My 5 Biggest Time Savers...

The following are all mentioned in terms of parenting, because that's where I use them most, but they could all be applied to 'non-parent' lives as well...

Now that school is in session and we're all getting into routines again, I thought I would share five places in our everyday life where I save myself a few minutes...

Fold Laundry While Watching TV | I can't tell you the last time I sat down and watched TV without folding laundry {or editing, but since most of you aren't photographers, that wouldn't apply!} I pretty much do a load of laundry each night.  It works great for us, because I pretty much only stay up long enough to fold one load of laundry after the kids go to bed, before I go to bed.  :)

Clean The Bathroom While The Kids Are Taking Baths | We bathe our kids every other night, so one {or two} nights a week I use this time to clean the bathroom.  I usually have just enough time to clean the mirror, dust, and scrub the counter, toilet, & floors before one of them is ready to get out. On the rare occasion they're playing really nice together and behaving {not wrestling in the tub, taking toys from each other, or dumping cups of water onto the floor--true story!} I'll also use the time to tidy our room {which is connected to the bathroom}.  Also, now that they're a little older I use the other bath night {or two} to put clothes away or unpack bags from the weekend. {again, within eyesight of the bathtub}.  And I'm always listening for it to get quiet--quiet is rarely good in our house! :)

Book Appointments In The Car | Utilize car time!  I use Bluetooth {speaker} in the car to book appointments and reorder prescriptions while stuck in traffic {or at stoplights}.  With a family of four {plus a dog on several medications} we're constantly at appointments {eye, medical, dental, vet, specialists, etc.} and filling prescriptions.  Bonus for me, Adam drives 99% of the time when we're together, so I use that time to respond to emails and make phone calls.

Listen To Books While Working Out | I talked about this one here, but it had to make this list.  I would probably read 5 books a year if it weren't for listening to books on my kindle.  I listen to books while running {bonus::makes the time go by 462864286 times faster!} and also while I'm driving to and from work and photosessions {the kids aren't in the car}.  Also listen to books while editing client photos, but again that won't apply to most of you.  Because of this, I've read over 80 since January.  Best.invention.ever!

Prep The Kids Clothes For The Week | This one is so easy and is such a time saver for us!  Sunday night, when I would normally lay Monday's clothes out for the kids, I grab clothes for the whole week. Takes me like 5 minutes longer, but saves me at least 20 minutes a week.  I happen to have an old locker room wire basket that fits the weeks clothes just perfectly.  I was forgetting to lay clothes out some days and letting the kids {Jordyn} pick out their outfits each morning is a battle I don't have the energy to fight takes forever.  Doing this all on Sunday saves me {Adam} about 5 minutes each morning {& 5 extra minutes in the morning is a big deal!}.  *One suggestion is to have the weather forecast ready {especially this time of the year} or to have a bonus {warmer/cooler} outfit in the basket for the days the weather changes.


>>What advice do you guys have for making the weeks go by smoother?

This & That {v. 14}

Did this:

Took the kids to the park
Cullyn is taking steps consistently now
Jordyn & I got haircuts
Adam & I went to a 'retirement' party for a friend
Jordyn had her first Dentist Appointment
Vanessa & Aliya had prom so we spent Friday night and Saturday preparing {nails, makeup, hair, & photos!} :)
We all went to a surprise 30th Birthday Party {the iCubs season opener}
Ran 7 miles {Outside again!} 
Spent Sunday cleaning the condo with the windows open…it was heavenly! :)
Adam helped a coworker move
Finished the book 'First Love'
Cullyn got his first haircut
We had a family froyo date

Instagrammed that:

Shot this: 

SOOTC

Follow up from the ENT

I thought I should probably publish this {it's been sitting in drafts} since we're headed to into surgery at 8:15 today.  I'll update after surgery.

Two weeks ago, I took both the kids back to the ENT.  They had hearing tests {Jordyn's 2nd and Cullyn's 1st since he wasn't 6 months lat time} and then follow up appointments.

They did Jordyn's hearing test first.  It wasn't good.  The tubes weren't doing what they were supposed to to.  And she was still dealing with hearing loss in her right ear.

Cullyn's hearing test showed fluid in one year. They don't test for hearing loss at his age, because they are unable to communicate properly.

They we saw the medical student, nurse, nurse practitioner, and physician {plus the three of us made it quite the room full!}

They checked Cullyn out and said he had fluid in one ear, but no infection {which is a great thing}.  But since he had C-Diff {and is no longer to take Anti-boitics} if it were to become infected {now or later} it would require emergent tubes.  So, he said scheduling tubes would be best.  Adam and I agreed {we feared we would be at the hospital on Christmas night getting tubes in if we decided to wait}.

Then they checked Jordyn's tubes.  As a recap, she got tubes about a month ago, at her one week recheck the right ear was still infected so we continued the drops, at her two week checkup {from surgery} they looked good.  This was here four week checkup {from surgery} and the right ear had a blood clot in the tube and the left had a bunch of dried drainage in the tube.  So he had me hold her chest and arms down, the student held her legs down because she was kicking, and the nurse practitioner held her head while the physician scraped the tube clean.  It was probably the worst thing I have had to do to my child, ever.  It broke my heart!  Unfortunately while cleaning the tube he saw that her ear is growing around the tube and rejecting the tube.  Plus she has a double ear infection behind the tube.  So, she needs a new set of tubes.

So on Monday, December 2nd Cullyn will get tubes and they will remove Jordyn's first set of tubes and insert her second set.

Uffdah!  I'm not sure how much more I can handle!  Not to mention we hadn't really budgeted for three sets of tubes in 2 months, right before Christmas.  :/  BUT…I am SO READY for my babies to feel good again.  They have both been through SO much the past couple of months.

Appointments! {organization really}

Oh you guys…how do you keep up with everything?!  I only have two kids and I feel like I'm constantly running all over the place.  I really want 5, but honestly don't know that I could physically be there to manage them all.  These are just some of the appointments we have had this month.  Seriously?!  Now I know why it feels like we always have medical bills!  I may have to quit my job just to keep up with all of our appointments. Not to mention daily stuff, gym schedules, dinner/play dates, etc.  ::sigh::

For those interested, my friend recommended the app called Cozi and we've been using it lately.  It's pretty handy... user-friendly, free, and you can give each person a different color to keep track of who is where.  Plus, it's a 'family app' so you and your spouse {or whoever} can all login the same account so it's on everyone's calendar with just one update.  Any other apps you use to keep your family {or self} organized? 

*No compensation, just like the app