Tackle It on Tuesday: Understanding Exposure

Time for Tackle It on Tuesday! Last week, I shared that I was hoping to make it through the first chapter of 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson.

Understanding Exposure Table of Contents

Understanding Exposure Table of Contents

Between everyday rehearsals for the play, a full day conference on Saturday, and taking my daughter to two of her performances over the weekend, I only read the Introduction and the section on 'What Is Meant by Exposure'.

I made a little progress!

I made a little progress!

Even though I didn't read very far into the book yet, I did actually pick up my camera last week and try one of the assignments! I hope to share what I learned a little later on this week.

So for the upcoming week, my house has been poorly neglected over the past few weeks with our very busy schedule. I haven't taken the time to put things away when we get back home because there has been so many other things that need to get done. 

Clutter pile

Clutter pile

Junk mail and paid bills that need to be organized

Junk mail and paid bills that need to be organized

I think this stuff multiplies while we sleep!!

And more clutter piles

And more clutter piles

There was a lot going on around here over the last couple of weeks!! So now that our schedule is slowing down a little bit, I really need to take some time this week and clean up a little bit of the clutter. I know this won't take very long to clean up, probably just 15 to 20 minutes a day. I may even set the timer and put on some music while I clean up these clutter piles!

How do you tackle clutter in your home?

Tackle It on Tuesday: 1000 Piece Puzzle

Last week, the focus of my 'Tackle It on Tuesday' post was this:

1000 piece panoramic puzzle

1000 piece panoramic puzzle

If you recall from that post, we had just started two weeks of everyday rehearsals for the upcoming play my daughter will be performing in. Last week, three of the rehearsals were at night, which meant that we didn't really see my husband or my son for three days! 

The puzzle ended up being a fun way that we could work on a project together, even though we really didn't work on the puzzle 'together'. 

So, I know you are all just waiting to find out if we finished the puzzle...

Completed puzzle!

Completed puzzle!

Yes, we did!! And it was a tough one! Which is why you see two magnifying glasses on the table (homeschool science kits do come in handy!) We all enjoyed working on the puzzle so much that we are actually thinking of finding another one to work on.

Now that that project is completed, what is going to be my next Tackle It on Tuesday project?

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

Last year, I really enjoyed taking a photography class and working through the Capture Your 365 daily prompts. However, once we got to the holidays, then my Mexico trip, then our crazy schedule right now with the play, I just knew I would not be able to commit the time to take on a daily photography project. What I would like to do though, is take some time this year to work through a couple of photography books that I have on hand, and work through some online tutorials to help me improve my photography.

So for this next week, I am going to start out small and just read through the first chapter of this book, Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson. It is one book that my photography teacher had recommended and I haven't made time to read through it before now. 

What are you hoping to tackle this upcoming week?

Tackle It on Tuesday: Pants for Mr. Tumnus

Last week, I shared that my task I was hoping to tackle of the past week was to complete the furry legs for Kelsey's costume. Was I successful?

Kelsey with her Mr. Tumnus furry legs

Kelsey with her Mr. Tumnus furry legs

Task tackled!! And I have to say, I am so happy that this task is complete. We have just started two weeks of every day rehearsals and I keep reminding myself, 'this is just a season'. We are generally not this busy. In addition to the play, I have been helping to plan and prepare for an upcoming conference. So needless to say, there are some tasks around my home that are not getting done right now. Again, I remind myself, 'this is just a season'.

So during this busy season, what am I hoping to tackle this next week?

1000 piece panoramic puzzle in progress

1000 piece panoramic puzzle in progress

Last week, I pulled out this puzzle that had been unopened for quite some time. I thought it might be a great way to reduce a little of the stress that comes with a very busy schedule. My husband and I worked on the outside edges, then Kelsey has spent a bit of time on it. Then, last night, Matthew started in on it. Think we can finish this by next Tuesday? Come back next week and find out!

Do you have a project you would like to tackle in the next week? I would love for you to join me! Let's help keep each other accountable as we tackle projects around our home, so here are the rules:

  1. Below is the link up. Please share the URL for your specific blog post. (Makes it easier for us all to find it.)
  2. Once your post is up, visit the other bloggers. Comment on their post and give them some encouragement to make progress on their project for the week.
  3. Come back next week so we can share our progress. And hey, some projects might take longer than a week! So don't be discouraged if your project is not finished yet. Let's celebrate the step-by-step progress we are making!


Tackle It on Tuesday: My Desk

Last week, I shared with you my idea of doing a weekly link up where we share something we would like to tackle over the upcoming week. My project this past week was my desk.

My messy desk

My messy desk

With being out of town for three days over the last week, I wasn't sure if I was going to have a chance to tackle this one project. But Mondays are usually one day out of the week that we are home. So, even though there are still some piles on my desk, I believe it looks a whole lot better than it did the week before!

My desk with less clutter!

My desk with less clutter!

So what am I planning on tackling this upcoming week?

Mr. Tumnus costume!

Mr. Tumnus costume!

Back in September, my daughter enrolled in a drama class with a local homeschool group. In just two and a half weeks, they will be performing 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'. Kelsey is playing the part of Mr. Tumnus! (She is really excited about this part!) Well, Mr. Tumnus needs some furry legs. So I will be attempting to take these two yards of furry material and turning them into furry leg pants for Kelsey to wear as part of her costume. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?!? Wish me luck!!

Do you have a project you would like to tackle in the next week? I would love for you to join me! Let's help keep each other accountable as we tackle projects around our home, so here are the rules:

  1. Below is the link up. Please share the URL for your specific blog post. (Makes it easier for us all to find it.)
  2. Once your post is up, visit the other bloggers. Comment on their post and give them some encouragement to make progress on their project for the week.
  3. Come back next week so we can share our progress. And hey, some projects might take longer than a week! So don't be discouraged if your project is not finished yet. Let's celebrate the step-by-step progress we are making!


Tackle It on Tuesday

Sometimes I feel as a stay at home, homeschool mom, there are things I don't take care of at home because, after all, I don't have a boss that I need to be accountable to or they are just 'not that important'. But I do have a responsibility to my family and to myself to take the time to handle certain things, otherwise my family wouldn't eat or have clean clothes to wear! Today, I am not talking about the daily items.

I am talking about the things and projects I would like to tackle, so I have come up with a plan and I am inviting you to join in! And I want you to help me be accountable, which is why I am sharing this here on my blog. You see, I like to work on projects and to be honest, sometimes I get them started, and then I don't complete them. Or, there could be an area of my home that is driving me nuts with clutter! But then I get some overwhelmed with the task of tackling that project, then I just don't tackle it at all.

So here is my plan: each Tuesday, I am going to share a photo with you of a project that I would like to tackle over the next week. Then, the following Tuesday, I will share the progress with you and possibly introduce the next project that I would like to tackle. And if you all like this idea, I will start a link up so you can share on your blog your own Tackle It on Tuesday projects!

My messy desk

My messy desk

First up, my messy desk! I really need to tackle this, too much clutter! A flat surface in a home is a dangerous place, it is like a magnet, attracting every stray piece of paper that I just am not sure what to do with. Over the next week, I need to look at what ends up here, and see if I can come up with a better system of filing paper (and a whole bunch of other stuff it looks like!) 

Do you have projects around your home you would like to make some progress on? Maybe it is a sewing project, maybe it is an area of clutter, maybe it is a book you would like to finish reading? Whatever project it is, I would love to know if you are interested in joining me for Tackle It on Tuesday. Let me know in the comments, and maybe, just maybe, we can have a link up next week to tackle these projects together!