{organizing and party planning}

Sometimes it feels like time is just flying by me and I have so little to show for it! I am pretty excited about the slow progress that is happening in my house. Together my husband and I cleaned out a huge chunk of our laundry room and pantry (picture above). I know it's nothing fancy, but I really love it and it's so much better than before. I still want to add chalkboard labels to the baskets, but I'm celebrating even this accomplishment.

I'm also beginning the planning of my twins' fourth birthday party. It's almost three months away, but their birthday is the day after my daughter's first ballet recital. At first I thought it was exciting, but then I realized, what a mess! It looks like we'll do the big "kid party" a week earlier at either their gymnastics gym or one of those indoor-jumper-castle-party-room places. That's where we'll invite classmates and soccer teammates. Then we'll do a smaller home party for the family around recital time. I'm thinking something along these lines, but toned down a bit.

All that being said, I'm loving this post on energy. I need more!

But I did take the time out to make these on Monday morning. With the twins starting Pre-K 4 in the fall, I figure I won't have much more time for Monday pancakes!

{getting it in order}

I've really tried to spend January getting everything in order. From my house, to my workout plan, to my businesses. My accomplishments so far have been cleaning out one box from our bedroom (baby steps?), learning how to count drawers at our Baskin Robbins, starting my P90X/Turbo Fire hybrid (and creating a separate blog for it) and brainstorming new products with my husband.

I did make a meal plan for this week, but my hubby kept bringing home meat that he wanted to cook, so alterations have been made. I really wanted to make these mini meatloafs, but it might have to wait till next week. I did make this mango chicken and it was delish! We ate it over quinoa, but I would recommend it as part of a salad (hubby doesn't do salads).

Amidst all that, this is what I'm reading now:

I am newly in love with this blog, and found this post at exactly the right moment.

I pre-ordered this book and still haven't started it. I had signed up for the online Jump Start, and just started that yesterday. It's already changed my entire perspective... there are no words!!

This post both scares me and reassures me that there are good teachers out there. We just registered the twins for Pre-K 4, and I am so nervous and overwhelmed about their upcoming educational journey.

I'm also dying to try this if for no other reason that it's cited to someone in my hometown of Corpus Christi!!

image from here

{it's a new year... almost}

Well, 2011 was a crazy year full of ups and downs. Luckily in my case, there were more ups: leaving the office for lobotoME and more time with my kids, celebrating their 3rd birthday and my 5 year anniversary. But I still had to face the downs: the fire, losing site of my fitness goals. This was our first full year as Baskin Robbins owners (opened December 2010), and the year I quit my corporate job and gave up a fixed salary. We've learned a lot, made a few mistakes, and while 2011 was a year of transitions, 2012 will be a year of growth.

I try not to focus on the past, except for the ways that I can learn from it. So, I'm trying to learn why I let my eating habits go without disparaging myself for doing it. I'm learning how to be a better business owner, not only of lobotoME, but also of my Beachbody business and our Baskin Robbins (especially since we hope to open location #2 soon!). I'm also constantly learning how to be a better mom. Especially since 3 is a fun age where my kids are little sponges!

Whether you believe in resolutions or not, I love the way a new year almost forces us to take a second and look back on our lives as well as looking forward. And there are so many ideas out there for resolutions, goals, etc that I want to try them all! I love this calendar, and this project. I also love these resolutions (but so much fish?? not a huge fan) and must do this.

With all that said, here are my 12 for 2012:

1. Read this everyday. I find this very intimidating, but my mom is reading it too. It will be nice to have someone to call if I want to talk about that day's reading.
2. Be more active in the day to day at our Baskin Robbins. As I've mentioned, we're hoping to open our second store soon, so it would be nice if I could contribute something. Scooping makes me nervous but surely I can handle some of the money stuff. I mean, I am a CPA.
3. Get back on the fitness track. I do have a weight loss goal, and it's a big one. It sounds huge to me, but it involves losing the weight I gained this year, plus a few more. Okay I'll tell you. I want to lose 20 pounds. And I want to lose the first 10 in 3 months. I'm starting a P90X/Turbo Fire hybrid in January that will last 3 months. I was hoping to start it on 1/1/12, but we're missing two P90X discs! Must call Beachbody to see about getting them replaced.
4. Take my kids to Disney World. Okay, this is cheating a little since our trip is already booked for February. They're vaguely aware of its existence, but have no idea we're going. I can't wait to see their little faces light up when they see the castle!!
5. Start volunteering again. I used to have a regular gig with Children's Art Project once a week in the evenings, but being a mom took over that time slot. I just don't want to force this because I want to find the right situation. I may wait till the fall when the kids move to PK4 and are there 5 days a week. Unless something finds me first.
6. Be more consistent with my meal planning. I make the meal plan, but allow myself to veer away. I may forget to defrost something, or lose track of time, or who knows what else. I think I'm just not confident in my cooking skills yet, so I make excuses. Maybe my Christmas gift will help?
7. Get our family cookbook printed. I was inspired by this post. My January goal is to get a preliminary outline put together and set up something in Google docs so everyone in my family can contribute recipes. I am a little worried that it will contain mostly baked goods...
8. Make our bedroom what I want it to be. This is mostly an organizational issue since somehow a huge pile of stuff has accumulated there. Most of it is stuff I can clear out, but there is a large safe waiting for our second Baskin Robbins. I'm also dying to put in some crown molding. I really want to paint it another color, but I doubt I can convince the hubs.
9. Open our second Baskin Robbins. Granted, this is mostly my husband's doing, but I consider it a family goal. We think we found our location, but the lease hasn't been signed. Hoping to have good news soon.
10. Organize my workspace. This is a constant battle because my husband thinks the desk is his too. I might need to convince him to move exclusively to his desk at our store. I might be in trouble if he reads this.
11. Start a debt payoff plan. We've had struggles as of late with giving up my salary, the fire, and all that. Once we open the second store (again, really hoping this works out!), we can really start to evaluate our finances and expected income. The fire did show us how much money we need to keep on hand in case our store is closed for an extended period. We're fully insured, but the insurance company has their own timeline on when they'll pay you, and it takes awhile for people to come back.
12. Launch new lobotoME products. I have a few ideas, but nothing to announce just yet. Hope to have some new stuff very soon!

What are your goals/resolutions/wants for 2012? If anyone is looking for a fitness accountability buddy, just let me know!

image from here

{ and i leave you with... }

I'm heading out of town this morning for a much needed mommy's night away with some of my other mommy friends... We are going to snowshoe, relax, drink wine, etc. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?

I leave you with this organizational inspiration from Stephanie at the fab blog, Steph Modo. A spice drawer...isn't it beautiful. I never thought I'd use the word {beautiful} about a spice drawer but it is!

{ zen habits }

We are back from Moab and have a mile long list of things to get done today ~ I'm hoping some of these tips will help! Check out these great articles from Zen Habits on how to:

make time for your personal goals.

execute your to do list.

how NOT to multi-task & stay more sane.

simplify your life.

{ organize ME... }

Last night (I know I am such a geek), I organized our photos using these...here is a before & after. SO much fun going through old photos.

And then later today I need to begin mentally preparing for the Superbowl tomorrow....GO G-MEN! The whole fam is getting together for the game! Sam & I are going to make football cupcakes (splurge) today for the big game.

{ have an organized '08 }

I've been getting a lot of emails about how to get & stay organized this year and how to keep track of monster to do lists; goals; etc.

Here are the tools I use.

First, I list out my annual health, personal & business goals in my Jill Bliss small journal (that Alli turned me onto). It is great for jotting down ideas, books to read, funny things Sam says, etc. That way my goals are always with me. I also post them above my desk.

Secondly, I create a Master To DO List. This is a HUGE list of things that need to get down (some items today, others before the end of the year). I don't think of it as a duanting list, rather a catch-all for all of my "lists." I sort it by Personal/Home/Honey Do/Business/etc. I use a google doc online so I can continually update it, add lines, delete items, etc.

From that Master To DO List, I draw out the items each week to put on my MomME weekly planner. So, for example, one day, from that Master To Do List onto my planner went: dinner with Tim & Becky, drop off donations at Salvation Army, call customer service re. trampoline issue and schedule annual doctors appointments. Those 4 tasks were a manageable addition to my Tuesday To Do's. What I try to do is on Sunday evening, settle in and schedule the week - with to-do's; errands; workout plans; and meal planning/grocery shopping list.

ps - you can buy the hilarious folders here.