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?

Busy as a Bee

I find myself especially busy after last weekend’s anniversary getaway to Block Island.  It’s always hard to catch up after vacation, even a short one.  Coming home to a dead laptop power cord only made it worse.

Sandy Point, Block Island

So this week I am not succeeding in finding good balance.  The weekend was a rare, true vacation.  You know how much I LOVE Block Island.  Well, going there with just my husband – no kids – was awesome!  No offense, kids.

Unfortunately, after all that relaxation came a brutal return to reality.  Rob had to work for hours Sunday night when we got back, so that was not a nice welcome home.  After unpacking, catching up on laundry, and getting the kids to bed, I hopped on my computer and found it wad quickly losing power as the power cable had broken.  😦  Naturally, I did not have a spare.  So here I am a few days later, swamped with catch up work now that I finally have access to QuickBooks again.  So while Rob was busy the beginning of the week, I’m busy now.  Thus, we’re like ships passing in the night.

Fortunately, the weekend is coming.  And it’s a loooong, holiday weekend, so even better.  I’m looking forward to time with family including picking apples and pumpkins.  I love the Fall!  Plus, I’m finally going to do the Freedom Trail Run in Boston.  I found this run last year, but plans just didn’t work out until now.  I can’t wait.  Oh, and I hope to get some painting in too.  Long weekends are great!

How’s your week going?  Any plans for Columbus Day weekend?

Summertime Favorites

View of Cape Cod Bay from Wellfleet Wildlife Sanctuary

After a nice mini-vacation on Cape Cod with family, I still have vacation-brain.  It’s hard to get back into work-mode and concentrate.  I find this is true not only when returning from vacation, but during the Summer in general as there are always people talking about vacation.  It’s so nice to escape reality and its daily stresses and go someplace different, isn’t it?

My favorite Summertime sensations:

Harbour Town Lighthouse, Hilton Head Island

• Sound: waves crashing on the beach
• Place: beachfront property (maybe next time)
• Taste: mussels in white wine sauce – with a glass of wine to accompany it of course!
• Feel: the tide pulling back the water over my feet
• View: sunset over the water (like the one pictured here from last summer’s vacation)

My childhood vacation memories include playing with my cousins at various beaches in Maine.  It’s funny how the cold water never bothered me then.  I would turn purple and insist I was fine.  It was near impossible to get me out of the water, just ask my parents.  I also enjoyed going down the shore – the Jersey shore, that is.  The boardwalks along the ocean were so much fun.  Besides the ocean, one of my favorite spots was the water park in Saco, Maine.  I recall going down many slides with my uncle and cousins.  Those days were the highlight of my summers as a kid.

What’s your favorite Summer vacation spot?

What I Wish I Had More Time For

Love this beach picture! It makes me think of the Cape, a place where I’d like to spend more time. I find water – oceans, lakes, rivers – to be very relaxing, so I’d enjoy spending more time in these tranquil spots.

Lazzy Feet on a Blue Ocean Beach vacation

I can think of a number of things I’d like to spend more time doing. No shortage or interests or hobbies for this manic mommy. Only a shortage of time!

A few everyday things I’d like to have more time to enjoy:
– Reading
– Writing (blogging)
– Relaxing in general… snuggling with Rob, the kids, and the kitties or just hanging out.

Bigger items to dream about:
– Traveling… so many places we’d like to go! First, we’d love to take the kids on a cruise. Niagara Falls, Napa (sans kiddos), D.C., and several spots in Europe are on the wish list too.
– Skiing, hiking, swimming with dolphins, and other unusual fun outdoor activities.

What’s tops on your wish list??