This Working Mom’s Summer

Summer is in full swing and I am behind in blogging.  Sigh.  Anyone else swept up by summer fever and struggling to stay on top of their To Do Lists??  I suppose it’s typical to get caught in summer fun and slow down a bit.  Actually, I have another, perhaps better reason for my delayed posting here.  I am working on blogging for business.  Check out my recently published Bookkeeping Tips post on the Women’s Business Network blog.  🙂

Work & Unitasking update:
Regarding getting back to the grind after vacation (I miss Block Island!), it has been an adjustment.  It took time to get used to our summer routine where I’m working around camp schedules, etc.  I will say that some of the uni-tasking ideas have paid off.  In particular, I’ve become more accustomed to blocking out periods of time for certain projects – complete with reasonable stopping points and planned breaks.  The best though are the rewards for achieving certain accomplishments.  These help me push through and focus when I might otherwise be distracted.

Gardening update:
I’m pleased to report that my garden is thriving and producing delicious veges.  There’s plenty of lettuce (3 types), the peas and green beans are ready, and the tomato, zucchini, and pepper plants are blooming and growing strong.  My favorite though is our daughter’s sunflower plant.  Do you remember the one that was eaten by a critter?  It now embodies the popular “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” lyrics.  Check it out – it’s back with not one flower, but three!!

Running update:
I did it – I ran my first 10k race!  The 10k at Gillette Stadium was awesome.  There were so many runners (about 6,700!) that is took me over 6 minutes to cross the START line.  The first mile actually included runners for the 5k and 10k races.  Then the 10k group left the stadium parking lot and we ran a nice course through Foxboro, which covered most of the same route as my very first race (a 5k).  So that was neat.  The sprinklers along the route were very welcome as it was a typical, hot summer evening.  Lastly, the highlight was running back to the stadium and across the 50 yard line.  How neat!  I would definitely run that again and I hear the 5k that went around and through the stadium (up and down the ramps) was neat too.

Summer fun list:
We recently went to Canobie Lake Park with the whole family where I learned the “Wipeout” ride (especially riding backwards) is not my friend.  Bad way to start the day.  So I didn’t go on as many rides as expected, but overall everyone enjoyed the day.  Mystic Aquarium is next up on the list.  The kids and I look forward to seeing the beluga whales again.

What trips have you taken this Summer?

How This Mom is Preparing for Summer

Parents, are you ready for Summer?  I hope so, because like it or not, it’s that time of year!  Schools are out or finishing up this week.  This makes for a very busy season with tons of year-end special events like recitals, talents shows, and ice-cream parties.  It’s a very fun way to end the school year and transition into summer-mode for the kids, but extra crazy and busy for me, to say the least!  So I’m doing my best get everything done work-wise and fit in the additional kiddo activities.

I’m also finishing up plans for the summer (camps, etc.)  What I’m looking forward to most (besides vacation, of course) are the day trips with the kids.  Since I love animals, you may see a theme in many of the trips I’m planning.   Some of the places we hope to check out the Summer:

• Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries – So many locations, each with neat features.  I love hiking the trails with the kids and they enjoy the camps where they can explore and learn about nature with other kids their age.
• Southwick’s Zoo – New England’s largest zoo (and the best in my opinion) happens to be nearby and I can never resist taking a day off to check out the animals.  The kids especially love the deer forest where they can feed the friendly deer and seem them up close.
• Mystic Aquarium – I don’t know who loves seeing the belugas more, the kids or me!  We just love this place.  It’s worth the trip.
• Animal Adventures – Another cool animal place I recently discovered.  They have quite a variety of exotic animals.
• Boston – The kids love riding the train into the city and there are so many places to explore.  I’m thinking maybe paddle boats on the Charles river and/or Castle Island this year.
• PawSox game – The local minor league team provides a great ballpark experience without the hefty prices or traffic and parking issues.  Perfect for the kids.

Plus we’ll be sure to take in some movies, especially some of the free kids/family flicks, and perhaps a couple at the drive-in theater.  (Isn’t it neat that we still have one in the area?)  We’ll likely play some mini-golf too and will definitely hit the biking trails and beaches.  Oh, and can you say ice-cream?!  We won’t leave that out.  So many opportunities for fun!  What are you planning this Summer?

Running Fun:
I find running increasing fun, especially when other family members are involved.  Last weekend we met friends at a popular 5k road race and it was an exciting day.  I had a fantastic run and the best part of the day was watching our son finish 5th for the boys’ 1 mile race.  He’s only 9 and he finished in 6:10!  Wow – soon he’ll be competing with the teenagers.  🙂

Gardening Adventures:
For Mother’s Day, I received a sunflower seedling from my sweet little girl.  She had planted it at school and nurtured it diligently.  We planted it in the ground together and she was so thrilled when it finally bloomed.  Isn’t it gorgeous?
Well, it’s a good thing I took this picture, because a couple of days later she came inside crying because the flower part was gone.  Apparently some creature ate the top of the sunflower right off!  😦

On a happier note, I finally finished the garden and planted some annuals.  Here’s my favorite plant bucket, which has a patriotic theme this year.   What do you think?  What’s your favorite plant or garden item?

Working on Unitasking

Hi everyone!  Have you missed me?  Or have you been crazy busy too so that time has been slipping away?  I absolutely cannot believe this is the last full week of school for my kids already!

Uni-tasking follow-up:  Recent changes have led to increased focus on my business, less time switching between activities, and thus more billable hours.  Yay!  Fortunately, I thrive on busy – at least when I’m seeing accomplishments.  Some things that have helped:

• Planned breaks / downtime;
• Predetermined end times or reasonable stopping points;
• Rewards after projects or milestones are great too.

Overall, planning more has helped to make the work (and other tasks) more manageable and not as overwhelming.

Gardening fun:

I love this time of year – when everything blooms and it’s frequently warm, but not hot and humid.  Have you taken time to stop and smell the roses (or the azaleas)?

I’m very excited about new additions to our yard – a clematis vine (that will have purple blooms, of course) & a new dogwood tree.  🙂

More to come on the garden / planting progress.

Have a great week!