Same thing different day

Last week I wrote about consistency. How did I do with this? On a scale of 1-10--10 being good. Probably about a 4! That is just not good enough!
Summer has really started (finally). The weather has been wonderful. This has made the children forget that they all still have responsibilities. I am not sure what I am going to do to remedy this problem but I have to do something. I have to have more control in my house! I hate the messes.
Will this ever change? This is something that really makes me crazy. I HATE constantly hollering at my kids to do the same things---again. It makes me old and ugly. I understand why women age so much worse than men. WE are the mother's.

I have heard of people actually picking up their children's things that are not properly put away and putting them into a garbage sack. I am considering this. I truly don't know if this would affect them one bit.

So in the spirit of Smart Habits Saturday I will continue to do the same thing again, and again and again. Try and teach my children to put their things away and help in this house. After 15 years of parenthood I am beginning to lose hope that anything will ever change. I try but I feel as if truly, I am the only one that cares at all. We could live in a complete sty and they wouldn't care. They would just think that I wasn't doing MY job.

Wish my luck. I need it. Maybe a few prayers would help also!

Check out the Lazy Organizer for more Smart Habits Saturday.

Smart Habits Saturday

My children have been home for summer break two full weeks. How has it been going? Well, until yesterday it has felt much more like March than June! We haven't had much outside time. However, that has now changed! Sunshine is on the way!

I have really been trying to keep my kids on track with their daily chores. Honestly, you would think that I had become the Nazi Mom if you listened to #3! She wails "why do we have to clean? It is suppose to be summer vacation!" In truth, we are doing pretty well. It isn't perfect(my house will never be) but they are all doing a bit better. The consistency is really helping to keep the house from falling apart around us. My #2 boy is frankly a terrible bathroom cleaner! I have to go back in every single time and show him where he missed. Usually, it doesn't even look like he touched anything. I have watched him--I think that he is a bit grossed out to touch anything! So, he needs much more practice! I have also had to add little tiny details to their charts. Things such as wipe outside, inside, behind, top and all lids. Take out the garbage, wipe the tub, sweep the floor. --Somehow he thinks that a bathroom is clean if you pour cleaner in the toilet and swish it!!

Another problem that I am trying to tame is towels. My kids like to take baths in my big garden tub. That is alright(I do hate that there are so many extra dirty clothes in my bathroom-maybe I need a hamper!) but they take the towels that are hanging up and then my hubby and I don't have one to use because of course they never bring them back.

So-last week we went to Shopko and bought towels. I told them they could each have two towels. They had to be different so that everyone would know who's towel was who's. Those were the towels that they were suppose to use. If they don't hang them up they will be wet and smelly!

This has worked for this one week! Hubby and I have had a towel every time we get out of the shower! I have also had much less towel laundry!

I am hoping to keep working on projects on bit at a time. My summer is going to fast! July is mostly scheduled out so the projects need to get finished in the next two weeks.

Consistency!!That is my goal!

for more Smart Habits Saturday check out the Lazy Organizer.

Smart Habit Saturday

What has happened to my habits? Well, it seems that they have flown out the window. My house has been a wreck all week and therefore I have felt all upside down, inside out. So, what is my habit?

Recommit and Refocus

Recommit to my life goals.

Refocus on how to achieve those goals.

Read my scriptures-this is one goal that I have been doing, I just need to keep going

Family Scripture Time-recommit! We have to do this more often. An ongoing struggle.

Exercise-I did go to the gym today. I have to start slowly because of my foot but I HAVE to get more exercise. I have lost SO MUCH GROUND being laid up. I must exercise!!

Follow Through--this is one of the main things that I need to work on in my life. If I can have more follow through, consistency and commitment in all aspects of my life I will feel much more contentment in my life.



For other ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Smart Habits Saturday

I haven't joined Smart Habits Saturday for a few weeks.

What has been happening? As always, tons! My last habit was about personal journals. Well, I haven't fallen in love with LDSjournals.com. I guess that I am just familiar with blogger. I think that I may get a private blog that I write more personal information on.

I have been asked to explain blogging at my church's women's enrichment night. Ok? I am not an expert. However, I will try.

Why do I blog? I started blogging because it sounded interesting. Now I blog because I have realized that I am actually keeping my personal history. I record many more details of my life here on this blog than I write anywhere else. I have yet to master a paper to pen journal.
So---my blog has become a type of journal for me.

I found a site Blog2Books, that offers a program(free) that you can download so that you can print your entire blog(or parts). It is saved to a pdf file and then you can either print it at home or take it to a printing store(Kinkos) and have them print it and bind it. I actually figured out how to do this today. There are still some things(many) that I don't understand but I managed to get a hard copy of the first five months I had my blog. It was fun to look back at it. I feel that it is a new type of journal.

So, my New Habit? Well, I am going to really work on my life goals. Those ones that I have talked about forever. I won't bore you with the exact details. However, I have been very tired this week. I can tell, my house is suffering. I am suffering. So, I am going to try and stay
FOCUSED. I know WHAT I need to do. I just need to do it!

I am also going to schedule a bit of creative play time. I want to try some watercolor pencils. They look like they would be fun. I have also decided that I want to just start doodling again. I used to do this all the time. Now, the only doodling I do is on the phonebook!

I hope that I can actually feel energetic enough to work in my flowers. They are crying for love. That is if it doesn't snow again!

for more Smart Habits Saturday visit the Lazy Organizer

Living with Intention

This has been a good week. Is my house clean? No. I have decided to really change my focus. Perhaps it isn't actually my focus as much as it is my reason.

This past week my new Smart Habits Saturday goal was to find more personal enjoyment in my life. Well, I believe that I made a great start. I found snippets of time here and there and I actually enjoyed myself. I have sewed on my bags. They are all so close to being finished. A few more bits of time and they will be complete.

There is a book that I want to read. It is called Living with Intention. Perhaps you are familiar with it. I had a conversation with my friend, Tina yesterday. I was telling her about going to the "maturation" class for my fifth grader (eek). I really remember when I went to that class and I will be turning the big 40 this year! If I don't start to really LIVE my life instead of letting my life control me, I am going to be 80 years old still complaining that I can't get my dishes and laundry done so I just don't have time to paint! I don't want to live my life this way. I want to "live with intention".

I frequent a blog called homegrown hospitality and the author Stephanie is quite an artist. She has posted the most darling doodle today. It perfectly describes how I want to live my life. The quote is attributed to Mary Anne Radmacher.

So-- my kitchen, floors and bathrooms aren't as clean as I like but my children are improving their skills, I listened and read my scriptures, I bought tablets to write thoughts on. I read many books to my children,my family had Family Home Evening and we had family scripture study once. I made meals, gave and received many hugs and kisses. I talked with my own Momma on the phone, I sent an email and I scanned over 300 old pictures. I sewed, read, took pictures, went to baseball, had lunch at school with my 2nd grader. I went to parent/teacher conference with my 5th grader and I watched my 3 year old jump on the trampoline. I took a sick doggie to the vet,I went to the gym and I went to Costco. I tucked my babies into bed, went to a card making class with my Mother in law, I saw sunshine and snowflakes and I told my family I loved them.

It has been a good week.

For more Smart Habits Saturday visit the Lazy Organizer.

Smart Habits Saturday

It has been numerous months that I have been working on my lifestyle goals. This week I am not going to go down the list. They are all about the same.

What am I going to work on this week?

To find some personal enjoyment. I figure that if I can continue with the progress I have made with my family's chore chart, laundry and our scripture study I will have a bit of time to do something that I "WANT" to do.

I enjoy sewing, scrapbooking, reading,etc. So, this week I am going to try and be aware of the small snippets of time here and there. Instead of checking blogs I am going to go to my studio and create. I feel so much joy when I am doing creative things. I know that it is a healthy thing to do.

I feel that those tiny bits of time, fifteen minutes here or there can be used so much more effectively.

Check out the Lazy Organizer for more Smart Habits Saturday.

A Miracle! Smart Habit Saturday

It was almost as if a miracle happened!

Thursday and Friday I awakened without an alarm clock, early! Thursday at 5:00am and Friday at 4:13(got up at 5:30)! To those of you that know me you know that I have been striving to get up early for the majority of my adult life. I have been trying to get up so that my family can have scripture study and prayers in the morning. It has been a huge struggle.

Well, two days! My husband asked me if I was ill. I just woke up! I am hoping that I have finally crossed over and will be able to incorporate this habit into our lives. I was very aware of how getting up early affected the family.

Thursday they were reluctant but still participated, then the two middle ones fell back asleep. When they woke back back an hour or so later they were cranky. #2 didn't want to practice the piano, #3 was slow and stubborn. So, I decided that they really should not go back to sleep.
Friday we started again. No complaints, we read, prayed and then everyone went about doing the things that needed done. #2 practiced the piano with very few complaints and I believe he even actually made a bit of progress! #3 got herself ready without me having to get cranky with her. She was actually ready to go to school 15 minutes early!

So, we have made progress! I hope that we can continue to make this a part of our lives. I know that it is important. I don't know if my children are really getting much understanding out of reading 1/2 a chapter a morning but I feel that it is important for them to know that we have been instructed to have family scripture study so we are doing it. I hope that someday they will look back at their lives and know that we as their parents did try to teach them.

Other updates for my life goals.

*Exercise--I have had to take a break due to my plantar fasciitis treatments(doing much better)
*Personal Scripture reading-I am doing so much better! The Hinkley challenge has really motivated me. I have been listening and reading and I am actually about 10 pages ahead of schedule!
*Family Scripture Study-Making progress
*Family Home Evening-still needs improvement but we are having our discussions. We always participate in the ward and we are trying to have our personal FHE on Sunday nights so I guess that this is progress.
*Lowering Voice-not yelling--this has improved significantly! We implemented a new work chart in FHE a few weeks ago and it has helped so much. I believe that I am learning and making progress. It is something that I will have to work on forever. I am trying to learn to not just react, to act.

I am going to add a few EXTRA's this week. I want to start to actually do some things that I enjoy. Things that I feel will give me personally a boost. I want to sew some bags and start to scrapbook again.

The problem that I have is that if there are messes in my house I can not create! If there are things that are in total chaos I feel guilty if I spend time doing "extra" things. So, I am going to try really hard to keep my house in a bit more balance so that I can allow myself time to do some other things.

What does it mean to me to have my house in "balance"
*kitchen clean--dishes done, counter clear, dining table empty and pretty
*floors empty-toys picked up, dirty clothes picked up, vacuumed
*laundry going-not overflowing
*bathrooms-clean
*bedrooms-picked up, beds made( I am the only one that appreciates this-but it is huge for me)

These seem like reasonable expectations. However, if I am the only one that is implementing these things it is just too much. So, this is where the chore chart for the children has come in. They have a few things that they must do every day and it has helped!

The other thing that I must learn is CONSISTENCY! I have to continually maintain or have other people help maintain. ie, put shoes away, put dirty clothes away, hang coats up, Garbage in garbage, etc. Don't wait, do it now.

If you are interested in learning more or participating in Smart Habit Saturday check out the Lazy Organizer

Smart Habit Saturday

Well, here it is --update time

Personal Scripture reading--I am doing well! Listening to my scriptures on my ipod is working very, very well for me!

Family Scripture Time--not going well, haven't figured this one out yet, still working on a method. I had numerous people suggest that perhaps we need to have this at night. Well, my husband is gone Mon, Tues, some Wednesdays, occasionally Thurs., the girls both have dance on Thurs. and Friday is play night-movies, dances etc.wedding receptions. So evenings aren't
feasable.
This is truly a personal struggle of my own. My family doesn't fight me when I ask them to get up a bit earlier. Miss A is already up because she goes early to school. This is ME. This is a huge battle for me. I wonder if this is one of those things for me personally that if I master this if I will feel empowered to do many other things. So, I will let you know now it goes.

Exercise---I went 3 out of 5. Not as much as I want but still went. My bootcamp class has now officially ended. I am not going to sign up again due to my heel problem. I overdid it today in class. I have to rework my workout so that I can still exercise but my heel will get better. I did get the results from my measurements and thankfully, I basically maintained. That is what I hoped for. I just haven't been able to put the full effort into the class.
I will be speaking to a personal trainer (boot camp instructor) about ways to keep the muscle and strength that I have gained yet do it with low impact cardio.

Lowering my voice-I am actually doing quite well with this. It seems that we are all doing a bit better with this! Miss E has been so much better in the mornings this week. There were two days this week that she actually got up, dressed, etc. without me having to tell her and harp on her about it---that is really close to a miracle!

I have more goals that I am working on. They are those basic types of things that I have had since well, forever. Last year I wrote this huge list. You can read it if you like. All of those things still apply. I also have all the things I want to accomplish. I am struggling within myself because I feel like I am capable of SO MUCH MORE.

I have a quote that I love, I feel like it really is profound. I have thought about this often. Most of us think that we are to hard on ourselves. That we don't give ourselves credit for what we do--this is true. However, I think that we are beings of light. We have so much more that is possible. We just have to get out of our own way.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us.

We ask ourselves “who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

Check out The Lazy Organizer for other SHS posts.

Smart Habit Saturday-Life Goals

How does one overcome self? I realize that this is an age old question. However, how do you actually overcome oneself? Too deep a question? I am not really that deep of a person so let me explain.

Since the beginning of this year I have been participating in my friend Lara's Smart Habit Saturday. I feel like it makes me want to stay accountable. I am not sure who I am accounting to in this weird cyberworld but me makes me feel like someone might care if I report.

So, since January I have been working on a few "life goals." These are the types of goals that you don't accomplish in one week. They are ones that you work on forever. So, therein lies the problem. I seem to procrastinate some of these goals.

Life Goals
*reading personal scriptures -I joined the Hinkley challenge thinking that it would help motivate me to read, it does a bit but I still struggle. I just put it off-WHY?
*having personal Family Home Evening/family counsel-We have done this about every other Sunday. I have to be careful that it doesn't turn into a battle of wills. I want an environment of learning and love.
*morning family scripture study and family prayer- this has been horrific! We haven't done it once in two weeks. I am the only one that wakes the family up to do this. If I get up they all get up, and most of the family isn't even really that grumpy. Why can I not get myself out of that bed to do this. I know that it is so important.
*lowering voice and not yelling-this has actually improved quite a bit. I am trying so hard to not have such a loud voice. I am also trying to not be so reactive. This is a constant process, especially with children(at least my children!)
*exercising-I am still plugging away at this. I really wanted to get to where I was going 4-5 days a week. I am still managing 3. I am frustrated with this because of my heel problem. I have plantar fasciitis in my heel and it is just slow to heel. I have gone to the Dr. and I am trying to be patient. Because of the injury I am not going to be able to continue my boot camp class next session. I have also not been able to put in the full effort that I have wanted to. It makes me crazy! I have still gone and I am always doing something, even when I can't do the running or jumping. I hope that this will get better.

Why do I struggle so much with these things? I realize that not everyone is very religious so a few of my goals don't seem to matter. However, to me they matter a lot. I just feel so strongly that we have to master these. NOW. My #1 child will leave our home in 3 1/2 years. That is a blink. I feel so strongly that we have to get these to be habits so that she will have had at least a few years of this habit. We have read scriptures during her life. However, it hasn't been a regular daily habit. I regret that.
How do I get myself to just get the family up and doing it? I sometimes wonder if there is another force that works on me to get me to NOT get up and get the family up. The evil one doesn't want these children to have gospel knowledge. So perhaps in my zombie state he just puts those extra tired thoughts in my mind.

I need a few suggestions on how to get myself to JUST DO IT! I was thinking about putting my alarm clock in my bathroom so that I have to actually get up out of the bed to turn it off. I had roommates in college who had to do this.

My Smart Habit Saturday Post became extra long-however, I hope that it will help me make a difference.

What has happened to my habits?

Personal scripture study--pretty good actually! I started the Hinkley Challenge and I am doing great! I read 5 out of 7 days!

Family Scriptures/morning time--we are doing pretty good 3 out of 5 week days!

Exercise-average-3 days. My foot is still bothering me, I went to the Dr. I have to take out a bit of the pounding, so the elliptical machine will have to become my friend. How boring!

Lowering Voice-not yelling-average. Nothing major, Miss E was a bit better in the mornings so that helps so much.

Check out The Lazy Organizer for more Smart Habit Saturday.

February-Yeah!

It is officially February! That means that we are getting closer and closer to spring and more daylight! My Seasonal Affective Disorder will thank the sun for this! My husband will also. I am more pleasant as is he when there is more sunlight!

It is also Saturday so it is update time for Smart Habit Saturday.

*We did amazing(for us) at our morning devotional/scripture time. We actually read three mornings!

*I only exercised three days-having foot pain.

*Average week with not yelling. Miss E can push anyone over the edge. I wish I really knew how to get her to stop being a stinker. When she is nice she is really nice. However, she is so loud and bossy so much that it is a struggle.

*Other things--not so well.

I am really going to try and keep focusing on these things, they are really life changes. They are habits that I am going to be working on forever. However, this week/month I am going to try and focus on my own personal scripture study. Why is this so difficult for me?

My friend Rachel (new blog-check it out!) was invited to participate in a tribute to President Hinkley. Starting Monday we start reading the Book of Mormon and finish it in 97 days. There is a website that has a tracker for pages read. If you are interested go and check it out.

(Just a reminder-if there is a word/words highlighted that means that there is a link to another web page. All you do is click on the word and you will be redirected to that link--it is very handy! )


For more great ideas check out the Lazy Organizer for Smart Habits Saturday.

Saturday check up!

Saturday already!

I did well on a few things and not so well on others!

FHE-we played games with the ward.

Morning Study-NADA --this is going to be tough

Personal Scripture Study- again-not once

Exercise-YEAH!!!! I exercised 5 days this week!

Not Yelling-this was a much, much better week. It must help to not have a full moon, PMS and a PMSy teenager!

So go and check out Smart Habit Saturday--join in, it might help you with something!

Smart Habit Saturday--on Monday!

Well, here it is Monday-where does the time go? Mine goes snippets here and snippets there, I am a great slow waster!



I haven't even thought about a new habit for Smart Habit Saturday. I can't! I am still working on all the old ones! So, no new habits for this week.



*I am doing fairly well at keeping my counter clean. I would say that I am doing about 5 out of 7 nights that my counter is mostly clean before I go to bed. I would like it to be 7/7 but I am a realist so I am happy with 5!!



*I am struggling again with my scripture study. I was doing so well-so, that is back on the front burner again.



*I don't feel like I have been doing well at all at noticing the good my children do. Perhaps it is the weather funk that I have been in. So, that is in need!



*exercise-pathetic



*brushing my teeth---I HAVE THIS DOWN!



If you want some help or ideas go over to the Lazy Organizer for Smart Habit Saturday.

Still Working

My friend Lara wrote that it is difficult to always be changing, adding new habits constantly. I totally agree with her. I have tried to keep going with this new habit idea. Well, I too have had some success and some, well less than successful moments.

Isn't that what life is truly about? Continually improving. The only thing that we take with us in this life is the knowledge that we attain. We can't take the clean house, the car, etc. with us. However, the knowledge we gained from trying to stretch and learn will be with us through the eternities.

Last week I said that I wanted to be more complimentary of my children when they are kind. I am going to stick with this habit. We have had a pretty good week but there is still so much I need to improve on in this area. It is so easy to just not REALLY pay attention when they are being kind or helpful. We are just so glad that they aren't fighting that we just go with it. However, I firmly believe that we all need to have people notice the kind,good things we do. So,I am going to continue to try and be more aware of the wonderful beings that my children are. I also hope to find a way to celebrate it. I talked about "love notes" or something but I didn't do it. I know that with my #3 seven year old, she would just love the notes. She is also the one that I truly have to notice when she is kind because she can be such a difficult little pill. Morning is still rough. Working on a new routine with her.

If you would like to improve your life go over to Lara's place and join Smart Habit Saturday. It has helped me to at least be more aware of the changes I want in my life. It also provides a forum to talk about success and a place to hopefully be inspired!

Smart Habits--on Sunday!

Habits--Do you have good ones?

I need motivation today so I decided to make a list of habits that I DO HAVE. I am really good at beating myself up for all the things that I don't do, I never really look at what I do well. So, here goes!

*make my bed almost daily(I know Mom, why didn't I do this at home?)
*pick up dirty laundry almost daily
*take the garbage out daily
*Cleaning my counter(I am getting much better at this)
*reading my scriptures(a work in progress but improving)
*going to the gym(becoming a habit again-needs work)
*brushing teeth(I have this one down!)

Now--where to have improvement this week? I think that I have to stay motivated to keep deep cleaning. My house got really deep down dirty this summer and I have to keep myself doing a little each day. I am still working on my huge master list. There are so many things that still remain unfinished. I have to be a finisher not just a starter!

Also--I am setting a goal of trying to really notice and acknowledge the wonderful things my kids do. It is so easy to only notice the messes they make and the squabbling that they do. Perhaps I should make a little love note chart and write on it all the nice things they do. Anyone have any ideas?

Check out Smart Habit Saturday with Lara the Lazy Organizer for more ideas and join in!

Less Noise

After a very busy summer we are slowly getting back into a more "normal" routine. That is such a good thing!

For the 3 of you that read regularly you might remember that one of my Smart Habit Saturday habits was to have a clean counter. Well, I have jumped back on the bandwagon with that habit! Moving my washer/dryer downstairs is helping immensely with the mess in my kitchen/dining room. So far I am glad that I decided to try this. My two bigger kids are basically piglets! Ok, the other little two are also! However, with the washer/dryer upstairs off the kitchen the big kids would undress in front of the washer and then take some clean clothes off the rod in the bathroom. I got so tired of having dirty laundry on the kitchen floor! Well, they are also terrible at keeping their rooms from being a fire hazard. Now that the laundry is near their bedrooms I am much more on top of their messes. This is a good thing. Perhaps they will start to learn to actually put their dirty stuff in the basket that is right next to them. One can only hope!

Another benefit of the laundry being downstairs is that I no longer feel the mental "noise" that having it visible constantly created. I realize that laundry is never finished, however, with it in my sight ALL DAY I was always working on it and it never seemed to get better. Now, I can go and do a load, fold it, put it away and then close the door. I don't have to look at it every minute. It makes a huge difference!

What have you discovered that has helped get rid of some "noise" in your life? For more ideas go to the Lazy Organizer and check out her Smart Habits Saturday--it's lots of fun!

It is what day?

As I get older and older I am realizing how quickly time passes. When we were young a week seemed like such a long time. Now it is over before I know it!

Smart Habit Saturday is here once again. I am so proud of myself! This was a very hectic week for us. We had four weddings to attend, school shopping,tennis, football practice, etc. etc. etc. However, I feel like I really made progress on my habit for last week. That was to be a finisher, not just a starter. I am going to contine this for this next week. My little ones (and not so little) start school this week so it will be another busy week for us. I want to continue finishing all the projects that I have started.

This week I really did accomplish a lot, considering how busy we were!

*Huge load delivered to Desert Industries/DI (thrift store)

*Tons of stuff in garbage.

*All DVD/videos sorted and put into boxes.

*Went through #2's closet and got a huge bag to donate, another bag or two of garbage.

*Went through #1's closet and organized her mess! Put baskets on shelves with things separated.(I hope that the baskets will help)

*Got laundry room useable, baskets, hanging rod, etc.

*Laundry, laundry, laundry!(washed, folded and put away!!!)

This week I am hoping to continue in this fashion. I have many projects that I am working on.

*#2's room is still a dive-we have to work on his junk collection more.

*basement family room is almost complete-it has been a disaster since the laundry room switch. I am almost to the point that it looks like a room again.

*desks-I have to finish these! I need to go and get some more wood and paint it and then just spend the time(hopefully, with hubby's help and get them finished.)

There are numerous other projects on the list that I am hoping to get to. One more thing that has to go back on my list is going to the gym to workout. Summertime kills me! I just haven't worked out much this summer. I can feel it and see it! So that is going at the top of the list!

Want to join me? Be a finisher not just a starter! Check out Smart Habit Saturday with the Lazy Organizer.

Making Progress!

Awhile back I wrote about being a starter not a finisher. Well, I have finished one very large project! My washer and dryer are now in my basement. The spot where they were is now clean. I have made the new utility room more effective by using sorting baskets and also a hanging rod! I hope that this step will help me feel a bit more in control of the mess in my kitchen/dining room.

So, what is your new habit? Mine is to be a finisher. I have some other projects that are in process. Going through movies and organizing them. Dejunking the Big boys room(ick!) Making a DI (thrift store) run.




Here are pictures to show proof of my accomplishments! To get more ideas Join Smart Habit Saturday at the Lazy Organizer.

Are you a born worker?

Remember Smart Habit Saturday? Well, here is a little update. My children were not thrilled but they did get their jobs done! We have had a fairly good week. I have been trying to just have more follow through with them. This sounds easy but is not! I believe that there are people that are just born workers. Then there are the majority of people that are taught to work. As adults we are workers because we have to get things done. We may learn to enjoy the feelings of work and also the end result. My best friend has 4 children as do I. She has one of those children that is a born worker. He is only nine and he will set his alarm so that he can get up and go do jobs/chores with his dad. He is naturally more organized than the others. Her other three are like mine. They are going to have to be taught to be workers. Why is this?

Sixteen Minutes!

I have posted before about how I have a serious problem. I need to go to a 12 step self help program. This problem causes so many difficulties in my life.

I am here to admit it----I AM A PROCRASTINATOR!

There I said it. I will hopefully be miraculously cured of all future problems with this debilitating disease.

I have made one small step towards a cure. The other night I came home from a party in which I took six children. Lucky for me, I didn't have to plan, decorate, mow, cook or clean for this party! However, it was late when we got home and I was about to walk out of the kitchen. I looked at the sink full of dirty dishes and almost left them there until morning. I STOPPED MYSELF! I decided to use a Flylady technique and time myself. I set my timer for 10 minutes. I unloaded the clean dishes and then loaded the stinky dishes in 9:28! I was so proud of myself. I then reset the timer for cleaning off the counter. It took me 6:00! So basically, I spent 16minutes Saturday night and I woke up to a clean kitchen. I have been working on this Smart Habit forever. I have talked about my counter more than once.

Have I mastered this habit? I don't think so. I think that it will be a constant struggle throughout my life. However, I know that if I can just think of things in short snippets of time I am more successful. 16 minutes, that is all it took!

I am going to have a vinyl word saying printed "JUST DO IT" It isn't just a theme for Nike. It is a theme for life!