G’day mates!
So many fun things to talk about today…
ONE: Sketchie is Back and has been Whittling His Middle!
This is the longest we have ever been without our ‘child’. :D The in-laws have been cat sitting him since our trip to New Brunswick. Sketchie has been having a ball with the other cats- and lost some weight in the process! Our jaws dropped when I saw him!!
Dec 2009: Jan 10, 2009:
You can’t really tell from these pics, but trust me he is merely a ghost of his former self!
TWO: Bed Warmers Rule
It was so hard to get out of bed today! My mother in law has a bed warmer (electric blanket) on the guest bed and it is the most amazing thing in the world.
I opted to blog in bed this morning with some Sencha. ;)
Sketchie LOVED the bed warmer! He slept at our feet all night. :)
THREE: Christmas take 3
The in-laws left all of their Christmas decorations up for us! It was so fun to experience Christmas in January.
My MIL is an Interior Designer and her Christmas decorating could be in Martha’s magazine! She has such a talent. I’m in awe.
Eric got TOOLS! Don’t ask me what they were- strange things!
I got some fun kitchen things- new tea (love Mighty Leaf!), a spoon holder…
and a juicer!
I was so surprised and was certainly not expecting a juicer. :) I can’t wait to try it out. I hope it’s not as scary as I am imagining!?
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How NOT To Multitask: Day 1 Recap
My biggest hurdle was that my job requires tons of multitasking, as do most jobs! So I never really got a sense that I was tackling one job at a time. Because I need to be efficient, I am constantly multitasking in a huge way when I am doing baking and processing orders. I try to use every second efficiently. If I didn’t multitask the amount that I accomplished each day would be very low and profits would be low. In this respect, multitasking is definitely a great thing for my business!
With that being said, I found planning my day out in blocks to be very productive. I loved having my schedule right in front of me. This did allow for me to stay on task more and to focus on what I was supposed to be accomplishing for the block.
I was also much better at not mindlessly going to the computer. It took a lot of restraint though and a few times I caught myself going on Gmail or Twitter. I had a relapse at 2pm! I decided to use my Bluetooth Headset and bake/package while I was doing my phone interview. It actually worked out really well, so I don’t think it was a big deal… ;)
Overall I had a very productive day on Friday. I felt like I accomplished more and with less stress. I am going to continue to plan out my days in advance, complete my most important goals first thing in the morning, stick to early morning workouts, and keep distractions to a minimum.
I am starting a really exciting SLEEP challenge tomorrow. Can’t wait to tell you about it!!
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Congrats to the wonderful women who ran the Disney half and full marathon this weekend! You are all amazing!!!!!
We’re going to ask Eric’s parents if they want to go on a walk with us. It’s very chilly (-11C), so we need to bundle up in a major way. It’s so beautiful outside though- tons of sun and snow, so we will be bringing the SLR and taking pictures.
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
A bed warmer sounds amazing, is that like an electric blanket? I love all the Christmas decorations and that you still get to celebrate in January!
Multitasking is one of my main faults, I usually am doing it constantly and it’s especially bad when I’m on the computer and have the TV on in the background. Definitely need to work on that!
I have a multitasking addiction, even though I KNOW that I get more done when I concentrate on one thing at a time, it is hard to stop! Congrats on making single-tasking a priority!
I have that same juicer and it is very easy to use.
Love the Juicer, I received a Jack Lalanne and I’m loving it!!
What a charming day! Lovely gifts! Please do twitter us during the day! Love you!
Happy Sunday~ Radha
great job chatting on your phone while baking! that’s an example of good multitasking, i think. your kitty is so pretty–but he looks great with or without his little diet, haha.
Your Cat is Gorgeous! And I am jealous of the electric heater!
Aww, Sketchie missed youuu! :) What nice gifts! Jealous of your juicer! :)
Nice to see sketchie back. Looking good sketchie ;) lol.
I am terrible at multitasking, but it is hard to avoid doing two or more things at once when you are busy
Hey girl! that is sooo exciting that you got a juicer ;)
Have a wonderful walk!
My pomeranian gained when he got ‘baby-sat’ since Allen’s grandma fed him too, much, LOL! The Christmas decorations are beautiful, how fun in Jan!
Yay for the juicer :)
I’m a type A personality so I love schedules and structure. Glad it’s working for you!
OOOH i love electric blankets!!!
I keep telling myself I want an electric blanket everytime I get into bed at night. I really have got to get one!
Planning a day out in blocks seems like the best way to do it. I always find if there’s a lot to do i end up procrastinating more because i get overwhelmed by everything.
Lovely pics! I love the decorations! Nice gifts. I wish I had a bed warmer. Scheduling the days ahead sounds like a good idea. I have trouble getting anything done, because I get too distracted and just waste away the day. I will give scheduling a try. I think it’s great that you still get to celebrate Christmas in January.
You’re so right about her decorating — beautiful! I plan my day out in blocks, too, but I’m not always successful at sticking to it. It does, however, help me recognize how much I have to do that day regardless of if I follow the plan I put down.
So exciting about the juicer! I bet you will love it :-)
Looks like such a cozy house!!! Nothing better than blogging from bed with a mug of hot tea :-)
Can’t wait to see you put that juicer to work!
You will LOVE your juicer! I got a Breville last week (the compact juice fountain) and I am really enjoying it. I love that it gives me an easy but tasty way to sneak in an extra serving or two of veggies every day. I recommend you get The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Juicing-Bible-Pat-Crocker/9780778801818-item.html?ref=Search+Books:+%2527juicing%2527
It’s got like 350 recipes and tons of great info about juicing to help treat different conditions.
Happy juicing!!
I totally need to try blocking out my time like that. I have a lot to juggle, and it would help me focus!
accomplishing more and stressing less sounds right up my ally . . . I’m not sure I could be as good at restraining from the computer as you!
I got a Breville Juicer for xmas too! I love it! Love love your kitty pics….I’m totally obsessed with him hahaa! Aloha:-)
I think that’s the same juicer I have – I know you are going to love it!!!!
I 2nd your bed warmer comment… I’m sitting under mine right now!! :D
a) I am in love with my electric blanket. Unfortunately, so are my cats. We fight for bed supremacy most nights.
b) I am a chronic multitasker, and it is unfortunately beginning to show in the quality of my work. The zen habits article you linked in your multitasking page was fantastic… I’m going to put some of those recommendations into practise next week.
Can’t wait to see what you do with the juicer! :)
I loved the pictures of Sketchie- so cute!
I am awful at multi-tasking because I think it never gets anything done well. I look forward to all your tips!
I’m madly in love with my electric blanket! Then all the pets swarm around me and I’m tooooo hot!
I have the same juicer! It’s so easy – totally not scary. Very easy to clean. Just remember when you take the receptacle with juice in it away to put a little bowl under the spout as it may drip. Also, carrot juice stains plastic like crazy so I have to keep my carrot juice in glass containers.
Have a great time with your new toy! I’m off to juice carrots right now!
I think I need a bed warmer. It has been FREEZING here in MN!
Stay warm out there and enjoy the beautiful scenery. :)
I love your cat. It makes me want one and I’m so not a cat person.
Your inlaws’ house looks amazing! Can she come decorate mine??
My husband gave me the best piece of advice when we got married. I think most women multi-task. But when I would do the laundry, vaccum, mop, dust, pick up clutter, etc. I would leave the house a disater. He told me to focus on one thing, like the laundry, and get it all done before starting something else. I ended up getting more things done. My mom tried it too and was amazed that she ended up getting more things done.
your cat is the cutest little guy! I’m not really a cat person and I still want to squeeze him! :)
hey did you know oh she glows has a link off the msn.ca website for the “6 smoothie add-ins” (on the spinach one)?…right on!
Of all the things I have to say about your post, Sketchie is absolutely one of the most beautiful cats I’ve ever seen!
Their decorating is gorgeous! I love it.
I’m pretty new to your blog—what kind of cat is that? Her coat is amazing! It looks almost leopard or tiger-like. Beautiful.
Hmm! Mighty Tea Leaf is so good!
By the way, you will be so glad you got a juicer! Blending a smoothie has NOTHING on making a fresh juice. Plus, it’s more beneficial nutritionally, as your body absorbs more of the nutrients and more quickly….check out the manual, you can probably do more than juice.
We use an Omega 8003, and it also grinds coffee beans, makes sorbet, you name it. Juicers are awesome!
I had no idea how much your cat looked like a leopard!
We have a similar Breville juicer too :-) The best pick-me-up in the world is fresh ginger, carrot, apple and beetroot juice – especially if you put lots of ginger in for that “zing”! Anyway, you’ll love it! :-)
wow, what a fabulous Christmas set-up! can’t wait to see the concoctions you come up with for the juicer…great gift :)