BlITZ-It Friday # 18: BIG PROJECT EDITION 7

Welcome to another week of blitzing! This week I had another commenter (new to my blog) say she tried the blitz and really enjoyed it. It was so encouraging. Even if you don't participate in memes, I appreciate those of you who have told me that you enjoy "the blitz" around the house.

I use some form of blitzing almost every day. Today was a big day because I wanted to coordinate a clean home AND a nice meal AND do some weekly cleaning, including laundry.

One thing I do for myself and the kids is coordinate work sessions rather than have them be "on call" all day. In that way, they can have some time to do the important things on their lists and feel some sense of accomplishment in the things they are pursuing (reading books, studying for the SAT, or music.. etc.) So, today, I launched some pretty heavy tasks (cleaning bathrooms, making bread, etc.) but tried to keep them down to 30-40 minute sessions. They still had plenty of time for other things.

This kept attitudes in check and made it easier on everyone. Since we had a lot of work to do, I did 3 blitz sessions with the kids, but the last one was only 10 minutes--getting the last minute preparations for dinner guests.

As for my big project, I did not do any more sorting.. (bad, mommy) I think I'd like to modify my goals for the summer to just finish the sorting of pictures and scan in things as I have time. If 18 years worth of photos can be sorted through and maybe whittled down to maybe 1800 photos altogether (100 per year?), that might be a good accomplishment for the summer.

Also, I would like the big projects to be completed in by week 10. What do you think? Can we wrap up our accomplishments in 3 weeks?

New to blitzing? Here are some links to get you started:

Basically, blitzing is forcing ourselves to focus for a set period of time on hands-on tasks.

Read about the: one hour blitz and staying focused.

Getting started with posting for blitz-it Friday.

Also, blitzing with kids is a blast if you are an airchair general.

Glad you could join us!

Lazy Mom secrets..

After reading this, I'll have nothing over anyone. You'll know everything that I know. Even so much so that you can stop reading my blog (O.K. maybe not EVERYTHING, so maybe you should keep reading, just in case) But really.. I am pretty lazy and enjoy a cush life at the same time.

So without further ado....

1) Sleep in. That's right. Sleep in, atleast occasionally. The kids will learn everything that they CAN do without your help. They will learn to do all sorts of things that they never knew they could do. Kids ARE smart and capable. A three year old can make breakfast if needed.

2) Wake up slowly. Doodle around with a cup of coffee and a Bible reading. Hang out with the youngest child, cuddling and telling stories.

3) Stay in your pajamas. Why is everyone in such a hurry to get dressed these days? Seriously, this is summer already.

4) Make breakfast and linger around the table telling stories about your childhood or crazy memories of when Michael Jackson was popular. This will drive your kids insane--especially your teenagers, which will automatically make them retreat to their rooms.

5) Contemplate geting dressed but talk on the phone instead. You can start to pick up stuff around the house, since it's about 11:00 a.m. and things are looking grungy.

6) Tell the kids they have 10 minutes before you expect them to be on duty for a blitz.

7) Start lunch because kids who are old enough to work eventually want to eat.

8) Blitz with kids, making the house spotless. Get dressed before this, so you look official.

9) Eat lunch.

10) start dinner, take a nap, one last blitz before hubby gets home.

11) lather, rinse, repeat.

My frequent, recurring dreams..

I woke up this morning thinking how crazy the inside of my brain is that I can only come up with about 3 or 4 different dreams that all repeat themselves in one way or another. I know you are just dying to know what I dream about, unless you are my mother who has already lived through this scene many times.. LOL

O.K. Dream #1) In the dream I am in college, around sophomore or junior year, and I've signed up for a pile of classes. In fact, I've signed up for so many classes that I can not remember my schedule. And of course there's ONE class that I never made it to all semester (because I double booked my life into oblivion). And then the clincher of the dream happens when I finally realize that I have never attended the class, it's too late in the semester to drop and, alas, I failed the class. I find myself begging professor of the class to drop me instead of screwing up my G.P.A...

Why this dream would never happen: I never missed any classes in college. I didn't skip or goof around in college. nerd to the nth degree...

With that exciting dream, I'm sure you are waiting with bated breath for the rest of them..LOL.

Dream #2: Locker anxiety: Here again, I'm in high school or middle school and it's after Christmas break. I have no idea where my locker is or what number it is. When I do find it, I can not find the combination for my life. I go to the office to ask for the combination again, and they write it down for me. I am so paranoid that I'll forget it that I ask this pesky boy to memorize it for me. He agrees to do it but teases me unmercifully. I panic when he doesn't show up between classes. I give up and refuse to lock the locker.

Why this would not happen: I just never forgot my combination or where my locker is. Pesky boy always teased me unmercifully, and I would have rather written it in the form of a tattoo rather than ask for his help.

Dream #3: This may be the only one that is noteworthy. When I grew up, my grandparents had a cottage on the Lake. It was so secluded that it was like a private paradise. I still to this day have dreams about it. It has a new owner now, but thankfully, he agrees to rent it out. I've been there a few times with the new owner, and it is even better than I remember. So, if you want to rent it, think of me when you are there. It is called: Anam Cara. You won't be disappointed.

What do you dream about?