Fall is Gorgeous

Today was a perfect fall day....sunny day, crisp breeze.....we walked to both schools this morning, I raked leaves for a while, walked to get both kids after school...they love fall, too. They dragged their feet through the piles of leaves on the side of the road, enjoyed the breeze...they are so fun to watch.

After the past few weeks of sewing like a mad fool for the craft fair, this week I'm doing whatever my kids want...within reason. Yesterday we played Clifford Bingo, Clue, Jr., Ear Tug, Cootie, Ants in the Pants and Go Fish. We read lots of stories, built great towers out of cardboard blocks to house both Barbie and trains, and just had fun. We also went to the Veteran's Day Parade to pay our respects to those Veteran's who fought for our country's values.

I've also decided that after the kids go to bed, I'll sew for a bit, but I also need to take some time for myself. Read a book, watch TV or knit. Last winter I taught myself how to knit, but stopped over the summer. Now that fall's back, it's dark sooner, the needles are calling my name. So, later tonight, after the dishes have been done, the living room vaccuumed and the kitchen straightened up, I'll be having a cup of tea, watching Bones and working on a scarf for my daughter. It's got dropped stitches and a few mistakes. It's also got so much love in it, the mistakes just don't matter.

Sunny Saturday

My headache, dizziness and nausea are GONE! But, I have a major muscle spasm going down my back. I really think the cause was the other day when my son jumped on my neck. So, I've done some hot packs, Advil (not as frequent) and am going to be careful today.

The plan for today:
1. Make brownies for potluck dinner
2. Go to preschool bookfair at Barnes and Noble at 10:30 AM (leaving credit card at home, taking cash only
3. Try to have both kids and me out of Barnes and Noble by 3:00 PM
4. Sew for a bit, if time allows, but ONLY in 15 minute increments....don't need to aggravate neck.

Day 2 Update, Day 3 Plan

Okay, so yesterday....I thought I could clean out the file cabinet, clean off the desk and floor in the den and it would take about 2 hours. Yeah, right.

First off, the filing cabinet was broken so I had to break it to open it. I never cleaned out 2007 to file 2008. However, the filing cabinet was purchased before we got married in 2001, so there was A LOT in there. I tossed manuals from items we don't own anymore, product registration cards I never sent in...and, please, tell me WHY I still have the printout from my bridal registries AND baby registry? Yeah, are you getting the picture?

So, after 5 1/2 hours of work, everything is sorted and put away. Remember all of my efforts in the nice clean organized trash room? Well, you really can't walk through there again, but only because of the paper grocery bags of recyclables, the broken file cabinet and 4 smooshed cardboard boxes!

I also cleaned out the den closet, the "just cram it in there" closet. Now, the kids card table and chairs and their easel is in there, neatly, along with the vaccuum cleaner and carpet shampooer. My desk is clutter free (it needs to be cleaned but I only have so much energy/motivation in a day) and right now, I'm using the keyboard, on the tray, and nothing fell when I pulled it out. I also pushed my chair back and pulled it back in, just because I could do it. There is nothing on the floor to hamper it's movement!!!!!!

Now, I'm off to the lake to get my children. No sewing got done this weekend, but a lot of work was accomplished and I feel much more calm, organized and focused. I'll sew tonight as I watch Dancing with the Stars.

Day 2

I had grandiose plans for yesterday....here is what happened
1. Was out of mailers, so didn't package order. Drove by PO, line was HUGE. Will deal with that on Tuesday.
2. Already listed item
3. Made it to fabric store, and, (drumroll please) KEPT TO THE LIST
4. Took pictures of hat and 2 earbands, however, Bogart the Lion wasn't here and he has already left for the night, so I will need to think of something else. Hat pictures need to be redone.
5. Did not tweak shawl
6. Cut out couch sack, had to rewash and dry ribbing (THANKS GEORGE)
7. Did 3 1/2 loads of laundry-washed, dried, folded and put away
8. Went to grocery store, skipped CVS-realized I didn't need anything and the $4 off any purchase of $20 or more really was going to be more of a waste of time, gas, etc.
9. Had lunch at home, saving more time and $$.
10. Never made the walk..

HOWEVER...
I spent 3 1/2 hours cleaning/straightening the work room/trash room AND the cellar. We come in through the garage into the work room, then into the cellar where we (In theory) hang up coats, bags, stow shoes in cubbies, sort laundry, store excess food, chest freezer is there, along with the woodstove and woodbox. So, you can imagine the magnitude of dirt, dust, clutter, trash and just CRAP I had to deal with. Then, it took me 45 minutes to put away everything that was downstairs that belonged on the other 2 floors.

So, did I get my list done? No. But, I got more done that wasn't on the list. Instead of doing things for ME, I did things that made me happy but also was a benefit to the rest of the family, so I feel like I made way more progress that if I had done my list.

Today's list...
Swamp out the den...
1. Clean out 2007 from filing cabinet, make room to file 2008
2. Excavate pile of crap that is supporting computer-I know there is a desk under there somewhere
3. Put books back on bookshelf, clean crap out of closet to put kids card table and chairs and easel, so they can be OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR.
4. Read the Sunday paper
5. Try this time for myself I've heard so much about......

Time Management

Is it just me, or are there others out there that have grandiose ideas and goals for productivity for the day and they never, ever pan out? I have been trying to keep track of how long it takes to lay out, cut out, pin and sew items, for time management and pricing (but the pricing thing is a story for another day). However, I still can not quite manage to accomplish what I think I can in the time allotted.

Sometimes the kids throw a monkey wrench into the schedule, sometimes I royally screw up and have to rip out a seam and resew it....or, like the other day, an important piece of equipment (my iron) dies or is lost. Yeah, I hear everyone saying, well, if you were just more organized.....but who has time to be organized when there isn't enough time to get things done to begin with?

Anyone have any suggestions for organizing, time management, etc?