Update

Just wanted to give my loyal readers an update of what I am doing. I have finished the office, or at least as much as I am going to do for now. It looks great and I am extremely pleased with the outcome.

My next room was set to be the laundry room, but I have had a change of plans. I have decided to do the kitchen next. It doesn't need as much attention to it as the laundry room does and after a big project like the office, I am ready for a smaller one. Plus, I am thinking about hiring someone to come in and do some custom cabinet/shelving/locker type things in the laundry room and this will take me awhile to plan. I can be doing that while I work on the kitchen.

Another update: I recently accepted a position as the Coordinator of Accounting and Finance for a new start-up company here in town. It is a new biodiesel plant which hopes to be up and running soon. They needed a controller and I agreed, under completely flexible terms. I work one day a week out of an office and the remaining time I do it from home - whenever and however many hours I want. It is fantastic and definetly fits this stage of my life. I am excited but it also has added one more extra thing on my plate.

Oh well, I guess that's right, I am a true conquistador of chaos!

After Picture - Light Fixture

I wanted to show this picture because it shows the new light fixture. It is amazing how much more light we have in the room. In addition, the fixture is flush with the wall. It makes it easier to dust and it is just much more attractive. I am so happy with the results.

After Picture - Desk Area

This is the desk area. I love it! There is much more space because I moved the printer/fax machine over to the filing cabinet. Everything has a place and it is easy to work at. I added a burgandy/red/bordeaux colored window treatment with an iron curtain rod. I also put a silk ivy plant on top of the desk. I want to add a few more decorations up there, but am searching for the right ones. Something with some color.

After Picture - Office (Walking into Room)

This picture doesn't really do it justice, but I wanted to show how it looked on the backside of the wall with the organizing station and the photos and the cabinet.

After Picture - Organizing Station

So this is the organizing system I ordered from Pottery Barn. I absolutely love it. It has been very useful and I feel like I have all the important information in a central location. It has been fun to have a large calendar on the wall for Maddie (and the others -but they don't quite understand yet) to go over the day of the week, the month and the date. If I had to say any negative, I guess it would be that I wish I would have ordered it in black to go with the other black stuff in the room. But, it still looks good and if I ever change the paint on the wall I think the white will be more versatile.

Balancing Act

Life feels like a balancing act sometimes. Especially as a mother. Trying to be everything to everyone at all times can really get overwhelming. I know you can only do your best but sometimes it feels impossible.

I am currently struggling to find time to do the things that I want to do while balancing caring for my kids. My deep inner soul tells me, "Don't worry about the laundry, dishes, cleaning the house, or the organizing project, ect. These aren't the important things. Your kids are only young once. You are lucky to be able to stay at home with them. Enjoy them. Play with them. Teach them."

But, sometimes I really just want to get something done. Clean my house, pay the bills, plan some meals, read a book or surf the net. Or organize my house. I have lately let television play a larger role in their daily routine so I can just get "one more thing" done. I feel very badly.

So I am wondering? How do other mothers do it? How do you balance everything? Do you have a schedule for your day? How do you balance playing with and teaching your children with having your own space during the day? Do your kids play well together and do they play on their own? What is your daily routine like? Even if you don't have a schedule, do you follow some sort of routine?

We have a "rough" schedule of snack/meal and naptimes/bedtimes down. Other than that, it's free game. I play with them a lot and our nightly ritual is always the same. But I think I am going to try more of a "scheduled" day. I think this will help me justify to my self that I have spent enough time playing/teaching/interacting with the children and not feel as guilty when I want to do some of "my" things.

Finishing touches

I made a list last night of the "finishing touches" I need to do before I feel like the room is complete.

They include the following:

• Touch up the white paint on the trim and doors (I don't know why I didn't do this while I was painting the walls)
• Steam clean the carpets - we have a steam cleaner I just want to wait to do this until the very last. It makes it feel fresher somehow - silly I guess.
• Install fire/smoke alarm above the computer desk.
• Clean my silk ivy plants to put as decorations.
• Rehang black and white photos
• Put up daily organizing system when it arrives from Pottery Barn
• Clean the window (inside and out) and the blinds

This is what I didn't accomplish, that I will do in the future:

• Order my pictures and put in photo albums. I have a feeling this will take a long time so I am putting it off until I can dedicate some good quality time to it. At least I have been really good about labeling them and backing them up on discs.
• Go through my recipes and menu planning stuff. I think I will wait to do that when I do my kitchen. It makes more sense.

My finishing touches will be done while I wait for my organizing system from Pottery Barn. Then I hope to post my "After Picture" of the whole room.