7 Quick Takes: January 29, 2010 (Vol. 28)

~ 1 ~

I have been totally digging being able to read all of the results that have been coming in from the Many Little Blessings Reader Survey.  If you are a reader, you can still take the survey (and get entered into a drawing).  I promise to share some of the results later.  Fun stuff.

If you are a blogger and you haven't done a reader survey yet, I would recommend it.  I'm learning all kinds of things about the people who read the blog.

~ 2 ~

I started using Simple Mom's Daily Docket this week.  I really love it!  It's a free download, so go check it out!  (She actually has several free downloads that might be of interest.) Maybe the daily docket won't be what you are looking for, but it has really helped me to prioritize what I want to get done each day.

~ 3 ~

This week, I made (for the first time) Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake.  Yes, it does taste as good as it sounds like it would.  My Mom makes it, but I never had.  I'm pleased to say that it came out just as tasty as I remembered.  (I'll post the recipe in the next week or two.) 

Here's the thing -- I had a Hanukkah Miracle (or maybe Loaves of Bread and Fishes), of sorts, with this recipe.  I saw that the recipe called for three tablespoons of cocoa powder.  I freaked out when I opened the familiar chocolate brown Hershey's container because, at best, there were two tablespoons worth.  Luckily, I just squeaked by with enough.

Then, I went to make the frosting (which has to be put on the cake when it's still warm) and saw that it also needed three tablespoons of cocoa powder.  When it's 1 a.m. and your cake is coming out in about 20 minutes, this is not a good thing.

It was trivial, I know it was, but I prayed, "Please God, Please.  Just let me come close to three tablespoons."  Well, wouldn't you know it that out of what looked like nothing, I managed to get three tablespoons and still had some to spare!

~ 4 ~

Speaking of stressful things, I was so disappointed when I found out that Harry Connick Jr. will be playing at the Super Bowl (since the Saints, his hometown team, made it in).  Why is this?  Well, it meant that even though he was supposed to play at Blissdom on Saturday night, now he would be doing it on Friday night - at exactly the same time as the Savvy Blogging Round Table Discussion and Dinner.  Boo!

It was time for a tough choice, and I was none too happy to have to make it.  So, sadly, next time I see Harry will be on the TV during the Super Bowl.  I just couldn't pass up attending such a wonderful event (Savvy Blogging).   Maybe next time, Harry.

~ 5 ~

Because of number 4, I already want the Colts to win, but now this will give me a little more gusto with my cheering them on.

~ 6 ~

It is almost three o'clock in the afternoon, and I'm still wearing pajamas.  (But, I need to pick up the pace and get a couple of things done post haste, so I'll skip out on pictures for my post this week.  Sorry!)

~ 7 ~

I can't believe next week at this time, I'll be at Blissdom.  Let's just hope that I manage to actually pass out the cute business cards I put together and also manage not to do anything that will make everyone tweet, "Did you see what Angie from Many Little Blessings did?  *GASP*" 

 




 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.

Strategies For Getting Caught Up On Email for the Easily Distracted

Did that title catch your eye?  It probably means that you are a lot like me.  I have the best of intentions to get caught up on email, but then one email makes me say, "Oh yeah -- I meant to check that on Facebook."  Or, maybe an email mentions an idea that I want to look up.  Then, instead of looking it up later, I bring up Google.  An hour later, when I'm doing something completely unrelated to what I originally went to look for, I remember that I was working on email.

I'm not going to pretend that by giving strategies that it means that I'm keeping up with my emails.  Just ask Brenda, I'm not.  But, here are a few strategies that always seem to make me clear out my inbox (at least partially).

Work Offline: I have been making it a practice to take my laptop along with me to the boys' piano lessons.  We spend an hour at the teacher's apartment, and I spend most of that hour just working on email.  Because I'm offline while doing it, all of the emails have to wait until I get home to send.  But, it also means that I can't pop online to be distracted. 

Just this week, their teacher said that she had been meaning to ask me if I wanted her security code so I could get online.  I told her that as much as I would love it, I found the time to be most productive because I was offline.  I was proud of myself for not caving in to my usual distracted behavior.

Set a Timer:  I really enjoy using Tiny Timer to set a timer for working on my email (or other tasks where I tend to get distracted).  What I will do is decide how long I want to work on email and then put it in the timer.  Then, I can't do anything else on the computer (other than email) until the timer goes off.  I have been known to then give myself a little time to play around after the timer goes off, and then set it again.  The timer, of course, is great for any number of purposes though -- check it out.

Delete Emails that Don't Need Answers:  I have a tendency to forget to delete emails that ought to just be deleted.  When I let them build up, it makes me overwhelmed to check my email.  I am always more apt to work on my email when my inbox isn't brimming over with messages.

Set up Filters/Separate Email Accounts:  I don't tend to use filters on my email, but I do have a few email accounts.  While this may seem counter intuitive to being caught up on email, it helps me to have specific email accounts for specific tasks.  For instance, my email account for Catholic Mothers Online gets a lot of email, but it is also not something I need to check every day.  But, when I do check it, I tend to work through it all in one setting.  (This works for me because I use Outlook Express for most of these and can change between email accounts with two clicks of the mouse.)

Five Sentence Emails: Based on the idea on Sentenc.es - A Disciplined Way to Deal with Email, I work hard to keep some of my emails as brief as possible.  This helps me to move through some of them faster (and I'm less likely to let my mind wander).  Then again, I also manage to write emails that are as long as this post, so that does cut down on my efficiency.

Put Email on my To Do List: Sometimes, I just have to write a specific goal on my to do list, when I get really behind.  For instance, I may write, "Answer 20 Emails" as a to do item.  I really enjoy checking off tasks, so this is like a challenge to me.  It helps to keep me from being distracted when I know I can make a notch on a paper for every email sent.


Anything that I missed that works for you?  Do you tend to keep up with your email or let is pile up?







This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Help Me To Learn About You (aka Fill Out a Survey and Get a Chance at a Prize)

I have been wanting to work on a reader survey for ages now.  And, today, I finally decided to buckle down and write one.  I have gotten to know so many of my readers (and of course, some of my readers I knew before I was blogging), but I also know there are a lot of you out there that I don't know anything about.

So, help me to learn about you, as well as to know what topics you most like to hear about!

Just head over to the 10 question Many Little Blessings Reader Survey, and if you leave your name (first name only is fine) and email address, you can have a chance to be randomly chosen for one of two $10 Amazon.com gift certificates.  Or, if you don't want to leave your information, it would still love it if you would take just a few minutes to fill out the survey.

Thank you so, so much!  I can't wait to hear more about you!

Many Little Links: January 24, 2010

Wow - it seems like so long since I have written about some of the links that I've enjoyed around the blogosphere.  Trust me -- I'm still working on keeping up with all of my favorite blogs, and trying to find new ones too!  Here is some of what I have been enjoying lately:

Beauty Shop in a Box -- Chasing Cheerios

This is a fabulous idea that I know Molly would go crazy for!  I am definitely going to have to compile one of these kits.

 How to Felt a Sweater -- The Magic Onions

Quite frankly, you must just go check out the whole site.  I have about seven or eight links starred already, and just picked one to share.  If you like a site like Soule Mama, you will love The Magic Onions too!

Ideas from my School Room 2nd Edition -- The Tie That Binds Us
Brenda is moving her site very soon, but for now, you can go check out her current one for these great tips for school room organization.

Don't Forget the Sprinkles (Adding Fun to Learning) -- The Homeschool Classroom

I just loved this article that Dana wrote about keeping fun in your schooling.  I think this is the kind of article that all homeschoolers should have to read.

Our Girls' Play Kitchen -- Seven Little Australians Plus One

This was just the coolest idea!  They used an old entertainment center to make a fabulous play kitchen for their kids.  This is so fabulous!

7 Quick Takes: January 23, 2010 (Vol. 27)

~ 1 ~

It is, of course, after Friday, which is when Jen from Conversion Diary posts 7 Quick Takes.  I, however, was sad that I hadn't posted a weekly wrap up in a few weeks.  So, I'm just doing it late.

~ 2 ~

Last night was the last Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.  I will admit it -- I cried.  It was a great show, and it was the perfect way to end Conan's time on NBC late night programming.  Of course he only spent 7 months on the Tonight Show, but he was on Late Night With Conan O'Brien for 16 years prior to that.  I have my fingers crossed that he will be back with a late night show in September 2010, when he is allowed to start hosting a show again.

~ 3 ~

I have begun to seriously think about moving this blog to a self-hosted WordPress site.  I need to keep thinking it over, but I've been pretty pleased with self-hosted WordPress after moving The Homeschool Classroom over there.

I'll keep you all updated! 

~ 4 ~

We're still doing a good job staying on track with healthier eating and exercising at least five days a week, although I'm still not pulling big weight loss numbers at all.  I'm trying to just keep my chin up about that though.  I'm averaging maybe 1 - 1.5 lbs lost per week, and I was getting frustrated (though I'm starting to see more tone in some muscles).  Then, I realized that real life isn't like the Biggest Loser.  This is healthy weight loss numbers, and that's okay.

Plus, another thing that helped was talking to a friend from church about it the other night.  She has recently had weight loss surgery, and has been really taking off weight.  She told me that even with the surgery and eating only about a medicine cup full of food a day, she is only averaging a weight loss of four pounds a week.  That helped me put things in perspective more.

~ 5 ~

I want a catchy tag line for my blog (which is also a good description) -- have any suggestions?

~ 6 ~

Blissdom is coming up in just two weeks.  Actually, two weeks from this moment, it will be close to being done.  Wow!  I feel so ill prepared.  Hopefully about two weeks from now I'll have some fun stories to share with everyone.

I would normally not be looking forward to the drive, but my best friend Amanda is coming along for the ride and some quiet time (she's not attending the conference), so the drive should be "a hoot and a half," as Sheldon would say.

~ 7 ~

"Please do not be cynical.  I hate cynicism.  For the record, it's my least favorite quality - it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.  But if you work really hard, and you're kind, amazing things will happen.  I'm telling you - amazing things will happen."

 

~ Conan O'Brien, from his farewell speech on his last Tonight Show - 1/22/2010

 

 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.




scale photo by AMRosario

I Would Be Remiss If I Didn't Talk About Conan This Week

Many years ago (maybe around eight years ago), I used to post on a scrapbooking message board before moving on to LifetimeMoments.com (which has also closed now).  One day, after a big discussion of the infamous lists that were discussed on Friends, the moderators decided to hold a contest for anyone who was willing to divulge who would be on their list.

For those of you that have never watched Friends, the list was a list of five celebrities that they would be allowed to cheat on their significant other with (with no consequences to their relationship).  Of course, on the show, Ross runs into Isabella Rossellini, who was on his list but that he had just removed for someone else.

So, we all made our lists of five celebrities and emailed them in.  (The prize was a letter punch, just to give you a time frame of how long ago this was.)  The moderators then declared that they had originally planned to give two prizes -- one randomly chosen person who had submitted their list and then one randomly chosen from amongst those that had whomever ended up being the most popular on their list (I think it was George Clooney).

It seems that upon receiving all of the lists, they decided that they absolutely had to add one more prize.  It had to go to the person that, as they declared, had the most shocking/funny/surprising person on their list.  I was publicly called out as a freak (in a nice way, I think) for one particular celebrity on my list...

Yep, I won a prize, and the general disbelief of my peers, for having one Conan Christopher O'Brien on my list.   And, do you know what?  If I had to make the list again, he'd still be on there. 

I am just naturally a night owl.  Actually, I'm probably more of a delayed sleep phase syndrome owl.  So, late night programming has always been something I have watched.  It's hard to imagine my late night without Conan.  I have my fingers crossed that he'll have some other show deal in the works soon.

Thanks for always making my late nights filled with humor, Conan.  I'll be anxiously awaiting your return.

Real Life Confessions: The Lack of Focus Edition

People online say it, and so do people I know in person, "Angie -- you do so much.  You have it all together.  How do you do it all?"

I don't.

That is -- I don't have it all together and I don't do it all.  As a matter of fact, I'm feeling a bit listless and unfocused lately.  I feel like I don't have anything to say that would interest anyone, and so my blog is giving me a little bit of anxiety.

And, what I have learned is that if I say something is giving me "a little bit of anxiety," it means that it's a knots in my stomach, heart palpitations kind of "little bit of anxiety."

Why share this here?  Because, quite frankly, if I'm going to share about making Christmas trees out of paint stirring sticks, whipping up home baked Christmas gifts, and how I finally got all the toys in the house under control, then I need to keep it real by saying it's not all rainbows and sunshine everyday.  It's been a long day and I'm tired. 

I'd like to have a witty little way to wrap this one up, but I don't.  In fact, trying to think of one is making me even more anxious.  And, none of us want that, do we?









This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.  Not so much because this mood works for me, but it works for me to share being real with all of you.

Yet Another Mollyism

Last week I shared about Molly's unique way of saying a lot or a little, so I had to share one of the most recent gems around the house.

Molly was explaining to her brothers how she had gotten out of bed very quietly to sneak into our bed during the night.  We heard her telling the boys in a soft voice, while acting out her sneaking, "I climbed out of my bed, and then I very snuckily went to Mom and Dad's room."

Snuckily.

What was the last thing that you snuckily did?

In Defense of Taking Snow Days

Three of my favorite words when I was a preteen up through my high school years were “blowing and drifting.” My husband and I still joke that those are magical words.

What would be so special about these words? It’s not so much these words by themselves as what those words mean together with words like “Four to six inches of snow.”  Since the school district that both my husband and I attended has many areas that are into very rural areas, blowing and drifting of snow would often make roads in the country difficult to pass and would cause a snow day for all of us. 

(You can read the rest of my post about why we still take snow days, even as homeschoolers, at The Homeschool Classroom)
 

Using Only Craft Supplies That You Already Own

As a scrapbooker (or any kind of crafter), it's easy to feel like you always need to buy more supplies.  This becomes especially true when you are working on a specific project.  I, however, have been working on buying less supplies (a whole lot less!) and using what I already have in my craft room.

This whole idea was tested this Christmas when I realized that after having made eight Christmas albums to give out to family, I realized that I had accidentally given an album to someone I hadn't meant to.  This, of course, meant that I didn't have an album for the person that I was going to give that one to.  So, in just a couple of hours and with supplies that I had on hand (save for a couple of embellishments from my Mom, as well as the chipboard album I bought from her as well, which she had on hand), I was able to create a baby girl album for Eric's sister and her husband, as they are expecting a baby girl in February.

It was an amazing feeling to know that I used things that I had on hand, and didn't have to feel the need to go buy, buy, buy.

The baby girl album:

 

Not only was I thrilled to use up supplies (some that I had been holding on to from quite some time), but I was also happy knowing that my sister-in-law would have an easy way in those busy first few months to have a handmade album without having to do all the work herself.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.

Molly's Unique Units of Measure

One of my favorite things about kids are the words they come up with or the funny ways they say things.  Every time they come up with something new, I always think, "I'm always going to remember just the way they said that."  But, of course, I usually don't.  (The one exception to this rule is that Noah always used to say "your" instead of "you."  So, he would say, "How are your doing?"  Loved that!)

So, let this be my public record of Molly's way of measuring either a lot or a little of something...

A sminch -- this, as you might imagine, denotes a very small amount.  This can be either a sminch of food, or even asking if she can just sit on the counter for a sminch.

A smock -- this means a lot.  I understood the general idea of where "a sminch" came from, but I have no idea how "a smock" became synonymous with "a lot."  That makes it a little more fun, in my opinion.

So, how much did you do this weekend?  A smock or a sminch?








photo by Darrren Hester

7 Quick Takes: January 8, 2010 (Vol. 26)

~ 1 ~

As I already mentioned earlier this week, Brenda and I have been busy the last few months working on two sites that launched earlier this week -- The Homeschool Classroom (which is not new, of course, but moved to WordPress) and then Homeschool Lifestyle Media.

If you haven't stopped by the big giveaway at The Homeschool Classroom, definitely make a point of stopping by before Saturday night!

~ 2 ~

Have you read the blog Awful Library Books yet?  If you haven't, you must.  (This is fresh in my mind after just reading there about the book Latawnya, The Naughty Horse, Learns to Say "No" To Drugs.)

After the first time I read just a tiny bit of it, I had to immediately add it to my Google Reader.  It is one of those blogs that just doesn't cease to make me laugh.  Not only are the books they find in libraries a hoot, but the comments people leave are usually an added bonus.

~ 3 ~

Speaking of guilty pleasures, I have been enjoying driving our to clients' houses for therapy lately.  The reason?

The soundtrack of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

(If you're familiar with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, then you may realize what I just realized -- it's kind of funny that a quick take that mentioned a naughty horse was followed by one that centers on someone trying to impress Bad Horse.)

~ 4 ~

We really have been exercising and eating better!  WooHoo!

We kept saying that come January 1st, we were going to buckle down.  We eased into it during the last week of December, and then jumped right in on the 1st.  I know, it's only been about a week, but both Eric and I have been doing really well with eating better and exercising daily.

I've been inspired by Kris, and I keep thinking that I need to start a blog about the journey toward weight loss and a healthier life.  Well, honestly -- I already started it in November, but then abandoned it.  I keep thinking it might keep me more accountable.  Who knows -- maybe next week I'll be able to link to it, huh?

~ 5 ~

On the exercise front, we have primarily been using our elliptical trainer (that Eric got a great deal on in December) and recumbent bike.  But, today, I tried out EA Active for the Wii that I got from Eric for Christmas.

Oh. my. goodness.  That was a workout!  I did day one of the 30 day challenge.  Let's see if I can continue with it.  But, at least I can say that I still managed to do our 20 minutes of elliptical/bike later in the evening, plus some crunches.

~ 6 ~




How in the world is Blissdom less than a month away now?  Why didn't I start trying to lose weight about a year ago to get ready for it?


At this point, I am horribly ill prepared.  But, on the up side, one of my very best friends is coming along with me.  She won't be going to the conference, but will enjoy quiet time (she has six kids), go swimming, and work on her novel.  She just let me know this week that she is coming, and I'm thrilled.  Road trip!

Are any of you going to Blissdom as well?

~ 7 ~

It has been so much fun watching the snow today!  Granted, I didn't have to go drive in it at all, so that makes it a little better, I suspect.  But, still, there's just something fun about watching big, fluffy snowflakes fall for hours on end.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday and Weekly Wrap Up.

snow flake photo by CaptPiper

Four Months Makes a Big Difference in Our Backyard

It's hard to believe that in just four months, our backyard and vegetable garden will look very similar to the above picture.

This is the picture that Eric took of the same general area of our backyard tonight while he went out to fill our bird feeder:

Today, we had a more hands on school day (after our math was done) -- baking zucchini muffins, playing games, checking out the window at the constant snow fall, and gleefully keeping an eye on the full bird feeder becoming empty by the end of the day (having fed many, many feathered friends today).  It was also a day where we all stayed in our pajamas, only changing out of them in the evening to put on new pajamas for bed.

So, while it's hard to not look at the green picture a little wistfully, today was a really nice day.  Without a doubt, I would say it was definitely one of those finer things in life.

Looking for Great Low Calorie Meals

The first Wednesday of the month is always a themed edition of Works for Me Wednesday.  This month's theme is the backwards theme, which means that we can ask a question instead of saying what works for us.

Eric and I are both trying to eat better now, as well as adding exercise in everyday.  But, we'd love some great ideas (especially for lunch and dinner) for some great tasting, lower calorie options other than salad and water.  (Oh, okay.  You can add salad -- maybe give us a great idea for a fabulous salad.)  If you don't have one really great recipe, you could also share information about a particularly great cookbook.

Thanks -- I can't wait to hear some ideas!






This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

photo by size8jeans

Where Have I Been Lately?

I know that I haven't been around as much as usual during these last few months.  And, then the last week, I just haven't been here at all.

While it may seem like I probably haven't been on the computer, I actually have been on the computer quite a bit.  (More than I probably should have been, honestly.)  But, I am now happy to say that we have had a site redesign, move, and re-launch of The Homeschool Classroom, as well as the launching of a new site Homeschool Lifestyle Media (which is the umbrella company for The Homeschool Classroom and Curriculum Choice).

It has been great working on these sites, but I am very glad that some of this ground work has been laid.  I'm hoping to be back to writing here now.  I've missed you all!