Accountability 201: Round two for summertime to-do

June is here, and school is in the downhill slide (with a few roadblocks along the way, but we should make it unscathed).  That means it's time for my summer-time list of items that I ignore most of the school year, and have to get completed before the whole school year creeps up on me again.  Overwhelming?  A bit, but breaking it up into chunks and checklists actually helps me stay on top of them, accountable, and less risk of forgetting (which is happening more and more... and I definitely rely on my calendar and post-it notes!).









So this year, the list comes back out to get all the craziness out of my head and onto (electronic) paper.  I still have the sticky notes in my office, but since I'm actually spending LESS time there, and more out and about, this electronic version may be more appropriate this year.  Time will tell.



Last summer, my strategy of a TOP 5 list worked quite well.  It kept be on track and gave me a target.  Sometimes, it was less than 5, sometimes more, but it was a starting point, and I was able to make progress.  You can read my FIRST and LAST posts from last year here and here.


This year, I'm attempting what appears to be MUCH more.  It seems overwhelming, daunting, crazy; but that's my style.  Bite off more than I can chew to give me a lot to feel good about at the end.  (Who ever finishes their list anyway?)  I plan on rewarding myself along the way... and several of these are setting myself up for fall success in both school and business, so it's worth it.

Three months, and MUCH on my list.  Let's get this party started!

 
How many of these can I get finished by September 1?

• Home
• Kitchen
• Clean and Organize Frig
• Finish shelves & stock pantry
• Organize under sink
• Organize cabinets
• Electric
• Faucet
• First Floor
• Paint Stair Trim 
• Organize Breezeway
• A Frame away
• AC Mounting boards (exterior)
• Basement Stairs
• Garage
• Bed to Attic
• Table workbench
• Camp stuff on shelves
• Attic Stairs
• Second Floor
• Organize bathroom closet
• Paint bathroom
• Towel Rods 
• Closet Curtains

• Yard
• Organic Veggie Garden
• Potato Condo
• Side Shade Garden
• Trellis (Pallets)
• Chicken Coop

• Personal
• Doctor
• Mammogram
• Pap
• Eyes
• Budget
• Annual Budget Update
• Monthly Budget
• Pay off One Credit Card
• Debt Snowball (+600/mo)
• Sinking Fund ($2000)
• Read 5 Fiction Books
• tba
• tba
• tba
• HS Summer Reading tba
• MS Summer Reading tba
• Read 3 Non-Fiction Books
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• tba
• tba

• Fitness
• Yoga
• Sunday 10:30
• Boot Camp @ Tanya's
• When?
• 30 Day Challenge
• Abs
• Arms

• Office
• Organize File Cabinet
• Organize Manuals
• Shred Documents
• Legacy Box

• Upload
•  TpT
• Line of Best Fit Project
• Rule of Four
• #1
• #2
• #3
• #4
• Bundle
• DC POWs

• Worcester (AxiD Corporation):
• Furnace Cleaning
• Sprinkler Inspection
• Alarm Inspection
• Washer Service
• Fire Extinguisher Inspection

• Canning, Freezing & Household:
• Liquid Laundry Soap
• Liquid Fabric Softener
• Dishwasher Detergent
• Lemon Kool-Aid Mix
• Green Salsa
• Red Salsa
• Pickles
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Chili Sauce 
• Freezer Meals
• Stock Freezer for winter
• Flash Freeze
• Kale
• Carrots 
• Peppers
• Potatoes (cook first?)

• Thirty-One:
• Fall Preview - June 12
• Book 3 parties summer
• Book 3 parties fall
• Book 3 vendor events
• RSS
• Budget (Jan - July)

• Family
• NYC w/ Dad and boys (late June/early July)
• Comic Conn @ Mohegan (August)
• Hike
• Beach
• Tubing w/ Softball
• 
  
• Scouts:
• Camp
• Pack equipment
• Merit Badges
• Citizenship of the Nation - A
• Archery - A
• Boards of Review/Feast

• School:
• Summer School
• Gr 7
• Gr 8
• Videos on SchoolTube
• INB usage
• Distribution
• Algebra Tiles
• tba
• Geometry Plan
• INB
• Year Calendar
• Algebra Review (biweekly - 10-18 packets)
• Math 8 Plan
• Pre-test MC
• Post-test MC/OR
• Vocab Tests MC or Matching
• Checklists (including bookmarks)
• HW Lists
• Study Helps
• Pictures of Current Work for samples (every chapter)
• Vocab Examples too!
• WYLB

Happy Summer!  And here's to accountability and accomplishments!

New Year's Resolutions - Round two

While the chaos of the holiday season has finally passed and the routine of school is back in full swing, I realized that I didn't sit down to formalize my goals for the new year.  I also didn't reflect back on last years' top 5 goals (You can read my post from 2014 in it's entirety HERE).

However, I think the same top five make their appearance in the 2015 list:

#1 Finances: this seems to be an annual goal, though each year the focus takes on some twists.  In 2014 I was able to purchase a truck and a van in cash, which was a huge goal, but in doing so, affected some of my other savings plans.  This year, the goal is simply to stick to the budget and make progress at specific intervals (monthly and quarterly seem like appropriate checkpoints).  I'm also hoping to set the goal of a family vacation in 2016, but beginning savings for that so we can pay for it in cash. 

#2 Manage my time better:  time vampires still rear their ugly heads, but checklists and timers are very helpful in managing the chaos.  I have always been a creature of crunch time, the busier I am, the more I can get done.  When I have 'lots of time', I tend to get sucked into non-productive things.  Even over this last vacation, I found that my time was lost on some things, though enjoyable, didn't help me get through my list (and others I ignored altogether).  This year, I'm going to stick to the schedule, the routine, and my sacred six items to get done each day.  The trickiest thing will be to truly prioritize those six items (oftentimes, there's six things just in one facet of my life!)

#3 Focus on Family: my boys are getting older, and it's thrilling to watch them develop their own personalities, interests, opinions (no matter how strong) and share their strengths with others.  I relish the opportunities to share in their adventures, whether it is through drama, scouts, school, or sports.  I still want to be able to spend quality time, one-on-one, with each.  As our schedules becoming increasingly full, that's usually in a car as we commute from one place to another, but taking advantage of any opportunity is key.  I also value technology so I can connect with my extended family (including nephews who live out of state).  I love the fact that we can stay an active part of their lives even though we live far apart.

#4 Clutter Control: I definitely get my organization (or lack of it) from my parents, who are products of depression-era parents.  I am slowly going through items that I claimed I can 'eventually use these' for projects or storage.  Even kid #2's room got an overhaul with a new bedroom set and we pulled EVERYTHING out for him to reevaluate before going back into his Fortress of Solitude.  Unfortunately, he's learning his skills from me (and I'm not exactly the best role model for this!).  This year, I'm going to complete a weekly 30 minute purge, picking an area and tackling it whole heartedly for 30 minutes (using a fill-the-box mentality).  Hoping that a small, regimented focus will result in big changes over time.

#5 Be Grateful:   Thank you goes a long way.  2014 was challenging, but supportive friends and family allow me to stay the course.  I continue to be grateful for health and everyday joys.  Thank you notes, appreciative post-its, and even the occasional chocolate surprise allows me to tell those around me how much I appreciate their efforts as well as their support.  And who doesn't like a chocolate surprise!

So as the winds howl and the ice forms outside, I curl up in front of the fire with my cup of cocoa and a few fuzzy pups.  These are moments that I appreciate that allow me to reflect, regroup and recharge for a new year full of new surprises, new adventures and new attitudes.

Until next time -

New Year = New Goals

The new year brings us a chance to reflect and renew for the upcoming calendar year.

Fortunately, in my line of work, I am able to 'regroup' on several cycles (academic calendar at school, seasonal catalogs for my direct sales business, calendar year).  But a disadvantage to that is that I never quite feel like I get my feet under me to get the ball rolling.

 I may not be completely organized (or even partially organized) but with new gusto I will send my TOP 5 goals for the upcoming year.  Putting them here will, I hope, keep me accountable, and will also help me to check in on a regular basis (and reset if necessary, despite the calendar I'm currently on).

#1 Get my financial house in order:  With a monthly budget (and sticking to it! *note, the spreadsheet link has fictional numbers), attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University this January, consolidating the debt with a home equity loan, and sticking to the envelope system, I have a big mountain to climb.  But I am determined and I hope that during the first 9 weeks of the year, I will be able to make great strides on this!  I consider this as a birthday present to myself - and a goal I'd like to make significant progress on in 2014.  The nerd in me is making some graphs and timelines and spreadsheets to wrap my brain around it, but I hope attending the class (with my beau) will also allow me not to complete this in isolation.  It's difficult to complete any task, let alone one that has a lot of emotional value, but I feel that this is my Number One priority this year, for the benefit of my family.  Getting expenses under control will also help focus on what the income needs are - especially on some of those 'fringe' jobs I have - and give me a goal on what those areas should bring in.

#2 Manage my time better: This one will be a tough one to actually benchmark.  It's a lofty goal, that will be able to be worked on in all the facets of my life.  I do have my favorite product (and comparable app for my phone) that I use frequently at school.  Read about it here on a previous blog HERE.  I shared the second one with a colleague at school, who worked with students who needed visual cues and lead time.  I also have found that I have been using my phone app more often - but not sharing it with the kids as often (for cleanup, reading, etc).  For the upcoming year, I'd like to be working more on an internal clock that this one, but also focus on a task at a time and give it my all.  If I am focused on a task, I can actually become quite OCD.  But if I have a long list (like cleaning or organizing my house) I notice that I can work for long periods of time, but it doesn't appear that I get much done, mostly because I flit from room to room and never quite get one section 'completed'.  I think I'll focus specifically on a 15-minute cleanup daily before I leave for work, cleaning off my desk each time I use it (both at home and at school), and working on school work for no more than 60 minutes at home.

#3 Focus on Family: Now that my kids are getting older, they are venturing out in their own interests.  As mom, I feel like it's partially my responsibility to remind them of the importance of family and family time.  Unfortunately, with some technical difficulties, one of our true family time events has been disrupted (watching movies together), but I hope to actually get that rectified today.  I also feel it's important for the kids to set (and strive towards) goals themselves, so we also are sitting down today to write down those goals and post them in their room.  Our goals are thematic:  academic, scouting, health/fitness/athletic, recreational/extra-curricular, and personal.  I'm curious as to what they decide as well as helping them create a timeline and smaller goals to reach the big picture.  Personally, I am setting aside one-on-one time each day with each kid and a 'date night' once a week. 

#4 Clutter Control: This tends to be part of issue with goal #2.  I have intention to clean an area, then it immediately seems overwhelmed by chaos (hence the title of this blog).  My two most recent chaos areas are the kitchen and the dining room/office.  I have been essentially 'banned' from the kitchen (no one likes my cooking, so I have relinquished that duty) but not it's clean up.  Some might say that I am giving up control, which is a HUGE step for me!   But some of the routine is just having a place for everything, and returning it when it's taken out.  So the control and the reminders may still be in place (putting items in the trash instead of leaving them on the counter, dishes in the dishwasher instead of in the sink).  The dining room is my undoing.  I have found that going vertical is helpful, as is stylish storage.  Because we use the same space as an office, a library, and a dining room, the table tends to be overrun with papers, books, and a serious catch-all for mostly MY stuff.  As I stated in Goal #2, a 15-minute clean before work as well as cleaning off the desk and table each night will be my benchmarks.  I should even rate myself weekly.  That would be motivation!  Of course, one thing I do need to remember to do is photograph the 'before' and the 'after' of my projects.  I would like to take one one 'minor project' each week (like a junk drawer, or a linen closet) and one 'major project' each week (like a child's bedroom or the basement family room).  I am reserving the garage for Spring Break.  That will certainly be a proud moment to post that 'after' picture! 

#5 Be Grateful: Though I saved this goal for last, it is certainly the most important.  I don't thank people enough.  I don't tell them how much I appreciate them enough.  I don't live in the moment enough.  And I think 2014, despite all my other goals, should center around an attitude of gratitude.  I will thank more people.  I will tell more people what they mean to me.  I will live in the moment more. 

Our close and extended family had a rocky 2013, from a health perspective, employment perspective, academic perspective, but the outlook is bright for the coming year.  We had many people support us and our endeavors last year, and this year, we are making effective progress towards that end. 

So cheers to you and your family!  Wishing you health, prosperity, and love in 2014!

Garden Chaos - Top 5 things I will do again!

I was debating blogging about this, when I realized that I really didn't document the season to truly capture it all... I vow to do better next summer!  Regardless, it's time for the

Top 5 things 

I vow to do differently next summer 

in my garden.

Tip #1: Plant early to reap the harvest early!  This year, we didn't get the garden planted until well after Memorial Day (I typically plant it April Vacation week, even though it's still fairly chilly).  Procrastinating at the beginning lead to a later harvest, and with travel and weather complications, less of a yield.  Next year, I will vow to be out there daily.  Monitoring and weeding - little by little.... a little becomes a lot!  The task won't be insurmountable and I'll get some exercise too!

Tip #2: Get the garden organized and spaced well.  This year, we completely struck out with this one.  We expanded the garden to both a front yard and back yard section.  We didn't plan the front well at all, and we over planted the back.  Though it's looked fairly pathetic for the last several weeks.  In fact, to the point of embarrassment for the area on the side of the house, newly converted from crappy grass to fertile soil.  The tomatoes were tall and stringy and the vining plants weren't trellised.  Next year, we'll consider the spacing required for the plantings as well as the overall aesthetic of the garden itself.  Curb appeal still holds true.

Tip #3 :  Check for ripe veggies DAILY.  Both the zucchini and cucumbers got away from us (it didn't help that I was not home for 3 prime weeks this summer).  So the canning process for the cukes has resulted in some true Hamburger Chips - with the diameter of the burger itself.  That made it a bit tricky to can (I needed to get the wide mouth jars) but should result in some great dills later this year.  Note to self:  be sure to note HOT on the label of the Jalepeno Dills.  They get exponentially hotter when canned.  Great if you like hot stuff, not so much if you aren't expecting it.  We also dehydrated some of the peppers, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes.  Hopefully the tomatoes will be like a version of a sun dried tomato to spice up soups and salads this winter.

Tip #4: invest in a food mill or blender.  I have
my blender/food processor method for tomato paste/sauce, but others in my household have much more finicky tastes (and are quite LOUD in expressing those tastes).  I should hold my own, but sometimes you have to pick your battles.  A food mill allows you to press the pulp through and extract seeds and or skins from foods like tomato sauce.  This year, I didn't have one, but I did remove the skin from the tomatoes (though my scalded fingers don't quite appreciate the effort).  I think that will help the sauce department.  I do wish we had more of a crop for my salsas and chutneys, but I suppose they will have to wait until next year.  This year's crop of made into sauce.  I can't WAIT for my fall chili!

Tip #5: Compost is the key to fertile soil and next year's crop.  We had two methods of amending the soil this year.  First, the basic compost pile in the corner of the backyard.  Yard waste, food wastes, grass clippings, weeds, shredded paper, it all was added to the pile, watered and turned frequently.   This is something that I've done for years, but this year as the first we had a prime crop of Red Wiggler Worms added in.  They did what they are made to do:  eat, aerate the soil, poop, and procreate!  And the soil was wonderful and the worms were plentiful - to the point that we took some out and added them to the compost bin outside as well as directly to the garden soil!  We added the 'Juice' to potted plants and they perked right up.  We supplemented the topsoil when we transplanted the seedlings with 'Worm Manure' and it was not full of nutrients for our infant plants.  The plants did grow quite tall and produced lots of fruit (the tomatoes were huge, but took forever to turn - we assume that was weather based, not soil nutrients).  The only drawback is only having 3 trays for the worms.  Once they are established, they do need frequent maintenance (adding food scraps, draining excess fluid from the tray, removing manure to add room for the worms).  Lets just say, these worms will remain in my basement and will be fed throughout the winter.  I'm debating how to store the 'Juice' during the winter months.  Part of me wants to store it and save it for Spring, the other part of me says it's too fragrant (with the cap off).  We'll have to see.  I do know, though, the worms are more than welcome to return to my garden next Spring if they will contribute to my Garden's Bounty again!

I vow to take better pictures next year, so a timeline can be chronicled.  But until then, I'm off to can some tomatoes and finish my sauce :)

Top 5 to do

Back from a family-filled and relaxing vacation, and swamped with catching up on life now that I'm back home, I figured that an appropriate blog post world be about my TOP 5 on my to-do list. 

Though this changes practically daily, it gives me both immediate gratification of checking those things off my list, as well as slowing chipping away at the larger items by breaking them down into more manageable tasks.  I am a HUGE fan of checking items off of a list or erasing them off a white-board.  I am queen of the post-it notes (almost to the point of being an addict).  I think the one thing that's actually throwing 'my game' right now, is that I've had to change my systems for the last 2 weeks while being gone, and it's taking me a bit to get back into the routine.

Now, back to the list.  For example, today's TOP FIVE list consists of:

1) Wash vacation laundry (an all day task, made easier by the timer app on my phone that lets me know when both washer and dryer are done.  I am IN LOVE with this app!)

2) Pay/Record Bills (the mail was on hold until today, so this will be interesting once my mailman shows up!  Fortunately, I was able to manage both my direct deposit and schedule some bill payments while on the road via a banking app.  Love technology!)

3) Pack boys and myself for scout camp (no app for this.  However, it is broken into two phases:  kid packs; mom checks.  An all day event)

4) Make customer service calls for my home-business and catch-up on e-mails.

5) Visit my neighbor who just retired yesterday.  (ready for this since my first cup of coffee this morning, but SHE'S NOT HOME!!!)

When I'm feeling particularly sluggish or need a good pick-me up, I often make a top 10 list, but have very menial tasks or individual portions of a larger task.  This might seem mundane, but it really helps me feel accomplished during the day.  A sense of satisfaction and accomplishment can go a long way! 

Now, back to checking those things off my list!

- Stefani