Turn it off!

My computer is like a black hole.

Between working on my blog, checking and responding to email, chatting on twitter, and finding out "important" news from my friends' lives on facebook, hours can go by far too easily.

So, to manage time online, I have only one real tip that works for me: turn off the computer!

On days that my computer stays on, I am terrible about sitting down to "quick" check something or "send one email" which turns into 50 other things.  True confession: at one point my time management was getting terrible and my son would stand next to me and pull at my arm trying to get me to get away from the computer.  That is bad.


So, what I try to do (and not everyday goes this well) is to get my first round of blog/twitter/email tasks done in the morning either before the kids are up or during the one TV show they are allowed to watch after breakfast.  And then: the computer turns off.  When I think of "quick things" I forgot to do I write them down.  Inevitably, if it is something I truly have to do in the morning, I never do just that one thing... the time grows.  So, I try very hard to keep it off until they are upstairs for their nap/rest time in the afternoon.

It's not profound, but for some reason it also isn't simple!  Turn that computer off, girls!

It has been a pleasure writing for Today's Housewife for the last few months.  Thank you for having me, and I hope you'll come visit me at my blog often! :)

-Kristi

Image from freefoto.com

Google Reader

Four years ago when I started blogging there were a handful of blogs I read. Typically I would either type in the URL or I would click a link from my blog. If I found something new I liked, many times I would have to blog hop until I found that link again. There was A LOT of blog hopping. And A LOT of time wasting.

Then I discovered Bloglines. A single website that told me when new posts had been added to all the blogs I read. No more hopping from one blog to another in hopes of finding a new post. Now I knew when something new had been added. And I was not on the computer as often. There were some great things about it, but as I added more and more blogs to my interests, I quickly found that Bloglines was very limiting in how I could manage my blogs.

That is when I made the switch to Google Reader. It feeds my need to be organized. What do I like about it? So many things, and I know I haven't even tapped all that it is probably capable of.

1. I can read one post at a time. If I am not able to sit down and read the last 10 posts that have accumulated in the reader, I can read one at a time. And if I start to read a post and am interrupted, I can mark it as "keep unread" and come back to it later.

2. I can organize blogs by type. If I want to read blogs only by my family, I can find them all in one spot instead of scrolling through my list. (Yes, I really do follow 77 blogs. And that is after recently removing about 30 off the list.)

3. I can keep a post by starring it. I find so many fabulous ideas and now I can mark them to go back later and use those fun ideas to do something with LilE or make a cute skirt without having to remember which blog I found it on and when the post was written. I am not that good.

4. I can organize my starred items. Well, sort of. I have about 300 posts that I marked with a star. But when I am looking for one specific tutorial, it takes time to go through them. Kama recently showed me how I can organize posts by category instead of leaving them in the generic "star" pool.

At the end of each post is a list..."remove star, like, share, share with note, email, add tag." Instead of starring the post, you can click "add tag." Then type in the box what "tag" you want to mark the post with. You can see all my "tags" below. You can add more tags by typing in the "add tag" box. Don't forget to click save. Since I am organizing my previously starred items into a new place, I then click "remove star." 

What tricks can you share about Google Reader?

Scheduling Writing Time

I've been a terrible blogger lately. Not so much here, but on my family blog (that I haven't updated in 6 weeks or more.) I think it's because I don't have a deadline. With this collaborative blog I have people who are counting on my post being written before Tuesday morning. But with my own blog I know that there is no one depending on me to post every day. (And it's a good thing there isn't!)

So, I've decided to try something new. I'm going to give myself a deadline for my family blog just like I have here. I'm going to spend the next 12 weeks updating it at least every Friday morning. I can post more than once a week but no less. Just like setting boundaries with social media worked for me last fall, this will help to create some discipline in my writing. And hopefully it will help me stay more current in updating family and friends. Besides, it won't be too long before I'll have even more subjects to photograph and write about. We found out this past week that we'll be adding a little girl to our family in a few months. So I should get in the habit of updating more frequently now before the mayhem of 3 kids sets in.

Do you have a set time in your day or week for blogging? How do you make it a priority in your life without letting it take over?

Finding Pictures for Blog Posts

Early in my blogging days, one thing that really stressed me out was finding pictures for posts. When I was writing for Blissfully Domestic it took me longer to find a picture to go with the post than it did to write the post! I once got an email from the photographer of a picture I got off of Flickr asking me to take it down because he had sold it to a magazine and it couldn't be posted anywhere else. I was so confused about giving credit and creative commons licensure.

Finally, I started using Microsoft Office Clip Art Down Load- which has way more than clip art! It's free and I don't have to worry about who to credit for the images. Now I use it for my posts here and on my ministry site. I also used it for the header you see above. It's quick because there are thousands of images in one place. It's easy to search for "computer" or "daisy" and get page after page of images. It's also simple to download to a folder and then upload to Blogger from that folder!

Using Microsoft Office to find pictures sure had been a time (and stress!) saver! Do you have another favorite image site? Please share so we can all save on-line time!

This Week: Managing On-Line Time

This week we are discussing a popular topic- managing on-line time! It's not easy, but we hope to share a few ideas and tips that will help.

Also, this is Kristi's last week with us! We have really enjoyed having her on the team. But you don't have to miss her too much! You can visit her anytime at her blog where she is currently doing a study on the book of Revelation. You can also find her on Twitter @KristiStephens and Facebook. Thanks so much for all your thoughtful posts Kristi!

Using Technology to Stay in Touch

Since October 2000, we have lived between 9 and 22 hours from our families.  And in that time I've learned a few ways for staying connected.  I must confess, I am not always the best at keeping in touch ... somehow my good intentions do not always translate into actions; but, thankfully, my family understands.

We use technology to its fullest in this area!  I am enormously thankful for the ability to share our lives so quickly and so easily with our far-away family.   Here are a few of the ways we stay connected.

1.  Blogging ~ Like many, my blog began as a method of keeping in touch with family.  My daughter now has a blog of her own and, while she doesn't update as much as I wish she would, the family can see her school projects and read her thoughts on different subjects.  {And honestly, don't we all understand that it's our children that our parents and grandparents are interested in anyway! LOL}

2.  Facebook ~ While not every member of our family is on Facebook, many are.  In fact, Facebook has been a great way for me to stay connected with cousins that I otherwise might not keep in touch with at all.  The family members without Facebook all live pretty close to ones with it so that also keeps everyone aware. {I have been especially thankful for Facebook when my grandparents in Oklahoma are in the hospital because my aunts who live there are so good about sharing the information.}

3.  Skype ~ LOVE Skype!  We don't use it as often as we should but it is a great way to SEE our far-away family and let them see how quickly Casiday is growing up.

4.  Photo blogs ~ This year I'm trying my hand at photo blogging.  My goal was one picture a day ... and while I have more than 113 pictures so far, I confess there are a few days with nary a photo.  But, our family loves this blog.  It's basically a peek into our every day life ... pictures of us, our activities, our friends and even a few shots Casiday has taken.  If you are not a "blogger," this is a great way to get started.

We use the good ol' telephone {we have an unlimited long distance plan on our home phone} and our cell phones.   I try to send pictures to family members and the occasional card from me or Casiday - this is one area in which I need to improve.

I'm off now ... to write a note to at least one of my grandmothers!

When was the last time you sent a handwritten note to someone?

Teri Lynne writes daily at Pleasing to You where she seeks to encourage women to let the lines blur between sacred and secular and just live every day to love others and serve the Lord.  Passionate about Jesus, family, books, coffee, and chocolate (usually in that order), you can follow her on Twitter (@TeriLynneU) and on Facebook. 

Grandma Online!

Like KLee and Alicia, I don't know what we would do without online communication with family!  While I am a blogger, my blog isn't about my family... so that isn't the way our extended family keeps up with us and our kids.

One of the things my daughter loves to do is to send our out-of-state family members pictures that she colors - and while she loves sending things in the mail (I should follow Sandra's lead and do this more often!), I love that it is quick and free to scan and send her creations online!

One of the side benefits to this is that I am collecting a digital file of her pictures as we go - I save them with the date and who she made it for, so even years from now when I have thrown away most of her "art" we will still have a variety of "specimens" to look at.

A happy birthday picture to Grandpa... because I am the world's WORST card sender.  Seriously.  Just ask anyone related to me.

A "just for fun" picture for Grandma Z.

A "days of creation" picture she colored during rest time which HAD to be passed on. ;)

[she told me that is her doll riding a surf board.  I'm not sure which day of creation that would pertain to...]

My mom will often print out these digital creations and hang them on her fridge - so it's fun to see them when we get to her house!  [AG is a little confused as to how there is a copy of her picture at home AND at Grandma's house...]

We also have really enjoyed the webcam my parents got for us for Christmas!  The kids LOVE seeing Grandma and Grandpa on the computer... and sometimes Grandpa will make a "date" with them to read them a book.  Or read AG a book while LB runs around performing and yelling, "Hi, Baba [Grandpa]!"

And what could be better than seeing Grandma and Grandpa's dog Barnabus on our very own computer screen? :)

I think it's time to fire up that scanner again...

-Kristi

It's a Bloggy World

Take pictures. Transfer to computer. Edit pictures. Decide which pictures to send to Mimi and Pop and which ones to Nonnie. Send e-mail to each. Receive "system administrator" e-mail. Resize EVERY picture. Resend.

Frustration. You wouldn't think sending a picture would be so difficult, but for me it was. But hope was found. I met a new friend who had a blog. What's a blog? Four years ago it was hard to grasp. But journaling online, with pictures of my newborn, for all my family to easily access seemed like a no-brainer. Tres Alejandros (The Three Alexanders) was created.

It has been one of the greatest decisions I have made. And now that I can actually print my blog into a book, it will be a treasure for my family to have for years to come.

Since I started blogging, I have 3 sisters and one parent who blog along with me. It has been such a great way to keep up with the little stuff that goes on in our daily lives. It definitely makes me feel like we aren't so far apart.

More often than not, I do get behind. This weekend I actually blogged about 4 weeks worth. I try my best, but life happens. And I don't like to be on the computer all day. But my out-of-state family is super patient with me as I find time during LilE's quiet time or when JD is out for an evening to sit down and journal what is going on in our teeny portion of the world.

I am not sure how our family 50 years ago did it. The Internet is such a great tool. I am thankful for having the knowledge to use it as a great communication tool for our family.

Email Trail

Being a military family, we rarely live near family and friends. And while it can be a fun adventure to move, it's also important to us to stay close to our families and to make sure the boys know the people who love them. We use Facebook and our family blog to update everyone, and of course we talk on the phone A LOT. But I wanted to think of something that we do that might be different. And I realized that we recently tried something new with our 4 year old while Tim was gone. I let Mark email his own messages to his dad. And then Tim can (sometimes) send emails back to him in reply. I type exactly what Mark dictates and then he types his own name at the end of the email. It might not sound like a lot, but it means the world to both Mark and Tim during time apart. It's easy and free and certainly worth a try. I couldn't resist adding one of Mark's emails. I might be a little biased, but I think it's adorable.

Hi Dad,

I've been taking good care of Toy Story balloony. And church is good while you are gone. And we miss you so much. And I made a whale at school today. And we talked about humpback whales. And I love you and so much. I pray for you every night. I tried and tried to be good but it didn't work so I'll try again tomorrow.

Mark

Do you have any other idea for using the computer to communicate with loved ones far away?

What's in the Mail?

The day I turned eighteen, my parents left home. No really, they did. They took my sisters with them too. My dad had been transferred to Houston and I stayed behind in Oklahoma to finish high school. I lived with them the summer between high school and college, but since then we haven't lived closer than six hours apart. Most of the last thirteen years we haven't even been in the same time zone!

So I have lots of practice as keeping in touch with my far away family! That may be why every time I get on the phone my two year comes up and says, "Gran-ma? Gran-ma?" He knows if I'm settled in on the couch for a long conversation, it's probably with my mom.

But let's be honest, as much as my parents love me and want to talk to me, it's really their grandsons they want to keep up with. We see my parents and my husband's parents about four times a year. You miss a lot in the lives of little ones who grow so fast in those in-between months!

One of my favorite ways to keep in touch with my parents, my in-laws, and the boys' great grandmas on both sides is to send a little something in the mail that the boys made. We'll send holiday cards, like hand print turkeys or St. Patrick's Day clovers. We'll make a college of pictures of food when learning the letter F. We'll even stick something in the mail the boys did at Sunday School.

Everyone loves getting mail from the boys and it's nice when we go visit to see their work displayed on the fridge!

This Week: Keep in Touch with Family Far Away

If you're like us, you have family scattered all around the country! This week we're sharing ways we keep in touch with everyone, no matter how far away apart we are. We would love to hear your ideas, just leave a comment or join in the discussion on our Facebook page.

Our guest post on Friday will be from Teri Lynne. She writes daily at Pleasing to You where she seeks to encourage women to let the lines blur between sacred and secular and just live every day to love others and serve the Lord.  Passionate about Jesus, family, books, coffee, and chocolate (usually in that order), you can follow her on Twitter (@TeriLynneU) and on Facebook. 

De-gunking the Kitchen!

Like KLee, I also tackled spring cleaning in my kitchen this week.

Here are my step-by-step directions.  I'm SURE that Martha would approve. She may even be contacting me for a future book deal.

Step one: Clean the greasy, dusty gunk off the things on top of the cabinets.  Vacuum the spider webs up there since I'm already precariously standing on the counter.  Wonder if the children will attempt to climb onto the counter now that they are observing my technique.

Step two: Wipe said greasy, dusty gunk off the cabinet fronts and walls.

Step three: clean windows.  Stand and gaze at the bright sunlight for a while, choosing to ignore the mess waiting down below.

Step four: Stop to ooh and ahh over the surprise from NP.  Put them in a vase and hope he is stunned by the gloriously clean windows and has not noticed the disaster that is the rest of the kitchen.

Step five: empty out cabinets and reorganize.  Discover that we own 10 pounds of spaghetti in various packaging.  Wonder to self, "why is there a bag of Gerber puffs in the back of the cabinet?  LB hasn't eaten them for at least a year!"  Throw away old graham crackers that have been hiding in the top corner for an unknown length of time.

Step six: vacuum out drawers.  Apparently my children open drawers and dump crumbs and coffee grounds into them when I'm not looking.

Step seven: climb onto stepstool to clean the top of the refrigerator.  Gasp at the horrifying amount of greasy, dusty gunk that has collected in this location.  Quickly run a mental scan of all guests who have entered the house in the past four months; give a sigh of relief when it is determined that none of said guests were tall enough to notice the top of the refrigerator.

I'd write more, but I'm afraid I have more degunking to do in there... the inside of the refrigerator awaits. ;)

Clean on!

-Kristi

What are you de-gunking this week?

Spring Cleaning in the Kitchen

How many times have I thumbed through a cookbook or magazine at work or at a friend's house and needed to copy a recipe? How many times have I asked friends to send me a recipe after a get together? How many blogs have I read with pictures of awesome food that I bookmark to try...one day?

My recipe/cookbook cabinet is full of loose papers and cookbooks that have not seen the light of day in years. Some since we moved in 6 years ago. And I still have them, why?

Last year I did sell 6 or 7 cookbooks in our annual yard sale, but there is still much work to be done!

First, I pulled out all the non-cookbooks and found out how much was really hidden behind all the books! Seriously?

I took a couple of hours (while vegging on the couch, of course) and went through all the papers and picked the recipes I had tried and liked or that I really wanted to try. I cut off all the excess paper and pieced it all together in a notebook. It came to less than 20 pages. Wow. I put all of them in page protectors and then decorated it to make it a little more fun.

When I want to try something new, I no longer have to sift through tons of magazines and loose papers. I just turn to the "To Be Tested" section and pull something out. If I don't like it, it will join the rest of the "rejects" in the recycle bin.

The finished cabinet:

Spring Cleaning Kids Clothes and Toys

Maybe it's nesting already or just the urge to spring clean, but I've been an organizing crazy woman around here lately. We had a busy couple of months and it felt like we had so many objects in our house that just didn't have a proper place. Our dining room and guest room hadn't been used in a while so they'd become places to toss random "homeless" items. And because we live where it's usually so mild in the winter, I'd never fully packed away last summer's wardrobes. All of our closets were overflowing with clothes!

I decided to tackle Mark's closet first. Not only does it have all of his clothes in it, but since we don't have a playroom, it also contains a lot of the toys we own. One of the ways that I try to teach the boys to clean up after themselves is by only having a few items out to play with at a time. But that means that all the toys need a home for when they are not in the rotation. And it's easiest to store them in the closet where the boys can't help themselves to them all at one time.

Here's what the closet looked like before we started:

The clothes were packed in and had everything from short-sleeved hawaiian shirts to winter sweaters. So I started by pulling it all out and we tried a lot of it on to see what still fit and what needed to be packed away. Now that Mark is 4, he is very good at dressing himself. So I moved all his t-shirts to a drawer so that he can pick out his own clothes and eliminating a lot the items that were previously hanging. The rest of the clothing was sorted into clothes for packing away and clothes for the consignment store. Thankfully, our children's store in town takes all seasons so I can even take any winter items when I take the summer clothes. I keep a lot of clothes to pass down to Luke, but not everything makes the cut for keeping.

Next came the toys. I know there are two schools of thought on cleaning out toys. They can simply "disappear" from the house. Or children can be part of the process. As difficult as it can be at times, I like for Mark to help me decide what needs to be given to other boys and girls and what he'd like to keep. He did really well this time and picked out two grocery sacks of toys to be gotten rid of.

Finally, everything in the closet got a designated home as it was being put back in the closet. I added only 1 new box for dress up clothes and the rest was simply organized and put where it belongs. Now the boys can see what they want to play with and I can see what clothes Mark has to wear.

Here is our finished closet. It looks better, don't you think? My blood pressure no longer rises each time I open the door to get something out!

What tips do you have for me to stay organized and not let it get to the "disaster" stage it was before?

Spring Cleaning the Bathroom

Martha says, "Even the most ordinary bathroom can be turned into a sanctuary of privacy and peacefulness." But sometimes my bathroom needs a little extra help! Here are a few areas I often neglect, and how I clean them (with help from Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook).

• Bath Toys- I run them through the dishwasher on the top rack occasionally to clean. Martha says to soak for 10 minutes in a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar and one gallon of water. Then rub with a sponge and let air dry.
• Shower Curtain Liner- Even if you wipe it down and let it dry out like you're supposed to every day, gunk can still build-up. I wash mine in the washer on hot water with about a half a cup of bleach. Martha says to use a mild laundry detergent like Ivory Snow. Don't put it in the dryer! Just hang it back up to let it dry!
• Showerhead- Martha says if the showerhead becomes clogged with mineral deposits, fill a plastic bag with undiluted white vinegar and place the bag over the head so it is fully submerged; seal the bag with a rubber band. Let it soak over night then remove the bag and scrub with a toothbrush.
• Clean out the Cabinets: Here are popular items found in the bathroom cabinet and how long they should last: sunscreen- 2 years, nail polish- 1 year, shampoo and conditioner- 6 to 12 months, moisturizer- 6 to 12 months.

Hope that helps inspire you to doing a little extra cleaning this week!

Spring Cleaning Week!

Just in case you need a little extra inspiration (or a kick in the pants!) we're talking about spring cleaning this week! Cleaning may not be #1 on your to-do list, but it's more fun when you know everyone has to do it. Hopefully you'll pick up some new tips this week to make cleaning faster or more efficient for you.

If you haven't taken our motherhood survey there's still time! If you have taken it, we really appreciate your feedback. It's fun to get to know you all a little better!