My Time Suck....

I know this happens to everyone, but I get so frustrated with myself when I'm online and trying to work.  My time gets sucked away from me because I just can't keep my attention on what I'm supposed to be doing!


This was my time sucking pattern today:

I always start my online work with checking my emails to see if there is anything that's important that I need to address right away.  I received my daily email post update from my friend Leticia Barr of Tech Savvy Mama.  I clicked on her link to read about her latest adventure at Universal Studios and the new Minion Mayhem ride.  As I completed writing my comment on her post, I decided to look around her site.  I clicked on her "About" page and read about her many accolades.  At the bottom she described that she is the co-founder of Straight-Up Crafty.  So, of course, I clicked on the link.  

What's the first thing I see?  A purse of course (a market tote to be exact).  So I read the post.  I left a comment and then proceeded to click on the link for the Etsy shop IndependentReign that sells the purse. There I found MANY things that I have to buy myself.  While on Etsy, I decided to see what was new in the jewelery world.  That led me to jewelery storage & organization.

Then I thought, "I can make that...there must be directions on Pinterest."  Yup.  I did.  I went to Pinterest and of course spent a good 3 hours there just pinning away.  

That's when I looked at the clock on my computer and realized that it was 5pm and I hadn't even started dinner yet. 



 
Alexis

Spring Cleaning (With Child Labor)

So, it's no secret that I'm pretty exhausted most of the time.  Between my two VERY active boys with an ever growing social calendar, my husband who also needs attention, my full time job as an elementary teacher, blogging, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, and my need to have "me" time, I am pretty booked up.  

I have always been one of those people who subscribed to the belief of "if you want something done right, do it yourself," therefore I was always doing things on my own for fear of things not getting done right.  And by "right" I mean "my way."  

In the past few years I have learned to let go of this crazy notion.  I was tired of being tired.  I was tired of being the only one doing things.  So I started "letting" other people help me....especially around the house.  

My husband is really good about helping when he's home.  He will do the laundry; things may not get put away in the right place, but at least he does the cleaning.  He will also help with the grocery shopping.  He may not buy the brands that I want, but at least he goes there.  

Now I'm starting to let go of some of the cleaning chores.  I'm giving them to my kids.  They are 6 & 8 years old, I think it's time to start earning their keep around here!

Here are some ways I enlisted their help for our "spring cleaning" this year:

• Emptying the dryer
• Folding the laundry-This took a little time from me.  The socks were easy.  Folding shirts was more of an art.
• Putting away laundry-I like to lay out all of the clean and folded clothes on my bed and make piles for each family member.  Then everyone puts away their own piles.
• Putting away clean dishes-I have plastic tableware for the kids and it is kept at an easily accessible level for them.  
• Vacuuming-I made this one sound fun to "Little Ricky." (hee, hee!)
• Cleaning the shower-"The Nag" always wants to wear yellow gloves and spray a bottle.  I mixed vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle.  Then I sprinkled baking soda in each shower for him and set him to work with a scrubber.  
• Making beds-It never comes out perfect, but at least it's straight.
• Picking up toys

Again, the "cleaning" may not be how I want it, but at least it's taking some of the load off of my shoulders.  And it's teaching my kids the value of responsibility.  (and I didn't even have to pay them for it!)
  
How do you get your kids to help out around the house? 


Alexis

No Doggies In This Window

As I have mentioned, I have been staying at The Manor (aka my aunt's house) taking care of my mom.  
Not only have I been taking care of her and my boys, but I have been taking care of Gepetto, their Maltese.  

Each day, Gepetto makes the case against me EVER getting a dog!!  They are just one more thing to take care of....

Gepetto.  Not even this face makes me want a dog.

He is a really good dog, he lets you know that he has to go out by ringing a bell attached to the door.  He sleeps most of the day.   And he listens and comes when you call him (most of the time).  


He's all those good things, but MAN ALIVE he is a lot of work!  


He wakes you up at 6 am to let him out.  Then he wakes you up again at 8 am to feed him and let him out again.  And I have to clean up his poop.  It's like having a newborn. 


When it nears dinner time, he continually pulls at his dish and nips at your feet until you feed him.  UGH.  And when you are eating, he begs.  I hate beggers.  

Did I mention that dogs bark at imaginary things?  And at nighttime this is really scary!


The only thing I would want a dog for is to lick my floor clean when the boys drop crumbs (which is all the time)!


Do you have a dog?  What do you like most about dogs?  What do you like least?

Alexis