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I wear a lot of hats around here (full-time job, part-time photography business, Mom to one, Wife, Friend, Sister, Crafter, etc) and I’m always being asked how I manage my time.  Today I’d like to share what I do and hopefully enlighten & give some ideas to at least one person.

#1 – If it’s not on the calendar it’s probably not going to happen. I’m a big stickler to this and schedule as much as I can in advanced (dentist/doctor appointments, lunch dates with friends/ea. other, hair cuts, school meetings, date nights, festivals, family time, client meetings, parties, school functions, portrait sessions, play dates, gym classes, etc.)

We have a centrally located family calendar in our kitchen/dining room area.  It’s a chalkboard vinyl wall piece (let me know if you want the Etsy seller details, I’ll dig them up). Everything that is on this calendar is also on my Google calendar which I sync with Outlook, so it can be accessed on my computer (Outlook or through the web), and on my phone.

You’ll notice that today is Sept 1 but the calendar is still on August.  I’m getting there!

#2 – My Husband is a great person, a huge help, and I definitely couldn’t do everything I do without him. He watches S during the day when I’m at work or if I’m at a session or client meeting.  Cooks dinner (when I meal plan… so need help getting back on the ball with this!), does his & S’s laundry,yard work, and cleans a bit around house.

#3 – I have a 3-ring binder that we use as a “cook book”. Any recipes we use regularly or seasonal are in there.  Most are ripped pages from magazines or printed from websites.  Our book is categorized by “Weekly Meals” which are the meals we are really enjoying lately and make them almost weekly; “Desserts”; “Spring/Summer Meals”; “Fall/Winter Meals”.

#4 - I love blogs, and being inspired from others.  I mentioned in my last Seven on Sunday post that I have 320 331 blogs I follow.  If you have a blog addiction like me you need to be using a tool like Google Reader?  I have blogs categorized and I can go through my “All Items” list and star the ones I’m interested in reading for later.  I access my Google Reader during lunch or anytime on my phone and star articles.  Then I read through blogs while laying in bed when I should really be already asleep.

#5 – I have a task checklist for the photography business. It lists any current session and all the tasks I do.  Each item is checked off when it’s completed.  Once everything’s completed for a session, they are erased.  I’m a very visual person, so this helps me see everything I have going on.  Original idea was by an awesome person named Mille!

#6 – A must have is a DVR. That is, if you like tv as much as I do.  I can’t live without Bravo drama queens, Lifetime’s Army Wives, or ABC’s drama series.

Yesterday, S and I were cooking in the kitchen.  Hubby came in to see what we might be cooking up for dinner… sorry honey but we’re making play-dough instead of dinner tonight.  (Dinner was made shortly after this.)

I wanted to make natural play-dough so we had to find something that would make a nice colored dye. Being that a lot of curry is cooked in this house it’s no surprise that we had turmeric on hand.  That orange-yellow seemed like a great option for the dye color.

Color Dye Recipe

Put two teaspoons of turmeric in a pan with a cup of water. Bring to the boil then gently simmer on stove for 20 minutes.

Other color ideas here.

Playdough recipe

½ cup of flour
½ cup of dyed water
¼ cup of salt
½ tbsp cream of tartar
½ tbsp cooking oil

1. Combine all ingredients in a pan

2. Put the pan on a medium to low heat and keep stirring until mixture forms a ball.

3.  Allow it to cool a little and knead.

We’ve played with it every day, so far.

Definitely my child… lining them all up nice and neatly.

Today we (er, I) made SpongeBob, Patrick, and Gary.

She’s already requested purple for the next batch.  Guess I need to get some blueberries.

Link edition of Seven on Sunday today.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  We dip down into the 70s yesterday morning (and today) but hit around 90 by the evening.  This weather made for some awesome fun outside this weekend and is a glimpse at the Fall weather that’s coming.  Except, of course, I’ve had a sore throat all week and my voice sounds hilarious by the end of the day if I’m on the phone a lot.  But all in all, I’m so excited for the season change… the beautiful yellow, oranges, & browns; Fall festivals; hot cider; pumpkins & gourds lining our front steps.  Hands down my favorite season!

1. Speaking of Fall weather, I have several openings for Fall sessions.  Look HERE for a list of dates and session details.

2.  August 31st is the last day to book a Fall session and receive 4 complimentary packs of wallets with your session.  HERE’S the full details on this.

3. We need to make our first batch of THIS stuff maybe today.  S lots playing with it and we’re all out of the store bought ones.

4. Check out THIS awesome blog if you are looking for new recipes or just want to drool over the food(ography).

5.  I’m a sucker for blogs… I love being inspired by others and that’s why there are currently 320 blogs in my Google Reader.  THIS one being my newest addition. She had some good ideas for organizing your jewelry that I wanted to share, here.

6.  Read how THIS MOM gave up soda pop and caffeine.  I’ve been trying very hard to cut out pop and once you’re over the hump you really don’t crave it anymore.  I’ve been drinking only water,the occasional Gatorade, unsweetened tea, and coffee for about a month now, then this week I had 2 cups of diet soda and then 2 cups of a slurpee.  I saw it and gave in but it tasted disgusting so that was a good thing.

7.  Last year, August we spent time harvesting yummy tomatoes, red onions, and green peppers from our garden.  Many trips to the parks for walks and playground time.  S took her first airplane ride and we cruised to the Bahamas.  I can’t believe how much she’s grown in the past year.

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