Before I get started today, I’m super happy to be able to spill the beans on something I’ve been planning for over a month… drum roll please? Mark your calendars – the most amazing 8 days in Thread Riding Hood history are coming up next week! Hint… It involves giveaways and discounts from more than 13 Canadian Online Fabric stores! (Not Canadian? Don’t worry! Most of the giveaways and discounts apply internationally!)

Ok… now on to our regular programming! (Eeek! I’m so excited about next week!)

Summer is here! Of course, our summer has been a bit rainy and not so warm – but school is out and we’re enjoying our more laid-back mornings. Oh, and my favorite – not making lunches everyday! In the process, somehow my kids have managed to get a whole year older.

Of course summer means juggling what I normally do here with making sure the kids have something to do. A tad scary for me really. The 6 hours I usually have while the kids are at school are gone – I think there’s going to be a lot less sewing happening in the next two months!

I’m so glad there has been a movement with bloggers recently to unapologetically slow down in the summer. Not be a super mom, not post at the same rate – because it’s impossible to do without a lot of prep. I wrote to a blogger friend yesterday that creative people tend to have a genetic predisposition to procrastination. Having experienced a me-made insanely crazy and stressful summer last year, I fit that so well. (Argh) I used my prior knowledge to make this year’s survival kit.

Sherri’s Top 5 Summer Survival Tips!

Tip #1: Things are Better when they are Planned!

Last year we put up a large weekly calendar in our front hallway. It worked so well – the kids love knowing when certain things will happen. It helps to get them excited and to be able to anticipate special events. It’s not gorgeous – not even remotely interior-design-approved, but it helps us to get through the summer in a more organized fashion. We write our major events in first, then we add to the calendar daily/weekly as needed. At the end of the summer it is a really fun record of what we did.

Tip #2: Pre-think about it.

If I travel through the summer without a plan, we won’t do anything! I really dislike leaving my house, so we stay in all day. If I try to plan the day before every time I don’t have great ideas and we put 4 or 5 ideas on repeat all summer.

This year I decided to print out a whole bunch of low-cost and special occasion ideas on label paper – ready to stick to our large calendar from Tip #1. I plan to have them all in one place along with the coupons and gift cards we’ve accumulated. A 4×6 piece of paper FULL of ideas took me about an hour. (The amortized value on that is amazing!) Then I typed them all out and they are now ready to go – complete with multiple copies of labels we’ll use more than once.

And yes – I spent way too much time perfecting making the labels – I’m pretty sure I will be able to use the list next year too!

Tip #3: Re-think your spaces, especially the ones outdoors.

It really helps to have a few great spaces you can move yourself to so you can be with your kids, even if you have work to do. Our backyard got cleaned up this past week so I feel better about moving out there to do some sewing handwork or idea drawings.

I also have plans to clear out our garage so it can be an outdoor play space – with a table I can sit at while they paint, draw with chalk on the driveway or ride their scooter. Then we can be outside when it rains too!

Tip #4: Get the kids to do some of the work.

This past week I already got tired of hearing – Can I please play my tablet now? Can we watch TV now? and Can we play video games now? So I decided to make a points system so the kids can earn their screen time. They do some other stuff, they get screen time. Amazingly it’s working really well! I have to tweak the list, move the reading up to the daily slot and adjust the points for a few things. But I plan not to print out more than two weeks in advance to allow for the list to change as needed.

The kids really like it. Now they know when they can watch something, and I’m happy because I don’t get asked all the time – perfect! I’m also really happy that they are accomplishing important tasks and helping keep our house in order. Good skills for them to learn too.

Tip #5:) Make a Plan B (or 5)

When I am caught between an unexpected deadline and bored kids I usually react badly. Either I ignore the kids, which is impossible – or I ignore the work – hint: very bad idea! I also can’t think straight and end up getting frustrated and making really bad decisions.

This year I have come up a pre-thought-out Plan B to get the kids occupied quickly so I can get the work done and get back to them. It does involve screen time – but I’d rather they do that for a short while than deal with the alternate reality! I also try not to plan as much work during the summer and to work in the evening so I can avoid having to use my Plan B too much.

My go-to Plan B this year? Pop some popcorn, pull out the fancy bowls and healthy drinks and start a movie – oh, and cut up fruit. (To make it more healthy and make me feel better about the additional screen time!)

I want to hear from you! What plans do you have for the summer?

Disclaimer: Photos used in labels might be under copyright and are for my personal use only. All other photos are my own.