tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28622175838275567512024-03-06T19:34:18.420-08:00Loftee Ideasi have lots of lofty ideas for our loft... ideas being the key word here...Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-78352208550815347732018-12-27T12:05:00.002-08:002018-12-27T12:05:23.392-08:00Valentine Spelling Idea <div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uBn-cwSifPX1ZJjEpHksaRhHeh8uh91ZQsNAnFnHe5RFsZOA5AIUibXaoFGQwendSSNtfY7ea5Q5dM8kZ72BA7eIxLNEfYYQ8DE74itzEaHwJGl2NCMQQ3dMj40yIU4nUjqN25PxIt0/s1600/image1-737834.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6384593181645042706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uBn-cwSifPX1ZJjEpHksaRhHeh8uh91ZQsNAnFnHe5RFsZOA5AIUibXaoFGQwendSSNtfY7ea5Q5dM8kZ72BA7eIxLNEfYYQ8DE74itzEaHwJGl2NCMQQ3dMj40yIU4nUjqN25PxIt0/s320/image1-737834.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhPyfYZGtdjWlLsPwqwA8dYQMGOgNO0Y3Rpkfgpa4garNrmtf57_y_LqY1qK-BhYwcq1or-aMJUl6Hq2dOjITKMB6qc1zrE0EIXXNM7jW4wGh8M7dpkgSkmRvcSTOaLhaLM56E0lN4UQ/s1600/image2-740354.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6384593195462687106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhPyfYZGtdjWlLsPwqwA8dYQMGOgNO0Y3Rpkfgpa4garNrmtf57_y_LqY1qK-BhYwcq1or-aMJUl6Hq2dOjITKMB6qc1zrE0EIXXNM7jW4wGh8M7dpkgSkmRvcSTOaLhaLM56E0lN4UQ/s320/image2-740354.JPG" /></a></div>
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As a saver of all things potentially useful I decided I really should use the old valentine chocolates boxes I had collected over the years. Magnets came to mind and I decided a valentine themed magnet letter activity would be fun for my girls.
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(The magnet letter and popsicle stick idea is something I saw somewhere on the interwebs.)<br />
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Step 1 Save random advertising magnets over the years (or pull one from your fridge) (or buy a sheet of them) (or buy a sheet of valentine magnets from dollar tree and use the edges between the shapes)
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Step 2 Write whatever words or names you want on popsicle sticks.
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Step 3 Cut magnets into strips and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00178QR1K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=meenahug02-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00178QR1K&linkId=44de1c113a703c8fee73ef1c459c0ae3" target="_blank">glue </a>to the back of each.
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Step 4 Then just fish through the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D5ZXXK0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=meenahug02-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01D5ZXXK0&linkId=f40acaff6fe4583e439610389028489d" target="_blank">refrigerator magnets</a> for the letters needed for your words (I decided to take out unused letters to save space and make it easier to find the letters needed.
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Waalahh!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DZOG2kHj3w1Lga97mSNfsKQI_nIQJq7sJRCTEwWwD3w_aHIGQrn0tdyac8EE-53XGWf0g-gK3SPx_nOWztiRB5mSUs0CplygJGaLwR5o66vuwZ8K8_Rn78QHM4IjTO798y8A5X3f-QA/s1600/image3-744243.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6384593207606699954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DZOG2kHj3w1Lga97mSNfsKQI_nIQJq7sJRCTEwWwD3w_aHIGQrn0tdyac8EE-53XGWf0g-gK3SPx_nOWztiRB5mSUs0CplygJGaLwR5o66vuwZ8K8_Rn78QHM4IjTO798y8A5X3f-QA/s320/image3-744243.JPG" /></a></div>
An easy and free (assuming you have everything in craft supplies) to make, educational activity that will contain itself (and great for travel!)<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-88617608153135129412018-12-27T11:58:00.002-08:002018-12-27T11:58:59.229-08:00Console organizing <div class="mobile-photo">
When you're stuck in the passenger seat when the decluttering bug bites:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdnOZUukSlt46QEI8pe-yGYKkqnK41Cp7yKSNUiei-7XLTLrybcyCPmOg0DB1UxeSvMjBnXaZmCijSan-4GsZtfKoQ4wtKK_3inCh75jfMbU-2aXl2jHiJ0IEdhL2-1U1vSDniQnWDlA/s1600/image1-758177.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6435781976286345634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdnOZUukSlt46QEI8pe-yGYKkqnK41Cp7yKSNUiei-7XLTLrybcyCPmOg0DB1UxeSvMjBnXaZmCijSan-4GsZtfKoQ4wtKK_3inCh75jfMbU-2aXl2jHiJ0IEdhL2-1U1vSDniQnWDlA/s320/image1-758177.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lAqN0UhyyUPU9TXDFz0ZEWMcKwf9wTyPgRxumTf9f8w4wTgkFgsCrn6Cml68vYHtqWXRAZ6nIYXtLU5gOPeDudgGZZrRp0Ol1soOCGem4-EqNDEJz2ocIfBBW3ZGGjZB5w6IpWsvS9c/s1600/image2-760505.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6435781983286108018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lAqN0UhyyUPU9TXDFz0ZEWMcKwf9wTyPgRxumTf9f8w4wTgkFgsCrn6Cml68vYHtqWXRAZ6nIYXtLU5gOPeDudgGZZrRp0Ol1soOCGem4-EqNDEJz2ocIfBBW3ZGGjZB5w6IpWsvS9c/s320/image2-760505.JPG" /></a></div>
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pictured: Diono Travel Pal<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=meenahug02-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B005NMP6IG&asins=B005NMP6IG&linkId=ec86e8af8da0486e42b1c308699f61ab&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
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</iframe>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-57856247453260858352016-06-22T23:35:00.000-07:002016-06-23T09:58:52.155-07:00Backaches are a pain. 6.22.16Saturday I messed up my back. :( Sunday it started hurting and I found I couldn't bend over at the family reunion. After driving home I was so stiff I could hardly walk. A bunch of otc meds and I couldn't make it through my short shift at work.
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Found an old Vicodin from when I sprained my ankle 3 years ago in the (nicely organized) cabinet. That eased the pain, sort of.
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Monday I (mistakenly) took the kids to the park, came home and worked for an hour but the pain was making me nauseous, so I went to the doc, got some muscle relaxers and more Vicodin.
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Tuesday I was able to work all day thanks to the meds and heating pad.
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Wednesday I used just the heating pad, only a couple times did I consider taking the meds.
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Sunday night when I was feeling rested and at the peak of the Vicodin, with help from the girls, I got the living room and bathroom picked up and dishes ran. I decided to do minimally sweeping&pick-up each day. If I can do it in pain with minimal mobility I can do it every day. I employed the kids to help.
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We have been picking-up before bed each day now and I'm hoping it'll be habit to continue with.
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I recognize that the cleanliness of the floor makes a difference in my stress level and the kid's are more apt to play if the floor is clear. Not wanting to add stress to my backache, I decided sweeping/picking up the floor is a new nonnegotiable (ala <a href="http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/" target="_blank">A Slob Comes Clean</a> blog) plus I can't risk stepping on something and slipping!
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We have completed days 1-4 so far!
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When my back is better I'll add finishing dishes nightly to the nonnegotiable list. I've been running the DW each day, but I've just had to wash pans and large stuff as needed this week because I cannot stand washing dishes long enough to do more than minimum.
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For the month of June I set a goal to not eat fast food and eat the food in the house before buying new food. We tend to keep a full freezer and pantry. I did really well on the not buying new dinner food stuff idea except for some frozen pizzas (to help avoid fast food). Our microwave broke a few weeks ago so this is making it extra challenging, but doable.
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The only day we bought fast food with my approval was Sunday evening, and I didn't even care.
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Hubby has gotten himself/girls fast food a few times but not on my watch. I can only control myself.
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So it's late Wednesday night now and I'm quite uncomfortable. Rolling over is quite painful. If I don't fall asleep soon, I'm taking a Vicodin.
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Wish me a fast recovery!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-51879724203633192492016-05-28T09:51:00.000-07:002016-06-23T09:51:41.893-07:00My feelings of self consciousness I try not to compare myself with others. When I do I am usually motivated to be more of the mom/wife/homemaker that I want to be, I try not to put myself down about my lack of natural tidiness. I look at what I do get accomplished and what's important to me.
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Still though it's hard to invite people over when I know their houses are always clean and I cringe when people stop in because the hardest place to keep clean, the kitchen, is the first thing people see from the door.
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I know that I'm a great mom and a good person, that my house keeping habits aren't a reflection of my character, but I still worry what people think.
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In reality they aren't likely thinking about anything but the fact that I'm real and human and parenting can be hard sometimes and no one is perfect. At least that's what I'm gonna tell myself they're thinking.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-11657145105799567352016-05-25T01:36:00.001-07:002016-05-28T16:25:38.053-07:00Flooding and my experience saving Holland with my finger in the dam. Also a view into my brain during chaos. Laying in bed this morning I was feeling guilty for not getting up and doing a work-out video or going for a walk before bed. I dawdle and stall and eventually get up about an hour before work (usually it's 2 hours). Get dressed and meander into the kitchen to make a healthy portion controlled breakfast to get back on track with my diet and discover a massive puddle of standing water stretching from the kitchen sink to the front door mat. Under the fridge and stove.
<br>"Crap. Is it coming from the fridge? Wait the fridge is a big appliance I hope not!! But wait if it's the fridge it's probably just the water filter line, probably easy fix, that'd be better than the sink. Why do I think that'd be easier? I know nothing about refrigerators?"
<br>Open the cabinet under the sink and discover, no it's the sink. But where and how? (Back story: we've had an ongoing issue with our drain leaking if I leave too much weight in either side, and I've gotten in the habit of not piling the sink full and never with water and stuff.) the sink is dry, the dishwasher was finished before bed and turned off/opened to air dry.
<br>"How can it be dripping from up there? Gah my pants are soaked why is it so cluttered under here? It's not that cluttered and where else should I keep my stock pile of dish soap and sponges?"
<br>Feeling thankful for clearing counter tops the night before I pull everything out from under the sink so I can assess.
<br>I decide I think it's coming from the hot water line. Hubby comes and tells me how to turn off the water. "Just turn the knob, just like a faucet"
<br>Ok
<br>Whoa whoa that made it worse! It's definitely leaking from the hot water line! Right behind the knob. Hubby says to try to tighten it.
<br>Entire effing tap breaks off like a not actually funny in real life hilarious sitcom segment and water is gushing out!
<br>(This is where my Dutch boy with finger in the dam thoughts happened!)
<br>I try to hold the water back while hubby (btw he's having a bad back/shoulder/neck week, so physically nearly useless, I say that with love) hobbles down stairs to the water filter room (long explanation, just realize it's downstairs in the shop) to turn the water off. Don't hurt yourself on the stairs I can sold the water but do hurry. The water pressure doesn't stop because there is something like 27 miles of pipe between him and I (really it's just downstairs and over a room) and that water has to come out before the water will stop coming. I can't hold it back but I try, occasionally failing which sprays water everywhere and damnit why didnt I take my Fitbit off? Please don't die my darling Fitbit. So I manage to get my Fitbit off with my teeth and holler to wake Ellie to get me a bucket, she wakes up scared (because I was yelling and telling her to help) and upset and useless. I realize although she knows how to dial 911 and knows our address let's hope there's never a medical emergency she has to wake up for, because she doesn't wake well. The water is getting hot (it takes a while for the water to heat up coming from the water heater down stairs) So I realize I can't hold it back until hubby brings me a bucket and oh duh a big mixing bowl is sort of in reach. Good job washing dishes last night self, and so much for the routine of putting dry dishes away as I make breakfast today. I use it to catch water and run to the bathroom to turn the bath tap on to see if that'll reduce the water going to the kitchen. Nope.
<br>So I dump buckets(mixing bowls) of water into the sink repeatedly as the water gushed out. I'm only catching maybe half? Eventually the water slows to a dribble and I run down to get the shop vac. (Damnit in not wearing my Fitbit these steps don't count!) Which I know right where it is no problem! Crap I left the shop light on, go back and unlock door turn off light and shit door don't forget the keys, where is that vac? We last used it before Christmas when the pellet stove wasn't working and Mike was in the hospital and I had vertigo and damn that month was chaotic and hey look life is still chaotic (be grateful that no one is in hospital) found shop vac and lug it up stairs. I had asked Ellie (finally awake and functioning) to pull all the dirty towels from the laundry hampers and put them on the kitchen floor. (Feeling grateful for not keeping up on laundry this moment, might as well use dirty towels!) which she did.
<br>The shop vac helped but not as quick as towels and the loud noise upset the kids. That was a waste of time finding it. I toss sopping wet towels out on the deck to deal with later.
<br>Hubby calls his parents (they live on the same property/share a well) to let them know the water is off. Mom knows, she was in the shower and please can you bring water down because dads on the toilet as we speak with #2. Remember that Jimmy Fallon (or Is it Jimmy Kimmel? Fallon it's gotta be Fallon, is Jimmy Kimmel a person? It is I'm sure it is, weird that I never thought of both Jimmys til now) #hashtag joke about the kid who had to go #3? That was funny. (It was funnier when I read hubbys mind when I said #hashtag the other day.) Run them down a jug of water (grateful for being prepared for power outages because without power we have no water). Crap still not wearing my Fitbit say goodbye to those 300 steps.
<br>Back up stairs, get most the water mopped up. Assign the job of hanging wet towels out on the clothes racks outside to dry because who knows if we will be able to wash them today and I don't want them getting too nasty.
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<br>Drip*
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<br>Ellie does a surprisingly good job and it keeps her and Penny out of my way. Clean out the corner beside the fridge and toss out 3 soaked boxes of Kleenex that I have been meaning to find a home for since bringing the case home from Costco a month ago when we were sick.
<br>Clear top of fridge off, question: is my counter really not big enough to hold all the under sink contents and the top of fridge contents and the side of fridge stuff? No it isn't. Find items that can go on the coffee table.
<br>Pull fridge out and holy crap have I ever swept under here in the last 6 years? and oh that's where that was!
<br>Pull the drawer out from under the stove and am thankful for uneven floors because the water only goes part way under so don't have to move the stove to dry it out. Realize I haven't swept under it in forever either. Wiping up the random trash and stuff I cut my finger on broken glass but don't realize it.
<br>Get the stove put back together and start pushing the fridge back and is that blood? What the hell-o my fingers bleeding. Can't wash my hand, no water, hubby tells me I need to clean it (because I'm not already thinking of the fact that I pulled a mouse trap (empty)from under the stove with the glass and now my finger will get infected with who knows what and they'll need to remove it and let's home I never need to flip people off again, and realize I never flip people off, so that won't be an issue. Ellie gets excited to see the bubbles and I remember I can just use peroxide. The cut is tiny and the peroxide is plenty to clean it. Gosh whoever thought to put peroxide in a spray bottle is genius, I remember filling the cap and dumping it on the wound and most would drop off and that was cumbersome and a waste. Bottle is nearly empty, add peroxide to my mental shopping list and laugh at myself for thinking I'll remember without writing it down and wonder if there's an Amazon Dash button for that and think probably not. Should I use a Doc McStuffins band-aid or Mickey Mouse? Ellie lets me know that the Goofy one didn't help her Owie feel better. Doc McStuffins it is. Has she gotten her adopted baby sibling yet? "Yes it's a girl!" Ellie tells me.
<br>Take a break and pour cereal for breakfast and decide to ignore my diet because Corn Pops.
<br>Clock into work 39 minutes late and realize had I just gotten up the 2 hours before work I wouldn't be late for work.
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<br>Hubby informs me he can't drive (can almost not use one arm due to bad neck/shoulder week) I need to take time off work to drive to get my cousin Jason of all trades who can plumb. (Is plumb a verb? It's gotta be! Plumb-ers do plumb-ing, they plumb. Decide my Dutch girl finger-in-the-pipe efforts have earned me a Dutch Brothers (drive through coffee).
<br>Get a call from cousin he's home from work so clock out for lunch early and pick Dutch and him up and take him and hubby to Home Depot to get Teflon tape and some other plumb sounding words. Get Jason back and he spends a few minutes reattaching what I apparently didn't break it just came off. And test the water and it seems good now. Drive cousin home but offer to buy him lunch and get to the drive through and I don't have my ID so they can't accept my credit card luckily my bank atm is across the street. Get cash go back get food take cousin home and get back to work to finish my shift.
<br>After work I spend time clearing off the counter, finding new temporary homes for under-sink dwellers for now. Make dinner wash dishes and fuuuuuu the leak is back. (Grateful I put a cookie sheet under the drip so I can easily see if it returned, it made it easy to hear.)
<br>Very carefully turn off just the hot water, I'm certain the leak is only coming from the hot water line.
<br>Dump/dry cookie sheet. Finish cleaning kitchen all but washing dishes. Enjoy the rest of my evening winding down.
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<br>Climb in to bed and decide to write this blog post and get part way in and hear a very loud *drip (grateful to live in a loft my bedroom living room and kitchen is all one long room). (Find the *drip above that's when I paused writing) Take a deep breath and pray to the water gods that I was either hearing things or something else dripped-
<br>Gaaaahhh the cookie sheet is full and the drip I heard was from the cabinet to the floor.
<br>Dump out cookie sheet and find the last few dirty towels in the laundry and mop it up. Very carefully turn off the cold water line too. Hubby suggests a bowl because the cookie sheet is so shallow but I remember the large short rubbermaid tote (think under bed box but a little deeper) the kids use for water play on the deck. Tuck that into place in the cabinet. Tuck myself into bed, finish this post.
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<br>Good night. Pray to the water gods for me.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-36565083638405138092016-05-10T09:54:00.001-07:002016-05-28T16:25:38.066-07:00Keep on keeping on. While I haven't been blogging daily, I have been keeping focused on housework and haven't lost my momentum entirely. The sink is shiny most nights and the clutter doesn't get too thick before I clear and clean.
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<br>Sent from my iPhoneCyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-13453759145887874992016-05-05T23:07:00.000-07:002016-05-28T16:25:38.060-07:00Reducing dishes <p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBbvBl5zqhepjVmW-X8w6wFcTX69ljXihyphenhyphenCcTO2TQXfXhdF3TI5LP4PWXuq-YFqI48QrJqNxHJEYMFJmnkiVo_o3wrT7Rql5xhZzwuk5vo5R-6eS2pOuPvTy_d_tiQWpoQMx4oMUaD-I/s1600/IMG_6104-736649.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBbvBl5zqhepjVmW-X8w6wFcTX69ljXihyphenhyphenCcTO2TQXfXhdF3TI5LP4PWXuq-YFqI48QrJqNxHJEYMFJmnkiVo_o3wrT7Rql5xhZzwuk5vo5R-6eS2pOuPvTy_d_tiQWpoQMx4oMUaD-I/s320/IMG_6104-736649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6281453825869086226" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzqb8VTT04tu16GSJ-KsvmHLJCZ_f-Vc1I9OO8cjjqDun1qMPWk-fmdbal2THE6iMvBe0DpX8t0WPB7ING_4gSiEXByK_h75jEO2LCUk2ZGZb3BO5fq45VlwRnNaYl7HiDVbMS42OYF0/s1600/IMG_6161-739492.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzqb8VTT04tu16GSJ-KsvmHLJCZ_f-Vc1I9OO8cjjqDun1qMPWk-fmdbal2THE6iMvBe0DpX8t0WPB7ING_4gSiEXByK_h75jEO2LCUk2ZGZb3BO5fq45VlwRnNaYl7HiDVbMS42OYF0/s320/IMG_6161-739492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6281453841974479490" /></a></p>My dishwasher is a mini counter top version, which is better than nothing, but still not perfect. One thing I do to reduce dishes is scramble eggs in a short glass. I often find that I have more short cup/glass space and no extra other space to use. Bowls take much more room than a glass.
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<br>This next thing seems counter intuitive because I could (and used to) drink out of the shaker bottle. But! I used to also leave the shaker bottle in the office or car or it'd get left somewhere and not washed and get really nasty. I nearly purged it recently because of my bad habit, but it really works great at shaking (and I accidentally bought another canister of protein shake powder) so I thought of another solution. Pour the shake into a (much easier to clean if it gets dried out) glass. Then while I'm still in the kitchen I put the shaker directly into the dish washer (that I'm in the habit of emptying in the morning when I usually have my shake!)
<br>I've been doing this for a week or so and I'm actually sticking with it. So while it uses more dishes, it isn't a problem because it helps me stay focused on the dishkeeping (think housekeeping) goals.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-65525489566623244002016-05-04T07:05:00.001-07:002016-05-28T16:25:38.071-07:00Day # I forget So I have been keeping up. I haven't gone more than a couple days of not sweeping the floors. I have had a shiny sink just about every night.
<br>I've also made home cooked meals most nights, with the exception of actual going out to eat for celebrations.
<br>There's a little back log if laundry, but I did get clean laundry sorted last night.
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<br>Sent from my iPhoneCyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-60694510153050956272016-04-26T23:45:00.000-07:002016-04-26T23:45:00.327-07:00Day 5! <div class="mobile-photo">
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Today was a good flying day. I made hot breakfast, tracked calories, loaded breakfast dishes (I had unloaded DW before bed) did 15 mins of a workout video, went for a short walk outside with Penny.
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A few times at work I had a chance to walk in place. On lunch break I ate a healthy portioned lunch and tracked calories and loaded lunch dishes, and ran the DW. On last break I planned dinner and took chicken out to thaw.
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After work I made a home cooked meal, tracked the calories and stuck to my portions. While dinner was cooking I unloaded the dish washer, reloaded with a few things and washed the large dinner prep dishes.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEDNQ1VXgx90-LM3aVu0PVWN6E3dstt1lcv43uUqUjSe5mlVH62p8I0OomqZEIAARNVaNCG-SNJOGZOkDSlCv1yWLIqbCfUI6kSlWywt2i1ZMPCRgSLDd2qbdMMuIvcAG6Tzs96vc9OM/s1600/image1-790019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6278122881417375714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEDNQ1VXgx90-LM3aVu0PVWN6E3dstt1lcv43uUqUjSe5mlVH62p8I0OomqZEIAARNVaNCG-SNJOGZOkDSlCv1yWLIqbCfUI6kSlWywt2i1ZMPCRgSLDd2qbdMMuIvcAG6Tzs96vc9OM/s320/image1-790019.JPG" /></a></div>
After dinner I cleaned up, loaded all the dinner dishes. Then I spent nearly 2 hours cleaning the play room. Then swept the entire apartment made a calorie portioned snack and watched a movie. Near the end of the movie I walked in place for 20 mins.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i4OjZ4xb65HdhvzhdSg00nVSqdsjObTfPDquAodLanUP99jf0TE1DRT_drCGPip6uTVoXdRWS1w_ssW2c0uQ4Tor74Dwmiv5D4FKtZmXK0AplXVcqHzfieWIl9FVI15nC9ZAIkVPahA/s1600/image2-792030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6278122885362346242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i4OjZ4xb65HdhvzhdSg00nVSqdsjObTfPDquAodLanUP99jf0TE1DRT_drCGPip6uTVoXdRWS1w_ssW2c0uQ4Tor74Dwmiv5D4FKtZmXK0AplXVcqHzfieWIl9FVI15nC9ZAIkVPahA/s320/image2-792030.JPG" /></a></div>
After the movie I picked up, and started the DW with snack dishes added. Sink, floor, and counter are shiny. The playroom isn't 100%, but the girls played so wonderfully in it after I cleaned!<br />
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Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-37918745143687148732016-04-25T21:09:00.000-07:002016-04-25T21:09:12.917-07:00Day 4: bathroom! <div class="mobile-photo">
I planned on taking it mostly easy today and just getting the bathroom floor picked up at some point. I filled the partial laundry basket with a few big towels off the floor first thing this morning. Then I decided to veg out on the couch, but o couldn't get Netflix to work and while I was trying Penny (2yr) peed on the floor. I used dirty towels to clean it up but decided she should have a bath. While she bathed I started cleaning the bathroom. First thing was to put away stuff on the changing table, which included a bunch of new hair accessories (we're still in the gift bag, from February) which meant making room in the hair stuff drawers: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEC5n6hrx0FAqRNNhTBVr2K4o1GRtzHvoc-ucU_QbkNs_ChyphenhyphenH-xQs1vbzAWcURNuXuntrHZh-14EoB5UN6qDH9V7UiyU_MXaNrF2Pc4uX_xcOHg-61yRWyyfXmAtMX7jtRDCyQA9Ue1A/s1600/image1-769296.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277655932470295826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEC5n6hrx0FAqRNNhTBVr2K4o1GRtzHvoc-ucU_QbkNs_ChyphenhyphenH-xQs1vbzAWcURNuXuntrHZh-14EoB5UN6qDH9V7UiyU_MXaNrF2Pc4uX_xcOHg-61yRWyyfXmAtMX7jtRDCyQA9Ue1A/s320/image1-769296.JPG" /></a></div>
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I tried to put them all away in the 1 drawer when I realized that I need 2 drawers. I couldnt say exactly what was in the top drawer so I decided to clear it out for a second hair stuff drawer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI02LB1NCgjbzu2x7Y6h-Fxgwe06-E_1SIu4ta7R5FtgB2n30WE9fgWedzaUdnhbXfsh88SDtcK2LupBut8ps7k3L4a26AgeghiTb3eejrqqA6pUKsjBg5WdvXJmrApaC2n4hwhKDYDE/s1600/image2-773178.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277655947833771026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI02LB1NCgjbzu2x7Y6h-Fxgwe06-E_1SIu4ta7R5FtgB2n30WE9fgWedzaUdnhbXfsh88SDtcK2LupBut8ps7k3L4a26AgeghiTb3eejrqqA6pUKsjBg5WdvXJmrApaC2n4hwhKDYDE/s320/image2-773178.JPG" /></a></div>
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Turns out this drawer was random stuff that fr the most part actually had other homes. There were a bunch of samples and hotel bottles of shampoo and stuff. A few vacations ago I bought this little travel set:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GjBD06-xwq2t1ELC6O9eTc-JlGLfQ8M_457bbHxGGYC_v9nSxCa7CgTTLQ4wp442IpT0S3IKOnN8mjg6zoOx05NOi0WwgEuNV7vX7DT4LlCIXXeVa1tGmsRF2VlNfBprMwZbBkZgQYs/s1600/image3-777428.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277655962928009058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GjBD06-xwq2t1ELC6O9eTc-JlGLfQ8M_457bbHxGGYC_v9nSxCa7CgTTLQ4wp442IpT0S3IKOnN8mjg6zoOx05NOi0WwgEuNV7vX7DT4LlCIXXeVa1tGmsRF2VlNfBprMwZbBkZgQYs/s320/image3-777428.JPG" /></a></div>
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with intentions of filling them up for travel use, but was too busy last few vacations to get it done. So I spent a little time filling them up with all the samples and hotel bottles and the regular bottles. I also used one to scrub the toilet (soap is soap). </div>
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I tossed out some other items that I have been saving with the idea i might use them evenutally, and never have, stuck a Biore strip to my nose, a random teeth whitening tray in my mouth ( I never think to use these on a regular routine, only ever when decluttering.) </div>
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I wanted to get the floor clean (my original goal) but I needed a laundry basket for the laundry so I put a load away, then when I got the laundry gathered, I switched the clothes, and put another load away!</div>
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Later, I cleared off the counter and used more shampoo samples to clean the sink. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEDy17xavyiMrKgFx9bdjx9fCQq3K8asoqHnlMG4QBHSmoamUyFDfOjTSB3iAnLcbd4JV1-ulMIDbYb62BcLvZqBkJI6VHkhC0t943Xppd-58Mc6DKoVhppD6XjMYq-Iu266C5btOGyY/s1600/image4-780643.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277655976996602418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEDy17xavyiMrKgFx9bdjx9fCQq3K8asoqHnlMG4QBHSmoamUyFDfOjTSB3iAnLcbd4JV1-ulMIDbYb62BcLvZqBkJI6VHkhC0t943Xppd-58Mc6DKoVhppD6XjMYq-Iu266C5btOGyY/s320/image4-780643.JPG" /></a></div>
Later, I finally did sweep the floor, wiped the front of the cabinet, the back of the toilet and filled the soap dispensers in the shower.<br />
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And the kicker, I kept the kitchen cleaned up all day, made home made dinner, and cleaned up after myself, and after dinner too! GO ME!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-83064978704294535642016-04-25T13:35:00.000-07:002016-04-25T20:36:43.666-07:00Day 4 of cleaning/keeping clean <div class="mobile-photo">
It was so nice to wake to a clean kitchen this morning! I actually emptied the DW first thing. I decided to spend a minute organizing the glasses cupboard:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r53GjJIgS-gtSAVrSe-w1ID5X4EfGRRH6c-wO5ZvAU5RQ7ocZ8BNkECslGlTD3pMmtaIOiF_Xge3EIIWJr-uHWaxR6X3Nvbh29ALZysbbPLiT3pz3sLK6reKCTPkv1w_Iluzgs8KZzU/s1600/image1-776535.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277603988461583458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r53GjJIgS-gtSAVrSe-w1ID5X4EfGRRH6c-wO5ZvAU5RQ7ocZ8BNkECslGlTD3pMmtaIOiF_Xge3EIIWJr-uHWaxR6X3Nvbh29ALZysbbPLiT3pz3sLK6reKCTPkv1w_Iluzgs8KZzU/s320/image1-776535.JPG" /></a>\</div>
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I purged a few items and put a few items where they should have been put to begin with. </div>
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Then, rather than dumping the silverware in the drawer like I have been the last few times (to save time, which really did not save time in the end because I had to spend time to straighten it up.)</div>
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Thank you Penny for your help! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg-49StRXIlX20BWpQVNFZAdbI0CFB6eSrxWULjay_WJuFxbp_2KBBje0bcXz8gXw_mMOoCzAg6Lwx-yw1bNA3Zw1S0J78x7g1FGayj1cObO6eHaUsxBt3-W-aJOWue0qe2hky8cP_Ec/s1600/image2-779012.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277604004711354530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg-49StRXIlX20BWpQVNFZAdbI0CFB6eSrxWULjay_WJuFxbp_2KBBje0bcXz8gXw_mMOoCzAg6Lwx-yw1bNA3Zw1S0J78x7g1FGayj1cObO6eHaUsxBt3-W-aJOWue0qe2hky8cP_Ec/s320/image2-779012.JPG" /></a></div>
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And look, I do have plenty of kid spoons, who knew? </div>
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-69305357043063297962016-04-24T23:24:00.000-07:002016-04-25T20:24:32.596-07:00Day 2 and 3 of cleaning/keeping clean <div class="mobile-photo">
Saturday I don't really know what I did, watched tv? Rested? Nothing about the house. Ellie and I had a great date-night, pizza and a play. Then we had to stop by the grocery store.</div>
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Sunday Morning I woke up feeling sicker and had to work. I was so pleased with how much i got done on Friday that I ignored the mess all day Saturday and Sunday:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgzpMww-NzDh7cQjR486c-ByKTEm7N2v-CNVBAulRfLlXz6rjboyZ3U3EK_NWeMaZYjblYBA9gJ6wORheuK66RsrfX5oTBz9bxwZzon8m_GwEpVB2kz3WxBcyIqSxAcZvKJA1JWLeZSo/s1600/image1-793548.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277601916978079666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgzpMww-NzDh7cQjR486c-ByKTEm7N2v-CNVBAulRfLlXz6rjboyZ3U3EK_NWeMaZYjblYBA9gJ6wORheuK66RsrfX5oTBz9bxwZzon8m_GwEpVB2kz3WxBcyIqSxAcZvKJA1JWLeZSo/s320/image1-793548.JPG" /></a></div>
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After making turkey dumpling soup for dinner (thanks to my last November self for prepping the turkey and bones so soup tonight would be super easy. </div>
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After vegging out with my soup and reading more of <a href="http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/" target="_blank">A Slob Comes Clean</a> early days blog posts, I got off the bed and went to the kitchen:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1TK1TUaP97_Xxb87uEHCYQ8i_UgrVGQdnphMhHs_nAbYS8-2YjEopiscJGlyhUW39i5EzYZaQKO1mOnfQPD88c3_F2qIsETH_FFHXsomr0zTGvcLT1GnW4MSc2rqTeAUmBs_wJkdYZs/s1600/image2-795367.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277601923813404274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1TK1TUaP97_Xxb87uEHCYQ8i_UgrVGQdnphMhHs_nAbYS8-2YjEopiscJGlyhUW39i5EzYZaQKO1mOnfQPD88c3_F2qIsETH_FFHXsomr0zTGvcLT1GnW4MSc2rqTeAUmBs_wJkdYZs/s320/image2-795367.JPG" /></a></div>
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That little pile of plastic ware is my purge pile. </div>
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Normally, I leave dishes to dry overnight. But I decided to put the dishes away, in doing so, I realized I needed to tidy the cupboard: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf5PajU7Ag4PCATZXMJQUiFHhbCb3LOGzD4vmm3Cx05YxPAYNtV07WOXprUshI0zAlqxi6i8LJStfk-cfinzwRJOmmYgBIUa6klPnpcvbkN55QFBnqBNodHTnYeJWKCrK8bgy9huiAJg/s1600/image3-797092.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277601933113034882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf5PajU7Ag4PCATZXMJQUiFHhbCb3LOGzD4vmm3Cx05YxPAYNtV07WOXprUshI0zAlqxi6i8LJStfk-cfinzwRJOmmYgBIUa6klPnpcvbkN55QFBnqBNodHTnYeJWKCrK8bgy9huiAJg/s320/image3-797092.JPG" /></a></div>
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I sure do love a shiny sink! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rQEe6fcpd2mwa1Eki-Bo0uF2EJUP3yy8aRCwCtkJDT6igmzhEqbOmMkq4nTYWQOPm1MCGytT1sWEaewFu10T5a-xJUwqDFE7MaAy-O5i-GXR2UL_A_I04RKzSoi5ohy1xdGpkKQnxGg/s1600/image4-799070.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277601942294322738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rQEe6fcpd2mwa1Eki-Bo0uF2EJUP3yy8aRCwCtkJDT6igmzhEqbOmMkq4nTYWQOPm1MCGytT1sWEaewFu10T5a-xJUwqDFE7MaAy-O5i-GXR2UL_A_I04RKzSoi5ohy1xdGpkKQnxGg/s320/image4-799070.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-11032241668663641192016-04-22T23:41:00.000-07:002016-04-25T19:46:53.145-07:00Back at it, more of the house I kept momentum after working on the bedroom to keep cleaning the living room (it's really just 1 big room, partitioned off).<br />
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I got this little area in front of the toy and book shelves tidyd up. And the floor in front of the TV.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNogjf4oPf2stxtzHcPvhTtR0T49kG3BEsAT9LDD3rKtPQST1256i0VPJHYWVrSotBUuC5mUDYsuV3p8sizHWpKiPg-sZPnoSNJ1JmmInEmz-29_HoJiSDcC4pF4TGwtGSBDCUpZc7xCg/s1600/image1-705182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277597242529542642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNogjf4oPf2stxtzHcPvhTtR0T49kG3BEsAT9LDD3rKtPQST1256i0VPJHYWVrSotBUuC5mUDYsuV3p8sizHWpKiPg-sZPnoSNJ1JmmInEmz-29_HoJiSDcC4pF4TGwtGSBDCUpZc7xCg/s320/image1-705182.JPG" /></a><br />
I swept all the small stuff on the floor into a pile and sorted and picked it up.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHXqc6awp_pJXgSi4b4awgW3V8UhsaBypYIny_u9QCjX8wt9dIjGHSMNR9GFmEgkqfQPs9DUxMxfRP2qfZ86_3JfhLo8qLy6K1S_jhip-BhFbzqpwU7zF8jQNnwwZ921-itdC7y8jzK8/s1600/image2-707104.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277597247255644802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHXqc6awp_pJXgSi4b4awgW3V8UhsaBypYIny_u9QCjX8wt9dIjGHSMNR9GFmEgkqfQPs9DUxMxfRP2qfZ86_3JfhLo8qLy6K1S_jhip-BhFbzqpwU7zF8jQNnwwZ921-itdC7y8jzK8/s320/image2-707104.JPG" /></a><br />
Then I moved up to the counter and moved from one side to the other.<br />
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This is when it was time to leave to go out to dinner with family.<br />
When I got home, I finished the kitchen! </div>
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Day 1 ended great! </div>
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-88863917687787102322016-04-22T23:18:00.000-07:002016-04-25T19:47:32.886-07:00Back at it in the bedroom. I've been on and off the housecleaning wagon a lot since I last blogged, but Im hoping it'll get me motivated again. I've been reading A Slob Comes Clean from her beginning and realizing that I just need to stick to it.<br />
I spent much of Friday cleaning up. Im going to focus on keeping it up. Meanwhile the family has colds so it may be extra challenging.<br />
Here is what I got done Friday: I decided to start at one side of the house and work my way to the kitchen at the other side.<br />
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Cleaned side of the bed and night stands:<br />
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Then put away a bunch of laundry:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yCDAQnCe3yREco5KPnzrGB6f3UX8sOdrKxfkQUsL2gKdlqwZBwvBCk0fCF5NTqe-zY8jBcJ6sl6BWAdzUIOEiB2FA3cK2AEfdhJJ7UROyFQJsDlK2O42v7ugFBziNTeY_YcWfVWnnzI/s1600/image6-791415.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277592027701796466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yCDAQnCe3yREco5KPnzrGB6f3UX8sOdrKxfkQUsL2gKdlqwZBwvBCk0fCF5NTqe-zY8jBcJ6sl6BWAdzUIOEiB2FA3cK2AEfdhJJ7UROyFQJsDlK2O42v7ugFBziNTeY_YcWfVWnnzI/s320/image6-791415.JPG" /></a></div>
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Organized/purged the linen chest</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oOkRduP7yCb1drlNfhPIxCijbXuTtY9kmRIcj5sHS_1VWyRUk1Ao2irZFK_bQD8JW_v6tts7gWflBjO5b5FxjvSkPr3ayudmZv8EgvPPgFsOpXa_eCotgqO6fSQHbu_US_iH3nU1qZo/s1600/image1-793025.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277592033846608738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oOkRduP7yCb1drlNfhPIxCijbXuTtY9kmRIcj5sHS_1VWyRUk1Ao2irZFK_bQD8JW_v6tts7gWflBjO5b5FxjvSkPr3ayudmZv8EgvPPgFsOpXa_eCotgqO6fSQHbu_US_iH3nU1qZo/s320/image1-793025.JPG" /></a></div>
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In order to change the sheets:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m2dbXl5uNq2PW8fwhEREdz8clg0HsXHnjMHJaP8KzIz_bE8beUCzNvPetYxy4P0ErKqZokVr77XgS-oilTHN4TK8_uX4keJQYh03uGxeqWRn_TKCrL-siSXJF7MhK2NLzzRlDb2Ajgo/s1600/image2-794576.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277592039014372338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m2dbXl5uNq2PW8fwhEREdz8clg0HsXHnjMHJaP8KzIz_bE8beUCzNvPetYxy4P0ErKqZokVr77XgS-oilTHN4TK8_uX4keJQYh03uGxeqWRn_TKCrL-siSXJF7MhK2NLzzRlDb2Ajgo/s320/image2-794576.JPG" /></a></div>
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Tackled the stuff on the floor near the wardrobes:</div>
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And the dresser top:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlPeXWdazDVYQ71fZ2a0xTdKq2bSKNdAFhyphenhyphent0q3NnxVzh3gqOHuUZcsIF6WPXj2IHgkNQ_2yveqz4uPoiQnLenbMiuUqIMloF3clwX9YRhr4nXb3ipbfNTlHGL15mbF_aranOWG5oG1E/s1600/image5-798020.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277592059428749410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlPeXWdazDVYQ71fZ2a0xTdKq2bSKNdAFhyphenhyphent0q3NnxVzh3gqOHuUZcsIF6WPXj2IHgkNQ_2yveqz4uPoiQnLenbMiuUqIMloF3clwX9YRhr4nXb3ipbfNTlHGL15mbF_aranOWG5oG1E/s320/image5-798020.JPG" /></a></div>
I also swept out under the best best I could:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_KpdjDzDcGCjUmHIqPeT3xeQjWg8DQHyK949ry_fgp-7XXnk3c5I5sWzFY_PLEx4RBMHV2ay_QmcxXSXKBq83bp8bouV3uNKC0XEtYbaJfMjqCGwHfJp1CDt8fUcsvzfvj6b6zWBnGw/s1600/image7-799756.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6277592068558347634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_KpdjDzDcGCjUmHIqPeT3xeQjWg8DQHyK949ry_fgp-7XXnk3c5I5sWzFY_PLEx4RBMHV2ay_QmcxXSXKBq83bp8bouV3uNKC0XEtYbaJfMjqCGwHfJp1CDt8fUcsvzfvj6b6zWBnGw/s320/image7-799756.JPG" /></a></div>
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(Not all of that was from under the bed, some was random little stuff from the rest of the bedroom floor. Usually when I need to clean floors I sweep everything that won't break get nastier or spill into one big pile, then sit at the pile with a trash bag laundry basket and misc container. I pull out big trash, laundry (shaking dirt off) and misc stuff. Then I stand and sweep the leftover dirt like a normal sweeper person. This saves me from bending over a bunch of times and running all about the house taking single items to put away. I end up with a basket that I can take to each room with dishes, hair ties, craft stuff, etc)</div>
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Next I decided it was time to pack up the rest of the Easter stuff. And the random stuff that was piled up on this dresser.</div>
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A month or so ago I had visions of an indoor garden-ish space for garden plant starts and house plants since I don't have another good purpose for this space and it just becomes a catch all, plus it is right next to window.</div>
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-62915327111600200992015-11-02T14:49:00.001-08:002015-11-02T14:49:26.286-08:00Chest Freezer Organization <div class="mobile-photo">
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I would LOVE a standing freezer for organization reasons but this was a gift, a very generous gift, so we use what we have.
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After years of digging through <a href="http://lofteeideas.blogspot.com/2011/01/freezer-day-11.html" target="_blank">trying random baskets and stuff</a>, I finally read this idea and LOVED it.
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I've collected random shopping bags from various stores or promotional bags that I could use different colors for each category. I did this about a year ago and it's been working beautifully so I decided to share it!
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It's easy to pull everything out to get to what I'm looking for in the bottom because it's all in bags.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzDi9_uNbp3FsBtnw0vkGSa1qYTAJWK7Y3U3e1fHcZExxdjg77n_2n4WS9M9yRxmekhiZzs7d-UFWbI9qVwDAyYMi558tSfM9WK8QMMlCmtA46sOufXerkgRdXvXogAmj6LWdtpGvlO8/s1600/image2-733905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6212675494486294370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzDi9_uNbp3FsBtnw0vkGSa1qYTAJWK7Y3U3e1fHcZExxdjg77n_2n4WS9M9yRxmekhiZzs7d-UFWbI9qVwDAyYMi558tSfM9WK8QMMlCmtA46sOufXerkgRdXvXogAmj6LWdtpGvlO8/s320/image2-733905.JPG" /></a></div>
I just pulled everything out, sorted by category and made a list. Easy peasy. I try to keep the list updated so I can tell what I have for meal planning.
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The list sits on top with a magnet (so it doesn't slide off when we open it).
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Most commonly used foods are in the fridge freezer.
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THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP:
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Do not leave an entire bag of food out on the floor after getting something out. Make sure you get it all back inside!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-28536463600222529572015-10-19T10:04:00.004-07:002015-10-19T10:04:57.114-07:00Fluttering, AGAINSO I clearly do not blog often enough because when I came to see when the last time I had blogged was, it was january (which i didnt publish until just now) and this post from October, last year. I just shake my head and laugh at how I could have written almost the same thing this last month. I decided to update it:<br />
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I haven't been flying lately, barely fluttering, if that. It has put a strain on my marriage and caused an irritability from me and disconnect with my kids too.<br />
CURRENTLY: SAME EXACT THING<br />
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But I'm dusting off my wings. I got so disgustingly far behind in cleaning my kitchen we had the most fruit flies that we've ever had, ever. They were even in the cracker and bread baskets (although I noticed that after cleaning most more obvious food sources, perhaps they were just scrounging.)<br />
RECENTLY HAD BASICALLY THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM<br />
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I procrastinated doing costumes (although they turned out awesome!), and getting ready for the party. <br />
I FOUND SOME STORE BOUGHT COSTUMES FOR THE GIRLS THIS YEAR, STILL NEED TO PUT HUBBY AND MINE TOGETHER.<br />
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We ended up postponing the Halloween party a day due to terrible weather and the power flickering. (Many local friends were without power, luckily we never lost ours completely) So I got an extra morning to do stuff for it, made it less stressful. And Ellie had a fever the night before the actual party so it was nice that we already had most of the set- up done before deciding to postpone.<br />
The party was still a great success, lots of lots of kids and families had great fun.<br />
WE CANCELED THE HALLOWEEN PARTY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OUR SHOP IS NO WHERE NEAR READY.<br />
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The daily goal going forward:<br />
Finish cleaning up after the party (it was in the shop so not our regular living space), catch up on laundry (must wash Halloween costume clothes by Friday!), wash dishes daily, keep the floor swept (TMI but there was a sequin, from Ellie's crafts stuff, in Penny's poop the other day, clearly she found it on the floor, and ate it.) and spend 15-30 minutes decluttering and cleaning the craft room/office until it is tidy enough to actually work in. (It is still a wreck from moving rooms and then making costumes).<br />
CLEAN HOUSE UP AGAIN<br />
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To end on a high note:<br />
I did get a lot picked up in the craft room/ office when I was in training at work Monday (as much as I could tethered to the phone headset listening to the training conference call).<br />
CRAFT ROOM IS PRETTY CLEAN ACTUALLY, I WORKED ON IT A LOT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND TIDY'D IT FOR A PARTY (THEN IT DIDNT ACTUALLY GET USED FOR THE PARTY)<br />
I took back some merchandise returns finally so our trip to walmart for tooth brushes, dish brush, rain poncho, deli food for dinner and soda stream syrup only cost like $3 (also thanks to Savings Catcher gift card).<br />
I COULD TELL THAT I WAS STRUGGLING WITH MONEY THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE ARE STRUGGLING AGAIN NOW.<br />
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I'm almost caught up on dishes (washed a mountain of them and actually put them away today!)<br />
I put away a basket of laundry and picked up laundry today.<br />
DISHWASHER IS GOING NOW!<br />
Made a hot breakfast for the family last couple days.<br />
The fruit flies are nearly gone! Thanks to not buying any fresh fruit, acv+ dawn traps, funnel-on-cup traps and a few fly strips and commercial fruit fly traps. (and cleaning/washing dishes)<br />
YES THEY ARE NOW TOO, I FOUND A FEW WHEN I WAS WASHING DISHES THIS MORNING BUT BASICALLY GONE.<br />
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Tomorrow we go to the Pumpkin Patch (didn't get to go earlier in the month.) Made hubby cancel his regular Wednesday night plans so he can be home with the kids because I swapped my shift at work to get the first few hours of my shift off, and I'm working late instead. Hoping it doesn't rain too bad- prepared if it does.<br />
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO YESTERDAY BUT GOT THERE AND REALIZED WE DIDNT PLAN FOR THE ENTRANCE FEE, AND IT IS FREE WEEKDAYS SO WE ARE GOING TO GO TODAY, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY CLEAR YESTERDAY, RAINING TODAY (OF COURSE)<br />
We plan to carve pumpkins Thursday night.<br />
SAME ACTUALLY<br />
<br />
I realize I have found myself in this place many times, struggling or recently struggling and I have committed so many times to do better at everything, it is a constant focus to improve, and needed because I always slip slide backwards.<br />
I'm not giving up though.<br />
THE HILARITY OF THIS STATEMENT, I COULDNT COUNT HOW MANY TIMES I RECOMMITTED TO FLYING.<br />
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH, BUT AS LONG AS I GET UP MORE TIMES THAT I FALL, I WILL STILL BE UP!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-41875119162228150542014-12-30T02:11:00.001-08:002015-10-18T22:23:18.916-07:00Cliche New a Year Weight Loss Resolution<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am doing the cliche New Years thing. Not because there is anything magical about the changing calendar but because the holidays are over and things are settling down and I will be better able to focus on my goals. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I haven't been going crazy eating everything in the house but I've not been counting anything and won't until New Year's Day. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have been throwing away leftover goodies, everything sweet left after our Christmas party the 28th was thrown away. The gingerbread train my daughter made is gone. Goodie plates 1&2 are gone (mostly eaten partly trashed) and #3 is getting tossed tomorrow. Leftover Halloween candy was pitched. Tomorrow I purge the snack baskets of anything I can't portion into 100cal baggies. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Santa didn't put any candy in any stockings (except 1 smallish piece of locally made gourmet fudge). </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We ate the last freezer party pizza and lays chips today.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the fridge are some large bags of salad, and in the freezer some chicken and turkey and fish and lots of frozen veg to get us by until the first big shopping trip after the 3rd when we get foodstamps. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I've been wearing my "wearable" aka activity tracker bracelet so I got used to wearing it. I've only slightly been trying to get more steps in so far, but I have bean wearing Penny on my back a lot more lately (due to necessity) so that's good. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(More on the tracker later) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My husband and in-laws are on board too! All are gearing up and committed to cutting carbs and shrinking portion sizes. If an easy meal says it'll feed 4, us 4Adults+1 kid+1baby can share it if we add a bunch of veggies and salad and lean protein. (I say this because I do have a couple frozen family style dinners in the freezer still and we usually make 2 and eat most of both. I just cannot afford to throw any food (other than sugary cookies & candy) away so we will portion what we have and avoid buying junky foods going forward. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One we have is a chicken Alfredo pasta bake, add in a bunch of chopped cooked chicken and broccoli (and not add cheese like usual) and we can stretch the carbs thinner and lower each persons calorie intake by A LOT while increasing protein and fiber.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Sometimes we eat with my in-laws but usually we don't. If a meal element says it serves 4 we will serve 2 portions to a freezer bowl and into the freezer for another meal and limit ourselves to what's left. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My other resolution is to do better at cleaning house. The added activity will definitely help. I get roughly 200 steps for each trip to reboot laundry and slightly more than that taking trash out. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Playing outside with Ellie is another goal of mine, I can walk laps while she plays independently. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bring on the new year! </span></p><br><br>Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-4232460038550007342014-10-29T04:33:00.001-07:002015-05-24T10:18:14.846-07:00Fluttering I haven't been flying lately, barely fluttering, if that. It has put a strain on my marriage and caused an irritability from me and disconnect with my kids too.
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<br>But I'm dusting off my wings. I got so disgustingly far behind in cleaning my kitchen we had the most fruit flies that we've ever had, ever. They were even in the cracker and bread baskets (although I noticed that after cleaning most more obvious food sources, perhaps they were just scrounging.)
<br>I procrastinated doing costumes (although they turned out awesome!), and getting ready for the party.
<br>We ended up postponing the Halloween party a day due to terrible weather and the power flickering. (Many local friends were without power, luckily we never lost ours completely) So I got an extra morning to do stuff for it, made it less stressful. And Ellie had a fever the night before the actual party so it was nice that we already had most of the set- up done before deciding to postpone.
<br>The party was still a great success, lots of lots of kids and families had great fun.
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<br>The daily goal going forward:
<br>Finish cleaning up after the party (it was in the shop so not our regular living space), catch up on laundry (must wash Halloween costume clothes by Friday!), wash dishes daily, keep the floor swept (TMI but there was a sequin, from Ellie's crafts stuff, in Penny's poop the other day, clearly she found it on the floor, and ate it.) and spend 15-30 minutes decluttering and cleaning the craft room/office until it is tidy enough to actually work in. (It is still a wreck from moving rooms and then making costumes).
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<br>To end on a high note:
<br>I did get a lot picked up in the craft room/ office when I was in training at work Monday (as much as I could tethered to the phone headset listening to the training conference call).
<br>I took back some merchandise returns finally so our trip to walmart for tooth brushes, dish brush, rain poncho, deli food for dinner and soda stream syrup only cost like $3 (also thanks to Savings Catcher gift card).
<br>I'm almost caught up on dishes (washed a mountain of them and actually put them away today!)
<br>I put away a basket of laundry and picked up laundry today.
<br>Made a hot breakfast for the family last couple days.
<br>The fruit flies are nearly gone! Thanks to not buying any fresh fruit, acv+ dawn traps, funnel-on-cup traps and a few fly strips and commercial fruit fly traps. (and cleaning/washing dishes)
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<br>Tomorrow we go to the Pumpkin Patch (didn't get to go earlier in the month.) Made hubby cancel his regular Wednesday night plans so he can be home with the kids because I swapped my shift at work to get the first few hours of my shift off, and I'm working late instead. Hoping it doesn't rain too bad- prepared if it does.
<br>We plan to carve pumpkins Thursday night.
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<br>I realize I have found myself in this place many times, struggling or recently struggling and I have committed so many times to do better at everything, it is a constant focus to improve, and needed because I always slip slide backwards.
<br>I'm not giving up though.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-24842046368662087572014-10-04T01:24:00.001-07:002015-05-24T10:21:11.491-07:00Unschooling style grocery trip <div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7A7SvzOGwkHbI7CnFXwd3EABvJhm1SxBp-Em266OTMIl6a-vBFdvha9zFrOvYNMZwe7M_JVWcaX0C2uFIDAcjsGEQtupI5CB2VjIDRH9piaVsbKpl1fCvbL1hxu1CO7-f929d5nLJh8/s1600/image-776413.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6066259387572803090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7A7SvzOGwkHbI7CnFXwd3EABvJhm1SxBp-Em266OTMIl6a-vBFdvha9zFrOvYNMZwe7M_JVWcaX0C2uFIDAcjsGEQtupI5CB2VjIDRH9piaVsbKpl1fCvbL1hxu1CO7-f929d5nLJh8/s320/image-776413.jpeg" /></a></div>
Some kids go to school for like 6 hours a day. Some kids do schoolwork at home. Some kids are unschooled.
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Unschooling is basically just the philosophy that children can prosper simply by learning through life, parents provide opportunities for children to learn through daily life and interests and play. Life and interests are a natural motivator to learn and children (all people actually) learn best when the motivation comes from within and is focused on an interest the person has.
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I try to always see and utilize the natural learning experiences life provides. (Try! I'm working on doing it more).
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Today at the grocery store Ellie (3.5) helped read the signs, helped write codes on the bulk bin tags and I explained how we know how much something costs. (Social knowledge, math).<br />
Ellie learned letter recognition when we checked the bulk item tags against the bins, (I write curly 2s, the sign has flat bottomed 2s). (Literacy)<br />
We weighed the package of mushrooms to see how the scale pointed to 8oz which is half way to the pound mark, then read the package where it said 8oz (math and science ) (I realize these are advanced topics for her to master.)
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She counted the peaches as we bagged them up. (Math)
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Ellie told me what letters were on the fruit signs so we could find the peaches, (literacy) and used texture to tell the difference between nectarines and peaches. (Fine motor development)
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She used small motor control writing on the tags and large motor control hanging on the cart, lifting groceries and and scooping from the bins. (Physical development). Learned impulse control sitting in the cart after loading groceries on the bin. (Physical development)
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We read the granola bar names and she found which one had a C for cashews. (Moons as she calls them, cashews not Cs). (Literacy)
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Looking at cereal bars, she "read" the boxes by looking at the fruit pictures on the box (early literacy, representation) to find the one she wanted.
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We read ingredients to find some juice that wasn't mostly sugar. We talked about healthy drinks and treat drinks. (Health and physical development)
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We talked about how the deli closes at night because less people want pizza and smoothies late at night. (Social knowledge).
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She moved out of other people's way and we said excuse me, and waited our turn to talk to the cashier. (Social development).
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While this trip took a little longer than normal for what we were getting, it was also more peaceful because I was really paying attention to Ellie and remembering that she is only 3 and I kept appropriate expectations for her. She wasn't bored and she felt proud of contributing. Her ideas were heard since she had some say as to what we bought (she begged for broccoli and carrots, mom win!)Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-54937376205210386162014-09-26T01:53:00.001-07:002015-05-24T10:18:14.853-07:00Another decent day <p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWElLkaHm5u7lk5K0t_eWCRHRS1KiKDn1sr_wUGdXnB9AfL50oY1PADokSS8zxEYWz7ks8iXhQVhtL8Ts4oyNJrY7mDz_uP9Cd959ftAhQWeSRaMqDCe5gk-B7L2g-sIM7h-5Ia_6Sg8E/s1600/image-793823.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWElLkaHm5u7lk5K0t_eWCRHRS1KiKDn1sr_wUGdXnB9AfL50oY1PADokSS8zxEYWz7ks8iXhQVhtL8Ts4oyNJrY7mDz_uP9Cd959ftAhQWeSRaMqDCe5gk-B7L2g-sIM7h-5Ia_6Sg8E/s320/image-793823.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6063298077463743650" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZXKREs6iME8HVcb_TH2SEt62FS_Bb6mvtLVRydwPnQmmg5CeBhKF-gaT5JSrRp_GBd7mJ2doU4M1JzBF6j4i81D4EfDD3RYpwXKyEO-4h_6Sd0l4_vDwG5MzZEOljsG_WxofmYbAzss/s1600/image-797652.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZXKREs6iME8HVcb_TH2SEt62FS_Bb6mvtLVRydwPnQmmg5CeBhKF-gaT5JSrRp_GBd7mJ2doU4M1JzBF6j4i81D4EfDD3RYpwXKyEO-4h_6Sd0l4_vDwG5MzZEOljsG_WxofmYbAzss/s320/image-797652.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6063298098163526562" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGUkkIfSYMm27qZyxVRmK0QUdTyQJon_VoTT_3EgftIpXyd3UBfNJIPVR4bMlccXIAnBcM2IL-XvRCwWi5bBXMjyt5qtwRxqwo5MiWeMl9izJbwYk-D4kDb9VqM275l1BuU6ZHOr6iyE/s1600/image-701884.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGUkkIfSYMm27qZyxVRmK0QUdTyQJon_VoTT_3EgftIpXyd3UBfNJIPVR4bMlccXIAnBcM2IL-XvRCwWi5bBXMjyt5qtwRxqwo5MiWeMl9izJbwYk-D4kDb9VqM275l1BuU6ZHOr6iyE/s320/image-701884.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6063298112957385154" /></a></p>So every other Thursday I volunteer a warm line phone shift for the nursing mothers counsel. I've been doing it for months and finally got an actual call from someone needing actual support. (Ive only ever had business related or telemarketing calls before). I hope I was able to help.
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<br>So I started my day actually getting up and dressed and glancing at the calendar and remembered to set up the NMC call forwarding. Took my meds and put away a load of laundry. Then got a bottle ready in the fridge and sat down to pump. Ellie wakes, and, accustomed to having "morning milky" in bed, snuggles on the couch for some. After a few minutes I got a NMC call and hid in my office to talk. Ended up talking for a decent amount of time then had some after call work to do. By this time it was nearly 10:45 and Ellie had fallen back to sleep on the couch. I swept the living room floor so Penny could crawl around and not try to eat anything dangerous. I nursed Penny a bit and poured Mikey some cereal (I offered eggs) and went to work. Forgot to eat breakfast myself.
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<br>On my break from work I nursed Penny, pumped and made myself oatmeal to eat when I got back to work (we have a team meeting directly after my break on Thursdays so I am able to eat).
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<br>On my lunch break I guided Ellie making lunch, (score for unschooling math, science, using scissors and involving Ellie- even if all we ate was breakfast "corn dogs" aka sausage wrapped in pancake on a stick). Then nursed penny nearly back to sleep before returning to work.
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<br>After work, My MIL had brought home (we live on the same property and often eat together in the shared home theater) sandwiches for dinner and we watched football. (They did, I relaxed some, ate, then rebooted laundry and cleaned my kitchen a bit while grandma held baby). I set Ellie up with a craft activity- real dried leaf collage with markers and glue on recycled cardboard (score for that) while I worked .
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<br>When MIL left, Penny played on the floor a bit then went in the Boba on my back to finish up the dishes. I set Ellie up with a movie in our bedroom which she wasn't interested in. Penny fell asleep on my back so I kept working picking up the house (it's still a wreck though) since I knew she wouldn't transfer well. I got a load of towels folded onto the changing table in the bathroom (didn't wanna bend down to put them away) a mountain of dishes washed, kitchen swept, shoes picked up and recycling sorted.
<br>I cleaned for nearly all of Wall-E.
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<br>Once Penny woke I took a break then put the towels away and picked up a basket of laundry in the bathroom then read to Ellie while Penny played.
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<br>When we came to bed Ellie declared that she wanted popcorn with Wall-E. (which was long over) I told her tomorrow we could but she was upset so I suggested she write a reminder.
<br>(Score for turning a potential tantrum-ish into literacy activity.)
<br>So she wrote a note with help spelling, but she did sound out quite a few letters and wrote them all herself. "Ellie wants to play games and eat popcorn".
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<br>Pics: the floor before I got it clean, the baby I kept happy and fed and my literary genius.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-78758369944003700792014-09-25T02:44:00.001-07:002014-09-25T23:12:03.950-07:00The mom I wanna beI want to wake up, get dressed and get my morning routine done.
<br>Then I want to eat breakfast with my daughters and talk to them.
<br>Then I want to go outside and just let Ellie play. Perhaps get some exercise in.
<br>After outside play time I will get ellie a snack and prepare for work. Get a bottle ready, fill my water cup, make a healthy snack and pump milk /nurse the baby.
<br>I want to focus on work for my entire shift, and focus on the kids my breaks.
<br>After work I will connect with the kids and make dinner.
<br>After dinner, set Ellie up with an activity and clean the kitchen, wear Penny if needed. An hour before bed we will play a game and/ or read.
<br>Once kids are both asleep. I can blog, Facebook, craft, or do an organization project.
<br>Go to bed at a decent hour.
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<br>Let's do this!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-36764482906573289692014-09-25T02:28:00.001-07:002014-09-25T23:12:03.944-07:00A decent day. <p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHdpj6SXUESskPOdFOz6fV0CxQKXq9eVcPwmWjvQhj0A67i6610oUHgMshAvJSfNurYsjI8Tpi-sHylPxPOosyMdavI4lTjFpT5bGYILBwc83HwNzjNiFLsevEK13mH9m0tA1xo8wzsE/s1600/image-700824.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHdpj6SXUESskPOdFOz6fV0CxQKXq9eVcPwmWjvQhj0A67i6610oUHgMshAvJSfNurYsjI8Tpi-sHylPxPOosyMdavI4lTjFpT5bGYILBwc83HwNzjNiFLsevEK13mH9m0tA1xo8wzsE/s320/image-700824.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6062936048705327650" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4IkXRxkvc8zVOjQ-JWN_yM1g3nsxrXOQ4DGWT8S6r4rS7jCk7i0N8AR07_N6qlLjt1M5Ukd2oog9qCwGyOrmoKptwBBjZTFoZIy_iap8YYI7ki86eLTaECMK0GOC9VJY7qbXo7qCDkg/s1600/image-705212.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4IkXRxkvc8zVOjQ-JWN_yM1g3nsxrXOQ4DGWT8S6r4rS7jCk7i0N8AR07_N6qlLjt1M5Ukd2oog9qCwGyOrmoKptwBBjZTFoZIy_iap8YYI7ki86eLTaECMK0GOC9VJY7qbXo7qCDkg/s320/image-705212.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6062936063253435730" /></a></p>So I woke up tired, but motivated. Got up and dressed. I started a load of laundry. Then I made split pea soup. I had cleaned out the freezer yesterday and found a meaty ham bone and several containers of homemade turkey stock (yes from Thanksgiving). So I started the crock pot.
<br>Then took Ellie outside to play in puddles. A new goal to make sure she plays outside every day!
<br>Came inside and gave Ellie (and her leaf collection) a bath. Then pumped milk and nursed Penny to sleep before work.
<br>After work (which was a good day) I finished the soup, made corn bread muffins (actually Ellie did most the work! Another goal to involve her more with housework and cooking) and switched the laundry.
<br>We enjoyed dinner with my in- laws and I did NOT go get Dairy Queen as I wanted. (Other goal to not spend $!)
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<br>When we got home from eating / hanging out at the in- laws I washed up a mountain of dishes. Partially with Penny on the counter and most the time with her on my back.
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<br>I also resisted the urge to turn the tv on for Ellie while I worked, instead taught her the awesomeness of lining up dominos and knocking them over.
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<br>Then I made dessert for Mikey. I had found (who knows how old- I think from Halloween year before last) cake crumbles in the freezer (I forget what happened but I am guessing the cake was too crumbly to use?). It still tasted ok so I mixed the crumbles with cream cheese and smashed it into the bottom of a Tupperware and covered with instant pudding for a pie of sorts. It was ok, but I wouldn't make it again.
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<br>While I could have done more around the house , today is a day I can be proud of.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-65004108094098593082014-09-24T02:07:00.002-07:002014-09-24T02:07:50.458-07:00Quit the lazy! Or Why do I get motivated to make changes in my life late at night when Im in bed?<div class="mobile-photo">
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I'm laying in bed thinking of how little I did today. (reading blogs about other people who are also not so great at the housekeeping job bestowed upon them) The house is in shambles and I even considered getting the baby walker (we use it when Penny is hanging out downstairs for short periods of time because it is no where near safe for her to crawl around) for her so I could get some cleaning done (gasp! I am really not a fan of them!). Instead I just held her or watched her while she played on the floor and had to keep stopping her from eating random garbage and small items. Not a good use of my time.
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So.
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I'm getting up right now at 12:27am to clean the bathroom. (Since the kids are sleeping I can't clean in the main room of the loft- kitchen , living room, and bedroom).
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I'll be back when bathroom is good or a kid wakes.
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...
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Ok I'm back, got the counter sparkling and the toilet as clean as it'll get tonight.
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Then hubby got home and needed to mess it up, so I decided to risk working in the kitchen quietly with just the over-sink light.
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I decided to start on the end of the counter and work in, I got quite a bit picked up and put away.
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There is still a mountain of dishes. Because dishes are noisy.
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In my defense I wasn't completely lazy today, I did get my freezer and small pantry shelves moved over to the new room earlier today. (these are before pictures)<br />
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I also put away a half basket of laundry and picked up 2 more baskets and worked (for pay!) 6 hours, kept my kids alive (here is proof:)<br />
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and gave Penny a sink bath and changed 4 poopy diapers (plus pee ones too of course) and mopped a pee accident and pumped 3 times to get 6 ounces. Oh and I vacuumed the open area in the living room (thanks to broken glass jar this morning). And I tidy'd my desk while working. So not too shabby of a day!</div>
Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-19450698794859321302014-09-22T23:30:00.000-07:002014-09-24T02:01:27.840-07:00Movie Moving and office organization<div class="mobile-photo">
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Our current project is to move our movie library down stairs and move our office/craft/pantry stuff into the space that was the movie library and game room.
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So we weren't even sure if it was physically possible to move the movie book cases down (they were moved around a little during the remodel 4years ago but not down the stairs).
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But we had to try.
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We enlisted the help of 3 friends, 2 guys and a gal.
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Mikey boxed up 2 book cases to start, labeling each box with the shelf # and A or B. As soon as the guys got bookcase A downstairs the gal friend unpacked boxes 1a-12a and the guys worked on moving bookcase B. As soon as she had the A boxes emptied I started boxing up the next A bookcase and she worked on unpacking B boxes, the guys moved the bookcases as soon as they were empty and carried the full boxes down and empty boxes up and helped pack/ unpack as they had time. We continued on this way until all 7 bookcases were moved down and most movies put away.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKCLQQBehJsaaF2pA0Gv2gczp8GC1VVXIkNS9zfPXap-4FJ-GS7mxxqRymZu0VpRf_tayllbIBRkcgBjTQ6lNbnQzj5mOg_JC9_fk5Z7Cdqsy1mpCEdL6R0XzFGlqf89WLFLXSjlAwHc/s1600/image-765325.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKCLQQBehJsaaF2pA0Gv2gczp8GC1VVXIkNS9zfPXap-4FJ-GS7mxxqRymZu0VpRf_tayllbIBRkcgBjTQ6lNbnQzj5mOg_JC9_fk5Z7Cdqsy1mpCEdL6R0XzFGlqf89WLFLXSjlAwHc/s320/image-765325.jpeg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6062187706991330610" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNhxLIfnbAIjrgFeSNUNDDHfGHqabdae8hO1IVsechk2nSJVHk8ybpU2trJSup4B7INU9QnF4wG3vPU2FXXuE65fvPQ_jGQixZWqdcpXjy6c5-cOrCjfxVs8CbuXALfAEpyG8mvTeAFY/s1600/image-768506.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNhxLIfnbAIjrgFeSNUNDDHfGHqabdae8hO1IVsechk2nSJVHk8ybpU2trJSup4B7INU9QnF4wG3vPU2FXXuE65fvPQ_jGQixZWqdcpXjy6c5-cOrCjfxVs8CbuXALfAEpyG8mvTeAFY/s320/image-768506.jpeg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6062187719611955346" /></a><br />
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These pictures are already-started and after. The true before-pics would show stacks of games on top the book cases and the shelves would be full and the play table was covered in toys.
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The play table has been emptied and legs taken off to get it out of the way.
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Most of the random stuff on the tables has been put-away.<br />
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I also organized the attic better to make room for stuff (attic- bound stuff tends to pile up in this room and I'm storing some of the stuff that was in the office since I really don't need it constantly.)
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So far I moved my misc dresser, my home- management desk/bookshelf and the small blue dresser over.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2862217583827556751.post-13320107971399458832014-09-22T01:58:00.000-07:002014-09-24T02:01:49.172-07:00Life Lately So it feels like every week is just so crazy. It really isn't most the time, I'm just either catching up after crazy or preparing for crazy on the days it isn't crazy.
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Hubby and I have decided to rearrange to make Ellie (3 years 7 months) a bedroom (she's been in a sidecar crib attached to our family bed since she was almost 2 and was in bed with us before that).
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We don't plan on kicking her out the minute her new bed is assembled but I wanted to start transitioning her as she's ready.
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(It can't really be child-led sleeping-relocation if she doesn't have a choice other than her sidecar.)
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So that is our current crazy, moving everything out of the game/movie library/play room to make that room am office and then moving Ellie's toys, dresser and new bed into the current office.
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So perhaps I'll blog this process.
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The point if this post is, crap I don't know, I want to be realistic and say I'm just not managing my time well or that I'm lazy and I wanna be a complainer and say that we went from being sick to a busy weekend to my period to seasonal allergies (I refuse to believe I'm sick again, even though my antihistamines haven't been working.) really though, I wish I had my shit together. My house is a wreck, luckily we bought somewhat convenience foods or I don't know if we'd even be eating lately. I'm just tired of a messy crazy house and tired of having too much I need/want/should do and not enough energy/ time/patience to do it all.
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So as an effort to not be such a grumpy gills, I will end this with a list of good stuff.
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I decluttered most of both of our clothes closets the other day. I got all (except Ellie's) clothes folded and put away neatly, purged a few items. I packed away Ellie's too small shoes and penny's too small clothes.
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I did an art activity with Ellie, and she even played outside today.
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I'm ruthlessly purging my office/craft stuff as I bring things into the new room.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993256987784714244noreply@blogger.com0