My Favorite Kind of Multi-tasking

Keeping House in Difficult Circumstances

Sometimes the reality is that it's difficult to get all the housework done. Maybe your children are small and into everything, maybe you work outside the home, maybe you or a family member is sick. Life happens that way.

During times like these, fantasy housekeeping has to go out the window.  You're not going to be able to keep everything spotless, weed the garden, prepare gourmet meals, organize the closets and still find time to make elaborate centerpieces for the dinner table. 

If somehow you are able to do all that please let the rest of us know how you manage it.  I can't manage all that even when things aren't hectic at my house.

So what do you do when you don't have the time or energy for perfection, but you don't want your home descending into chaos?  You probably  already know what I'm going to say don't you?  Realize that you can't do everything and simplify your housekeeping routine (and I'm not talking about the fake sort of simplify like you might see in a magazine).

 

Put all the home improvement and decorating projects on the back burner.  If you don't have time to keep things at least tolerably clean, organized and have meals ready on time, don't get out the paint cans or start trying to feng shui the house.

 

No matter what is going on, your family needs food to eat at regular intervals, clean clothes to wear and a basic order in the day.   Think about the things that matter most and focus on those basic needs. Let go of perfect.

 

Focus on simple meals.  It won't hurt anyone if your menu's not fancy or even if it's somewhat repetitious.   Put a roast in the crockpot every Sunday for a month or make oatmeal for breakfast 3 days in a row; it's OK.  Keep the menu plans from week to week and just repeat them.  There are times when I'll rotate 4 different weekly menus for a few months at a time.  My family has never complained.  Having a repeated menu is better than standing at the stove at 5:30 wondering what you're going to make for supper.

Make the kids part of the housekeeping team and send them around with a duster, let them set the table or teach them to match socks.  Of course they won't do it perfectly, but they'll learn and before you know they'll be old enough to help with the dishes.  It's good for them to realize that mom doesn't just swish her ponytail in circles to get the house clean. :)

And most of all (and hardest of all for some of us)...ask for help when you need it!  Maybe you can find room in the budget for a mother's helper.  Maybe your mom or best friend could either help you get caught up or watch the kids so you can clean in peace for a few hours and you can return the favor.

Hang in there and realize that this season will pass!

“There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits”
-Robert Southey

Weekend

A quiet weekend with a little sunshine. What more could I ask for?

A Few Pictures

We had so much fun on our little getaway. Every yard I saw was so pretty! Can you put a stick in the ground and have it grow into something gorgeous if you live on the coast? It gets too cold here for all those pretty plants to survive the winter.  I could really get used to a winter without a freeze!

Show and Tell

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas break with your families! At the risk of sounding like your grandma, I can't believe it's already 2011!  Where does the time go?

I got a pair of Uggs for Christmas and I have hardly taken them off since. They may not be the cutest things in the world, but oh are they comfortable! I feel like I'm walking around in my slippers.  Plus, it's about 12 below here (not really, I'm just a cold weather wimp) and they are SO warm! I look so stylish when I wear them around the house with my yoga pants and a sweat shirt.

We're slowly getting back into the swing of a regular schedule and hopefully I'll get back into a more regular posting schedule as well. Until then, how are you keeping warm?

Odds and Ends

What is it about having everyone home that makes it almost impossible to blog (or even hear myself think)? Don't expect anything earth shattering in today's post.  Just little bits of this and that.

We've had a wonderful Christmas (aside from oldest son Greg not being able to be here). We had a great (and very crowded) Christmas Eve service at church and then had supper with Mike's parents.  Later that night we drove around town looking at lights.  One house even had a display similar to this one. We parked in front of that one for about 10 minutes. We enjoyed it so much, but it made me wonder what their neighbors think about it - all those lights flashing and cars parked along the street would have to be annoying.

The kids let us sleep in until after 7:00 on Christmas morning, which is a sure sign that they're nearly grown. It's a little sad, but I don't mind the extra sleep. I made a pecan coffee cake for breakfast that was delicious and simple to make. I'll try and remember to share the recipe with you soon. That evening we had supper with my parents and overate yet again. My mom had a variety of Christmas goodies that were delicious and I took a cheese ball which we devoured in about 20 minutes (another recipe I'll have to share sometime).

We might head out today for the kids to spend their gift cards.  Hopefully the stores aren't quite as busy as they were the day after Christmas.  I also need to replenish the grocery supply around here.  I got an Amazon gift card and I ordered a Kindle.  I can't wait for it to get here!  I already have lots of Kindle books on my computer that I haven't found the time to read.  For some reason I just never really like reading them on the computer.

I finally returned to my workout schedule this morning in an attempt to counteract all the sugar I've consumed in the last week. I ate way too much fudge, but it's so irresistible.  Good thing I only make it once a year.  I should probably put myself on some sort of sugar fast, but I seriously doubt that I would actually follow it if I did.

I'm trying to decide if I want to start taking down the Christmas decorations today, or if I want to wait.  Some of my acebook friends had their Christmas decorations all put away the day after Christmas.  I never do it that early because it seems like I don't really have time to enjoy the decorations until the day after.  Hubs and I are taking a short trip for New Year's (alone!!), and I know I want it done before that.  I would hate to come home to lots of work (aside from all the laundry that comes with taking a trip).  And speaking of New Year's... How is it that it's already almost 2011??  That seems impossible!

So there's my boring and overly wordy account of our Christmas celebrations.  I know you were on the edge of your seat.  :) How was your Christmas? 

It's Christmas Eve Eve!

It's the eve of Christmas Eve, or as my witty daughter Marcia says, "Christmas Adam." She's a funny thing, isn't she?

It's a cold and gray morning here, and I've been up since before the sun. Not that the sun is making much of an appearance today. As I might have mentioned once or a dozen times, I'm planning on starting a new job in the fall, and I'm in the midst of updating my resume. I've been laying awake trying to make sure that I come across as hardworking and focused rather than indecisive and whacko.

But who wants to spend Christmas Adam thinking about that? I'm already wearing my favorite baking outfit, so I might as well get up and make breakfast.

As any retro homemaker knows, muffins make mornings bright and cheerful.

While they're baking I plug in my kitchen Christmas tree and listen to Swingin' Christmas on Pandora.

Yes, I have a tree in the breakfast area of my kitchen. I have a bay window that faces the street and one year I just decided to put a tree there. I enjoyed it so much I've done it every year since. It's mostly decorated with the ornaments that we have bought for the kids or that they have made over the years.  Notice the cute Diet Coke ornament near the top that my future daughter-in-law bought for me this year. Does she know me or what? :)  I love it!

I've mixed up some spiced tea for the neighbors and I'm going to send the kids around to deliver the packages this afternoon.

It's so nice to have time to putter around the kitchen and visit with all of you. Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas Adam, Eve, and Christmas Day!

Much love,