As a follow up to yesterday's posting... I found this website and am going to go ahead and do it. It may take me more or less days...the challenge already started so I am behind...and may do a few in one day or even miss a day or so. But as of now, I am energized. As I mentioned, I already do have some good systems in place...but they just need some sprucing up. So it shouldn't be SOOO crazy hard. I'm excited.
DO
THIS CHALLENGE
With ME!!!
Are you in?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
G.O month: a challenge
Hey there,
So we are back home after E's surgery. We are SOOO glad to have that over with. 3 month old + brain surgery is not so fun. The good news is that she has recovered well, it was a relatively short hospital stay considering all (short does NOT equal cheap! Yikes), and hopefully she will go on to live a carefree life with a normal sized head! Woo.
Anyways, pics and story to come...I think.
I read 3 magazines in the hospital. 2 of the 3 had lilac purple colors, and all 3 had home/life organization sections. The National Association of Professional Organizers is calling this G.O month- "Get Organized" month. I usually "get organized" whenever I move to a new place (which so far, has been 4 times in 3 years). The trouble is "staying organized." I actually have some pretty good systems in place (and I find that certain floorplans are more conducive to organization)... but they need a little pick-me-up.
I thought I'd post this to my blog.... and then in a week or two I will take pictures of, and show you some of my personal favorite organization systems in place here. It will give me some motivation to get everything back in "It's space"
Have you ever watched the show Hoarders? Well, it's weird... I can't take too much of it. BUT, that being said.... I diagnosed myself with what they call "compulsive pile syndrome" (or something like that)... In the effort to have the appearance of things being neat I will just pile things that don't have a real home (and some that do) in a neat little pile until I can really sort through and take care of it. I hate it... I hate little piles of stuff. I'll have to work on that.
So there. You can hold me accountable. Need inspiration to do it yourself? Here... *** NOT MY HOME... but LOVE LOVE LOVE ***
also, just stumbled on THIS blog... cuteness.
So we are back home after E's surgery. We are SOOO glad to have that over with. 3 month old + brain surgery is not so fun. The good news is that she has recovered well, it was a relatively short hospital stay considering all (short does NOT equal cheap! Yikes), and hopefully she will go on to live a carefree life with a normal sized head! Woo.
Anyways, pics and story to come...I think.
I read 3 magazines in the hospital. 2 of the 3 had lilac purple colors, and all 3 had home/life organization sections. The National Association of Professional Organizers is calling this G.O month- "Get Organized" month. I usually "get organized" whenever I move to a new place (which so far, has been 4 times in 3 years). The trouble is "staying organized." I actually have some pretty good systems in place (and I find that certain floorplans are more conducive to organization)... but they need a little pick-me-up.
I thought I'd post this to my blog.... and then in a week or two I will take pictures of, and show you some of my personal favorite organization systems in place here. It will give me some motivation to get everything back in "It's space"
Have you ever watched the show Hoarders? Well, it's weird... I can't take too much of it. BUT, that being said.... I diagnosed myself with what they call "compulsive pile syndrome" (or something like that)... In the effort to have the appearance of things being neat I will just pile things that don't have a real home (and some that do) in a neat little pile until I can really sort through and take care of it. I hate it... I hate little piles of stuff. I'll have to work on that.
So there. You can hold me accountable. Need inspiration to do it yourself? Here... *** NOT MY HOME... but LOVE LOVE LOVE ***
also, just stumbled on THIS blog... cuteness.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
RESOLUTION: (noun) meaning: determination, strong will
Antonyms to the word Resolution are as follows: compliance, indecision, weakness...
SO... at first, I was indecisive about what resolutions to make this year. Indecisive, because I know maybe I'm weak... I don't want to set myself up to fail. I don't really like to do hard core, "do or you're a failure" type resolutions. I think of them as general improvements to aim for (with strong will and determination).
Last year, I became more and more like "Future Amy" - learning to bargain shop, cooked a whole chicken, successfully chose a ripe avocado, became more crafty, wrote and sent thank you cards (until after E was born... sorry if you sent us a gift after the birth, please know we are extremely thankful and you may still get one in the future :-0...I still have some work to do to really BE future Amy).... My "Future Amy" is a housewife extraordinaire... organized and creative... she knows how to shop for bargains, does the dishes each night before she turns out the lights (still working on this one, it's hit and miss), keeps a consistently clean house, thinks of and gives to others (here is where some of the craft and cooking can come in handy), and most of all makes her husband proud!!
Last year my soft-core (can you use that in this context? haha) resolution was to be more DISCIPLINED. It has never been a strength of mine. Sometimes I am too relaxed to be DISCIPLINED (read: lazy). I am still working on this... it's a general lifestyle and attitude change. But I think Present Amy is becoming more DISCIPLINED... slowly. Future Amy actually seemed so far off (hence Future Amy) that it didn't even make it to my resolution list. It was something I aspired to be but wasn't sure I would ever become. As it turned out, I was diligent in occasionally doing things that Future Amy does... and it became sort of a journey for me over the year.
THIS year, in addition to the lofty goals to continue of Discipline and Future Amy, I thought I would be a little more specific. These things actually fall under those 2 categories and yet it is narrowing them down so that there is something I can focus on.
Here we go:
1) plan a week of meals/grocery list the week ahead.
Using this and this
and I bought this nice little sticky pad. It will help me visualize and also Adam will know what to expect each week.
2) Include vegetable sides in most, if not all the meals. Hopefully planning ahead will leave us with enough veggies in the house to use, but not waste. One of our favorite frozen veggie packs is Soycutosh from Trader Joe's... sooo good.
3. Clean our floors at least once a week, if not more frequently. Exciting, I know. Yay for laminate/wood floors where you have 2 steps to clean: sweep, then spray and wipe. But, they do look great and last longer.
4. Eat a real breakfast (with protein) every morning (Like I said, no hard feelings on "those days" but the general routine should include a nice breakfast. I better go scramble some eggs pronto).
5. (related to number 1) Learn to pre-make and freeze dishes (such as casseroles, soups, etc)- and implement as desired.
Well, that's about it for now. All other things I can think of will continue to go under "future Amy" and "diligence" - these include household things, personal things, and spiritual things. So, just know that my goals are QUITE lofty this year. I'm determined....
What are YOUR "resolutions"? (don't be weak!)
SO... at first, I was indecisive about what resolutions to make this year. Indecisive, because I know maybe I'm weak... I don't want to set myself up to fail. I don't really like to do hard core, "do or you're a failure" type resolutions. I think of them as general improvements to aim for (with strong will and determination).
Last year, I became more and more like "Future Amy" - learning to bargain shop, cooked a whole chicken, successfully chose a ripe avocado, became more crafty, wrote and sent thank you cards (until after E was born... sorry if you sent us a gift after the birth, please know we are extremely thankful and you may still get one in the future :-0...I still have some work to do to really BE future Amy).... My "Future Amy" is a housewife extraordinaire... organized and creative... she knows how to shop for bargains, does the dishes each night before she turns out the lights (still working on this one, it's hit and miss), keeps a consistently clean house, thinks of and gives to others (here is where some of the craft and cooking can come in handy), and most of all makes her husband proud!!
Last year my soft-core (can you use that in this context? haha) resolution was to be more DISCIPLINED. It has never been a strength of mine. Sometimes I am too relaxed to be DISCIPLINED (read: lazy). I am still working on this... it's a general lifestyle and attitude change. But I think Present Amy is becoming more DISCIPLINED... slowly. Future Amy actually seemed so far off (hence Future Amy) that it didn't even make it to my resolution list. It was something I aspired to be but wasn't sure I would ever become. As it turned out, I was diligent in occasionally doing things that Future Amy does... and it became sort of a journey for me over the year.
THIS year, in addition to the lofty goals to continue of Discipline and Future Amy, I thought I would be a little more specific. These things actually fall under those 2 categories and yet it is narrowing them down so that there is something I can focus on.
Here we go:
1) plan a week of meals/grocery list the week ahead.
Using this and this
and I bought this nice little sticky pad. It will help me visualize and also Adam will know what to expect each week.
2) Include vegetable sides in most, if not all the meals. Hopefully planning ahead will leave us with enough veggies in the house to use, but not waste. One of our favorite frozen veggie packs is Soycutosh from Trader Joe's... sooo good.
3. Clean our floors at least once a week, if not more frequently. Exciting, I know. Yay for laminate/wood floors where you have 2 steps to clean: sweep, then spray and wipe. But, they do look great and last longer.
4. Eat a real breakfast (with protein) every morning (Like I said, no hard feelings on "those days" but the general routine should include a nice breakfast. I better go scramble some eggs pronto).
5. (related to number 1) Learn to pre-make and freeze dishes (such as casseroles, soups, etc)- and implement as desired.
Well, that's about it for now. All other things I can think of will continue to go under "future Amy" and "diligence" - these include household things, personal things, and spiritual things. So, just know that my goals are QUITE lofty this year. I'm determined....
What are YOUR "resolutions"? (don't be weak!)
The mail is full...
with little goodies like these.
Happy Birthday to me. I feel so special. Adam is waiting for the Golden Spoon one to show up...
(trying to remember some of the best advice ever given to me: "you can go broke saving money.")
But you can also feel a lot better with some retail therapy. Boom.
(do you ever think about forging your birthday at other months of the year just so you can get an immediate coupon in the mail? ..... I don't either).
Happy Birthday to me. I feel so special. Adam is waiting for the Golden Spoon one to show up...
(trying to remember some of the best advice ever given to me: "you can go broke saving money.")
But you can also feel a lot better with some retail therapy. Boom.
(do you ever think about forging your birthday at other months of the year just so you can get an immediate coupon in the mail? ..... I don't either).
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
MIA!?
hi everyone,
I have a few "mental blog posts" but don't have the mental energy or time to do them... Most of you who follow me on facebook or know me closely know that Ellery is having a serious health issue which is causing her head to grow too large too fast. It's miraculous how it is all playing out but tomorrow we have a MRI of her brain scheduled. She will have to undergo anesthesia but I am sure she will be just fine! So, tomorrow we are off for the beginning of what will probably be multiple trips to UCLA... I will very soon update this sucker, if only for the sake of documentation. :-)
And have no fear, SO far, although it is quite serious, she is developing completely normal and with the proper treatment will be just fine! I will give details and updates later!
I have a few "mental blog posts" but don't have the mental energy or time to do them... Most of you who follow me on facebook or know me closely know that Ellery is having a serious health issue which is causing her head to grow too large too fast. It's miraculous how it is all playing out but tomorrow we have a MRI of her brain scheduled. She will have to undergo anesthesia but I am sure she will be just fine! So, tomorrow we are off for the beginning of what will probably be multiple trips to UCLA... I will very soon update this sucker, if only for the sake of documentation. :-)
And have no fear, SO far, although it is quite serious, she is developing completely normal and with the proper treatment will be just fine! I will give details and updates later!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Story time: The one (or two) that got away
Picture this.
At Kohls: ready to leave the store and notice that it is an absolute torrential downpour outside. A sweet woman working there offered to watch my stuff while I get the car. I look for my coat to put on and it is gone. I wander around the store looking for it (and pushing the stroller). Go to customer service (who were not helpful) (*may have lost my cool a tiny bit with that woman. But she was not helpful at all and could see that I totally had my hands full. It was pouring outside, I'd lost a nice coat, I had a baby with me and all that goes along with that. All she does is take down my phone number. As if I'm going to leave and come back some other time if they find it. I kinda snapped a little bit.) I continue to look myself...finally find the jacket. Go out to car and pack up to leave.
It's still pouring rain. Last minute stop at Trader Joes on way home. I lift Ellery (in carseat) into the car. I start to hear the grocery cart rolling away. It is picking up speed and heading straight for a parked car that is by now only about 5 feet away. I SPRINT way across the lot to grab the cart just in the NICK of time. Bring it back, unload groceries. Laugh at what that must have looked like to the onlooker.
We love the rain, but will not be going out to run any more errands today.
At Kohls: ready to leave the store and notice that it is an absolute torrential downpour outside. A sweet woman working there offered to watch my stuff while I get the car. I look for my coat to put on and it is gone. I wander around the store looking for it (and pushing the stroller). Go to customer service (who were not helpful) (*may have lost my cool a tiny bit with that woman. But she was not helpful at all and could see that I totally had my hands full. It was pouring outside, I'd lost a nice coat, I had a baby with me and all that goes along with that. All she does is take down my phone number. As if I'm going to leave and come back some other time if they find it. I kinda snapped a little bit.) I continue to look myself...finally find the jacket. Go out to car and pack up to leave.
It's still pouring rain. Last minute stop at Trader Joes on way home. I lift Ellery (in carseat) into the car. I start to hear the grocery cart rolling away. It is picking up speed and heading straight for a parked car that is by now only about 5 feet away. I SPRINT way across the lot to grab the cart just in the NICK of time. Bring it back, unload groceries. Laugh at what that must have looked like to the onlooker.
We love the rain, but will not be going out to run any more errands today.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Cute
Stole this from Carson Family Fun
so cute.
the coloring on this picture is all wrong, and I'm a hot mess... but she is soooooo snuggled and I loved it.
so cute.
the coloring on this picture is all wrong, and I'm a hot mess... but she is soooooo snuggled and I loved it.
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