365 Day Clutter Challenge Day 40 and 41

Ack! Late on the weekend posting...

Day 40: more late presents--mailed, not tossed! February 20th was my niece's birthday! At least she's just two and has no idea that her aunt is very lazy about packaging and mailing gifts.
Day 41: finally got my husband to part with his dress shoes that he's never worn in the eleven years I've known him because "they hurt." Unfortunately, they'll be replaced since he's in his brother's wedding next month, but for the next week or so, my house is dress shoe-free!

What did you dump today?

365 Day Clutter Challenge Day 39

Day 39: computer bookmarks. So many computer bookmarks. How many brownie recipes does one girl need?

What did you dump today?

Time Management and the Stay at Home Mom: You Have More Me Time Than You Think

When you have small children, sometimes it feels like you never get a moment to yourself. Do the math!

• I sleep for about 7 hours each night--that's straight, thanks to Baby ChubChub finally getting on board with sleep training.
• 4-year-old Chewbacca sleeps 11 hours at night (good boy!) plus takes a 2 hour nap every afternoon.
• 19-month-old Baby ChubChub sleeps 10 hours at night and takes a 30 minute more-misses-than-hits morning nap and a fairly reliable 1 hour afternoon nap. This doesn't seem like enough, but she's healthy and happy. According to our pediatrician, as long as outside stimulation (light, TV noise, etc.) isn't a factor, she's getting the amount of sleep she needs.

With my family's sleep patterns, if I can get the kiddos to take concurrent naps (more on this another time), there are about 3 1/2 hours each day that I'm awake and both kiddos are asleep.

Note: I only have experience raising two preschool kiddos. If you have a tip on time management or naps with multiple or older kiddos, share it in the comments!

I'm hard pressed to find an excuse for not getting things done when I have 5 full hours of "Me Time" each day. Here's the breakdown of my family's schedule:

5:30 am: hubby leaves for work, I get up. I have an hour to myself until Baby ChubChub wakes. I shower, primp, and get dressed (30 min.) then play on the computer (blog/write/email) for the second half hour while I drink a pot of coffee. Yes, a full pot in 30 minutes!

6:30-7:30 am: This is the first of two hours I have to spend one on one time with Baby ChubChub. We talk, play (quietly--brother is sleeping!), read books, etc.

7:30 am: Chewbacca wakes and we officially start our day.

8:30 am: I put Baby ChubChub down for her morning nap; she falls asleep about half the time. Either way, I leave her in her bed for 30 minutes and spend one on one time with Chewbacca. We do stuff she can't yet, like play in the front yard or with Legos.

1 pm: Both kiddos go down for naps. For the first hour I clean bathrooms, pay bills, take a nap if I need it. Baby ChubChub wakes after about an hour, and I get another hour of one on one time with her while Chewbacca sleeps.

8 pm: Baby ChubChub goes to bed. Chewbacca gets one on one time with Mommy and Daddy for an hour.

9 pm: Chewbacca goes to bed. I hang out with my husband, watch a little TV, read, write, whatever. I try to go to sleep by 10:30.

I often hear that SAHM is a 24 hour job. This is technically true, but it's more like an on call position for half the day. Noting the hours per day that my kiddos are actually awake encourages me to actively engage them in play and activity, to parent with purpose.

You have more "Me Time" than you think! How do you spend it?

365 Day Clutter Challenge Day 38

Day 38: new dollar store toy that broke when Chewbacca tried to assemble it. Convinced him to take a dollar to save instead of replacing the toy.

What did you dump today?

365 Day Clutter Challenge Day 37

Day 37: pizza coupon folder. We rarely order pizza--I've been trying my hand at making it from scratch lately--but for some reason I file pizza coupons every week when they come in the mail with the grocery ads.

What did you dump today?