Crazy productive...kind of #SOLC17

Join the Slice of Life Challenge
Write every day in March.
Be a "planner" or a "pantser"
Two Writing Teachers

So it's Monday of my spring break staycation.  I have a big list of what I need to do.  A LOT of it is phone calls and paperwork related, so that's a bummer.  I get it.  We own a house, we have two college kids. There is going to be paperwork.  I'm an adult.  (SIGH)

I started the day in my pajamas (then put on some sweats).  I made breakfast for myself and then Allison when she got out of bed (MIRACLE).

Then I jumped between a few million different activities (I even fixed my bike and made a mini compost bin!) 

I'm beginning to realize that my younger daughter's lack of focus came directly from me.

I started making a list of all the different things I accomplished before lunch.  I'm not very good at crossing anything off lists, but this list was different.  I FINISHED THESE THINGS!

Finally, this afternoon, I slid some fuzzy socks on and went down to the office.  I made the financial planner phone call (not that bad).  I helped oldest with her tax return online.  I did some of the paperwork.

Maybe the next time you want to feel crazy productive, you could try my silly idea.  Simply write everything down that you do one day.  Fuzzy socks don't hurt either.

Put your butt in the chair #SOLC17

Join the Slice of Life Challenge
Write every day in March
A slice is a small piece of writing
Two Writing Teachers

I think I have found the key.

The key to finishing homework, assessments, lesson plans, emails, slices and other paperwork:

Put your butt in the chair.  Then do it.

It isn't as easy as it sounds.

I'd rather be doing anything than sit and work for longer than 15 minutes.  My brain races and spins and tries to come up with an excuse to get up and move.

Dishes?  Laundry?  I'll take care of both and then I'll get back to work.

Copies?  Chocolate?  I think I'll go print and grab a snack before I start on that paperwork.

Friends?  Coworkers?  I just go ask her in person.

Phone ping?  Chocolate craving?  I'll start that homework later.

Yup.  It's true.

I have comfy chairs and rolling chairs.

I have an office, a big table, a clear desk and a laptop.

But I don't have

stamina

perserverance

motivation

the ability to prioritize.

Huh.  Makes me feel for the kiddos who feel the same way, day in and day out, at school.

Here We Go (YEAR 6 ?!?!) #SOLC17

Join the Slice of Life Challenge!
Write every day in March!
YOU CAN DO IT!
Two Writing Teachers

Holy moly, guacamole!

I just zipped to the SOLC data form and had to count on my fingers
 (HEY - it's a strategy)
to figure out this is year six for me.

Huh.  I didn't realize how time has FLOWN by!

Because I have not been a weekly slicer for a while
(you did see the name of my blog, right?  The subheading should be Life of a Super Procrastinator)
theres LOTS of topics to write about!

Here's a sneak peek for March, friends:

• The Sherwood Lane Little Free Library is O P E N  (*throws confetti*)
• I will have Spring Break all to myself
• I {heart} chocolate, books, and coffee
• Grad school (halfway through 2nd masters)
• college-aged daughters
• stress, ramblings, silliness
• making vacation plans (San Diego in May)
• anything my brain churns up

So welcome to the chaos, the stress and the F U N of slicing!!

So glad you're here, and I made it in time to write!

One Little Word? Not yet. #SOL17

Read more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

2017 started yesterday, right?  Yeesh - I'm 38 days late to that party!  Whooosh - this new year is already flying by.  Lots of excuses and reasons I haven't written on the blog or read a lot of books:

• grad school AGAIN (ESL endorsement 84% complete)
• new principal ('nuff said)
• second year at new school
• too much paperwork I keep putting off
• lots of political tweets and news and events to follow
• everything else has bumped writing out of the way

This year I'm trying something new (because I'm refining and trying strategies every day) of stopping and thinking before I jump in to:  answer for someone else, raise my hand to volunteer or help a child or adult do something that they are capable of doing themselves.

So that leaves me with the question... what IS my One Little Word for 2017??

Is it...

• stop
• pause
• mindful
• reflect
• choose

Calling all readers ... do you have some advice?  I tend to talk about being intentional with my fellow teachers, but I'm too impulsive for that one.

Thanks for listening.  It was good to write and get this out of my head.  

Prioritizing #SOL15

Read more Slice of Life stories every Tuesday at

Two Writing Teachers

It's summer.  Time to relax, reflect and re-energize.

It's also time to
hop around the house,
starting one project
then another
adding to a list
leaving laundry on the couch to fold later.

It's time to
keep the refrigerator filled with food
and the spinning cabinet filled with snacks
and keep track of one daughter's work and school hours
while encouraging the other daughter
to stay focused on her job search and chores.

It's not hard to find things to do.
I feel like the house needs lots of attention.
But then so do my books
and social media (to get more book ideas).

It all comes down to prioritizing.
It's something I'm working to become better at.
Sure, everything gets done
but maybe not in the order it should.
Everything then becomes a priority.

How do other people figure out
what needs to be done
first?

Balance SOLC #15

Read more Slice of Life stories and

join the March Challenge at

Two Writing Teachers

It's SO sunny and WARMish outside today, but I've got papers to organize and plans to write.

Time for some balance!

My plan: 

1) Set the timer for 45 minutes.  Type, think, write, sort, brainstorm, plan.

2) Spend 15 minutes on activity.  Switch laundry, read book outside, walk, scrub dishes.

3) Repeat.

Before I start this cycle, a morning bike ride or walk is being considered to get my heart pumping and my brain nourished.

I wonder if my plan will work.

Reset SOLC #7

Read more Slice of Life stories and
join the March Challenge at
Two Writing Teachers

Sometimes 

you just need to press 

the reset button

so you 

take a walk

soak up the sunshine

drink some coffee

fold socks

take a long shower

eat quesadillas for lunch

then you 

find a comfy space

put on your slippers

find your computer 

and write

Now you can tackle 

the report cards

that have been nagging on your brain.

Make the plans

that must be made

So later

you can watch a movie

take another walk

drink a glass of wine

and

relax.

Reason number 1,578,903 SOLC #5

Read more Slice of Life stories and
join the March Challenge at
Two Writing Teachers

School ended at 3:50 p.m.

4:00 meeting with principal

4:20 chat with math resource teacher (she grounds me so well)

5:00 run back to the room to create 1/2 day sub plans

5:15 text from hubby that he's landed at the airport

oh

I'm not finished.  

Typical.

I ask via text if we can grab food then come back to school.

I have to finish.

He agrees.

Surprising, but typical.

My reply text, 

"Reason 1,578,903 

I love you"

Priorities (Feelings) SOLC #4

Read more Slice of Life stories and
join the March Challenge at
Two Writing Teachers

Science kit repacking (frustrated)

Headed for home at nearly 7 (exhausted)

Talked with college daughter (uplifted)

Hot dinner in the crock pot (impressed)

Younger daughter helping friend (proud)

Laundry, garbage, kitchen duty (bored)

Planning (inspired)

Planning (stuck)

Ask friend for help (hopeful)

Planning (refocused)

Nag younger daughter to get in the shower (annoyed)

Remember to slice (anxious)

Read a comment (calmed)

Eat a mini cheesecake (satiated)

Put computer away until tomorrow (sleepy)

Sunday night struggle SOLC #3

Join the Slice of Life Challenge!
Write every day in March!
Two Writing Teachers

Sunday night.  Dinner was a mess, but I went to the backup plan (hello...BBQ chicken bites!) so no one starved.  I tried a new "recipe" (read:  read a recipe, didn't measure anything) for baked macaroni and cheese.  It was fine.

The fire in the fireplace roars.   Four book order packets for three classes lay undone on the table.  Report cards loom in my head.  Paperwork screams from the Drawer of Doom.  Jeff left for his weekly trek to Wisconsin, Allison parked in front of the Oscars in pajamas, and Lindsey crashed on the couch.

What should I do first?

I should get the calendar all set for lacrosse season. It starts tomorrow for both girls.

I really should just finish report cards so they don't keep me awake too late.

I want to check in with a friend.

I'd rather play a few rounds of Candy Crush or Ruzzle.

I should open the Drawer of Doom.  

I'd rather go check out some Oscar gowns and ooh and ahh with Allison (the fashionista)

I need to wake up Lindsey.  Tomorrow morning will be tricky!

So many choices.

Sunday night is always a struggle.  There's too much to do and not enough motivation!

But guess what?  My Slice is finished for Monday!

Sunday Night Procrastination SOLC #31

Read more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

We had a beautiful Easter celebration with my side of the family at our house today.  The food was delicious, the company was fun and enjoyable, and we had an excellent day.

Now the dishes are nearly done (2 dishwasher runs and many sinks full of soapy water), the great room and kitchen are vacuumed.  

Now it's time for our weekly installment of ....Sunday Night Procrastination!

I do get a round of applause -  I emptied my school bag yesterday and took care of the most pressing details (read:  evaluation reflection).  Tonight I'm simply repacking my bag with lots of papers that I will deal with another day (read:  they will sit on my desk until summer vacation!).

It's 9:45 p.m. My oldest has been gone for a week on vacation with a friends' family.  She pulled out her homework at 5:00 p.m.  A mere 4.75 hours later her history vocabulary is done, but there's that one paragraph to write for English.  She's been looking though old pictures for the past 30 minutes.  (The leaf does not fall far from the tree!)

My youngest gets kudos for packing her school bag and finding her ID tonight.  She hasn't fallen into the procrastination trap tonight (there's always a first!).

We all decided that we procrastinate when it comes to the least favorite chores on the list.  The clock keeps ticking and we pretend we still have time to do things later.  Meanwhile, our brains are turning to mush from spring break.  Sure, tomorrow's April, but it feels like the first day of school!

*****

P.S. 

Thanks to all the slicers who visited and commented here during the month of March!  WE DID IT!

I sincerely hope to write alongside of you most (or every!) Tuesdays.

Thanks to Ruth & Stacey for being our writing mentors!

Thanks to Michelle & Lynn for personally encouraging me to keep writing!