Thursday, June 4, 2009

scrap wreath and contemplating internet time

I wanted to update and brighten this little wreath in my studio, so two weekends ago I pulled out my scrap basket and came up with this. It was really fun sifting through the scraps and selecting my color combos. I love the way it turned out, and don't we all need a satisfying fast project from time to time? Sometimes I think that's all I want to do, given my lack of any large blocks of crafting time. This is one of those "straw" wreaths from Michael's. I wrap the fabric around and just pin it with sewing pins in the back.

Lately, I've had to change the way I manage my internet time. Obviously, I don't want Dieter and Rainer growing up, saying "my mom was always online." Right? So I've drastically cut back my online time, which is good. Now I'm getting up early, sometimes before 5, to blog and to check in on my email and google reader. That seems like a good plan, but the problem is that my boys are terrible sleepers and once I'm up, they often wake up too. It's amazing how active and raring to go Rainer can be within minutes of waking up. I'm not quite sure what the answer is . . . blogging at night is not a good alternative for me. It's too open ended and I stay up too late. Not sure if there's a good solution to this . . . so far I'm just having my early morning internet time while the family swirls around me but then the computer is left off for the rest of the day. What do you do?

20 comments:

Kristi said...

Same problems. I do the internet evening time, although I feel I should be preparing meals ect. for the next day. And my husband starts to complain a bit too. Maybe choosing certain mornings or nights a week would help. I would love to get this part of our lives under control too.

Joy said...

I work full-time so I try to squeeze in a few minutes in the morning after the lunch boxes are set out and breakfast is set. The rest is sporadic during the day while I'm in-between things at work, like now! I try not to be on at all from 4, when I get my kids, until 8, when they go to bed, then I try to download photos and post my next day's blog post from 8-8:30ish then straighten up, make lunches, and hang out with the hubby. It doesn't always go that smoothly, but I'm like you...I want to be as present as I can when I'm with my kids.

Alycia in Va. said...

Until school let's out- I've been eating lunch at my desk and checking blogs (I time myself for 15-20 mins) during my planning....horrible isn't it!

MoneyFunk said...

I know, I need to force myself to cut back, too.

I realize that I need to materialize in the real life area, too. LOL. I started tending to a bit of time in the evening after dinner. About an hour and then calling it quits for the rest of the evening.

Then, in the morn I do quickly check my blog/blogroll.
It can be tough!

Meg said...

I've recently had to shuffle my time around, too, because my husband is using the computer to look for a job. I've been waking up early (6ish) and posting/reading then. Sometimes my son will wake up early (also all fired up and ready to go), but he'll snuggle quietly until I'm ready to get his breakfast. I usually go on again after the kids are in bed for a little while.

Beth- the mama bee said...

yep- I don't wnat my kids saying the same thing. I check email, upload pics, read blogs, do whatever online while my 2 and 3 year old are resting (1 hour). The 3 year old doesn't sleep, so I finish up things on the computer on the couch with her while she is watching a video and the 2 year old is sound asleep (another 15-20 min). If I get up earlier, the little ones do too.

melissa s. said...

I'm mostly on during naptime, too. but also, when the kids are playing together I try to sneak in a few minutes here and there. On days that my husband wakes up early, I do too. But I stay in bed with my laptop ;-)
Love the wreath! How clever to pin it!

Deb Robertson Writes said...

My seven year old has epilepsy and developmental delay and can't read or write. I've just started his own blog for him and we are using it as a learning tool. He loves to take photos and we are putting captions under them. It's one way of making his learning fun. He loves it and I love doing it with him. Don't know if this answers your question, but I suppose I'm saying its ok for you to do, but maybe they might like to as well. Reuben's blog is http://www.reubencomputerdiary.blogspot.com/ if you are interested. We've just started it, but he loves it!

Unknown said...

I was just going to comment about your 5.09 am post when I read this one! Hmmm.... food for thought. My boys have *always* been early risers & are waking at about 5.22 am at the moment :( We've always tried to insist that no-one gets up before 6am & sometimes that's cool & sometimes (as was the case yesterday morning) it means that WW3 has started even before dawn has arrived. So I was inspired by your calm approach to being awake so early - & actually utilising that early morning time. The only problem is that when they wake me in the morning I am tiiiiiiiiired - & I'm not even having to get up too much in the night! May I ask what time you generally get to slepp each night?

Unknown said...

So that was meant to be *sleep*, not 'slepp' lol ;)

Mary Beth said...

Thanks everyone, for you thoughtful replies. Sounds like we all are trying to squeeze in just a small block here and there.

Amber--sometimes I go to bed right when the boys go to bed--7:30 or 8:30, but sometimes it's a bit later than that. When I'm getting up at 4:30 I definitely have to get to bed early to make that work.

Leslie said...

it seems like this has been on my mind lately too. I don't know what the solution is but i try to use my computer in the morning before my kids are up...i know that i need to spend less time on it. Maybe put it out of the main living areas.

Kelli said...

love the wreath. Good for you for cuting back on internet time. I need to also,esp for summer

Anonymous said...

I recently wrote about cutting back on my on-line time. It made all the difference for a short period and now I have a better balance.

If my kids nap I read blogs and comment during nap. I have the same problem in the morning. My little guy gets up at 4:45am. It is hard to wake before him and if I do it is as if he were already awake and waiting to hear me.

Dana Barbieri said...

I just found your blog! Lovely to see others in the same boat. I guess there is no easy answer. I always feel if I am on line I should be doing something else that is more important. It is hard for sure.

Dana Barbieri said...

oh yeah, and I love the wreath!!

Lifeasahoosier said...

Just found your blog...beautiful! I do the morning internet time....I like the idea of ending it when the kids get up. My blog has suffered but that is ok. In the beginning I was a big obsessive and reading all kinds of blogs and looking at all the craftiness but then I realized what did I really get from it? Did I ever do any of the crafts...no. Recipes, yes. So now I just read a select few blogs and do some emailing and I'm about done for the day. I too don't want my daughter to say 'my mom is always on the computer'.

Amy said...

Wreath question.. I'm pretty sure you folded and pressed the raw edges right? I am going to try a Valentine's version of the wreath and a fabric basket/ bucket. I wonder if the raw edges would make it look country or sloppy, I'll have to play with it. I was just curious what your thoughts were. Thanks, Amy

Mary Beth said...

Hi Amy! A Valentine wreath is a great idea. Maybe I will copy you :)

These fabric scraps are all left raw. Some are pinked maybe, but definitely no turning under . . .

Amy said...

Oh good less work!
I'm going to try a bucket too.. I saw a cute one I am copying using polka dot (red and white) inside and Michael Miller style Valentines fabric on the outside.. I think Joann's has something similar. Boys and girls/ retro.
When you get to Ikea next buy the hear shape ice cube tray and try wet felting with the boys, they'll love it. Have a great day!!!