Works 4 Me Wednesday: Time Management

Since giving birth to 2 amazing babies I've heard people make comments to me to the effect of... "You amaze me" or "How do you do it all?" I thought hard about this question recently as someone once again put me on some pedestal of super mom. I assure you all, I AM NOT SUPERMOM. You wouldn't believe some of the feelings of defeat and stress I've had recently. But in thinking about how I really do "get it all done" I was able to come up with some time management tools I regularly employ that I can share with all of you.

* I am a very routine person.

For some people this is "boring." For me it is what makes it possible to accomplish "it all." I wake up at relatively the same time each day. I make and eat meals at the same times. Naptime for my children is the same time each day. And everyone has a bedtime here too. It's what helps me schedule things not only on paper but also in my head. It helps me to know how much "free" time I have to accomplish tasks and not over schedule myself.

*I don't sit.

I'm serious. I don't sit down unless I am driving or eating. As a teacher I am used to being on my feet all day. But, when I do get home each day I don't sit down. As long as I keep moving and remaining standing I am way more productive than sitting.

*Multi-tasking

For some people multi-tasking is not a time saver because they beome side tracked and lose focus. For me it is essential. While making dinner I always make sure to wash dishes as I go. I drop a load of laundry in the washer or dryer while making dinner too. While on the phone I carry a dust rag and bottle of Pledge with me almost always. Or you might fiind me folding a load of laundry too. As I go from one room to another I check to see if there is something I can carry along with me to put away.

*Small doses of Tv.

A few months back we canceled our cable tv service at our home. I haven't missed it for one minute. Rarely do I find I have time to watch tv and frankly, rarely do I feel there is anything on the tv that I really want to see. I use my time in more productive ways. There are moments when I do curl up to watch a movie with my hubby (we have movie date night about once a week), but regular tv vegging is rare in this house.

*Lists

I am a LIST MAKER! I keep a list for work, a list for home, a grocery list, an errand running list, a menu, etc. I have a list for most everything in my life. It helps me to stay focused on what needs done and prioritize.

*Delegate

My co-workers will say I am not bossy, I just know how to delegate. It's true! When a parent of a student in my classroom asks to come and help or says they can help at home I absolutely take their help! When my hubby asks what he can do, I give him my list of chores to accomplish(see above-lol). I have our children help with loading the washer and unloading the dryer. I let my son feed the pets. I try to share responsibilities whenever I can.

We all have the same number of hours in a day. It's all in how you use them. =) This is what works for me.

Where Are We Headed???

If you've been following Dearly Domestic for a long time (Yes! We HAVE been running this site for 3 years now!) I'd first like to take a moment to thank you! Thank you for being loyal and wonderful readers! Thank you for passing Dearly Domestic onto friends and reading each day or week. It means SO MUCH to know so many people even care what I have to say.

But if you HAVE been following for a while then you will already know that there have been some changes in the way Dearly Domestic operates over the past year. Last September I returned from child rearing leave to working full time teaching first grade. It has been quite the journey to go from being at home with my own children each day to now being a full time, working mother to 2 toddlers.

Dearly Domestic has, unfortunately, been the one area of my life that has fallen on my priorities scale. You probably noticed less daily postings and less recipes and pictures. Yeppers, it has been hard to keep up with.

I enjoy the creative outlet that Dearly Domestic allows me. I plan to keep the site up. However, you will see less daily posts over the next few months as the site moves forward. The daily deals I used to post will be few and far between (I just can't keep up with them while at work, honestly). But I will continue to post my works 4 me segments and other domestic related items.

Thank you for going on this journey with me. Thank you for your support! I look forward to seeing where this road takes me...

Works 4 Me Wednesday: Christmas Cash

It snuck up on me again this year. Christmas! It's October and I am already in high gear trying to put together my full Christmas list and all the trimmings. But honestly, I already have put aside about 50% of my Christmas shopping.

Each January I begin my Christmas shopping with an empty giant rubbermaid container in my basement (in a closet). As I find great deals on items or see unique, one of a kind items I know I won't find again (think vacations and little hole in the wall shops you might stumble upon) I place them in this basket with a note for who the recipient might be. This goes on and on throughout the year. Sometime around October I begin to really get serious. I make a full Christmas list with all the people I will need to buy items for.  I take items out of the rubbermaid container and write little notes about what I already have beside the people's names who I already have gifts for. If I totally complete someone's gift I check off their name. (I watch for items I can use Kohl's cash on, gift certificates, coupons, etc throughout the year.)

Once I've gone through my rubbermaid box I can scrutinize the list and see who is left to buy for and what items might be needed to supplement. (I LOVE to put together themed gifts!) Then it's time to head over to my Discover card account online. Throughout the year mty husband and I make about 90% of our purchases using our Discover card. We pay it off EACH AND EVERY month! (We've NEVER carried a credit card balance.) In October we can then cash in our Discover rewards for gift cards to retailers. I like redeeming them for gift cards first because you can usually redeem $40 and get a $50 gift card. Who doesn't like a little something for nothing???

If we still have people left on our list that a gift card just won't do... we then redeem any other reward points for a Discover Money Card (or you can request a check). We use this to purchase any remaining gifts we need to get.

Just as an example... This year we had $350 in Discover points to redeem. (1% back on some purchases, and between 2-5% back on other purchases!) We were able to knock off almost every last item on our list with this amount.

I have a few more items left to get (small things...) but I have made a HUGE dent in our Christmas list and it's only October. This leaves a lot of time in Decemeber for Christmas festivities, caroling, cookie baking, and all that fun without the stress of Christmas shopping at the last minute to find that "perfect" gift.

I certainly don't think using credit card rewards is the best practice for everyone. But if you can pay off the bill every month and still stick to your budget it is a great way to earn some free Christmas presents! It's what works for me.

I just checked my Kraft First Taste account and was surprised to find free Kraft Jello Mix Ins. =) Go here and check yours to see if you have a free coupon under your offers.