excuses, excuses ...

I know, I've neglected the blog this month. Sorry! I hate excuses, but I have to say that with the combo of planning for a sixth birthday party (2 parties, actually), a house full of guests (whom I don't get to see very often), stomach flu, preparation for NYIGF, creation of a brand new greeting card collection, a few unexpected design opportunities (requiring an updated portfolio), a huge design project with an overseas client, and an overall blah feeling, I've been overwhelmed and haven't done a very good job with this blog thing. Do you ever feel overwhelmed? What do you do to cope? My desk is a real mess right now. I think that I'll clean it off and have a fresh start...maybe that will help.

One thing that is helping our family stay organized this year is a chalkboard. It's been collecting cobwebs in the corner of the warehouse for years, but we just cleaned it up and put it up in the kitchen, at 6 year-old eye level, with our son's to do items for the day. Every morning while he eats breakfast we talk about what we'll do that day and put it up on the board. I think it helps to have some structure to the day. He also really enjoys checking things off as we complete them. Sometimes he erases things he doesn't like to do (the word "homework" seems to mysteriously dissapear nearly every day).