My 2012 Resolution: STOP PROCRASTINATION

Of course every year I hear "What is YOUR New Year Resolution?"  and every year it is the SAME!

• Get Organized
• Loose Weight
• Clutter Free My House
• Eat Healthier

Am I asking too much or doing too little?  I little a both.  I'm a PROCRASTINATOR and as much as I try to ignore that fact it still happens.  So I guess what I need to work on this year is my PROCRASTINATION because than everything else can fall in place.  Baby Steps...right?

Planning stuff out seems to help me a lot!  Plus reminders on my phone and iPad has been helpful.  I need to PLAN out my days and then I can stick to a schedule.  

I want to be a REHABILITATED PROCRASTINATOR in 2012- my goal for the year. 

Found a cool article in my email box to day that might just help: Seven Easy Ways to Get Organized for the New Year Read more: Seven Easy Ways to Get Organized for the New Year - Good Housekeeping

I have a notebook, planner and digital organization apps on my iPad and I WILL USE THEM in 2012.

What are your favorite ORGANIZATION TIPS or how to STOP PROCRASTINATION?

A site that has given me some cool tips has a monthly calendar full of tips! http://www.clutterdietblog.com/

January: http://www.clutterdiet.com/handouts/ClutterDiet-31Tips31Days2012.pdf

Oh yeah I signed up for a Time Management Email Course: http://www.effective-time-management-strategies.com/time-management-course.html

Being a procrastinator effects every part of my life so I need to make this change!

Holiday Stress- Happy it's OVER!

I'm saying HOLIDAY because these days you don't know who celebrates what so best to keep it simple- just my opinion!  Anyways, whatever holiday you celebrate are you happy it is OVER?  I know I AM!

Holiday's stress me out!  I have 3 b'days to deal with in the same month and its so overwhelming.  Yes, I say "oh I'll start early next year" but to be honest I don't.  That's my fault I know.  Doing the day to day stuff plus adding into getting ready for something several months down the road is not in my mind-frame!  Maybe one year this might work but that means I need to stop being a "procrastinator" and good luck with that one.

I feel like I let everyone down when I don't send holiday cards out, bake cookies, or buy gifts for everyone in the family.  That's a lot of stress to put on someone who doesn't plan ahead at all. I could say my New Years resolution could be "I'm going to be more organized" but I say that every year, lol.  So then when I don't do those things I get all depressed and get in that "I SUCK" mode that hovers over me for the whole month!

I try my hardest to make it the best Xmas for the kids and I do get that done!  We are not the religious family on the block so yes its about the presents- sorry.  I have one kid who doesn't believe in Santa and one who LOVES Santa so I adjust to that.  This year I let Lil Man set out the half eaten cookies and the empty milk cup.  He wanted to bring up "Santa's" presents but I said "I still want him to enjoy the excitement of surprise in the morning" so off to bed he went.

Cooking Christmas dinner is also a chore I wasn't looking forward  (I'm not of fan of cooking, remember) to  but I didn't stress over it and it was a wonderful dinner that the four of us enjoyed.  Still enjoying Ham sandwiches!

Biggest STRESS what not being with FAMILY!  I hate living so far away from my family (only in December though) but we Skyped and that was fun watching my grandma (90 something) figure out why I was talking out of a laptop.

Now CLEANING up after the holiday is just a lost cause until all kids go back to school!

So I guess now I have to think about my 2012 plans/resolutions- so stay tuned for that. :)

Maybe I should do this next year:
 http://www.household-management-101.com/reducing-holiday-stress.html

Freebies~ Ebooks from Amazon.com

I haven't read them yet but I will soon! I wanted to share this FREEBIES before they goes away. If they are good I'll let you know.

FREEBIE: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times

This free e-book works on all e-readers -- Kindle, Nook, iPad, Kobo, iPod Touch, iPhone, and others, and all generations of them. Don't worry, if you don't have an e-reader you can still enjoy this free book on your computer.  

To download from Amazon: http://amzn.to/shsW6O 

To download from Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/tYS2cB

To download from Apple iTunes: http://bit.ly/tYiaoD

To download from Kobo Books: http://bit.ly/uMSyrX

Thank you~ Shelton Interactive and Chicken Soup for the Soul

iCaughtSanta.com 1/2 off CODE! GREAT GIFT IDEA

Wouldn't it be so cool to put a picture of Santa in the kids stocking this year with him somewhere in your house!  Kids will go crazy seeing that Santa was in their house!  I showed the pic I made to my daughter and she LOVED it and is so excited to see if Santa takes a picture this year too!

I ran a contest earlier this week and 5 codes were given away!  However, if you are still interested in getting your picture you can enter this code: SANTA50 and get your entire order for 1/2 price! Even SHARE the code with family and friends!  iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos.

In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself.

Remember to go to  iCaughtSanta.com  and enter SANTA50 and get your entire order 1/2 off!

Have a blessed holiday!

I LOVE My Chore Pad App!!!

I won this app from http://www.random-dealz.com/ a couple weeks ago and let me tell you it's the best prize I have won in a long time!!  It was easy to set up and you can customize it so it fits your household! I was having a hard time getting my kids to do chores around the house- just little stuff like put away their clothes.  They are 10 and 7 1/2 so they are old enough to do somethings around the house.  Now they fight on who is going to do what!  So I had to assign morning tasks for one and night time tasks for the other.  I don't push it either- if they want the points they do the chore if they don't want the points then they don't have to! 

When I first set it up I was thinking the newness would wear off in a week or so but they are still going strong.  They are both going towards the goal of the DATE WITH MOM, which is the highest reward :)!  I also put homework and reading as chores (even though I didn't have to fight them to these) I wanted them to get points for these tasks as well.  During the winter break homework/reading was assigned but this time they are actually doing it without the "ohh's and aww's not now mom"

The best thing is my house is CLEAN and I got help!  Every morning they check the list and through out the day do their chores.  They don't get points if I already did the chore though.  The only thing they haven't been doing is the dishes chore...darn because that is my least favorite chore.  But hey I'm just super excited their rooms are clean :)

I also put on a behavior chore- be nice to sibling worth 3 points.  With the winter break they are fighting like cat and dogs!  So lets see if this works, just put it on there today. 

If you want to more info check out http://www.nannek.com/chorepad.html

Christmas Guilt Go Away!

This has been a HARD year on everyone and you can really feel it around the holidays.  I do understand that Christmas is not about the most or best presents but as a parent I feel bad I'm not able to get my kids what they want. 

I took some time off work this year that caused us some financial struggles and of course we are feeling it big time now.  So in my head I feel like I messed up our family Christmas.  I wish now I wouldn't have left my job because just maybe we wouldn't be in this hole we are in.  I hated telling my family (husband, mom, dad, older son, teachers, and friends) that Christmas will be late this year.  Now these people totally understand and are okay with this but it still hurts to tell them that.  Yes, I do understand Christmas is not about presents.  I still feel bad!

Last month I did do some shopping so I do have a couple presents to give them but this will be the smallest Christmas they ever had.  As a mom I feel the Christmas guilt!  I know my mom felt it too when we were growing up and I learned so much from her so I know I will be able to make this a special holiday no matter what!  We all go through the highs and lows and this year is a LOW and hopefully we will turn it around next year!

We have food, shelter, clothing, family, friends, and lots of LOVE so we will be just fine! 

I will make this a wonderful holiday for the kids though- no matter what!

Who is Nicole Scherzinger??

For the life of me I had NO IDEA who Nicole Scherzinger was until I did a search. Man, I feel bad now that I didn't know who she was!

She is a judge on the X-factor and all season I was wondering who the heck she was and I finally looked her up! She was a PussyCat Doll Lead Singer!

Well this was just a mindless post that doesn't have much content but it answered a question I was wondering and so there! ;) 

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Win It Wednesday 12/14- iCaughtSanta.com Review & Giveaway

Oh I can't wait to PRINT this out and show my kids!  Lil Man doesn't believe anymore, some grown adult (won't name names) told him Santa isn't real last year and he has been teasing his sister like crazy.  I've explained to him that I would like him to stop and just let his sister BELIEVE until she doesn't anymore- he agreed.  So when I print this out they are both going to LOVE IT!  This is our tree from last year and with the help from http://www.icaughtsanta.com/ I was able to place Santa in the picture with 3 easy steps! 

What a cute gift idea!  This was super easy and I love it!!!

If you want to surprise your family with a picture with Santa in your living room by the tree, or going down the chimney or even eating the cookies then ENTER my giveaway. You can pick from 20 different Santa poses. You will be able to change his size, brightness and color. You can also add a border if you choose- like I did!

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using MomBlogSociety.com Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.