finding time to write!

ok/
i am in charge of a reception for the Eagle Scouts this weekend; am in the middle of redecorating my house with the help of a friend, and took a short field trip with my sister in law to visit an artists studio.  All of which was great, but contributed to my lack of writing an additional post last week.  Oh, and i took my littlest to an indoor play space yesterday. (the typical week of my three other kids when they were her age, consisted of playdates, museums, parks, special walks.....my fourth feels lucky when we go to the grocery store where she can ride in the car attached to the front of the shopping cart).  My guilt got the best of me when she spent the previous day with her dad and brother at an all day water polo tournament and thought nothing of it.  I thought I would treat her to a fun day........
So, here it is Tuesday and voila! she is in school, and my calendar clear, so i can write again.

I need to back up here and explain my purpose for this blog.  how to achieve my goals on a limited time schedule, and finding time to actually enjoy the process.  i know there are others struggling with this same conundrum.  For the past 10 years, i have collected, studied, listened, evaluated and disseminated as much information that i could find on the subject of time management and about being more present in your life.  Interestingly enough, occasionally these two topics seemed to overlap.   A general example that everyone knows is...how calm one feels when they are organized.  I used to think spending time on  filing or organizing a wardrobe, is too much work, or a waste of time.  I would much rather be appreciating my adorable children or just enjoying a sunny weekend morning not rushing off anywhere (trying to be fully present)......but, what appears to happen is, the emotional burden of having a messy closet or unorganized office, actually dampens the ability to fully relax and appreciate the care free morning, or funny thing your child just said.  We have all read the brilliant books that these pearls of wisdom have come from [Simplify Your Life or Simplify Your Life With Kids, both by Elaine St. James, among others]; where they espouse taking stock of what's important in your life and getting rid of the rest, thereby freeing you to appreciate all that you have.

A more specific example comes from the Baby Wise books by Gary Enzo, where they describe the concept of "carpet time" with your husband.   you might have heard of "carpet time" with your baby or child.  Spending 15 minutes fully concentrated on just them, every day.  Be it playing with them or just listening to whatever it is they want to say. This technique has been used to help children who were having sleep and behavior problems.  The act of being fully present, even for just 15 minutes, was an investment that benefited other aspects of the child's life.  Baby Wise was recommending this excercise for husbands and wives, as well.  When a spouse gets home from work, no matter what else is going on, sit down and talk with them for 10 - 15 minutes.  Impossible, right?  But, the process slows down the pace of the day, re-establishes a physical and emotional connection and even has a positive effect on those around that are not directly participating.  I thought it was worth a try.  It does work, although, I can't say we get a chance to sit down together everyday.  Most of the time, it's a modified, shortened version, but it has raised our awareness and efforts to try to connect before the onslaught of evening activities.

I started thinking about those 15 minutes.  Could all that be accomplished in just 15 measly minutes?  I realized that most of my day consists of small increments of time devoted to tackling larger tasks.  Most of those increments were really around 15 minutes long.  15 minutes to drive my kids somewhere, 15 minutes to fold laundry, 15 minutes to help someone with homework, 15 minutes to start dinner, 15 minutes to return emails, 15 minutes to shower, or do the dishes....the list goes on and on.   My days work out like this because I still have a toddler at home, forcing me from one thing to the next.  "yes, sweetie, let's have a picnic outside and jump on the trampoline, but then you have to help mommy fold some laundry" ( 3 roughly 15 minute activites).  But I can imagine if your kids are in school all day, or grown, or you don't have kids but you have a full time job, or you work from home, or you are retired, your day is not dictated by a 3 year olds time schedule.  You have oodles of time, right?  All day to get excercise in, phone calls to friends, appointments scheduled, dinner thought of, bought and cooked, children (or pets) played with and cared for, loved ones to spend time with, long term projects worked on, household cleaning and errands, shopping for gifts or planning that upcoming event, done during all your time that you have in your day, right?  My guess is that yes, sometimes all that can get done, but that sometimes is characterized by chaos more often than not.  And sometimes you do not get everything done, when you'd rather just not tackle any of the things on your list other than those right in front of you and most necessary to survival, or whether other things come up, or your just too tired.  I am the same.

But I realized I could treat some of my aspirations and goals that are constantly being put off,  like the carpet time.  If i schedule things in 15 minute increments,  I feel more settled because I know I have at least started the ball rolling, and the task doesn't seem as daunting.

Nothing is more important to me than raising my children and being there for my husband.
When my kids were younger, all we did was read, play, create and explore.  I cherished every moment with them.  On walks, we would collect leaves and flowers and press them into books.  When they learned to read, I would record their voices on tape, just to hear when they were older.  I saved every lullaby tape and special t-shirt (will make a t-shirt quilt for when they leave home), have written in journals about their younger years, have drawn and watercolored pictures of their special lovey (teddy bear, bunny, duckie and baby).  The perfect weekend to me would consist of lots and lots of family time.  I still feel this way, but as they get older, i cannot contain them in my cocoon (my 3 yr. old i still can, and that's why i feel strongly about trying to be present with her as much as possible.).  They have outside commitments, goals and agendas that are separate from mine, that I must help to facilitate.   But, i still need to have lots and lots of family time!
My interests have grown as well and the need to balance the time for all of the above has required me to try to figure all this out! What is the best way to accomplish all of this?!

That's where 15is comes in......I will explain to you what I am trying to accomplish in my days and write about pearls of wisdom, gleaned from the experts, on how to accomplish all that you want to do in your days.  15is....patient, 15is.....creative, 15is........yummy, 15is.........fun, 15is..........organized, 15is.......green.....15 is excercise.......etc.  All of this is to be used how you see fit.  It is certainly not going to be a perfect day, every day!  (I just burned a pot of water {how is that even possible you ask?>!} while writing this post).

I hope you enjoy my blog. thanks for tuning in.

Today's 15is topic is......yummy.   A quick (15 minute) recipe for dinner or large snack.

quick chicken pot pie:
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables or any vegetables you have in fridge!
1 cup diced cooked chicken (great for leftover chicken from dinner!) 
1 can condensed cream of chick soup (optional) 
2 1/4  cup baking mix ( I use Bisquick)
2/3 cup milk


preheat oven to 450.  cook vegetables (or reheat leftover veggies) with a little olive oil, salt & pepper; add chicken and soup if using, in med. size pan, until heated through. (3 - 5 minutes)


Mix together the baking mix and milk and knead 10 times on a clean surface sprinkled with baking mix.
Roll out to 1/2" thickness.  


Place serving size of vegetable and chicken mixture into an oven proof bowl.  Cut out biscuit size to cover rim of bowl.  Repeat for as many pot pies as you want (recipe makes about 4 medium sized pies).
Place bowls onto baking sheet and bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown.


I  will be attempting to create this for my teenage son who will be rushing off to water polo and will want a significant snack beforehand.
i will let you know in my next post how it goes.

enjoy the moment, it's really all we have.

"When we feel responsible, concerned and committed, we begin to feel deep emotion and great courage"  - The 14th Dalai Lama



tuesday's are the days i tackle anything related to my son's scouts (ironing badges, filing, etc.); which on most tuesdays is non-existent.  this week i am helping with the reception like i said above, so i am making last minute phone calls and emails.
I also tackle my fledgling jewelry business.  I am currently working on two bracelets that will be gifts for two little girls that we know.  I recently purchased soldering equipment and am still trying to perfect my style.  I have an idea for an interchangeable ring and am trying to work out the details and mechanisms involved with that.  ((didn't actually get a chance to make anything, just had time to think about it and plan for next week)

I also have to make phone calls and schedule appointments on this day (kids dentist and dog groomers); and calendar and rsvp for upcoming events (birthday parties, 6th grade camp).

Then its on to picking everybody up from school and getting on with the rest of the day.....all the while knowing i spent time on the things i wanted to do, and can better appreciate the rest of the day with them!