Reply
    • Ann Marie Heasley

      June 11, 2014 at 9:17 pm

      Jenni, I am pretty protective of this blog ad-wise and limit the amount of sponsored posts I accept. In fact, the last sponsored post I did was in November 2013. Since then, I have received and turned down hundreds others (and in turn, the paychecks that go with them) in favor of creating non-paid content. This is a product that I enjoyed and thought was a natural fit, and I wanted to share it with my readers. I am sorry that you feel that it is a poor fit.

      Reply
  7. Jenni

    June 11, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    That’s fair enough, I probably shouldn’t have commented but at the moment I am trying to limit my exposure to ads, not buy things that aren’t really needed and get the clutter out! I see by the comments that other readers enjoyed it though. Thanks for the blog, I do like reading it.

    Reply
  8. Kari Collins

    June 16, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    This is what every woman needs to read! On another note, your nails look so pretty. :)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search:

ABOUT ME:

Hi, I'm Ann Marie! I share tips on intentional living, decluttering & organizing, home projects, and enjoying (or surviving) everyday life.

CATEGORIES:

Today’s Most Popular:

  • Best Waffle Recipe Ever
    Best Waffle Recipe Ever
  • How to Make a Basement Storage Shelf
    How to Make a Basement Storage Shelf
  • How to Take a Pregnancy Silhouette Photo (with your iPhone!)
    How to Take a Pregnancy Silhouette Photo (with your iPhone!)
  • 40 Bags in 40 Days Decluttering Challenge
    40 Bags in 40 Days Decluttering Challenge
  • How to Keep the Toys from Taking Over
    How to Keep the Toys from Taking Over
  • Home Office Storage and Organization
    Home Office Storage and Organization
  • Color Blocked Succulent Pot
    Color Blocked Succulent Pot
  • 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS PRINTABLE
    40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS PRINTABLE
  • The Only Moving Tips You Need
    The Only Moving Tips You Need
  • Donation Values Guide and Printable
    Donation Values Guide and Printable

Photo & Sharing Policy

I'm so happy that you want to share my ideas! I ask that you use only one picture along with a short description linking back to the post. Please refrain from re-writing the whole tutorial. Click here for our photo and sharing policy, and the reasoning behind it.

Footer

Instagram

  • ...and so it begins! In between baseball and ice skating and hockey practices, Doug started taking this wall out. See an update in my story! We will have work done for most of this, but decided to do this one ourselves. 💁🏽‍♀️👷🏽‍♂️ #demoday #whbs1910house #whbs1910housegutproject
  • Spending a morning at the table with them, ignoring the messes calling my name. It’s easy to forget the importance of these happy messes. 😌🎨🙌🏼#reallifestilllife
  • It’s funny seeing our kids react to all the changes around here, like it’s a regular part of life. Paint samples on the wall, exposed HVAC, and she’s just sitting there engrossed in a book. When “the guys” come to start work or give a quote, Adam gives high fives. When we moved the fridge to the dining room, Ben said “hmm, I like it in here - it’s easier to pack lunches” 😂 The mom guilt has been real, but they’ve come to accept changes. They point out the bright side when things are less than perfect. Then I realize through my imperfect example, they’ve grown, and now are teaching ME to be better. ❤️😭👏🏼 #whbs1910house #reallifestilllife
  • Life has been intense lately. I am so happy to have this man, my best friend by my side. If you could, please keep our family in your prayers. My grandma - who has lived the greatest love story I have witnessed - will soon be leaving this world. But she’s at peace. She is ready to meet my grandpa, who she cared for with such a fierce love, for over 10 years as he faded away from Alzheimer’s. She’s ready to meet Jesus. She’s raised 6 kids to be wonderful people, and gotten to love on her grandkids and tons of great-grandkids! She’s lived a good life. Pray for us, as we say goodbye. 🌷 Doug’s sister, my SIL @bonniedonahue recently reminded me how everyone, everyone is dealing with struggles of their own. It’s so true. We’ve been battling illnesses, I’ve had a flare up and felt hopeless at times, I’ve witnessed other friends in intense struggles. I’m offering up all our sorrow and struggles as a prayer for your intentions. May you have hope, may you get through things, and may it make you stronger. 💕 Life is so so sweet, what a gift we have been given.
  • Hey good lookin. 😍 This is the current state of our dining room floors. 👏🏼 We are back from FL and back at it again. Demo starts next week, and a special delivery arrived today - see my story for more details.Any questions? Wish we could save these? Are we absolutely crazy for deciding to take on this house? (the answer is yes 😂) #whbs1910house
  • A year ago this week we first saw our #whbs1910house. The second I pulled up, I thought “wow. This is the one.” From delayed closings and extensive renovations, to growing our family - this past year has been an exciting mix of insane and wonderful. This last week together was just what we all needed. Thanks for the good time, Naples! Despite the springtime flurries in IL, there’s no place like home. 💕✌🏼
  • Enjoying one last day before we head back to the arctic 😎🌴 #lowdermilkbeach

About Ann Marie:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Sharing my life and projects here in this space. Ordinary wife and mom of 6, seeking joy in the beauty of everyday life. Renovating our 1910 fixer upper. Declutter with us: #40bagsin40days Read More…


Copyright © 2018 white house black shutters · all rights reserved · powered by genesis + wordpress

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.