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You are here: Home / Archives for enjoy

Attending the Great Harvest Field Trip

April 12, 2011 by Tracy

Having scheduled the field trip for my son’s class, I was ready to assist his teacher up to and throughout the event. Taking a step back from scheduling and coordinating to assisting someone else takes some time. This transition is much like preparing for a vacation. You spend so much time packing, scheduling, and remembering, and then you leave. After assuring yourself that the lights are off and all responsibilities are covered, you can calm down, relax, and enjoy the vacation.

After transitioning from preparing to going, I was ready to help make this field trip fun and beneficial for all. On the day of the event,

1. Arrive early. I arrived 15 minutes early. My car was ready to transport my son. The other mom arrived early as well to get car seats setup in her vehicle. When the teacher was ready, the other mom and I were ready to assist getting students into the vehicles.

2. Look for ways to assist. Since neither the teacher nor the other mom had her camera, I pulled out our camera from the diaper bag and began snapping pictures.

3. Make introductions. The teacher had not met the owner. Being familiar with both of them, I was able to introduce them to each other. Then I stepped back allowing them to form a plan for the tour.

4. Follow directions. When the teacher gave directions, I assisted the children in following those instructions. The other mom and I helped wash the students’ hands before handling the bread. We also helped guide them through the bakery at the different stops.

5. Traffic Control. As the teacher lead the way, I helped to keep the students moving in the right directions. Some will get distracted, and a simple, “Let’s catch up to the class” can help keep the student with the class.

6. Remain available. When the teacher went to the counter to purchase a loaf of bread, I helped keep the children occupied until the teacher returned.

7. Enjoy. I listened and learned about how Great Harvest Bread Company makes their bread. Their system takes many steps, but each employee handles his part and the final product is a beautiful loaf of bread.

How nice it was to enjoy the tour of the bakery after spending time organizing the event. Good planning helps make the event run smoothly. Spending time planning is time wisely spent. On the day of the event, I was able to reap the benefits of my labor by enjoying the tour and taking time to learn the process.

Do you also help your child’s teacher by scheduling or attending field trips? What’s the hardest part of the event for you? Once I get the transition complete, the event takes off. Wishing you lots of success as you help teachers with field trips!

Filed Under: Assisting, Field Trip, Event Planning Tagged With: attend, enjoy, Great Harvest Bread Company, field trip

Organizing Dinner with Friends – Part 3

March 8, 2011 by Tracy

Today I will conclude my entertainment checklist with the last two steps. If you have missed either or both of the other posts in this series, you can view them here: Part 1 and Part 2.  Now, that I have all the ingredients on hand, I am ready to execute my plan on the day of the dinner.

STEP 5: Make preparations.

  • On the day of the dinner, I do a quick clean up of the downstairs. I pickup the toys, sweep the floors and vacuum, and clean our half bathroom in the morning.
  • After lunch, I clean up the kitchen and set the table(s).
  • Then I begin baking the ham according to the recommended time frame. If my dinner is at 6:00 p.m. and the ham takes 2-3 hours to bake, then I put the ham in the oven at 2:00 p.m. The ham will finish baking around 5:00 p.m. I will removed the ham from the oven and allow it to cool. Then about 5:45 p.m., my hubby will carve it and place it on a platter.
  • While the ham is baking, I prepare the other side dishes giving myself time for interruptions. Once the ham is out of the oven, I can then bake any side items needed, i.e. sweet potatoes or dessert.
  • Wait for our guests to arrive.

STEP 6: Enjoy the evening.

I then relax, spend time with our friends, and enjoy watching the children play. My wonderful husband clears off the table and stacks the dishes in the sink. I will help put the food away, and then we relax. Cleanup is dealt with on Saturday morning.

This list has been adjusted and changed into a system that works for me. By organizing a plan, I can spend my time executing that plan rather than spending time worrying if everything will get done.

What items would you add or subtract from this list to save you time when entertaining guests?

 

Filed Under: Dinner Party, Event Planning Tagged With: preparations, enjoy, entertain

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