Plan for Good

Gals, I missed publishing yesterday's post and the ironic thing is that it's on scheduling. I have to giggle or I'll be pent up in disappointment and frustration. 

You see, I love a schedule! I find comfort, let me rephrase that, I can only function in a structured routine. I use a paper planner, make beaucoup of lists and gracious do I find joy in crossing off each and every item. 

Now, while that all sounds organized and tidy, it's not real life. Interruptions happen, all day long! They more often than not can upset the order. While I'll never be a ' go with the flow' or 'fly by the seat of my pants' kind of gal, I have had to learn to adapt to life's unplanned occurrences.

Prime Example - Vivian & I were invited to a play date yesterday afternoon and several things (including this post) just didn't get accomplished. 

We said goodbye to Summer's fun a month ago and that has meant back to school all week, activities and additional responsibilities (new puppy Trixie being a big one!). It's been an adjustment! Some days have been challenging to get it all in the way we used to do it so I've had to create new routines with change on when we did things.

The key is 'when'. Things can easily get skipped but I'd rather work hard to shift them.

Here's what has helped me shift and create a schedule that works for me ...

1. Determine the Nonnegotiable

Here I go with another list :) Write down what the priorities are. These are responsibilities or commitments that must happen. You may want to do this in calendar form on the day of the week when it comes to timed events. For me it's my job, exercise, Vivian's activities and mine. I should throw in chores because I'm super particular about those too.

This list isn't for everything you 'want' to do but the 'musts'. This means some things may have to be on hold for a season, moved around or removed completely.

We can NOT do it all! 

I encourage you to pray for discernment on what to let go of and what you can say yes to. 

Some things will keep and some things merit dropping it all to address. 

example: Tuesday mornings I attend a ladies bible study during my normal gym time - I shifted it to the early afternoon while Vivian's in gymnastics rather than eliminating it due to conflict.  #Shift

I took on co-leading my MOPS group but stepped down from another role I'd been leading in for the past few years. 

2. Timed Appointments

It helps me tremendously to have scheduled times for things. I find that if I just write down the to-dos for a day without order or timing it can be more challenging to address each one. Unlike the fairytales there are no godmothers to help us accomplish our tasks so we have to make sure it happens the best we can. Having a dedicated time helps create focus and intention on how we spend it.

example: From 5:00am -7:00am I have quiet bible time, write my blog, catch up with email and social media and then I enjoy breakfast before Vivian wakes up. I have specific hours for my job and I also allot ~3:30-5:30pm for dedicated time with just me and Vivian.  I've divided chores like laundry, floors and bathrooms to certain weekdays. 

**Mammas: I prioritize what I need to do without Vivian during times she's at school or asleep (my job, computer work, organizing, phone calls etc ) and that's alleviated a lot of stress and struggle for me.

3. Leave Room 

I believe it's of upmost importance to leave room. Just like a bank account you don't want to spend all you have. I find it valuable to leave blank space for rest, FUN, unexpected tasks, and for others. As important as it is to be productive we are not robots. Blank space provides room to connect with others, handle the unplanned without being ruffled, and for a calmer day that includes things we enjoy.

example: I like to play with Vivian outside, surprise her with frozen yogurt or a trip to the park. I also like to enjoy meeting up with friends, reading, watching a new show. Life can't be ALL about the work.

I'm no expert on time management but it is something I work towards each day and I hope by sharing my strategies it encourages you to use your time in a way that's best for you.

We are gifted this one life to enjoy and make the best use of! 

Dress Beautifully in Times of Work & Play

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Welcoming Interruptions

 I have important things to do, this is true, 

but the most important thing right now is me loving you!

Gals, I don't know about you but I'm a planner and Type-A personality through and through.  I thrive on structure and routine.  I organize my days, weeks, months and years with lots of lists.

I get a very happy sense of satisfaction crossing off my to-do's. It creates a sense of success and productivity when I've completed things.

But as we all know, life throw us interruptions. These interruptions are never accounted for in my schedule. My instinct is typically to be flustered, annoyed and upset about them and the time lost.

Here's some typical interruptions: the phone rings right in the middle of a task, an unexpected financial responsibility, a clinging toddler when I'm trying to cook dinner, or a meeting when my work day was already overbooked with deadlines. 

I've been praying asking God to help soften my heart to interruptions. I know that He allows my day to be disrupted for His purpose. I want to welcome a conversation with friend, delight in dropping my task to play with my darling, and be content with abandoning the list to enjoy sunshine & fun.

Life doesn't always go our way, and it's always twisting and turning, but we can choose to follow His way trusting in His plan, provisions and presence! 

His agenda is always more fruitful! 

People are More Important than Projects!

I get it, you've got things to do. But just maybe what you NEED is to slow down and push pause for something greater. 

Those conversations can encourage and bless not only the other person but yourself!

The to-do list will keep, your children will not.  You only get one today. Vivian is only 3 years and 3 months old once and I want to savor her right where she is.

Embracing the gift of another day with gratitude by doing something fun, is far more rewarding than a clean house.

I encourage you to welcome God's interruptions because 

He has a wonderful plan for so much good. 

Dress Beautifully Through Life's Interruptions 

XOXO Sarah-Louise

5 Things for Sanity

Happy Monday! We are ALL on week 2 of social distancing and we are ALL trying to navigate doing it in a way that keeps us from going crazy! #amen.  There's a comfort in the commonality amongst us.
Thankfully here, the weather was warm and sunny this weekend allowing for lots of playing outside.

Pants free weekend #pottytraining

So far she's done wonderful :)

Ryan was off of work for 2 days and I can't put into words how amazing it was to spend time together as a family.  It is something we rarely ever get and even rarer that we get 2 weekend days! We won't have it again until June.

Confession:  I'm battling jealousy hardcore!!! In case you didn't know, Ryan practices medicine in the ER and works insane long hours, and a significant amount of them are nights.  He is on the front lines of this pandemic and as I see all the husbands working from home, united with their families, I get green with envy.  I'm praying for peace, and doing my best to do so with a grateful heart. 
I am proud of his service heart and missing him isn't new. He was previously an officer in the US Navy and deployed to the Middle East 4 years ago.

Since our normal schedule of activities isn't an option I've have to create a new one. Last week was one of adjustment while going forward I believe we will be operating under an alternative one that still checks off the boxes in a structured way, because that's how I thrive!

I write a list of what we will do for the following day in chronological order each night.  I find that by organizing the tasks by time helps bring them to fruition.
I'm not completely rigid, each day is different with its tasks and I do want to allow room for interruptions and spontaneity and weather constraints.
For example, if you just have things down mentally you forget and if you just have a list with no order things get pushed or not accomplished at all.  If you have children, you know there must be strategy because very little can be done while they're awake!

Here are the 5 things I'm doing daily to maintain serenity & sanity ....

1. Always get dressed
I put on clothing every day. I keep it casual for practicality but I have on a top and shorts/pants that have zippers.  I also coif my mane and put on make up even if it's just a little.  This helps me to feel confident and put together to tackle my day.  Just because I don't leave my property doesn't mean the day is any less important.

2. Exercise
This has been the most difficult challenge of this whole ordeal.  I'm an addict to physical fitness however I'm accustomed to doing it at the gym with a few runs outside each week. I had child care at the gym but now I have to sweat while Vivian is asleep. However, I'm accustomed to tackling other tasks while she slumbers. I'm kicking the pity party to the curb and sweating joyfully in my closet that doubles as a gym (& my office).  I have equipment and my goodness there are so many online workouts to take advantage of!

3. Be Outside
It's my most favorite place to be and I'm tickled pink it's Vivian's too.  We play, run, tend our garden & yard, read basically anything we can under the sun.  It's calming and refreshing to be in God's creation.

4. Clean & Organize
Cleanliness is next to Godliness! I was raised on this and believe whole heartedly in it. But beyond keeping our home spic and span we are combing through each cabinet shelf, drawer and closet with extreme detail. I say that because we are already close to minimalists as we detest clutter and possessing excess.

I also did a closet edit putting my cold weather pieces into storage and bringing out my warm weather  pieces. I evaluated each garment before it was stored, hung or folded.
Tip: Make sure pieces that need alterations & dry cleaning are addressed (don't just put them in a bag or pile to sit).

Next: Tackling wrinkles! Everything that needs it will get ironed or steamed!

5. Connect
I'm an extreme extrovert and light up when I'm with my family and friends. God called us to gather and commune with one another but since the circumstances don't allow that let's use the tools He's given us!
We can text, call, email, send hand written notes (I often include printed pictures), and my favorite FaceTime! I video nearly every day and have started using the Zoom app to teach my junior high Sunday school class and to see my gal pals in groups! It's great for children to gather as well.

 Dress Beautifully While Social Distancing

XOXO Sarah-Louise