how do i do what i do?
Posted on April 30, 2009
I get a lot of comments and emails from other moms wondering how i get so much done during the day. Or how I balance it all. Or how I can survive on no sleep.
And I wish there was a secret potion b/c I would gladly give you the recipe! Or I wish I could say I was always productive, which I most certainly am NOT. Or that I never fell behind in anything, which I do ALL THE TIME. Or that I had my life organized and mastered and running like a well oiled machine, which is so far from the truth it is scary. But I do tend to get a lot done during the day so who knows.
So instead of sharing some kind of trade secret (which if you know of one please share it with ME), I thought I would tell you about my last three hours!
We got home from my mom's at 4pm and it is now 7pm as I type this, just to give you a reference point.
In list form…
- put Enchanted on for the kids
- give Gray a snack in high chair
- make chocolate milks for the girls
- wipe a bottom
- change the laundry
- vacuum four rooms downstairs
- pick-up morning toys
- get out baby toys for gray, put him in living room with girls
- clean table
- make dinner
- check emails
- twitter
- serve dinner
- eat dinner, kind of
- do dishes
- give kids bath
- mop upstairs bathroom floor
- clean toilet
- lotion+diaper+jammies three kids
- play with gray
- get blocks out for girls to play with
- organize kid's kitchen area
- pick-up playroom in general
- read books
- nurse grayson
- say prayers
- hugs and kisses
- mop family room
- clear table
- chat with angie
- check email
- organize DVR for tonight
- BLOG
And let's say that from 7pm-midnight I will be watching my shows and working.
So there is absolutely NO secret. Let's just say that I don't sit down much, and when I do I am working. I also don't give my kids unlimited time from me, unfortunately. I play with them and do art projects and go on walks and go to the park but inbetween all of that the tv is on or they are playing and i am running the house and working. Work during the day though is nearly impossible so I mainly try to keep up with emails and do most work at night.
I also drink a LOT of soda!
AND speaking of SODA…
WHO IS MY MOUNTAIN DEW FAIRY???
I was on the phone with my friend, Angie, and I hear Chris talking to someone in the front room so I go to investigate. It's the Imo's Pizza guy, who we love, with two fountain Mnt Dews. I went in there and asked C if he ordered sodas, which he didn't, and so I am guessing that one AMAZING blog reader sent me them???
If so… YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND b/c OH MAN OH MAN did I NEED this tonight!!!
Let's be BFF Mnt Dew Fairy!
Will you come forward so I can thank you??? PLEASE?
What a GREAT gift! Seriously! It was such a FUN surprise and SO perfect!!!
It made my entire day! THANK YOU!
Also, in keeping with HOW I DO WHAT I DO I thought I would share the three PS things I did to THIS photo:
To get it to look like THIS:
You all were SO close. SO CLOSE!
First I used CURVES to get the people to look the way I wanted.
Then I added a duplicate layer.
On the duplicate layer I adjusted the curves again to get the background the way I wanted it.
Then I used a LAYER MASK to erase the people so the original color would come through.
Then I used an UNSHARP MASK.
And done.
Three things. CURVES, LAYER MASK, UNSHARP MASK.
Usually I use a combo of simple edits like that and some of my favorite actions, but sometimes all you need is a simple edit and NO actions. I find it is SO easy to get lazy and only use actions OR get unexperimental and never use actions, so I try to mix it up all the time. Keeps it interesting you know?
Alright people and my new favorite person. Mnt Dew Fairy, I am talking to you. It is officially 7:30pm, time to call blogging done for today and move on to editing. And burning disks. And answering emails. And watching all my favorite shows!
I hope you all watch Grey's! You know it will be GOOD! GO!
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what in the world do i post today?
Posted on April 29, 2009
Thanks for the response to yesterday's post. The comments and emails have been so encouraging and there have been several photographers that signed up today!
YEAH! Thank you.
I wish I had time to email everyone personally, but I don't right now, so please know that I read the comments and got your emails. And thank you.
Thanks for hearing that baby boy's story and letting it settle into your heart. Allowing you to appreciate what you have a bit more today. Encouraging you to hug your kids a little tighter.
But now I am stuck in this funny place of what in the world could I post today that will come close to matching that story?
And the answer?
Nothing.
So to step away from the tears that post caused so many of you, I present…
Wacky Wednesday!
Today was Wacky Wednesday at Bailey's preschool and they were encouraged to dress themselves as wacky as they could!
Everything was her idea, even the hair!
She had on two different pairs of shoes but as we were walking out the door she stopped, ran back, put on the same pair and said, "that was just TOO wacky mommy!"
HA!
I asked her to look at the camera and she did this pose! I almost died. She is so funny!
And of course Miss Parker had to get in on the action!
That kid. Steadily she is becoming simply awesome.
I think Gray was inside which means that maybe tomorrow I will yank him outside for some photos… he is long overdue!
Other favorites from today…
Hello spring!
I am in LOVE with this photo! I was trying to get a photo of the "blower" when Parker came over and held up the flower! I love that her little hand is in there and it's sort of like the before and after of the dandelion world!
And last but not least I wanted to share this one with you.
My friend Tracy is selling some AMAZING things… she's not selling online yet but I bet soon she will be (I keep encouraging her to start an etsy shop!)… she does have a new blog though and GUESS WHO created her logo?
Bluebird Creations and Produce
Go check them out!
She made that SWEET little pillowcase dress for me from one of my Grandma's hand stitched pillow cases I've been hoarding here! I just am in love with it! I can't wait to get Parker's back from her (no pressure Tracy! I swear!)
Could Bailey look any cuter? I mean really.
And that's all I have for this Wacky Wednesday. It has been a long day and I am calling it a night!
Good night.
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