Fresh Start: Housekeeping

What's Your Style?

All moms have different "housekeeping personalities".  Knowing yours can help you improve your techniques.

The Perfectionist:  I started with this one first, because it is the farthest from my personality!  Does Housekeeping keep you from going to bed or allow yourself any indulgences during the day?  If so, I need some lessons!

The Procrastinator:  Those who work well under pressure but might run over the dog with the vacuum just before greeting your Mother-In-Law.  

The Traveler:  Cleans sporadically so when Housekeeping time is over, nothing looks clean.

The Sprinter:  Because life can't go on without Housekeeping, the Sprinter rushes through the job without doing it right.  

Truth be told, we all have moments where we could classify ourselves in a variety of these categories.  Today, I tried to face my Housekeeping Personality Demons, set my timer (how many times have you read that on a blog?), and get to work.

What Did I Learn?

I am capable when I put my mind to something.

The timer actually did help.  It's amazing what you can accomplish in 15 minutes.

If I allowed myself breaks periodically, it helped me continue working.

Coffee over ice in the afternoon is just as refreshing as hot coffee in the morning.

You won't finish in a day, and that's ok.

Perfection isn't the goal!  I could have remade the bed for my photo shoot, but Mr. Cheeks messed it up in a moment of play.  Where we live is not a house, it's a home.

What style are YOU?

Simple Blogging: A Fantastic New E-Book

Click here to visit Simple Blogging.

As the New Years Eve ball drops and kisses are exchanged, we look into the future and think back to the past year.  We often examine all aspects of our life, looking for successes, failures, and where we can improve.

How can this apply to blogging?

Regardless of where you find yourself in the "blogging resolution" spectrum, one thing is certain.  Even in 2011, time will continue to be of the essence.  We have to make the most out of those precious moments we get with our computer and the blogging community.  Why not learn a little from an expert on balancing the rewards of blogging with all other aspects of your life?

Enter Rachel Meeks, inspirational author of Small Notebook, a blog about living a more simple life.  Small Notebook is an inspirational and encouraging blog for women, with over 13,000 subscribers!!  In addition to maintaining her blog, she is a mother of two small children.  What better person to offer insight into blogging balance?

Full of great tips on streamlining the blogging process and eliminating distractions, Simple Blogging begins by helping you clarify your audience and your purpose as a blogger.  Some of the other topics addressed in Simple Blogging include writing, design, dealing with email, measuring success, and even a wonderful resource section full of helpful links.

As I read through Simple Blogging, I kept a separate document on Evernote, taking notes and answering the application questions.  When I finished the book, I had a crystal clear idea of where I want to take Articles From Addington in the New Year!  I also have many new resources to help me achieve my goals.

What are your blogging goals for the New Year?  


Disclosure:  I highly recommend Simple Blogging, so I became part of the Affiliate Program. 

Inspiration For The Last Few Days

As we all hustle around to finish last minute holiday tasks, it is important to try and remember the purpose behind what we are doing.  To find a moment to regroup at the end of each day (and indulge the amateur photographer in me), I am taking my first Big Picture Class.  The class is called "Picture The Holidays", and has inspired me to find moments of peace during this insanely busy time.
Read more »

Family Cooking App for IPAD

It's official.  My family of Mac Products is multiplying!  I recently got an IPAD, and it is pretty amazing.
Read more »

Holding Onto Gratitude

Back In Time

We've all had moments in life that we wished would never end.  How can I freeze time, and make what is happening now last forever?

So what if time travel (with or without Michael J. Fox) became possible?  What moment would you choose to go back and relive?

I really didn't have to think.  I would want to relive the birth of Mr. Cheeks.  Ok.  Wait just a second.  Maybe not the birth.  But the moment I first met my son.  Miracle is a strong word, but bringing a child into this world is a true Miracle.

As I step out of my time machine, what would the scene of that magical moment look like?  Here are a few snapshots:

• A sense of peace and calm filled that sterile room after much angst and struggle.  Joy rushed through both Hubby and I.  And....I never thought something that looked so much like a wet hamster could bring tears to my eyes.
• Disbelief.  Is this possible?  Is Mr. Cheeks really looking back at me?  
• Ouch.  The other gift from God (i.e. epidderal) was all of a sudden missing from my life.  Where did you go friend?
• I want to show this baby to everyone!  If they (or my half numb body) would have let me run through all the halls of that Atlanta Hospital and announce this birth, I surely would have.
• Unconditional overwhelming LOVE.  It is truly undescribable the love that you feel when you have a child.  And the coolest thing?  It only grows stronger with time!

This post inspired by Mama Kat's Weekly Writer's Workshop.

Giving Thanks - It Doesn't Have To Stop!

I think that toddlers are thankful all of the time.  As much as we get excited about the actual Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, small children probably see it as a day full of new things and happy people (hopefully not far from an ordinary day).  Sure, there are more people surrounding them with love, and certainly more food!

As I reflect on last week's wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, my son has inspires me to see the awe in everything.  Holiday or not, the boy can be excited about everything from an extra crumb of his morning muffin to a School Bus that pulls up next to us in the car. In this picture he was thankful to be able to walk between the inside and out without having to ask permission or help.  To him, this was Heaven on Earth!

I am enjoying all of the wonderful Christmas ideas and shopping tips on the many blogs I read, but I find myself hanging on to all of the sentiments of posts I read last week.  I don't want to forget the importance of Giving Thanks, and hope that I can intertwine it with the Christmas notions of Peace and Joy.