I ♥ Pinterest

Now that I recognize the "Control Freak" within, I've been looking for ways to channel this dominating part of my personality to enhance the positive effects and minimize the negative impact in my life.

First, I had to figure out the root of this trait (The "Why").  Why was the need to control so much more prominent in my life these past few years? Well, most mothers... working mothers... all women, period, can agree that the many "shoes" we wear in our daily lives can sometimes be almost impossible to juggle without a misstep.  

There is no such thing as a "to-do" list because most of us have more than just one or a list that has multiple "subcategories."  There's a list for the kids (sometimes one per child), one for the house, one for the others who rely on our "expertise," and then finally a list for ourselves (which often remains unchecked). 

With all this mental clutter, it can be a daunting tasks to manage all the things we have to do, need to do, and want to do.  All the plans we have to make, need to make, and want to make. And on top of that, some things I personally don't have the mind-space or mental capability to figure out how to get everything done in the most efficient time saving manner.

 

Then came Pinterest...

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

For ideas to help with my need to be organized, neat, and put everything and everyone's stuff in our house, I have...

For my need to save money on things I can do myself but not "right brain" enough to think of, I have...

For my need to remind myself of the things I like, need, and/or want for my kids, I have...

For my need to make cooking less of a pain in my busy schedule, I have...

For my need to focus and enhance my sense of style and spark my creativity with limited time and  funds to always buy new and high-end, I have...

For my need to have a frame of reference for ideas for design and decor for our new home, I have...

Pinterest is my virtual holding tank for all the things I just can't keep in my brain, but want to have on hand if and when an opening comes up. 

Yeah, I know, this new Pinterest habit may be just another manifestation of my Control Freak gene, but at least it's essentially harmless... I hope?  Check out my personal pins and boards. You might just get hooked too :-) 

Latifah

Five Lessons Learned from Our Joy-Filled Thanksgiving

1.   Don’t make things harder than they have to be.

      

       Don’t over think the meal.  We established our must-haves, what was optional, and went from there.  Opting on store-bought desserts this year saved us a lot of grief.  When two of the three cooks are preggo, simplification is key.  Everything doesn’t have to be perfect.  What’s most important is the time shared with family and friends and creating lasting memories.  We'll get Mama to make her homemade, from scratch, lemon meringue pie next year.

2. Things go great when we all cooperate.    

       

       Animosity and bickering were reduced to a minimum when it came to clean up time.  For us, and many families, the pile of dishes, pots and pans, and silverware in the sink and along the counters, plus the disappearing act pulled by some folk after taking their last bite, is enough to make the happiest hostess frown.  Previously, we used to leave the majority of the cleaning for the next morning, but that was even more frustrating.  So, this year we extended our bonding and laughing time back to the kitchen where the chore of cleaning didn't seem so overwhelming.  It went kinda fast, actually.

3. Let kids be kids.   

       

       We had to overlook some things to fully enjoy the day.  Relaxing the rules for a few hours didn't lead to any catastrophes beyond repair.  Let them take part in the process as much as possible.

             Happy, exhausted, well-fed kids sleep so well at night.

Can you see the sleep in her eyes?

4. "Get somewhere and sit down!"  

   

       It’s important to get some rest before the guests arrive.  Energy is needed to not only cook, but to eat and to laugh.  I personally think my mac and cheese tasted so much better when prepared after my hour power nap.  We all got along a lot better after going to our own corners for a little while to recharge and mentally prepare for the main event.

5. Laugh! Laugh! Laugh!  

       The problems of our lives were forgotten, if only for a moment, when we got lost in the sounds of joy, contentment, and love.  A game of cards,  a couple rounds of BINGO with the kids, and a simple conversation over dessert was the cherry on top of our imperfectly blended family apple pie.

We're looking forward to another year together and the next Thanksgiving.  Giving thanks for every day we have with each other.

Love, Peace, and Craziness... It's who we are!!!