Essential Ingredients: Life-Motherhood-Career-Simplified

The Basics?

We have just come back from a relaxing weekend at the beach.  Re-entry to the work week was sad on this lovely sunny day, but part of me is happy to just be sitting at my desk, although I am pondering why I feel achy all over.

 

In reminiscing about the weekend, I’ve come to realize that it was the packing and unpacking of the beach basics that has caused me to need a masseuse.  For a quick weekend getaway involving my daughter and me, here are the items that were deemed critical to load and unload, and load and unload, etc.:

 

My items:

 

1 tote bag with beach essentials

1 cooler with food essentials

1 basket of laundry

 

My daughter’s items:

 

1 play kitchen

1 toy crib

3 babies for toy crib

1 toy stroller to be shared by the three babies

1 chest of dress-up clothes

3 magic wands

1 bag of tub toys

1 bag of sand toys

2 favorite stuffed animals

2 pairs of sunglasses and

1 barking toy dog

 

In the essentials/basics category – I had everything we needed.  In the fun category – she wins.

 

So…whose list was better?  Hard to say.  But I should have put 1 massage reservation on my list!

Summer Systems

Summer officially begins this week, but it is already in full swing at Casa Casey.  There are new routines and rituals to be developed (now that school is over), work and home to balance (if that is possible), and family to spend time with and care for.

The big lofty goals I had planned for the summer are scaled back in order to focus on the main priorities of the day/week.  My now-simplified plan for the summer is going to be: Food, Clothing, Shelter, Fun.  If those categories of chores, tasks, and good times are attended to and created, then a successful summer is in store.

Here is my first major accomplishment to kick off the summer!  My goal lately has been creating systems in the house that will allow more time focused on the Fun part of the summer mantra.  My latest creation is a repurposing of a piece of furniture that was once a toy box and is now a command center to get ready to play outside.

 

The toys were consolidated (to be sorted through at a later rainy date) and the shelf became the place we now house our go-to items for outdoor prep and play.  Sunscreen, bug spray, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, flip-flops, water shoes, and a tea set seemed to be the items I was scrambling for before stepping outside.  Now, all items live together, and we can get out the door and into the bug-free sunshine in record time!

Like getting all your ingredients together before starting a recipe, or having all your supplies at your desk as you start a project, this outside play command center allows for greater efficiency, smooth transitions, and increased Fun time.

 

What can you create to allow you the same this summer?

Proud Mama

I have to brag and share a picture of the two recent graduates in the family.

Both are strong, resilient girls/women in their own right. Both are poised to take on the word of work/kindergarten and excel in their own ways.  Both are lights and inspiration in our family.

Daughter or sister - either way - I am one proud Mama who counts her blessings every day!