CHALLENGE......Procrastinate Not

Months and months ago, my sister-in-laws and I had the brilliant idea to create a book for our husbands' grandmother about her life. LAST summer we started, and planned to finish the book well in time for a Christmas gift. Christmas came and went, Grandma passed away and we continued our brilliant idea.... now to be finished in time for the summer's family reunion. The reunion is now 2 weeks away, one sister-in-law has worked A LOT on the project and the other two.....not so much. I, (surprise, surprise), am in the "other two" category.

I am the QUEEN of procrastination. In fact, I am so good at it, that my days revolve around playing catch-up on everything I procrastinate. Today, for example:

Woke up- late.
Instead of feeding my kids breakfast, we all went outside while I attempted to find my pumpkin and tomato plants underneath a thick blanket of weeds.
After finishing about 1/3 of the rows, we went inside- 3 out 4 of the group crying in hunger. Then, I let the 2 & 4-year-old eat chips while I nursed the baby. Yes, I said chips for breakfast.
Finally, we had cold cereal 3 hours after waking up.
NEXT: talked on the phone with aforementioned sister-in-laws and realized that the midnight hour of our project was here.
THEN: Of course, I had to check my blog, email, daily surf sites....because you know, that is a necessity when you have actual important things to do.
Glancing at the clock, I contemplated putting off my errands in town until tomorrow, but then remembered I had an even bigger project to procrastinate, so of course, went to town. After spending the entire afternoon in town, running errands, paying bills that should have been paid long ago, and buying some flowers- because you know, I needed to buy new flowers today, because, you know, I don't have enough yard projects that I am not caught up on....refer back to the beginning of the day.
Eventually, we made it home. The kids found their 2nd wind and now, after 10 pm, the 2-year-old is still awake and singing her own rendition of "Moooommmmmm, I neeeeedddd a dddrriiiinnnnk," over and over again. I guess I was asking for it when I let her have chips for breakfast.
So, here I sit, typing away on my blog- instead of Grandma's book. I am sitting next to a humongous pile of unfolded laundry, and looking at a table full of dirty dishes. I have until tomorrow mid-day to have my part of the book finished. I should probably get on with this week's challenge and maybe get started.

Speaking of this week's challenge- did anyone notice that it is the END of Tuesday that it is being posted this week? I guess I procrastinated that too. Go figure.

CHALLENGE.....Procrastinate Not

As far as playing catch up to past procrastinations- we aren't even going to go there- this would have to become a lifetime challenge for me if we did that- SO....

NO procrastinating this week! Do the task right off the bat.
Wow. I am smiling just thinking about how amazing my day would go if I would just get things done as they come to me.

Old habits are hard to break, but if only for a few days- hopefully a week, stay on top of things. Think constantly, this little jingle I just invented...
A date. A date...to not procrastinate.
A date. A date.....to not procrastinate!
Dorky, I know, but I bet you will think it at least once this week.

And an evil side of me hopes that you get this silly little chant stuck in your head all day long. HA!

So, anyone "in?"

Burnin' the midnight oil

I tend to be a little unorganized....
I tend to procrastinate.
I accomplish the most when deadlines loom.
I work quite well under pressure.
I need to get groceries and my house is a disaster.
I need some major motivation.

What is a girl to do?

Invite the in-laws over for dinner tomorrow! (I solve lots of life's problems with brilliant ideas like this.....)

Pray for me.
I kid.

No, really, I take it back. Pray for me.

deep thoughts.....makeover mojo

Something funny happened when this blog glammed up this week.......I started liking it more, wanting to put more effort into it, wanting to show it off.

I've been in a rut lately- not simply just behind on the dishes and not quite to the point of needing medication. Have you ever looked around your home/life and just thought, "Where do I even begin?" It isn't even that life is necessarily dealing a rough hand at the time, but just that you know you are at a fork in the road. Like so many things, it is just the beginning that is the hardest part.

What do I pick up first? Would my time be better spent mowing the long grass or watering the dry flowers? If the baby only sleeps for 30 minutes, should I tackle the kitchen & chance clanging things that will wake her up or start the laundry that won't be ready to fold/switch until she is up and needs changed, fed, held? Where do you start?
I made great strides in my homemaking efforts before this beautiful 3rd baby was born. I changed habits to be more organized. I kept it up too. Until lately.
Daddy-long leg spiders have some how taken over every corner of my house. My house is a DISASTER! I wore the same shirt for 36 hours straight this week, (I kept telling myself I couldn't change/shower until I actually exercised- which I finally did). My baby wore her own same shirt for this time period too.... The lawn needs mowed, garden weeded, car needs cleaned out, laundry folded, and on and on. I realize none of this is unique only to me, (Well, maybe the wear-the-shirt-for-a-day-and-a-half part- don't worry, I have really good deodorant.), and life could be a lot worse- but I could make it so much better. I could.
I started thinking about what some of you commented on with the original Ponytail Challenge- about how once the hair was done, the make-up, and then you felt good, and then you felt up to accomplishing more.
SO, I finally exercised, so I could finally shower & finally put on nice, clean clothes. This little bit alone made me feel so much better. I started cleaning- it didn't matter what I started with- just that I started. I am not a get it all done and move to the next job type of gal- which could be part of the problem. I tend to do a little work here and there and never quite finish the job I began with- but at least I made progress.
I also realized that while I may not feel like I am accomplishing much- stirring Ramen noodles with one hand, while holding a baby with the other hand, while calming down an injured 2-year-old, while laughing with a 4-year-old, while wiping spit up off the floor with a napkin & my foot is doing something that I CAN feel proud of- it may not win me an award, but I know it should. And that, for today is enough.

Anyhow, this post is more for myself than for all of you, but I needed to add in a little extra challenge for me this week. -to get going- on something- anything- and as Nike says best, "Just do it."
We all do so much- even when we might not think we are. Often, we feel under appreciated and underachieving. It is funny how a little "makeover" can change so much- whether that makeover is a new blog header, lipstick or an attitude change.

So, if you need a little extra umph today too- just do it- and I will be thinking of you.

CHALLENGE........Appointment Necessary

I've been meaning to call......

I keep putting it off.....

I just didn't have time.....



We all have appointments that need to be made. Certain words or phrases seem to keep making us "forget" to call. (Like: drill, stirrups, co payments, "just a little pinch," credit check, etc.)

This weeks Challenge?

APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

Make the call. Schedule whatever appointment you have been delaying. And look- bonus for you: I actually am keeping this post short, just so that you have the "time" to schedule away!

Accept the challenge?