I'm back

Screen Free Week was a success. The kids managed to go the whole week without screentime. I did have to spend some time checking emails regarding events for the week, but ignored the other 162 messages I received. I spent some of last week unsubscribing to a lot of services I really don't need.

I'm also trying to get back to a better habit of scheduling my own screen time - check emails when I first wake up, and once in the afternoon, respond to anything that needs an immediate response, and leave the rest til after kids are in school or in bed. I find if I do that I end up spending less time overall reading emails, and since very little of what I receive is urgent I don't need to check it obsessively. Similar schedule for Facebook. I hardly checked Pinterest at all and probably didn't miss much. I still think it's a great resource but would rather use it more as a search engine to get ideas rather than going through everything people repinned.

Thursday and Friday were a bit challenging as school was canceled due to a big rainstorm we got that flooded a lot of our area. We fared pretty well, just a little wet carpet in part of our basement.

I didn't get to many of the projects I was hoping to tackle unfortunately. This week is going to be a week of crazy to do lists with my Lia Sophia party Friday night and then Little Man & Little Hugger's party at Chuck E Cheese on Saturday. I've spent the last week testing recipes and sparkling wines for the party, which has been fun. At this point I'm expecting about 15 people and still waiting to hear from a few more. I won't have much time to post this week as I work on getting our house ready and shopping for birthday presents.

Time to go review my guest lists, finalize my to do lists and shopping lists and get to work.

See You Next Week

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm participating in Screen Free Week so won't have any new posts this week.  See you next week, I'll let you know how it went.

Screen Free Week

Next week is Screen Free Week at my daughters' school. Giving up TV is not a big deal for me, most nights you'll find me reading a book, blogging, or checking Facebook. Obviously those last two involve screens. Since I'm planning the events I can't stay off email, but i do plan on making a few changes.

1. Delete FB and Pinterest apps off my phone. Yes I'll probably load them back on after.
2. Stay off blogs (reading and writing)
3. Only read emails that have to do with Screen Free Week events

What will I do with all my found time?
What I really should do is give my house a good top to bottom cleaning to start prepping for my party, but that will bore me fast so along with playing with my kids and attending some of the events we've planned at school, I have a couple of other projects lined up to keep me busy.

Photo albums - I'm behind on my photo albums - not too bad, I've got them filled through August. I've ordered all the pics I want, just need to put them in albums and make my divider cards - I don't scrapbook, I do my own own lazy version - 4x6 cards with stickers denoting what the upcoming pics are from (a mini scrapbook page if you will)

Sewing - a couple of repair jobs, duvet covers for Little Man, maybe a pillow for our basement with leftover fabric from curtains down there

Puzzle - a 750 piece puzzle of the Chicago skyline at night. As a kid I loved puzzles - especially the big 1000 piece ones. I had a card table in my room that I worked on them on. When I finished one I would frame it and start the next. When the next one was down it replaced the previous one in the frame. Other than quick kid puzzles I haven't done one in ages. I plan on setting it up on the dining room and we can all add to it over the course of the week. Hopefully we'll finish by the of the week.

Staying off the computer won't be hard, using my phone for only legit stuff will be tougher. I'll let you know how it went next week. Wish me luck.